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• Egyptian Theatre to be renovated Sunny, with pg. 3 highs in the • MLK Day goes 80s virtual pg. 7

Volume 31 No. 2 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities January 14, 2021 L.A. loses a legend, former Lieu to lead impeachment trial n Trump faces Councilman Tom LaBonge unprecedented second BY EDWIN FOLVEN sion and a lasting legacy in the city Senate trial he loved, colleagues and con- Tributes continue for former Los stituents said. He also loved its res- BY CAMERON KISZLA Angeles City Councilman Tom idents, frequently calling them an LaBonge, who died on Jan. 7 at the “angel in the City of Angels.” After the Jan. 6 insurrection at age of 67 at his home in Silver The Los Angeles City Council the United States Capitol, U.S. Lake. adjourned its meeting on Jan. 12 in Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) took a To many, he was “Mr. Los LaBonge’s honor, and many coun- prominent role in the effort to Angeles,” a consummate public cil members expressed condo- remove President Donald Trump servant for 39 years with a larger- lences. LaBonge’s wife of four from office. On Jan. 12, Speaker than-life presence, affable personal- decades, Brigid, and children of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-San ity and the uncanny ability to Charles and Mary Cate, attended Francisco) announced that Lieu remember everybody’s name. will be one of the impeachment LaBonge left an indelible impres- See LaBonge page 5 managers for the Senate trial. The House voted to impeach Trump on Jan. 13, and the Senate trial has not yet been scheduled. Lieu helped draft the article of photo by Cameron Kiszla impeachment with fellow West Hollywood City Hall flew its flags at half-staff in honor of the impeachment manager Rep. Capitol Police officers who died after the Jan. 6 riot. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) while they sheltered from the chaos in Cicilline’s office. Lieu described office, so we started drafting up and they were hunting lawmak- the afternoon in an interview with the articles of impeachment later ers,” Lieu said. “Our response the Park Labrea News and that day,” Lieu said. can’t just be to issue strongly Beverly Press. Lieu said it’s important to worded press statements. We need “After the momentary fear had impeach Trump, who whipped his to take strong action so that future passed, it turned into anger, and supporters into a “violent mob” generations will know that we photo by Edwin Folven Congressman David Cicilline and that attacked Congress. responded swiftly and strongly to Tom LaBonge shared an emotional moment with his wife, Brigid, when I decided that the appropriate next “This mob was trying to assas- this attack on the nation’s capital.” he was honored at Los Angeles City Hall in 2015 at the end of his term. step is to remove this dangerous sinate Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi, and delusional president from hang Vice President [Mike] Pence See Inauguration page 21 Suspect arrested for fatal shooting on Melrose n Murder was the BH faces budget shortfall n Protests, COVID-19 COVID-19 on the city’s sales and second in a month in lead to increased hotel taxes was more fully the shopping district known, but the ongoing pandem- costs for city ic and the frequent protests – and BY EDWIN FOLVEN accompanying police presence – BY CAMERON KISZLA have further strained the city’s A West Hollywood man was finances. Jeff Muir, the city’s arrested on Jan. 12 for a car-to-car The Beverly Hills City Council director of finance, said of the shooting on Melrose Avenue earlier received a budget update on Jan. additional deficit, $6.2 million that day that left a 19-year-old man 12, and the city’s budget deficit is can be attributed to the pandemic dead, police said. larger than anticipated at $10.9 and protests. The suspect, Robert Antrel Love, million. “Overall, we’re projecting a 27, was taken into custody at Last year, the council approved little bit of an increase over the approximately 10:40 p.m. in the a budget that included a deficit of budget, and that’s almost entirely 900 block of Westmount Drive in photo by Edwin Folven $3.75 million with the expecta- driven by higher than anticipated West Hollywood and booked for A car-to-car shooting on Melrose Avenue left a man dead on Jan. 12. tion that the number would See page murder. The shooting occurred Another man was killed at Melrose and Stanley avenues on Dec. 15. change as the impacts of Budget 21 shortly after 2 p.m. near Melrose and Sierra Bonita avenues. at a nearby hospital. The victim, Love for the alleged crime, police Police reported that a white SUV who authorities have not identified, said. The case will be presented to with tinted windows drove up to a was pronounced dead at the hospi- the Los Angeles County District vehicle occupied by the victim, a tal. Attorney’s Office for consideration verbal altercation occurred and the Detectives from the LAPD’s of a murder charge. victim was shot. The two vehicles West Bureau Homicide Unit were Police did not offer a motive for drove away in different directions, assigned to the investigation and the shooting. It occurred two blocks with the suspect’s vehicle traveling after canvassing the surrounding away from another unsolved homi- westbound on Melrose, and the vic- area, located a vehicle matching the cide on Dec. 15 near Melrose and tims’ vehicle heading eastbound, description of the SUV involved in Stanley avenues. In that case, a 28- said Capt. Shannon Paulson, of the the shooting on Westmount Drive year-old man from Akron, Ohio, LAPD’s Wilshire Division. in West Hollywood. Undercover was shot and killed. Authorities Witnesses called 911. Officers officers conducted surveillance and identified him as Devonte Clepper. arrived at Melrose and Sierra detained two men when they exited The investigation remains open and photo by Cameron Kiszla Bonita avenues a short time later a residence. Officers served a Planned improvements to Santa Monica Boulevard could be one of and learned about a gunshot victim search warrant and later arrested See Melrose page 22 several projects that have to be delayed due to budgetary constraints. 2 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press CALENDAR

Rogers and drummer Justin Brown. Drive-in movies They will perform works from Beverly Hills Cinelounge, which has reopened as Lloyd’s most recent album, “Kindred an outdoor drive-in in Hollywood, is Spirits,” which grew out of his 80th Chamber The Beverly Hills Chamber of showing the thriller “Don’t Tell a birthday concert in 2018 and cele- Commerce Health and Wellness Soul” and the documentary brates his hometown of Santa Committee is holding an educational “MLK/FBI” from Friday, Jan. 15, Barbara. The performance is free. health workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 19, through Thursday, Jan. 21. In “Don’t cap.ucla.edu/landing/capconnect. Tell a Soul,” two teenage brothers, from noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom. The stealing money to help their sick workshop is part of the chamber’s mother, match wits with a troubled Health Talks ongoing series of health security guard stuck at the bottom of ‘Crazy Woke Asians topics. Dr. Shadi Vahdat, an internal a forgotten well. “MLK/FBI” uncov- medicine physician specializing in ers the extent of the FBI’s surveil- Comedians Party’ integrative and holistic medicine, will lance and harassment of Martin Santa Monica Playhouse will discuss different types of fasting and Luther King, Jr. Based on newly dis- livestream its “Crazy Woke Asians the results of clinical trials on their covered and declassified files, the Comedians Party Panel Competition” benefits. Participation is free for photo courtesy of Cedars-Sinai documentary explores the govern- once a month beginning on Saturday, members; $10 for nonmembers. Health care workers, including those at Cedars-Sinai, have already ment’s history of targeting Black Jan. 16, and ending on Saturday, June members.beverlyhillschamber.com. begun receiving the vaccine for COVID-19. activists and the contested meaning 19. Each month, three comedians will behind some of the nation’s most compete in stand up, sketch comedy, cherished ideals. Tickets are $40 per roast/compliment games, blindfold food guessing games and more to win Art of Pam Douglas vehicle. 1625 N. Las Palmas Blvd. TAG Gallery presents “Sanctuary,” a arenascreen.com. and move forward to next month’s Beverly Hills discusses plans show. Audiences will vote for the complete collec- winner each month and help select tion of work’s Echo Theater the champion on June 19. The winner from Pam will receive a meeting with Jandiz Douglas’ three- for upcoming vaccinations Company Cardoso, senior director of talent year journey n very loose and fluid at this time development and inclusion at through the sub- City park, pharmacies The Echo Theater Company is host- ject of global [but] the goal … is to have the gen- ing LABFest 2021, a virtual reading NBCUniversal, and Jacqueline Kim, could be distribution eral population inoculated by this a TV and film agent at Innovative migration, avail- festival of three new plays on able for viewing summer,” Janmohamed said. Saturday, Jan. 16, and Sunday, Jan. Artists, and will headline a future centers CWA in-person show. Comedians from Wednesday, Jan. 20, through The Los Angeles County 17, via Zoom. The plays were devel- Saturday, Feb. 13. The solo exhibit By cameron kiszla Department of Public Health is oped in the company’s 2020 and musical acts can submit material by visiting crazywokeasians.com for immerses viewers in the journey of leading local vaccine distribution, Playwright’s LAB. On Jan. 16, at 3 hardship and hope. Artist talks are The Beverly Hills City Council and the department is already ramp- p.m., “Tara” by Brian Otaño will be consideration through May 17. Tickets are $25 and sales benefit the scheduled on Thursday, Jan. 28, and and city staff are hopeful that the ing up efforts to vaccinate the pub- featured. “California Story: A Thursday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m. tag- coronavirus vaccines from lic beyond the health care workers Faustian Preter-Capitalist Scream” by playhouse and artists while live shows are suspended. crazy- gallery.net. Moderna and Pfizer will be admin- and residents of long-term care Roger Q. Mason will be held on Jan. wokeasians.com. istered to many in the city in the facilities who became eligible to 16, at 7:30 p.m., and “SK8ER BOIZ” coming months, but so far, distribu- receive a vaccine in December as by Christopher Sullivan will be held tion is falling behind where many part of Phase 1A. On Jan. 13, state on Jan. 17, at 3 p.m. Admission is JFLA/Michael free. echotheatercompany.com. Brandeis hoped to be. officials announced that the vaccine Lawson forum Meena Janmohamed, emergency is available to anyone age 65 or University group Former U.S. Ambassador and Los management manager for the city, older as well. Charles Lloyd Share fellowship with like-minded Angeles Urban League President and updated the council on the status of “What we’ve been told is that senior men who support Brandeis CEO Michael Lawson reflects on his vaccine distribution and the local county Public Health will likely ‘Kindred Spirits’ University during an online event on work to bring diversity, equity and impact during the Jan. 12 council have one megasite per supervisorial UCLA’s Center for the Art of Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m. The inclusion to the corporate and non- meeting, noting that “we have quite district, but this has not been con- Performance presents Charles group formerly gathered monthly for profit communities during a virtual a ways ahead of us on this journey firmed yet,” Janmohamed said. Lloyd’s “Kindred lox and cream cheese bagel break- event being held by the Jewish Free to put the pandemic behind us.” When more doses are available Spirits” on fasts, but now meetings are held via Loan Association on Thursday, Jan. “All these projected timelines are and more members of the public are Saturday, Jan. 16, Zoom. Paul Bergman, a UCLA Law 21, from noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom. eligible as part of future phases, the at 7 p.m. on CAP School Professor emeritus, university Lawson served as a U.S. Ambassador expectation is that local pharmacies UCLA Online. distinguished teacher and Dickson in the Obama administration prior to can become distribution centers Lloyd returns to Awardee, will discuss his new book, joining the Los Angeles Urban before ultimately, the vaccine Royce Hall with “Real to Reel Justice-Truth and League. Participation is free. becomes available at primary care pianist Gerald Trickery in Courtroom Movies.” For eventbrite.com/e/advocating-for-dei- providers. So far, 17 of the city’s 22 Clayton, guitarist a link to the Zoom meeting, visit perspectives-from-a-transformation- Founded 1946 pharmacies have registered with the Anthony Wilson, bassist Reuben bncla.org. al-leader-tickets-134009123897. county to become vaccination sites, P.O. BOX 36036 Janmohamed said. LOS ANGELES, CA 90036 City Council members also (323)933-5518 encouraged the public to register their interest in receiving the vac- 8444 WILSHIRE BLVD. cine by contacting Mickey Fine BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211 Pharmacy and Grill and signing up

BEVERLYPRESS.COM for the vaccine waitlist. Bogie s Liquor

Additionally, the city has a plan Michael Villalpando to turn Roxbury Park into a vacci- PUBLISHER ’ nation site “should L.A. County Karen Villalpando choose to activate this site and bring it online,” Janmohamed said, EDITOR & PUBLISHER but it remains unclear if the Department of Public Health will Edwin Folven choose to utilize the park.

[email protected] “We have a site plan. We have an We’ve Got EDITOR incident plan. What we are waiting for is to be nominated by Public Cameron Kiszla Health to bring that site online. [email protected] What we’re seeing is the larger sites REPORTER are being brought online, but at

every step of this process, we’ve Laura Coleman COLD BEER! made clear we’re ready, willing and [email protected] able to bring our site online,” REPORTER Janmohamed said. Jill Weinlein, To help in that effort, Mayor Lester Friedman wrote a letter on Tim Posada, Wear a Mask & Remember to Social Distance! Rebecca Villalpando, behalf of the council to Gov. Gavin Emily Jilg Newsom and Los Angeles County officials offering “any assistance CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Beverly Hills can provide” to help We carry the finest in distribute the vaccine. The Park Labrea News and Beverly Press are weekly newspapers, published on Thursdays. Mail The vaccine is not yet available • Beer • Wine • Spirits • Champagne • Kegs subscription is $120 annually. Decreed newspa- for people who fall in Phase 1B – pers of general circulation, entitled to publish legal those who work jobs that could advertising, Feb. 10, 1960 by Superior Court 5753 Melrose Ave. Corner of Melrose & Vine Order No 736637. Decreed newspapers of general expose them to the virus, such as circulation, entitled to publish legal advertising in teachers, emergency workers and the City of Beverly Hills and the County of Los Call us! 323-469-1414 Angeles, Dec. 22, 2020 by Superior Court Case manufacturers – and Phase 1C – Number 19STCP04891. Government Code 6008. See Vaccination page 8 www.bogiesliquor.com Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 3 January 14, 2021 Historic Hollywood theater to undergo renovations n Netflix stages gems that is in your district, and a tion of “state-of-the-art technology” lovely historic landmark,” to enhance the viewing experience rehabilitation of Patibanda told the council. and touches to add to the movie- 99-year-old Egyptian As part of the renovations, going experience. Netflix will correct some of the “We’re bringing back the court- BY CAMERON KISZLA changes that were made to the the- yard to its original glory, as well as ater in the 1970s and 1990s, the lobby entrance with full conces- The Egyptian Theatre in changes that were not reflective of sions and what they call sound- Hollywood will be returned to its the architecture of the building. blocks, so the light and sound of the former glory. Patibanda reiterated multiple times theater are not disturbed by the light The venue, which was purchased that the historic nature of the and sounds of the concessions and by Netflix last year, will undergo Egyptian Theatre, which was everything outside,” Patibanda said. extensive renovations, including declared a historic-cultural monu- The lobby and concessions areas seismic retrofitting, according to ment in 1993, will not be impacted. will replace the Spielberg Screening Charuni Patibanda, president of the “The non historic [renovations] Room, a smaller theater with only McOsker Group, a consulting firm will be removed in order to restore 78 seats compared to 616 seats in Park Labrea News/Beverly Press file photo representing Netflix. the Egyptian to the way it looked the main theater. Netflix purchased the Egyptian Theatre last year and plans to use it for On Dec. 28, Patibanda presented back [when it opened] in 1922,” Patibanda said the timing of the movie premieres. the preliminary plans for the Patibanda said. pandemic, which has closed most “rewind rehab” to the Central Patibanda added that the theater movie theaters across the country, Hollywood Neighborhood Council. will undergo aesthetic and function- allows for work to be done now closed and fallen into disrepair, that silent films,” O’Farrell said. “It’s really one of the Hollywood al upgrades, including the installa- without impacting the theater, remodel did not age well either … I During the CHNC meeting, some which will continue to be operated think it’s going to all around be a council members requested by its former owner, American wonderful improvement, and per- Patibanda and Netflix look into pro- Cinematheque. haps it will help restore its preemi- viding community uses for the “We’d like to start construction nence on the boulevard. It’s certain- Egyptian Theatre once it reopens, soon so we can do these types of ly deserving of that designation.” and O’Farrell expressed his support improvements before people can O’Farrell also expressed support for such events as well. actually come back. That would be for Netflix’s plans to allow nitrate “It’s just a beloved space, and I the optimal time to go dark as a the- films to be shown at the Egyptian, would imagine having community ater,” Patibanda said. as many early silent movies are still days would be very well received,” Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, only able to be shown on nitrate, a O’Farrell said. “I’ve heard nothing 13th District, said he was excited medium that is becoming rarer and from Netflix that would eliminate that the Egyptian would be restored rarer in movie theaters. that as a possibility with their pro- so it could take its place alongside “There are only a few theaters gramming, so I look very forward the other two “very important across the county that can show to having those conversations with movie palaces” of Sid Grauman on nitrate films, and the bulk of silent them. There’s no better way to give Hollywood Boulevard, the Chinese films have not yet been restored, so back than to invite the community, Theatre and El Capitan. people are going to get a special and the people of Hollywood, we “To do as much of the restoration window into seeing films that other really have placed higher value on as they can as close to its 1922 orig- places just aren’t going to have the these amazing movie palaces, the inal vision and construction is really ability to [show] on a screen that ones that are left, and so this gives photo by Cameron Kiszla good and it’s terrific,” O’Farrell they were designed to be seen on. A us a chance to enjoy them in the The Egyptian Theatre will be renovated to restore it closer to its original said. “Even with the remodel done whole new generation of silent film way that they were designed to be appearance nearly a century ago. in the 1990s, after the theater had enthusiasts can enjoy these rare used.” 4 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

