BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • BH OKs Slow Streets pg. 3 Sunny, with • Fatal police highs in the chase ends in 60s and 70s Fairfax pg. 4 Volume 31 No. 9 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities March 4, 2021 Two Georgia men charged BHUSD elementary students to in Melrose area murder n Robbery cited as possible motive begin in-person classes next week BY EDWIN FOLVEN were identified as Robert Aikens, n District, union sign 22, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Police have arrested two men for and Shidreyius McClinton, 20, a off on plan allegedly murdering a male victim resident of Atlanta. The body of the on Feb. 26 in a residential neighbor- victim, Nazeer Ejua Defares, 24, of BY CAMERON KISZLA hood south of the Melrose Avenue Decatur, Georgia, was found by cit- shopping district. izens at approximately 6:40 p.m. With the Beverly Hills Unified Police said they linked the two near the corner of Gardner Street School District planning to suspects, who allegedly knew the and Rosewood Avenue. Capt. resume in-person elementary victim, to the crime through undis- Shannon Paulson, of the LAPD’s school classes next week, the dis- closed evidence and worked with Wilshire Division, attended a virtual trict and the Beverly Hills the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force to Education Association, the teach- locate and arrest them. The suspects See Crimes page 26 ers union, finalized their agree- ment on a return to in-person classes. The district had planned to return students in transitional kindergarten through second grade on March 4 and students in third through fifth grade on March 8. Last month, however, the photo by Justin Sayers BHUSD elementary school students, including those at Hawthorne BHEA filed an unfair practice charge with the Public Elementary School, will return to in-person classes soon. Employment Relations Board. The legal action points out that in were below 10,” BHEA were below 10 – would help keep December, the union and district Certificated President Alana students and staff safe,” Castanon “agreed that grades TK-2 would Castanon said in an email. added. not move to in-person instruction “The parties also negotiated As of Feb. 24 – the date the photo courtesy of Peter Nichols until Los Angeles County protective procedures that – Arrests have been made in an alleged murder and robbery last week. COVID-19 adjusted case rates assuming the adjusted case rates See Schools page 25 Bottini, women’s and LGBT advocate, dies at 94 n WeHo leaders pay Sunset Strip restaurant tribute to prominent former resident sues WeHo, L.A. County n Health department restaurant to close. BY JUSTIN SAYERS The refurbished Classic Cat forced closure restaurant now might be closed Ivy Bottini, a longtime West BY JUSTIN SAYERS for good after city and county Hollywood resident and artist who inspectors issued a citation to the spent more than five decades fight- The owners of a Sunset Strip restaurant last month, ordering ing for lesbian and women’s rights, restaurant are suing the city of the restaurant to shut its doors by died on Feb. 25. She was 94. West Hollywood and the Los March 5, according to co-owner Her death was announced by Angeles Department of Public Donn Berdahl. members of the West Hollywood Health, alleging the entities The restaurant was originally City Council, including Mayor incorrectly labeled their outdoor Lindsey Horvath, who ordered the patio as indoor, forcing the See Restaurant page 25 city’s flags to be flown at half-staff starting on Monday, March 1 – also the first day of Women’s History photo by Jon Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood Month. Ivy Bottini, one of the founders of the National Organization for Women “Luckily, Ivy called [West in New York City, died at 94. Hollywood] home for decades,” Horvath wrote on Twitter. “We are grateful for her imprint on our city City and discovered a passion for years, despite knowing early on in and the fight for full equality for graphic design and artistry while her life that she was attracted to women and LGBTQIA community. attending the Pratt Institute School women. I’m incredibly lucky to have had a of Art. She worked as a graphic “The week before our wedding, I personal relationship [with] an icon designer and illustrator, including suddenly couldn’t swallow. It was who blazed trails for generations to 16 years for Newsday, a position like somebody had me by throat,” come. Her artwork hangs in my she held until her move to Bottini said in an interview with the home, her voice shows up in my California in the early 1970s. Lavender Effect, an organization thoughts, her spirit will always be She married her husband, that advances the future of in my heart. … May she rest in Edward Bottini, in 1952. They had LGTBQ+ heritage and culture, photo courtesy of Classic Cat power.” two daughters, Laura and Lisa. She The owners of the Classic Cat restaurant claim the retractable roof Bottini was born in New York stayed with her husband for 16 See Advocate page 26 makes the dining area an outdoor patio. 