Local Leaders Show Their Green Thumb
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WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Settlement in Beverly Hills. pg. 3 Mostly cloudy, • Future Focused with lows Schools. pg. 7 below 60 Volume 27 No. 46 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park, Beverly Hills and Wilshire Communities November 16, 2017 Settlement reached in Localn leaders show their green thumb A new Hollywood park opened at n MarlboroughTeacher involved had previously case pleaded guilty to Franklin and Ivar multiple counts of sexually abusing former students reached a settlement in a final civil lawsuit filed in relation to the inci- A new park opened last week- A little more than two years after dents. end in Hollywood on three-quar- former Marlborough School English The settlement was announced on ters of an acre of land in the shad- teacher Joseph Koetters pleaded Monday by attorney David Ring, ow of the Hollywood (101) guilty to four counts of sexually abus- who represented former Freeway that for years was a site ing two former students, attorneys for Marlborough School student Chelsea of homeless encampments and the women and the school have See Settlement page 26 criminal activity. The new park at Franklin and Ivar avenues, just east of Cahuenga Boulevard, was created photo by Edwin Folven and will be maintained by the A new park at the corner of Franklin and Ivar avenues in Hollywood Mountains Recreation and was 10 years in the making. Many residents hope it will be a neigh- Conservation Authority, a joint borhood hub. powers governmental agency founded in 1985 that manages parkland throughout the state. The Alexa Iles, secretary for the concept began taking shape in MRCA purchased the surplus land Hollywood Dell Civic 2008 during the recession when from Caltrans and the agency Association. “It feels like it has the state agreed to sell surplus worked closely with the the potential for being a real properties to raise money. Hollywood Dell Civic Association neighborhood hub.” Then-Councilman Tom on the project. The park took Plans for the park were initially LaBonge, 4th District, was sup- approximately 10 years to create spearheaded by civic association portive and helped move things because of the recession, bureau- member Terri Gerger, who spent forward in the city, while then- cratic hurdles and difficulty in years gaining the support of public Assemblyman Mike Feuer helped photo by Edwin Folven securing funding. officials and applying for grants to with the statewide process. Feuer, Settlements have been reached in lawsuits involving a former “It was a long process,” said make it a reality, Iles said. The See Park page 26 Marlborough School teacher and two former students he abused. #MeToo supporters march in Hollywood n nA steady drip from WeHo The campaign has West Hollywood residents continue effort to protest been supporting victims Beverly Hills water rate increases and surcharge of sexual assault The grassroots effort in West The national outpouring of sup- Hollywood to challenge the city of port for victims of sexual assault Beverly Hills over proposed water continued in Hollywood on Nov. rate increases, including a 25 per- 12 with a march by hundreds of cent surcharge that West men and women participating in Hollywood customers already pay, the #MeToo movement. will continue until a scheduled Dec. “You want to make change? 5 public hearing. Run for elected office,” said John West Hollywood resident Patrick Erickson, president of the Shandrick said the outreach to Hollywood chapter of the non- Beverly Hills has resulted from profit National Organization for “neighbors talking to other neigh- Women, speaking at the corner of photo courtesy of Me Too Movement bors.” photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills Hollywood Boulevard and The grassroots #MeToo campaign grew on social media, and its sup- “We’ve been really conscious West Hollywood resident Patrick Highland Avenue. “You want to porters gathered in Hollywood for victims of sexual assault. about water conservation,” he said, Shandrick was one of several make change? Take over board adding that the surcharge “doesn’t public speakers who addressed and commissions. You want to pants to say “no more” to actor sexual assault allegations. The seem fair on so many levels.” Beverly Hills City Council on Nov. make change? Tell the elected offi- Kevin Spacey, producer Brett #MeToo social media hashtag Beverly Hills residents and West 7 about the proposed water rates cials and hold them accountable. Ratner and President Donald J. emerged as a show of solidarity for Hollywood residents who get their and surcharge imposed on WeHo Sexual assault knows no political Trump – all of whom received men and women of all walks of water from Beverly Hills are sub- customers. affiliation.” stars on the Walk of Fame and life who have been victims. ject to the rate increases, but only Other speakers also advocated have been accused of sexual Chelsea Byers, chair of the End West Hollywood