UPDATE ON RESULTS OF TOWN MEETING

Hi Folks,

For those keeping up to date on "The Derby" situation, below is an email from Rebecca Goodman from Save the Derby Coalition. It looks like the large turn out helped to sway the City Councils vote to turn down the current Derby plans!




Save the Derby Coalition – EMAIL UPDATE 11/29/05

Again, thank you to everyone for making the Town Hall Meeting (which took place earlier this month) a success. Based on the meeting, the neighborhood council voted to oppose the current development plans. Plus, councilman Tom LaBonge (4th District) also issued a wonderful written statement in support of saving the Derby and scaling back the proposed development. Remember, we are off to good start but we still have a long way to go!

Didn’t get to talk to Councilman Tom LaBonge or his staff at the Town Hall meeting?
Attend the 4th District Holiday Reception
Friday Dec. 2, 2005 6:00-9:00 p.m.
District 4 Field Office
10116 Riverside Drive, Suite 200 in Toluca Lake
Get Map
RSVP: (213) 978-2616
(bonus karma if you bring a new unwrapped toy for District's toy drive)

“What’s Next”? The landowner/developer promised to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new set of plans for discussion - - probably some time in January or February of 2006.

IN THE MEANTIME:

Continuing our petition drive. (Have you signed the online petition?)
Working on a nomination to register the site as a “Historic Cultural Monument” with the City of Los Angeles. (For more information about historic preservation click here)
Laying the grass roots infrastructure to oppose, as appropriate, radical changes in zoning or height restrictions that would permit massive oversize development. (For more information about “entitlement” processes click here … then choose “processes” from the menu on left.)

The word is getting out:
Last Sunday (11/27), the LA Times “LA – Then and Now” column was devoted to the Brown Derby and its history.

Upcoming Media Coverage:
This coming Wednesday night (11/30), a local jazz station will be broadcasting live from the Derby.

Wanna be on TV? Next Wednesday night (12/7), local news channel KCAL 9 is tentatively scheduled to stop by the Derby to film a short piece about why the Derby is special and should be saved. Plus, as always, it will be a great night of music and dancing. Come support the club you love!
Our Coalition is growing! Want to get involved? We’d love to have you onboard! Just send us note at http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=savethederby@yahoo.com

Thank you and Long Live the Derby!
The Save the Derby Coalition
http://www.savethederby.com/
Thank you and long live the Derby! Save the Derby Coalition http://www.savethederby.com/

GGPNC Meeting Video Podcasted!

Hello Los Feliz!

Last Thursday November 10th the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council held a Public Forum on the development planned for 4500 Los Feliz Blvd, Aka "The Derby" and adjacent properites. For those that were not able to attend all i have to say is WOW! The gym was packed and overflowing with nearly 500 people, all crowded shoulder to shoulder spilling out on to the curb! Local news crews such as Channel 2 and KCAL 9 moved into position for the best spot. You could feel the tension and excitement in the air as longtime neighbors, store owners and preservationists waited to see Adler Realty's plan which would change their Neighborhood for either better or worse!

DAVID VS. GOLIATH!

Looking up on stage it became apparent that Adler had brought out the big guns. Their team of give or take 8 people talked amongst themselves while across the stage 2 people Rebecca Goodman and the head of the LA Preservation society waited nervously for the meeting to begin. At first glance this appeared to be a simple case of a corporate plan wrapping up a few loose ends. However, what was soon to unfold was a story of David vs. Goliath proportions and a great example of community participation and democracy in action!

Earlier we mentioned that Channel 2 and 9 were there to cover the event. Unfortnately again the Los Angeles news came up disapointingly short. After both news teams were there for over an hour channel 9 never mentioned the event in their evening newscast while Channel 2 showed a 10 sec misleading blurb. Just A wide shot of a bored looking crowd! Honestly we were shocked and apalled. What was probably the most exciting (yes we said exciting) public meeting this year with loud opinions, cheering, booing and shouting was reduced to a bored looking crowd as the news anchor stated "The Los Feliz Community Gathered tonight to hear the proposed plan of the...."

GIVE US A BREAK!

Well, we felt that was just an injustice to the Los Feliz community and almost pro Corporate. So, we decided that the Los Feliz community should be able to see exactly just what went down and decide for themselves. So, for the next week we will be putting up video of the meeting for all to watch! Starting with each sides 20 minute argument, councilman Tom La Bonge's view and what the Manager of The Derby says is really going on behind the scenes! Infact for those so inclined the video can be podcasted on Itunes and on your Ipod hows that for cutting edge!

SIT BACK RELAX AND ENJOY!

You can either click on each photo to view that specific video or click on the iTunes-1click to have them podcasted directly into your itunes.

We recommend using iTunes because they are relatively large files and microsoft explorer refuses to recognize quicktime 7. By subscribing you will be able to download future video segments as soon as we post them! If you choose to view each segment seperately please do so using Safari or mozilla firefox.

• 
• Or paste this rss feed into your Itunes Manually http://www.blip.tv/posts/?user=The%20derby&skin=rss
  
• 1. ADLER REALTY DESCRIBES THEIR PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND REASONS FOR TEARING DOWN THE DERBY

• 2. SAVE THE DERBY COALITION DEBATES THEIR ARGUMENT AND COUNTERPOINT!

• 3. CITY COUNCIL MAN TOM LABONGE GIVES HIS OPINION ON THE DERBY!
  
  

• 3. DERBY MANAGER SPEAKS OUT! TELLS THE AUDIENCE WHAT ADLER'S REAL MOTIVES ARE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT!