BHFD chief receives highest award for service Excessive storage hampers Beverly Hills Fire Department firefighter for the BHFD. Barton is Chief Greg Barton has received the a member of the board of directors Fred C. Cunningham Award for for the Maple Counseling Center, progress at Hollywood fire Distinguished Service, the city’s an executive team member on the highest recognition for outstanding Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial service to the community. Committee, director of the Beverly The award, presented to Barton Hills Fire Chief Funds and gover- on Jan. 12, is named for Beverly nance board representative for the Hills’ longtime executive director city of Beverly Hills on the of public affairs and recognizes an Interagency Communications employee who has a true vocation Interoperability System. for serving the community and who Barton has also completed presti- has demonstrated expertise and gious education programs such as commitment with grace and humil- the Naval Post Graduate School ity. Center for Homeland Defense and “The City Council is so pleased Security-Executive Leaders to recognize Chief Barton for his Program, the Los Angeles Fire remarkable contributions to our Department Leadership Academy community,” Mayor Lester and the International Association of Friedman said. “During his 25 year Fire Chiefs-Fire Service Executive career with our city, Greg has been Development Institute. Recently, on the front lines working to save he led “Just in Case, BH,” a city lives, property and keep our city program to keep the community photo by Cameron Kiszla safe. On behalf of the Beverly informed and connected during nat- The Los Angeles Fire Department is investigating the cause of a Hills community, we thank him for photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills ural disasters and local emergen- blaze on Jan. 8 that damaged a home at 1723 N. Courtney Ave. in his dedicated service and the exam- BHFD Chief Greg Barton has cies. Hollywood. Authorities said “excessive storage” restricted their ability ple he sets for all of us.” served the city with distinction for “I am truly honored and humbled to quickly extinguish the flames. A committee consisting of the 25 years. to receive the Fred Cunningham Initial calls indicated the fire was in an apartment building and addi- city manager, two current City Award,” Barton said. “If you do tional resources were sent to the scene. Firefighters arrived at 5:08 Council members, a former City something you like to do, you’ll a.m. and found the flames burning at the front of a two-story, wood- Council member, the president of Prior to his appointment as fire never work a day in your life. That sided home. the municipal league, president of chief in June 2017, Barton served is so true, I have a dream job as a A large number of items around the exterior and inside the residence the Rotary club and president of the as deputy fire chief, shift battalion firefighter and on top of that, I work hampered efforts by firefighters, LAFD spokeswoman Margaret chamber of commerce unanimous- chief, fire marshal, deputy fire mar- for the dream community of Stewart said. The blaze was extinguished at 6:48 a.m. and firefighters ly selected Barton for the award. shal, fire captain, fire inspector and Beverly Hills. Thank you all.” prevented neighboring buildings from sustaining damage. Personnel stayed at the scene throughout the morning to ensure there were no pockets of flame smoldering inside walls or other areas. No injuries were reported. Arson detectives were summoned to the site, and the cause remains Suspect kills woman, injures dog in Koreatown under investigation. By edwin folven locate the gunman. He was random,” he said. “[Detectives will] described as being Black, in his 20s be out there canvassing for video Police are searching for clues in and wearing dark clothing, and was and will go from there.” the murder of a woman in her late last seen running southbound on Paramedics pronounced the vic- 30s on Jan. 9 on Mariposa Street Mariposa Street toward First Street. tim dead at the scene. The dog was near Council Street in Koreatown. Detectives with the LAPD’s West also injured by gunfire but is Witnesses told police that a gun- Bureau Homicide Unit are investi- expected to survive. Authorities man approached the victim at gating the murder. They have been have no further details about the approximately 1:18 a.m. as she searching for security camera video crime Kinchla added. walked to her car. The suspect shot and other evidence they hope will Anyone with information is the victim multiple times before shed light on exactly what occurred. urged to contact West Bureau fleeing on foot. Officers from the No motive has been established, Homicide Detectives at (213)382- Los Angeles Police Department’s Detective Sean Kinchla said. 9470. During weekends and off- Olympic Division searched the sur- “We’re not sure if it was a rob- hours, call the LAPD’s hotline at rounding area but were unable to bery or she was targeted or it was (877)LAPD247. City boosts infrastructure for electrical vehicles Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti charging, such as electric buses. tions were directly funded by the on Jan. 6 announced that there are L.A.’s extensive charging net- LADWP Commercial EV Charging now over 10,000 commercial elec- work provides expanded options for Station Rebate Program. The pro- tric vehicle charging stations the city’s growing EV community, gram currently offers rebates to help throughout Los Angeles, meeting currently estimated at nearly 63,000 offset the cost of equipment installa- Los Angeles’ goal two years ahead EVs. The deployment of charging tion, up to $4,000 per Level-2 of schedule and giving L.A. the infrastructure is instrumental in charging station (or up to $5,000 if most charging stations of any city in meeting the L.A. Green New Deal located in a disadvantaged commu- the United States. goals of 80% electric and zero- nity), up to $75,000 per DCFC, and “The clean transportation revolu- emission vehicles in the city by up to $125,000 per charging station tion is not a distant vision for the 2036 and 100% by 2045, with for medium- and heavy-duty EVs. future – it’s a reality happening on 100% of city and transit fleets elec- As of Jan. 1, LADWP has issued our streets right now,” Garcetti said. trified by 2028. 8,157 rebates, with over 60% going “By meeting our most ambitious EV A large portion of charging sta- toward multi-unit dwellings. charging goals, we are making it clear: no pandemic can hit the brakes on our campaign to combat the climate crisis, and a healthier, stronger, more equitable and sus- Natural gas leak prompts short tainable Los Angeles will be pow- ered by clean energy.” With 11,045 commercial charging evacuation in Beverly Hills stations on local streets, the city has By edwin folven occupants of buildings on Clifton now surpassed its goal to help install Way between La Peer and Swall dri- 10,000 EV charging stations two Occupants in the 100 block of ves. The leak did not affect natural years early. L.A. is now ahead of North La Peer Drive in Beverly gas service to customers in the area, schedule to meet future targets of Hills were evacuated at approxi- Miguel Lopez-Najera added, and 25,000 commercial charging sta- mately 2 p.m. on Jan. 11 after a gas the evacuation ended shortly after 4 tions by 2025 and 28,000 by 2028. leak occurred at a construction site. p.m. The city of Beverly Hills noti- Installed with the support of the A worker for a private contractor fied residents via social media. Los Angeles Department of Water accidentally ruptured a gas line and Residents, business owners and and Power, 10,779 of the total EV people were evacuated out of an private contractors are asked to call charging stations are commercial abundance of caution, Southern 811 to check with the Southern Level-2 stations, while 266 are DC California Gas Company California Gas Company about fast chargers, which can provide spokesman Miguel Lopez-Najera underground gas lines before dig- 80% battery charge to light-duty said. Crews shut off the leaking gas ging, whether in the garden or at a vehicles in 30 minutes and can sup- and made permanent repairs. construction site. For information, port medium and heavy-duty EV The evacuation also included visit socalgas.com. Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 5 January 14, 2021

FromLaBonge page 1 left indelible impact on Los Angeles virtually and thanked everyone for 1978. LaBonge joined firefighters on the their support. LaBonge became Ferraro’s pro- front lines near the Greek Theatre “On Thursday night when he died tégé and succeeded the venerable and afterwards, planted some of the here in his living room, the city city leader in representing the dis- first saplings to aid in recovery. family showed up and it was unex- trict after his death in 2001. A mem- Many cited his deep connections to pected, but it was glorious, it was ber of the Los Angeles City Council the city and referred to him as an really glorious. And I thank you for from 2001-15, LaBonge was hyper- ambassador, making an impact far that. I know he was in this room, he focused on constituent needs. He beyond Los Angeles’ borders. saw it,” Brigid LaBonge said. “I too rolled up his sleeves and got his “Tom loved L.A. and he always thought I was going to go before hands dirty, often personally put his constituency first. I found Tom and I didn’t know how he was responding when complaints were him to be the real deal. What you going to age in this world. I want to lodged. He cleaned up illegal saw was what you got with Tom,” tell you his giant heart had a lot of dumpsites and made sure potential- former Los Angeles City chunks taken out of it the night ly dangerous potholes or broken Councilman and County Supervisor before with the assault on the capi- sidewalks were fixed. When a brush Zev Yaroslavsky said. “He loved Park Labrea News/Beverly Press file photo tol. It crushed him. What was hap- fire blackened more than 800 acres Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge was a strong supporter of the Los pening in this world and our coun- of his beloved Griffith Park in 2007, See LaBonge page 22 Angeles Fire Department. try, it crushed him.” She also described her husband as someone who couldn’t contain his love for Los Angeles. “I didn’t know how I was going to take him home from City Hall and have him survive. I know now that his life, from a child to this young age of 67, was of service. He loved being a public school boy, he loved being a public servant. I would say to him most recently, ‘please, Tom, slow down, you’re going to kill yourself.’ It didn’t mat- ter what anybody said to him, he was going to keep going. You could see it in his eyes. He was defiant in a very sweet way.” Brigid LaBonge said on the day he died, her husband walked 13,500 steps, as noted by an app in his phone. She said that illustrated who he was, a tireless individual who hiked in Griffith Park every morn- ing and walked the streets of Los Angeles every afternoon, rejoicing in the sights, sounds and people who made the city special to him. “He hiked every morning for 50 years to see the sunrise. I know now that he was running because he was running out of time,” Brigid said, adding that she has learned in the days since his death how much he meant to others through their sto- ries. “He left here and we just didn’t know. My family and my friends would say, “where’s Tom,” and I said, “out doing Tom LaBonge things, I don’t know.’ But I knew he was going to come back. He never told us what he did and I am finding out where he was the whole time. He couldn’t help himself. [He] was this guy with this giant, giant heart.” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti offered condolences on social media shortly after receiving news of LaBonge’s death. The two repre- sented Hollywood for most of the 2000s and the early part of the last decade as Los Angeles city council- men, Garcetti representing the 13th District and LaBonge representing the 4th District. “For over a decade, Tom LaBonge and I worked together, as colleagues and neighboring council members. We often said that while we shared a border, there was no dividing line between us, our work and our districts,” Garcetti said in a tweet. “From the revitalization of Hollywood to the preservation of Silver Lake, there was no better friend or partner I ever had. No one knew more Angelenos, no person gave more waking hours to our city, no one was a greater cheerleader for our town than Tom.” LaBonge was a native Angeleno and a graduate of John Marshall High School. He served on former Mayor Tom Bradley’s youth coun- cil and later held positions with Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power before joining the staff of former Los Angeles City Council President John Ferraro in 6 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon dies of COVID-19 BY LAURA COLEMAN “It’s obviously very distressing to resentative at Simoni Plastic hear of the passing of anyone Surgery on 421 N. Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills is unlikely to halt because of the COVID-19 pandem- were unsuccessful and it remains elective cosmetic surgeries after the ic,” Friedman said, noting that there unknown if others at his practice death of local plastic surgeon was an absence of definitive proof have since tested positive for the Payman Simoni from COVID-19, that Simoni had contracted the virus virus. Simoni, who appeared on according to Mayor Lester in the way it has been reported. “I “The Doctors” TV show, was man- Friedman. just don’t see a reason that we dated to abide by stringent COVID- Simoni, 50, allegedly contracted would go beyond what the state and 19 safety protocols to operate dur- the virus while performing an elec- the county are doing.” ing the pandemic. tive cosmetic surgery last month. Multiple attempts to reach a rep- “We made the decision earlier in the year to align with the state and county guidelines, which allowed for elective procedures … which included cosmetic surgery,” Friedman said. “We specifically did not recommend [cosmetic surgery], nor did the state or the county.” According to a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health spokesperson, the state Health Officer Order prohibits all nonessential procedures. photo courtesy of Dr. Payman Simoni’s Instagram “These orders apply to every Dr. Payman Simoni, a plastic surgeon with a practice on Rodeo Drive, county under a regional stay-at- died from COVID-19. home order,” the spokesperson said. Friedman said that the city was challenged by not having the due to the pandemic. only a matter of time before just appropriate personnel to decide “From my perspective, I think we such a tragedy occurred. whether or not a medical proce- still need to continue to abide by the “Here we are relying on what the dure is necessary. The city, county state and county recommenda- county said and, as a result, one of and state all discourage purely tions,” Friedman said. our doctors is dead,” he said. cosmetic procedures, but do allow He underscored that the state and Mirisch said he continues to feel them. In voting 4-1 on April 28, county had originally prohibited that the council made a mistake in 2020, to allow elective surgeries to elective surgeries – including allowing cosmetic procedures to resume in Beverly Hills, the City colonoscopies and angioplasty – resume in the city. Council left the decision as to because of concerns that there was “I just feel, as I said at the time, whether a procedure was neces- insufficient personal protective we should err on the side of cau- sary to doctors and patients. In equipment available to the surgical tion. And as I said at that time, passing that resolution, the city centers. nobody needs Botox in the middle was among the nation’s first to According to City Councilman of a pandemic,” he said. “It’s a reopen dental and medical prac- John Mirisch, the lone no vote nine tragedy if someone had to die tices for nonessential procedures months ago when the city opted to because of that. Lip fillers are not following their cessation in March resume elective surgeries, it was worth dying for.” photo Colin Gunderson/courtesy of the L.A. Dodgers Tommy Lasorda spent 71 seasons in the Dodger organization, including the last 14 as special advisor to the chairman. Dodgers mourn passing of Tommy Lasorda Hall of Fame Dodgers’ manag- as much as Tommy Lasorda,” er Tommy Lasorda, who spent Dodger President and CEO Stan seven decades in the Dodger Kasten said. “A tireless organization and became one of spokesman for baseball, his ded- the most memorable personali- ication to the sport and the team ties in baseball history, died on he loved was unmatched. He was Jan. 7, the team announced. He a champion who at critical was 93. moments seemingly willed his Lasorda suffered a sudden car- teams to victory. The Dodgers diopulmonary arrest at his home and their fans will miss him terri- at 10:09 p.m. He was transported bly. Tommy is quite simply irre- to the hospital with resuscitation placeable and unforgettable.” in progress. He was pronounced “There are two things about dead at 10:57 p.m. Tommy I will always remem- Regarded by many as base- ber,” Hall of Fame former broad- ball’s most popular ambassador, caster Vin Scully said. “The first Lasorda spent 71 seasons in the is his boundless enthusiasm. Dodger organization with Tommy would get up in the Dodger Blue running through his morning full of beans and main- veins. He spent the last 14 as spe- tain that as long as he was with cial advisor to the chairman. anybody else. Lasorda’s wish to see another “The other was his determina- Dodgers World Championship tion,” Scully added. “He was a was fulfilled last October, when fellow with limited ability and he he traveled to Arlington, Texas, pushed himself to be a very good to witness the Dodgers 3-1 victo- Triple-A pitcher. He never quite ry over the Tampa Bay Rays in had that something extra that Game 6 of the World Series. makes a major leaguer, but it “My family, my partners and I wasn’t because he didn’t try. were blessed to have spent a lot Those are some of the things: his of time with Tommy,” said Mark competitive spirit, his determina- Walter, Dodgers owner and tion and above all, this boundless chairman. “He was a great energy and self-belief. His heart ambassador for the team and was bigger than his talent, and baseball, a mentor to players and there were no foul lines for his coaches, he always had time for enthusiasm.” an autograph and a story for his Lasorda is survived by his wife many fans and he was a good of 70 years, Jo, who he married friend. He will be dearly missed.” on April 14, 1950; their daughter, “In a franchise that has cele- Laura; and granddaughter, Emily brated such great legends of the Tess. game, no one who wore the uni- For information, visit form embodied the Dodger spirit mlb.com/dodgers. Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 7 January 14, 2021 Community invited to make difference on MLK Day BY LAURA COLEMAN a winter SOS kit for $15 to further back is to serve as a volunteer. To help getting essentials to those in learn about local opportunities While celebrations across the need. And because Big Sunday likes with West Hollywood’s communi- country commemorating Martin to include a personal note in each ty partners, visit weho.org/volun- Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, laundry kit, people are encouraged teer. For additional information Jan. 18, will be different this year to make cards with kind messages about virtual and in-person volun- – given the inability to hold large and deliver them to the Big Sunday teer opportunities to address criti- in-person gatherings due to office by Jan. 20 at noon. cal needs, visit California COVID-19 – there are still ways In West Hollywood, community Volunteers at californiavolun- for people to make an impact at members can make an impact local- teers.ca.gov/get-involved/covid- the local level. The MLK federal ly with a donation drive to benefit 19, Volunteer Match at volunteer- holiday was designated as a the city’s homeless initiative in match.org or L.A. Works at National Day of Service by partnership with West Hollywood laworks.com. Congress in 1994. Elementary and Friends of West For more information about

