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09/13/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Poochigian Bill on Armenian Genocide Heirs 2) NATO Cancels Exercises over Azeri Ban on Armenian Troops 3) Warning to Azerbaijan on Tragic Consequence of Renewed War 4) Arzumanyan Resigns as Administrative Head of Ninotsminda District 5) Aram I Discusses Genocide Anniversary of Genocide with Armenian Party Representatives 6) If You Build It, We Will Come 7) A B C easy as 1 2 3, oh simple as Do Re Mi 8) Interview with Rick Caruso 1) Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Poochigian Bill on Armenian Genocide Heirs LOS ANGELES (ANC-WR)On Friday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 1689, which will exempt Armenian Genocide life insurance settlements from state taxation and other calculations related to income. Praising the move, Armenian National Committee Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian explained that Charles Poochigian's bill addresses an injustice that New York Life insurance committed against its policy holders who were massacred by the Turkish authorities. "The road to justice for the victims of the Armenian Genocide has been long and arduous. The passage of SB 1689 is an important step in this process," Kassakhian said. The exemptions in the bill are similar to exemptions provided to recipients of the Holocaust. The bill was crafted because of the long-standing insurance policy claims by survivors and descendants of the Armenian Genocide. Prior to 1915, the New York Life Insurance Company wrote thousands of life insurance policies to Armenians living on historic Armenian lands in the Ottoman Empire. New York Life had refused to pay out many of the claims until a settlement was reached last year as a result of a class action lawsuit. SB 1689 allows the victims and their descendants to collect their settlements without being subject to taxation by the State of California. SB 1689 was introduced by Senator Poochigian on February 20 and was subsequently referred to the committee on Revenue and Tax. The bill was passed by a unanimous 11-0 vote in committee followed by a 37-0 vote by the entire State Senate. SB 1689 secured strong support in the California State Assembly. It was then sent to the Governor Schwarzenegger on September 2 and quickly signed into law on September 10. 2) NATO Cancels Exercises over Azeri Ban on Armenian Troops BRUSSELS (AFP/RFE-RL)NATO announced the cancellation of military exercises, scheduled several months ago to take place on September 27 in Azerbaijan, after Baku said it did not want Armenian troops on its territory, a NATO spokesman said on Monday. The decision, taken by the supreme commander of allied forces in Europe US General James Jones, came after five officers of the Armenian Armed Forces were denied entry visas by the Azeri embassy in Tbilisi. News of the exercise cancellation coincided with a meeting in Brussels between NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and the visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Oskanian praised the decision taken by the NATO leadership, according to his press office. He at the same time regretted "the loss of an opportunity for regional cooperation." PfP events, largely involving peace-keeping exercises, are organized and led by NATO commanders. Under the terms of the program, a host country not affiliated with the alliance cannot prevent any other partner state invited by NATO organizers from sending troops to its soil. "We regret that the principle of inclusiveness could not be upheld in this case, leading to the cancellation of the exercise," NATO said in a separate statement. Hundreds of people attended street protests in Baku over the past week against the expected arrival of Armenian officers. The Azeri media have joined in the chorus of condemnations by running blank pages and suspending broadcasts to get the message across. On Friday, Azerbaijan's parliament adopted a message sent to de Hoop Scheffer denouncing the initial inclusion of Armenian soldiers. Its position was endorsed by Aliyev the next day. "I do not want Armenian servicemen to arrive in Baku, and Azerbaijan will take necessary measures for it," he told reporters. However, de Hoop Scheffer was quoted by an Armenian Foreign Ministry statement as telling Oskanian that Baku's stance is "unacceptable" because it runs counter to its PfP commitments. The PfP exercises, codenamed Cooperative Best Effort 2004, were due to bring together hundreds of troops from two dozen countries, including the United States. Most of the participants appeared to have already arrived at their venue near the Azeri capital. In Yerevan, meanwhile, news of the Baku-bound Armenian officers' early return home was greeted with relief by some people interviewed on the streets. "The Azeris' refusal to let them in was wrong," said one middle-aged woman. "But the security of our guys would not have been ensured there. So I'm glad that they did not go." "If they did such a thing in Hungary, imagine what they