Carwashes

An aggressive push to organize thousands of immigrant carwash workers in Southern California has sparked a fierce battle pitting big labor against two brothers who are major players in the Los Angeles carwash industry. The labor movement has emptied its arsenal against Benny and Nisan Pirian, entrepreneurs whose family operates five carwashes in Los Angeles County. The Pirians settled a federal labor complaint last month but still face criminal charges, a class-action suit, a union boycott and recurrent demonstrations.

After repeated warnings, California's labor commissioner filed suit this week against nine carwash businesses, accusing them of violating registration and employment laws. Commissioner Angela Bradstreet sued the businesses Tuesday, saying they had failed to register with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. A similar suit was filed against another carwash business in April.

For the owner of a freeway-hugging carwash, Ed Komski was living a charmed life. His chic, feng shui-inspired Mission Viejo Autohandwash beat mega projects all over the West to win the prestigious Gold Nugget award from the Western Building Show in San Francisco in 1997. Judges praised the design as an inspired model of "high architectural style." Newspapers and magazines splashed photos of him and the building--designed by Bundy/Finkel Architects of Santa Ana--across their pages.

Jeff Serber, who owns the establishment on Sunset just west of Fairfax, refers to it as a "boutique." He's been in the business 10 years, he does the merchandising himself, he knows what sells. The framed art is too new to know how it will do, but the silver picture frames, the votive candle holders, the aromatherapy candles, the manicure sets and miniature sound systems--even the bedroom slippers--are selling well.

The Laguna Beach City Council approved a controversial carwash for north Laguna Beach on Wednesday in an issue that pitted a small-business owner against residents who wanted to preserve the city's village character. The 3-2 vote, with council members Paul Freeman and Toni Iseman dissenting, took place after more than 25 residents spoke out in opposition to the project. Residents cited noise, traffic and safety concerns. Diane Finkbeiner, who lives above the 18,000-square-foot lot at 1369 N.

So much time had passed that Jim Wilson nearly forgot he once operated a carwash in Sherman Oaks near the Cadillac dealership he has owned on Ventura Boulevard for more than 30 years. But when he opened the mail recently, Wilson was painfully reminded of the Casa De Cascade Car Wash, closed in 1980 due to poor revenues. Inside an envelope from the U.S.

The City Council will consider tonight whether a proposed North Laguna Beach carwash, facing neighborhood opposition, will gain final approval. The Planning Commission first approved the carwash in November, but residents appealed the decision to the City Council, saying the project would create too much noise and traffic.

As her Toyota whooshed through an automated carwash in Tustin, Jane McKeefer waited impatiently, glancing often at her watch and muttering about being late. "I had to wash my car," the 28-year-old Orange resident said. "I kept putting it off because I'm cutting back on some of my expenses. But it was getting to the point that the neighborhood kids were writing stuff in the dirt."

The New Year arrives with the glimmer of greater possibilities for 11-year-old Sergio Olivan, after his folks gave him the best squeegee on the block for Christmas. Kids elsewhere might scratch their heads, or howl in protest, at such a gift. But along Hicks Avenue in East Los Angeles, Sergio and his buddies revere a good window-washing tool--especially a deluxe model like Sergio's with a spray bottle built right into the handle.

A worker at a car wash was killed Wednesday when another employee hit him while driving a customer's car from the wash bay to the detailing area, authorities said. The man's name was not released pending notification of relatives. The accident occurred about 4 p.m. at Classic Hand car wash in the 100 block of Wells Place. The man died at the scene.

An aggressive push to organize thousands of immigrant carwash workers in Southern California has sparked a fierce battle pitting big labor against two brothers who are major players in the Los Angeles carwash industry. The labor movement has emptied its arsenal against Benny and Nisan Pirian, entrepreneurs whose family operates five carwashes in Los Angeles County. The Pirians settled a federal labor complaint last month but still face criminal charges, a class-action suit, a union boycott and recurrent demonstrations.

After repeated warnings, California's labor commissioner filed suit this week against nine carwash businesses, accusing them of violating registration and employment laws. Commissioner Angela Bradstreet sued the businesses Tuesday, saying they had failed to register with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. A similar suit was filed against another carwash business in April.

A worker at a car wash was killed Wednesday when another employee hit him while driving a customer's car from the wash bay to the detailing area, authorities said. The man's name was not released pending notification of relatives. The accident occurred about 4 p.m. at Classic Hand car wash in the 100 block of Wells Place. The man died at the scene.

A man was killed Saturday when an air compressor ruptured and exploded at a carwash in Orange. Javier Ulloa, 46, of Long Beach was working at Chevron Car Wash in the 1400 block of West Chapman Avenue when the compressor exploded at 9:25 a.m. Saturday, police said. He was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he died about 3 p.m. The incident is under investigation.

Last week in the suburbs, ash filled the air like snow, and people could be seen going about their day with a surgical mask over the nose and mouth area, a la Michael Jackson. Elsewhere in fashion news, local TV reporters were demonstrating that covering a scary, out-of-control fire, with loss of property and human life, did not mean that it was no longer important to accessorize. Helpful hint No. 189: A nice set of earrings can really bring out the yellow of your fire-resistant jacket.

For the owner of a freeway-hugging carwash, Ed Komski was living a charmed life. His chic, feng shui-inspired Mission Viejo Autohandwash beat mega projects all over the West to win the prestigious Gold Nugget award from the Western Building Show in San Francisco in 1997. Judges praised the design as an inspired model of "high architectural style." Newspapers and magazines splashed photos of him and the building--designed by Bundy/Finkel Architects of Santa Ana--across their pages.

Question: I hand-wash my car to keep the hot water and heavy detergent at the carwash from dulling the finish. Recently, yard sprinklers left my hood covered with water spots. I tried washing the hood--twice--and then I tried waxing it. I even tried Windex. Nothing got the spots out. Should I take it to the carwash, or is there another solution? J.C. * Answer: Hard-water spots typically show up on a dark paint as the minerals suspended in water are deposited as the water evaporates.

The owner of the Studio City Car Wash agreed to reduce the size of a sign depicting a giant hand holding a sponge and a full-size Corvette and move it farther from the street under a no-contest plea agreement, the Los Angeles city attorney said Thursday. Behzad Forat of Studio City pleaded no contest to one count of erecting an illegal sign. He was sentenced to 36 months of summary probation and agreed to provide 200 hours of community service and donate $2,000 to charity.

After losing a court battle last week to keep his giant Studio City carwash sign, owner Ben Forat has decided to end his fight with City Hall and reduce the 26-foot-tall structure. "I don't want to appeal it anymore. I just want to move on," said Forat, who had vowed to take his fight to appellate court. "It's just not worth it." A judge agreed with city officials' decision that the sign should be reduced and moved back from the street.

After losing his court battle to keep his behemoth Studio City carwash sign as is, owner Ben Forat is throwing in the sponge. "I don't want to appeal it anymore. I just want to move on," Forat said Tuesday. "It's just not worth it."