BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Arrests in WeHo killing pg. 4 Sunny, with • Community highs in the mourns Morrie 70s Flaster pg. 6 Volume 31 No. 7 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities February 18, 2021 Term limits headed to Take a weekend stroll on Robertson n WeHo council votes to make stretch of ballot in Beverly Hills Robertson pedestrian- n Retroactivity is a sticking point for council members only on weekends BY CAMERON KISZLA sidered sooner if the state BY JUSTIN SAYERS Legislature schedules an election The voters of Beverly Hills will before then. The West Hollywood Council decide if City Council members Vice Mayor Robert Wunderlich unanimously voted to move for- and the city treasurer will be subject and Councilman John Mirisch ward with a plan to turn a popular to term limits. voted against the ordinance because stretch for dining and nightlife The council voted 3-2 to put a it includes a stipulation that the into a pedestrian-only area on the three-term limit on the June 7, 2022 term limits will apply retroactively, weekends. ballot – the next regularly sched- including past and current terms The move initiates a three- uled election – though the door was See page month pilot program to close left open for the matter to be con- Council 21 North Robertson Boulevard just south of Santa Monica Boulevard – home to popular spots like Pump photo by Justin Sayers Restaurant and Lounge, the Abbey This stretch of North Robertson Boulevard will be pedestrian-only on Food and Bar and SUR Restaurant weekends by the spring. and Lounge – to vehicles starting at 6 p.m. on Saturdays until 2 a.m. on Mondays. They’ll return to council three After the vote, which came just City staff will reach out to busi- months after it starts to reassess after midnight on Wednesday, nesses and adjacent neighbor- the program. D’Amico joked that he could hoods to alleviate any remaining Councilman John D’Amico, resign. concerns, including parking, traf- who initiated the proposal along- “It’s all I ever wanted to do – fic and patron access, before side Councilman John Erickson, was to close Robertson implementing the pilot project. had proposed a similar pedestrian- Boulevard,” he said. There is no start date for the clo- only plan for the road back in In an interview, D’Amico said photo by Cameron Kiszla sure, although officials said 2012, but it failed after pushback his onus for reintroducing the Beverly Hills voters will get to decide on a three-term limit for City Council they’re targeting the spring, and from businesses and the previous members and treasurer in 2022. more specifically, mid-April. council. See Robertson page 21 Enforcement continues on Melrose Avenue O’Farrell: ‘There is light n Beginning of 2021 shows rise in robberies at the end of the tunnel’ BY EDWIN FOLVEN n Councilman touts answer the question “Where do we go from here?” Police plan to continue maintain- pandemic progress in After nearly a year of pandem- ing a strong presence in the Melrose State of Hollywood ic-related economic and public- Avenue shopping district in an address health impacts – as well as the effort to reduce violent crime that lingering issues of 2019 and has been occurring over the past BY CAMERON KISZLA before – O’Farrell pushed for two months. positivity in his speech and the From Jan. 1 to Feb. 11, robberies In presenting the annual State ensuing Q&A period. increased 60% in the Los Angeles of Hollywood address to the “We must face our challenges Police Department’s Wilshire Hollywood Chamber of head-on, openly and without Division over the same time last Commerce on Feb. 11, Los delay, but keeping in mind that year, with 20 more hold-ups than in Angeles City Councilman Mitch 2020. Overall violent crimes are also O’Farrell, 13th District, sought to See Hollywood page 22 up, with 18 more occurring than dur- ing the same period in early 2020. photo by Edwin Folven The increase is tied to robberies Police are trying to address a recent robbery spree that has been occur- in the Melrose area in which people ring in the Melrose Avenue shopping district. wearing expensive jewelry are tar- geted, Wilshire Division Capt. lapdonline.org. On Tuesday, police Paulson said the robberies are Shannon Paulson said. At least asked for the public’s help in iden- likely tied to a crew and suspects seven street robberies have tifying two male suspects in the may be following victims wearing occurred since Jan. 30 in which video who can be seen knocking expensive jewelry as they leave Rolex watches were stolen from the victim to the ground, robbing restaurants or stores. At least two victims, she said. him at gunpoint and stealing a similar