would do on their soil," she added in reference to last February's gruesome murder of an Armenian army lieutenant by a fellow Azeri officer attending a NATO course in Budapest. "What they did only harmed themselves, not us," said one man. 3) Warning to Azerbaijan on Tragic Consequence of Renewed War BAKU (PanArmenian/Itar Tass)--The US Ambassador to Azerbaijan said on Thursday that an attempt to force a military solution to the Mountainous Karabagh conflict would prove tragic not only to Azerbaijan, but also the entire Caucuses region. Reno Harnish, who has served as Ambassador to Azerbaijan for just a little over a year, said during an interview with Baku-based Zerkalo newspaper that with the stepped-up military training on both sides, Azerbaijan would bear greater losses than its 30,000,000 casualties during the previous battle over Karabagh. He also mentioned the resulting 750,000 refugees, and warned that any economic progress since 1991 would be wasted. Asked whether the US considers it possible to find a resolution of the conflict that maintains the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Harnish stressed that the US has backed all UN Security Council resolutions that reflect the attitude of the international community on a solution to the Karabagh conflict, within a certain time frame. He also explained that at the OSCE Lisbon summit, the US voted for the settlement principles put forth by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. "Thus, it is quite clear which principles officially guide the US in this question," emphasized Harnish. Harnish explained, however, that according to the US co-chairman of OSCE's Minsk group Steven Mann, the US--as a member of that group tasked with finding a resolution to the conflict--"must act within its mandate--thus seek a just and long-term solution to the conflict." The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are due to meet at the CIS summit in Astana, Kazakhstan that convenes on Wednesday. As he addressed correspondents in the town of Barda in western Azerbaijan on Saturday, Azeri president Ilham Aliyev said the meeting would clarify whether an agreement is close at hand, or if the sides are drifting away from finding one. As he met with a group of refugees in the Barda district earlier in the day, he stressed that the Azeri government envisioned an increase of defense spending in 2005 "to strengthen our Armed Forces and make the army one of the guarantors of settling the Karabagh conflict." While he reiterated that the country seeks a peaceful solution, he threatened that the people of Azerbaijan would free occupied territories by any means. "We have all the prerequisites for it--patriotic spirit, moral mobilization of our people, and the persistently growing economic potential." As he addressed a meeting with public representatives in Barda on the same day, Aliyev said: "The people of Azerbaijan must be prepared to liberate its occupied lands by force." 4) Arzumanyan Resigns as Administrative Head of Ninotsminda District AKHALKALAK (A1plus/Armenpress)On Monday, Rafik Arzumanyan, administrative head of Georgia's Ninotsminda District, sent in his resignation to President Mikhail Saakashvili. Although reasons for his resignation are not cited, it is believed that Arzumanyan's resignation is connected with the September 6 incident between the employees of Georgia's National Security Ministry and ethnic Armenians in Ninotsminda. As reported, two ethnic Georgians initiated a clash between Georgians and ethnic Armenians in the southern Georgian region of Ninotsminda on September 6. After drinking in a restaurant, the chief of the Georgian National Security Ministry's local branch, and the deputy head of the Ninotsminda district council, attempted to fill up their car at a local gas station without paying, saying that Ninotsminda belongs to Georgians and everything should be free for Georgians. After being denied free gas by the Armenian employee, the Georgian officials attacked and beat him. The local police interfered, but were unable to stop the shoot-out that followed a fistfight. The Georgian officials were arrested and transported to Akhaltsikha. 5) Aram I Discusses Genocide Anniversary of Genocide with Armenian Party Representatives ANTELIASOn Saturday, September 11, Catholicos of Cilicia His Holiness Aram I held a meeting with representatives of Lebanon's three main Armenian political partiesthe ARF, the Hunchak party, and Ramkavar partyto discuss the joint activities and programs commemorating the upcoming 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. His Holiness stressed the necessity of working together to organize the events. The meeting provided an opportunity for representatives of the three parties to share ideas and focus on the task at hand. 6) If You Build It, We Will Come By Skeptik Sinikian I've said it before and I'll say it again. Glendale is a world of its own. Sometimes, I feel as though it's a biosphere experiment, fully contained and independent of the world around it. The upcoming special