Crossroads Project Draws Ire of Activists N Displacement of for ‘Draconian’ New Laws Current Residents at N L.A
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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Updates on Ed Buck. pg. 4 Partly cloudy, • Canter’s waitress with highs in retires after 55 the low 70s years. pg. 9 Volume 29 No. 14 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities April 4, 2019 Local cities condemn Brunei Crossroads project draws ire of activists n Displacement of for ‘draconian’ new laws current residents at n L.A. councilman calls Hotel Bel-Air and Beverly Hills the site under dispute Hotel in protest of “draconian” penal- for boycott of two hotels ties for homosexuality now in effect By cameron kiszla owned by the monarchy in Brunei. The royal family of Brunei owns the hotels. On Jan. 22, the Crossroads Hollywood project, which aims to By luke harold Death sentences by stoning for same-sex acts and adultery, public bring nine buildings, 950 apart- Los Angeles City Councilman flogging for women who receive ments, 308 hotel rooms and Paul Koretz and Controller Ron 190,000 square feet of commercial Galperin called for a boycott of the See Brunei page 25 space to the area around the Crossroads of the World at 6671 Sunset Blvd., passed the Los Angeles City Council by a vote of 13-0. An initial vote was held that same day and passed 15-0, but fol- rendering courtesy of Harridge Development Group lowing further public comment, The Crossroads Hollywood project from Harridge Development Group City Attorney Mike Feuer called for passed the Los Angeles City Council in January, but it’s still the subject a second vote, for which of criticism by the Coalition to Preserve LA. Councilmen Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, and Curren Price, 9th District, were absent. she stood outside O’Farrell’s Sunset require a zoning change, said the Though it had overwhelming Boulevard office with a handful of Crossroads project would displace support, not everyone is a fan of the Coalition supporters; Matthew more than 100 residents in the near- project. Strugar, an attorney representing the by Selma Las Palmas Apartments. On a mid-March morning, Jill organization; and a large cutout of a The complex would be demolished Stewart, executive director of the rat. to make room for the new buildings. Coalition to Preserve LA and an Stewart, an activist who also Stewart said the rat was meant to advocate for banning developer helped lead the charge to support represent O’Farrell, whom Stewart campaign contributions to Los Measure S, the failed proposal from said took money from Harridge photo by Aaron Blevins Angeles City Council members, 2017 that sought a two-year morato- Development Group, the company Dorchester Collection, which owns the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel railed against the development as rium on new projects that would See Activists page 26 Bel-Air, said it denounces any sort of discrimination Shane’s Inspiration celebrates 20 years WeHo light rail extension n Griffith Park playground has staying on the fast track welcomed a generation By cameron kiszla Library, which was bursting at the of children seams with people who came to ask On March 28, representatives of questions and make their opinions By edwin folven the Los Angeles County heard about an extension of the light Metropolitan Transportation rail Crenshaw/LAX Line. For Max Akins, who has cerebral Authority held a meeting in the com- palsy, having a playground where he munity room at the West Hollywood See Metro page 26 feels comfortable and can enjoy the company of others is paramount. At least once a week, Max’s care- giver Clo Farias brings him from Winnetka to the Shane’s Inspiration playground in Griffith Park, a space designed with special play structures accessible to children with disabili- ties. The idea behind Shane’s Inspiration was to create a place where all children can play together, regardless of their physical ability. It photo by Edwin Folven has made a big difference in Max’s Caregiver Clo Farias said he brings Max Akins, who has cerebral life. palsy, to the Shane’s Inspiration playground in Griffith Park so he can “He likes to come here and it’s enjoy the outdoors and interact with other children. map courtesy of Metro nice to be out in the outdoors,” At a meeting hosted by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Farias said during a recent visit to the with the other kids. He can’t say See Playground page 25 Transportation Authority at the West Hollywood Library, five potential playground with Max. “He interacts much, but you can see he enjoys it. routes were presented for an extension of the Crenshaw/LAX Line. 2 April 4, 2019 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Corky Hale Kwaczala on Saturday, April 6, at 7:30 feature works by Saint-Saens, Bach, p.m. at UCB Sunset. Kwaczala presents Chopin and Scharwenka. Guests will book signing his interactive game show in which also enjoy French Champagne and a audience contestants are quizzed on high tea buffet catered by Patina. Legendary jazz musician Corky Hale their knowledge of the weird corners of Tickets are $85; $45 for students. 