Friday Funny: Puppets Impede Public Process

From the Los Angeles Times story:

"The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to approve La Brea Gateway, a hotly contested seven-story apartment building planned for La Brea Avenue and backed by Councilman Jack Weiss.

But there were some fireworks leading up to that unanimous vote. Weiss, who will soon leave the council after a bruising and unsuccessful bid for city attorney, offered some tart advice for his colleagues. And Councilwoman Janice Hahn fired a few choice words back at him.

Nearly 75 people showed up in the council chamber to oppose La Brea Gateway, which will add 219 apartments at La Brea and Willoughby avenues. Neither Weiss nor Councilman Herb Wesson wanted them to speak, pointing out that the public had already been heard by the council's planning committee, which reviewed La Brea Gateway and unanimously favored it.

But other council members said it would be rude to bar members of the group from testifying after they traveled to City Hall. And after a 10-minute hearing, council members began voicing other gripes about the project, which happens to sit in Weiss' Westside district. "

From CurbedLA:

"There's more on the crazy showdown at yesterday's City Council meeting. According to the Los Angeles Times' Bob Pool, part of the drama ensued after City Council members enjoyed a marionette puppet show (the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in downtown was up for historic-cultural landmark designation, which it ultimately received) during the meeting."