municipal election is evidence to back my theory and for anyone who has been living in a cave in the Verdugo Mountains for the last three years, here's the Skeptik ynopsis. On September 14, Glendalers (I refuse to dignify them with an "ian" ending call me a snob if you wish) will go to the polls to decide whether they want a Town Center built in Downtown Glendale or not. If you drive through Glendale as often as I do, then you must have noticed the "No on A, B, and C" or "Yes on A, B, and C" signs littered all over the place. And contrary to what you may think after visiting the city, Glendale is not hosting an election to promote or get rid of the alphabet or literacy. By voting "yes" on A, B, and C, Glendalers will approve the project proposed by wealthy developer Rick Caruso of Caruso Affiliated. If you vote "No" on A, B, and C then you support another wealthy entityGeneral Growth Properties, owners of that vast wasteland and black hole of suburban culture known as the Glendale Galleria (just typing those two words brought back horrendous Christmas shopping memories.) Now either way, the only real people benefiting from either decision are people who have more money than they know what to do with, who care more about their off-shore bank accounts than Glendale, even if it were ravaged by the bubonic plague. Voters will have to forget this for a minute while they are herded to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots. It's like having an executioner ask you if prefer to be stoned to death or hung. At first you think you have a choice but you realize the end results are the same and you resent even being asked. It would seem as though Glendalers were stuck between a Rick and a hard place until you drive by the area where the development is supposed to be built. You can't miss it. It's that vast area of nothingness in south Glendale right before the miles of car dealerships and nothing else. The area is anchored by an empty asphalt lot used by Galleria employees as a parking lot during the Holiday season. It's no secret that when coming up with weekend plans, Glendale doesn't make it on anyone's list of top three destinations unless you happen to be a fourteen year old unibrowed kid in Adidas warm-ups who likes to smoke cigarettes while watching frog statues randomly spit water. Why has Glendale been black listed? Is it because there's nothing to do in Glendale past 9 PM? Is it because Brand Boulevard is spattered with random, mediocre restaurants, a beauty academy, and even more random clothing and gift stores? I personally think that much like some of its more bigoted residents, Glendale has no heart. No center of gravity. Nothing to pull people towards it. Everyone seems to prefer either Pasadena's Old Town or Burbank's Media Center. Personally, I think it's high time that Glendale had a "Town Center." The only argument that merits any type of consideration from the opposition is the complaint that the development would increase traffic in the area. But the Galleria complaining about traffic problems is like a chain smoker complaining to a waiter about the person at the next table smoking a fat cigar. I've read the arguments for and against this project and I personally believe that with the new development, the city will actually take steps to fix the traffic problem in the area. I'm sure that amongst the people who are complaining about traffic, there are a few SUV ownersthe same one's who think that their gigantic hunk of steel designed to fit every known animal on it two-by-two will fit into the compact car parking space in the Galleria parking lot. It's people who drive 5 miles-to-the-gallon Hummers that make me glad that oil prices are at an all time high. But that's a rant for another day. I'm also convinced that with a premiere shopping area next to it, the Galleria will be compelled to redesign and revamp the enclosed capitalist red brick gulag into a nicer, outdoor type shopping center. I haven't stepped foot inside the Galleria for nearly three years and I don't have any plans of doing so in the near future either. If I wanted to go to a depressing, enclosed space filled with obnoxious, rude, horny teenagers, I'd visit my old high school. I hope Glendalers vote to build the Town Center and I hope they do it soon. I promised myself that I wouldn't touch this topic with a ten foot pole, but it seems as though everywhere I turn, people are talking about this issue. So I'm putting in my two cents with the hope of urging people to abandon the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) attitude and do what's right for this city. In an ideal world, we'd build a nice park with a monument to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide in the area that's going to be developed. But a park and monument won't generate tax revenue for the city. And even a monument won't knock some sense into the chain-smoking fourteen year olds hanging out at the Marketplace up the street. But a Town Center will hopefully provide us with a decent park, some stores with merchandise