• 0
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What We Do

Shopping Cart

GPAM
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What We Do

Lawsuit to overturn permits tied to Huizar appealed to state Supreme Court

AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Jonathan Eisenberg (NBCLA, Getty, Works Progress Architecture)
AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Jonathan Eisenberg (NBCLA, Getty, Works Progress Architecture)

A legal challenge at the state’s highest court could imperil construction projects tied to former Los Angeles councilman Jose Huizar, who has admitted taking bribes from developers.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has filed an appeal to the California Supreme Court seeking to challenge permits for projects linked to the City Hall corruption scandal, the I-Team at NBC Los Angeles reported.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020 by the Hollywood-based nonprofit, demanded the city pause building projects approved by a council committee headed by Huizar, who last week pleaded guilty to at least $1.5 million in bribes. He faces up to 13 years in prison and $1.85 million in restitution.

Such projects include a 35-story, mixed-use apartment tower now under construction by Carmel Partners at 520 San Mateo Street in the Arts District of Downtown.

The developer led by Ron Zeff, now known as CP Employer, paid tens of thousands of dollars for Huizar’s benefit in exchange for a reduction of affordable housing units, according to federal prosecutors, and agreed to pay a $1.2 million fine to avoid prosecution.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, an advocate of affordable housing, has asked the California Supreme Court to consider overturning an appellate ruling so the public can challenge building approvals made by crooked officials in the widespread corruption case.

The request pits building regulations against anti-corruption laws, according to NBC LA.

Last month, a California Court of Appeal ruled the public had 90 days to challenge permission for construction projects. The reason the 90-day limit exists is so that real estate developers can take on the financial risk of construction, knowing that the window for legal challenges has closed.

But with the L.A. City Council permits linked to Huizar’s bribes, that time window passed long before anyone found out the process had been corrupted, according to NBC LA

“It doesn’t make sense to have a short statute of limitations to protect a real estate project that is the product of corruption,” Jonathan Eisenberg, deputy general counsel for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, told NBC LA. “We’re hoping that the California Supreme Court will see that and, within their power to modify the common law, will change the relevant legal test, and allow for a longer statute of limitations.”

When former L.A. city attorney Mike Feuer tried to get the City Council to reopen the permits that were corrupted after the scandal was exposed, the council never took up the issue.

An ordinance which would permit the City Council to revoke building permits and entitlements obtained through fraud was drafted in August 2020 and referred to the Council’s Planning Committee. But it, too, stalled.

— Dana Bartholomew

[contact-form-7 404 "Not Found"]
Read more
  • Arts District high-rise tied to City Hall corruption scandal resumes construction
  • Former LA city councilman José Huizar to plead guilty to bribery and tax evasion
  • Carmel Partners agrees to $1M fine in connection with Huizar scandal

The post Lawsuit to overturn permits tied to Huizar appealed to state Supreme Court appeared first on The Real Deal Los Angeles.

Powered by WPeMatico

  • 30 January 2023
  • The Real Deal
  • Uncategorized
  •  Like
Lennar project may qualify for builder’s remedy in La Habra →← RAND report finds 18% rise in homelessness at LA hot spots
  • Recent Posts

    • Mayor Karen Bass blasts everyone but herself for wildfire mishandling May 7, 2025
    • WEA, Beverly Hills Estates cut deal on $27M Malibu Colony home May 7, 2025
    • Oil firm eyes homes, hotel near Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach May 7, 2025
    • Bankrupt Rite Aid to market 1.3K stores, including dozens in LA County May 7, 2025
    • Carolwood flexes with new LA pocket listings portal, boasting $1B+ in inventory May 7, 2025
  • Recent Comments

    • Archives

      • May 2025
      • April 2025
      • March 2025
      • February 2025
      • January 2025
      • December 2024
      • November 2024
      • October 2024
      • September 2024
      • August 2024
      • July 2024
      • June 2024
      • May 2024
      • April 2024
      • March 2024
      • February 2024
      • January 2024
      • December 2023
      • February 2023
      • January 2023
      • December 2022
      • November 2022
      • October 2022
      • September 2022
      • August 2022
      • July 2022
      • June 2022
      • May 2022
      • April 2022
      • March 2022
      • February 2022
      • January 2022
      • December 2021
      • November 2021
      • October 2021
      • September 2021
      • August 2021
      • July 2021
      • June 2021
      • May 2021
      • April 2021
      • March 2021
      • February 2021
      • January 2021
      • December 2020
      • November 2020
      • October 2020
      • September 2020
      • August 2020
      • July 2020
      • June 2020
      • May 2020
      • April 2020
      • March 2020
      • February 2020
      • January 2020
      • December 2019
      • November 2019
      • October 2019
      • September 2019
      • August 2019
      • July 2019
      • June 2019
      • May 2019
      • April 2019
      • March 2019
      • February 2019
      • January 2019
      • December 2018
      • November 2018
      • October 2018
      • September 2018
      • August 2018
      • July 2018
      • June 2018
      • May 2018
      • April 2018
      • March 2018
      • February 2018
      • January 2018
      • December 2017
    • Global Property and Asset Mangement, Inc.
      137 North Larchmont
      Los Angeles, California 90010
      +1 213-427-1127

    © 2025 GPAM