hold-ups in which expen- One armed robbery occurred at Rolex watch. The suspects drove up sive jewelry was stolen have also approximately 4 p.m. on Jan. 30 in in a white compact car as the victim occurred recently on Third Street the 700 block of North Vista Street was either getting into or out of a near La Cienega Boulevard. and security camera footage was parked vehicle on Vista Street near Authorities said the suspects may photo by Cameron Kiszla found showing the hold-up. It can Melrose Avenue, and quickly fled Struggling Hollywood businesses could soon see help from the fed- be viewed by visiting after the robbery. See Melrose page 22 eral government, Councilman Mitch O’Farrell said. 2 February 18, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press CALENDAR vided advice about infection control ‘Intersect 21’ Art Deco Society practices and public health guidance to Edward Cella Art and Architecture The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles Jewish educational institutions, syna- presents “3 By 7” within “Intersect is holding a virtual discussion on the gogues and community programs dur- 21,” a new virtual set of exhibitions art of Tamara de Lempicka on ing the pandemic. Proceeds will be of artwork from 21 galleries in Saturday, Feb. 20, at 3 p.m. De used for loans to people impacted by Southern California, the Middle East Lempicka’s com- the pandemic. jfla.org/events/a-virtu- and North Africa running from ing of age as an al-event-for-covid-relief. Thursday, Feb. 18, through Monday, artist in Paris Feb. 22. The gallery’s entry in the coincided with the debut edition of “Intersect 21” advent of the Jazz includes new and recent works by Age. Her glossy Films.Dance Kendell Carter, Alexander Kroll, paintings epito- Films.Dance, a global film series pro- Brad Miller, Patti Oleon, Ruth mized the deca- duced by Jacob Jonas The Company Pastine, Aili Schmeltz and Amir Zaki. dent lifestyles of continues on Monday, Feb. 22, at 9 A series of live online talks will also her avant-garde circle. The artist’s a.m. with “Edging Normal,” the fifth of 15 short dance films to be released photo by Cameron Kiszla be held through Feb. 22 in conjunc- great-granddaughter, Marisa de every Monday through May 8. The Golden Globe Awards will take place at the Beverly Hilton, and clo- tion with the exhibit. Lempicka, will be joined for the dis- intersect2021.com. cussion by Colette Laroya, of “Edging Normal” is a metaphorical sures will affect the surrounding neighborhoods. Abbeville Press. The event coincides story of a man’s struggle to shed his with the publication of a new edition past in order to feel completely free. of “Passion by Design,” by Kizette de It features Desmond Richardson, co- Blair Underwood founder and co-artistic director of Join the Robey Theatre Company’s Lempicka-Foxhall and Marisa de Complexions Contemporary Ballet, for a conversa- Lempicka. Admission is $10 for Road closures planned for the dancing a new work choreographed tion with Blair members, $14 for nonmembers. by Jonas. films.dance. Underwood on prod1.agileticketing.net/websales/pa Friday, Feb. 19, ges/info.aspx?evtinfo=283493. Golden Globes on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m., via The 78th annual Golden Globe such as South Santa Monica, Zoom. As part of LACMA art talk Awards ceremony will take place at Olympic, Pico and Sunset boule- the theater com- Jewish Foundation Enjoy a discussion with artist Cauleen the Beverly Hilton on Sunday, Feb. vards. pany’s Evening Smith hosted by the Los Angeles 28. The Los Angeles County North Santa Monica Boulevard Conversations Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Tuesday, Department of Public Health has will be closed to westbound traffic series, Underwood will discuss the Jewish Foundation Los Angeles is Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. The artist will dis- holding a virtual event for COVID-19 cuss her exhibition “Give It Or Leave worked closely with the Beverly from Wilshire Boulevard to state of the theater, the impact of the relief on Monday, Feb. 22, from 7 to 8 It” with Tisa Hilton and Dick Clark Productions Century Park East from 9 p.m. pandemic on the performing arts and the response of the arts to racial and p.m. The event will honor community Bryant, writer and to ensure all COVID-19 health and Friday, Feb. 26, until 4 a.m. social justice. The discussion will be leader, attorney and former Los director of the safety protocols are in place for this Monday, March 1. North Santa followed by a Q&A session with the Angeles city commissioner Sam MFA Creative year’s event. Monica Boulevard will be closed to audience. Underwood, who appeared Yebri, and Dr.