Weary Gatto Family Marks 2Nd Anniversary of Father's Murder
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Los Feliz Ledger Read by 100,000+ Residents and Business Owners in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Vol 11. No. 6 December 2015 Atwater Village, Echo Park & Hollywood Hills Little Church’s Weary Gatto Family Marks 2nd Anniversary of Father’s Murder Large Legal Crime remains Battle Looms unsolved Over Los Feliz By Allison B. Cohen By Allison B. Cohen SILVER LAKE—The family of LOS FELIZ—A resolution Joseph Gatto, the 78-year-old could come as early as January father of California State As- in the long, ugly and expen- semblymember Mike Gatto sive legal battle over who con- who was murdered in his trols St. Mary’s of the Angels home near the Silver Lake Church on Finley Avenue. Reservoir November 12, 2013, Founded in 1918 to min- said they believe there is still ister to parishioners working one witness that has not come in the motion picture indus- forward with information in try, the tiny church has been the case despite a $50,000 re- split in two over who officially ward. controls its denomination, its Gatto, who represents the members and its rumored rich 43rd Assembly District—in- financial endowment contain- cluding Los Feliz, Silver Lake ing a portfolio of real estate and Atwater Village—said at a holdings that includes the candlelight vigil marking the now vacant Citibank building second anniversary of his fa- on Hillhurst Avenue, whose ther’s death, that police believe upstairs community space is California State Assemblymember Mike Gatto speaks to reporters at a November 12th vigil honoring the a woman who was jogging in regularly used by local groups. 2nd anniversary of the murder of his father, Joseph, in his Silver Lake home. Pictured with Gatto is his sister the area may have encoun- The Los Feliz Neighbor- Mariann, holding a police composite of the only suspect in the case, and cousins of the slain arts teacher, tered a suspect head-on who see ST. MARY’S page 14 Sylvia Barham, of Glendale and Vita Cortese of Los Angeles. Photo: Allison B. Cohen. see GATTO page 35 Are Local LaBonge Document Inquiry Sought Police: a Daily Part of School Life Schools’ Arts By Allison B. Cohen By Sheila Lane, Ledger Contributing Writer Programs LOS FELIZ—A former city cadia and People nationwide were Jinoo Choi, the school’s attorney for various munici- as an as- disturbed by a video that went dean, said he welcomes the of- Making the palities in Southern California sistant city viral in October of a police of- ficers’ presence. He also said Grade? has requested an investigation attorney for ficer roughly handling a high he is quite clear on their role. By Erin Hickey into allegations outgoing Los the cities of school student who wouldn’t “They are there to enforce Ledger Contributing Writer Angeles City Councilmember Anaheim, put away her cellphone in the law, the penal code. And Tom LaBonge may have either Hunting- class. the school administration en- When it comes to arts ed- destroyed or taken public doc- ton Beach Although the incident forces the state educational ucation, Los Angeles Unified uments relative to the district and Fresno, if LaBonge took happened in South Carolina, code,” Choi said. School District (LAUSD) has he served for 14 years, when he such actions, there are possible the questions it raises about In reference to the South a long way to go, according to vacated his office last summer illegal implications. the role of armed police offi- Carolina incident, in which an a November analysis by the prior to newly elected City “[Such files],” he said, cers in schools is equally per- officer is seen on video pick- Los Angeles Times. Councilmember David Ryu “are not personal to the coun- tinent in Los Angeles which, ing up a female student with Although California has taking office July 1st. cil person and cannot be de- according to the Los Angeles a chokehold while she is still one of the healthiest arts edu- Michael H. Miller, of stroyed or removed without School Police Dept. website, sitting at her desk and then cation policies in the country, Amesbury Road, requested an entire legal process includ- has the largest independent throwing her across the class- the Times’ analysis revealed November 2nd that City At- ing governmental approval by school police department in room, Choi said he didn’t have many schools are falling far torney Mike Feuer investigate resolution.” the United States. all the facts, but it appeared to short of state requirements. a report in the Los Feliz Ledger According to Los Angeles At Los Angeles High him that the officer used poor The Times used data that when Ryu took office July City Attorney spokesperson School in the Mid-Wilshire