March 1, 2010 (by Horatio Algren) According to reports a Los Angeles business man was arrested in the war on illegal supergraphics. The Los Angeles business man is being held on $1 million bail.
The business man identified as Kayvan Setareh age 49 and a resident of Pacific Palisades was arrested on Friday night on three misdemeanor city code violations. Setareh was arrested after a warrant was obtained by Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, who is accusing Setareh of three city misdemeanor violations, with two involving the city sign law according to Trutanich’s chief deputy William Carter.
The arrest comes after Trutanich filed a separate lawsuit involving over a dozen supergraphics that are scattered across the city. In a prepared statement the Los Angeles City Attorney stated that the days of lax and inconsistent enforcement of billboards and other outdoor advertising laws are over in the city.
After Trutanich filed the lawsuit workers used bolts and wire to wrap an ad around a building on the northeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue on a 1928 office building. The area is a major tourist destination along Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and the official also stated Setareh has an ownership interest in the building.
Setareh has not made any public statements and will be arraigned Monday, city officials stated that the large sheets of vinyl can fall onto cars and pedestrians if not attached properly. Other law enforcement officials question the high amount of bail that is usually used in kidnapping, rape and homicide cases.
According to city officials they believe the sign, which is an advertisement for the film “How to Train Your Dragon” was placed on the building timed to correspond with the 82nd Annual Academy Awards ceremony held a short distance away at the Kodak Theater. They believe that during the live spots that it was planed the unpermitted advertisement would be seen.
Los Angeles activists have demanded stricter enforcement of the city’s sign ordnance and in August the City Council approved a citywide ordinance prohibiting the installation of the advertisements known as digital billboards and supergraphics stretched across buildings in the city. Vice president of the Hollywood Heritage a preservation group, Brian Curran stated that they contacted the city about the supergraphics sign last week and that the average supergraphics sign can generate $100,000 in advertising revenue per month.
Former prosecutor and city councilman Nick Pacheco has stated he does not understand the amount of $1 million in bail for three misdemeanors. Laurie Levenson a Loyola Law School professor questions if Trutanich is making an example of Setareh. Levenson also stated she does not believe a judge will allow the bail to stand that was approved in the warrant by Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo.
Chief Deputy Carter stated that the bail was warranted after Setareh was warned by both letter and email not to place a sign on the building. The placement of the sign raises public safety issues, the supergraphics weight hundreds of pounds or larger and they cover windows making it difficult for firefighters in an emergency. According to Carter the supergraphics advertisement also lacks the proper permits and building inspectors have not ensured it is safely attached to the building.
Eric Garcetti Los Angeles City Council President stated that he forwarded a brochure to the city’s attorneys and a cease and desist letter was sent to Setareh imploring him not to put up an unpermitted sign.
The brochure that was sent to Setareh was one that started a February 5th investigation after the neighborhood activists sent city officials a copy of the brochure. The brochure cited the building as an advertising space that could be seen during the Academy Awards. Looks like he will be needing a good criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment