L.A. Times Sunday, March 4, 2001

News from Westside in the Times  Community Newspaper

Robert Scheer

Puck sends a message to  Austria

Wolfgang Puck, the famed Austrian chef, provides the best comment  yet on his native country's attempt to keep paintings stolen by the Nazis  from 85-year-old Cheviot Hills resident Maria Altmann: "I feel strongly that  they should go back to their rightful owner. If the Nazis took my restaurant away, I would want it back too."

Puck was born in Austria in  1949, after the Nazis were interned in the dust bin of history, and since 1973 has been living in this country, where he is the most successful  restaurateur of his time. I even like his frozen pizzas, and I'm not saying  that just because he gives good quote.

More impressive was the time about a year ago when I accompanied then-state Labor Commissioner Jose Millan on a  series of unannounced inspections of Westside restaurants and was impressed  that Puck's places received the highest grades for providing healthy and safe working conditions.

Now, if we can only get that other famed Austrian  native, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to comment, maybe the Austrian government will  get the message that the unseemly attempt to keep stolen Nazi art is not good  for its image, particularly given the alarming rise of the neo-Nazi movement in the old homeland.

The case will go to trial this month in L.A., and  what is most at issue is the famous Gustav Klimt paintings of Altmann's aunt.  I'm not saying all great art belongs in Cheviot Hills, but we can't accept the principle that the Nazis were legitimate art collectors.

ZUADE KAUFMAN contributed to this column. Tips and comments may be sent  by e-mail to zkaufman@earthlink.net .