This year’s annual Big Sunday’s Hollywood Elementary. Due to MLK Day of Service activities and photo by Bill Devlin MLK Day Block Party – historical- COVID-19 health and safety proto- recognition events, visit nation- In previous years, community members could gather in person at Big ly a vibrant day-long celebration cols, this year’s Day of Service will alservice.gov/serve-your-communi- Sunday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Block Party to honor the civil rights icon. filled with live music, dancing, take place as a virtual donation ty/mlk-day-service. food, art and community activities drive instead of an in-person event – is going virtual. And while people and will run from Saturday, Jan. 16, won’t be able to join together in to Sunday, Jan. 31. person to support the event’s cloth- Community members can partic- ing collection component or cele- ipate by sending donations – brate King’s legacy, there are still including monetary and gift card numerous ways that people can par- donations for new socks, blankets ticipate and help others, according and sleeping bags – to City Hall to Big Sunday founder David from Jan. 16-31. Levinson. Donations can be made online at “Our mission is that we connect secure.qgiv.com/for/homeless. people through helping with the Donations of physical gift cards or idea that the world is not full of personal checks made out to “City ‘haves and have nots,’ it’s full of of West Hollywood” can be mailed ‘haves and have mores.’ to West Hollywood City Hall, 8300 Absolutely everyone has some Santa Monica Blvd., West way that they can help somebody Hollywood, CA, 90069. else and we all have to look out for The West Hollywood Homeless one another,” Levinson said. “I Initiative partners closely with non- feel this year more than ever, what profit service providers, the West Dr. King fought for, what Dr. King Hollywood Sheriff’s Station and stood for, what Dr. King hoped for Los Angeles County agencies to is more important than ever to provide services aimed at reducing remember.” homelessness and supporting com- People interested in participating munity members who are experi- in the free virtual celebration can encing homelessness. sign up at In tandem with this year’s event, bigsundayorg.wufoo.com/forms/k a larger service learning project 18fodt405zhbgy. During the hour- with West Hollywood Elementary long digital event starting at 11 and the Friends of West Hollywood a.m. on Jan. 18, attendees can par- Elementary will also include virtu- ticipate in a variety of activities, al classroom visits from members including listening to music and of the West Hollywood City having the opportunity to dance, as Council on Jan. 19, as well as the well as discovering what they have school’s “Lifting Our Voices” art in common with a handful of contest, which aims to encourage strangers when the virtual platform students to reflect upon King’s life, randomly places them in breakout philosophy and the impact of the rooms for a novel take on the Civil Rights movement through party’s annual “something in com- their own artistic expression. All mon” project. artwork submissions will be shared “[Eight] months after the killing digitally with the community, and of George Floyd and the Black the winning artwork will be dis- Lives Matter movement and all the played on a fence art banner spon- questions that it raised … and sored by the city of West where we are in our country right Hollywood during Black History now, I think it’s very important to Month in February. take a moment to respect one anoth- The city is also encouraging er and to honor this day together,” donations to the Los Angeles Levinson said. “A lot of what we do LGBT Center’s youth center, which is just people working together has posted a “CARE 4 Youth from different worlds and different Essentials” wish list on Amazon at backgrounds toward a common lalgbtcenter.org/care4youth. goal.” The city would have hosted its “I always say, whoever you are, ninth annual clothing drive for the whatever you do, there’s always center this month, but due to someone out there who can use COVID-19, West Hollywood is your help,” he added. instead encouraging virtual dona- In addition to donating new cloth- tions of needed supplies that will be ing for those in need by dropping distributed to lesbian, gay, bisexual them off at the Big Sunday office or and transgender youth who are using Big Sunday’s Target registry, experiencing homelessness. people can sponsor a laundry kit or Another way for people to give Notable quotes Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

John Emerich Acton 1834-1902

Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton April 5, 1887

(source: “Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations”) 8 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Melrose Triangle plans modified again in WeHo By Laura coLeman Planning Manager Jennifer Alkire, square feet of office space. The pro- who worked on the project when it ject will now include 41 housing For over two decades, developers was approved by the City Council in units – down from 76. It will still have sought to revitalize West 2014, this new iteration will likely include 16 affordable units, and the Hollywood’s western gateway by go before the city’s Planning other 25 units will be for workforce bringing to life the Melrose Triangle Commission in spring. housing. According to Alkire, work- project, which is planned for a 2.7- “Right now, they’re bumping up force housing is priced more afford- acre parcel of land bounded by Santa the amount of office [space] in the ably than market rate housing. The Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue building. That’s the biggest theme of revised project also includes 66,000 and Almont Drive. the changes,” said Alkire, noting that square feet of commercial space and Last month, the Charles Company she was unaware of specific office 525 subterranean parking spaces. submitted its latest iteration of the space needs in the city. “The number She said the project is currently rendering courtesy of the city of West Hollywood proposed mixed-use project to the of square feet in the overall project going through the environmental The latest version of a plan to develop the Melrose Triangle project is city, with this most recent version didn’t change significantly.” review process and will subsequent- expected to be reviewed by the West Hollywood Planning Commission decreasing the number of housing She said the original approval for ly head to the Planning this spring. units and increasing the amount of the Gensler-designed project was for Commission’s design review sub- office space. 137,000 square feet of office space, committee before being heard by the According to West Hollywood with the new plan seeking 245,000 full commission. ing neigh- In revising the project, the devel- will enhance the project’s attractive- bors supported. After the project was opment team said the project will ness for tenants and neighbors alike approved in 2014, the Los Angeles better balance the city’s need for and will improve on the benefits that Conservancy challenged the EIR on Vaccination plans considered live-work spaces, while adding more will accrue to the community as a the basis that it failed to comply with outdoor dining space, as well as whole,” he added. the California Environmental From page 2 more low-rise office space. For the West Hollywood West Quality Act in proposing to demol- In a statement about the changes, Residents Association, which repre- ish a building on the site from the people age 50 to 64, and those who person to unnecessary risk. Jack Kurchian, project manager for sents approximately 1,000 house- 1930s, the onetime Jones Dog & Cat have an underlying health condi- “Most legitimate agencies will System LLC, an affiliate of the holds, the development is a long Hospital. tions, or the general public, which not take people out of order, out of Charles Co., underscored that time coming. Given that in the intervening years falls in Phase 2. turn or anything like that,” Gold today’s development market is “We just want something built at after the issue was resolved the That has not stopped people from said. markedly different than it was in this point,” said resident Patrick building had been taken down – trying to skirt the rules to get their Instead of being exposed to a 2014. Shandrick, who has been involved after a fire destroyed much of it – doses early, according to potentially fake vaccine, people “As we have all seen during the with the project since he first moved Alkire said it was unlikely that the Janmohamed and Councilman should continue to socially dis- COVID pandemic and the chal- a block away from the site in 2001. L.A. Conservancy would again chal- Julian Gold – an anesthesiologist – tance, wash their hands, wear a lenges it has presented for virtually “It’s a sad area. It’s a dead zone. It lenge the project on similar grounds. who said they’ve heard of people mask and other safety precautions, every type of business, it is essential would be great if people lived there In anticipation of moving forward driving hours away if they heard Gold said. to be able to adapt to meet future and there were some amenities that in the process, the development there are vaccines available to the “To get outside of the order the demands,” Kurchian said. “The either residents or workers could team is scheduled to attend a public. Receiving a vaccine outside state has created really creates risk revised project, which stays true to use.” WHWRA Zoom meeting on Feb. 21 of one’s turn would not only be for people. It’s much slower than our original vision, improves impor- He said many residents felt it was at 2 p.m. unfair to those who are at higher anybody wanted, but it is on the tant areas like design, public open “tragic” that the project approved “I think we’ll take some sort of risk of contracting a severe form of horizon. Don’t do anything precipi- space and affordable housing with- seven years ago was never built after position [after the meeting],” said COVID-19, Gold and Janmohamed tous that potentially puts you at out adding [floor area].” so much community input had been Manny Rodriquez, vice president of said, but it exposes the vaccinated much greater risk,” Gold said. “The modifications we are seek- given to create something that the the association’s board. “It’s a big Superbowl Appetizer Platters

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The city remains com- the Los Angeles County field to get Angelenos vaccinated mitted to providing free testing to Department of Public Health. City as quickly, safely and efficiently as residents, with or without symp- and county public health officials possible.” toms, at eight permanent sites and decided to transition the site to a The Dodger Stadium site will be six mobile sites across L.A. In the mass vaccination center and a focus able to vaccinate up to 12,000 peo- weeks ahead, the number of tests can be placed on personnel, equip- ple per day when it is fully opera- offered will increase at existing ment and other resources for vacci- tional. As vaccine supplies increase locations, and through additional nation distribution. in the weeks and months ahead, mobile teams and an expanded site “I want to thank Mayor Eric officials are still urging residents to at Pierce College in Woodland Garcetti, the entire city of Los wear masks, avoid gatherings, Hills. Anyone seeking a test should photo courtesy of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office Angeles and the Dodgers organiza- maintain distance and stay home. contact their health care provider or Mayor Eric Garcetti previously designated Dodger Stadium as a COVID- tion for their partnership in getting The shift in resources will tem- visit coronavirus.lacity.org/testing. 19 testing site, and announced operations have shifted to vaccinations. us to this point,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, 1st District. “For eight months, Dodger Stadium served as a lifeline for so many Angelenos, providing free access to testing. In this moment of darkness where cases, hospitalizations and deaths are sky- rocketing, this bold step of [previ- ously] offering COVID-19 testing and [now] vaccines in the heart of Los Angeles reflects the dual nature of this moment – it is dark, but simultaneously hopeful. Robust COVID-19 testing is the linchpin to getting out of this current and unprecedented surge and the vac- cine is fulcrum to ending the pan- demic once and for all.” “From early on in this pandemic, Dodger Stadium has been home base for our testing infrastructure, a vital part of our effort to track the spread of COVID-19, try to get ahead of outbreaks, and save lives,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti County makes changes to COVID-19 tests As a precaution, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services has discontinued the use of the Curative COVID-19 PCR tests at county-supported pop-up testing sites. The change was made after a review of the data that prompted a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration alert about the possibility of false negative results. Curative provided a limited number of tests at county-support- ed pop-up testing sites beginning in mid-December. From Dec. 13 through Jan. 2, approximately 24,241 Curative tests were admin- istered, comprising approximately 10% of all COVID-19 tests admin- istered during that time. The Curative tests will be replaced with Fulgent Genetics tests. All COVID-19 tests have a risk of false negative results, which means an individual may test nega- tive when they actually have COVID-19. It occurs because of the sensitivity of the samples and depends on how well a sample was collected and the concentration of viral RNA in the sample. There is no reliable way to detect early infection, meaning that infection often spreads before symptoms develop. Nevertheless, PCR tests, including the Curative test, remain better at detecting disease than other tests, including rapid tests, county health officials said. Anyone with COVID-19 symp- toms or who has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should get tested. For information, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. 10 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press New subway work planned along Wilshire Metro has announced new details Ongoing concrete and material Boulevard will be reduced to two about work along the Purple Line deliveries to the Wilshire/La lanes in each direction between San Extension subway project in Cienega station box are anticipated Diego Way and Spaulding Avenue Beverly Hills and the Miracle Mile. to continue this week. The work will through next August. Intermittent Crews are excavating the site of be conducted from Wilshire lane closures may be in place to sup- the future Wilshire/Rodeo subway Boulevard and within the Gale stag- port deck panel maintenance and station in Beverly Hills and are ing yard. Anticipated work hours are investigation. Anticipated work expected to reach a final depth of 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 7 approximately 100 feet by the end of Through Wednesday, Jan. 20, p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through March. To support work in the area, Wilshire Boulevard may be inter- Friday. sidewalk and lane closures will be mittently reduced to two lanes Concrete and material deliveries implemented on Wilshire Boulevard between Le Doux Road and Gale will also continue in the area. This between Canon and Crescent drives Drive. The traffic control will be in work is supported by intermittent from 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, to place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will lane reductions on Wilshire 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16. A new support work on the traffic and street Boulevard from 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. sidewalk and sound walls are being lighting. Pedestrian access to the Ogden Drive will be closed intermit- installed adjacent to a construction south Wilshire Boulevard sidewalk tently Monday through Saturday at staging yard. Pedestrian access will will be maintained. Wilshire Boulevard. Orange Grove be maintained outside the work site. Additional intermittent lane Avenue remains closed south of Farther east, intermittent sidewalk reductions, turn restrictions and Wilshire Boulevard until January closures may be implemented on sidewalk closures may be in place to 2022. Wilshire Boulevard between support instrumentation work, road Hauling, deliveries and tunneling Crescent and Stanley drives to facil- restoration and utility maintenance support are ongoing in construction photo courtesy of Metro itate geotechnical instrumentation near Wilshire/La Cienega. Gale staging yards at Wilshire/La Brea, Excavation continues at the Wilshire/Rodeo subway station in Beverly along the subway tunnel. A mini- Drive will be intermittently closed at and from a K-rail enclosure at Hills, where crews are nearing a final depth of 100 feet. mum 5-foot clearance will be main- Wilshire Boulevard to support con- Wilshire Boulevard and Orange tained on all sidewalks during work struction in the Gale staging yard. Drive. hours. Work hours are 4 a.m. to 6 p.m., Through Feb. 27, Wilshire reduced to two lanes in each direc- Manhattan Place will be intermit- New hauling hours for removing Monday through Saturday. Access Boulevard will be reduced to two tion between June Street and tently closed just north of Wilshire soil from the tunnels and station sites to Gale Drive will be maintained lanes in each direction between Muirfield Road. Concrete and mate- Boulevard from 4 a.m. to midnight, have also been implemented. From from San Vicente Boulevard. Detroit and June streets, and Orange rial deliveries are anticipated to con- Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., two lanes will be A K-rail enclosure in the center Drive will remain closed north of tinue at the site. to 11 p.m., Saturday. Intermittent open in each direction on Wilshire lanes at Wilshire/San Vicente is Wilshire Boulevard. Intermittent A K-rail enclosure at Wilshire and single lane closures on Wilshire Boulevard between El Camino and anticipated to be in place through lane closures on Wilshire Boulevard Plymouth boulevards will be in Boulevard may be necessary Crescent drives to accommodate soil Jan. 16 to support ongoing tunnel and side streets between Highland place for approximately one year. between Western Avenue and removal from the Reeves staging and mitigation work underneath Avenue and Detroit Street may be in Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced Manhattan Place. Access to busi- yard. From 10 p.m. to 10 a.m., Wilshire Boulevard. A second phase place to support construction from 6 to two lanes in each direction nesses will be maintained and a Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced of traffic control may be implement- a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through between Windsor and Plymouth signed pedestrian detour has been to one lane in each direction ed on Saturday, Jan. 16, with no Friday. boulevards. Work will occur 24 installed. between El Camino and Crescent turns allowed at the intersection dur- A work zone on the west side of hours in the enclosure. For questions and concerns, call drives, when excavation will occur ing work periods. the intersection of Wilshire and At Wilshire/Western, tunneling the 24-hour project hotline at through deck openings along Near Wilshire/Fairfax, station Rimpau boulevards is anticipated to support continues in a staging yard (213)922-6934, email the project Wilshire Boulevard at Canon Dive, construction, hauling and concrete be in place through next May. at Wilshire Boulevard and team at [email protected], or and just west of Beverly Drive. pouring are ongoing. Wilshire Wilshire Boulevard has been Manhattan Place. Northbound visit metro.net. BREAD PUDDING KIT!

