Week in Review: Arson Suspect Charged; Alternate Plans for Plummer Park; No Fast Fix for Council Chamber

Design problems with the new Council Chambers, alternate plans for Plummer Park renovations, and 24-year-old Harry Burkhart charged with 37 felony counts related to arson made headlines this week.

In crime news, the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station received reports of a car broken into on Vista Street, a backpack stolen at Whole Foods, and a purse-snatcher at The Den.

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, a German national who lives in Hollywood, was charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office with 28 counts of arson of property and nine counts of arson of an inhabited structure. on Sunset Boulevard near Fairfax Avenue by a reserve sheriff's deputy who spotted his minivan.

Ongoing acoustic and lighting problems with the new City Council chambers will likely , at the earliest, James Mills reported earlier this week. The city is aware of the problems, said Director of Human Services Sam Baxter, but no solutions have yet been found.

could be ready for residents to see by the end of January. That’s what Councilman John D’Amico told a group of two dozen residents Thursday night during a special meeting to discuss the park’s future.

Local Voices

". It’s up to us, the citizens, to fix it," wrote Patch's newest blogger Sheila Lightfoot. As of Sunday at noon, 44 readers contributed to the conversation. Lightfoot asks: "We have to make up our minds collectively about what we want and demand that City Hall follows suit."

Quoting Geoffrey Wheatcroft in his Jan. 1 New York Times story, blogger Chloe Ross calls a number of Weho's bones of contention—the new West Hollywood Library stairs and Council Chambers, as well as Movietown Plaza—"." What do you think?

Mark Your Calendar:

In commemoration of the on Sunday, the city is joining forces with Friends of West Hollywood Elementary and the Sunset Strip Businesses Association in a beautification and maintenance project at West Hollywood Elementary School.

Reminder:

Local artists have a chance to participate in a historical recreation in West Hollywood this month with the rebuilding of the on Sunset Boulevard. Email peacetower2012@gmail.com confirming your participation. All panels must be received at LA><ART located at 2640 S. La Cienega Blvd. by Jan. 13, 2012 at 6 p.m.

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