Friedman New Mayor of Beverly Hills Beverly Hills Authorizes Wilshire
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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Fatal street race on Highland pg. 4 Sunny, with • Rent highs in the moratoriums 60s enacted pg. 6 Volume 30 No. 14 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities April 2, 2020 WeHo officials work to Friedman new mayor of Beverly Hills n Wunderlich now vice keep community informed mayor; installation n City prepares for next council meeting on April 6 ceremony canceled BY JOSE HERRERA BY CAMERON KISZLA People listen to each other when On March 31, the Beverly Hills they need advice or help in solving City Council held the swearing in a problem, but during an emer- of the two winners of the March 3 gency, such as the coronavirus pan- election and chose a new mayor demic, it’s vital to obtain the right and vice mayor. information from trusted sources. Contrary to last year’s reorgani- In the city of West Hollywood, zation meeting, which was held in Mayor Pro Tempore Lindsey the Academy of Motion Picture photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills Horvath will be participating in Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Mayor Lester Friedman, bottom center, was sworn in by City Clerk Israeli-American Civic Action Goldwyn Theater and featured Huma Ahmed, top left, via teleconference on March 31. Network’s Virtual Town Hall Series musical performances and lengthy tonight, April 2, at 7 p.m. to discuss speeches, the 2020 reorganization 3 and thus won a third term on the stronger now more than ever,” she the latest developments with the was held via teleconference as a council, thanked the community said. COVID-19 pandemic and its photo courtesy of the city of West Hollywood result of the coronavirus pandemic. for “believing in me and trusting Councilman Julian Gold, who impact on West Hollywood. West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem - On March 26, the City Council in me,” though she noted the finished second on March 3 and ICAN has partnered with pore Lindsey Horvath will partici- – in a joint special meeting with ongoing coronavirus pandemic also secured a third term, noted Congregation Kol Ami, located at the Advisory Medical Task Force left her with “very mixed emo- that the newly elected council 200 N. La Brea Ave., and the two pate in a virtual town hall tonight, April 2. – canceled the celebratory meet- tions.” members’ speeches, which are organizations will ask Horvath ing planned for April 6 and sched- “My heart is very, very full right normally celebratory, had a much questions about the city’s efforts weho.org/city-government/emer- uled the installation meeting to be now, but … really, what’s on my more serious tone this year. Like and response to the virus. The virtu- gency-information in English, part of the March 31 council meet- mind first and foremost is the Bosse, he also appealed to the al meeting is open to the public by Spanish and Russian. ing. health and safety of our communi- resolve of the people of Beverly registering at israelusa.org/events. As part of the emergency All five council members ty and the health and safety of our Hills and painted a picture of a For those who are unable to par- response, the city organized an addressed the impact of the coron- world … Although we are physi- brighter future once the coron- ticipate, updates and information on emergency supply drive at Plummer avirus during their brief remarks. cally apart, we need each other avirus crisis passes. West Hollywood’s response to the Councilwoman Lili Bosse, who now more than ever, and I’ve coronavirus can be found by visiting See WeHo page 18 was the top vote-getter on March found we’ve come together even See Mayor page 18 Beverly Hills authorizes Wilshire closure Officers show heart with n With businesses closed, Metro off-duty grocery delivery work given priority n Wilshire Division BY CAMERON KISZLA program serves While the coronavirus pandemic seniors and others in has brought many sectors of the economy to a halt, construction was need declared an essential business and BY EDWIN FOLVEN has continued, including the work on Metro’s Purple Line Extension Officers at the Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. Police Department’s Wilshire With many other businesses Division are extending a lifeline closed or are working by appoint- to seniors, people with disabili- ment only, the Los Angeles County ties and other vulnerable commu- Metropolitan Transportation nity members through Operation Authority said some steps that Blue Heart, a volunteer program would have seemed impossible dur- photo by Cameron Kiszla in which authorities are deliver- ing normal times, such as a full clo- Metro expects Purple Line Extension construction to proceed at a faster ing groceries and essentials to sure of Wilshire Boulevard, will pace during the full closure of three blocks of