worth purchasing, and a place of congregation for those of us who are seeking a change of scenery from Burbank and Pasadena. Just vote "yes" on this project and let's build something that will put Glendale back on the map rather than keeping it the no-man's land/buffer zone between Burbank and Pasadena. If you build it, we will come. Skeptik Sinikian encourages people to vote their conscience on September 14regardless of their choices. He can be reached for comment at SkeptikSinikian@aol.com or visit his website at 7) A B C easy as 1 2 3, oh simple as Do Re Mi By Garen Yegparian With apologies to the Jackson 5, and those who don't live in Glendale, I'll be addressing the three ballot measures citizens of that fair city will vote for or against on Tuesday, September 14. Measures A, B, and C address different aspects of enabling the construction of a major downtown development including retail, office, and residential space. It would be similar to and built by the same company that developed The Grove at Fairfax and Second in Los Angeles. Those opposing the measures cite increased traffic and crime, use of redevelopment funds, housing/environmental issues, and competition to the Glendale Galleria. Regarding traffic issues, naturally more cars will enter the area when such a large project is built. This is understandably distasteful for those who already sit in their cars while crawling at a snail's pace. Conversely, traffic engineers do come up with solutions. An example from neighboring city, Burbank, might be illuminating. Many who live, work, and shop in the area know "five points," which was a five-way intersection with hellish traffic. A very large development of stores was built adjacent to it. The intersection was reconfigured with grand promises of improved traffic flow. In fact, ramps from I-5 are also to be built to serve this area. Everybody seems to wait, idling behind red lights, for just as long as ever. So, frustrated city staff did a traffic count. Pleasantly surprised, they discovered that the number of cars going through that intersection had increased from about 4000 to about 40,000. Not bad, ten times the flow, with no increased waiting. The moral of the story is, there are solutions to traffic problems. Some $77 million dollars of Glendale Redevelopment Agency money will be allocated to this project. Some rightly argue, "Why give a rich guy more of the public's money to make even more money for himself?" Unfortunately, redevelopment funds can only be used in certain, restricted ways. One way or the other, some "rich guy" will end up with it as local government strives to improve pre-designated areas of the city, in accordance with state law. While I too find it disturbing that public money is privatized in this manner, it hardly makes a difference to which "rich guy" it goes. For me, the housing/environmental issue is the most salient. More than seventy residential units are part of this project. This kind of high-density living is absolutely necessary if Southern California is to remain livable. Sprawling endlessly like some deformed fungal growth across the landscape is not something that is sustainable. SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments) recently issued a report predicting dire consequencestremendous congestion and pollutionif the region continues growing in the same fashion as in the recent past. Sprawl destroys virgin wildlands, causes extinction, and reduces space available for people to recreatea necessary part of remaining sane. High-density developments, with attendant public transportation and open space, must become the largest portion of new residential construction. People, over the years, will overcome their aversion to this approach. It will take time, but we must start somewhere. Fear of increased crime following increased numbers of people is also likely misplaced because of the types of people this kind of "lifestyle" attracts. Does the Glendale Galleria, adjacent to the site of the proposed project, invite increased crime? People will be working, living, and playing in an open-air setting. One of the biggest opponents of this project is the Galleria. This mall's owners, rightly, fear the competition from a near-by complex of stores. This is accentuated by the growing appeal of un-enclosed settings throughout the United States. The era of the enclosed mall seems to be ending. Those who own such properties are understandably worried. Some people argue that the redevelopment funds would be better spent on improving the existing mall. It seems both those who support and oppose this project have resorted to hyperbole in advocating their position. This has engendered cynicism among votersan unhealthy and undesirable outcome regardless of the ultimate vote tallies for these ballot measures. In addition, the sheer volume of mail and telephone contact has fatigued voters. Glendale citizens will have to consider these and many others issues and risks. To go forward with the new project portends some of the ills, attenuated or not, mentioned above. To deny this project could mean the long-term loss of sales tax revenue, a very important source of municipal income for California citiesif enclosed malls go the way of bell-bottoms and afros. 