By Brian CHERNICK

The Glendale City Council on Tuesday expressed its solidarity with residents after an hour of statements from residents in response to Americana at Brand’s decision to reject a request to use billboard space to advertise a documentary film that focused on the Armenian genocide.

Residents urged council members to take action against the Americana, with a number of speakers calling for a boycott of the outdoor mall, which is owned by Caruso Affiliates. The rejection was particularly poignant as a majority of Glendale’s residents are Armenian, all of whom claim to be descendants of those who survived the Genocide, according to the Armenian National Committee (ANC).

“I’m shocked and offended the way this was handled,” Mayor Vartan Gharpetian said. “Our community wanted Americana. We voted for it.”

Gharpetian referenced an ordinance that limits billboard advertisements on Colorado Boulevard to businesses within the Americana, but stated other options should have been offered.

“Instead of saying, ‘Look you can’t advertise there, but we have other advertising spaces inside the Americana [that are not limited to Americana businesses],’” Gharpetian said.

State Senator Anthony Portantino also expressed his support during the meeting and shared a letter he had written to Caruso Affiliates, urging they reconsider their decision.

The documentary, titled “Architects of Denial” produced by Dean Cain and Montel Williams, features stories told by Genocide survivors and explores the history and ongoing denial by some of the Armenian Genocide, which occurred throughout the early 1900s.

The ANC reached out to management at the Americana, requesting a reversal on the decision on the advertisement that, according to Caruso management, was rejected for being “too political.” The denial of advertising space was reportedly decided based on subject matter alone, according to Margarita Baghdasaryan, ANC’s outreach director, after hearing from the film’s producers.

Councilmembers agreed to bring the ordinance in question to agenda to discuss in greater detail, with Councilmember Ara Najarian requesting a list be produced for examination of other businesses that have been denied advertising space.

The meeting also saw the nomination of councilmember Vrej Agajanian to the Eco-Rapid Transit board of directors, with Gharpetian serving as the alternative.

“I would like to thank my fellow councilmembers for putting their trust in me and appointing me to this important commission,” Agajanian said following the nomination.

  Brian CHERNICK