BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • WeHo ‘Originals’ get temporary Sunny, with reprieve pg. 3 highs in the • Hit-and-run on low 90s Highland pg. 4 Volume 29 No. 43 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities October 24, 2019 Beverly Hills council wants Council, mayor approve temporary park ‘we’ll be proud of’ moratorium on no-fault evictions n City looks to impress with La Cienega Park n Ordinance expected to BY CAMERON KISZLA connected to athletic fields by a go into effect this week landscaped bridge that spans La On Oct. 22, the Beverly Hills Cienega Boulevard – council mem- BY CAMERON KISZLA City Council clarified its prefer- bers made clear they are looking for On Oct. 22, the Los Angeles ences for the La Cienega Park and a park and recreation facility of City Council voted unanimously Recreation Master Plan. which the city can be proud. to approve an ordinance that tem- When looking at the project – “There’s no doubt that the park porarily prohibits no-fault evic- which is expected to include, today has passed its useful lifespan tions in the city. among many other features, a 72- and is, on some levels, an embar- The ordinance, which passed foot-tall building with indoor and rassment … This is a structure that with a 14-0 vote, will temporarily outdoor tennis courts, two pools ban evictions without a just cause and three basketball courts that’s See Park page 26 in apartments built before 2005. Councilman Jose Huizar, 14th District, was absent. Mayor Eric Garcetti signed the photo courtesy of the office of Mayor Eric Garcetti ordinance on Oct. 22, and it will Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed the city’s temporary ban on go into effect once the ordinance no-cause evictions. is published by the city clerk, which council members and city lords issuing no-fault eviction state law takes effect, and I am staff said they expect to happen notices and drastically increasing proud to be able to sign it into law this week. rents before the law goes into today.” The ordinance, which was pro- effect. Several council members and posed by Councilmen Mitch “Our city is experiencing a public speakers, including O’Farrell, 13th District, and housing crisis, and we should be Councilman Paul Koretz, 5th Curren Price, 9th District, will using every available tool to keep District, wanted legislation to also stay in effect until Dec. 31, as the people in their homes, and run- cover drastic rent increases, which state’s ban on no-fault evictions, away rents in check,” Garcetti said could serve as a de facto no-fault rendering courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills Assembly Bill 1482, goes into in a statement. “This ordinance is eviction. Councilwoman Nury The plans for the revamped La Cienega Park include a landscaped effect on Jan. 1. There have been an important measure that will bridge that spans La Cienega Boulevard. many reports of Los Angeles land- prevent evictions before the new See Similar page 25 LAUSD meeting on the middle (school) A win for Beverly Hills n Officials discuss plan parents in the area who often enroll n Judge overturns they were discriminated against their children in charter or private by Beverly Hills Police for new middle school schools. Melvoin said that only 5% verdict in former Department Chief Sandra for WeHo, Hollywood to 15% of West Hollywood middle- BHPD lieutenant’s Spagnoli in a civil lawsuit. A jury schoolers attend LAUSD schools. reached the verdict last July and students “There’s no more important deci- lawsuit against city awarded $250,000 to Davis. sion than when you send your kids The jury found no discrimina- BY CAMERON KISZLA to school, but we’re confident that BY EDWIN FOLVEN tion against the four plaintiffs but L.A. Unified can be that place,” found some statements by By the end of this year, the Los Melvoin said. A Los Angeles Superior Court Spagnoli qualified as harassment Angeles Unified School District WHFA aims to help recapture judge has overturned a jury ver- or retaliation, an assertion with Board of Education may have some of the middle-school students dict that previously awarded which the city disagreed. The city signed off on a new middle school who come from six local elemen- monetary damages to former filed a motion contesting the ver- to accept students from the tary schools: Melrose, Wonderland, Beverly Hills Police Department dict and last week, Judge Hollywood, West Hollywood and Cheremoya, West Hollywood, Lt. Shan Davis. Elizabeth R. Feffer ruled there Fairfax areas. Rosewood and Gardner. Under the Davis was among four The plan for the new school, ten- proposed plan, students from those employees from the police See Ruling page 26 tatively called the West Hollywood- elementary schools will get first department who had claimed Fairfax Academy, will be