CBS2 Investigation Catches Beverly Hills Shopping Center Wasting Water
BEVERLY HILLS (CBSLA.com) — The Golden State is in its fourth year of extreme drought, and Californians are required by law to help conserve water. But CBS2/KCAL9 Investigative Reporter David Goldstein caught one Beverly Hills shopping center not doing its part.
Steven Demroff of West Los Angeles said he was driving to work one morning on his regular route, passing the corner of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, when he saw a worker power-washing the sidewalk.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," Demroff said. "We're all supposed to do our part. I am. I'm conserving water best I can. And here is a blatant waste of water."
So, he stopped his car and began recording the worker on video. Demroff then contacted Goldstein, who looked into the matter.
Armed with a hidden camera, Goldstein and his investigative team went to the same corner. They recorded the same man washing the sidewalks again with a high-pressure hose. The sidewalks are owned by Two Rodeo, a popular high-end outdoor shopping center featuring designer retailers and upscale restaurants.
The worker walked up and down the entire block, spraying water for more than an hour and allowing the excess to drain into the gutters. That was a violation of state water-conservation regulations.
In March, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted an emergency regulation prohibiting unnecessary water use, including washing down sidewalks and driveways as well as "watering outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes excess runoffs."
Beverly Hills has been named one of California's biggest water guzzlers, even though signs are posted throughout the city requiring consumers to reduce water use by at least 30 percent.
On the parched median along Beverly Drive, posted signs read: "Water to the City's grass medians has been turned off due to the drought."
But it appeared the message didn't trickle down to the man Goldstein caught hosing down Rodeo Drive.
With a camera in tow, Goldstein went to the leasing office at Two Rodeo, where a leasing manager said he did not know what was taking place right outside the building.
"I am not here when he's doing that. I wasn't aware of it," the leasing manager said. "Let me talk to him about it, and we'll take care of it."
But Demroff said the excuse doesn't hold water. "I don't buy that for a second. I cannot believe they are saying that he's not supposed to be doing it."
Goldstein asked to show the video to the mayor of Beverly Hills and the head of the Department of Public Works. Both declined his offer.
The city's public information manager claimed the mayor was too busy. But she did look at the video and said: "It's clearly against city regulations."
She said the building will be cited for violating the city's water-restriction rules. And the leasing director said the power-washing will stop.
The property owner will be cited but not fined because this is a first offense.
If you see water being wasted, call Goldstein at (818) 655-2442 or email him at KCBStvinvestigations@cbs.com.
