WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • O’Farrell enters second term. pg.5 Sunny, with • Local homeless highs in the count pg. 7 low 90s Volume 27 No. 34 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park, Beverly Hills and Wilshire Communities August 24, 2017 n Schiffn rallies for San Gabriel Mountains MadeMid City West Communityin the Council shade will canvass Trump executive Rosewood Avenue to find tree caretakers order called for review between Fairfax and La Brea of 20 national avenues. Representatives of The city of Los Angeles will give MCWCC and KYCC will walk monuments, including free trees to residents willing to Rosewood Avenue on Saturday, the mountains water and maintain them, and the knocking on doors and asking resi- Mid City West Community Council dents to sign forms giving the city (MCWCC) hopes people will take permission to provide trees that the city up on its offer as part of a KYCC will later plant along park- Rep. Adam Schiff joined a pilot project launching on Saturday, ways. The goal is to create a more group of elected officials and resi- Aug. 26. continuous canopy along residen- dents at the Los Angeles Historic The MCWCC is partnering with tial streets, which will make them Park on Aug. 21 to support preser- the Koreatown Youth and more pedestrian-friendly. vation of the San Gabriel Community Center (KYCC) for the “Trees have amazing benefits for Mountains. President Donald J. Rosewood Greenway Project, an the neighborhood,” said Nick Trump included the mountains in effort to create more greenery and an executive order issued earlier shade along Rosewood Avenue See Trees page 25 this year calling for a review of national monument designations. “This, like everything else, we will resist,” said Schiff (D- photo by Luke Harold Burbank), encouraging the type of grassroots opposition that con- Rep. Adam Schiff (at the podium) joined Reps. Judy Chu (from left), tributed to the defeat of the Jimmy Gomez and Brad Sherman to support preserving the San Republican health care bill on the Gabriel Mountains as a national monument. Senate floor last month. The review included all national announce on Aug. 24 whether he designations that may not have monuments designated since Jan. will recommend changes to any of received enough public vetting as 1, 1996 that cover at least 100,000 the more than 20 national monu- reason for the review. acres. President Barack Obama ments fitting that criteria – or Schiff pointed to another possi- designated the San Gabriel whether any of their designations ble motive. Mountains, spanning more than should be eliminated. The presi- “Our guess is simple,” the con- 340,000 acres, in 2014. dent cited potentially restrictive gressman said. “President Trump, photo by Nick Solish Trump’s secretary of the interi- access to federal land that could in his zeal to be against anything The Mid City West Council used Drexel Avenue as an example of a street or, Ryan Zinke, is scheduled to “curtail economic growth” and See Mountains page 25 in the local area with street trees that form a canopy. Beverly Hills renters and nWeHo Pedals is cruising right along The program is a ‘good alternative to nlandlords getting closer being stuck in traffic’ for Council members expect a report next month from many residents a mediator for guidance on a longterm ordinance and receiving no-cause evictions – in which tenants on month-to- The Beverly Hills City Council month leases receive 60-day Over the past year, cyclists have approved a 3 percent increase to notices to leave their units. used the West Hollywood bike monthly retainer fees, and to Amendments made to the emer- sharing program to collectively establish an hourly rate, for legal gency ordinance in February travel more than 20,000 miles – services related to the administra- required landlords to pay reloca- the equivalent of more than three tion of its rent control program at tion fees of up to $12,394 – roundtrips to New York City. its Aug. 22 meeting. depending on the size of the apart- Since the program launched in Councilman Les Friedman said ment, and potentially more if there August, WeHo Pedals riders have the amendment is “just a place- are senior citizen, disabled or taken almost 14,000 trips around holder” for legal services provided minor occupants – to no-cause West Hollywood and beyond. photo by Edwin Folven by Richards, Watson and Gershon. evicted tenants. Recently, following many Cyclists joined then-West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister at an event The city’s rent control is currently The city hired Sukhsimranjit requests from bike share users, in June 2016 announcing new bike lanes for WeHo Pedals riders. regulated by an emergency ordi- Singh, associate director of the two WeHo Pedals stations were nance passed