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In the Original Farmers Market Order Direct or from 3rd & Fairfax Chow Now • Postmates Follow Us! (323) 933-8446 • (323) 933-8447 DoorDash • Uber Eats @duparsfm Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 11 January 14, 2021 WeHo seeks input on Housing Element update The city of West Hollywood has Hollywood. The Housing Element for housing in the community, par- started the process of updating its is a state-mandated component of ticularly the availability, affordabil- Housing Element for 2021-29. The West Hollywood’s General Plan ity and adequacy of housing. city encourages community mem- that must be updated every eight The city of West Hollywood will bers to participate in the process years. host a free virtual community work- and provide feedback to shape the The Housing Element serves as a shop about the Housing Element future of housing in West policy guide that outlines the need update on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m., via Zoom. To participate, visit zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_thiZ rscRShKWylLQfPQvKg. Letters to the Editor Additional public engagement activities including online commu- ple, and with the people. nity surveys; community work- Olympia Medical His joy, his vision, was to love shops and public hearings will be Center closure could and empower the grassroots of held in the coming months. Council District Four. For information, visit photo by Edwin Folven be a costly mistake Tom breathed visionary life into weho.org/housingelement. The city of West Hollywood seeks input on the future of housing. our dreams. Tom was very patriot- Re “Olympia Medical Center to ic and elected right after Sept. 11, Close in March,” Jan. 7 issue 2001. He was sworn in privately in Griffith Park on Mt. Hollywood Thank Edwin Folven for his with his wife, kids, and just a few CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD excellent article demonstrating that of us because of threats of possible all our elected officials were clue- terrorist attacks threatening our less concerning the plan to shutter local democracy. To make the cer- PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Olympia Medical Center. emony visually “official,” I loaned How could those and other coun- Tom my huge American flag. As ty health officials let St. Vincent winds whipped, Tom beamed and NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the West Hollywood City Council will consider [Medical Center] or a decade ago, proudly raised high this fiercely Century City Hospital, close? flapping banner and took his oath the following item: The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 of office as councilman. balanced the federal budget by His favorite movie, “Rebel COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK manipulating the Medicare growth Without A Cause” with James GRANT PROGRAM PLANNING SUMMARY curve to be below real inflation. Dean, inspired him to become Hospital administrators attempted to a rebel with a cause: Los AND BUDGET insulate themselves from this mar- Angeles, the City of the Angels. FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 ket manipulation. As the number of It was my honor and pleasure to Medicare and Medicaid patients has serve as Tom’s deputy of beautifi- grown, cost pressures forced hospi- cation for seven years. He died just TIME/PLACE: Monday, February 1, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. tals to increase revenues, decrease two days before his hero, Elvis VIA TELECONFERENCE supplies and lower nursing/patient Presley’s birthday. Forever, we ratios. Cars have seat belts and will airbags not because we are planning remember Tom and “Love Him REQUEST: To solicit input from the public on projects to be funded to be in accidents, but just in case. Tender.” We will honor Tom and by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Devel- The costs of those safety measures [developer] Jerry Snyder in the opment through the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT being added to our vehicles are Miracle Mile in the spirit of coop- equally passed on to all consumers. eration and include the Los BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) Program. Not so with hospital costs. By Angeles Fire Department, another The CDBG program is designed to assist communities creating price controls, Congress of Tom’s true loves. has created a hidden tax on employ- in revitalizing neighborhoods, rehabilitating housing, ers and purchasers of health insur- Lyn MacEwen Cohen providing public services, and stimulating economic ance, causing hospitals to limit com- Hancock Park development. The City anticipates receiving an ap- petition and maximize efficiency to proximate amount of $232,647 in CDBG funds for fis- stay profitable. For too long, hospi- The Tom I knew had the atten- tals that predominantly have relied tion span of a hummingbird. He cal year 2021-2022. The City proposes to use the on Medicaid and Medicare have cut was fanatically and frantically in funds for a Programs for the Homeless which pays for corners, underpaid and overworked love with L.A., and nearly every- social services, including Covid-19 related assistance their staffs and understocked sup- one and everything in it. He could to homeless adults within the City of West Hollywood. plies to balance their budgets. hardly contain himself, and literal- People have been dying for years ly overflowed with enthusiasm for Funding will also be used for permanent sidewalk re- because of these policies. COVID- our town and its citizens. pairs to eliminate pedestrian hazards within the City’s 19 blew up those systems. As the I recall one night we both had designated Low- and Moderate-Income Areas. smoke is clearing, we see that the been to an event at the Avalon, and overwhelming number of American he grabbed me to go with him to deaths were either nursing-home run over to the Hollywood residents or patients in chronically Palladium to present a civic award. The City Council Agenda and Staff Report will be available on Wednesday, Janu- underfunded safety-net hospitals. We were walking to his car on Unfortunately, in L.A. and other Vine and he was on his phone, ary 27, 2021 online at https://www.weho.org/city-government/city-council/council- major cities, these are the hospitals reading out loud the names of the agendas. serving the poor and people of color. stars on the Hollywood Walk of The original county hospital built in Fame and apparently talking to 1933 had 3,000 beds, yet our current me, while still somehow managing The City Council of the City of West Hollywood will hold its regular meeting via hospital, which opened in 2008, has to acknowledge nearly every teleconference and will conduct a public hearing, at which time it will hear and only 600. Our population has grown passerby and pick up a piece of lit- from 2.4 million to 10.2 million in ter on the way. Out of frustration, I consider information concerning the proposed use of CDBG Cares Act Supple- the same period. finally said to him, “Are you talk- mental Funding. The question that should be asked ing to me, to someone on the of the Board of Supervisors and our phone or to yourself?” He quipped, Those wishing to comment on the proposed funding use may either call into the other civic leaders is, “knowing that “I’m multitasking.” meeting to provide comments via phone there has been a bed shortage in (dial-in instructions can be found on the Tom loved people, and reached or you may submit written comments to the Acting City Clerk at L.A. for 15 years, why didn’t they out to as many of them as he could. posted Agenda) either build a bigger hospital or buy He validated everyone he encoun- [email protected]. at bargain prices those that came up tered. I have seen him stand in a for sale, or both?” parking lot talking with the atten- dants, kibitzing with busboys and For further information, please contact Claudia Duncan at [email protected]. Dr. Howard C. Mandel waiters, giving shoutouts to kids, Los Angeles cops, grannies, city workers and President of the Los Angeles Health damn nearly everyone else he sees. BY ORDER OF the City Commission He’s like a mariachi singer – if you of West Hollywood, made eye contact with him, he would be at your table. Melissa Crowder, Tom was a holdover from anoth- Acting City Clerk Remembering er era, a people’s politician whose Tom LaBonge heart truly was as big as his per- sonality. Мы сообщаем вам об обсуждении проекта. Для дополнительной Just devastated. Surreal. Tom информации на русском языке звоните ­ ­ was an ideal public servant, of the Bernie Shine : 323 848 6826. people, by the people, for the peo- Hancock Park 12 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

include conversations with actors RESTAURANT NEWS Henry Winkler, J.B. Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown, Mark Duplass and by Jill Weinlein Katie Aselton. Hosted by the L.A. Times’ Lorraine Ali, the event will support Project Angel Food. The order online. 419 N. Fairfax Ave., cost of the three-course dinner with Canter’s celebrates (323)651-2030. a cocktail pairing provided by Beam National Pastrami Suntory and a sweet snack from Sumo Citrus is $95 per person with Day National Bagel Day a two-ticket minimum per house- hold. The courses include lasagna, ver the years, Canter’s Deli has at Einstein Bros. grilled dry-aged Holstein beef loin Osold 7 million pounds of pas- rder ahead on the Einstein and a sweet citrus maritozzo bun. trami. They add pastrami to break- Bros. Bagels app and receive Some food preparation will be photo courtesy of Langer’s Deli fast items, sandwiches and even Oany egg sandwich of your choice required at home. Dinners will be make a savory pastrami burger. with purchase. Starting Jan. 15, available for pick up at Rossoblu Langer’s Deli Pastrami specials Celebrate by picking up or having select one of the crowd favorites, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. pastrami menu items delivered to like the Farmhouse and Chorizo 16, before the event begins at 6:30 illions of Americans celebrate the rich, satisfying flavor of hot pas- you. Start the morning with pastra- Sunrise. This special continues p.m. Guests must be 21+ and show Mtrami on National Pastrami Day, Jan. 14. Langer's Deli offers pas- mi and eggs served pancake style, through the end of the month. To an I.D. when picking up a dinner trami for pickup or delivery through partner Goldbelly. Langer’s Deli is or order a pastrami Reuben sand- get the app, go to einsteinbros.com. package. All sales are final, no offering four sandwich packages, including a pastrami pack that features wich for lunch featuring grilled pas- 5550 Wilshire Blvd., (323)330- refunds. To purchase tickets, visit 2 pounds of pastrami and a loaf of rye. It’s enough to make at least four trami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and 9501; 10759 W. Pico Blvd., eventbrite.com/e/la-times-dinner- sandwiches. They also are making a pastrami and corned beef pack that Russian dressing on grilled rye (424)293-4495. series-henry-winkler-and-friends- includes 1 pound each of pastrami and corned beef plus a loaf of rye bread. They also make a pastrami for-project-angel-food-tickets- bread. Go to goldbelly.com/langers-deli to have it shipped to your door. dip served on a French roll with au 133651072957. 1124 San Julian St., 704 S. Alvarado St., (213)483-8050. jus. The Canter’s Fairfax sandwich Los Angeles. is hot pastrami and corned beef Los Angeles Times Iacobelli relocated to Los Angeles wheat. Oste’s pinsa dough is 80% piled high on rye bread, and their Dinner Series to bring a new type of Roman water concentration and rises in a Hollywood sandwich has sliced Oste opens in street-food, pinsa, to Beverly long, cold fermentation process pastrami and oven-roasted turkey n Jan. 16, the L.A. Times is Grove. What makes this type of making the dough lower in fat and with melted Swiss cheese and hosting their first Dinner Series Beverly Grove pizza different is the dough. It’s calories, compared to a traditional Canter’s Russian dressing on rye Oof 2021. The Italian dinner from o-owners Jocelyn Bulow of made from a blend of premium bread. Go to cantersdeli.com to chef Steve Samson at Rossoblu will CFrance and Alessandro flours including rice, soy and continues next page

For a Frenched Rack of Lamb Limitedm Time!

98 o r ld Our World Famous $15 per lb. e BaHotcak tttter! with this ad • Good through 1/20/2021 32 oz. - $11.95 Serve only the best in 2021! 16 oz. - $9.95 Tomahawk Steaks • Filet Mignon • Crown Roast of Pork includes melted butttter & syruup Gourmet Burger Blend • Whole Chickens Don’t want to cook? Order a stack h o t fresh & fr & hot fresh om the griddle! 6333 W. Third St. Farmers Market 323.938.5131 www.marcondas.com Family Owned In the Original Farmers Market Order Direct at the Farmers Market 3rd & Fairfax or from Chow Now for 80 Years (323)933-8447 Bakery Postmatees • Door- (323)933-8446 Restaurant Dash • UUber Eats Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 13 January 14, 2021 pizza dough, resulting in a light, glaze. Dunkin’ DD Perks members local, sustainable ingredients and crunchy and airy crust. After Los can take advantage of the January offers a unique menu concept Angeles restaurants are given Mobile Order Mondays to earn 100 with vegetarian option dishes tast- approval to reopen, Oste will bonus points when ordering ahead ing as good as the meat and launch its full menu of pinsa and on the Dunkin’ App every Monday seafood courses. Each week is a many traditional Italian favorites. through Feb. 22. Members earn a different menu to entice fans to Right now, Oste is offering 40% off free drink every 200 points. Join at order and pick up for a culinary wine. Open on Wednesday, dunkindonuts.com/en/dd-perks. heightened dinner. This weekend, Thursday and Sunday from noon to 6201 Hollywood Blvd., (323)536- Yasharian is preparing a six- 9 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday 9220. course meal that includes yellow- from noon to 9:30 p.m. Delivery tail tartare, chèvre chaud salad, options are available through warm porcini soup, ling cod a la Postmates, Grubhub, DoorDash, Pasta Sisters Bordelaise, braised beef cheeks, ChowNow and Uber Eats. To place spiced red wine-poached pear and an order, visit ostelosangeles.com. new specials petit fours for $70. The vegetarian 8142 W. Third St., (323)413-2372. multi-course menu includes avo- ll month long, the family- cado tartare, chèvre chaud salad, Aowned Italian restaurant and porcini soup, chickpea panisse à Dunkin’ new year fresh pasta shop Pasta Sisters is fea- la Bordelaise, red wine-braised turing new January specials. Enjoy mushrooms, spiced red wine- menu items a frittelle fried raisin donut filled poached pear and petit fours for with custard cream, fried and sweet $60. Add black winter truffles for ick-off the new year and take tagliatelle topped with powdered $20, fresh baked baguette with charge of 2021 with five new sugar, and a crostoli cookie that is K salted butter for $5, and a cheese photo courtesy of Noah’s New York Bagels Dunkin’ menu offerings starting light and crispy pasta chips dusted platter for two for $24. Orders can with extra-caffeinated brew, two with powdered sugar. They are be made on Tock with pick up Noah’s New York Bagels new limited-batch coffees, a new available only at the Culver City times starting at 3 to 8 p.m. Go to plant-based breakfast sandwich and location. 3280 Helms Ave., perlerestaurant.com. 43 E. Union eceive a free bagel starting tomorrow, Jan. 15, throughout the rest of their new celebratory Dunkfetti (424)603-4503. St., (626)460-8819. the month at Noah’s New York Bagels with purchase. Order ahead donut. The new, extra-charged cof- Ron the mobile app and receive a freshly made egg sandwich on a freshly fee offers 20% more caffeine than baked New York-style bagel for free with additional purchase. Download Dunkin’s classic hot and iced cof- Perle new Pigeon pop-up at the app, go to noahs.com. 250 N. Larchmont Blvd., (323) 466-2924; fee. Try the two new coffee brews – Bordeaux-inspired 8985 Venice Blvd., Suite B, (310)280-0271; and 10910 Lindbrook Dunkin’ Midnight and Explorer Hereinto Drive, (310)209-8177. Batch. The Dunkin’ Midnight is rich, smooth and offers notes of dinners njoy a unique take on Asian decadent cocoa and an intensely xecutive chef Dean Estreet food in the alley space at owners Danny and Jasmine. Their toes and pozole potstickers. dark finish. The Explorer Batch is a Yasharian, the owner of Perle Sawtelle’s Hermanito every heritage and travels to Asia Pigeon is accepting card payments medium roast with dark berry notes Ein Pasadena, is preparing a Saturday and Sunday in January inspired them to prepare kimchi only. Order online for pickup and a smoky finish. Also new is the Bordeaux-inspired family dinner from noon to 8 p.m. Pigeon is a chorizo fried rice, carne asada through the ordering website Southwest Veggie Power breakfast to go on Jan. 15-17. The classical- wok cart pop-up featuring innova- chow fun, Sichuan tempura veg- pigeon-la.square.site. 2024 sandwich made with the popular ly trained chef has worked in mul- tive twists on stir fries and sides by etable fried rice, spicy fried pota- Sawtelle Blvd. veggie brand, MorningStar Farms. tiple Michelin-starred kitchens It’s packed with 26 grams of pro- under world-renowned chefs, tein. Donut lovers will enjoy the including Daniel Boulud, Gordon new Dunkfetti donut cake ring with Ramsay and Daniel Clifford. special celebration confetti sprin- Located in the historic Old Town kles baked within and a sweet of Pasadena, the chef focuses on It’s’s Naattional PaPastrraami Day!!

