THE LOW-DOWN ON THE TOWN Impudent, uncensored account
By C. Castle

Town Hall Meeting RSVP

The term "national town meeting" connotes "open to the public," don't you think?

Well, what was meant to be a national town meeting about sustainable development, was one of many similar meetings happening simultaneously throughout the country this week. The President's Council on Sustainable Development hosted the national event in Detroit.

Playa Vista hosted a local one, featuring a downlink of a live speech delivered by Vice President Al Gore.

Yes, it's the same Playa Vista that is eager to turn the last stretch of open land on the Westside into condos, offices and a movie studio. The same Playa Vista proposing so much building that Lincoln Boulevard and the 405 Freeway could look like parking lots not thoroughfares. The same Playa Vista that has designated a piece of its property as wetlands, but ONLY because environmentalists opposed to the project forced the issue.

So guess who didn't get invited.

That's right. Playa Vista's loudest and most vocal critics.

Instead, they protested outside Westchester's Furama Hotel, where the event was being held -- protesting a project they counsider madness and an event they considered hypocracy. They called it a publicity stunt designed to give Playa Vista executives a chance to look, well, enviro.

Later, the activists went inside the hotel to distribute anti-Playa Vista leaflets and hear Santa Monica City Councilmember Michael Feinstein when he roundly criticized the project during his remarks to the audience.

Feinstein, it should be noted, got a reluctant and last-minute invitation to speak because the project's critics lobbied and complained to Playa Vista executives. A co-chair of the California Green Party, Feinstein is a well-known opponent of the project. And he's become a downright enemy now that he is the one pushing the Santa Monica City Council to take a formal position against Playa Vista during Tuesday's council meeting.

In fairness, the day before the event, Playa Vista did spread the word that anyone could attend. But that came long after the original notice hit, stamped with a firm "By Invitation Only."

So guess who was on the original invite list and touted on Playa Vista's program for the day.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Ruth Galanter, actor Ed Begeley, Jr., the National Resources Defense Council's Gail Ruderman Feuer, Tree People's Andy Lipkis.

They argue the event was not about the merits of Playa Vista. And it was not about whether Playa Vista itself is a sustainable project.

Maybe not. But come on.

Playa Vista will be coming forward soon with plans for the second -- and most controversial -- phase of its project. Looking enviro is mighty important to the project these days.

For Playa Vista executives, looking enviro comes down to the company they keep.