earlier this year, as Straus Institute for Dispute installed at The Grove, near the city officials, landlords and Resolution at Pepperdine, to hold Original Farmers Market, allow- mobility planning manager, said taken in August. renters try to reach a consensus on mediation sessions between ing riders to travel outside of West WeHo Pedals has steadily grown “We’ve got this great group of long-term regulations. renters and landlords to help craft Hollywood to the popular loca- in popularity among residents, and core riders, and it continues to The emergency ordinance, a long-term ordinance. During a tion. she’s optimistic about the pro- grow,” Siegl said. “And it has approved by the council in mediation session last month, In total, WeHo Pedals has 150 gram’s future. been a really good alternative to January, limited annual rent Singh said he planned on updating bikes at 20 stations, with an initial In its first month, the program being stuck in traffic.” increases to 3 percent, compared the council on his progress during start-up cost of $559,340. saw 801 rides taken. A year later, Currently, WeHo Pedals users to the previous 10 percent. It was its Aug. 8 meeting. But that Bianca Siegl, West almost double the number of the result of tenants complaining See Bike page 26 Hollywood’s long range and rides, 1,776, have already been of being priced out of their units, See RSO page 26 2 August 24, 2017 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Museum. The film tells the story of Women’s Theater Shelest Piano Duo Alike, a 17-year-old woman who is “Nevertheless, She Persisted,” an West Hollywood’s Russian Advisory beginning to explore her identity as a evening of five short plays by female Board presents a performance by the lesbian. Surrounded by a boisterous writers, runs from Thursday, Aug. 24 Shelest Piano Duo on Saturday, Aug. best friend and disapproving parents, through Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Echo 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Plummer Park’s Alike strives to get through adoles- Theater Company Atwater Village Fiesta Hall. The duo features the hus- cence with grace, humor and tenacity. Theatre. The plays explore the treat- band and wife team of Anna and The screening will be followed by a ment of women in the current political Dmitri Shelest, who will perform solo discussion with writers Ernest Hardy climate. They include “yajū,” written repertoire and “four hand music.” The and Tisa Bryant. Admission to the and directed by Mary Laws; “Sherry Shelest Piano Duo made its Carnegie Hammer Museum is free. 10899 and Vince,” written by Charlotte Hall debut in 2011 and appears at the Wilshire Blvd. (310)443-7000, ham- Miller and directed by Tara Karsian; venue annually. Tickets are $15; $10 mer.ucla. “At Dawn,” written by Calamity West for seniors and $5 for children. 7377 and directed by Ahmed Best; “Violet” Santa Monica Blvd. (323)848-7988, written by Jacqueline Wright and weho.org. directed by Teagan Rose; and “Do Photo Exhibit by You See,” written and directed by Chris Cuffaro Sharon Yablon. Showtimes are 8 p.m., Lowrider Car Show Photographer Chris Cuffaro will Thursday through Saturday, and Join the Petersen Automotive launch his new exhibit “Greatest Hits: Mondays, Aug. 28 and Sept. 3; 4 p.m., Museum for a lowrider car show on Martini Ranch” running from Sunday. Tickets are $20. 3269 Casitas Sunday, Aug 27 beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 through Ave. (310)307-3753, echotheatercom- in the museum’s parking structure. Thursday, Sept. 7 at Mr. Musichead pany.com. The show coincides with the exhibit Gallery in Holly- “The High Art of Riding Low: wood. The exhib- Ranflas, Corazón e Inspiración” and it features inti- Standup Comedy includes classic, custom and exotic mate, behind-the- Enjoy an evening of stand-up come- cars, trucks, motorcycles and more. scenes pho- dy presented by The Setup on Complimentary parking, coffee and tographs celebrat- Thursday, Aug. 24 from 10:30 to bagels will be provided. 6060 ing the 30th 11:45 p.m. at The Three of Clubs in Wilshire Blvd. (323)930-2277, anniversary of Hollywood. The show features Petersen.org. director James Ahmed Bharoocha, Peet Guercio, photo by Michelle Shiers Cameron’s music video “Reach” star- Melissa Shoshahi, Ehsan Ahmad and Singer and songwriter Nina Shallman will perform on Saturday, Aug. 26 ring the late actor Bill Paxton and Orlando Leyba. Admission is $10. at 8 p.m. at the Hotel Café in Hollywood. Shallman is currently in the stu- Beverly Hills Andrew Todd. A reception is on Aug. 1123 Vine St. (323)462-6441, setup- dio working on new songs with producer Andrew Williams. The concert 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. 7420 Sunset comedy.com/los-angeles. Blvd. cuffarophoto.com and mrmusic- on Aug.