Family Ties Are Glaring as Council OKs High-Rise

Los Angeles may be one of the world’s preeminent cities, but when it comes to City Hall’s handling of land-use decisions, it becomes very small town.

That local political reality has never been clearer than it was Tuesday, when a City Council discussion over a proposed high-rise on Wilshire Boulevard sounded more like a family therapy session than a debate over planning, density, economics or real estate.

It was all about relationships: the developer, Richard Weintraub, is the son of former school board member Roberta Weintraub, who was an unsuccessful opponent of first-term Councilman Mike Feuer.

Feuer, it should be noted, was the chief opponent of the proposed luxury apartment complex located in his district.

But back to the relationships: Weintraub’s lobbyist is Steve Afriat, a political consultant who managed Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski’s campaign and is now working for Councilman Mike Hernandez. Both Miscikowski and Hernandez voted for the project.

As some council members discussed “Richie’s” project, it became clear they were responding more to his mother--or his consultant--than to the zoning exception he was requesting.

“I’ve seen Richie Weintraub grow and develop since he was a young boy,” said Councilwoman Rita Walters, who served for years with his mother on the school board. “I’ve also watched the growth and development of Wilshire Boulevard over the years.”

Finally, Councilwoman Ruth Galanter implored her colleagues to make their decision strictly on the merits of the project and to stay away from their personal feelings about Weintraub.

Right.

Oh yes, Richie’s project was approved over Mike’s objections, which must have made Roberta and consultant Steve very happy.

“We were really trying to stay focused on the merits,” Afriat said when it was all over. “We really were trying not to focus on anything else.”

Right.

To those who objected to Weintraub’s proposed apartment complex, it will forever be known as “Richie’s building.”

But even he tried to downplay his ties.

“It would be a total guess,” he said when asked why he thought his project got such a grand standing in the council chamber. “In meeting with council people, I heard over and over: ‘You meet the standards, you meet the standards.’ ”

He clearly wasn’t hearing that from Feuer or his staff.

“I’m not going to try to conjecture as to what might be motivating my colleagues on this,” Feuer said. “But the outcome is grotesque.”

Three other council members sided with Feuer: council President John Ferraro, Galanter and Joel Wachs.

Ferraro said he sided with Feuer mainly on precedent: The council typically defers to the member who represents the district in question.

Others were having none of that.

Miscikowski said she supported the plan in the council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee because it seemed appropriate for the area. Weintraub has proposed three apartment buildings in a gated complex with a courtyard at the corner of Wilshire and Malcolm Avenue.

Further, Miscikowski said her relationship with Afriat did not affect her vote. Just last summer, she said, he represented Laidlaw Transit on a major contract that she opposed.

Still, the whole debate seemed to turn on Richie and his contacts.

“I’ve never seen this happen in 20 years,” said a council aide on the opposing side.

The glowing mother, however, had a different view. “I really truly hope they voted on the merits of the project,” Roberta Weintraub said. “I was just thrilled to death. I’m really proud of him.”