L.A. City and County Take Extraordinary Steps During Coronavirus
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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Standoff at gas station pg. 4 Cloudy, with • Restaurants feel highs in the coronavirus 60s impact pg. 6 Volume 30 No. 12 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities March 19, 2020 Beverly Hills bunkers down L.A. city and county take extraordinary n Retailers closed, restaurants to-go and delivery only BY CAMERON KISZLA steps during coronavirus emergency On March 16, the Beverly Hills n City Council cancels City Council added to the numer- ous actions the city has taken to committee meetings; combat the spread of the coron- full council to only avirus pandemic. Beverly Hills had already formed meet once per week the COVID-19 (Novel Corona - BY EDWIN FOLVEN virus) Advisory Committee to inform city policy and help reduce Government leaders in the city the spread of the virus through and county of Los Angeles have proactive measures; postponed taken numerous steps to prevent events and activities like the city’s the spread of coronavirus or annual Employee Awards COVID-19. As of March 18, the Luncheon, Mayor’s Sing-Along Los Angeles County Department planned for April 1, the Beverly of public health has reported 190 Hills Chamber of Commerce’s photo courtesy of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office cases countywide. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined representatives from grocery Innovate Beverly Hills event and Los Angeles Mayor Eric store chains and suppliers to assure that food supplies are stable. others; launched a COVID-19 Garcetti on March 15 ordered all Hotline – (310)550-4680 – that will photo by Laurenz Heymann/courtesy of Unsplash The Beverly Hills City Council met bars and nightclubs that do not sell be staffed Monday through Friday food to close through March 31, as may not serve food for consump- people and observe social distanc- virtually for eight hours on March from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to answer well as movie theaters, entertain- tion on premises. Grocery stores ing practices. questions about the coronavirus and 16 to discuss the city’s response to ment venues, arcades, bowling remain open and there is no threat The Los Angeles City Council public health; closed park commu- the coronavirus pandemic. alleys, gyms and fitness centers. to the food supply, Garcetti said. held a meeting on March 17 to nity centers and canceled preschool The Los Angeles County Board of Many shopping centers including consider responses to the coron- and afterschool programs; and cil met through a teleconference to Supervisors extended the regula- The Grove and Original Farmers avirus emergency. The council has closed City Hall to the public, rely- ratify the local emergency that was tions countywide on March 16. Market are also open and have canceled all committee meetings ing instead on virtual participation declared by City Manager George Restaurants, bars that sell food increased hygiene and cleaning and will meet only on Tuesdays for city commission meetings. Chavez the day before. While and retail food facilities may con- protocols and are practicing social through the end of March. The On March 16, the virtual meeting See City page 21 tinue to offer food for delivery, distancing. Houses of worship are plan was put to the test as the coun- takeout and in drive-throughs, but urged to limit gatherings to 50 See Supervisors page 22 Farmers’ market to stay at current site WeHo plans to lease Log n Plans call for Larchmont Farmers’ Cabin from Beverly Hills Market to coexist with n Despite coronavirus, new pocket park 12-step meetings to BY EDWIN FOLVEN continue Los Angeles City Councilman BY JOSE HERRERA David Ryu, 4th District, announced on March 14 that plans will allow After months of discussions the Larchmont Farmers’ Market to between the cities of Beverly remain at its current location in the Hills and West Hollywood, both 200 block of North Larchmont parties have agreed upon a deal Boulevard while also accommodat- for the Log Cabin and parking lot ing a small pocket park and play- which would allow the city of ground at the site. West Hollywood to enter a lease The plan precludes the need for agreement with an option to pur- the farmers’ market to relocate and chase the property. Negotiations enables all vendors to remain. photo courtesy of the Larchmont Farmers’ Market for the property, however, are still photo by Jose Herrera Construction of the approximately The public can purchase fresh produce, flowers and other goods from being finalized. The Log Cabin hosts weekly 12- West Hollywood City Council 1,200-square-foot pocket park and the merchants at the Larchmont Farmers’ Market, which will remain on step programs for people recov- members directed city staff to playground is anticipated to occur