Police Take Fast Action on Furious Street Takeovers
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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • WeHo proposes higher sales tax Sunny, with pg. 2 highs in the • Murder on 80s La Brea pg. 4 Volume 30 No. 28 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities July 9, 2020 Beverly Hills students may Police take fast action on be online-only this fall n BHUSD board pushes back against hybrid model furious street takeovers BY CAMERON KISZLA members raised issues with the two n offerings proposed by district staff. Events are often On July 7, many members of the Last month, staff suggested stu- organized on social Beverly Hills Unified School dents and their families could media, police say District Board of Education indicat- choose to learn via the Independent ed their support for a plan to have Learning Center, an online model BY EDWIN FOLVEN students remain at home when which traditionally has been used school starts this fall, while teachers by students who cannot attend in- Intersections on major thor- would return to their classroom to person classes regularly, and a oughfares are spontaneously being livestream lessons. taken over and turned into de facto The idea emerged after board See School page 22 arenas for drivers performing dan- gerous stunts in what police said is a growing problem in the Wilshire area. Largely organized on social media, the street takeovers involve hundreds of people showing up at pre-designated intersections and blocking traffic. High-perfor- photo courtesy of LAPD mance vehicles reminiscent of the People caught participating in street takeovers face arrest and having “Fast & Furious” films perform a cars impounded. stunt known as drifting in the mid- dle of the intersection, with tires ously out of windows as the cars ous according to police, who burning rubber as the cars spin in spin and others stand in the middle worry that somebody is going to circles in front of cheering of the street, inches away from be seriously injured or killed. crowds. The takeovers are often automobiles on the verge of going “Once the COVID restrictions photo courtesy of BHUSD filmed with smartphones and out of control. While participants started, we started seeing an Beverly Hills High School students may not return to school in person videos are posted online. may think it is all in fun, street when classes resume on Aug. 17. Sometimes, people hang precari- takeovers are lawless and danger- See Police page 21 Not wearing a mask in public can be costly Catalina Jazz Club asks n Cities poised to begin for help amid pandemic issuing citations n Fundraiser aims to Boulevard jazz club struggles to BY EDWIN FOLVEN stay in business during the coron- help performance avirus pandemic, the Catalina The state of California, Los venue pay rent, Jazz Club’s staff has organized a Angeles County and cities includ- employees “digital tip jar” on GoFundMe to ing Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and help make ends meet. West Hollywood have orders in BY JOSE HERRERA “In times of crisis when we place requiring masks or face cov- feel broken, hopeless and alone, erings to be worn anytime people The Catalina Jazz Club in we turn to music,” club founder are in public to help prevent the Hollywood has provided an inti- and owner Catalina Popescu said spread of COVID-19. mate setting for audiences to hear in a statement. “Music is an elixir After weeks of taking an educa- icons of jazz such as Dizzy for the soul and that is precisely tional approach, authorities in West Gillespie, Thelma Houston, why Catalina Jazz Club has been Hollywood and Beverly Hills are Corky Hale and Chick Corea for devoted to bringing L.A. the prepared to begin issuing citations. 34 years. West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station But as the legendary Sunset See Venue page 21 Capt. Ed Ramirez issued a warning on July 2 before the Fourth of July photo by Edwin Folven holiday weekend stating that people Beverly Hills and West Hollywood are levying fines for people who do not will be ticketed for refusing to wear wear a mask in public. masks in public. The city of Beverly Hills has issued a similar have one to wear. tions. It’s not something we want to warning. So far, law enforcement “For over two months now, we be doing; issuing citations is a last officials in both cities are contact- have been spending a lot of time – resort. We would prefer that com- ing people not wearing masks or both police and code enforcement munity members and others, when face coverings and have not issued officers and park rangers – educat- they are out in public, will comply any citations because people have ing the public on the city ordinance, with the city’s order and wear a been overwhelmingly compliant and we are not seeing the compli- mask.” and put a mask on when directly