BH Convenes Task Force for Businesses Beverly Hills Police
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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Rabbi reaches out to community Partly cloudy, pg. 3 with highs in • Fiber project to the 70s be reviewed pg. 6 Volume 30 No. 18 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities April 30, 2020 West Hollywood backs BH convenes task force for businesses n City Council also subway extension drops ban on some n Metro construction timeline could be accelerated medical procedures BY CAMERON KISZLA BY JOSE HERRERA project could begin construction approximately 15 years early,” said On April 28, the Beverly Hills Metro’s Crenshaw Northern John Leonard, West Hollywood City Council assembled for the Extension project – included in community and legislative affairs first time its Business Recovery Measure M, a half-cent sales tax manager, who is working toward Assistance Task Force, which will increase which was approved by accelerating the Crenshaw help determine in the coming Los Angeles County voters in Northern Extension. weeks how best the city can pro- November 2016 – is supposed to Previously, the city of West ceed with reopening the local break ground in 2041 and be opera- Hollywood and Metro conducted economy. tional by 2047. community outreach and worked However, much of the council’s However, according to a recent on various studies for the project, time on April 28 was spent debat- update during West Hollywood such as West Hollywood’s Funding ing the city’s ban on elective med- and Project Delivery Strategy City Council on April 20, Metro ical and dental procedures in the photo by Cameron Kiszla Study and Metro’s Advanced could potentially start construction city, which was enacted as part of The Business Recovery Assistance Task Force will discuss reopening by 2026 with the appropriate fund- Alternatives Screening Study last the council’s emergency ordi- businesses to once again see Rodeo Drive flourish. ing. The northern extension would year, according to the staff report. nance in response to the coron- connect the Crenshaw/LAX Line, Metro’s Crenshaw Northern avirus pandemic. medical procedures such as tumor argued, the city’s “irresponsible” which runs between the Metro Extension project is estimated to The Beverly Hills City Council removals, angioplasties and heart move would mean more plastic Green and Expo lines, with the cost $6.4 billion, and the city of voted 4-1 to lift the ban. The city valve replacements are allowed to surgery and cosmetic procedures Red/Purple lines using direct rail West Hollywood is expected to will now default to state and coun- resume. being performed, putting patients through the city of West contribute up to 25% of capital ty rules regarding elective medical Councilman John Mirisch voted and health care professionals at Hollywood. costs to fast-track the project. procedures. Instead of a ban, Los against the measure, saying risk of infection. “We believe that because of the In 2018, the city of West Angeles County only recom- because the city already allowed “We’re basically jumping the work the city [of West Hollywood], Hollywood conducted a survey that mends that nonessential medical nonelective procedures – as deter- gun. We’re opening the floodgates Metro and other stakeholders have identified four funding sources. and dental procedures be delayed, mined by medical professionals – … it makes no sense to open it up undertaken over the last five years, Measures R and M would return and last week, Gov. Gavin no necessary medical care was and will continue to undertake, Newsom announced that elective actually being delayed. Instead, he See Surgeries page 19 there is a path forward where the See Funding page 19 Beverly Hills police chief retires Food from the heart n Multiple lawsuits filed n Program supports driving a movement to support local businesses, thank health against city during local businesses by care workers and raise the com- Spagnoli’s tenure purchasing meals for munity’s morale. Last month, Laura Margo BY EDWIN FOLVEN hospital employees heard about a New Jersey pizze- ria and its plea for help so that its Beverly Hills Police Department BY CAMERON KISZLA employees could continue to be Chief Sandra Spagnoli abruptly paid. In response, many in that announced her retirement on April With Americans spending New Jersey community bought 25, capping a four-year tenure in most of their time at home and pizzas from the store to give to which numerous lawsuits were personal contact limited by the first responders and health care filed against her and the city by coronavirus pandemic, many workers. officers and other personnel alleg- have found solace, connection “I woke up at 4 a.m. [the next ing retaliation and harassment. and help online, and especially day] so excited and thought ‘I Spagnoli informed Beverly Hills on social media. City Manager George Chavez of In Beverly