Review
Hollywood Resignation: Warner Bros. movie production chief Lorenzo di Bonaventura abruptly resigned, only two months after he was given additional responsibilities of the Burbank-based studio’s marketing operations. Di Bonaventura, who will become a producer based at the studio, told reporters that he was not happy with the job’s corporate responsibilities. There have been reports of di Bonaventura clashing with Warner President Alan Horn over budgets and movie projects.
Up, Up and Away: L.A. County home prices rose 10.3 percent during the second quarter, the strongest increase for an April-June period since 1989, according to a study by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. The increase also outpaced the statewide average of 7.6 percent, which was dragged down by lower numbers in the Silicon Valley. In 1989, as the housing boom was starting to top out, L.A. home prices shot up 24.9 percent.
Higher Numbers: Citing higher oil prices, Unocal Corp. said third-quarter profit would be at the upper end of its forecast of 45 cents to 55 cents a share. The El Segundo-based oil company said that the profit is adjusted for certain items, which were not identified. Unocal earned 42 cents for the like period a year ago. While Unocal will pump less oil and gas than forecast, the price of oil has risen 5.7 percent since June 30, in part on speculation that the U.S. will invade Iraq.
Cathedral Dedication: The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels was dedicated before 3,000 guests and a local broadcast audience, as Cardinal Roger Mahony led a procession through the 25-ton bronze doors. It is the first American cathedral to be built in three decades and cost $189.5 million, lower than the earlier estimates of $200 million. During the four-hour service, demonstrators were outside protesting the extravagant edifice, with one sign saying, “No Fat Cat Cathedral.”
Valley Rentals: Roughly 100 candidates for mayor and council of the proposed San Fernando Valley city have pledged to adopt Los Angeles-type rent control laws if voters approve secession in November. Anti-secessionists, including L.A. Mayor James Hahn, have used the prospects of lost rent control as a rallying cry for opposing the breakup. If secessionists win, L.A. laws would remain in effect for 120 days, during which time a new council would be free to change ordinances.
Cedars’ Vote?: The California Nurses Association petitioned the National Labor Relations Board seeking to unionize the 1,800 registered nurses at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. An election could be held as soon as 30 days after the NLRB certifies the union’s petition. A Cedars-Sinai spokeswoman said that the hospital, while respecting the nurses’ rights to unionize, would prefer to deal with them directly. Last year, 1,300 nurses at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center voted for CAN representation.
SAG Showdown: In a tentative victory for Screen Actors Guild President Melissa Gilbert, the union canceled a board meeting to consider setting a deadline to punish actors who stay with agents who don’t agree to abide by an expired franchise agreement. The union’s agreement with agents expired in January. Last week’s cancellation does nothing to resolve SAG’s dispute with agents, who are seeking new financial freedoms some actors say represent a conflict of interest.
Media Move: Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. has named John Loughlin president of the TV Guide Publishing Group. Loughlin, a former Primedia Inc. and Meredith Corp. executive, will oversee the magazine’s print and online components. The move was seen as another indication that the struggling Pasadena-based company is moving towards traditional media.
Preview
One Year Later: Wednesday’s anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will not get nearly the attention in L.A. as it will in New York. Here, offices generally will be open, although some companies will observe the event with a moment of silence. And, of course, there will be the wall-to-wall TV coverage. One noticeable lack: commercials. The City of L.A. is planning a daylong tribute, starting with a ringing of church and school bells at 5:46 a.m., the moment the first plane struck the World Trade Center. At noon, there will be a moment of silence on the south lawn of City Hall, followed by an interfaith service at 12:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. At 3 p.m., city leaders will light the memorial cauldron at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Valley Feedback: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority sponsors a series of open houses this week on the San Fernando Valley’s North-South Transit Corridor Study. The study looks at alternatives to provide a high-capacity north-south transit corridor that would best connect with the East/West Bus Rapid Transit and the Ventura Boulevard Metro Rapid Lines. The open houses will take place in Northridge (9th), North Hollywood (10th) and San Fernando (12th). Information: 818-701-2855. Separately, Metro Rapid Project Manager Rex Gephart will provide a progress report on the express bus service at a meeting of Southern California Transit Advocates on Saturday (14th) at 255 S. Hill St. Information: 213-388-2364.
For Art’s Sake: The Los Angeles Art Association kicks off its annual fund raising drive on Saturday (14th) from 5-8 p.m. at Gallery 825, 825 La Cienega Blvd. LAAA is one of the oldest visual arts organizations in Los Angeles. Information: 310-652-8272.
Chamber Access: The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce invites its members on Thursday (12th) to meet their councilmembers and city officials in this periodic event. City Hall, from 8 a.m. to noon. Information: 213-580-7565.
Sports Beat: Everybody is out of town this week: the Dodgers, as well as the UCLA and USC football teams.
Transportation Forum: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, D-Torrance, will be in town Monday (9th) at 9:30 a.m. at the Carson Community Center for a forum with local politicians and transportation officials as part of the effort to define the terms of the Comprehensive Transportation Measure now before Congress.