ance we expect,” BHPD Lt. Officers and park rangers in told to do so. West Hollywood sher- Elisabeth Albanese said. “Since we Beverly Hills contacted approxi- photo courtesy of Catalina Jazz Club iff’s deputies and Beverly Hills have concerns about the rise in mately 300 people last weekend Catalina Jazz Club staff members are out of work temporarily as Police Department officers are pro- cases, we are at the point now they await state and local health orders to be lifted, but hope to wel- viding masks to people who don’t where we will start issuing cita- See Mask page 22 come audiences back soon. 2 July 9, 2020 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press WeHo voters to decide on sales tax increase City calls for examination of By Jose Herrera. The West Hollywood City law enforcement practices Council voted on July 6 to place a By Jose Herrera. comprehensive update on the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot to sheriff’s department’s use-of- increase the city’s sales tax from The West Hollywood City force policies, and ways to 9.5% to 10.25%, a 0.75% increase. Council voted unanimously on engage the community and The maximum sales tax rate July 6 in support of a proposal to include its input on experiences allowed in Los Angeles County is conduct an analysis of policing with law enforcement. The report 10.25%. A majority of West within the city. will also examine how the city Hollywood voters would need to Councilmembers Lauren could possibly enact police approve the measure in November. Meister and John D’Amico initi- reform. The city of West Hollywood is ated the item in the wake of The city will hire independent experiencing financial difficulties protests and outrage over the experts in policing to review best due to the economic impacts of deaths of George Floyd, Breonna practices, examine public safety COVID-19, Community and Taylor and many others at the statistics and look at use of force Legislative Affairs Manager John hands of police officers. policies and arbitration to form Leonard said. “The spirit and thought that recommendations on how to best “Staff is recommending a 0.75% went into the staff report was promote justice and equity in sales tax increase to be placed on photo by Jose Herrera also about things we do in West policing. The future recommen- the November 2020 ballot,” A measure to increase sales tax in West Hollywood was approved for Hollywood that [are] separate dations will be brought to the Leonard said. “This would gener- the Nov. 3 ballot. The increase would be added to purchases at retailers from the county at large,” City Public Safety Commission for ate approximately $11 million in throughout the city, including Circus of Books, above. Manager Paul Arevalo said. “We review and input, and later general funds for the city which aren’t being critical of how the brought back to the City Council could be used for general purposes sheriffs are operating, but as we for discussion and additional including continuing levels of ser- community,” Morrill said. money is going to go into a big are going into a new decade, direction. vice.” The city had also hired FM3 county pool and we’ll never see any there are better practices that can All findings and recommenda- He said during the fiscal year Research, a research and consulting of it,” Heilman said. be employed not only in West tions will also be shared with the that ended on June 30, estimated firm, which conducted a survey City staff will come back at a Hollywood but also county- California Contract Cities city revenues were down by between July 11-16. They reached future date with a draft of the pro- wide.” Association, Los Angeles approximately $15 million, and out to potential voters via telephone posed ballot measure, which will be In approximately 90 days, city starting July 1, it is estimated rev- and email to gauge support for the considered by the City Council. staff will return with a more See Changes page 4 enues will be down by approxi- sales tax increase in November. mately $20 million for the next fis- The survey showed 63% of West cal year. Hollywood voters support the sales In a staff report, it was noted that tax increase, with 34% against it Applications open on July 13 for renters relief program the financial hardship the city is and 3% undecided. facing has led to a reduction in con- Morrill said the survey wasn’t Los Angeles City Councilman approved the allocation of $100 mil- required to keep people housed and tracted services, the furloughing of broad enough to gauge how West Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, and lion in federal CARES Act funding businesses open during this city employees and hiring freezes Hollywood voters would respond representatives of the city’s Housing to be placed in the City’s COVID- unprecedented time,” O’Farrell for vacant city staff positions.