Felix the Cat loses one of its nine lives
L.A. City Council tables the motion to make Felix the Cat a monument without ever voting on the matter.
Ashley Archibald
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
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The Los Angeles City Council closed the book Wednesday on the issue of the Felix the Cat sign by quietly refusing to vote, choosing instead to table the topic until the nomination period, in which the sign and adjoining showroom could be declared a historic monument, had passed.
By tabling the motion, the council members ended the discussion without adding an actual yes or no vote to their records because the period during which the sign could be nominated as a historic monument passed Wednesday.
"This doesn't mean that the cat is going away," said Tom LaBonge, councilman for District 4. "We love the cat."
The tactic is called "receiving and filing," said Ken Bernstein, manager of the Office of Historic Resources for the city of Los Angeles' planning office.
"Instead of a flat out 'no,' they chose to receive and file the topic. It's like putting it on a shelf, and the time limit makes it tantamount to denial," Bernstein said.
The historians and preservationists present at the meeting were infuriated by the council members' decision, saying it was a political ploy on an issue that should not have been political. The group said they were upset because they believe the City Council's decision is indicative that the Felix sign will one day be gone.
"As they say, 'The fix is in.' They had already made their decision," said Mitzi March Mogul, a historic preservation consultant in Los Angeles. "The only question was if Felix meets the requirements by law, by ordinance, as a historic monument. It does, it has, and it will."
According to the motion filed by Jim Childs and Charles Fisher, the two men who headed up the nomination of the Felix sign and showroom for monument status, the sign and showroom fit the historic status criteria as defined by the city's Cultural Heritage Ordinance. They claim that the building and sign's design are of historical and cultural importance, serving as an example of "mid-20th century modern commercial architecture and monumental neon-signage design."
By tabling the motion, the council members ended the discussion without adding an actual yes or no vote to their records because the period during which the sign could be nominated as a historic monument passed Wednesday.
"This doesn't mean that the cat is going away," said Tom LaBonge, councilman for District 4. "We love the cat."
The tactic is called "receiving and filing," said Ken Bernstein, manager of the Office of Historic Resources for the city of Los Angeles' planning office.
"Instead of a flat out 'no,' they chose to receive and file the topic. It's like putting it on a shelf, and the time limit makes it tantamount to denial," Bernstein said.
The historians and preservationists present at the meeting were infuriated by the council members' decision, saying it was a political ploy on an issue that should not have been political. The group said they were upset because they believe the City Council's decision is indicative that the Felix sign will one day be gone.
"As they say, 'The fix is in.' They had already made their decision," said Mitzi March Mogul, a historic preservation consultant in Los Angeles. "The only question was if Felix meets the requirements by law, by ordinance, as a historic monument. It does, it has, and it will."
According to the motion filed by Jim Childs and Charles Fisher, the two men who headed up the nomination of the Felix sign and showroom for monument status, the sign and showroom fit the historic status criteria as defined by the city's Cultural Heritage Ordinance. They claim that the building and sign's design are of historical and cultural importance, serving as an example of "mid-20th century modern commercial architecture and monumental neon-signage design."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Chris
posted 10/11/07 @ 12:52 PM PST
Seeking historic status was just a tactic by Conquest to keep competitors out of their market. Even the University has finally taken a stand against this terrible company. (Continued…)
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