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 Chamber
Comments on Sale of Capitol Records
Tower
An announcement
this week that the historic Capitol Records
tower had been sold to New York-based developer
Argent Ventures drew positive comments from the
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Chamber
President Leron Gubler discussed the sale with
the L.A. Times and with the Associated
Press. He said the Chamber was particularly
pleased that Capitol Records will lease back the
building and maintain their Hollywood presence.
The company was founded in Hollywood in 1942 by
Glenn Wallichs, Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva.
Gubler said it was a sign of confidence in the
area that New York developers are investing in
Hollywood.
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Business Expo Draws Hundreds
The 2006
Hollywood Chamber Business and Tourism Expo this
week drew several hundred attendees to the
historic Blossom Room of the
 Roosevelt
Hotel. The enthusiastic crowd visited more than
50 Chamber-member exhibitors booths. A straw
poll in advance of the Gubernatorial election
showed that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was
favored by 50 percent of the attendees, with
Hollywood’s own honorary mayor Johnny Grant
coming in second, with a write-in count of 30
percent. Phil Angelides came in third, with 20
percent.
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Board Votes to Oppose Proposition 86
Following an
extensive debate at last week’s Board of
Directors meeting, the board voted to oppose
Proposition 86, otherwise known as the “Tobacco
Tax”. Although proponents say this legislation
is justified given the costs passed on to all
consumers and businesses by smokers, the Board
was concerned about the precedent this would set
as an extraordinary tax on a particular
industry. They also cited the measure as
another example of “ballot box budgeting”, that
continues to tie the hands of legislators and
makes it difficult to deal with the continuing
State budget deficit. Chamber President Leron
Gubler stated, “We remain steadfast in our
commitment to the Healthcare industry and
working to resolve the health care crisis in
California. Our Healthcare Committee is working
with its strategic partners, such as the
Hospital Association, to come to a long-term
solution everyone can agree upon.” Early next
year, the chamber will be in Sacramento
discussing health care. By that time, it is
hoped that a meaningful dialogue will have been
reached.
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Press Conference Announces Settlement
with
Bernard Luggage
The Hollywood
Chamber participated in a press conference this
week to announce that the City had reached
agreement with Robert Blue of Bernard Luggage to
allow the Hollywood & Vine Project to move
forward. The press conference was hosted by
Council President Eric Garcetti, who played a
pivotal role in bringing the parties together
and finding a compromise. Also participating
were the CRA and representatives of Gatehouse
Capital and Legacy Partners, the developers.
The Bernard Luggage property was one of the
final plots that needed to be acquired in order
for construction to begin. Chamber President
Leron Gubler thanked all parties for their
efforts, and noted that the project is a key to
the revitalization of that area and will set a
new standard of quality against which subsequent
projects will be judged.
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Digital Hollywood Initiative Discussed with
Garcetti
Chamber Chairman
of the Board Jeff Briggs, Kim Sudhalter of the
Hollywood Entertainment District, Jeff Lotman of
Global Icons, and Mark Owens of Ketchem
Entertainment met this week with Council
President Eric Garcetti to discuss “Digital
Hollywood”, a proposal to use cutting-edge
technologies to market and provide information
to the public about Hollywood through cellular
and PDA devices. While the concept is still in
the formative stages, it is believed that the
proceeds from such a program could be used to
help maintain the Hollywood Walk of Fame and to
pay for a way-finding signage program within the
Film Capital. Stay tuned for more information
as the project develops.
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Chamber Invited to Griffith Park Observatory
Sneak Preview
 L.A.
Councilman Tom LaBonge has arranged for a
special “sneak preview” for Hollywood Chamber
members of the renovated Griffith Park
Observatory, which has been closed for the last
four years for an $83-million makeover. The
tour will take place on Saturday, October 14th,
from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests are asked to
carpool to the Greek Theatre parking lot, from
which they will be shuttled to the observatory.
Reservations are mandatory and will be taken on
a first-come, first-served basis. If you
are interested in taking advantage of this great
offer from the Councilman, please call the
Chamber and ask for Vivian at (323)469-8311.
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