Los Feliz Ledger Read by 100,000+ Residents and Business Owners in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Vol 12. No. 6 December 2016 Atwater Village, Echo Park & Hollywood Hills Silver Lake and [COUNCIL DISTRICT 13 ELECTION] Los Feliz Overdeveloped Didn’t Stump & Under Heard? for Trump Competitors By Allison B. Cohen Say So During the November By Allison B. Cohen presidential election, Los An- geles City Council District 4 A dozen candidates have (CD4) had a voter turnout of filed to run against incumbent 47%, which bested Los Ange- Mitch O’Farrell in Los Ange- les County’s turnout of 42%, les City Council District 13, according to an analysis by the according to filings with the Los Feliz Ledger. Los Angeles City Ethics Com- “It is no surprise that mission. many of the Council Dis- According to the most trict 4 neighborhoods out- recent campaign donation fil- performed L.A. County voter ings though September 2016, turnout,” said Los Angeles only one candidate, Jessica City Councilmember David Salans, has raised any mon- Ryu. “The communities I rep- ey—$2,328—for the March resent are highly engaged and 2017 election, compared to in- value expressing their opinion SCI-FI AND PIE—Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu and friends and fans unveiled “Forrest J Ackerman Square” cumbent Mitch O’Farrell who at the ballot box. But the elec- in Los Feliz at the corner of Franklin and Vermont avenues November 17th. Ackerman, who died in 2008, had two homes has raised just over $330,000. tion is over and now we must in the Los Feliz area and frequented House of Pies, also at the intersection, often. Referred to affectionately as “Uncle Salans, who identifies Forry,” Ackerman founded and edited Famous Monsters of Filmland, a magazine that reportedly inspired such greats move forward together so we as Guillermo del Toro, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson to become filmmakers. Locals who recently failed to have a herself as an activist/advo- can build a stronger future for bungalow where Ackerman once lived on Russell Avenue designated as historic said they felt honoring Ackerman with cate and organizer, did not every single Angeleno.” his own city square was a good compromise. One small issue though: The installed city signage includes a period after respond to multiple requests Ackerman’s middle initial. As Ackerman preferred his middle initial to not have a period, city officials said the sign would However, both CD4 and be revised. Left to right: filmmaker Paul Davids, Councilmember David Ryu and Ackerman’s closest friend and caretaker for an interview. see TRUMP page 12 in his final years Joe Moe.Photo: Michael Locke. see CD13 page 22 Witness Says Gun Possibly Used in Gatto Murder Locals Describe Prius Scam was “Blue” By Erin Hickey, Ledger Contributing Writer By Allison B. Cohen Reports of a phony car ac- They told her she had hit SILVER LAKE—A gun bran- cident scam in Los Feliz and their parked car while making dished during a car burglary Silver Lake on various social a turn, and that she had been on Moreno Drive and possi- media sites prompted more swerving, which Gonz said bly used in the 2013 murder than a dozen locals to come she knew was not true. of California State Assembly- forward saying they, too, had The driver, who Gonz de- member Mike Gatto’s father been victims of the scam, scribed as a man about 6’ tall, was a “blue semi-automatic which some said has been go- heavyset and balding with handgun,” according to ex- ing on for more than a year. a “big belly,” got out of the cerpts from a Los Angeles According to multiple re- car and pointed out a scratch Police Dept. (LAPD) report, ports, the scammers, two men on the Prius’s front bum- filed by a witness. and a woman in a silver Prius per, which he said Gonz had A screenshot from an online video showing the difference between a stainless steel with the license plate number caused. The burglary and the mur- gun and one that has been “blued” meaning treated with a chemical to prevent rust- der of Joseph Gatto both oc- ing. The LAPD indicates the gun used in a car burglary in 2013 that might be related 7KLE343, honk at their vic- When Gonz denied it, a curred on November 11, 2013. to the murder of Joe Gatto was a “blue semi-automatic handgun.” It’s not clear if the tims until they pull over, claim woman—who she described as police mean a gun that has been “blued,” or a handgun that is a blue color. The LAPD has long speculated the victim hit their car, then about 5’4” and heavyset, with the two events are connected. tween 6:50 p.m. and 6:53 p.m. Marianna and her then fiance demand money for repairs. bleach