CD 4PLATFORMS: CANDIDATE losfelizledger.comLos Feliz Ledger Read by 100,000+ Residents and Business Owners in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Vol 16. No. 4 October 2020 Atwater Village, Echo Park & Hollywood Hills Pandemic Forcing A New Business Landscape COVID, Rising L.A.’s Rank as Rents Reshape #1 for Closures Atwater Seen Locally By Valli Herman By Sorina Szakacs Ledger Contributing Writer Ledger Contributing Writer Stroll the central business Los Angeles tops all ma- district of Atwater Village and jor cities in the United States it’s clear that the nearly 75 for business closures since the storefronts are in a period of pandemic began in March, accelerated change. according to a Yelp study re- In a perfect storm of pan- leased in September. demic-forced closures, soaring Per Yelp’s data, Los Ange- rents and a changing neigh- les has had 7,500 permanent borhood clientele, Atwater’s business closures from March famed shopping corridor has 1, 2020 through August 31, been once again transformed. 2020, followed by New York In the past 20 years, the City with 7,100. San Francisco blocks along Glendale Boule- ranks third with 2,900. vard from San Fernando Road California also tops the to the I-5 Freeway gradually list for state closures, with changed from a neighborhood 19,200—more than double of mom and pop shops to a the next reporting state, Texas, haven for more upscale restau- COVID CHANGES: As mom and pop shops close for good due to COVID-19, investors have purchased the which has just under 9,000. rants, coffee shops, fitness stu- long empty El Cañonazo Market on Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village and will be turning it into a mix Certainly, the closures can dios and trendy retailers. of retail and smaller food stalls and restaurants with patios and open-air dining. Construction will start in be seen locally. October with plans to open by the spring of 2021. Mural by Eric Junker. Photo: Rogg Partners. see ATWATER page 11 see CLOSURES page 8 [CD4 CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES] Gondola Idea Hanging on A Thread City Council Expansion and Reform By Erin Hickey Pinheiro, Ledger Contributing Writer By Erin Hickey Pinheiro, Ledger Contributing Writer It’s unusual to find a poli- tician actively seeking to re- duce their own power—let alone two in the same race. But that is exactly the situation in Los Angeles City Council District 4 (CD4), where both incumbent David Ryu and challenger Nithya David Ryu Nithya Raman Raman are running on a plat- form to expand the number of practice, and both say it would man has been discussing since council districts in Los Ange- go far to increase equity and September 2019, when she in- The city has launched the website at griffithparkaerialtransit.com, which in- les, bringing the total number representation in Los Angeles. cluded it in her primary cam- cludes this photo of what such a tramway could look like. of seats closer in line with the According to Ryu, the paign platform, and her sup- population and significantly current 15-councilmember porters have been quick to point GRIFFITH PARK—Several lo- idea—and nearby residents diluting the power of individ- system was created in 1917, out that Ryu didn’t add it to his cal neighborhood organiza- are none too pleased either. ual councilmembers. when the city’s population was platform until months later. tions have recently expressed At issue are concerns Both Ryu and Raman cite about a million people. Raman said she sees this opposition to a proposed aerial about commercialization of cities like New York, which has “Our population basically as a positive. tram or “gondola” that would the park, potential wildlife 51 councilmembers, and Chi- quadrupled, but our structure “It really shows that these shuttle visitors to the Holly- impacts and worries the tram cago, which has 50 alderman, stayed the same,” he said. ideas have deep electoral reso- wood Sign, including some might worsen the traffic prob- as examples of this model in The issue is one that Ra- see CD4 page 9 who initially supported the see GONDOLA page 6 ICYMI: OPINION: SCHOOL GUIDE: ERIC EARLY: EDITORIAL: COVID19 updates and more, Schiff, Friedman and local pages 13 through 18 Adam Schiff’s November opponent, Leaf Blowers & COVID-19, page 2 electeds, pages 3 and 4 page 19 losfelizledger.com Los Feliz Ledger In Case You Missed It health officials approved some affected by the virus, in par- geles County’s public health in-person instruction for kin- ticular Latinos and Blacks. director said September 9th that residents should begin Briefs of stories we’ve pub- MOVES TO ERECT RBG STATUE dergarten through 12th grade COUNTY WALKS BACK planning safer ways to cel- lished online since our last IN HONOR OF LATE SUPREME students in September, but COVID-19 BAN ON TRICK-OR- ebrate the upcoming fall holi- print edition. Always check COURT