Wilshire Boulevard. people in need. allow more piling, decking and The program was launched last other work to take place. Beverly Drive at the intersection one of those cliched situations week by Capt. Shannon Paulson, “The businesses are closed at this with Wilshire. The closure can go about making lemonade out of commanding officer of the photo courtesy of Mitch Jacoves time. That will allow work to occur into effect as early as today, April 2, lemons,” Councilman John Mirisch Wilshire Division, who wanted to Miracle Mile resident and police when there’s minimal vehicular and and detours for drivers will use said. provide an extra level of service volunteer Mitch Jacoves delivers pedestrian traffic in the area,” said Burton Way and La Cienega The construction crews will be during the coronavirus public groceries as part of Operation Robert Welch, engineering manag- Boulevard, Beverly and Santa able to undo the full closure and health emergency. Realizing Blue Heart. er for the city of Beverly Hills Monica boulevards. return the streets to their partially there are many scams online and Public Works Department. Other than some extended work- closed states with five days’ notice. that many people may be afraid program off-duty. She received On March 31, the Beverly Hills ing hours – hauling can now take Depending on how long the clo- to venture out to grocery stores, an overwhelmingly positive City Council voted unanimously to place during morning and evening sure remains in place, as much as pharmacies and essential busi- response authorize the closure of three rush hour – the stipulations of the six months could be shaved off the nesses because of crowds, “I thought if I came up with blocks of Wilshire Boulevard – city’s memorandum of agreement construction schedule, which was Paulson emailed the station’s per- maybe eight or 10 volunteers from Crescent Drive to Beverly with Metro remain in place. sonnel to ask if officers were Drive – as well as the closure of “I like the concept. This is truly See Council page 19 willing to participate in such a See LAPD page 19 2 April 2, 2020 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Farmers’ markets close until Cedars-Sinai joins testing for COVID-19 drug Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has joined an international effort to test plans for distancing are OK’d an experimental antiviral drug as a potential treatment for COVID-19. n open. Many of the Original Original Farmers Farmers Market’s restaurants are The medical center expects to enroll Market, corner of offering prepared food for take- its first clinical trial participant this out and delivery. Grocers are week. Third and Fairfax, stocked with meat and poultry, Cedars-Sinai is among dozens of remains open fresh produce, eggs, pantry sites around the world participating essentials and specialty foods. in the clinical trial, sponsored by the Los Angeles Mayor Eric Delivery is available by visiting National Institute of Allergy and Garcetti issued an order on mercato.com. For information, Infectious Diseases of the National March 30 to close farmers’ mar- visit farmersmarketla.com. Institutes of Health. The trial is eval- kets throughout the city pending The mayor’s order pertained to uating remdesivir, an investigational drug developed by the biopharma- a review of each market’s opera- many neighborhood farmers’ photo by Edwin Folven ceutical company Gilead Sciences. tional plan to implement social markets, such as the Hollywood A clinical trial will test the effectiveness and safety of the antiviral drug. distancing of at least 6 feet. Farmers Market, operated by Remdesivir is in a class of antivi- “We have seen images of dan- Sustainable Economic ral drugs designed to inhibit an gerously crowded farmers mar- Enterprises of Los Angeles, and enzyme that certain viruses, includ- “We need randomized, controlled Tapson emphasized that the trial kets – so I’m announcing the the Miracle Mile, La Brea and ing the one that causes COVID-19, studies to verify that remdesivir is involves many contributors, includ- temporary suspension of farmers Larchmont farmers’ markets, require to replicate themselves. The both safe and effective,” Tapson ing critical care and infectious dis- markets pending city review of which are operated by Raw drug is not approved by the Food said. “That is why this clinical trial is eases experts, pulmonologists, anes- physical distancing plans needed Inspiration. Inquiries to SEE-LA and Drug Administration. At pre- so important.” thesiologists, critical care nurses and to keep communities safe,” and Raw Inspiration seeking sent, there are no specific FDA- Cedars-Sinai plans to enroll up to pulmonary fellows and residents. In Garcetti said. “We will review information about whether they approved therapeutics to treat people 30 hospitalized COVID-19 patients an NIH news release announcing the plans immediately so markets would remain open were not with COVID-19.