BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • OUT Zones discussed Partly cloudy, pg. 3 slight chance • Suspect of rain charged, pg. 4 Volume 31 No. 35 Serving Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities September 2, 2021 WeHo wages may increase Attorneys claim BHPD targets Blacks n Minimum wage would be adjusted annually n Police chief denies By Brynn mechem West Hollywood’s current mini- allegations, defends mum wage is $13 per hour for As early as Jan. 1, many workers employers with 25 or fewer department actions throughout West Hollywood could employees and $14 per hour for see an increase on their paychecks. employers with 26 or more By AAron Blevins The West Hollywood City employees, compared to the feder- A group of attorneys has filed a Council on Aug. 31 directed staff al minimum wage of $7.25 an hour class-action lawsuit against the to prepare an ordinance that would and the city of Los Angeles rate of Beverly Hills Police Department, increase the city’s minimum wage $15 an hour. West Hollywood’s alleging that officers have repeat- and living wage over the next sev- rates will increase by $1 per hour edly targeted Black individuals eral years. The ordinance will be on Jan. 1. through a task force that patrols brought before the council at its The new ordinance would also Rodeo Drive. Oct. 18 meeting. allow wages to be increased annu- On Sept. 1, attorneys Ben “I’ve seen what minimum wage ally with the consumer price index. Crump, Brad Gage and Mark standards and poverty level wages Businesses with 26 or more Harris held a press conference to have caused. That’s a lack of employees would see the CPI announce the lawsuit, which was health care, a lack of security,” added in 2022, while businesses filed on Aug. 30 on the behalf of said Councilman John Erickson, with 25 or fewer employees would tourists Khalil White and Jasmine who made the motion. “We’re not see it added in 2023 when they are Williams, as well as the general doing anything radical here. We scheduled to reach $15 an hour. public. have to find a compromise and The City Council directed staff “This is California. You would move forward.” See Council page 21 think we were more progressive than this, but what it’s telling us is that until we confront implicit bias head-on, until we confront racism head-on, until we confront dis- crimination head-on everywhere in America, there is a threat for Black people to face grave injus- tices,” Crump told reporters. He is among a handful of attor- neys representing White and Williams, two Philadelphia resi- dents who were arrested on Sept. 7, 2020, after riding scooters on Rodeo Drive, according to the photo by Aaron Blevins lawsuit. Attorney Ben Crump speaks outside Beverly Hills City Hall on Sept. 1. Crump said their “only crime He was joined by attorneys Brad Gage and Mark Harris and the plain- tiffs, Khalil White and Jasmine Williams. See Department page 21 photo by Edwin Folven Motorcycle officers are just one resource being implemented to reduce traffic and prevent crime. Homeless housing proposal moves forward All eyes on Melrose Avenue n City to analyze Cochran, Highland sites n Law enforcement the Melrose area in recent weeks, and the approach appears to be per Raman’s motion increases patrols to paying off. The LAPD has By AAron Blevins address crime, traffic deployed motorcycle, car and bike patrols and used undercover oper- Two motions by Los Angeles ations to maintain a high visibility By edwin folven City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, in the area. 4th District, to analyze the feasibili- The Melrose Action “Our robberies are down [over ty of converting two city-owned Neighborhood Watch held a virtu- the past week]. I am saying that properties in the Miracle Mile and al town hall meeting on Aug. 31 with a little hesitation because I Hollywood into affordable or per- focusing on crime and traffic in the don’t want to jinx that situation, manent supportive housing has community. Organized by Peter but we are making progress,” been approved. Nichols, co-founder of the Dantzler said, adding that the two The Los Angeles City Council on Melrose Action Neighborhood robberies that were reported over Aug. 25 approved the motion, Watch, and hosted by Thao Tran, the previous week were unrelated which will facilitate a study of the chair of the Mid City West and involved suspects robbing sites at 728 S. Cochran Ave. and photo by Edwin Folven Community Council’s Public someone they knew as opposed to 1905 N. Highland Ave. to see if they Cathedral Chapel School principal Tina Kipp, left, and Councilwoman Safety Committee, the meeting random victims. “Our standard are underutilized and suitable for Nithya Raman, 4th District, spoke at the end of July. provided