submitted priority for admittance to WHFA, to the board on Nov. 15 so it can be followed by students who live in voted on during the Dec. 3 meeting. the resident boundaries for those six photo by Cameron Kiszla If approved, WHFA will begin schools but don’t attend them, stu- Los Angeles Unified School operating in the fall of 2020 with a dents in the Local District West class of 125 sixth-grade students, boundaries, students in LAUSD District Board of Education Vice five teachers and an administrator. boundaries but don’t attend one of President Nick Melvoin addressed By 2022, the school is expected to the feeder schools, and students the crowd at Fairfax High School enroll 360 students – LAUSD offi- who live outside of LAUSD bound- on Oct. 21. cials included five students lost to aries. If there are more applicants natural attrition each year – and two than spaces available, a lottery feeder schools and] increase the administrators and 16 teachers. would be used within each category district’s enrollment by offering At a public outreach meeting at to choose which students would be another choice,” said Autri Streeck, Fairfax High School on Oct. 21, offered a spot. Local District West elementary photo by Edwin Folven LAUSD Board Vice President Nick “This truly is an attempt to director. A superior court judge ruled in favor of the city of Beverly Hills and Melvoin, 4th District, said a new reclaim those families [from the six overturned a judgement in a lawsuit claiming harassment and dis- See Fairfax page 25 middle school is a desire of many crimination by Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli. 2 October 24, 2019 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press ‘1984’ and Design Classics” on Saturday, the public and costumes are encour- Oct. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. Gina Correll aged. 395 Santa Monica Place, The Actors’ Gang Theater opens its Aglietti and Casey Dobbins will offer Santa Monica. (424)416-8320, cayton- 2019-20 season with a new production samples inspired by the book. A dis- museum.org. of George cussion and Q&A session is also Orwell’s “1984” included. 835 N. Kings Road. RSVP running from required to [email protected]. ‘Pick a Name-I Have Thursday, Oct. 24, through Saturday, a Story’ Dec. 7. The play is Jewish Family Service of West adapted by ‘BOO-tanicum’ Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum is Hollywood will celebrate Halloween Michael Gene with an interactive program titled “Pick Sullivan and holding its annual “BOO-tanicum” on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 4 to 10 p.m. a Name-I Have a Story” on Tuesday, directed by the Actors’ Gang Artistic Oct. 29, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Director Tim Robbins. In Orwell’s clas- The annual Halloween extravaganza includes a haunted house, ghost stories, Plummer Park Senior Center. sic, Winston Smith rewrites history to Columnist Morna Martell has a list of serve the interests of the powerful. The game booths, festive food and libations, and performances by Creative hundreds of celebrities she engaged production tells the story of a world with when she was with the Hollywood with no privacy, where electronic PlayGround and the comedy improv group Off the Grid. 1419 N. Topanga Reporter. Guests can choose any name screens create paranoia, divisiveness from her list and hear about the stars. and hatred for the “other,” where the Canyon Blvd. (310)455-3723, the- atricum.com. Amission is free. 7377 Santa Monica state manufactures consent for perpetu- Blvd. (323)876-1717. al war, truth is manipulated and love is an act of rebellion. Showtimes are 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday; 2 Classical concert p.m., Sunday. Tickets start at $34.99. New York City Ballet dancers Lauren 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. Lovette and Craig Hall will join (310)838-4264, theactorsgang.com. Colburn Conservatory students in per- forming the aural and visual story- photo by Christine Fu telling of Debussy’s “Afternoon of a Mike Birbiglia Forever Flamenco presents “Evocar,” a special performance featuring Faun” on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at dancers Melissa Cruz (pictured), Vanessa Albalos and Manuel Gutierrez Mike Birbiglia’s one-man comedy the Zipper Concert Hall. The perfor- “The New One” runs from Thursday, on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 8 p.m. at the Fountain Theatre. In flamenco, evo- mance will be choreographed by Oct. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 24, at cation by interpreters is the act of channeling the art form. The show Jerome Robbins and will include the Center Theatre Group and Ahmanson transmits that art form to the audience, which in turn will be seized with full ballet. A discussion with the per- Theatre.