Entries from January 2008 ↓

We got lots of news coverage at last night’s meeting, thanks to the amazing turnout our community showed. South Robertson, you did yourself proud.

Click the links below to see the highlights.

Watch video of Channel 2 and 9
or click here to listen

Watch video of Channel 11
or click here to listen

Read coverage at popular Los Angeles blog, LAist.com

And finally, check out our newest neighbors, courtesy of Fox 11 News.

What a shame that none of them were brave enough to stand up and introduce themselves to the enormous crowd who attended the hearing. Frankly, they didn’t do themselves any favors by leaving their PR up to Roger Jon Diamond.

Interestingly, out of the approximately 600+ people who attended the hearing, the one and only person who spoke in favor of the club can be seen sitting at the end of the row of owners (on the far right).

It’s true: sometimes pictures speak louder than words.

Monday, January 28, 2008 - - Tonight was a proud night for this community. You turned out in unprecedented numbers to voice your concerns about SKIN to the LAPD Hearing Examiner. In the three short months since our first community meeting in October, we’ve all done a tremendous amount of work. Last night was our payoff.

From every corner of our extended neighborhood, people poured into the auditorium at Hamilton High. South Robertson residents, Palms residents, Pico area residents, Beverlywood residents, La Cienega Heights residents and many more. The long line outside was a indicator of the true scale of turnout. By the time the hearing got going, it was standing room only inside. Residents, business owners, religious leaders, community leaders, parents, educators, children and elderly citizens all came together to fill the entire Hamilton High Auditorium (which seats about 600) and to make their voices heard on this issue. The hearing went on for over 3.5 hours.

We thank each and every one of you who attended the hearing, particularly those who publicly spoke to the issue in front of the examiner. It was truly inspiring to hear the passion and commitment we all feel for our community. We thank each of you who has taken the time to walk flyers through the neighborhood, put up yard signs, write letters or donate money. According to the LAPD Community Advocate, the turnout was larger than he had ever seen at any other similar hearing. Add to that all the letters you’ve written — over 650 letters with 900 individual signatures — and it’s clear that our community has spoken with a loud and unified voice.

In the coming days, we’ll post more about next steps. We had a great night and gave the Hearing Examiner our recommendations, but the fight isn’t over. In the meantime, we encourage you all to sign up for updates from the site. It’s our absolute best tool for informing everyone as things move forward. You’ll only hear from us when we have something new to say, and we won’t share your email with anyone, ever. Help us keep you informed.

And thanks again, from the bottom of our hearts.

This evening at 7pm at Hamilton High School is the community’s chance to be heard.

SKIN may have been open since December, but they have not yet been granted their final permit from the Police. Because of the hundreds of letters that you’ve written, the police have scheduled this special hearing. It’s been scheduled for one reason only: to hear your concerns.

Over the past four months, many of us have volunteered literally hundreds of hours to educate ourselves on how we can respond. The No Robertson Strip Club steering committee and many others have worked tirelessly to research and present the best arguments on behalf of the community-at-large. We’ve met with Councilmen, talked to neighborhood prosecutors, met with Vice detectives, raised money, retained lawyers and poured energy, talent and funds into reaching out to the community.

Tonight, we’ll be handing the hearing examiner the fruits of our labor: a comprehensive report outlining the reasons we believe SKIN’s permit should be denied, as well as the extensive restrictions we recommend if the permit is granted. Restrictions we believe will best mitigate the nuisance they pose to our community.

Tonight is our chance to make a difference. The truth is that businesses like SKIN hold most of the advantages; they are well funded and well represented by slick lawyers, and they count on the fact that communities won’t stand up against them. They thrive on our apathy.

Let’s show them that our community is different. Let’s take a stand. Let’s show up tonight in force. Let’s overflow the auditorium at Hamilton. Let’s put up a fight. We  may or may not be successful, but let’s give it all we’ve got. Let’s make ourselves hard to ignore.

Tonight is our chance to have an impact. Let’s not take it for granted.

We really hope to see you there. Bring your kids, bring your neighbors, bring your friends. Rain or shine, we’re counting on your voices.

Don’t let us down.

Thank you for your help in getting yard signs out around the neighborhood. It’s wonderful to know that the community is working together on this important issue.

It has been brought to our attention that as a result of community zeal to get the word out about the Hearing on Monday night, some yard signs may have been posted in places they should not have been.

Signs should not be posted in public parkways or on public property. We’ve also heard that some signs have appeared in front of elementary schools, where parents find themselves in the uncomfortable position of explaining what a strip club is to their young children.

No doubt, this is a demonstration of how much the community cares about this issue. And it’s a measure of how important it is to get the word out about the Police Permit Hearing, tomorrow night (Monday) at Hamilton High (7pm).

Let’s remember to stay within the boundaries of the law. This issue has clearly motivated many people into action, and that’s wonderful. The most important thing we can focus on now is turning out tomorrow night in force. We look forward to seeing you there.

Dear Community Members,

The Police Permit Hearing is on Monday at 7pm at Hamilton High. These are our last few days to get the message out as widely as we can so that we represent in LARGE NUMBERS on Monday night.

Here’s what YOU can do to help:

1. Mark you calendars, clear your schedules, book your babysitters -or better yet- bring your kids. Whatever you need to do to, please BE THERE.

2. Tell your friends and neighbors. Send an email around. Knock on some doors. RALLY A CROWD

3. Help us get new YARD SIGNS out. We have about 75 more yard signs to distribute around the neighborhoods before Monday. If you have a half hour free and you’d like to help, please click on the email link to the right. We need all hands on deck to get these out there.

4. Help do a final push on FLYERS. We have plenty of them, and if you want to volunteer to walk a few more streets or distribute them at your local store, school, place of worship or book club, please use the link on the right to send us an email. We could really use the help.

5. Take a few minutes to think about what you want to say to the Hearing Examiner on Monday. If you’d like to speak, you’ll probably get 2 minutes, so think about what it is you want him to hear. Do you have a strong objection to the club? Do you want him to learn more about why this neighborhood means something to you? Do you have a specific concern you’d like to address? Have you seen or experienced anything since SKIN has been open that you feel he should know? Take a few moments to JOT DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS. It’ll come in handy on the night.

Thank you for your support, your donations, your helpful emails and your comments. Whether you agree with the club or disagree with the club, isn’t it good to know you live in a neighborhood where people care enough to do something? It sure feels good to me.

See you on Monday, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have a little time to volunteer. Trust me, it feels good to get involved.