Coronavirus Cancels Pride at 50
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BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Beverly Hills names interim Sunny, with police chief pg. 2 highs in the • Globes move to 70s Thursday pg. 3 Volume 30 No. 20 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities May 14, 2020 Beverly Hills works to Coronavirus cancels Pride at 50 n Other West get back to business Hollywood events, n Task force committees discuss economic recovery including Carnaval, BY CAMERON KISZLA subcommittees – Tourism/Hos pital - may be impacted ity/Restaurants and Retail/Pro p erty Last week, the Beverly Hills City – with Councilwoman Lili Bosse BY JOSE HERRERA Council convened the subcommit- and Councilman Julian Gold joining The 50th annual Christopher tees of its COVID-19 Business the Tourism/Hosp itality/Restaurants Street West L.A. Pride festival, Recovery Assistance Task Force to subcommittee on May 7, and Vice which was to be held in West talk about ways the city and local Mayor Robert Wunderlich and Hollywood from June 12-14 this business owners can come together Councilman John Mirisch joining year, has been canceled due to to help the local economy recover the Retail/Property subcommittee concerns about COVID-19; how- in a safe way. ever, plans are under considera- The task force was split into two See Safety page 22 tion for a virtual celebration. The West Hollywood City Council, as part of a recent discus- sion about the city’s fiscal year photo by Jon Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood 2020-21 budget, directed City West Hollywood celebrated L.A. Pride 2019. This year, L.A. Pride has Manager Paul Arevalo to examine been canceled, but organizers are looking to celebrate virtually. options to cancel or postpone all large events through Dec. 31 and ing staff analysis, regarding event celing events through the end of to bring those options back for closures through the end of the the year, as there are indications review. 2020 calendar year. there may be a COVID-19 resur- Events under consideration for “The city’s primary focus is on gence this fall, Mayor Pro cancellation or additional post- the health and safety of our resi- Tempore Lindsey Horvath said. ponement include the city’s annu- dents and visitors,” Councilman West Hollywood is examining al Halloween Carnaval, which John Heilman said. “We are not the feasibility of hosting events attracts half a million attendees going to be ready to have big while adhering to proper social photo by Cameron Kiszla each year. events anytime soon.” distancing and directions from Beverly Hills has set up pick-up zones for retail businesses that have Arevalo is expected to make a West Hollywood has to be real- recommendation in June, follow- istic about the possibility of can- See WeHo page 21 been allowed to reopen for curbside service only. Remembering a Miracle Mile icon Appetite for Firehouse n Developer J.H. ‘Jerry’ Snyder left his stamp Dinners keeps growing on Wilshire Boulevard n Program feeds District, the nonprofit First-In BY EDWIN FOLVEN Fire Foundation and the Original firefighters with meals, Farmers Market. Prolific developer Jerome H. groceries from Through the program, meats “Jerry” Snyder died at the age of 90 and groceries are purchased at on May 10 at his home in Bel Air Farmers Market Farmers Market retailers using after a brief battle with cancer. BY EDWIN FOLVEN council office discretionary funds As the founder and senior partner and money raised by the First-In of J.H. Snyder Company, Snyder Firefighters at 13 stations Fire Foundation. Ryu personally built thousands of homes and mil- feasted on barbecue ribs on May delivered the food to three fire lions of square feet of commercial 9 through an expansion of the stations in the 4th District in property in the Miracle Mile and Firehouse Dinners program, a Hollywood, the Cahuenga Pass throughout Los Angeles, and other partnership between Los Angeles cities including Palm Springs and City Councilman David Ryu, 4th See LAFD page 22 San Diego. His company is head- quartered in the SAG-AFTRA Plaza, formerly Museum Square, at photo by Edwin Folven 5757 Wilshire Blvd., which Snyder Jerome H. “Jerry” Snyder’s eponymous company is headquartered in purchased in 1978. Then the the SAG-AFTRA Plaza on Wilshire Boulevard. Prudential Insurance Company headquarters, Snyder transformed Now, it’s the place to be,” Snyder Air home and downtown Los the building into a landmark on the said in 2011. “I think we had a lot to Angeles, where he conducted much Miracle Mile. In a 2011 interview do with that, by revitalizing of his business. In addition to the with the Park Labrea News/Beverly Museum Square, and by redoing buildings at 5757 and 5670 Press, Snyder said that project the Cal Fed Building [5670 Wilshire Blvd., Snyder developed served as a catalyst for other Wilshire Blvd.]