WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Beverly Hills prepares for autonomous vehicles. pg. 3 Sunny, with highs in the • 14 trees on mid 70s Cherokee saved. pg. 6 Volume 28 No. 50 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities December 13, 2018 Newn report praises BHPD from Management Partners about CBSn Television City sold to Hackman Positive report follows improvements to the department. ‘$750 million $2.3 million settlement “There is a high level of support question’: What does with former captain, of the Beverly Hills Police Department from sworn and civil- the future hold for the other pending lawsuits ian workers in the police depart- ment and community,” said Joe 25-acre campus? Polisar, of Management Partners. “There is a need for greater unity Two weeks after Beverly Hills of command, and more communi- After more than a year of spec- settled a lawsuit with a former cation and understanding needed. ulation, CBS Television City, police captain who sued claiming There is always room for home to “The Price is Right,” “All he was discriminated against and improvement.” in the Family” and countless other passed over for the job of Beverly Polisar spoke during a mostly shows that shaped television histo- Hills police chief, the City See BHPD page 26 ry, will be sold to Hackman Council received a progress report Capital Partners for $750 million, the companies announced on Dec. 10. “The acquisition of the leg- endary Television City will add photo courtesy of CBS another crown jewel to our portfo- Television City, pictured in 1953, one year after it opened, has pro- lio,” said Michael Hackman, CEO duced some of the most memorable shows in television history. of Hackman Capital Partners. “We have had great success moderniz- plans for the site’s long-term acting CEO of CBS Corporation, ing and transforming real estate future. The company owns local said in a statement that the sale into state-of-the art facilities for properties including the Culver will increase the network’s “finan- notable media, entertainment and Studios, the Culver Steps, 5500 cial flexibility,” allowing it to fur- content creation companies. With Jefferson Blvd. and Coral Circle, ther invest in content creation. a tremendous operations team which are office, retail or industri- “We will be transitioning this already in place, we envision an al spaces. Media reports emerged venerable site to a new owner who exciting future for this storied pro- in October that Hackman and CBS is committed to its legacy as both duction studio.” were close to reaching an agree- a cultural landmark and modern But Hackman, an L.A.-based ment on the sale of Television production facility,” he said. real estate investment and operat- City, which opened in 1952. ing company, does not yet have Joseph Ianniello, president and See CBS page 26 photo by Luke Harold The final plastic straw for Santan surprises kids at LAPD giveaway Police, anonymous donors chip in to help Losn Angeles restaurants Pink’s, Du-Par’s low-income families among restaurants that celebrate the holidays have already begun phasing out plastic Thousands of children received holiday gifts on Dec. 8 during the LAPD Hollywood Division’s annual Many restaurants are ahead of toy giveaway, an event dating back at the curve when it comes to plastic least 20 years in which police collect straw use. In a unanimous vote donations and distribute toys to needy by the Los Angeles City Council families. on Dec. 5, plastic straws will only The toys were purchased with approximately $22,000 from anony- be available by request in all photo by Edwin Folven restaurants by October 2019. mous community donors and police Canter’s Deli and Du-Par’s personnel. Hollywood Division Hollywood Division Officer Paul Jordan appeared as Santa Claus at an Restaurant and Bakery both Officer Paul Jordan, dressed as Santa LAPD toy distribution on Dec. 8 for needy families. made plastic straws only avail- Claus, welcomed children and hand- able by request months before the ed out gifts. Jordan’s wife and daugh- selected at different elementary and “I can tell you among the officers ter appeared as Mrs. Claus and middle schools throughout the area here, there wasn’t a dry eye among city’s announced ordinance. photo by Karen Villalpando “We have stopped offering Santa’s helper, and the children posed and given a ticket to the giveaway. All them,” Davis said. “Just looking at straws since September,” said The Los Angeles City Council for photos in a festively-decorated of this is to help people in need, show the kids’ faces and seeing those fam- Frances Tario, president and hopes to ban plastic straws alto- room. goodwill and build partnerships in the ilies struggling was very emotional. CEO of Du-Par’s Restaurants gether by 2021. The giveaway makes a big differ- community.” That’s why we do this job.” and Bakeries. “Some