Tenants at one of the city's top business addresses are howling about an unexpected spike in annual fees.
Typically, so-called "common area maintenance" fees – covering janitorial services, property taxes and such – undergo adjustments every year to reflect costs. But at 555 Capitol Mall, they appear to have shot up exponentially, according to half-a-dozen professionals with longtime leases in the building.
"Surprise doesn't begin to describe my view on this," says Lance Olson, co-managing partner at the Olson, Hagel & Fishburn law firm.
He says his firm recently was billed an amount more than double last year's payment.
Others say their annual fee is up 300 percent.
Some wonder about the PR fallout from the fee hikes, considering the building is already losing two of its anchor tenants, Downey Brand LLP and McDonough Holland & Allen.
Building managers aren't commenting in detail on the issue, other than to say Plaza Five Fifty Five's maintenance expenses are available for any tenant to review.
Numerous meetings are taking place this week between management and tenants who have complained about the fee hikes.
We'll let you know what we hear.
Law's long arm: Sacramentans are still getting dunned for undeserved traffic tickets.
The latest victim: Local dentist Philip Quinley, who received a notice two weeks ago that he owed $70 for supposedly parking illegally near the La Brea Tar Pits in downtown Los Angeles on July 10.
Only problem: Quinley was in Sacramento that day, treating patients.
That evening he and his family attended a Monarchs game.
And the car that was ticketed?
It's a 31-year-old Volvo "that's not even capable of making it to L.A.," quips the Sacramento dentist.
Quinley appealed the fine to L.A.'s parking violation bureau and says he received a form letter back saying essentially, "You have to pay it."
But there's a happy ending to this story.
An official with L.A.'s transportation department says a parking enforcement officer apparently wrote down the wrong license plate number.
"It shouldn't have happened, and it will be resolved," says spokesman Bruce Gillman.
Political grace: Auburn media executive Greg Flessing is back from what he calls a "crazy" weekend with Barack Obama and John McCain.
Flessing's company, Fresh Air Media, was hired to produce and direct the candidates' "civil forum" held Saturday with the Rev. Rick Warren at Saddleback Church in Orange County.
Flessing and his crew arrived in Southern California Friday and worked all night getting cameras in place and setting up production and satellite trucks to provide a feed to CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and others.
"I got about two hours of sleep," says Flessing.
The next night wasn't much better.
The Fresh Air crew had to prepare for a second gig, broadcasting Warren's Sunday morning services.
Flessing, who made a name for himself producing and broadcasting sermons by evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, was enthused about the weekend, despite his grueling schedule.
Going in, he hoped the faith-based event would provide a "tone of civility," allowing Obama and McCain to discuss their values "without taking down the other candidate."
He feels that was accomplished. We agree.
Will the political politeness last? Silly question.
Reach Bob Shallit at (916) 321-1049. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/shallit.
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