Calabasas denies that it wants popular bar annexed only for its tax revenue




MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn  TAX REVENUE GOLDMINE- Calabasas wants to annex Sagebrush Cantina, one of the biggest tax revenue makers for the city of  L.A. Part of the  popular watering hole sits in the  city limits of Calabasas, according to Mayor Lesley Devine.

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn TAX REVENUE GOLDMINE- Calabasas wants to annex Sagebrush Cantina, one of the biggest tax revenue makers for the city of L.A. Part of the popular watering hole sits in the city limits of Calabasas, according to Mayor Lesley Devine.


By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

Many residents probably assume that Sagebrush Cantina is a Calabasas establishment, but it’s really part of the city of Los Angeles. Calabasas officials want the popular bar and restaurant as part of their city.


Calabasas has tried unsuccessfully to annex the Sagebrush Cantina on Calabasas Road at least two times since 1990. It sits just next to the Calabasas border and, according to Mayor Lesley Devine, there’s one table in the restaurant that’s sits right on the city limits of both L.A. and Calabasas.


Calabasas doesn’t want the Sagebrush Cantina for its tax revenues, according to Calabasas City Councilman Michael Harrison. "We’re doing it to get Leonis Adobe," he said.


Leonis Adobe owns the Sagebrush Cantina, the buildings across the street and the ranch next door, which dates back to 1844 and is the oldest home in Calabasas, according to Harrison. It’s the original ranch and headquarters of the Rancho El Escorpion, he said.


"They want to be part of Calabasas," Harrison said, "because that’s where Miguel Leonis lived and he was the king of Calabasas." It’s unfortunate that the Sagebrush Cantina lies on Los Angeles property, according to elected officials in Calabasas.


But the annexation of the Cantina will come at a cost if Calabasas wants it, according to Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine.


"There’s a financial consideration," Zine said. "A question I raise to (Calabasas)… At what benefit would it be to the city of L.A. to surrender that and what would they give us in exchange?"


L.A. officials don’t want to give up one of their busiest bars because the sales tax revenue is impressive.


Both Calabasas and L.A. officials said they don’t have current revenue figures. But Calabasas is conducting research. Calabasas was "supposed to provide some documentation to me. It was never provided," Zine said. "I don’t know what the status is."


Harrison said he doesn’t know, either, how much sales tax revenue is generated from the popular watering hole. He hopes to get the information soon, he said.


"We’re also waiting for the study on the numbers on the sales tax revenues, the property tax revenue, plus the cost to the city of Los Angeles for police and fire protection," said Harrison, who’s optimistic about a possible annexation. "I think we can work out a deal," he said.


Zine isn’t convinced.


"I don’t know what the numbers are," Zine said. "Maybe it’s worth $10 million, I don’t know."


But Zine said he’ll let Calabasas lead the way, he said.


"We’re not doing any research," Zine said. "Obviously, we have possession of that territory and we’re not anxious to surrender it. But if they show good cause and reason and justification in exchange," he said, "we’ll review it and analyze and dissect it and figure out if we’d be willing to do that."


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