customers pay an for better recourse for victims of assault, harassment or misconduct. Rape Statute of Limitations cam- additional surcharge. Beverly Hills customers. Three cost sexual assault, in relation to alle- After a New York Times story paign, mentioned law enforcement A city of Beverly Hills cost allo- allocation areas the study addresses gations of sexual misconduct from early October detailed pro- hurdles, such as statutes of limita- cation study states that a “share of are public safety, governmental against a growing list of entertain- ducer Harvey Weinstein’s alleged tions, that have inhibited victims certain costs that have historically facilities and right-of-way mainte- ment industry executives and per- history of sexual assault, more from sharing their stories. been funded from the general fund” nance. formers. Erickson urged partici- women have come forward with are issued to West Hollywood’s See March page 30 See Water page 26 NOW YOUR NEW HOME LEASING 6200 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90036 877.652.3292 www.parklabrea.com 2 November 16, 2017 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press duction. Discrimination against Hills. The cultural program includes Yiddish Theatre Mexican-American workers is part of red carpet arrivals and a pre-concert Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles the story. Ana Rosas, associate profes- reception, a screening of the film welcomes theater historian Morna sor of Chicano/Latino Studies at UC “Road to Mother,” and a classical Martell for a discussion on Thursday, Irvine, will introduce the film. The music performance featuring Kazakh Nov. 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the movie is included in $14 adult muse- violinist Aiman Mussakhajayeva and Plummer Park Senior Center. Martell um admission. 4700 Western Heritage the Eurasian Symphony Orchestra. will discuss “The Impact of Yiddish Way. (323)667-2000, theautry.org. Admission is free. 8440 Wilshire Theatre on American Theatre.” Blvd. (888)645-5006, saban.theater. Admission is free for seniors. 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. (323)876-1717. WeHoWest Hollywood Pedals will host Class a “WeHo Pedals Bike Share Basics” class on Pre-Thanksgiving Israel Gap Year Fair Sunday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon Meal Learn about academic and experien- at the Plummer Park WeHo Pedals Congregation Shaarei Tefila is invit- tial Jewish learning opportunities for Bike Share Hub. Attendees will learn ing the public to a pre-Thanksgiving the transformative Gap Year in Israel how to use the WeHo Pedals system meal on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 11:30 during the “American Israel Gap Year as well as local bicycle laws. Advance a.m. in the congregation’s Kanner Fair” on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 7 to reservations are required; event is lim- Hall. Raffles, prizes and entertainment 10 p.m. at the YULA Girls School. ited to 15 participants. 7377 Santa are included. Suggested donation is The event includes special presenta- Monica Blvd. wehopedals.com. $10; RSVP required. 7269 Beverly tions by the Israel Gap Year providers. Blvd. (323)938-7147. Programs include internships, voca- tional training and more. 1619 S. Robertson Blvd. israelgapyear.org. Hanukkah MarketplaceTemple Israel of Hollywood is hosting Los Olvidados a Hanukkah Marketplace on Sunday, West Hollywood presents a screening Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the of the award-winning short film “Los temple’s Miller Hall. Visitors will Olvidados,” followed by a discussion photo by Shari Barrett enjoy fun, food and shopping. 7300 with artist Ramiro Gomez and David Hollywood Blvd. (323)876-8330, Feldman, on Wednesday, Nov. 15 Cydney Wayne Davis and Ruth Silveira star in “One Way Ticket to tioh.org. from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the city’s coun- Oregon” running from Friday, Nov. 17 through Saturday, Dec. 17 at the cil chambers. “Los Olvidados” means Promenade Playhouse in Santa Monica. The story takes place in “the forgotten” in Spanish. The film Alexandria, Louisiana in 2010 and follows two life-long friends – June tells the story of Gomez’s artistic Collins, an older, no-nonsense black woman with an intuitive under- Theatre 40 presents 40 aConcert special evening process and chronicles his installation standing of people, and Leigh Anne Rainey, a fiery and opinionated older of music on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. of a work in the Sonoran Desert as a in the Reuben Cordova Theatre on the southern belle living in an aging house that has been home to her family statement on immigration. It is pre- Beverly Hills High School campus. sented as part of “WeHo Artes” and for over 150 years. When Rainey learns cancer has returned and spread Vocalist Mary Normann will be “Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA.” 625 to her pancreas, she’s forced to confront her mortality and the effect her accompanied by pianist Jim Furmston N.