CALL FOR ACTION: Community Impact Letters DEADLINE is Wednesday, JUNE 21st for Criminal Case regarding 901 Strada Vecchia
For the many of you who have followed the 901 Strada Vecchia criminal case, sentencing for Mohamed Hadid is scheduled for June 27, 2017, at 1:30 PM in Van Nuys. This post is the urgent call for our community's support/impact letters to be written and submitted for Court consideration.
Impact letters may be emailed (either in email format or in a PDF letter format) to Tina Hess, Esq., Office of the City Attorney, Deputy Chief, Complex & Special Litigation Section - Criminal Branch. Her email address is tina.hess@lacity.org.
Deadline is THIS Wednesday, JUNE 21, 2017. Details are in the post below:
YOUR LETTER OF SUPPORT IS CRITICAL
We urge your support by writing a letter of impact regarding Mohamed A. Hadid illegal and unsafe construction at 901 Strada Vecchia Road requesting that the existing illegal parts of the house be demolished and the hillside restored.
As many of you know, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety issued more than 10 Orders to Comply and Stop Work Orders to Mr. Hadid, all of which have been completely ignored. On April 6th, 2015, approximately ten LADBS inspectors conducted an inspection of 901 Strada Vecchia Road and found a plethora of unapproved unpermitted construction, much of it deliberately concealed behind tarps, potted plants, paneled walls and taped-over doors. The inspectors found “unsecured open excavations” and other hazards. They also uncovered a host of unapproved features such as an entire story created below basement level, five underground bedrooms and a 70 seat IMAX theater, all built without proper geology and concern for safety.
On May 30th, Mohamed Hadid entered a no contest plea in the Van Nuys Superior Court in the ongoing criminal case regarding this illegal and unsafe project. Hadid is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27th. According to a proposed sentencing memorandum prepared by the City Attorney’s Office, city prosecutors are asking that Hadid be placed on three years probation and be ordered to perform 200 hours of community labor and pay $3,000 in fines. Prosecutors are also calling for him to pay $250,000 into a community improvement fund and for a performance bond guaranteeing the project will be brought into FULL compliance within a fixed period and/or the house be demolished. The judge stated that all remedies and penalties are on the table, including jail time.
The developer’s actions were intentional, were in total disregard of all applicable laws, and with total disregard for the community. His actions were done solely out of greed - to profit from the illegal project - without any remorse or concern for the safety of the neighbors or the community. Hadid has threatened that if he does not get the permits he wants, he will let the house sit and rot. He was quoted as saying “Demolish this house? Never!” “This house will last forever. Bel-Air will fall before this will”. Mr. Hadid’s attitude is that he is above the law.
Attached is a sample impact statement letter. When preparing your statement letter, you may find that the following questions can guide you:
· What was the emotional and or financial impact on you and your family?
· What is the financial and general impact to the community?
· How the project had any physical impact (e.g. noise, dirt, traffic, etc.)?
· How the project affected the beauty and integrity of the neighborhood?
· Do you have any recommendations to the court about disposition (sentencing) of this case?
· Demolition of all unapproved unpermitted parts and restoration of the hill for the safety of the neighbors and the community.
· Is there anything else you would like to tell the court?
Please email your letter to LA City Attorney, Ms. Tina Hess at tina.hess@lacity.org BEFORE JUNE 21, 2017.