Rather Than Pay Arts Assessment, Carwash Owner Puts Artist to Work

Some might just say that David Israel beat City Hall. If nothing else, he says it was a small but meaningful victory.

It started when Israel was told that, in addition to the almost $1 million he says he and his investors put into his new ‘50s carwash and diner scheduled to open June 1 in Northridge, he would have to pay an additional $6,000 for an arts assessment fee.

Since Israel had never heard of such an animal, he found out that it was a measure first proposed by Councilman Joel Wachs to help beautify Los Angeles.

The ordinance, passed in March, 1991 and made retroactive to Jan. 15, 1989, says that commercial and industrial projects of more than $500,000 in value will be assessed about 1% of that value to provide art and culture for the city.

Israel thought about that $6,000, and then asked the folks at Building and Safety, “If I have a mural painted on the building for that exact amount, can I be reimbursed for the money?”

He received approval, which is how he came to engage ex-gang member and tagger Albert Lares to execute the 1,430-square-foot painting that now graces the tunnel wall of the Cruisers Car Wash & Diner.

Both Israel and the city seem happy with the results.

According to Susan Foley Johannsen, director of the arts development fee, which approves arts projects, a project developer must pay the fee by one of two ways.

“He can pay the money into a trust fund for future use in the community, or may propose an art project or cultural program to be used in the development’s vicinity.”

Greig Smith, an aide to Councilman Hal Bernson, whose district includes Northridge, estimates that the fund raises about $10 million a year that he thinks might be better used for other, more pressing needs.

Johannsen has another view. She thinks that the fee helps to enrich the city.

“There are 152 known languages and dialects in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The arts are the only language understood by everyone,” she says.

“What’s so wonderful about David’s mural is that it reaches out to the community, and shows a happy lifestyle, something that’s needed in a place like Northridge, where the residents have been through so much trauma recently,” she adds.

The $6,000 mural depicts what Israel calls the “Happy Days” lifestyle of Southern California during the 1950s, something the 28-year-old native of Aspen, Colo., is too young to have known.

Israel says he encourages others to follow his path of doing their own arts projects on building sites and not let the money disappear into the city trust fund.

He said he was put through hoops to get approval for his carwash and diner, but getting to use the arts money the way he wants will make up for a lot.

Writer Taking Humorous Look at Stories of the Bible

Sherman Oaks resident David Evans is hoping that he’s not the only person who can find humor in the Bible.

He started out as a kid born in Chicago who grew up in Kansas, moving to California to court fame and fortune by putting together words that came out of other people’s mouths.

He was a writer for Bullwinkle’s Jay Ward, and for Bill Cosby. He wrote words for “The Monkees” television show.

But about 10 years ago, he says, he got burned out on television comedy writing and went into the emerging world of business comedy.

“It’s pretty generally accepted that it’s easier to make a point if the point is presented in a humorous context,” says Evans, “so businesses now hire me when they have a point to make.”

He says he recently completed, with the help of an animator, a booklet for the Cerritos Water District telling people all they wanted to know about water issues in their area.

Well and good, making jokes about water.

Evans’ latest efforts are two books he has done for his own, and he hopes, everyone else’s amusement. They are called “The Good Book of New Testament Cartoons” and “The Good Book of Old Testament Cartoons.” He doesn’t expect them to invoke the wrath of the Almighty, but the general populace may be something else.

“I think many people approach the Bible in a joyless, grim and strident manner, when actually it’s full of funny stories about people in biblical times. And since we are created in His image, we should realize He has a sense of humor too,” Evans says.

The opening drawing in the Old Testament book shows Adam on the first day of creation looking around the Garden of Eden and saying, “Well, so far, so good.”

One of the cartoons in the New Testament book shows Christ during the highly publicized miracle of the loaves and fishes, with some guy at the back of the crowd saying, “He forgot the tartar sauce.”

Evans says one of the project’s biggest boosters is his father, a retired Presbyterian minister who always thought people should approach religion with joy in their hearts.

Now Evans hopes to perform his own little miracle by trying to publish and distribute the books himself.

Hospital Fair Will Feature Heart Made of Play Doh

One of the attractions at the Heart Fair on May 14 at Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills will be a lot of chicken wire and Play Doh.

According to the hospital’s Marilyn Haese, an 8-foot-high heart made of wire will be placed in the parking lot during the event, and those attending will be encouraged to fill it up with red Play Doh. “It should be fun for adults and children, and will be a symbol of our first Heart Fair,” she says.

She adds that the people at Play Doh in Rhode Island, who have donated the material, say it will be the largest structure ever created with their product. After the fair, the material will be sent to the Los Angeles Children’s Museum for use by youngsters visiting there.

There will be lots of information about how to be nice to one’s heart at the Heart Fair, as well as a series of health tests provided free.

Hospital chef Dave Carino will be making fat-free red, black and white pasta for the health-conscious and hungry. He plans on whipping up about 200 pounds of the stuff for the estimated 1,000 attendees.

Overheard:

“I suggested to my wife that I make her a mother for Mother’s Day. She said fine, as long as I would carry the kid, give birth and raise it until it was 21. I don’t think she was kidding. You can’t say anything to women anymore without them copping an attitude.”

--Thirtysomething man to lunch companion at Red Robin in Calabasas.