Friday, April 17, 1998
Duet, residents debate dancing in Westwood
at city hearing
HEARING: Club seeks permit; opponents fear for public, student
safety
By Hannah Miller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Dancing could come to Westwood in two weeks, if the Duet
nightclub gets its way.
Duet finally had its hearing to obtain a dancing permit on
Wednesday morning, in a debate highly charged with accusations of
political influence and racism. The nightclub’s owners clashed with
Westwood homeowners, saying that dancing will further the village’s
revitalization, but city planners won’t decide for another two
weeks.
In its quest for a dancing permit, Duet argued that its
management was responsible, its crowd classy and orderly, and its
security without flaw. They argued that Duet had been targeted only
in the last four months, when the club has attracted crowds of
African Americans and Latinos to special functions.
In response, Westwood homeowners brought out a big gun – City
Councilman Mike Feuer – to lobby against Duet’s "irresponsible
management."
"This is not an issue about race," Feuer argued emphatically.
"Duet has a recent history of public safety violations that are not
good for the public welfare."
Duet has been cited several times by the L.A. vice squad and
fire department since it opened one year ago – four times for
dancing without a permit, once for overcrowding, and once for
serving alcohol to a minor.
Duet claims they were given inconsistent information on how to
comply with the laws, on their maximum occupancy, and when dancing
is permitted. City officials said that Duet was well informed of
the rules set forth by the Westwood Village Specific Plan, which
directs all development in the village.
The community itself added its own arguments to the mix, with
fourth-year history student Chris Ivicevich representing UCLA
students.
Presenting 2,706 signatures on a petition to allow dancing in
Westwood, Ivicevich railed against the "puritanical prohibition"
that keeps students and residents driving to Hollywood to go
dancing.
"Why do the wealthy older residents not want students here?" he
asked.
But Westwood resident Harriet Miller countered that she was
actually concerned for the students’ welfare. "I love dancing,"
Miller said. "But if we are going to have dancing, let’s have it in
a place that doesn’t serve alcohol."
Ivicevich also brought up the specter of Westwood’s future:
whether it will thrive, as the Third Street Promenade has, or
continue in the economic stagnation that set in after the shooting
of a student in 1989. Once a thriving center for movie premieres,
and social crowds, it cleared out after the shooting. The recent
opening of Duet and the Maui Beach Cafe in the past year have
reversed the trend, but there is still much debate over what type
of commercial space will dominate the village. Should it be mostly
a daytime shopping district, or cultivate a nightlife?
The business owners in Westwood support Duet’s efforts,
according to Ivicevich. In his survey, 89 percent of Westwood
business owners supported dancing in Westwood.
But even if Duet is successful at gaining its permit, it still
might have one more obstacle. Christina Developers, who owns Duet’s
lease, must agree with the implementation of the permit. So far,
they have said that they will not.