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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • BH City Hall to reopen pg. 3 Partly cloudy, • Pared-down with highs in Pride for the 60s WeHo pg. 6 Volume 31 No. 16 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hanock Park and Wilshire Communities April 22, 2021 Complete Streets moving WeHo moves to help hotel workers n Critics claim hotel forward in Beverly Hills owners weren’t n Council supports ‘high-level concept’ consulted on ordinance BY CAMERON KISZLA “The streets as a whole should BY JUSTIN SAYERS not prioritize one mode [of trans- The Beverly Hills Complete portation] over others,” said Jessie The West Hollywood City Streets plan was approved by the Holzer, transportation planner and Council took the first step toward City Council on April 20. project manager for Complete instituting an ordinance that Though Councilman Lester Streets. would offer new protections to Friedman was absent, the other four It has drawn criticism in the past, hotel workers from issues such as members of the City Council including during a contentious inadequate compensation, over- expressed their support for the plan. Beverly Hills Traffic and Parking work and sexual assault. Complete Streets aims to create Commission meeting in 2019, but The council voted 3-1 during its streets that can be used by multiple on April 20, the council members meeting on April 19 to direct city forms of transportation – not only and all but one of the 26 people staff to meet with stakeholders, cars, but bicycles, pedestrians and including hotel employees, own- public transit as well. See Transportation page 26 ers and the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, to come photo courtesy of Unite Here Local 11 up with an ordinance and bring it West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath stood with hotel workers to back to council within 60 days for support their efforts calling for the city to create a protection policy. discussion. “What we’re trying to do is drafted that actually protects those were not consulted before the establish standards for safety and workers, validates the work that council’s vote, but rather after. protection of the workers and they’ve been doing, and honors She pointed to the city of Santa make sure that policies are put in their work as part of the success Monica, which first passed a sim- place to provide for them return- that brought all of those business- ilar ordinance that will be used as ing to work and that the jobs they es to the point before COVID.” a model for West Hollywood, after return to are safe,” said Mayor Councilwoman Lauren Meister, ensuring they met with all the Lindsey Horvath, who co-initiated who voted against the ordinance, required stakeholders before draft- the proposed ordinance. “What said she had concerns about why ing their policies. photo by Cameron Kiszla we’re trying to do here is give the business community, many of Many of the existing streets in Beverly Hills lack designated bicycle lanes. direction for an ordinance to be whom are against the ordinance, See Hotel page 27 First Robertson closure mostly successful Cautious optimism in n Noise complaints reported in WeHo Hollywood homeless count BY JUSTIN SAYERS n Data show changes about what appears to be progress in helping people living The city of West Hollywood in ways people are on the streets in Hollywood. launched its OUT on Robertson living on the streets Hollywood 4WRD, a coalition pilot program last weekend, and of service providers and commu- both the city and adjacent residents BY EDWIN FOLVEN nity advocates working to end reported that the effort to close a homelessness, recently released popular stretch of dining and With homelessness seemingly the results of a count on Feb. 25 nightlife to vehicles was conducted on the rise throughout Los of unhoused individuals in with limited issues. Angeles and a commitment by Hollywood and east Hollywood. The first weekend represented a Mayor Eric Garcetti to include The organization, which con- small-scale version of the vision for approximately $1 billion in the ducts the annual count in the area after the three-month pilot city’s next budget to address the program was passed unanimously issue, local leaders are hopeful See Homeless page 27 by the West Hollywood City photo by Jon Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood Council in February. A full-scale Both neighbors and city officials reported that the first weekend of the grand opening is on track for May 1. Robertson Boulevard closure to traffic was conducted with minimal issues. The city closed North Robertson Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue last stretch along Robertson to become tions while still monitoring the Saturday and Sunday, with only one a place for a variety of uses, spread of the virus,” Councilman business – the Abbey Food and Bar whether it’s for yoga classes, ven- John Erickson said in a