Community Briefs

Monday, July 27, 1998

Community Briefs

Westwood merchants discuss legislation

A group of about 35 Westwood business owners gathered for a
meeting with California State Assemblyman Wally Knox on Friday to
discuss impending state legislation that could affect the
village.

The legislation in question was AB 1768, a bill that proposes to
amend the Pedestrian Mall act so that damages claimed by businesses
affected by a pedestrian mall do not have to be paid until after
construction is completed. The bill would allow developer Ira
Smedra to begin construction on his Village Center Westwood project
without having to settle damage claims until after the project is
completed.

"The way this bill is worded, you can’t be paid until after
construction is done," said Scott Campbell, and attorney
representing the Westwood Homeowners’ Association.

Knox was unable to attend the meeting, but did speak to the
assembled business owners via telephone.

As a result of the meeting, 22 businesses have come out against
the Village Center Westwood.

The bill will go to the state Senate Judiciary Committee on
August 4.

UC attendance

at hearing required

The state Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) has ordered the
University of California to send a representative to a settlement
conference for a former UCLA employee who was fired earlier this
year.

The conference, scheduled for July 30, will attempt to resolve
claims by George Mendoza, a former facilities employee who claims
he was fired because of discussions he had with a union
representative.

Mendoza was fired on March 25, one day after he met with a
representative of the Coalition of University Employees to discuss
filing a grievance against his supervisor.

Deanship goes to Robert Rosen

For the first time in more than seven years, the School of
Theater, Film and Television has a new dean.

Robert Rosen, a professor in the school, has accepted the
deanship and will succeed Gilbert Cates.

Rosen has been chair of the film and television department of
the School of Theater Film and Television since 1991. He has also
served as director of the UCLA Film and Television Archive since he
arrived on campus in 1975.

Rosen has specialized in the history of film and television as
well as criticism and theory.

Before joining the faculty at UCLA, Rosen taught at Columbia
University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Cates will remain at UCLA as a member of the faculty and as
director of the Geffen Playhouse.

"I would like to express my great appreciation to Dean Cates for
his outstanding service, his vision and leadership," Chancellor
Albert Carnesale said in an e-mail announcement to the campus.

UCLA researcher

wins national award

Dr. Ke Shuai, a researcher at the Jonsson Cancer Center, has
received a $100,000 national award to support his cancer
research.

Dr. Shuai’s research involves the study of a protein called
PIAS3. It has the ability to prevent other proteins from serving as
messengers for detrimental cells like cancer and fat cells.

"At the basic research level, our preliminary research offers a
new understanding in how cells communicate with each other," Shuai
said.

Compiled from Daily Bruin staff reports.