Council Sets Hollywood's Target Project Back on Track
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WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Beverly Hills opens first Cloudy with dog park p. 8 temps in the mid 60s Volume 26 No. 18 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities May 5, 2016 Council sets Hollywood’s Homeless population continues to grow nTarget project back on track n Neighborhood leaders Unsheltered estimates increase by 21 percent vow to halt project again By GreGory Cornfield Total homeless population: By edwin folven 2015: 44,359 According to the results of the 2016: 46,874 The Los Angeles City Council county’s homeless count earlier this Veteran homeless: approved a plan Wednesday to put year, the crisis has worsened over the unfinished Target project at the past year. 2015: 4,362 Sunset Boulevard and Western The Los Angeles Homeless 2016: 3,071 Avenue back on track. Services Authority (LAHSA) The council unanimously voted announced Wednesday that volun- Council District 13: to approve an amendment to the teers tallied 46,874 individuals 2015: 2,270 Station Neighborhood Area Plan experiencing homelessness in January – a 6 percent increase in the 2016: 3,036 (SNAP) that will enable construc- District 5: tion to resume on the project. The county, and 11 percent in the city amendment allows a 74-foot Target over last year. 2015: 879 The unsheltered population in the building at the location, which is photo by Edwin Folven 2016: 913 zoned for 35-foot-tall structures. city increased by 21 percent. District 4 The change would only pertain to The Target project at Sunset Boulevard and Western Avenue may Council District 13 saw a 34 per- the Target site. resume after the Los Angeles City Council approved an amendment cent increase, from 2,270 to 3,036 2015: 625 Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, Wednesday to change height limits at the site. 2016: 628 13th District, backed the amend- See Count page 22 ment and said he is pleased that the buildings in the area. An appeal to whelming community support, will council decision sets the stage for that ruling is pending. bring hundreds of construction jobs work to resume. The previously “Target needs to complete the and permanent employment oppor- approved Target project was halted project and activate that very tunities to local residents, and gen- in August 2014 after a Los Angeles important commercial corner of erate tax revenue so that L.A. can Superior Court judge sided with Sunset Boulevard and Western provide services our residents community groups seeking to stop Avenue in Hollywood,” O’Farrell deserve.” the development on grounds that it said. “It is time to look forward and exceeded a 35-foot height limit for not back. This project has over- See Target page 22 Inspired by Mom and Great-Grandma: photo courtesy of Mid City West Community Council nsisters take their shot The Mid City West Community Council was pleased with improved com- A family affair at the Farmers Market munity participation that led to more than 50 people running for open seats. By Justin sayles name – Zia Valentina is named after their Sicilian great aunt, a For sisters and Zia Valentina culinary wiz known for healthy Voter turnout jumps for owners Naomi Kashi and Dorit and delicious creations. Simone, their Los Angeles grani- “We come from a long lineage tas shop represents an opportunity of strong women,” Simone said. Mid City West election to flex their entrepreneurial mus- That inspiration and their sib- By GreGory Cornfield cles and continue their family’s ling connection led the duo into deep candidate pool and 29 com- long history of strong female role their current endeavor. petitive seats. models. Three years ago, Kashi moved courtesy Zia Valentina Approximately 328 people voted “We were really successful in Growing up in the New York to Los Angeles and began staying in the Mid City West Community recruiting candidates this year,” he area before relocating to Southern Sisters Dorit Simone, left, and Council (MCWCC) election to said. “And competitive races bring California, the sisters had been with Simone, who herself had Naomi Kashi started selling decide who will fill the 35 open voters out.” inspired by people such as their relocated a few years earlier. “Waffleshots” out of their seats – a welcome improvement He said the MCWCC’s election great-grandmother, a single moth- Kashi would use the kitchen Original Farmers Market loca- after only 63 votes were cast in er who raised three children dur- experiment with new ideas, but committee also stepped up by tion in 2013. 