customers ence for families with limited The students were from Le Conte Families who accompanied the still ask for them, [but] we have made the switch to distributing incomes, said Sgt. Darrell Davis, who Middle School, and Van Ness and 3,000 students were also very grate- found more people not interested plastic straws by request about oversees the division’s community Bancroft elementary schools, among ful. in using a straw.” six months ago. He and Tario cite relations office and organized the others. Davis said on the evening “It means a lot that the kids can Marc Canter, co-owner of event. before the giveaway, officers brought have these gifts,” said Hollywood See Straw page 26 six homeless families to the station to Canter’s Deli, said his restaurant “We have about 3,000 kids come See LAPD page 30 through,” Davis said. “They are pre- select toys for their children. 2 December 13, 2018 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press the voices of Rod at 7 p.m. The film marks the directori- Beverly Hills Gilfry and Carin al debut of Mari Okada. It depicts the Gilfry, in conver- “eternal moment” of a boy and girl sation with the who meet amid the passage of time. JoinChamber the Beverly Hills Chamber of lyric poetry of 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 100. Commerce for its December network- Amber Flora ing breakfast on Friday, Dec. 14, from Thomas and the 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Paley Center for works of Media. Join chamber members, local California State Poet Laureate Dana professionals and community leaders Wildfire victims Gioia. Tickets start at $35. 1310 11th to collaborate, build business and St., Santa Monica. (310)434-3200, learn about events occurring in benefit concert thebroadstage.org. Join a night of music to benefit people Beverly Hills. Admission is $25 for affected by recent wildfires on Tuesday, members; $35 for nonmembers. 465 Dec. 18, at 8 p.m. at the Theatre at The N. Beverly Drive. beverlyhillscham- Ace Hotel. The evening includes Father ber.com. Latin music music pioneer and concert global sensa- John Misty, Haim, Jeff Bhasker, tion Anuel AA will perform on Jonathan Wilson, Lucius, Mac Sunday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the DeMarco, Nate Ruess, Rivers Cuomo, LGBT youth play Microsoft Theatre. The artist is on Rostam, Tim Heidecker, Weyes Blood “Wink,” a play focusing on the strug- tour supporting his recording “Real and special guests. Tickets start at gles of LGBT youth, runs from Hasta La Muerte.” Anuel AA’s song, $59.50. 929 S. Broadway, downtown. Saturday, Dec. 15, through Sunday, “Bebe” topped the Billboard Hot axs.com/events/366513/the-california- Jan. 13, at the Zephyr on Melrose. The Latin Songs chart last month and his wildfires-benefit-concert-tickets. production starring Euriamis Losada collaboration with Karol G and Adam Cordon focuses on Wink, a “Culpables” garnered over 110 mil- homeless, gender-questioning teenag- lion views. Tickets start at $69. 777 er, and Dario Villanova, a former A- Chick Hearn Court, downtown. list actor who is now doing B movies. microsofttheater.com. They quickly bond over music, art and life’s unexpected misfortunes. Showtimes are 8 p.m., Saturday and Monday; 3 p.m., Sunday. Tickets start American Ballet at $20. 7456 Melrose Ave. (323)960- 1055, zephyrtheatre.com. TheatreAmerican Ballet benefit Theatre is holding its annual holiday benefit dinner and per- formance on Monday, Dec. 17, at the ‘Holiday Sauce’ Beverly Hilton Hotel. The perfor- UCLA’s Center for the Art of mance will feature American Ballet Performance presents the incompara- Theatre dancers including principal ble Taylor Mac’s dancers Stella Abrera, Isabella show “Holiday Boylston, Misty Copeland and Cory Sauce” on Friday, Sterns. A cocktail reception begins at Dec. 14, and 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the Saturday, Dec. program. Individual tickets start at 15, at 8 p.m. in $1,000. 9876 Wilshire Blvd. Royce Hall. Mac (310)201-5033 ext. 3, or email returns to Los [email protected]. Angeles with the photo by Bruce Bisenz ultimate holiday Dance and music fans won’t want to miss “Forever Flamenco” on survival guide. Joined by set and cos- Sunday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m. at the Fountain Theatre. The evening of ‘Seniors in Action’ tume designer Machine Dazzle, music gypsy flamenco features dancers Vanessa Albalos (above), Maria West Hollywood’s “Seniors in Action: director and arranger Matt Ray, and a Bermudez, Wendy Castellanos and Manuel Gutierrez; guitarists Kai Community + Connection + band of musicians and special guests, Conversation” event on Tuesday, Dec. Narezo and Antonio Triana; singer José Cortes; and percussionist the artist celebrates the holidays with 18, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., provides unique renditions of holiday songs.