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An unknown suspect committed a At 10 p.m., an unknown suspect At 7:30 a.m., an unknown suspect burglary in the 500 block of S. San committed a petty theft in the 5600 committed a burglary in the 100 Vicente at 2:16 a.m. block of Sunset. block of N. Orange. P OLICE BLOTTER At 4 a.m., an unknown suspect An unknown suspect robbed a vic- An unknown suspect committed a committed a burglary in the 300 tim in the 7000 block of Sunset at grand theft near the corner of block of N. Sycamore. 10:45 p.m. Banner and Vine at 9 a.m. The following crimes occurred in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the areas patrolled by the LAPD’s Wilshire and Hollywood divisions between An unknown suspect burglarized a At 10:50 p.m., an unknown sus- At 2:23 p.m., an unknown suspect Jan. 3 and Jan. 9. The information was compiled from crimemapping.com. vehicle parked in the 300 block of pect committed a burglary in the committed a petty theft in the 5400 To report a crime, call local law enforcement agencies: Los Angeles Police S. Norton at 4:26 a.m. 7900 block of Beverly. block of Wilshire. Department, Wilshire Division (213)473-0476, Los Angeles County An unknown suspect stole a vehi- Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station (310)855-8850, and the At 8:45 a.m., an unknown suspect Jan. 6 Beverly Hills Police Department, (310)550-4951. committed a petty theft in the 6200 cle parked near the corner of block of Wilshire. Fountain and Curson at 4 p.m. An unknown suspect assaulted a cle parked in the 1100 block of Beverly Hills Police An unknown suspect burglarized a victim in the 600 block of N. At 7 p.m., an unknown suspect Larrabee at 5:13 p.m. vehicle parked in the 6100 block of Manhattan at 10:30 a.m. burglarized a vehicle parked in the

Department Lindenhurst at 9 a.m. 6500 block of Fifth. At 5:45 p.m., an unknown suspect At 11:30 a.m., an unknown sus- stole a vehicle parked in the 900 An unknown suspect burglarized a Jan. 3 At 1:40 p.m., an unknown suspect pect committed a grand theft in the block of Palm. vehicle parked in the 6600 bock of robbed a victim near the corner of 100 block of S. Western. Sunset at 7:40 p.m. At 4 p.m., an unknown suspect Keniston and Eighth. An unknown suspect committed a burglarized a vehicle parked in the burglary in the 8900 block of An unknown suspect committed a At 7:45 p.m., an unknown suspect 200 block of S. Gale. An unknown suspect assaulted a Elevado at 9:05 p.m. petty theft in the 5400 block of committed a grand theft in the victim near the corner of Van Ness Wilshire at noon. A vandalism incident was reported 1000 block of S. Citrus. and Lexington at 2:45 p.m. in the 400 block of N. Rexford at Jan. 6 At 12:45 p.m., an attempted bur- 9:04 p.m. At 4 p.m., an unknown suspect glary was reported in the 500 block Jan. 8 At 7:05 a.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the of N. Rossmore. Jan. 4 committed a petty theft in the 1100 6100 block of Orange. An unknown suspect committed a block of N. Poinsettia. burglary in the 300 block of N. An unknown suspect committed a At 4:49 a.m., an unknown suspect An unknown suspect robbed a vic- Hayworth at 5:02 a.m. An unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 5100 block of committed a petty theft near the tim near the corner of Highland Sunset at 3 p.m. corner of Olympic and Doheny. burglary in the 7700 block of At 8:05 a.m., an unknown suspect and Leland at 4 p.m. Fountain at 10:45 a.m. burglarized a vehicle parked in the At 3 p.m., an unknown suspect Jan. 5 At 4:30 p.m., an unknown suspect 3200 block of Canyon. At 6:15 p.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the stole a bicycle in the 1300 block of 5700 block of Lexington. committed a burglary in the 1100 S. Roxbury. At 7 p.m., an unknown suspect block of N. Fairfax. committed a petty theft in the 300 An unknown suspect committed a An unknown suspect burglarized a block of Canon. burglary in the 1300 block of N. Jan. 7 vehicle parked in the 6600 block of Cahuenga at 3 p.m. Wilshire at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 6 At 9 a.m., an unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 1100 At 8 p.m., an unknown suspect At 3:50 p.m., an unknown suspect At 5:55 p.m., an unknown suspect robbed a victim in the 500 block of assaulted a victim near the corner block of N. La Brea. burglarized a vehicle parked in the 600 block of S. Detroit. N. Poinsettia. of Canon and Santa Monica. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 1200 block of An unknown suspect stole a vehi- An unknown suspect assaulted a Jan. 7 N. Fuller at noon. cle parked in the 1200 block of victim near the corner of Cherokee

Cole at 8 p.m. and Hollywood at 4:25 p.m. An unknown suspect burglarized a At 1:07 p.m., an unknown suspect vehicle parked in the 200 block of committed a petty theft in the 1200 At 9:30 p.m., an unknown suspect At 5:30 p.m., an unknown suspect Stanley at 6 a.m. block of N. La Brea. committed a petty theft in the 200 committed a petty theft in the 1300

block of S. Martel. block of S. La Brea. At 2:37 p.m., an unknown suspect An unknown suspect robbed a vic- committed a petty theft in the 300 tim in the 600 block of N. La An unknown suspect assaulted a block of N. Rodeo. Jan. 5 Cienega at 9:30 p.m. victim in the 1400 block of N. Ivar at 6:10 p.m. An unknown suspect committed a At 2 a.m., an unknown suspect

burglary in the 300 block of Canon Jan. 8 burglarized a vehicle parked in the At 7 p.m., an unknown suspect at 4:40 p.m. 1200 block of N. Cahuenga. burglarized a vehicle parked in the At 10 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a burglary in the 8400 An unknown suspect committed a 1300 block of N. Vista. Jan. 8 block of Santa Monica. petty theft in the 1300 block of N.

Highland at 9:50 a.m. An unknown suspect stole a vehi- At 10 a.m., an unknown suspect cle parked in the 1300 block of N. assaulted a victim in the 100 block Jan. 9 At 10 a.m., an unknown suspect Poinsettia at 7:30 p.m. of N. La Cienega. committed a petty theft in the 5400 An unknown suspect assaulted a victim in the 800 block of Kings at block of Wilshire. At 9 p.m., an unknown suspect Jan. 9 3:29 a.m. committed a burglary in the 6500 An unknown suspect burglarized a block of Orange. At 4:45 a.m., an unknown suspect At 4:50 p.m., an unknown suspect vehicle parked in the 1400 block of committed a burglary in the 200 robbed a victim in the 8600 block Mansfield at 11 a.m. An unknown suspect assaulted a block of S. La Cienega. of Melrose. victim near the corner of Selma At 3 p.m., an unknown suspect and Gower at 9:50 p.m. West Hollywood An unknown suspect assaulted a stole a vehicle parked in the 600 victim in the 1100 block of N. La block of S. Citrus. At 11 p.m., an unknown suspect Sheriff’s Station Cienega at 5:15 p.m. burglarized a vehicle parked in the An unknown suspect committed a 1300block of N. Martel. Jan.3 petty theft in the 6000 block of Los Angeles Police Hollywood at 4 p.m. Jan. 7 At 4:42 a.m., an unknown suspect Department committed a burglary in the 8900 At 4:15 p.m., an unknown suspect At 1 a.m., an unknown suspect block of Santa Monica. committed a petty theft in the 7300 stole a vehicle parked in the 1000 Jan. 3 block of Melrose. block of N. Wilton.

Jan. 4 At 12:01 a.m., an unknown sus- An unknown suspect robbed a vic- An unknown suspect committed a pect committed a petty theft in the tim in the 5600 block of Sunset at burglary in the 7400 block of At 9 a.m., an unknown suspect 1100 block of S. Elm. 9:30 p.m. Beverly at 5:15 a.m. committed a grand theft in the 700 block of Huntley. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 800 block of An unknown suspect assaulted a S. Wooster at 8 a.m. victim in the 7100 block of Santa Driver sought for fatal hit-and-run Monica at 12:42 p.m. At 9:30 a.m., an unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 1000 Detectives from the Los Angeles Citizens found the man lying in At 4:15 p.m., an unknown suspect block of El Centro. Police Department’s West Traffic the road and Los Angeles Fire robbed a victim in the 600 block of Division are seeking information Department paramedics responded Robertson. An unknown suspect committed a that will help identify a driver who and pronounced him dead at scene. grand theft in the 8500 block of struck and killed a 25-year-old man Investigators said they have no vehi- An unknown suspect committed a Beverly at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 8 and fled the scene. cle or suspect description. petty theft in the 800 block of The unidentified victim was The city of Los Angeles offers a Larrabee at 6:30 p.m. At 1 p.m., an unknown suspect struck at approximately 2:15 a.m. by $50,000 reward is available for burglarized a vehicle parked in the a vehicle traveling west on Beverly information leading to an arrest and Jan. 5 1600 block of N. Kingsley. Boulevard near Normandie Avenue. conviction in hit-and-run cases. At 12:15 p.m., an unknown sus- Jan. 4 The decedent was crossing Beverly Anyone with information about the pect burglarized a vehicle parked Boulevard outside of a marked collision is urged to call detectives at in the 8900 block of Beverly. At 12:10 a.m., an unknown sus- crosswalk. The vehicle continued (213)473-0234. During weekend pect assaulted a victim in the 700 westbound on Beverly Boulevard and off-hours, call the LAPD’s hot- An unknown suspect stole a vehi- block of N. Wilton. and did not stop, police said. line at (8770LAPD247. Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 15 January 14, 2021 ‘Tennacity’ takes over tennis concessions in WeHo The city of West Hollywood is partnering with a new tennis con- cessionaire – Tennacity. In December, the City Council approved an agreement with Tennacity, an inclusive tennis lifestyle brand that will offer unique live events, facility management, tournaments, lessons, camps and open houses for players of all lev- els. It will also offer workouts: energizing and up-tempo workouts that include live ball programming, music and commentary. The goal is to attract new players to the game and provide new opportunities for existing players. Tennacity has offered similar programs for the city of Manhattan photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills photo courtesy of the city of West Hollywood Beach and has been featured at DesertSmash with Serena Tennis courts in the city of West Hollywood will be managed by Williams, Malibu Racquet Club Tennacity, which plans to bring new tennis-related programs and com- Beverly Hills seeks submissions and numerous college and profes- munity events to the city. sional tennis matches. West Hollywood has tennis hour ($4 per half-hour) for strictly complies with regularly for ‘top dog’ in photo contest courts at Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Plummer Park and can be made revised COVID-19 health officer The city of Beverly Hills Community Services Department has launched Monica Blvd., with seven lighted using the Kourts app under the orders and protocols from the Los “Beverly Hills Doggy Daze 90210!,” a renaming of “Woofstock 90210,” courts and a pro shop; and West name “Tennacity at West Angeles County Department of the city’s annual pet extravaganza at Roxbury Park. Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Hollywood.” For information, visit Public Health. This year, “Beverly Hills Doggy Daze 90210!” will include the pet photo Vicente Blvd., with three lighted kourts.com/app. West Hollywood Tennacity was founded by Joshua contest. Snap a picture of a furry friend and upload it to courts on the rooftop of the five- residents may reserve courts up to Osswald, a former Association of beverlyhills.org/doggydaze90210. Multiple categories are included and story public parking structure. seven days in advance; nonresi- Tennis Professionals ranked player, anyone, including people residing outside of Beverly Hills, can enter. Onsite sales and services will be dents may reserve up to five days in United States Professional Tennis People can also vote for the “top dog” online. Submissions will be accepted offered by Tennacity at the pro shop advance. Association player of the Year, 20- through Jan. 25; voting will take place from Feb. 1-15. at Plummer Park, including tennis Programming has been limited year tennis coach, national champi- Although the city of Beverly Hills will not be able to hold the regular in- equipment and string repair, acces- during COVID-19 restrictions for on, musician and entrepreneur. For person event at Roxbury Park due to the pandemic, other exciting and fun sories, apparel, food and beverages. the tennis courts and pro shop. information, visit tennacity.com and online events and activities begin in February. For information, call Court reservations are $8 per Tennis instructional programming weho.org. (310)285-6830, or visit beverlyhills.org/doggydaze90210. Wallis joins art groups for free film series The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills is joining the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts in Northridge and Chicago’s Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater to launch Films.Dance, a groundbreaking new global free film series produced by and under the creative direction of L.A.-based Jacob Jonas the Company. Films.Dance is being made avail- able to the public at no charge. One of the most ambitious inter- national dance film projects ever undertaken, Films.Dance engages more than 150 artists from 52 cities photo courtesy of the Wallis in 25 countries, culminating in 15 The film “Pássaro Distante” features dancers reuniting in their hometown short films that have been shot dur- of Joinville, Brazil, to dance together during the pandemic. ing the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. events is in development and will support this remarkable project and Through nontraditional collabo- allow for deeper exploration of the honored to be working alongside the rations across cultures and conti- series themes, creative process and Soraya and The Harris to present nents, and led by the vision of Jacob perspectives of collaborating artists. this work,” said Paul Crewes, artis- Jonas, the series connects the per- “Jacob Jonas the Company has tic director of The Wallis. spectives of diverse artists from a been carving out a unique place in The Wallis is located at 9390 N. range of disciplines, dance genres, the dance world landscape, since the Santa Monica Blvd. For informa- abilities and experiences. Filmed in company was formed just seven tion, visit thewallis.org and locations ranging from Amsterdam, years ago … The Wallis is proud to films.dance. Brazil, Canada, Germany and London, to Los Angeles, New York, Nigeria and Spain, Films.Dance exists at the intersection of dance, music, fashion and film. “Our goals are to create a global arts community, to elevate the power of dance through non-tradi- tional collaborations and to engage digital audiences in innovative ways,” said Jacob Jonas, executive producer of Films.Dance. “The diversity of the artists and their explorations has fostered new ways of thinking and has allowed the for- mation of deep relationships across Coming in 2021! physical borders. I look forward to launching this series worldwide.” photo by Cameron Kiszla SPECIAL ISSUE Beginning on Jan. 25 and each Monday following for 15 weeks, Remembering L.A. icons Tom and Tommy one film will premiere for free at 9 a.m. on the web at Films.Dance, on The City of Angels lost two icons last Thursday, Tommy Lasorda and Celebrating 75 years Instagram on the @films.dance Tom La Bonge. Another Los Angeles icon, Pink’s Hot Dogs, paid trib- account, and the Films.Dance ute at the stand located at Melrose and La Brea, which is currently Facebook page. A series of weekly closed until early spring. Pink’s will create a special hot dog named in conversations and engagement honor of LaBonge. See story page 1. 16 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

