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In a fierce battle that has captivated Hollywood and beyond, renowned producer Charles Rosin has found himself at the center of a heated dispute with progressive activists in Los Angeles. Rosin, known for his work on iconic shows like “90210” and “Dawson’s Creek,” is being harshly criticized by far-left groups, who have branded him a “bigoted puppet-master” due to his opposition to a contentious homeless housing initiative.
The 74-year-old producer has publicly lambasted what he describes as a “devastating” smear campaign orchestrated by social justice advocates. This conflict has put Rosin at loggerheads with the LA Forward group and several City Council candidates, following his vocal campaign against the proposed housing project.
At the heart of the controversy is a plan by Venice Community Housing, a local nonprofit, to construct a 120-unit complex for the homeless. The development, however, comes with a hefty price tag of $2.5 million per unit, a cost that has sparked considerable debate among residents and city officials alike.
Originally conceived a decade ago, the project has stalled, largely due to legal challenges spearheaded by Rosin and his neighbors. They argue that not only is the project excessively expensive, but it also poses environmental concerns and has bypassed necessary procedural scrutiny.
The project, which was first floated ten years ago, has been paused after Rosin and fellow neighbors filed a lawsuit claiming it was too expensive, bad for the environment and did not go through the proper processes.
Far-left City Council candidate Faizah Malik and Venice Community Housing sued the city two years ago for not moving forward with the idea.
The lawsuit accused Mayor Karen Bass, City Attorney Heidi Feldstein Soto and Councilmember Traci Park of siding with a “well-resourced, predominantly white minority” opposed to the project.
They also recently subpoenaed Rosin for all his communications on the matter.
In court documents, organizations fighting for the development painted him as a “bigoted puppet-master,” arguing that he opposed the project because it was proposed by people of color and primarily intended to serve communities of color, the documents say.
But Rosin revealed he is taking the war back to them, ridiculing the bigotry claims and pointing out his opposition is purely based on policy and land use.
He told the California Post: “What makes this so devastating is unless somebody is openly using racist rhetoric or advocating racist policies, how are they supposed to prove they’re not racist?”
He continued: “They have put me in the position of having to spend my own resources trying to prove I’m not a racist, even though there has never been anything in my life to suggest that’s true.
“There are so many examples throughout my life. But how do you prove you’re not racist?” Rosin said he believed his long public record would make clear the fight over Venice Dell was just about land use.
He also said using legal avenues to silence private citizens like him set a dangerous precedence.
He added: “Why should anybody get involved with the tough policy issues facing us if the ultimate consequence is going to be character assassination?
“I erroneously assumed that as an individual, I had the approval of participating because all I ever thought would happen is that eventually the councilman would hear what everybody in the neighborhood was after and look for compromise.”
Last week Rosin was served with court documents after becoming the figurehead for the movement against the project.
He is one of three directors of the Coalition for Safe Coastal Development, a volunteer neighborhood group formed in 2021 to wage a legal and public fight against Venice Dell.
The group said its objections focused on flooding risks, tsunami hazards, traffic, parking loss, beach access and soaring taxpayer costs.
Rosin’s attorney Christian Wrede said the racism accusation became the foundation for the aggressive subpoena campaign targeting him and the tiny volunteer-run group.
He told The Post: “Their theory of relevance was that the coalition was sort of the core of this group of homeless-hating, white racists who somehow got the city’s top brass to do their bidding and squash the project.”
But public records show the project is controversial among more than just the group, with Wrede pointing to the Venice Neighborhood Council’s opposition and LADOT’s warnings about liability concerns.
Some prominent black Venice families also opposed having their name associated with the project, asking to have it removed.
In January, coalition members urged the city to continue fighting the lawsuits, calling the development a “boondoggle under the guise of community benefit” and warning costs could hit $233 million.
Malik, one of the attorneys tied to the original LA Forward lawsuits, entered the City Council race against Park in 2025, with Venice Dell becoming a central campaign issue.
She said: “I was proud to be one of the lead attorneys on the Venice Dell case when it was filed — a fair housing lawsuit on behalf of community members and taxpayers who have been harmed by the years long obstruction of affordable housing on the Westside.
“I cannot comment on recent litigation strategy as I have been ethically walled off from the case since I filed to run for office in order to protect the integrity of the case.”
Attorney Jonathan Jager, from Public Counsel, which is representing LA Forward, added: “Public Counsel represents a nonprofit and Los Angeles residents harmed by the City’s obstruction of a duly approved affordable housing project.
“Our lawsuit is about bringing desperately needed affordable housing to one of the most expensive communities in Los Angeles — housing that will serve disabled residents and people working their way out of homelessness.
“Subpoenas are a standard tool in any litigation, and Mr. Rosin is a material witness. Our clients allege that City officials interfered with this project in part because a vocal group of residents, including Mr. Rosin, opposed affordable housing intended for disabled and formerly unhoused people in their neighborhood.
“This subpoena has nothing to do with Mr. Rosin’s opinions. No one is questioning his right to hold them, and he is not on trial.
“We are seeking documents, pursuant to our rights under state law, that are relevant to our clients’ allegations.
“This process is about uncovering the facts, ensuring accountability, and allowing this fair housing lawsuit to move forward.”