WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Harvey Milk Day celebrated. pg. 3 Sunny and • Water rationing warm, with days may change. temps around pg. 6 75º Volume 20 No. 20 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities May 20, 2010 YMCA Partners City Lays Off 700 to With Schools to Keep Fit Cut Budget Deficit n Most City Services Spared in 14-1 Decision BY AMY LYONS BY EDWIN FOLVEN Villaraigosa, who is expected to earning how to swing a base- make a decision on whether to ball bat, score a goal in soc- he Los Angeles City Council approve or veto it by June 1. The Lcer or dunk a basketball can approved a $6.7 billion bud- budget must be in place by July 1, be some of the most memorable Tget on Monday that elimi- and the city council will have one lessons in a child’s life. With recent nates a $485 million deficit and will month to reduce the number of lay- cuts to public school funding and preserve most city services at cur- offs before it goes into effect. The teacher layoffs, the Hollywood- rent levels. layoffs would be spread across all Wilshire YMCA is partnering with The budget calls for layoffs of city agencies except the police and local elementary schools to make approximately 761 employees, but fire departments. An additional sure physical education does not officials will be working with a 1,000 layoffs may be necessary in fall by the wayside. coalition of unions representing October if labor negotiations do not The YMCA Program, Physical city employees to try to reduce that result in savings through union Learning Activities for Youth number. concessions on health care and pen- (P.L.A.Y) seeks to link elementary The budget was passed 14-1, sion reforms. schools in the area with corporate with Los Angeles City Los Angeles City Council sponsors who are willing to fund Councilmember Richard Alarcon, President Eric Garcetti, 13th 7th District, casting the opposing physical education classes. Once photo by Ian Lovett District, said the budget is based on vote. The budget will now be real revenues, and not speculative corporate sponsorships are in place, Crystal Prince Jones, a model in Saturdayʼs fashion show benefitting specially trained YMCA coaches reviewed by Mayor Antonio the Womenʼs Center, says the experience has boosted her confidence. See Budget page 21 will visit the schools to teach every- thing from track to tennis. Last year, the program had its pilot run at Selma Avenue Elementary School, backed by a $20,000 sponsorship Novice Models Walk the from development company, NCA Green. In the coming school year, Kitty Gordillo, director of develop- Catwalk With Dignity ment for the Los Angeles Metropolitan YMCA, said she is BY IAN LOVETT love this outfit. I can’t wait. I am laying the groundwork to imple- the model of change. I’ve never ment the program at Third Street s Fannie Joyce Mayfield worn makeup, never had my hair Elementary School, Wilshire Crest stepped onto the patio at colored, never had my hair cut. Elementary School and Van Ness Athe Downtown Women’s I’m ready for the chance, and I’m Elementary School. Center on Monday wearing a ready to keep it going.” “All elementary school students bright pink dress, a dozen women Mayfield is one of two dozen are tested by the state for physical outside began to cheer. They women participating in Project fitness in fifth grade,” Gordillo clapped and whistled as Mayfield Rejuvenation, a charity fashion said. “At Selma, students could run spun in circles and posed, grin- show this Saturday at 385 N. La an average of nine laps the year ning wider than the Cheshire Cat. Cienega Blvd that will feature See YMCA page 22 “I love this,” Mayfield said. “I See Fashion Show page 20 photo by Karen Villalpando Happier Times: At the grand opening of the Homegirl Cafe, hopes were high and smiles abundant. Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Bike Week Begins with Blessings Industries, hopes donations will increase with economic upturn. BY EDWIN FOLVEN laborative event, and the goal is to vices director for Good Samaritan get as many people as possible to Hospital, said he rides his bike to Hope for the Homeboys undreds of cyclists received ride their bikes.” work from Pasadena three times a blessings from Rev. Jerry Jeremy Stacy, environmental ser- See Bike Week page 21 n HAnderson, chaplain at Good Homeboy Industries Hands Out Pink Slips, Samaritan Hospital, during the Renews Calls for Donations annual “Blessing of the Bicycles” event held at the hospital on BY IAN LOVETT was filling out paperwork, and Tuesday. asked if he’d just been released The event was part of Los ast year, on Brian Moon’s from prison. Angeles Bike