LAUSD has plan for safely reopening schools Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner said Jan. 11 that students must be vaccinated in order to return to school once the vaccine becomes available to children. That same day, he was joined by leaders of labor partners repre- senting more than 75,000 LAUSD employees in advocating for more state action to address the disproportionate impact the pandemic is having on low- income communities of color. “On Dec. 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his ‘Safe Schools for All’ plan to support the reopening of school class- photo courtesy of BHUSD rooms. While it prioritizes the Jesse Braun, a teacher-librarian at Beverly Vista Middle School, was reopening of public schools with awarded the I Love My Librarian award. the potential for additional school funding, the plan falls well short of what is needed to provide help Local librarian wins service award to the students and communities we serve,” Beutner said. “Los Unlike some subjects, which stu- ed Braun for the award, which rec- Angeles Unified stands ready to dents may never use again after ognizes 10 librarians nationally resume in-person instruction as graduation, information literacy is a each year for outstanding public soon as it is safe and appropriate skill that will be tested daily for the service. to do so, but we cannot do it photo courtesy of LAUSD rest of their lives. Jesse Braun, a The ALA will honor Braun for alone. The state must acknowl- Students and families can safely get food at one of Los Angeles teacher-librarian at Beverly Vista going above and beyond in his role, edge the needs in our schools and Unified School District’s 63 Grab and Go Food Centers. Middle School, has worked tire- even through the COVID-19 pan- take the following actions neces- lessly to make information literacy demic. The award recognizes sary for all California children to a core part of the middle school cur- Braun’s creativity, passion and receive the education they state funds directly to school dis- local and state government offi- riculum. For his efforts, Braun will expertise. From offering access to deserve.” tricts to cover costs, including cials to drive down coronavirus be honored as a recipient of the digital programs and materials to Actions specified by Beutner COVID-19 testing, contact trac- case rates in high-needs commu- American Library Association's organizing safe, contactless circula- include funding for all schools to ing and administration of vac- nities to enable local schools to prestigious I Love My Librarian tion of library resources Braun has redress the disproportionate cines in the same way and at the open. Award on Jan. 23. made a profound impact on stu- impact on low-income communi- same rate as other municipal “State and local public health “Middle school is a key moment dents – he even volunteered as part ties served who will not likely agencies and providers; and addi- officials must tackle this chal- for most kids, when their sophisti- of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine meet the proposed “Safe Schools tional instructional time and tar- lenge head-on or we will be left cation reaches the point where they trial and kept BHUSD students and for All” deadline of Feb. 1. He geted funding for students who with more of the same: continued can begin to make reliable indepen- teachers informed about the vac- noted that they were also unlikely have been disproportionately high rates of the virus in low- dent judgments about sources, and cine research process. to meet the less ambitious March impacted by the pandemic, income communities that make it cultivate foundational information Since the I Love My Librarian 1 deadline put forth by many including English-learners, stu- unsafe to reopen classrooms,” literacy skills that will serve them Award was established, only 120 experts, given current health con- dents with disabilities and home- Beutner said. for the rest of their lives,” Braun librarians nationally have received ditions. less and foster youth. “The last 10 months have been said. “Without developing these this honor. Braun, a congenital Other actions include: advocat- Additional actions Beutner a struggle. Elected leaders at the skills, kids can be left rudderless in amputee, will be the first signifi- ing that public health funds, not specified included funding to state and local level need to join a growing sea of misinformation cantly physically handicapped K-12 educational funds from support reopening the schools with us to discuss what we’ve and disinformation.” recipient of the award. Proposition 98, be used for including, child-care services, learned, what can be improved The Beverly Vista PTA nominat- For information, visit bhusd.org. COVID testing and vaccinations; and additional funding to main- and how we can all make sure the reinforcing the need for a clear tain clean, safe and sanitary next 10 months are better for stu- state standard for COVID-19- schools, as well as infrastructure dents and families than the past related health issues in schools; and transportation. Finally, the 10 months,” he added. integrating school-based health safe reopening also must include For more information, visit services, including distribution of a COVID-19 relief plan from lausd.org.

photo courtesy of KCCLA Learn about traditional Korean pottery by watching online videos. KCCLA explores pottery online The Korean Cultural Center, Los a master in ceramics, as well as his Angeles presents the online project 50 years of recreating Goryeo “Korean Pottery-Story of a celadon. Thousand Years” on KCCLA’s The second episode is introduced YouTube channel. by ceramic artist and educator The first episode is introduced by Young-Shin Kim, who joins Kim in Do-hun Kim, an expert in ceramic discussing Buncheong Sagi and engineering and ceramics, who white porcelain Korean pottery. provides an introduction to Korean They also focus on the history and pottery focusing on the history, dif- different characteristics and types ferent types of clay and characteris- of pottery. tics of Goryeo celadon (Korean To view the videos, visit pottery). youtu.be/74psIuvpSbI and He also speaks about his father, youtu.be/3EAgRBfvQ2k. For Sechang Se-yong Kim, considered information, visit kccla.org. Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 17 January 14, 2021

Edery to provide a masterclass on performing Sephardic guitarist, singer and educator Gerard Edery continues the virtual Jewish Music Masterclass series presented by the Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Edery is one of the world’s foremost experts in the wide- ranging music of the Sephardic diaspora, including repertoire from the Judeo-Arab, Judeo- photo courtesy of Immaculate Heart Spanish, Argentinian, Middle- Visit Immaculate Heart High School and Middle School’s historic campus Eastern, Northern European and Eastern European musical tradi- during a virtual campus tour. tions. With more than 15 multilingual photo courtesy of UCLA albums, he prizes musical authen- Gerard Edery will provide a masterclass on performing on Jan. 19. Immaculate Heart offers virtual ticity and an appreciation for how disparate cultures overlap, parallel Best of Gerard Edery, Vol. 2: offered through Zoom. visits for prospective students each other and often borrow from Sephardic and Latin American The remaining schedule for the one another. Songs,” features 19 noteworthy current Jewish Music Masterclass Immaculate Heart High School 2021-22 school year. Families with Not only does he regularly recordings from throughout his series after Edery is Daniel Kahn and Middle School is giving inter- specific questions about IHHS uncover and preserve songs, sto- multi-decade career. on Feb. 16, David Krakauer on ested students a sneak peek at class- should contact the Admissions ries and melodies from Europe, The Jewish Music Masterclass March 2, Julia Adolphe on March es and the joys of being a Panda. Department to arrange an individ- the Middle East, South America series invites audiences to engage 16 and Inna Faliks on April 20. Registration is open for many virtu- ual meeting by calling (323)461- and ancient Persia, Edery ener- with some of the biggest names in All masterclasses begin at 5 p.m. al programs including student shad- 3651, ext. 800, or emailing admis- gizes these repertoires by inter- Jewish music. Artists will discuss To sign up for the masterclass ow visits, informational meetings [email protected]. preting them for contemporary their work and share their inspira- or for more information, visit and virtual campus tours. Immaculate Heart Middle School audiences and by collaborating tion by reflecting on how the schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/event/jew This year, both the high school is also offering online shadow visits with highly acclaimed virtuoso music may relate to their Jewish ish-music-masterclass-featuring- and middle school have moved tra- in January. Incoming sixth, seventh musicians. His latest album, “The identity. All programs are free and gerard-edery. ditional admissions events online to and eighth grade students interested ensure health and safety. However, in entering IHMS in the next school prospective students can still expe- year can schedule one-hour virtual Environmental justice initiative targets Latinx audiences rience campus life through virtual visits. Each student will be virtually classroom visits. accompanied by a student council Hero Theatre and Hero nious connection to nature and no It’s exciting for us to begin there, Registration for Immaculate member and will visit three classes, Multimedia have launched understanding of how to lessen because we don’t see many Heart High School’s virtual shadow meet teachers, and participate in a “Nuestro Planeta,” a multimedia their own human impact,” Hero Colombian stories, especially on visits is now open. Shadow visits Q&A session with administrators. new works initiative that focuses on Theatre Advisory Board Member the stage,” said Elisa Bocanegra, resume after break on Tuesday, Jan. Reservations are required. educating Latinx film and theater Judith Bauerlein said. Hero Theatre producing artistic 26, and will continue on designated Additionally, “Middle School audiences about environmental jus- A series of films and plays that director and Hero Multimedia co- dates through February. Via Google Meets” will take place every other tice within the Americas. center on the relationship between founder. The first segment of Meet, eighth grade shadow stu- Friday at 10 a.m. in January. The “Through industrialization, Latinx communities and the earth, “Nuestro Planeta” will be devised dents will be introduced to Kelli online sessions via Google Meet migration and globalization, some “Nuestro Planeta” will focus on and directed by Bocanegra and O’Brian, IHHS associate director will give prospective students and of our most vulnerable communi- specific countries in Latin America, written by Colombian playwright of admissions, and will then join a their parents an opportunity to learn ties now find themselves at the epi- beginning with Colombia. Diana Burbano. live class with high school students about the IHMS academic program center of the climate crisis, with lit- “Colombia is the second most For more information, visit and faculty. Afterward, shadow stu- and extracurricular offerings from tle memory of their once harmo- biodiverse country on the planet. herotheatre.org. dents can view recordings of select administrators. classes of interest so they can expe- Virtual campus tours are avail- rience Immaculate Heart’s engag- able, allowing students and families ing classroom environment. Space to explore the historic campus at is limited and reservations are Franklin and Western avenues. required. Visit the garden setting, school The IHHS Admissions team’s facilities and classrooms online. “Hangout with IH” virtual informa- For information, visit immacu- tion sessions will resume in the lateheart.org. L.A. Public Library provides online help for students Los Angeles Public Library has Library is excited to offer a transformed its Student Zones – Virtual Student Zone as a way to after-school homework centers provide free localized homework located in libraries – into a virtual help and navigation of the resource, allowing students to library’s online resources for stu- connect online with an assistant dents in grades K-12,” said for using library resources to Madeline Bryant, principal librar- complete homework assignments. ian of the Youth Services Students can book a 30-minute Department. appointment between 3 and 9 “Our trained homework helpers p.m., Monday through Thursday, have prior experience working and from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday with youth in the library and in and Sunday. their communities, and it’s a nat- When they log in for an ural fit for them to do so online,” appointment, students are con- she added. nected with a helper who can Student Zones are offered in part- assist students in a variety of nership with PowerMyLearning ways, from offering explanations and supported through the Library of homework assignments to lis- Foundation of Los Angeles. The tening to a student read aloud and library installed helper-staffed OPENINGS offering help with pronunciation. Student Zones in many branch Student Zone helpers also help library locations in 2017. The in K-5th GRADES students access library resources, Student Zone helpers are all based including ebooks, and other inter- in Los Angeles and are trained in Click here active learning portals on the available library resources. or go to our website library’s website such as Service is available in both Scholastic’s ScienceFlix, English and Spanish. to check for Britannica School and a new Teen For information, visit distance learning Health and Wellness database. lapl.org/teens/homework- “The Los Angeles Public help/student-zones. updates. 18 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Watching ‘Soul’ the ‘right’ way, while twins run wild

One of the oldest ironies of par- enting arrives during special events. A present. A big one. Little hands vigorously tearing through wrapping paper. It looks expensive, but the photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures real gem is that oversized box. The Legion Theater Drive-In had a sold-out run of Christopher “There’s no wrong way to play” Nolan’s “Tenet” in December. became a mantra for half a decade, but I contend such notions of the right or wrong way to conduct one- Hollywood Legion Theater self remain evergreen. The pandem- ic proved some things adapt quite drive-in focuses on Nolan well. Perhaps we all don’t need to commute to work, suffer through a The Hollywood Legion “We want people to feel safe meeting easily replaced by an email. Theater drive-in is taking passen- getting out of the house, and we This isn’t always the case. Virtual gers on an extended journey into go to great lengths to ensure education stands out as a clear chal- the complex mind of director health and safety so people can lenge in lieu of in-person learning. Christopher Nolan this month enjoy watching movies,” theater So what’s the right or wrong way to with a weeklong run of his most Director Bill Steele said. “We are watch a film? What if Martin photo courtesy of Pixar popular, time-twisted epics. The absolutely committed to the safe- Scorsese’s “The Irishman” released Joe (Jamie Foxx) encounters 22 (Tina Fey) in the new animated feature series starts on Jan. 17 with the ty of our staff and patrons.” as a miniseries, not a 209-minute “Soul.” mind-bending “Inception” and Located at 2035 N. Highland film? includes his Batman trilogy, Ave., just south of the Hollywood The director himself championed for how we live – I say so based on transfixed during key scenes. “Interstellar” and “Dunkirk.” Bowl, the Legion Theater drive- a specific mode of consumption – an alternate mode of engagement. Would I prefer viewing a film at “We’re excited to offer audi- in is the first-ever drive-in cinema bigger screen and one viewing – but Jazz musician Joe’s (Jamie Foxx) home free of distractions? Nope, ences in the L.A. area a unique in the heart of Hollywood operat- streaming obliges no one to do so (I out-of-body encounter with pre-life that means I wouldn’t see firsthand opportunity to be swept up in ing seven nights a week. The certainly didn’t). being 22 (Tina Fey) doesn’t quite how something delightful like Nolan’s immersive films,” drive-in opened in October, offer- Streaming changes what can hap- reach Pixar’s top tier (“Up,” “Wall- “Soul” captures them, pauses that Creative Director and Chief ing residents a safe way to enjoy pen. Suddenly, I can pause a film to E,” “Inside Out,” “Ratatouille”), but flailing and screaming, piquing their Projectionist Taylor Umphenour movies on the big screen while make a drink or see a guy about an it vastly improves upon “Onward” interest. said. “We feel that his films are theaters remain closed during the electoral recount. And for better or from earlier in 2020. They might not understand mor- well-suited to our intimate and COVID-19 pandemic. worse, depending on the critic, I can On this front, I let my kids choose tality, but they definitely have no technically superior drive-in Reservations must be made watch “Soul,” streaming now on the winner, so “Soul” takes trouble living in the moment. The experience.” online and all-inclusive prices Disney+, with my 3-year-old twins “Onward” by a landslide. The latest splendid juxtaposition of a character The Nolan-fest comes on the start at $65 for the entire car, when it premieres for the masses, Pixar film basks in beautiful CGI contemplating life’s purpose and the heels of the Legion Theater drive- including candy, soda and unlim- unconcerned about wrangling them and clever depictions of a non-cor- beautiful examples of children who in’s sold-out run of “Tenet” in ited popcorn for each person in in a theater. poreal world existing alongside the already solved life’s mystery in my December, which offered L.A. the vehicle. For more informa- Certainly, this is making do. I physical one. living room enhances “Soul” that moviegoers their first opportunity tion, visit hollywoodlegionthe- adore the darkened space. I even Thank director Peter Docter (his much more. to see the film on the big-screen. ater.com. miss the green glow between trailers last hurrah at the helm now that he signaling one more to experience replaced John Lasseter as chief cre- before the feature begins. But some ative officer). And look to co-direc- younglings, to borrow a term from tor and writer Kemp Powers (“Star Obi-Wan, can’t handle a couple Trek: Discovery”) for more promis- hours seated in silence. I need not ing projects to come. concern myself with that at home. Another high point for both the Mind you, moviegoing at home boys and myself: the music. I elate at means a lot of pausing, even rewind- a good jazz song, revisiting my high ing. For that matter, unbroken view- school and early college days fine ing goes away entirely. That means tuning my jazz guitar chops. Songs I’ve seen most, if not all, of “Soul” by Jon Batiste, bandleader for “The across days, once twice a day. Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” If there’s no wrong way to play, work some incredible magic. Those does this mean there’s no wrong to moments, all too brief as they are, watch a film? A childless me would capture the pure joy or improvisa- likely balk at this, demand a redo tion, the bliss of getting lost in a unfettered by distractions. But once song. kids go down, mommy and daddy Not a fan? That’s OK (no it’s not, need their own special time with a broaden your horizons), Trent vodka soda add lime and some Reznor (yes, that Trent Reznor) and “Jeopardy!” Atticus Ross take a break from scor- Disney animation – even the more ing David Fincher’s flicks (“The adult-catering Pixar – doesn’t fit in. Social Network,” “Girl with the When I say “Soul” is a delightful Dragon Tattoo,” “Gone Girl”) for a exploration of life before and after transcendent composition here so death – and what that should mean effective two active boys remained

photo courtesy of Pixar Jamie Foxx does a wonderful job voicing Joe, a jazz musician who has an out-of-body experience, in Pixar’s “Soul.” Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 19 January 14, 2021