statement. – moving operations outside and dors to set up temporary stalls or “COVID is not over and we all into the street. businesses on the street to operate must remain vigilant about protect- The city is hoping the Outdoor outside. ing our own health and the health of Use Temporary Zone – a program “Closing this highly trafficked others.” that was established during the pan- and bustling stretch of Robertson “The coronavirus pandemic has demic as a way for businesses hit will provide a pedestrian-safe space forced many of our local businesses hard by the coronavirus pandemic that allows for appropriate social to drastically alter how they serve to operate while adhering to county distancing as the Public Health photo by Edwin Folven health requirements – will allow the Department eases capacity restric- See Robertson page 26 Homelessness is slightly down in Hollywood, a recent count found. 2 April 22, 2021 Beverly Press/Park Labrea News CALENDAR and owners can Resources, explores how historic Beverly Hills celebrates Combatting bring their vehi- preservation has revived neighbor- cles for display. hoods, created a downtown renais- Holocaust denial All vehicles and sance and guided the future of the city. Join Holocaust Museum L.A. for spectators must With more than 300 full-color images, Israeli independence “Combatting Holocaust Denial and be pre-registered “Preserving Los Angeles” chronicles Distortion Online: A Discussion with to participate. urban transformation and serves as a Facebook” on Thursday, April 22, at 6060 Wilshire guide for citizens and urban practi- 11 a.m., via Zoom. Jordana Cutler, Blvd. (323)930-2277, petersen.org. tioners wishing to preserve the unique head of policy for Facebook in Israel, culture of their cities. chevaliers- and members of Facebook’s Content books.com/ken-bernstein. Policy team, will join museum board member Dan Schnur to discuss the Paul Cornish genesis of the platform’s Holocaust The 18th Street Arts Center is holding denial and distortion policy, and how a concert of new compositions by Classical the company is partnering with the pianist Paul Cornish livestreamed Jewish community to educate users. from the World Stage in Leimert Park music film Suggested donation is $10. RSVP on Sunday, April 25, at 7 p.m. Colburn School is holding the world required. holocaustmuseumla.org Cornish is 18th Street Arts Center’s premiere of the film “The Way 2021 Make Jazz Fellow. HIs music Forward” on Thursday, April 29, at weaves together personal experi- noon. Filmed remotely in Australia, Book publicists ences, collective Canada, Finland, England and Spain, trials and inter- and on the Colburn campus in Los webinar personal con- Angeles, “The Way Forward” Book Publicists of Southern California nections while reimagines the concert-going experi- is hosting an online webinar titled also reflecting ence for the digital age. It features “New Strategies for Your Book P.R.” on the question, Fabio Bidini, Kris Bowers, Danielle on Thursday, April 22, from 6:30 to “How do you de Niese, Clive Greensmith, Esa- photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills 8:30 p.m. Guest speakers, surprise create communi- Pekka Salonen, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, In honor of Israel’s 73rd Independence Day, members of the Beverly authors and publishers will participate. ty during a pan- the Calidore String Quartet and Viano Hills City Council joined Israeli Consul General Dr. Hillel Newman on The webinar will focus on public rela- demic?” The concert can be viewed String Quartet. Tickets are free, but April 14, as Beverly Hills City Hall was illuminated in blue. tions during difficult times. Admission on Facebook Live. registration is required. colburn- facebook.com/18thstreetarts. school.edu/thewayforward. Councilman John Mirisch, left, joined Vice Mayor Lili Bosse, Mayor is free. Use the meeting ID 822 4454 Robert Wunderlich, Newman, and Councilmen Julian Gold and 5626, and passcode 509260. us02web.zoom.us/j/82244545626?pw Lester Friedman at the lighting ceremony. d=VDc3RDhkbUxITkY1YjNIRktuZ LAUSD school Jewish Free Loan 0xtdz09. nurse hiring event Association The Los Angeles Unified School dis- Jewish Free Loan Association wel- West Coast trict is hiring school nurses and a spe- comes sales and digital marketing HPMC administers vaccines cial hiring event will be held on expert Hema Dey for “How Digital Jewish Theatre Tuesday, April 27, from 9 to 5 p.m. Marketing Can Help Your Business West Coast Jewish Theatre presents School nurses promote student well- Beat the Competition,” an online dis- at walk-up mobile clinic “Magical Musical Mystery Follies,” a ness and achievement by reducing cussion on Thursday, April 29, from virtual evening of music, magic, health-related barriers. LAUSD is noon to 1 p.m. Dey is the founder of Los Angeles City Councilman Additionally, the hospital has part- Iffel International, a global marketing Mark Ridley-Thomas, 10th District, nered with Charles R.