8) Interview with Rick Caruso Glendale's airwaves are booming with heated debate on the pros and cons of building a proposed Town Center in the heart of downtown Glendale. In a special September 14 election, Glendale voters will consider the proposed $264 million retail and residential development project, casting their ballots on three ordinancesknown as A-B-Cthat concern the project's planning and zoning and the development agreement between Caruso Affiliated and the city. Although Rick Caruso, the Founder and President of Caruso Affiliated got the go-ahead from the Glendale City Council to build The Americana at Brand (Town Center), the referendum was forced by opponents led by the Galleria's owners, General Growth Properties Inc., the second-largest US shopping mall proprietor. Both sides say they expect the vote to be close, and have spent close to $1 million to defend their issues. The ensuing battle has not been pretty. Asbarez spoke with Caruso about the issues on the minds of voters. WHEN YOU BUILD A STRUCTURE SUCH AS THE TOWN CENTER, YOUR INTENT IS TO NATURALLY ATTRACT PEOPLE. HOW CAN YOU TACKLE TRAFFIC THAT IS ALREADY HEAVY IN THE AREA? There's no question more cars will be added to the streets. A ton of money will be spent on improving traffic, specifically $14 million to improve traffic flow. Studies show that 14 intersections will get better. Past experience shows that there will be no negative impact on traffic in the area. That was the result achieved at the Grove [Caruso's 575,000 square foot project adjacent to the Farmers Market in Los Angeles]all the intersections improved. The area around South Brand has not seen any new developments or investments in a very long time. As a result, there has been no improvements in fixing the streets, including street widening or new signal systems. A number of things can be done to improve the freeways. We are spending $1.5 million of our own money to design changes to exits and entrances. I am confident that everything will operate even more smoothly when completed. Traffic studies conducted show this. The traffic issue is a scare tactic. BUT PEOPLE ARE CALLING THE INVESTMENT THE CITY IS MAKING IN THIS TOWN CENTER, SIMPLY A BAD ONE. I disagree strongly with that. The city will get all their money back plus profit. Of the $77 million figure set aside, $65 million is for the acquisition of land that the city bought over 20 yearsand the city will retain most of the land; $12 million is for public improvement. The city is expected make $3.5 million in new tax revenues per year from sales and property taxes. Over the next 30 years, an estimated $109 million will be made in taxes$16 million would go to public schools and private agencies. HOW WILL THE PROJECT AFFECT EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES? I know it will help the small businesses. It happened at the Grove because it brought increased shoppers to the area. Right now, there are 15 acres of empty lot and run down buildings. That hurts the area. It will create more shoppers walking around Brand. With new stores, parking structures, etc., people will flock to the area. The tax receipts for stores on 3rd street, Beverly Dr., La Brea, and Fairfax [area surrounding the Grove] show a 65% increase since the Grove was built. There is always a spillover effect. That's why the city wants to invest this money. BUT WILL YOU ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF LOCAL BUSINESSES? Absolutely...We not only have programs within our company that reduce rental rates [for small businesses] but we also programs called 'incubating small businesses.' For example, we have a jeweler at the Grove, Tracy Allen, who used to sell products door to door. We helped her build a store, rent-free and now she is very successful and pays rent. WHY DO YOU THINK THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CENTER SO ACTIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY? General Growth properties, the owners of the Glendale Galleria, don't want the project built. They don't want competition, and this isn't good for the city. They want to maintain a monopoly, at any cost. It has even been said that I don't like Armenians and am trying to drive them away from the city which is absolutely not truemy sister-in-law is Armenian and lives in the area. It's very unfair and wrong, and we took them to court. Though the court ruled that they lied to the public, and ordered them to stop, they continue. DID YOU FACE OPPOSITION WHEN DOING THE GROVE? Yes, but not to this extent. The Beverly Center tried to stop it, but wasn't as vicious as the company that owns the Glendale Galleria. Malls will try to stop such projects because they don't want to reduce their rental rates as a result of the emerging competition. That's what they're trying to prevent. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.