BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Attempted kidnapping Mostly sunny, pg. 4 temps in the • OUT on low 80s Robertson pg. 6 Volume 31 No. 30 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities July 29, 2021 WeHo Council approves More holiday décor in store for Beverly Hills n Council approves artful recycling project additional Christmas installations n Ferrer design to include LACMA fragments By AAron Blevins By AAron Blevins a 1,000-square foot pocket park at Melrose Avenue and Norwich It’s beginning to look a lot like Pieces of the demolished build- Drive, after the council’s 4-1 vote. Christmas in Beverly Hills. ings designed by William Pereira at Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren On July 15, the City Council the Los Angeles County Museum Meister voted against the agree- approved the 2021 holiday décor of Art will likely become art instal- ment and echoed concerns for Rodeo Drive. On Tuesday, it lations in West Hollywood, after the expressed by the West Hollywood gave the go-ahead for its citywide City Council approved a $135,300 West Residents Association. She displays. agreement with artist Cayetano said the association and community The total cost — $3.4 million — Ferrer last week. had “made it pretty clear” they were is already funded through the fis- Ferrer’s “Extraction” will be an unhappy with the art. cal year 2021-22 budget. integrated art component for the The president of the association, Councilman Lester Friedman Melrose Norwich Gathering Place, See Gathering page 21 noted that last year’s budget for the decorations had been significantly reduced due to the pandemic. photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills “It’s really nice to see that we’re The city of Beverly Hills will replace its Santa and reindeer display coming back full force and invit- over Wilshire Boulevard after a 20-year run. ing people, hopefully, to come [back] as long as COVID is under a menorah, staff will install and 7:30 p.m., Sunday through control,” he said. “Glowing Reeds,” an LED-light- Thursday, and at 6:30, 7:30 and Of the total cost, more than $1.1 ing display that emerges three to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and million is for the continuation of five feet from the pond surface. Saturdays. annual décor items. Almost $2 Beverly Hills will host a chore- She said the $625,000 is an esti- million is for new items or the ographed audio/light show during mate for the first year of use, and replacement of aging decorations. the holiday season. Laura Biery, that the display will have an annu- Approximately $625,000 will the city’s marketing and economic al cost between $75,000 and rendering courtesy of the city of West Hollywood be spent on the Lily Pond and sustainability manager, said the $125,000 throughout its five-year The Melrose Norwich Gathering Space is part of the West Hollywood Beverly Gardens Park. In addition shows, which last approximately lifespan. Design District Streetscape Master Plan. to an annual décor, which includes 10 minutes, will be held at 6:30 See Holidays page 21 Ed Buck found guilty in drug City considers steps to snuff out wildfire risk overdose deaths of two men n Beverly Hills fire chief reviews wildfire report n Defendant also The jury also found Buck, 66, guilty of operating a drug den in with city council found guilty of running his residence at 1234 N. Laurel drug den in WeHo Ave. and luring men to the loca- By edwin folven tion for sex in exchange for Emphasizing that it’s a matter of By edwin folven drugs. In situations known as when, not if, a brush fire is going to “party-and-play,” according to occur in the mountainous neighbor- After four hours of delibera- federal authorities, Buck distrib- hoods north of Sunset Boulevard, tion, a federal jury found West uted methamphetamine, GHB the Beverly Hills City Council Hollywood resident and political and other controlled substances reviewed the fire department’s activist Ed Buck guilty of nine to people, and in some instances, 2021 Wildfire Assessment Report felonies on July 27 stemming intravenously injected them with on July 27 and considered steps that from two deaths that occurred as drugs. The two men who suffered can be taken to reduce risks. the result of drug overdoses at his fatal methamphetamine overdos- The council heard from Beverly Laurel Avenue apartment. See Jury page 22 Hills Fire Department Chief Greg Barton and representatives from the consulting company Wildfire Defense Works, that created the report. It analyzed the propensity of wildfires and locations where they may occur in Beverly Hills, as well as evacuation routes and the ability photo courtesy of the BHFD to get fire department personnel up The Beverly Hills