Newsletter: The Media Messenger

Assessments Will Not Increase

Good News! The HMD Board of Directors voted not to increase the assessment for the 2002/03-tax year. According to the Management Plan, the Board of Directors can adjust the BID assessment upward each year according to the CPI index, not to exceed 3%. At the June Board of Directors meeting, the Board decided that with the downturn in production and postproduction business this year that they would not increase the assessment for stakeholders. If you have any questions regarding your special assessment, please call Mary Lou Dudas at 323-460-6322.
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Mayor Aims To Simplify Taxes

At the August meeting of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Hahn's tax revision plan was explained by Jonathan Kevles, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development.

According to Kelves, the Mayor's plan calls for replacing the Gross Receipts system currently being used. The Gross Receipts method, according to Kelves, is "not an adequate proxy," because profitability is not figured precisely enough using that system.

The Business Tax Advisory Board has proposed a study to look for alternatives that would be fairer to businesses, especially those that are small or just starting out. Granting exemptions for businesses that make less than $500,000/year, eliminating double taxation, and deducting accounts receivables from revenue are all changes being considered. Additionally, businesses that are currently paying taxes in multiple categories could pay in one primary category.

"Simplification would equal greater compliance," Kelves said. In turn, greater compliance would produce more funds.

Hahn's goal is to use 75% of revenues from the Franchise tax board for business tax reform, and 25% for the housing trust fund.
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'Needles' Needs New Location

For the past year and a half, the controversial "Clean Needles Now" program has been operating in the Media District at 6769 Lexington Ave. Due to complaints of increased crime and its proximity to Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse, the Needle Exchange has agreed to move to a new location.

The city-funded program, which is coordinated by the Los Angeles Department of Disability Office, distributes 800,000 needles a year to LA residents.

In mid August, a decision was made to move the site to a more appropriate location. The site's organizers met with city officials and attorneys, the police and 4th District City Councilman Tom LaBonge's office, and are now searching for a new site. There are 3 other locations currently operating in LA; Hollywood will most likely remain home to one of them.
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5 Things in 5 Months

In June, five goals were set by Mary Lou Dudas, Hollywood Media District Executive Director, after Councilman Tom LaBonge asked for 5 things in 5 months. Much headway has been made with these requests; the following is an update.

1. Transportation - The petitions are still out getting signatures for the McCadden, one-way proposal. There may be some issues getting the 53-foot trucks in and out of the loading docks for Kodak and Crest National. However, the Department of Transportation will have their engineers work with both companies to see if it is feasible to have McCadden go one-way south of Santa Monica without impeding their businesses. Obviously, the goal is to increase the number of parking spaces. The Hudson Street one-way south of Santa Monica is also still waiting on the property owners to return the petitions as well. Please remember if there is a 40' street in your area, it is a candidate for becoming one-way with diagonal parking on one side, which will double the street parking. We are still awaiting a response from the Bureau of Street Services regarding the suspension of street cleaning to free up street parking another 6 hours per week. HBT will clean the streets during non-peak business hours.

2. Highland Gateway - This project is still on target for completion by December 2002.

3. Underground Utilities - A meeting is being scheduled for the month of September with all participating utilities. We know the cost of undergrounding utilities is approximately $1M to $1 ½ M per mile. Our goal is to underground from LaBrea Avenue to the 101 Freeway, which is approximately 2 miles.

4. Prostitution & Drug Dealing - The HMD was instrumental in creating a dialogue between the LAPD, Councilman Tom LaBonge, Clean Needles Now (see story) to move the Needle exchange program to another location. Many of the Media District businesses felt that the needle exchange program intensified the prostitution and drug dealing that already occurs in the area. The off duty officers 3 month pilot program will begin Sep. 11.

5. Media District Sign Overlay - There is some progress in that the Chief Legislative Analyst for the City of Los Angeles would like to create only one Overlay Zone for Hollywood instead of two. However, the Media District would still prefer to have it's own Zone to determine the types of signs that are appropriate for the promotion of our businesses.
Look forward to continuing updates on our 5 Things in 5 Months.
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Lunch Meeting With County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

Zev Yaroslavsky, LA County Supervisor, will be speaking at a luncheon on Thursday, Sep. 5th. Yaroslavsky, who represents the third district, also serves on the Local Agency Formation Commission, which is the body that put Hollywood secession on the ballot, as well as the board of directors of the MTA, and the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission.

The luncheon will be held at Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd. The cost is $28 for members, $33 to non-members. Parking will be discounted to $5.

For more information, contact the Chamber at 323-469-8311.
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Assessments Made Easier

While a trip to the Los Angeles County Assessor's office can be a remarkable experience, a visit to their website can be just as exciting.

While touring the office, located downtown at 500 W. Temple, Local BID Directors learned a great deal about how assessments are calculated and processed. The website, http://assessor.co.la.ca.us brings much of that information to the Internet. The site offers assessment information in a searchable database including maps, as well as a tool that can figure taxes for a specific property. A Comparable sales search and Frequently Asked Questions are two additional features available online.
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HMD Calendar

Business Watch Meeting
When: Thursday, September 12th
Time: 12:00 pm
Where: Hollywood Community Room
6501 Fountain (at Wilcox)

HMD Board of Directors Meeting
When: Thursday, September 19th
Time: 4:00 pm
Where: Hollywood Center Studios
1040 N. Las Palmas

Community Forum: Prostitution and the Courts
When: Thursday, September 17th, 2002
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: Hollywood Community Room
6501 Fountain Avenue

Media District Farmers' Market

GRAFFITI PAINT OUT AGREEMENT

Your consent is necessary to obliterate graffiti at your site. The Hollywood Beautification Team, through the city, will assist in the acquisition of free paint for your property or paint out graffiti using your paint.
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Activities Report
Through August 24, 2002
(compiled by Langner Security Service)

Questions or Comments

Feel free to contact the Hollywood Media District using the following contact information:

Hollywood Media District
1304 North Highland Avenue #200
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone:  323.460.6322
Fax:  323.460.6488

Executive Director: Mary Lou Dudas
MDudas@pacbell.net

Assistant: Devin Strecker
Devin77@pacbell.net

Hollywood Media District Field Office
6775 Santa Monica Blvd. #2A
Hollywood, CA 90038
Phone:  323.871.4150
Hours:  7am - 11pm, Mon-Sat

Security Supervisor: James Leonard

Hollywood Media District Property Owners
Association Board of Directors

Jeff Anthony, President - Iron Mountain Film and Sound
Tim Mahoney, Vice-President - Hollywood Center Studios
Eliza Thorne, Secretary - Seward Film Vaults
Don Robertson, Treasurer - Honda of Hollywood
Fred Anawalt - Anawalt Lumber Company
Carol Cassella - RenMar Studios
Morton Lakretz - The Crossroads
Michael Malick - Ramsey Shilling Real Estate
Jacques Massachi - Ori Service Center
Mitzi Mogul - Art Deco Society
Gene La Pietra - Arena Cafe
Brian Scane - The Paladin Group, Inc.
Fares Wehbe - Hollywood Little Red School

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