Valley Man Fought the Law and the Law’s Gone

Bob Brostoff proved Tuesday that sometimes you can fight City Hall and win.

The West Hills resident complained last month about having to pay a 7% fee for a street-use permit that is only charged by city field offices in the San Fernando Valley and other outlying areas of the city. Residents who obtain permits at City Hall are not assessed the surcharge.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously to abolish the surcharge, agreeing with Brostoff that it discriminates against residents based on where they live.

“This [repeal] accomplishes common sense and fairness and equity for the Valley and other parts of the city,” said Councilwoman Laura Chick, who counts Brostoff as a constituent.

Brostoff complained to Chick in December that $4.60 was added to the $66 fee for a permit to store lumber in the street in front of his home during a remodeling project.

About 1,000 other residents who obtained permits away from City Hall also paid the surcharge last year, according to Homer Morimoto of the Bureau of Engineering.

Brostoff hailed the council action, which directs that an ordinance be drafted to rescind the surcharge.

“I think it’s terrific,” said Brostoff, a teacher. “It shows one person can make a difference.”

City Engineer Thomas Conner said his office has charged a 7% surcharge for Street Services Division permits issued in its field offices in the Valley, Harbor and West Los Angeles.

That outraged City Council members including Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who called the surcharge, “fundamentally undemocratic and deeply disturbing.”

Conner supported the effort to abolish the surcharge for street-use permits.

“I agree it needed to be fixed,” he said.

A final vote on the issue could be held in the next month.

Although the surcharge did not amount to a lot of money for Brostoff, he decided to challenge it based on principle.

He is not surprised that he was able to get his elected representatives to repeal the surcharge.

“That’s why we have a democracy,” he said.