The Region - News from May 17, 1987

Members of the exclusive California Club who are worried that they might lose control over their membership selection process have sought help from state Franchise Tax Board member Conway Collis. Collis confirmed that club members asked him to draft new regulatory language that would clarify the club’s right to reject undesirable applicants for reasons other than race or sex. The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote May 26 on an ordinance that would prohibit the city’s private clubs from arbitrarily discriminating on the basis of sex, race or religion. The California Club has never had a woman or black member in its century-long history. Club officials are apparently concerned that they might be vulnerable to lawsuits from rejected candidates if the proposed ordinance becomes law.