2 March 4, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press CALENDAR O’Farrell launches clinic for Culver City author Doyin Richards work offers a series of short stories ‘The Hebrew on Sunday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to about Black noon, via Zoom. Richards will read women, faith and Hillbilly’ from his latest book, “Watch Me: A desire. The vaccinations in 13th District The Benefit Series at Santa Monica Story of Immigration and author explores Working to support communities form will be used to determine eli- Playhouse presents “The Hebrew Inspiration,” with illustrations by Joe the murky lines that have been disproportionately gibility for the program and does Hillbilly” streaming online from Cepeda. Afterward, the author will between what is impacted by COVID-19 as well as not guarantee a vaccination. Thursday, March 4, through Friday, join a Q&A session and share infor- considered right essential workers, Los Angeles City “The 13th District is home to April 30. Shelley Fisher returns in the mation about his work and inspira- and wrong as hilarious and poignant show that Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13 many groups that have been dispro- tion. The book tells the story of four generations takes audiences District, is organizing a vaccination portionately impacted by COVID- Richards’ dad Joe, who came to of characters grapple with the church’s on a rollercoast- clinic to provide thousands of first 19, including essential workers, America as a young child and suc- standards and their own needs and pas- er ride from her and second doses to those who are seniors and communities of color, ceeded when many thought he would sions. Writer, photographer and pod- early years as a eligible in the 13th District. who have been unable to reach city fail. Richards is a children’s author, cast host Nneka Julia Odum will lead blonde bomb- The vaccine clinic will launch on and county operated vaccination founder of the Anti-Racism Fight the discussion. caamuseum.org/pro- shell through Tuesday, March 9, and over a six- sites due to working long hours, Club and a TEDx speaker on anti- grams/talks-and-workshops/the-secret- her current week period will be held at sites in travel barriers or accessibility racism. bit.ly/2NHPctt. lives-of-church-ladies. incarnation as different communities throughout issues,” O’Farrell said. “The local the district. Hours of operation will vaccination clinic I am launching in the “Memphis Belle of L.A.” The program includes be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday the 13th District helps solve this a special Passover celebration and Holocaust ‘Perseverance through Saturday. Both first and challenge by bringing the vaccine supports the playhouse as its doors second doses will be administered directly to Angelenos in a safe and remain closed due to COVID-19. Museum L.A. on Mars’ Holocaust Museum Los Angeles pre- Learn about NASA’s newest rover to those who register. convenient way.” Tickets are $30 and the program can sents “Bending Toward the Sun: A during Caltech’s “Watson Lecture: Eligible recipients include 13th The 13th Council District be viewed on demand. santamoni- Multigenerational Conversation on Perseverance on Mars” on District residents 65 and older and includes the neighborhoods of caplayhouse.com. the Legacy of the Wednesday, March 10, from 5 to 6 employees in the district who work Hollywood, East Hollywood, Thai as education workers, food and Town, Little Armenia, Wilshire Holocaust and p.m., via Zoom. Kenneth A. Farley, agricultural workers, health care Center and Koreatown, as well as Survival in Today’s W. M. Keck Foundation Professor of workers, childcare workers, law Atwater Village, Echo Park, UCLA Afro Latin World” on Geochemistry at Caltech, will enforcement personnel and emer- Elysian Valley, Glassell Park, Monday, March 8, describe how the highly-capable Jazz Orchestra at 11 a.m. Author, Perseverance rover, which landed on gency responders. Historic Filipinotown, Rampart Enjoy the UCLA Afro Latin Jazz community leader Mars on Feb. 18, will investigate Individuals who are interested in Village, Silver Lake, Virgil Village Orchestra’s Spring Concert on and philanthropist rocks deposited billions of years ago being vaccinated must fill out an and Westlake North. For informa- Friday, March 5, from 6 to 7 p.m. The Leslie Gilbert- at the bottom of a large lake, seeking application by visiting tion, call (213)207-3015, or email performance is part of Fowler Out Lurie will be joined by her mother, evidence of possible life.