Los Angeles City Council just pulled the plug on the Bulgari Resort out in Benedict Canyon this week. Yeah, they said, "Nope, not happening!" This 58-room fancy-pants resort got the green light back in 2017 from the Planning Commission. But hold on, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky from the fifth district decided to rain on the parade. She's all like, "Oh, this place is gonna mess up the environment," and she wanted to yank the approvals.

So, she rallied the troops, and had the council vote on it, and it was a real nail-biter. In May, it was a 7-7 tie, but then in August, it squeezed through with an 8-6 vote. That's when Planning Director Vince Bertoni sent a letter to Gary Safady, the developer, saying, "Sorry, pal, you're outta luck and your project's toast!"

Katy Yaroslavsky is celebrating like she just won the lottery. She's saying it's a huge win for our mountains and hillsides. Apparently, L.A. hasn't had a new hotel in those mountains for a century! But not everyone's thrilled. Mike Gatto, the retired State Assemblyman and Safady's attorney, is fuming. He's saying, "We've been at this for six years, spent millions, played by the rules, and now they pull the rug out from under us. L.A., you got some explaining to do!"

The Bulgari Resort was supposed to be all cozy in the Santa Monica Mountains, north of Beverly Hills. It would've been fancy-schmancy, with 58 hotel rooms, private cribs, a spa, gym, theater, sushi bar, and a swanky restaurant. Some folks thought it'd be a goldmine for the economy, while others screamed, "It's gonna ruin the environment and traffic!"

Mark Levin, the big cheese at Save Our Canyons, a gang of locals against this hotel, is giving Yaroslavsky a high-five. He's saying, "Finally, someone who gets it!" According to him, this project didn't belong in those fire-prone hillsides. Nope, not in his backyard!

Safady, the developer, said he wanted to make this place all eco-friendly and blend in with nature. He's all about sustainability and wildlife. But I guess that wasn't enough for the council.

Now, Gatto, is worried about all the jobs this project would've brought and the message it sends to other developers. He's saying, "If the NIMBYs (that's 'Not In My Backyard' folks) can kill projects this easily, then nothing's gonna get built in L.A.!" Ouch, L.A., that stings!

But here's the kicker, folks. This isn't the first time L.A. said, "Nope!" to a fancy project. Remember that Cheval Blanc hotel project from LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton? Yep, that one got the boot too. And now, they're talking about a Wildlife Ordinance that could cramp the style of mountainside developers all in the name of protecting the environment.

So there you have it, folks, another crazy day in L.A. politics. It's like a wacky movie out here, but instead of Happy Gilmore swinging golf clubs, we've got luxury resorts and environmental battles. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode!