Cameron Diaz' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is illegal, and needs to be removed. So is the Bruce Willis star. Here's why : when these stars are bought from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, they need to be approved by the Los Angeles City Council. As part of the approval process, and under State law, the matter needs to have a public hearing, where the public may comment on this item. On Friday June 26, 2009, Cameron Diaz star was Item 21 on the City Council agenda. It appears at 6hr18m on the City website for that date's broadcast meeting.
Councilman Dennis Zine was acting president, and called the item for consideration. He opened the public hearing and called two (2) names. "John Walsh and Matt Dowd [in the Valley]" -
that's me, Matt Dowd, to be speaking from the remote location at Van Nuys City Hall.
however, after John Walsh speaks, [and he's off topic, talking about item #22 Bill Handel]Councilman Zine disregards my speaker card, even after calling my name prior, and then calls the vote on the item, which is approved.
here's the link to the video http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=130&clip_id=6268&caption_id=8724955
Quite clearly you can see him take a second look at my card, but dismisses it anyway. Its a Brown Act violation of State Law, and makes the approval of the star invalid.
The public hearing needs to be re-opened and after I've had my comments, then approve the star.
And here's what makes it worse : They already installed it and had the ceremony FIVE days earlier on June 22, before it was illegally approved!
http://www.examiner.com/x-4732-Celebrity-Travel-Examiner~y2009m6d18-Cameron-Diaz-to-get-star-on-Hollywood-Walk-of-Fame-2010-honorees-Sandler-Crowe-Starr-announced
After my comments were denied/ignored here's what was said to try and correct the issue at that meeting:
Zuma Dogg : http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=130&clip_id=6268&caption_id=8725150
Matt Dowd (general public comment) http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=130&clip_id=6268&caption_id=8726951
So I pointed it out, had to waste my precious 1 minute of general comment calling for that mistake to be fixed. But again it was ignored. So I have to record this here as evidence for my federal suit. See, I love Cameron Diaz, no question at all about her hotness and eligibility for a star, But unfortunately, she went through the Los Angeles City Council, who fumbled and bumbled her approval. It needs to be done properly for the sake of due process.
The fact that I immediately pointed it out, makes the situation worse when they deny.
Here's another mention at a subsequent meeting:
July 17 Matt Dowd on another Hollywood star agenda item:http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=130&clip_id=6376&caption_id=8927478
and again July 21, 2009 : (in reference to Michael Jackson memorial costs, unapproved but commissioned) http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=130&clip_id=6393&caption_id=8951658
EXACT same thing happened a year earlier with Bruce Willis. Iwas denied public comment, when I had a card and was valid.
here's a mention of that during a comment on Sean Diddy Combs: http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=130&clip_id=3457&caption_id=5152451