Also here are the survey results from those that attended the meeting! = Survey Results

COMING NEXT ....ADLER ANSWERS WRITTEN SUBMITTED QUESTIONS!

Adler Realty Reeling from One, Two Punch!

This just in.... beep..beeep

Council meeting ... crammed to capacity! ... stop

Tom Labonge .. voices his opinion ... stop

Adler once again underprepared and outvoiced.. and ... stop


More to come SOOON!

Folks please stay tuned.. Video footage from the event as well as the meeting podcasted! We are working to get you the latest!

to get the latest updates add our Rss feed (left) into your news aggregator or itunes.

For video updates paste this link under subscribe in itunes.

http://the%20derby.blip.tv/posts/?user=The%20derby&skin=rss

Council Meeting Decides Tomorrow On Fate of The Derby!

Time Is Running Out!

Save the Derby Meeting ...

On Thursday, November 10, 2005, the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council (GGPNC) is sponsoring a public forum to discuss the proposed development of the historic Brown Derby Restaurant building at 4500 Los Feliz Boulevard in Hollywood. The structure, currently occupied by The Derby and Louise's Trattoria restaurant, is threatened with demolition to make room for the construction of 80 new condominium units and commercial retail space. The general public is invited to attend.

When: Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 7 p.m.

Where: Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, Multipurpose Building, at 2071 Dracena Drive (one block east of Vermont & Ambrose)


The GGPNC has invited all sides to this forum, and invites participants to ask questions and voice concerns. Because of the importance of any development of this prominent site, the GGPNC has expressed that it is committed to involving the neighborhood at this early stage in the project and serving as a vehicle allowing the property's owner/developer and city officials to hear comments from the broadest spectrum of our community.
For more information on the historic Brown Derby Restaurant, its demolition, and the proposed development project, be sure to visit the Save the Derby Blog at http://thederby.blogspot.com/ and the Save the Derby website at http://www.savethederby.com/. On the GGPNC website, one can also find links to a number of project related documents, including the developer's master land use permit application, environmental assessment form, and concept design drawings.
See past coverage of this issue at in the PreserveLA Archives and at: http://www.preservela.com/archives/000689.html



Also this just in.... beep beep beep!

The Save the Derby Coalition is looking for volunteers to meet @ 8pm 11/09/05 (tonight) in front of The Derby for a blitzkrieg flyer campaign to canvas the neighborhood! A great opportunity for those who have not been able to show their support yet. For questions email Rebecca Goodman at savethederby@yahoo.com


Thats it for now folks.. we will keep you up to date with the latest happenings!

Royal Crown Revue - Teams up to Gather Petitions

Hey All you Hepcats out there in Los Feliz!

For those of you who missed it, last night Nov 4th the Royal Crown Revue teamed up with the Save the Derby Coalition at The Derby in Los Feliz for an evening of Swing music and community activism! As most of you know the Derby is set for Demolition by the property owners, Adler Realty. In it's place is a proposed 5 story, 81 luxury condo with retail development.

However, Rebecca Goodman and her volunteer team of merry men and women feverishly worked to set up impressive historic posters, give out T-shirts and gather signatures to stop the Derby's Demise! The news must be getting out because even Channel 2 CbS and Kcal9 News was there to cover the event!~

(click to view video)

Now, let me just say first of all it was great to see the local news covering The Derby story. However, the story was cut off for a breaking news CAR CHASE! Seriously CBS a car chase? Well that's LA for ya and a fine example too! Well luckily "Save The Derby the Blog" was there for ya to catch some of the behind the scenes action!

Click on the photos below to see video of the news crew in Action as well as Volunteers working the crowds.






Now, The news segment portrays The Derby as an old dancing hall that has seen it's last days using slow jazz music and couples nuzzling in the corners! For those of you who have ever been to The Derby know that is far from the case. Infact 15 minutes after the reporters left. The legendary swing band the " Royal Crown Revue " took to the stage and with the sound of whistling and applause the audience promptly turned into a sea of dancers, twisting and twirling to RCR's music!

(Click to view video)
MC Introduces the Royal Crown Revue

Well thats it for now from The Derby the Blog Also don't forget to attend the November 1oth meeting for the city council, this effects everyone and they need to see you there!

As always We will do our best to keep you up to date on the Newest Events!

ROYAL CROWN REVUE TO SUPPORT SAVE THE DERBY!

TONIGHT!

The Royal Crown Revue will be playing at the Derby while rumor has it that they will make a statement from the stage about the threat to the Derby and the importance of the Town Hall meeting on Nov 10th and why the Derby should stick around for a little while longer, bub!

Speaking of swing bands where is Big Bad Voodo Daddy, they used to play the Derby every wednesday night to sold out crowds. Not to mention the film Swingers rocketed them from playing small clubs to playing the halftime show at the Superbowl! It would be nice to hear how they feel about the Derby's future?

While I'm on the Swingers tip, sources close to "This Blog" say that actor Vince Vaughn is being notified about the Derby's possible demise. Stay tuned folks should be interesting to see how Mr. Vaughn responds. After all The Derby was a main location for the film Swingers where had his break out role as Trent (your so money!) Walker

Some additional info from the "Save the Derby Coalition"

Help Needed!

The save the Derby coalitoins is still looking for a few good people in Save the Derby T-shirts to come early and catch people on the way in and ask them to sign the petition. They have the T-shirts, clipboards, pens, petitions ... everything except a "few good men" or women to volunteer). Also, they could use some help with setting up the table and hanging banners, posters etc.

If you volunteer, they will pay your way into the show! How's that?

To volunteer contact Rebecca Goodman at savethederby@yahoo.com