Sundays in the 200 block of North Larchmont Boulevard. ering from various addictions. from April through June, but the move forward with the lease to market will remain open and ven- market is operated by the company same location [for now].” purchase agreement with the city dors will be reconfigured around Raw Inspiration from 10 a.m. to 2 Melissa Farwell, director of coor- of Beverly Hills, which currently important these meetings are for the project, which will occupy six p.m. every Sunday. dination and development for Raw owns the property located at 617- sobriety.” spaces in the lot. The farmers’ mar- “I want to make it absolutely Inspiration, said the market has 621 N. Robertson Blvd., during a Duran, who has been attending ket is part of an essential food dis- clear, the Larchmont Farmers’ grown over the years and the oper- meeting on Monday, March 16. 12-step meetings for 22 years, tribution network of businesses that Market is not leaving Larchmont,” ators would like to move some- “When I heard the city of added the Log Cabin is a place are remaining open to serve the Ryu said. “I love the farmers’ mar- where else nearby if a site is identi- Beverly Hills was looking to get dedicated to 12-step programs. public during the coronavirus emer- ket. I do not and would not support fied, but the market will remain in rid of the Log Cabin and redevel- Each week, between 24 to 29 12- gency, although additional mea- any plans that threaten the farmers’ its current location until other plans op the land, something had to be step meetings at the Log Cabin sures will be in place to ensure market. The farmers’ market is done,” Councilman John Duran hygiene and social distancing. The going nowhere and is staying in that See Raw page 22 said. “We want to express how See Lions page 21 2 March 19, 2020 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press WeHo responds to COVID-19 pandemic n precautions knowing that.” termination is proclaimed by the Steps are taken to Lauren Langer, deputy city attor- City Council. ensure safety and ney, and Paul Arevalo, city manager, “As you know, things are chang- protect residents presented three urgency items that ing hourly, we are learning new would provide services and create things hourly,” Langer said.“When an emergency fund for residents and drafting this resolution, we tried to By Jose herrera local businesses as part of the city’s capture the issues that were of The city of West Hollywood has declaration of a local emergency. utmost importance at the moment.” declared a local emergency in City staff worked for approxi- The city resolution took effect response COVID-19. mately four weeks on creating con- Monday, March 16, and enabled the Kristen Munde, a regional health tingency plans in case COVID-19 city to mobilize local resources, officer from the Los Angeles County escalated in Los Angeles County, coordinate interagency responses, of Department of Public Health, and ultimately, the city of West collect vital supplies at a faster rate, Hollywood. City Council members use mutual aid and allow for future confirmed additional cases of photo by Jose Herrera COVID-19 during a West voted unanimously on all three reimbursement by the state and fed- The West Hollywood City Council has declared a local emergency in Hollywood City Council meeting on urgency items which consisted of a eral governments. Monday, March 16. There are now resolution from the city, emergency The resolution will work in tan- response to the coronavirus. Multiple urgency items were approved at a 190 cases in the county, and 11 of supportive services and a temporary dem with orders from the L.A. City Council meeting on March 16, including a temporary moratorium on them have been confirmed in West moratorium on evictions for non- County Department of Public evictions for nonpayment of rent and emergency supportive services. Hollywood, as of Wednesday, payment of rent during the COVID- Health to close all bars, nightclubs, March 18. 19 pandemic. gyms, movie theaters, live perfor- “There’s community transmis- The City Council will review, and mance venues and place restrictions that take-out orders are picked up “I think what is going to slow or sion,” Munde said. “We have to as needed renew, these actions at on restaurants until March 31. by a single person and social dis- deter the influx of people entering assume that [COVID-19] is [spread- least every 60 days. The local emer- Restaurants can recieve take-out tance is maintained in any necessary the city is just businesses closing,” gency will continue to exist until its orders and deliver them, provided queuing. ing] all over, and we have to take See WeHo page 4 from Feuer’s office discovered recommended precautions, such as Feuer, Lacey warn about scams during emergency alleged false advertising from the vigilant hand-washing and social Los Angeles-area company CEN distancing, contacted the company.