135 will sign and discuss her book “Corky the internet. Expect obscure video clips, N. Grand Ave. (310)498-0257, lesalon- Hale-Uncorked!” on Thursday, April 4, games and special guests including Peri demusiques.com. at 7 p.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore in Gilpin (“Frasier”), Marg Helgenberger Pasadena. The book tells the extraordi- (“CSI”) and Jimmy Pardo (“Never Not nary life story of Funny”). Admission is $12. 5419 Sunset Japanese dance the irrepressible Blvd. sunset.ucbtheatre.com/perfor- Lecturer and performer Umekawa jazz harpist, mance/68307. Ichinosuke presents “A Revolution in pianist, vocalist, Movement: The Traditional and pioneering social Innovative World of Dance” on Monday, activist and phil- City attorney older April 8, at 7 p.m. at the Japan Foundation, anthropist. Hale Los Angeles. Ichinosuke will demon- has worked with adults panel strate classical Japanese dance and the superstars of many Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer unique folk dance buyo. The presentation generations including Frank Sinatra, will host a panel discussion for older also includes movements to master basic Barbra Streisand, Billie Holliday, Tony adults on Sunday, performance. Admission is free, registra- Bennett, Liberace, Bjørk and George April 7, at noon at tion required. 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. Michael, as well as her husband of St. Sophia 100. (323)761-7510, jflalc.org. almost 50 years, Mike Stoller, of the Cathedral. Feuer legendary songwriting and producing will be joined by team, Leiber and Stoller. Hale is also actor and singer performing on Saturday, April 6, at 8 James Darren, p.m. at the Catalina Bar and Grill, 6725 who is working W. Sunset Blvd. The book will be avail- and thriving in his able for purchase during the event at 80s, as well as Joyce Riley, directing Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado attorney at Bet Tzedek, and Dr. Daniel Blvd., Pasadena. (626)449-5320, Stone, a gerontologist and medical corkyhale.com. director of Cedars-Sinai Valley Integrated Network. RSVP required. Book Sale 1324 S. Normandie Ave. (213)978- 8026, or email [email protected]. Book lovers can find rarities and bar- gains at the John C. Fremont Library’s photo by Jeff Lorch book sale on Friday, April 5, from noon to 4 p.m., and Saturday, April 6, from Blake Boyd and Marlene Galan star in “The Things We Do,” a production ‘Tap Dance noon to 5 p.m. CDs, DVDs, audio running from Saturday, April 6, through Friday, May 12, at the Odyssey Widows Club’ books and videos will also be offered. Theatre. The play is a painfully funny look at modern relationships and 6121 Melrose Ave. (323)962-3521. asks the question, “Once trust is broken, how do you get it back?” In the Los Angeles Choreographers & Dancers presents a multimedia/dance production, Bill falls for Sarah, but she is married to Ted. Ted might be a version of “Tap Dance Widows Club” ‘Oil in the Blood’ good match for Alice, who is married to Bill. Showtimes are 8 p.m., on Sunday, April 7, at 1:30 p.m. at the Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m., Sunday. Tickets start at $15. 2055 S. Enjoy a free screening of “Oil in the Culver City Senior Center. Past and pre- Blood” on Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m. at Sepulveda Blvd. (310)477-2055 ext. 2, odysseytheatre.com. sent combine for an eclectic celebration the Petersen Automotive Museum. of life. The 50-minute film and live Custom motorcycle culture is experi- dance production tells a story of the love encing a renaissance. Bikes that used to Pete Seeger tribute McDaniel, with special guests Ross of three performers for their late hus- be a sign of rebellion are being cus- Altman, Michele Brourman, Matt bands, and the bond it created between tomized, modified and changed, and Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum them. Admission is free. 4095 Overland Cartsonis, Earnestine Phillips, Gerald are now a sign of individuality. “Oil in presents award-winning activist record- C. Rivers, Elizabeth Tobias and more. Ave. lachoreographersanddancers.org. the Blood” is a documentary on the ing artists Emma’s Revolution (Pat Tickets are $25. 1419 N. Topanga contemporary custom motorcycle cul- Humphries and Sandy O), personal Canyon Blvd. (310)455-2322, the- ture. The screening is part of a pre- friends of the late Pete Seeger, perform- atricum.com. Le Salon de release tour for the movie. 6060 ing in the “Re-PETE Seeger Centennial Wilshire Blvd. petersen.org Celebration” on Saturday, April 6, at 1 Musiques p.m.