Fire Department has agreements in place to bring steep mountainous roads. It also resources from other agencies when wildfires occur. examined the effect of the urban canopy and how trees contribute to will serve as a guide as future plans Those measures include having a wildfire risk, and measures that can are formulated. Mayor Bob full-time inspector assigned to the be taken to mitigate future wildfire Wunderlich and Vice Mayor Lili neighborhoods north of Sunset disasters. Bosse said there is an urgency to Boulevard who educates residents photo by Edwin Folven The council commended Barton address risks and stressed that the and works with them to ensure West Hollywood resident Ed Buck was found guilty of operating a and the consulting team for the fire department should continue brush is cleared. Barton said the drug den out of his apartment at 1234 N. Laurel Ave. comprehensive report and said it with measures already underway. See Assessment page 22 2 July 29, 2021 Beverly Press/Park Labrea News CALENDAR in Hollywood on Saturday, July 31, at Afternoon Concerts in the Dome in an KCRW Summer 6 p.m. to sign her new memoir abbreviated season on Sunday, Aug. “Something Better Brewing: What I 1, and Sunday, Sept. 5. Two perfor- Nights Learned from Prison, Parenthood and mances will be held on each date at 3 KCRW returns to the California Pouring Coffee.” The book is a story and 5 p.m. under the vaulted dome of African American Museum for the about how Birnel endured childhood the observatory’s 100-inch telescope. 2021 Summer Nights kick-off on trauma and an early life of crime, and Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan curates Friday, July 30, from 7 to 11 p.m., later found redemption as a mother the series. The Aug. 1 concert featuring live sets from KCRW DJs and entrepreneur who founded a suc- includes works by Franz Schubert, as Aaron Byrd and Novena Carmel, co- cessful chain of coffee stands with well as the world premiere of Éric host of Morning Becomes Eclectic. bikini-clad baristas. 1625 N. Las Tanguy’s “Le Lys et la Lyre (The Lily Enjoy after-hours access to the Palmas Blvd. arenascreen.com. and the Lyre).” On Sept.5, the Lounge museum’s newest exhibition, Art Ensemble returns. Led by “Sanford Biggers: Codeswitch,” the Weather Report drummer Peter first survey of quilt works by the Erskine, the jazz trio also features sax- New York-based interdisciplinary ‘The Last, Best ophonist Bob Sheppard and bassist artist. Nearly 50 pieces that seam- Darek Oles. Tickets are $50. mtwil- lessly weave together references to Small Town’ Enjoy the world premiere of “The son.edu/concerts. contemporary art, urban culture and Beverly Press/Park Labrea News file photo Last, Best Small sacred geometry are included in the West Hollywood City Hall, which was closed during the pandemic, has Town” by L.A.- exhibit. The event includes food based Latinx reopened for many services. trucks, a beer garden and dance Rooftop playwright John party in the museum’s courtyard. Guerra running Admission is free, reservations Cinema Club from Saturday, requested. 600 State Drive. Rooftop Cinema Club returns on July 31, through eventbrite.com/e/kcrw-summer- Sunday, Aug. 1, with outdoor screen- Saturday, Nov. nights-2021-tickets-16099837- ings in downtown Los Angeles, Santa WeHo City Hall reopens for 6, at Will Geer’s 3469?aff=Press. Monica and El Segundo. Films Theatricum Botanicum. Two neigh- scheduled on Aug. 1 include “The boring families, one Latinx and one Goonies” and “The Great Gatsby.” services by appointment white, live in the town of Fillmore, Screenings are held at 888 S. Olive Strictly Elizabeth the self-proclaimed “Last, Best Small St., downtown Los Angeles; 1310 E. Strictly Elizabeth will perform in-per- After being closed for 16 months ties to schedule time-specific Town in Southern California.” As the Franklin Ave., El Segundo; and 3233 son on Friday, July 30, at the Hotel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, appointments for virtual services to first decade of the 21st century Donald Douglas Loop S, Santa Café. Strictly Elizabeth will be play- West Hollywood City Hall has be conducted by phone or video con- unfolds, the children of the families Monica. See schedule for list of films. ing in support of its most recent reopened for in-person services by ference. come of age, fall in love and suffer rooftopcinemaclub.com. release “Contemporary appointment. Once an appointment is made, the loss in a world that can no longer The appointment system will help city’s system will provide a confir- Construction,” as well as its 2020 promise them a better life than those limit capacity to safeguard communi- mation email as well as a text release “Shelter in Place” and the of their parents.