Anonymous donor pledges $25K to Spay Neuter Fund An anonymous donor has pledged $25,000 in matching funds to donations made to the Spay and Neuter Trust Fund. The donations received will help keep spay and neuter vans on the road. “This matching grant towards mobile spay and neuter clinics helps ensure that we are able to photo courtesy of YMCALA provide spay and neuter surgeries This year marks the 50th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Brotherhood to pets in underserved communi- Celebration Breakfast. ties,” said Brenda Barnette, gen- eral manager for LA Animal Services. “It’s also the law in the city of Los Angeles for all cats MLK breakfast is L.A. Tradition and dogs to be spayed or neutered photo courtesy of LA Animal Services The Martin Luther King Jr. stretched our physical and emotion- after the age of four months.” The city of Los Angeles requires that all cats and dogs be spayed or Brotherhood Celebration Breakfast al limits, we will continue the fight There are many benefits to neutered after the age of four months. has been a YMCA of Metropolitan thanks to leaders like Dave Roberts spaying or neutering a dog or cat, Los Angeles tradition for decades. and Sharon Robinson who fearless- including: adding to the longevity objects with urine, while remov- live in the city of Los Angeles. This year marks the 50th annual ly advocate in charting the path of the animal by lowering the risk ing heat cycles from female pets; Certificates cover the cost of a celebration of King’s life and the ahead.” of certain cancers and other dis- and curbing aggressive behaviors companion animal’s sterilization movement for social justice and The 2021 honorees include eases; preventing unwanted litters; such as fighting or biting. at participating veterinary hospi- equality that still continues today. Brotherhood Award recipient L.A. decreasing the chances of a pet LA Animal Services offers tals, spay/neuter clinics and The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts roaming and as a result, the pet is free-or low cost spay and neuter mobile spay/neuter clinics. Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Jackie Robinson Foundation less likely to escape and get lost or certificates and vouchers, which For more information, visit join as partners to bring this special Vice-Chair Sharon Robinson, who hit by a car; reducing or eliminat- are available online at las- laanimalservices.com/general- event to Angelenos via a live will receive the Human Dignity ing male pets from marking payneuter.com to pet owners who information/spay-neuter. streamed multimedia event on Jan. Award. Stedman Graham, CEO of 15 at 9 a.m. This partnership is a S. Graham and Associates, is the powerful union of organizations keynote speaker. united in the mission to provide “The Martin Luther King Jr. Grammy Museum kicks off 2021 with new programs equity programs to underserved Brotherhood Celebration Breakfast The Grammy Museum opened 12 years ago, it has offered Series includes Max Richter on Jan. communities in Los Angeles. is a Los Angeles institution, and I’m announced its next round of new more than 900 public programs. 16, Madison Cunningham on Jan. “In a year where we we’ve seen honored to receive the Brotherhood and never-before-released digital The museum is also releasing a new 23 and Shabaka Hutchings on Jan. societal inequities highlighted Award and share the stage with two content, including its Spotlight exhibit with several photo 30. There are also a host of pro- across the country, we’re honored dear friends and community leaders Saturdays series featuring up-and- slideshows. The museum continues grams available to steam including to be furthering Dr. King’s message – Sharon Robinson and Stedman coming artists, while the museum to release digital educational con- Ingrid Andress, Poncho Sanchez of unity and equality for all and Graham. I’ve long admired The remains closed until further notice tent and lesson plans as part of the and Rufus Wainwright. being a champion for equity and YMCA of Metropolitan Los in light of COVID-19. Grammy in the Schools Knowledge Grammy Museum at Home is inclusion throughout Los Angeles,” Angeles’ mission and impact, and The museum’s public programs Bank, continuing its mission of made possible with support from said Victor Dominquez, executive I’m grateful for the opportunity to digital series features new intimate paying tribute to the world’s musi- the Hoesterey Family Charitable vice president of YMCA of join them in celebrating Dr. King’s sit-down interviews with artists and cal heritage and bringing the com- Foundation and Brian and Adria Metropolitan Los Angeles. “We are legacy in our community and musicians recorded via digital con- munity together through music. Sheth. For more information, visit grateful to our partners the Los beyond,” Roberts said. ferencing. Since the museum This month’s Spotlight Saturdays grammymuseum.org. Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles “I am thrilled to be honored dur- Dodgers Foundation who share our ing the 50th anniversary MLK cel- vision to offer opportunities to even ebration alongside our friend and the playing field in underserved extraordinary team manager, Dave communities.” Roberts,” Robinson said. “In the “Celebrating the life and legacy midst of a pandemic and interna- of Dr. King reflects our unwavering tional protests against racial injus- commitment to the fight for equali- tice, the Dodgers prevailed bringing ty,” said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of us home a World Series the Los Angeles Dodgers Championship and hope.” Foundation. “While we have made Due to COVID-19 restrictions, tremendous strides, our nation the event will be live-streamed operates as two Americas, one from the Westin Bonaventure Hotel where Black people and other mar- & Suites in downtown Los ginalized groups are denied the full Angeles. liberties under the constitution. As For more information, visit we emerge from a year that has ymcala.org/mlkcelebration.

photo courtesy of Holocaust Museum LA “Inside the Acid-Free Box” showcases propaganda from the archives of Holocaust Museum LA. Nazi propaganda explored Holocaust Museum LA will pre- January installment of the exclusive sent “Inside the Acid-Free Box: series will offer an in-depth look at Symbols of Hate and the Nazi Nazi symbols that were either per- Propaganda Machine” on Tuesday, verted or by design came to repre- Jan. 19, at 4 p.m. This virtual view- sent hate, racism and anti- ing of the museum’s archives will Semitism. Gessler and Jovanovic explore the Nazi’s use of the swasti- will examine the carefully crafted ka, the salute, the Nazi eagle and propaganda used to push forward the SS skull and crossbones to pro- the radical Nazi agenda and create mote a notion of racially pure Hitler’s cult of personality. “Aryan” people, while simultane- A minimum $12 donation is ously excluding and ostracizing requested and a link to the tour will groups they viewed as inferior. be provided upon registration. Led by Jordanna Gessler, the For information, visit holocaust- museum’s vice president of educa- museumla.org/event-details/inside- tion and exhibits, and Christie the-acid-free-box-symbols-of-hate- Jovanovic, collection manager, the and-the-nazi-propaganda-machine. 20 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Cedars-Sinai urges people to avoid pandemic fatigue

After more than 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, directives to wear a mask, wash hands frequent- ly and not socialize with people from different households are Special honors for a beginning to sound like back- ground noise, according to experts baseball legend at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “People definitely have pandem- ic fatigue,” said Dr. Olusinmi Bamgbose, a mental health expert and a psychiatrist on the Cedars- Sinai reproductive psychology team. “I think people miss their families and miss doing what they want to do. I think they want their life to feel normal again, so they’re looking for ways to go and do that.” In the last few weeks, hospitals photo courtesy of Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles County and across Cedars-Sinai medical experts say young people are especially prone to the state have seen an unprecedent- pandemic fatigue. ed increase in COVID-19 cases. The rise is likely the result of public health information, like “You might be faced with people Thanksgiving get-togethers, prevalence rates of the virus in the around you who are pressuring you despite healthcare leaders’ pleas to community, Bamgbose said it can to push your boundaries, like a avoid gatherings, especially lead to people becoming confused mother who wants you to come indoors, according to medical as to which guidelines to follow. over for a holiday dinner where authorities. “People tend to give more weight several people are coming over and In response, state and local to their own experiences than they getting together inside,” Bamgbose authorities are continuing to tighten do to the experiences of others,” said. “It can be very difficult to restrictions, which experts contend she said. stick to your guns and say, ‘I don't causes the general public to As a result, Bamgbose said that feel comfortable doing that.’” Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was become even more frustrated. someone who engages in risky “One of the best things you can shown in the Dec. 4, 2008, issue of the Park Labrea News and Beverly “It can be hard for people to behavior, like attending a party, and do is sit down and do a personal Press after receiving special recognition from the Japanese government understand the medical decision- doesn’t get sick, is likely to do that risk assessment and a personal for his contributions to baseball in that country. Lasorda was presented making that goes into these guide- same behavior again. inventory of what you feel comfort- with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette medal by lines,” Bamgbose said. “It’s hard to “It also means that if you have, able with and what your boundaries then-Consul General Junichi Ihara on behalf of the Emperor of Japan. reconcile the current restrictions – for example, a friend who gets a are,” she added. “Remind yourself Lasorda, who died on Jan. 7 at the age of 93, was an icon in Los for example, the fact that outdoor mild case of COVID-19, you're of the reasons why you should be Angeles baseball and in Japan, where he served as a goodwill ambas- dining at restaurants is now prohib- more likely to think along the lines following the public health guide- sador for the sport and was credited with assisting its development and ited – with those we had in the not- of, ‘My friend had COVID-19 and lines.” popularity over five decades. Ihara presented the medal to Lasorda at so-distant past, just a week or two she’s fine. I'm going to be fine, For more information, visit the official residence of the Consul General of Japan in Hancock Park. ago.” too,’” Bamgbose said. cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/covid- While the changes in guidelines Peer pressure also plays a role, 19-crisis-the-psychology-of-defi- are based on the most up-to-date she said. ance. Sprengel to lead CommonSpirit Health’s SoCal division Julie Sprengel has been appoint- named president of the southwest ed president of CommonSpirit division for CommonSpirit Health. Health’s newly expanded Southern “Julie has shown exceptional California Division. In this role, leadership throughout her career at Sprengel will continue to oversee Dignity Health – especially during Dignity Health hospitals in Los the COVID-19 pandemic as she Angeles County and other counties oversees hospital operations in for a total of 21 facilities. This divi- some of the hardest hit areas of the sion is the largest in CommonSpirit country,” CommonSpirit Health Health, with $6 billion in revenue. CEO Marvin O’Quinn said. Sprengel began her career more “Now, more than ever, it’s essen- than 20 years ago as an emergency tial to reassure our communities room nurse and has spent the that we are here for them,” majority of her career working in Sprengel said. faith-based, nonprofit health care For more information, visit dig- photo courtesy of Dignity Health systems. In 2019, Sprengel was nityhealth.org or commonspirit.org. Julie Sprengel

photo by David P. Johnson Caitlin Gallogly and Charlie Mount star in Storybook Theatre’s production of “Little Red Riding Hood.” Storybook Theatre offers family friendly shows free online For 36 years, Storybook Theatre, Gretel,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” founded by Lloyd J. Schwartz and “The Princess and the Frog,” “Jack Barbara Mallory Schwartz, has and the Beanstalk” and been presenting musicals for young “Goldilocks.” audiences. The shows, adapted The shows are wholesome, tune- from classic tales and featuring filled and contain the humor and beloved characters, are neither vio- warmth that have made Storybook lent nor scary. Parents can feel good Theatre a family favorite for over about watching them with their three decades. The musicals are children, especially those aged 3 written, composed, directed and through 9. performed by the artists of Theatre Because of the COVID-19 pan- West, Hollywood’s nonprofit pro- demic, young audiences have not fessional theatre where Storybook been able to see Storybook Theatre Theatre makes its home. shows in person. Now, Storybook The Live from Storybook Theatre offers six of its audience- Theatre series is made possible in favorite shows via YouTube for free part through the support of L.A.’s any time on demand. Shows range Department of Cultural Affairs. in length from 43 to 58 minutes. For more information, visit The titles in the Live from youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTjD Storybook Theatre streaming series WrRQyg9Lprr725zRsj- are “Sleeping Beauty,” “Hansel and uiGTUJTlqz. Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 21 January 14, 2021