judgment. from surveys conducted by 1st, no files from LaBonge or Rob Wilcox, the city cannot area, there are usually one or Choi said he does not be- LAUSD to create an arts edu- his staff were left behind. pursue a criminal investiga- two officers on campus and a lieve a student’s refusal to re- cation report card, assigning According to Miller, who tion of Miller’s concerns as La- third who patrols the area out- linquish a cell phone would letter grades to more than served as city attorney for Gar- Bonge is considered a “former side the school’s perimeter. involve officers at L.A. High see ARTS page 30 dena, Newport Beach and Ar- see LABONGE page 17 see POLICE page 31 Community News: Advisory Community News: ‘Tis the Season: Community News: Paris First Person: group not so pleased with City zoning changes help stalled Holiday Out and About, Dizzying intersection to get Ledger graphic designer’s first Olympic 2024 plans, page 9 Target, page 14 page 20 makeover, page 27 hand account, page 33 Los Feliz Ledger [LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER] Our local Last Christmas, I was in them by email telling them: issues pale Paris with my two college- “Our hearts are breaking for FOUNDED 2005 Available at these locations: in com- aged sons. Only days after we you and all of Paris.” The ho- Delivered the last Thursday of parison to departed came the Charlie tel manager responded: “Ab- each month to 34,500 homes and Atwater Library 3379 Glendale Blvd. businesses in the Los Feliz, worldwide Hebdo attacks. solutely, it was terrible what Bruce Q’s Barbershop & Salon Silver Lake, Atwater Village, events of When the latest assault on has happened, shocking and 3013 W. Los Feliz Blvd. Echo Park and Hollywood Hills Casita del Campo the last few weeks, includ- Paris occurred, I reached out insupportable. I hope we will communities. ing the terrorist bombing of a to the hotel staff that I had not see a similar situation in 1920 Hyperion Ave Citibank 1933 Hillhurst Ave. Russian commercial airplane, come to know so well dur- the future. We are extremely 1965 Hillhurst Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027 Courtney + Kurt Real Estate a bombing in Beirut, the hor- ing my time in Paris last year. moved by your message and (323) 741-0019 rifying attacks on Paris and Every day, I would wake at 5 thank you very much for your 3167 Glendale Blvd. PUBLISHER/EDITOR Dresden Restaurant another terrorist takeover of a a.m., order a couple of pots of support.” 1760 N. Vermont Avenue Allison B. Cohen hotel in Mali, located in West coffee and edit copy for both Perhaps I watch too much House of Pies ASSISTANT EDITOR 1869 N. Vermont Africa. this and our sister paper in ad- CNN, but it feels now the Sheila Lane The Paris attacks hit close vance of my children waking question is not if, but when, Los Feliz Public Library EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 1874 Hillhurst Avenue to home. The Ledger’s graphic for a day of sight seeing. It was more attacks will occur. As I Erin Hickey Los Feliz 3 Theaters 1822 N. Vermont designer was in Paris at the during these early mornings— write this, Rome, Washington ADVERTISING SALES Muddy Paws Coffee Libby Butler-Gluck time, and in one of the neigh- when I would take breaks from D.C. and New York City have 3320 Sunset Blvd. borhoods attacked just hours my laptop computer and hang all been signaled for possible 323-644-5536 [email protected] Newsstand before ISIS started its assault out in the hotel’s lobby— new attacks. Vermont and Melbourne GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT on restaurants, a soccer sta- that I became friendly with Such events, I hope, re- Palermo Tiffany Sims 1858 N. Vermont dium and a concert hall. (See the staff of Hotel Au Manoir mind us to keep our families BOOKKEEPER Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce Tiffany Sims’ first person ac- Saint-Germain de Pres. close and our concerns in per- Geeta Badkar 1724 W. Silver Lake Drive count on page 33). After the attacks I reached spective. Skylight Books For more stories 1818 N. Vermont and updates: The Village Bakery and Café 3119 Los Feliz Blvd. LosFelizLedger.com [GIVE A HAND] Christmas Toy Store Corrections & Amplifications The Los Angeles Chris- cookies for families to enjoy OD • ART • MUSI tian School (LACS) toy store while they shop, as well as Starting with our September FO C will open its doors for one day complimentary childcare—in 2015 edition, we erred regard- only Saturday, December 5th a separate room, so parents ing Los Angeles City Coun- from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. can keep their kids’ gifts a sur- cilmember Mitch O’Farrell’s claims in an injury lawsuit in The LACS toy store is a prise—and giftwrapping.