Week, which features second day out of prison, “We started talking on life activities designed to encourage Lhis sister asked him where issues, and I ended up getting a people to use bicycles for trans- he wanted to go. He told her lot of my tattoos treated that day,” portation. The Blessing of the Homeboy Industries. Moon said. “When I went back Bicycles has been held since 2004, “I don’t know why I wanted to home, my mom started crying. and the event gets more popular go there,” Moon said. That was the first time I’d every each year, according to Andy When he arrived, Moon said, made her cry because she was Leeka, president and CEO for they asked how they could help happy, and that felt good. I don’t Good Samaritan Hospital. him, and the only thing he could care if you’re a macho gang- “Our purpose is to create a safe think of was tattoo removal. banger or whoever you are, that’s environment where everyone can photo by Edwin Folven Though people often wait six your mom. So that’s what drove enjoy the fun of bicycling,” said Rev. Jerry Anderson, the chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital, sprinkled months to have tattoos treated, me back.” Leeka, an avid cyclist. “It’s a col- holy water over cyclist Jeremy Stacy during the “Blessing of the Bicycles”. the doctor talked to him while he See Homeboy page 22 !" %" !"#$ • Dynamic SuperRange Optical #%($!#( 0#1'")3 &($ Image Stabilization ( 48B74F (6AD9E6549 249@DC • 2.7” touch Panel LCD Screen • 15x HD CVideo Lens #$ ## #$ # % 2 May 20, 2010 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 21 Grammy Winners May 22 from 10:00am – 2:30pm. The Calendar event will feature a line up of chil- Play for Park dren’s favorite characters and activi- ongwriter Jimmy Webb and R&B ties including Sid from “Sid the Ssinger Thelma Houston, two exhibit showcases authentic tradition- Science Kid,” Buddy from “Dinosaur Grammy Award-winning artists, will al art from Africa, Asia, Oceania and Train,” and more. A demonstration of perform at the Grammy Museum the Americas. It is presented by sever- the Emmy Award-winning Henson Sound Stage at L.A. Live on Friday, al tribal arts dealers in Los Angeles. Digital Puppetry Studio will be part of May 21 at 8:00pm. All proceeds from LACMA, 5900 Wilshire Blvd. For the fun. Activity stations will be held the concert will support the Levitt details, visit www.latribal.com. throughout the courtyard. The Pavilion MacArthur Park summer Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood concert series, which presents fifty Small Craft Blvd. Tickets are $11 for adults, $9 for performances free to the community. children. Levitt Pavilion is the newly renovated Warnings band shell in MacArthur Park. Tickets lassical Theatre Lab will open a to the benefit concert at L.A. Live are Cproduction of Tennessee 23 Dragnet and $250, which includes a pre-show Williams’ “Small Craft Warnings” at Calling All Cars reception hosted by Wolfgang Puck. Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall on ake Radio, a series at Bang 800 W. Olympic Blvd. For tickets, call Saturday, May 22 at 2:00pm. The play FComedy Theatre, will present two (310)275-5628. is set in Southern California, in a dive episodes of “Dragnet” and one bar by the ocean. The bar owners and episode of “Calling All Cars”, on his patrons present a colorful tale of Sunday May 23 at 7:30pm. The the- Love Jam Charity love and redemption. Tickets are $20. charity event benefiting The atre troupe takes old radio dramas, Plummer Park , 1200 N. Vista St., adds a comedic, improvisational twist AKenya Abandoned Baby Center West Hollywood. For reservations, (ABC) and Feed the Children will be and creates laugh-out-loud theatre. call Brown Paper Tickets, (800)838- Tickets are $15. 457 N. Fairfax Ave.; held on Friday, May 21 at Rise Supper 8006 (Brown Paper Tickets). Club at The Highlands. Titled “The (877)460-9774. Love Jam”, the event will feature an array of artistic selections including a Blood Drive he Desi Geestman Foundation six piece live band, four DJs, and a 24 Fashion Show will host a blood drive from live painter all coming together to T 7:00am – 1:00pm on Saurday, May for Goodwill support children in need. n Monday, May 24 at 11:00am, 22. The Foundation works to improve Presale tickets are $15 at www.lusmu- The Friends of the Autry will the lives of children with cancer. The O sic.com or $20 at the door. VIP bottle present their annual fashion show, blood drive will take place in the service as well as dinner reservations “Spreading Goodwill, a History of Foundation’s new location, 2620 are available by calling (818)378- Western Attire from the 1800s through Foothill Blvd.