not a president of the United States sworn to uphold the Inauguration could bring more civil unrest Constitution. Trump presents a From page 1 clear and present danger to our democracy and needs to be On Jan. 13, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff moment, when evil threatened to caused the death of at least one removed from office immediately (D-Burbank), who served as an overtake good, patriotic Americans police officer and injured many to prevent him from committing impeachment manager for the 2019- stepped forward to say ‘enough.’ more.” any further damage.” 20 impeachment trial of Trump, stat- This is one of those moments. In Los Angeles, the City Council In response to the violence in ed his strong support for the new “To preserve this sacred place, has also expressed support for the Washington, D.C., as well as impeachment effort on the floor of this citadel of democracy, for our- impeachment effort. Councilmen reports of similar planned protests the House of Representatives. selves and for posterity, let us say Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, and in state capitals across the country, “One week ago, the president ‘enough.’ Enough,” Schiff said. Paul Koretz, 5th District, joined local leaders and law enforcement incited an insurrection against Lieu added that impeachment is Council President Nury Martinez, are gearing up for what could be a Congress to prevent the peaceful not the only remedy he seeks, and 6th District, and Marqueece Harris- busy Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. transition of power,” Schiff said. “It using his position on the House Dawson, 8th District, in introducing Officer Drake Madison of the was the most dangerous moment Judiciary Committee, which over- a resolution on Jan. 12 in support of Los Angeles Police Department did for our democracy in a century. sees law enforcement, he wants to the impeachment effort. “not have anything to disseminate” “Today, we invoke the remedy “have oversight hearings and figure photo courtesy of the office of Rep. Ted Lieu Councilwoman Nithya Raman is regarding the Jan. 6 riot or plans for Rep. Ted Lieu will help guide the the founders provided for just such out what went wrong” with security also in support of the resolution, her Inauguration Day, but O’Farrell effort to remove President Donald a lawless president – impeachment. at the Capitol. spokesman Jesse Zwick said. noted that he has been in contact Trump from office. More important, today we begin the “What was the intelligence about O’Farrell said it’s “imperative” to with LAPD Chief Michel Moore long road to restoration. America this attack on the Capitol? Why impeach Trump because he “incited “so that we can talk about safety has been through a civil war, world was federal law enforcement so an insurrection that resulted in five measures.” O’Farrell added that the Chief Dominick Rivetti noted in a wars, a great depression, pan- unprepared? What did the FBI deaths.” LAPD will be “fully prepared … in video statement released on Jan. 12 demics, McCarthyism and now a know and when did they know it, “Trump nor his enablers are fit to case any delusional character gets that his department is preparing for Trumpist and white nationalist and what is the Department of hold public office. They’ve lost that an idea that they’re going to storm protests in the city. insurrection. Justice doing to go after the rioters privilege by inciting an insurrection any of the public buildings.” “While we are hopeful for a “And yet, our democracy who attacked the nation’s capital?” against our and their own govern- “I’m sure that we’ll be in good peaceful week ahead, the depart- endures. It endures because at every Lieu said. “That mob, in addition to ment … It’s a very real concern, I shape and the police are preparing ment will be prepared and on full key juncture, every pivotal threatening lawmakers, they also think to all Americans, that [Trump] for that,” O’Farrell said. alert through the residential and may very well instigate something In a statement, Los Angeles business districts leading up to and even worse. He still has the power. County Sheriff’s Department Lt. on Inauguration Day,” Rivetti said. He is still the commander in chief. William Moulder, of the West Despite the preparations, Lieu At the same time, he’s a clear and Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, said noted that “it’s possible” that there Schiff makes statement on present danger to the peace and the LASD was ready for any won’t be any more unrest, though it prosperity of the United States, and planned disruptions. would require help from across the a clear and present danger to the rest “Based on the events last week in aisle. insurrection at U.S. Capitol of the world. He needs to be our nation’s capital, the sheriff’s “The best way to prevent that On Jan. 8, U.S. Rep. Adam battering them and trying to removed immediately,” O’Farrell department is prepared, through the from happening is for Republicans Schiff (D-Burbank) released a break through. Capitol police said. inauguration, to respond to any and Donald Trump to say there was statement following the insurrec- pushed furniture in the way to “President Trump calling upon demonstrations, protests or civil no mass election fraud, that thou- tion at the United States Capitol barricade them out and drew his misguided followers made up unrest. We also are working closely sands of dead people did not vote, on Jan. 6. their weapons. The mob broke of white supremacists, anti- with our local, state and federal law that machines did not switch votes, “For the many of us that were the glass in the doors, and mem- Semites and racists to overthrow enforcement partners. The sheriff’s that people who were unregistered present in Congress during 9/11, bers were instructed by police to the government is a clear act of department has assets and person- did not vote and put to bed the big it brought back a flood of painful leave the chamber through the sedition seeking to topple our nel in place to keep our communi- lie. That’s how you prevent the vio- memories, but this time, the dam- rear doors ASAP. We did. great democracy,” Koretz added in ties safe and maintain peace,” lent base part of the Republican age to our country was self- “As bad as it was, it could have a statement. “It portrays the deteri- Moulder said. Party from acting out on the big inflicted, and this time, we are far been worse. There were many in orating mental state of a madman, In Beverly Hills, interim Police lie,” Lieu said. from unified as a result,” Schiff the violent mob who had every said. intent to attack people they “The storming of the Capitol judged to be their enemies, and was an act of insurrection, intend- several Democratic and ed to disrupt the most fundamen- Republican members told me to Budget woes could last through year in BH tal act of our democracy – the try to keep out of sight. As one From page 1 peaceful transition of power. Both Republican said, ‘I know these personnel costs, particularly relat- number of capital projects the city Wunderlich called the marketing houses of Congress and the vice people and can talk to them. You ed to the overtime and other costs expects to fund next fiscal year. money “an investment to get rev- president gathered in a joint ses- are in a whole different situa- … of necessary public safety Some prominent capital projects enue in the future” for Beverly sion in the Capitol to perform our tion.’ I don’t think he meant that responses,” Muir said. include the Metro North Portal, Hills. duty under the 12th Amendment, he literally knew people in the Councilman John Mirisch the La Cienega Park and “One expects a return on to certify and count the electoral mob, who were still disembodied inquired about potentially recoup- Recreation Center, the Complete investment. It’s not something votes cast by the states ... and angry voices banging to get ing some of that money from the Streets program, Santa Monica that you pay out and it just goes “Nearby on the National Mall, through the doors, only that he protesters – there were protests in Boulevard Streetscape improve- away … We can’t wait for the rev- the president of the United States knew people like them and what support of Black Lives Matter last ments and improving the Wilshire enue to be there. We have to was inciting a crowd of his sup- they were capable of ... summer, but recently, supporters Boulevard streetscape in anticipa- invest to be able to stimulate [the porters. He knowingly spread lies “On Thursday morning, I felt a of President Donald Trump have tion of the Metro Purple Line sub- local economy] so that revenue about fraudulent votes, suggest- mixture of sadness at what our regularly protested in the city – way station at Wilshire and La will be there in the future,” ing that the election was stolen country has gone through, but City Attorney Laurence Cienega boulevards being com- Wunderlich said. and asserted that the vice presi- embarrassment at how we Wiener informed him that was pleted in 2023. “There is going to be a signifi- dent could unilaterally overturn appear in the eyes of the world, likely impossible. “I think this year, we need to cant pent-up demand for travel … the results of a free and fair elec- anger at the irresponsible actions “This is directly impacting our put pretty much everything on the I certainly want Beverly Hills to tion in which 155 million of my colleagues who have ability to fund services that our board and talk with the council be among the first places people Americans had cast their ballots. spread lies about the election for residents expect because we have about what you’d like to see done would like to go to when travel is And then, he implored his crowd months and brought this on a few people who want to protest in the next year, focus on deliver- permitted and it’s safe to do so,” to go to the Capitol and do some- themselves and the nation, fury in such a way that we need extra ables and what we can do,” City Friedman added. thing about it. Trump even said over a president who instigated police presence … This is some- Manager George Chavez said. Despite the city’s efforts, he’d join them. the rebellion and a grave concern thing that, in theory, could bleed a The council agreed to use Councilman Julian Gold, an anes- “And so they did. over the future ... city dry,” Mirisch said. reserve funds to cover the budget thesiologist, made clear that he “The scene was everything “Donald Trump has been the The council also discussed the deficit, as multiple council mem- believes the city may continue to you have seen on television and worst president we have ever had city’s early retirement and volun- bers said they could not support a see the impacts of the pandemic more. I was on the House floor and should be confined to the tary separations programs, which new tax on residents. late into 2021, a timetable longer taking notes for a rebuttal speech dustbin of history where he were expected to save the city “There’s only two ways that I than many city officials were hop- I would make later, when the belongs – for this failed insurrec- approximately $6.7 million. know of to balance the budget, ing for last year. speaker was whisked out of the tion, and everything before it. However, participation has been increasing revenue and decreas- “I honestly don’t think it will be room by security, followed “Yet even when he’s gone, the lower than anticipated, and the ing expenditures, and decreasing spring, summer when we see a immediately by the Majority evil he has perpetrated will live estimated savings are now $5.9 expenditures may have to be rebound,” Gold said. “At the rate Leader, Steny Hoyer. The mob after him. We can fortify the million, according to the city staff most, if not all of it, because I’m we’re going with vaccinating peo- had broken into the Capitol, we defenses of the Capitol. We can report. not in favor of any tax increases,” ple … I would guess that we’re were informed, and were headed reinforce doors and put up “I think we’re going to need to Mayor Lester Friedman said. going to see a rebound, if we’re our way. Police were discharging fences. But we cannot guard our start thinking of other ways [to Additionally, the council lucky, in the holiday season, tear gas, there were reports of democracy against those who reduce personnel costs], because agreed to support providing fund- maybe November.” gunshots and we were told to walk the halls of the Capitol, it wasn’t accepted at the rate that ing to the Beverly Hills If tourism continues to suffer take out the gas masks under have taken an oath to uphold our we’d hoped,” Mirisch said. Conference and Visitors Bureau and the pandemic impacts the city each seat and prepare to put them Constitution, but refuse to do so. In response to the updated num- and Rodeo Drive Committee, further, council members said on. One of my colleagues, a vet- “The work to repair and bers, the council planned to do a which typically get one-seventh they may have to examine more eran, was yelling instructions – defend our democracy has never thorough priority-setting meeting of the hotel taxes paid in the city cuts to city services. ‘Breathe slowly under the hoods been more urgent or daunting. this year, something the pandemic so they can market the city as a “Let’s continue to think of ways or you will pass out.’ That is But we must never back down prevented last year, and take a tourism destination. we can tighten our belts and pro- when the mob reached the doors from this sacred task. I know I look at where money could be Despite the city’s strained duce value for our residents,” to the House chamber and started won’t.” saved, such as by reducing the finances, Vice Mayor Robert Mirisch said. 22 January 14, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

LaBonge left indelible impact on Los Angeles From page 5 Melrose residents worried ‘Mr. Los Angeles.’” Los Angeles City Attorney Mike about pair of shootings Feuer cited LaBonge’s love for From page 1 Griffith Park and proposed the idea of paying tribute to him there. no motive has been established. taken very seriously and officers “Tom LaBonge was a force of Police are searching for a Black are attempting to prevent it from nature. His enthusiasm and energy man who witnesses said fled on occurring throughout the division. inspired generations of Angelenos foot after that shooting. Los Angeles City Councilman in neighborhoods across our city. Melrose District resident Peter Paul Koretz, 5th District, also He’ll be remembered for his incred- Nichols, who co-founded the said he is concerned about vio- ible love for Los Angeles, which he Melrose Action Neighborhood lent crime in the Melrose District expressed over nearly four decades Watch more than two decades and he is working with police to of public service, including his suc- ago, said he heard a shot shortly address the situation. cessful tenure as an effective and after 2 p.m. on Tuesday and “Throughout the day [on Jan. popular City Council member. Tom feared the worst. He learned 12], my Director of Public Safety probably knew his beloved Griffith about the murder later that Gregory Martayan remained in Park better than anyone, and I hope evening when Paulson issued a contact with LAPD Wilshire the city will honor his memory by community bulletin. Police Division Captain Shannon naming one of the park’s iconic announced the arrest on Paulson and relayed my full sup- locations for him.” Wednesday morning. port for her team as they investi- Newly-elected Councilwoman “I thought, what the heck is gated this horrendous crime,” Nithya Raman, 4th District, praised going on?,” Nichols said. “I’m Koretz said. “In addition, I have LaBonge for his service. grateful this came to a speedy made a request for extra patrol in “Councilmember Tom LaBonge end. It’s the latest in a long string the region, including foot beats, was a true son of Los Angeles. A of violent crimes that have which the captain has assured us photo by Edwin Folven native Angeleno with a deep and Tom LaBonge was joined by his wife, Brigid, and children Charles and occurred in this neighborhood.” will be implemented regularly as abiding love for his city, he served Nichols said he participated in a resources are available. Public Mary Cate at his reelection party in 2011. L.A. faithfully and tirelessly for 39 conference call on Tuesday night safety remains our highest priori- years in various capacities at City with other members of the neigh- ty.” L.A., and he promoted Los Angeles hangouts such as Pink’s and Musso Hall, culminating in his 15 years as borhood watch’s board, and they The murder on Jan. 12 internationally. He was very active and Frank, but more than that, [he] a City Council member serving all agreed that more needs to be occurred on the same day that in the Los Angeles Sisters Cities was a man who recognized every District 4,” Raman said. done to fight crime in the Melrose Koretz introduced a motion program. I traveled with him and human being and exuberantly loved Constituent Julie Stromberg, a District. He said the district has calling on the LAPD to report to John Ferraro back in 1990 to people, making them feel appreciat- member of the Greater Wilshire experienced more crime over the the City Council on plans to Berlin, which is our sister city, and ed. I can’t imagine the city of Los Neighborhood Council, shared a past several years and many peo- address a rise in violent crime he knew more people in Berlin City Angeles without him. My staff and unique perspective about LaBonge. ple are fearful. Nichols credited citywide. Hall than I knew in L.A. City Hall. I are so deeply sorry and send con- They first met when she was advo- the police department with “For the first time since He had a great personality, a larger- dolences to his family, Brigid, cating for renovations at Harold A. attempting to prevent crime, but 2009, there were over 300 than-life personality, and it was Charles and Mary Cate, friends and Henry Park on Beverly Boulevard. more needs to be done by the city homicides in the city (in 2020), never about him. It was driven by a the entire city of Los Angeles.” He encouraged her to get more and local organizations to improve and gun crimes are at levels not true love for Los Angeles.” Former Los Angeles City involved in civic affairs. the area. He criticized the Melrose seen in years. While crime rates Council colleagues also spoke Councilwoman and current County “One of the things I loved about Avenue Business Improvement are nowhere near where they highly of LaBonge and his service Supervisor Janice Hahn, also a Tom, and something I think he District for not doing enough to were in the 1980s and 1990s, to the city. Councilman Mitch longtime friend of LaBonge, called doesn’t get recognized for, is Tom make the district better. these increases are troubling O’Farrell, 13th District, offered him inspirational. was a feminist,” Stromberg said. “We came together to talk and have erased years of condolences for LaBonge and his “He supported women being about this violence that is occur- progress by the police depart- family. O’Farrell and LaBonge involved in politics. He encouraged ring, particularly in the Melrose- ment and its partners in crime served together for two years before “The city of Los people like myself who were inter- Fairfax District, what’s behind it reduction,” the motion read. LaBonge left the council in 2015 ested in running for office or getting and what we can do about it,” “2020 was an anomaly in many due to term limits. Angeles will forever involved. That’s not something you Nichols said. “We came to the ways, and it may be that this O’Farrell told a story on Tuesday be a better place to see a lot, and Tom was always sup- same conclusion that this is not a crime increase was driven by about the dedication of a new sports work and live portive of that.” police problem, per se, but the the pandemic and its impacts on field at Hollywood High School. Steve Kramer, president of the real problem is the management the economy and society. Before a football game, families and because of Tom Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of of the street. It’s very disappoint- Whatever the cause of this school officials packed the bleachers. LaBonge.” Commerce, said LaBonge was a ing there is an overall sense that crime increase, the LAPD must A former football player, LaBonge friend who knew the city better than the street continues to spiral do whatever it can to address it told O’Farrell to go long for a pass. anyone. downward. We believe this is and ensure that 2021 is a much -Hank Hilty, president of the O’Farrell ran and caught that pass in “Tom truly knew this city. It something that started several safer year for residents and vis- A.F. Gilmore Company the end zone, and said it still holds sounds like a cliché, but it was not years ago, not just during the itors in the city.” special meaning for him today. just his district, it was all the other pandemic. People are moving out Nichols said he hopes authori- “No one loved Los Angeles more districts in the city, too,” Kramer because they just don’t feel safe.” ties move swiftly. than Tom LaBonge and we loved “The 10 years we spent together said. “He knew this city and he Paulson said police have “This area has gone through him back. No one knew more about on the City Council were the best loved this city. I look forward to deployed more resources to the too much in the last six months,” the workings and history of our city, political years of my life. We sat finding somebody like Tom, but I area in response to the homicide in He said. “It’s too much for many its people and its institutions,” next to each other in the Council don’t know that I ever will.” December, including foot and people to handle.” O’Farrell said. “We lost a force of Chambers, and Tom just had a way Others remembered LaBonge for bicycle patrols, undercover opera- Anyone with further informa- nature and goodness. Tom was the of making everything fun. He was his generosity and a genuine care tions and additional vehicle tion about the homicides is urged ultimate ambassador for Los so excited to show up to work every for others. He frequently visited the patrols, when those resources are to call detectives at (213)382- Angeles where he brought into day, and his enthusiasm was conta- local community’s many iconic available. She said violent crime is 9470. sharp focus his zest for life, his tire- gious,” Hahn said. “Everyone has a locations, including the Original less pursuit of service and his firm story about Tom LaBonge and Farmers Market, corner of Third belief that anything was possible. together, they paint a picture of a and Fairfax. roses for the staff and promised to news tips our way after he left Our city was what he dedicated his man who was on a mission to get “The city of Los Angeles will for- take them on a special trip to the office, and remained a true friend of life to and for that I will be eternally everyone to love Los Angeles just ever be a better place to work and Hollywood sign once the pandemic ours. He will be missed,” grateful. Thank you Brigid, Charles as much as he did. He was known live because of Tom LaBonge,” said is over. Pink plans to name a hot Villalpando said. and Mary Cate for sharing him with for hiking Griffith Park every Hank Hilty, president of the A.F. dog in tribute to LaBonge. He hung The Los Angeles Parks us all these years.” morning and escorting people he Gilmore Company, longtime own- a banner outside the stand this week Foundation has launched the Tom Councilman Paul Koretz, 5th met to the Hollywood sign. I ers of the Original Farmers Market. in tribute to LaBonge and another LaBonge Memorial Fund for District, expressed sadness about remember him jumping aboard tour “Tom was a tireless champion of all L.A. icon who died on the same Griffith Park. To donate, visit LaBonge’s death. buses and taking over for the tour things community. Whether he was day, Tommy Lasorda. laparksfoundation.org/donate. “My dear friend Tom LaBonge guides. I will always remember his guiding a City Council initiative or “The Pink family and our staff was not only a council member, he heart and his decency. Every year, leading a local neighborhood truly loved Tom LaBonge,” he said. Answers From Page 23 was the ultimate goodwill ambas- he and his wife, Brigid, hosted cleanup, he always gave his all to “The term ‘Mr. Los Angeles’ truly sador and informal Los Angeles Thanksgiving for the entire Los every challenge. The A.F. Gilmore fit, with his energy, his enthusiasm historian. A ball of energy, he was a Angeles consular corps because he Company and the family-owned and his love of this great city. There super-nice guy who would give knew so many of them had businesses of the Original Farmers was not a greater cheerleader for walking tours of historic City Hall nowhere to spend the holiday. His Market could always count on Tom the city of Los Angeles than Tom to random visitors he would meet,” idea of being a City Council mem- for support, guidance, patronage, LaBonge.” Koretz said. “He paid attention to ber was driving around in a truck warmth and wisdom. He will truly Park Labrea News and Beverly great detail and remembered every personally picking up bulky items be missed.” Press Publisher Michael council member’s high school, for his constituents. My mother Richard Pink, owner of Pink’s Villalpando said LaBonge was a including their mascot. He was the always said he reminded her of my Hot Dogs on La Brea Avenue, said valued friend. role model for how to provide dad, Kenny Hahn. Nobody loved LaBonge stopped by the stand on “We always enjoyed Tom’s unan- amazing constituent services. He this city more than Tom LaBonge Jan. 3, shortly before it closed tem- nounced, surprise visits to the loved everything Los Angeles, from and I don’t know if anyone ever porarily during the pandemic. He office, often bearing gifts of calen- Griffith Park to historic eateries and will. He was and will always be said LaBonge brought three dozen dars and bread. 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