blonde hair and blue According to two police Gatto’s body was discov- around 8:15 p.m. Los Feliz resident Donna eyes and who had been sitting reports, the Moreno Drive bur- ered, slumped over his desk on Police have previously said Gonz said the scammers fol- in the front passenger seat— glary, which included the sus- the third floor of his home in Gatto had been dead for ap- lowed her for several blocks got out and began to hug her pect pointing a gun at a witness the 2800 block of Bright Lane, proximately 24 hours. down Finley and Common- and cry. She told Gonz they and threatening, “Do you want 24 hours later on Novem- The LAPD has theorized wealth avenues, honking their were on their way to San Fran- horn until she pulled over. to die tonight?” occurred be- ber 12, 2013 by his daughter see MURDER page 9 see PRIUS page 12 Street Level: Community News: Holiday Events: Restaurant Review: Better Know a Bartender: Locals Take on Trump Presidency, Shop Local this Holiday Season, Holiday Out & About, Local restaurants on Jonathan Salazar’s Christina Russo, page 3 page 4 page 10 Gold’s 101 Best list, page 27 losfelizledger.com Los Feliz Ledger [LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER] The out- certainly, California and Los O’Farrell, whose cam- come of the Angeles are now trying to figure paign did not return requests FOUNDED 2005 Available at these locations: presiden- out how they fit in—or not—in for an interview for our story Delivered the last Thursday of Atwater Library each month to 34,500 homes and tial elec- a Trump White House. (which starts on page 1) has 3379 Glendale Blvd. businesses in the Los Feliz, tion was Now that the election is a major head start in the race Bruce Q’s Barbershop & Salon Silver Lake, Atwater Village, one of the over, we have another impor- having received over $330,000 3013 W. Los Feliz Blvd. Echo Park and Hollywood Hills Casita del Campo most unexpected news events tant one just around the cor- in donations for his campaign. communities. 1920 Hyperion Ave I can remember. For the days ner in March, which includes By contrast, to date, no other Citibank after the election, but for the the possible re-elections of candidate—except one with 1933 Hillhurst Ave. 1965 Hillhurst Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027 Courtney + Kurt Real Estate protests here in Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los $2,328—has raised any mon- (323) 741-0019 3167 Glendale Blvd. and in other cities across the Angeles City Councilmember ey at all. Dresden Restaurant nation, it seemed eerily quiet. Mitch O’Farrell in Council But as you’ll read in our PUBLISHER/EDITOR 1760 N. Vermont Avenue Allison B. Cohen House of Pies It was as if we all were, collec- District 13. story, a couple of the candidates 1869 N. Vermont ASSISTANT EDITORS tively, trying to come to terms We start our coverage this interviewed aren’t worried. Los Feliz Public Library Sheila Lane with a completely new reality, month of candidates that are “Look what happened 1874 Hillhurst Avenue Erin Hickey not just in U.S. politics, but seeking to replace O’Farrell. In with Trump,” they said refer- Los Feliz 3 Theaters ADVERTISING SALES 1822 N. Vermont also regarding the news media the months to follow, we will ring to the relatively limited Libby Butler-Gluck Muddy Paws Coffee and the value of election ad- pose policy and issues questions funds, compared to Hillary 323-644-5536 3320 Sunset Blvd. vertising and polling. of those candidates that accom- Clinton, the now President- [email protected] Newsstand Vermont and Melbourne It’s too soon to tell if the plish an early December dead- Elect used during his cam- GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT Palermo 2016 Presidential Election will line of getting 500 verified sig- paign. Instead, Trump pro- Tiffany Sims 1858 N. Vermont become the new normal. But natures to qualify for the ballot. see PUBLISHER page 11 Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce 1724 W. Silver Lake Drive For more stories Skylight Books and updates: 1818 N. Vermont LosFelizLedger.com The Village Bakery and Café November Community Meetings 3119 Los Feliz Blvd. Atwater Village Neighborhood Council Governing Board Governing Board December 13th at 7:30 p.m. December 8th at 7 p.m. 4607 Prospect Avenue 3852 Edenhurst Ave. Celebrate 120 Years of Griffith Park All Welcome! December 16th at 3 p.m. East Hollywood Neighborhood Council Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round Governing Board December 19th at 6:30 p.m. Silver Lake Neighborhood Council 1559 North Kenmore Avenue History Collective Committee December 5th at 6:30 p.m.