Hills, sites like See Social page 18 her intention to retire, city Facebook and Instagram are also spokesman Keith Sterling said. The city made the announcement last photo by Edwin Folven Saturday afternoon in a press Beverly Hills Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli, shown in 2016, announced release including statements from she will be retiring from the department effective May 15. Chavez and Spagnoli. “During the chief’s tenure, crime was reduced while the department munity one of the safest in the A report in 2015 by an outside increased diversity, public outreach, nation,” Spagnoli said. consulting firm identified issues best practices and advancements in Spagnoli, 52, was hired in 2016 with recruiting and morale in the technology,” Chavez said. “We after serving as chief of police department, and Spagnoli’s hiring thank Chief Spagnoli for her ser- departments in the cities of San was intended to bring a fresh vice to our community and her Leandro and Benicia, located in the approach to law enforcement in three decades of public service in Bay Area. She had 26 years of law Beverly Hills. In an August 2016 law enforcement.” enforcement experience when hired interview with the Park Labrea “I am grateful to have served by the city of Beverly Hills, which News/Beverly Press shortly after Beverly Hills and proud of the selected her to succeed former she joined the department, Spagnoli photo courtesy of Meal to Heal accomplishments over the past four Police Chief David Snowden, who Health care workers at Cedars-Sinai have been receiving meals years to keep this world-class com- had retired nine months earlier. See Spagnoli page 18 from local eateries like Roni’s Diner. 2 April 30, 2020 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press we received in your notes and well wishes. We hope to continue to hear from you and encourage you to O’Farrell joins effort To our readers write letters to the editor. If you have a news tip, We thank you for your unprecedented support please send it to [email protected]. As we during this difficult time. We were amazed by your all get through this challenging time, we ask that response to our message in last week’s newspaper. you continue to utilize the paper as your link to our to feed hospital staff When we asked for your help with the small hope community and look to the Park Labrea News and that we might hear from a few of you, we were Beverly Press as a way to bring us all together. astonished to receive so many responses from our Together we are strong. loyal readers and were filled with an overwhelming sense of humility. Your generosity in the face of adversity is inspir- With gratitude, ing and indicative of the great communities we are so honored to serve. We are thankful for your dona- Karen and Michael Villalpando tions, and we are equally as thankful for the support Publishers Land purchase will add open space to Griffith Park The nonprofit Friends of Griffith Developers previously tried to buy “Griffith Park is one of our city’s Park is hoping to purchase two unde- the property but the deal was never greatest resources, providing open veloped lots that will expand Griffith completed. In addition to Friends of space for wildlife and countless photo courtesy of the 13th District Council Office Park near the Bronson Caves, also Griffith Park, a coalition raising Angelenos,” Ryu said. “I’m proud to Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell (wearing red shirt), known as “The Batcave” because it funds for the property includes the join this coalition of neighbors and 13th District, joined members of SRVE on April 24 to deliver over was featured in the “Batman” televi- Oaks Homeowners Association, as park advocates to protect and expand 250 meals for staff at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical sion series. well as many private individuals and our green space. When this pandemic Center on Sunset Boulevard. SRVE brings together top chefs in the If the groups are able to raise an entities. Los Angeles City is over, Los Angeles will have an greater Los Angeles area to deliver meals to people in need, emer- additional $35,000, a 1.24-acre hill- Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, even bigger and better Griffith Park gency responders and health care workers. The Kaiser employees had side will become protected open has pledged $15,000 in discretionary to return to.” a choice of gnocchi with braised kale and roasted peppers, or spicy space. The land is located just outside funds, which is part of the $465,000 For information, visit friendsof- garlic chicken with braised kale, roasted peppers and toasted pearl Griffith Park’s Bronson Canyon already raised. griffithpark.org. barley. For information, visit srve.co and cd13.org. entrance. The land acquisition represents a rare opportunity to conserve and pre- serve local parkland, said Friends of Griffith Park President Gerry Hans.