LOBBYISTS—Cellular Groups Lead Lobbying

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For the third time in the last four quarters, the battle over where to place those unsightly cellular phone antennae has been the most lobbied issue at L.A. City Hall.

Cellular phone companies and their tower placement clients spent almost $191,000 to sway city officials during the third quarter, according to City Ethics Commission data.

In July, the City Council adopted an ordinance limiting the placement of cellular phone antennae on private property. Negotiations continue between the city and cellular phone companies for antennae restrictions on public property.

Coming in second was the Playa Vista development project, which generated $180,376 in lobbying fees. The last city action on the issue came June 26, when then-Mayor Richard Riordan adopted the Council’s recommendation to issue $135 million in Mello-Roos bonds for the first phase of the project. The local environmental group Wetlands Action Network has filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s approval, which is keeping the issue on the city agenda.

The city’s plan for a 20-year contract for public pay toilets, newspaper racks, transit shelters and other “street furniture” generated $116,000 in lobbying fees. On July 24, the City Council authorized city officials to enter into exclusive negotiations with a joint venture of Infinity Outdoor Advertising and JC Decaux for a 20-year contract to provide and maintain street furniture.

Rounding out the top five were the Hollywood & Highland project that opened on Nov. 9 and the Sports and Entertainment District project being proposed next to the Staples Center.

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