JUSTICE only for students with spe- TREATING days, but backed down from losfelizledger.com to stay up Local Los Angeles City cialized needs or requiring Warning that holiday its previously announced ban to date. Councilmember David Ryu instruction for English as a gatherings can lead to spikes on trick-or-treating for Hal- was one of three members to second language. As of late in coronavirus cases, Los An- loween. $10.4 M LEGAL DEFENSE introduce a motion September September, LAUSD had not FUND APPROVED FOR 22nd to have a statue erected taken advantage of the direc- RENTERS FACING EVICTION in honor of the late U.S. Su- tive, instead saying the district The Los Angeles City preme Court Justice Ruth wants to wait for transmission Council voted unanimously Bader Ginsburg. The motion rates to further decline. September 23rd to authorize seeks funding and location op- LOS FELIZ NEIGHBORHOOD more than $10.4 million for tions for the proposed statue FOUNDED 2005 COUNCIL APPOINTS YOUTH Available at these locations: an emergency legal defense from the city’s Department of REPRESENTATIVE Delivered the last Thursday of Atwater Library program to protect renters Cultural Affairs. each month to 34,500 homes and 3379 Glendale Blvd. from eviction amid the CO- The Los Feliz Neighbor- businesses in the Los Feliz, Casita del Campo 1920 Hyperion Ave VID-19 pandemic. LANDLORDS SUE OVER hood Council in September Silver Lake, Atwater Village, Alcove & Big Bar COVID-19 EVICTION BAN appointed 16-year-old Mat- Echo Park and Hollywood Hills lock Grossman as its first ever communities. 1929 Hillhurst Avenue AGENCY TRANSITIONING An October hearing is set Courtney + Kurt Real Estate HOMELESS OUT OF in which Southern California’s youth representative. Gross- 1933 Hillhurst Ave. 3167 Glendale Blvd. PROJECT ROOM KEY largest landlord organization man has served on the LFNC’s Los Angeles, CA 90027 Dresden Restaurant (323) 741-0019 1760 N. Vermont Avenue The Los Angeles Home- will urge a federal judge to Transportation and Mobility Committee for the past five House of Pies less Services Authority has put an immediate halt to the PUBLISHER/EDITOR 1869 N. Vermont years and has co-chaired it for started transitioning homeless city’s eviction ban and rent Allison B. Cohen Los Feliz Public Library the past three. 1874 Hillhurst Avenue people from temporary shelter freeze enacted during the CO- SENIOR EDITOR Los Feliz 3 Theaters to long-term housing, officials VID-19 pandemic. The Apart- Erin Hickey Pinheiro HEALTH EQUITY MEASURE TO 1822 N. Vermont said September 23rd. Project ment Assoc. of Greater Los GRAPHIC DESIGN BE FACTORED IN FOR COUNTY George & Eileen Moreno, Realtors Roomkey matched 4,300 of Angeles filed a lawsuit against & LAYOUT 2150 N. Hillhurst Ave. REOPENINGS Tiffany Sims the city’s most vulnerable to the city of Los Angeles in June Muddy Paws Coffee 3320 Sunset Blvd. COVID19 homeless to hotel challenging the eviction ban, California health officials said in September they are For more stories Palermo and motel rooms emptied by prohibitions on late fees or in- 1858 N. Vermont closer to adding a new metric and updates: the pandemic. The effort fell terest and moratorium on an- Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce LosFelizLedger.com far short of the city’s goal of nual rent increases. regarding reopening counties 1724 W. Silver Lake Drive temporarily housing 15,000 relative to COVID-19 that Skylight Books will seek to close dispropor- 1818 N. Vermont homeless persons. LAUSD EVALUATING REOPEN- The Village Bakery and Café ING FOR SMALL COHORTS tionate outcomes among com- 3119 Los Feliz Blvd. munities that have been more LOSEarlyAd ANGELES copy 2.qxp_Layout CITY COUNCIL 1 9/22/20 11:00 AMLos PageAngeles 1 County VOTE FOR ERIC EARLY FOR CONGRESS Paid for by Eric Early for Congress 2020 www.EricEarly.com Page 2 losfelizledger.com October 2020 Los Feliz Ledger OPINION [LOS FELIZ NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL] reason to have to go through [SILVER LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL] November Election Looming that again. Locals Help Out If you have any voting By Sarah Tressler, LFNC questions—Where can I vote? By Ben Cassorla, SLNC You have to vote. Novem- sure it’s postmarked by Tuesday, How do I vote? Am I allowed Over 350 low- the SLNC’s contributions. ber is next month, and that November 3rd, Election Day. to vote?—please visit lavote. income fami- The SLNC, through means Election Day is upon No postage is required. net, or call (800) 815-2666, lies in Silver Neighborhood Purpose us. This is not a drill. We re- Alternatively, there will or contact L.A. County Su- Lake have money for groceries Grants submitted by each ally have to get everyone out be 400 drop box locations pervisor Sheila Kuehl’s office thanks to an initiative led by non-profit, contributed over there to cast their vote in this throughout L.A.