information from city robberies that we are used to get- such housing. departments and staff members on ting in the area are down. Overall Raman discussed her initiative “We have felt for some time that before deadline. efforts to address issues and crime is down in the area. The virtually with members of the it was impossible to take a stance, According to the motions, which improve public safety. biggest problem that we are expe- Miracle Mile Residential because we don’t really know are nearly identical, Raman’s inten- Senior Lead Officer D’Antraye riencing now … we are starting to Association on Aug. 27. While the what’s being proposed,” he said. tion is to help address the city’s Dantzler, with the Los Angeles see that burglaries are on the rise. Mid City West Community Council “That’s our problem.” “affordable housing shortage and Police Department’s Wilshire That’s division-wide, but it is has voiced support for the proposal, Raman’s office sent information corresponding homelessness cri- Division, said the department has something we have to watch out the association remains undecided, related to her motions but did not sis.” They call for the city’s admin- devoted significant resources to See Melrose page 22 President Greg Goldin said. respond to requests for comment See Motions page 22 2 September 2, 2021 Beverly Press/Park Labrea News CALENDAR “Carla Jay Harris: A Season in the Malcolm X, Ida B. Wells, James Gershwin Wilderness,” the artist’s first solo Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Maya exhibition with the gallery running Angelou, Richard Pryor, Tupac and Bonds from Saturday, Sept. 4, through Shakur and Nina Simone. What fol- Soprano Julia Bullock will perform Saturday, Oct. 30. The exhibition lows is “A Heated Discussion,” with a selection of songs by George was created in response to the pan- viewpoints, comments and solutions Gershwin and Margaret Bonds, one demic and social unrest that have that are as diverse as the individuals of the first occurred due to COVID-19. In a in the mix of personalities. Black com- series of large-scale works on paper, Admission is free, but reservations posers to gain Harris crafts an allegory for grief are required. therobeytheatrecompa- recognition in featuring a collection of archetypal ny.org/our-events. the U.S., on characters on an emotional journey Thursday, Sept. through a surreal landscape. An 2, at 8 p.m. at photo courtesy of Councilman Mitch O’Farrell’s office artist's reception will be held on the Hollywood Behind the Councilman Mitch O’Farrell joined city leaders in applauding the Sept. 18, from 3-6 p.m. 1110 Mateo Bowl. Bonds is approval of a new goal to produce 100% clean energy by 2035. St. luisdejesus.com/contact. Book series known for her arrangements of spir- CaltechLive! continues the Behind ituals and collaborations with the Book authors series with Langston Hughes. Joining Bullock Professor Cindy Weinstein present- will be pianist Aaron Diehl, who will Classical concert Mount Wilson Observatory ing a virtual lecture on Thursday, perform Gershwin’s “I Got Sept. 9, at 5 p.m. Weinstein’s book L.A. commits to clean energy Rhythm.” Tickets start at $12. 2301 announces the next Sunday Afternoon Concert in the Dome on “Finding the Right Words: A Story The Los Angeles City Council on The council also approved a N. Highland Ave. (323)850-2000, Sept. 1 passed a motion requiring related motion from O’Farrell and Sunday, Sept. 5. Two performances of Literature, Grief, and the Brain” hollywoodbowl.com. follows the author’s decades-long that 100% of the city’s electricity Krekorian that will create a strate- will be held at 3 and 5 p.m. under the vaulted dome of the observato- journey to come come from clean, zero-carbon ener- gic plan for equitable workforce ry’s 100-inch telescope. Artistic to terms with gy by 2035. hiring for new green jobs. Dominic Fike Director Cécilia Tsan curates the her father's Through a motion introduced by Krekorian said the LADWP has Goldenvoice presents an in-person series. The Lounge Art Ensemble dementia and councilmen Mitch O’Farrell, 13th already taken steps toward achiev- concert by Dominic Fike on returns, led by Weather Report death, as both a District, ad Paul Krekorian, 2nd ing its 100% clean energy goal, lay- Thursday, Sept. 2, at 9 p.m. at The drummer Peter Erskine. The jazz daughter and District, the Los Angeles ing the groundwork to accommo- Roxy. The singer, songwriter and trio also features saxophonist Bob academic. In Department of Water and Power date 580,000 electric vehicles and multi-instrumentalist is known for Sheppard and bassist Darek Oles. collaboration will lead the nation in commitment adding more than 1,000 megawatts the song “3 Nights.” Proof of vacci- Tickets are $50.