L.A. City Council Considers Banning Street Sleeping
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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Beverly Hills affordable housing Sunny, with changes pg. 3 highs in the • BHPD captain 80s retires pg. 4 Volume 29 No. 37 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities September 12, 2019 Beverly Hills wants to Bridge housing welcomes new residents n Former library on focus on innovation Gardner Street can n City Council divided on idea for designated office house 30 women BY EDWIN FOLVEN BY CAMERON KISZLA Los Angeles City Councilman In a study session on Sept. 10, the David Ryu opened a new bridge Beverly Hills City Council decided housing facility for women expe- to move forward with a study of a riencing homelessness in a former potential Office of Innovation, library building on Gardner Street, though the council was divided on just south of Sunset Boulevard, the idea’s usefulness and how the with a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 10. office should be set up. Mayor Eric Garcetti joined Ryu Councilman Julian Gold, the and numerous city officials, repre- idea’s proponent, said having a per- sentatives from agencies serving son or office assigned to examining homeless individuals, and com- the city’s practices, processes and munity members in celebrating photo by Edwin Folven equipment for innovation will the new 30-bed facility for Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu cut a ribbon at the opening ensure ideas are properly vetted and women. It marked the end of a of the new Gardner Street Women’s Bridge Housing Center and was good ideas are pursued. multi-year process to have the joined by city, county and state officials. “It encourages others, both from long-vacant city building convert- within the community and within photo courtesy of Dr. Julian Gold ed into housing. The structure for- to each other, trust one another solution to homelessness. Under A the staff, to come forward with new Dr. Julian Gold merly housed the Will and Ariel and work together toward a com- Bridge Home, temporary shelters ideas,” Gold said. Durant Branch Library before it mon solution, we can build some- are being constructed to house Councilman Robert Wunderlich moved to a location on Sunset thing that works and something homeless individuals for periods and Vice Mayor Lester Friedman Councilwoman Lili Bosse, howev- Boulevard nearly two decades that lasts.” of approximately three years. The also expressed support for a poten- er, said while they support innova- ago. The facility is one component in Gardner Street facility will perma- tial Office of Innovation. tion, a full office dedicated to it “The Gardner Street Women’s a multi-pronged approach to end- nently serve women experiencing “To have somebody who actively might duplicate work already being Bridge Housing Center is more ing homelessness as permanent homelessness. is the champion of embracing inno- done by the city’s auditor, Eduardo than beds and services. It is the housing is being constructed “A Bridge Home is saving vation would be a good thing,” Luna, who “manages performance product of a city and a community throughout the city. Garcetti high- lives by getting homeless Wunderlich said. working hand in hand,” Ryu said. lighted his A Bridge Home pro- See Gold page 25 Mayor John Mirisch and “It is the proof that when we listen gram, which is also part of the See Neighbors page 25 L.A. City Council considers Tarfest this Saturday n Food, art, music The free festival is open to all ages and will be held at 5801 banning street sleeping return to Tar Pits Wilshire Blvd. The Tar Pits and BY KATE DIETEL Museum, which is run by the n Natural History Museums of Los O’Farrell’s proposal The 17th annual Tarfest music Angeles County, will offer free would prohibit sidewalk and art festival is returning to admission to Los Angeles sleeping near schools, Hancock Park at the La Brea Tar County residents throughout the Pits and Museum on Saturday, day. parks, tourist areas Sept. 14, from noon to 7 p.m. “Tarfest has been part of the The festival, hosted by L.A. community for over 17 BY KATE DIETEL LAUNCH LA, celebrates Los years, remaining as an annual Angeles culture, local artists and event through massive changes The Los Angeles City Council is musicians with DJ performances, that have transformed the city,” considering a motion that could live painting, art installations, a said LAUNCH LA founder potentially ban homeless people Lagunitas biergarten and cocktail James Panozzo. “This festival is from sleeping on streets and side- lounge and food trucks. See Festival page 26 walks in certain areas throughout the city. Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, introduced a reform to Municipal Code 41.18 during a Homelessness and Poverty Committee meeting on Aug. 21. photo by Edwin Folven The code banned camping in public The Los Angeles City Council is considering changes to city laws per- spaces and on streets. taining to sleeping on sidewalks. In April 2006, the 9th Circuit Court, in Jones vs. the City of Los homeless individuals for sleeping Municipal Code 41.18, which Angeles, ruled that homeless indi- outdoors or on public property if has been a controversial part of viduals can’t be banned from sleep- there is no option to sleep in a shel- addressing the homeless epidemic ing on the street if there is nowhere ter or housing development. for several decades, currently states for them to go. However, the court also said an that homeless people can’t sleep In Martin vs. the City of Boise in ordinance prohibiting sitting, lying within 10 feet of doorways, photo courtesy of Tarfest September 2018, the court ruled the or sleeping outside might be consti- See Opponents page 26 government can’t criminalize tutionally permissible. Live painting is one of the featured acts at Tarfest. 2 September 12, 2019 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Outdoor art ‘Junk in the Trunk’ at LACMA rummage sale ‘In Circles’ The Obie award-winning musical romp Join educator Vivian Lin on Thursday, West Hollywood’s Recreation Services “In Circles” runs from Saturday, Sept. Sept. 12, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for a Division will host its “Junk in the 14, through Sunday, Nov 10, at the tour of new outdoor sculptures in the Trunk” rummage sale on Saturday, Odyssey Theatre. Composer Al “Mineo Mizuno: Harmony” and Zak Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Carmines adapted the production from Ové “The Invisible Man and the north parking lot at Plummer Park. “A Circular Play” by Gertrude Stein. Masque of Blackness” exhibits on Participants may sell items from the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble is reviving LACMA’s Smidt trunks of their vehicles or in space the 1968 off-Broadway hit as part of its Welcome Plaza. remaining in designated parking spots. 50th anniversary “Circa ’69” season of Mizuno’s exhibit Anyone who has yard sale items to sell significant and adventurous plays that features “Tea is invited to register to participate in the premiered around the time of the com- House,” the artist’s event; No vendor goods will be permit- pany’s inception 50 years ago. “In interpretation of ted. Participants may start setting up at Circles” takes Stein’s nonlinear prose, the traditional 8 a.m. Cars will not be allowed to enter based solely on her pleasure at the way Japanese structure, the lot after 9 a.m. Sale spaces, which certain words sounded together, and as well as ceramic cover two standard parking spots, are sets them to a musical score featuring water drops and tea bowls. Ové’s available for $15 and must be reserved ragtime, tango, waltz, opera, barber- exhibit presents a group of identical in advance. Admission is free for shop- shop quartet, jazz and other musical reproductions of an African figure that pers. 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. styles. Showtimes are 8 p.m., the artist received as a gift from his (323)848-6546, weho.org. Wednesday through Saturday; 2 p.m., father in his early childhood. The instal- Sunday. Tickets start at $32. 2055 S. lation encapsulates the complex history Foster care Sepulveda Blvd. (310)477-2055 ext. 2, of racial objectification and the evolu- odysseytheatre.com. tion of black subjectivity. Ové is a British visual artist of Trinidadian and adoption descent. 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Learn about foster parenting and adop- WeHo Summer lacma.org. tion during a meeting on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon at Sounds Children’s Bureau’s Magnolia Place. Bid farewell to summer at the city of There are over Beverly Hills West Hollywood’s final installment of 21,000 children in photo by Carol Rosegg the 2019 Summer Sounds concert foster care in Los Chamber breakfast Center Theatre Group presents Bill Irwin’s “On Beckett” running from series on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 5 p.m. at Angeles County. Join the Beverly Hills Chamber of Kings Road Park. Los Angeles native Wednesday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Kirk Douglas Children’s Bureau Commerce for its monthly networking Jimetta Rose will perform music Theatre. Irwin, who conceived and performs in the production, is haunt- offers a compre- breakfast on Friday, Sept. 13, from 8 to inspired by jazz, R&B and hip-hop. ed by the work of Samuel Beckett. During an intimate, engaging, funny hensive foster care 9:30 a.m. at Studio at Beverly Hills. Rose infuses poetry and spiritual and illuminating evening, Irwin explores his own personal “actor’s rela- and adoption pro- Chamber members, local professionals insights into her performances.