2012. ing the great depression, and their didn’t know exactly where it scheduling different election events mother, who moved to Los would take her. “We’re very pleased,” said coun- and making a push on social media actresses,” Simone said. “I said, Angeles to help out with their Simone, who also works as a cil chairman Scott Epstein. “It’s and with advertisements. MCWCC ‘What do you want?’” also a 50 percent increase in turnout three-year-old business. talent manager, tapped into her also opted to use online voting Kashi settled on granitas, a over two years ago.” In fact, that strong female pres- career-advising skills. tools, and almost 50 percent of vot- semi-frozen Italian dessert made Epstein credited the improved ence is built into their business’ “I took her on like one of my ers submitted ballots online. See Zia page 22 turnout to a few factors, including a See results page 22 See Kip page 21 2 May 5, 2016 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 5 Evie Litwok invited to “Landlord Basics 101,” an oin Evie Litwok for a discussion installment of West Hollywood’s “Queer, Old and in Solitary” on “RSO Building Blocks” seminar, on JThursday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the C a l e n d a r Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. in the West Hollywood Community Center at Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg 471 S. Roxbury Dr. (310)601-2422, Plummer Park. Topics will include Theatre. When Litwok was 60 years www.bhba.org. old, she was wrongly convicted of tax entitlements when units are re-regis- evasion and sent to a federal women’s tered, penalties for failure to re-regis- prison. A consultant, writer, speaker Children’s Concert ter, and how to avoid rent reductions est Hollywood presents and social activist, Litwok collected and overcharges. 7377 Santa Monica soundSpark, a monthly music stories of others while in prison, which Blvd., Room 6. (323)848-6450, series for young children featuring she uses in her Witness to Mass W www.weho.org. solo and duo performances by emerg- Incarceration project. 1125 N. ing artists, on Saturday, May 7 at noon McCadden Place. www.vanguard- in the West Hollywood Children’s now.org. 11 Senior Health Fair Theater. Rachel Beetz will perform. est Hollywood’s annual senior 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. www.sas- health fair is on Wednesday, ‘Eastside Heartbeats’ sas.org/calendar or WMay 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at the ASA 0101 Theater presents www.weho.org/arts. Community Center at Plummer Park. “Eastside Heartbeats: A New Rock Free health screenings will be offered. C‘n’ Roll Musical” Thursday, May 5 Complimentary lunches are available; through Sunday, May 29. The musical ‘Music & Merit advance reservations for lunch are play tells the fictional story of Jimmy Awards Gala’ required and can be made by calling Ramirez, leader of the four-man vocal he Neighborhood Music School is (323)848-6820. 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. (323)848-651, www.weho.org. group the Eastside Heartbeats. It is photo courtesy of the Loren L. Zachary hosting its “Music & Merit inspired by the true story of Cannibal TAwards Gala” on Saturday, May 7 at and the Headhunters, the group that Ten emerging singers from a nationwide search will perform the music the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The opened for The Beatles at the of Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and others at the 44th annual Loren L. Zachary school, located in Boyle Heights, 12 JVSLA Strictly Hollywood Bowl in 1965. Showtime National Vocal Competition Showcase Concert on Sunday, May 15 at 2 helps children discover music while Business Luncheon on May 5 is 8 p.m. Regular showtimes p.m. at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. The performers will be joined by the embarking on a journey of self-dis- ewish Vocational Service of Los are 8 p.m., Friday; 3 and 8 p.m., Los Angeles Performing Arts Orchestra, conducted by Frank Fetta. The covery. The President’s Award will be Angeles is holding its Strictly Saturday; 5 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are vocalists include baritone Kihun Yoon, a participant in the LA Opera presented to producer, performer and JBusiness Awards luncheon on $30. 2102 E. First St. (323)263-7684, educator Dan Guerrero, and the Thursday, May 12 at The Beverly Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artists Program, as well as tenors Mario www.casa0101.org. Mancini Award will be given to Dr. Hilton. Dan Goldenberg, a national Rojas and Galeano Galas, character tenor Robert Norman, baritones Albert McNeil, founder of the Albert advocate for veterans and executive Jarrett Ott and John Viscardi, and sopranos Jessica Rose Cambio, McNeil Jubilee Singers. A reception director of the Call of Duty Sci-Fest LA Vanessa Vasquez, Jungwon Choi and Christie Conover. 4401 W. Eighth begins at 5:30 p.m.; dinner and enter- Endowment will give the keynote he Los Angeles Science Fiction St. Admission is free; tickets required by calling (310)276-2731. tainment begins at 7 p.m. Tickets start speech. Universal Protection Service One-Act Play Festival returns from at $250.