. It gave us the the Wilshire Courtyard complex at improvements that helped make the nucleus, then it just spread down 5700 Wilshire Blvd. The Miracle Mile the vibrant district it is the street.” Residences at Wilshire Curson today. Snyder also said at the time that building, a 21-story high-rise with “I came to the neighborhood in the Miracle Mile was a perfect 285 luxury units, is currently under photo courtesy of the 4th Council District Office 1978 when businesses were closing place for his headquarters, as it was Councilman David Ryu delivered food to personnel at Fire Station down and everyone was leaving. centrally located between his Bel See Developer page 21 27 in Hollywood in observance of Fire Service Day. 2 May 14, 2020 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press O’Farrell seeks $1 million fund Interim police chief named in Beverly Hills By edwin folven rience with the department will be a to assist small businesses tremendous asset as we move for- The city of Beverly Hills ward.” Los Angeles City Councilman return for employers and employ- announced on May 13 that Spagnoli abruptly informed Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, ees.” Dominick Rivetti has been selected Chavez on April 25 about her inten- introduced a motion on May 12 to The City Council has taken as interim chief for the Beverly Hills tion to retire. The decision came as a move $1 million of the council many actions to assist small busi- Police Department. If confirmed by surprise to many in the community. office’s AB 1290 Discretionary ness owners. O’Farrell won the the City Council at its next meeting In a press release about her retire- Funds to a grant program that will support to refine the Right-of- on May 19, Rivetti will begin serv- ment, the city thanked Spagnoli for assist small businesses in his dis- Recall Ordinance, which ensures ing on May 20. her service and credited her with trict during and after the COVID- workers who lose their jobs due He will replace Chief Sandra reductions in crime and improved 19 pandemic. to the pandemic have the oppor- Spagnoli, who announced her retire- relationships between the communi- O’Farrell is initiating the tunity to regain employment ment in late April and will leave the ty and police department. She was Emergency Small Business Grant when emergency orders are lifted. BHPD on May 15. Spagnoli has hired in 2016 after serving as chief Program for businesses in the O’Farrell also fought to expand served with the department since of police departments in the cities of 13th District with 26 or fewer the job notification requirement 2016. San Leandro and Benicia, located in employees. The program will to include email and text mes- Rivetti previously served as inter- the Bay Area. A report in 2015 by an assist those struggling to make sages to notify former employees im chief for the BHPD beginning in outside consulting firm identified ends meet during the public when work is available. 2015 during a nine-month period photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills issues with recruiting and morale in health emergency orders. The The councilman introduced a between the retirement of former Dominick Rivetti previously led the the department, and Spagnoli was program will be administered and resolution that supports federal chief David Snowden and the hiring department on an interim basis in hired to bring a fresh perspective to developed in partnership with the legislation to alter the Paycheck of Spagnoli. When selected the first 2015 during a transition period policing. city’s Economic and Workforce Protection Program to assist time, Rivetti had recently retired as between permanent police chiefs. Spagnoli’s tenure was marked by Development Department. AB small business owners, and initi- chief of the Los Angeles District multiple lawsuits filed by officers 1290 funds come from property ated a motion making it unlawful Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation. under her command and other city taxes and are used for redevelop- for a third-party food delivery ser- He was also formerly chief of the and maintain an exceptional quality employees alleging retaliation and ment and services in urban com- vice app to charge more than 15% San Fernando Police Department of life.” harassment. Six lawsuits have either munities. of the purchase price in fees per from 1985-2001. Beverly Hills City Manager been settled or won against the city, “As emergency orders are online order for the use of its ser- “I am honored to once again have George Chavez cited Rivetti’s lead- resulting in approximately $8 mil- relaxed and our small business vices during the COVID-19 pub- an opportunity to serve the Beverly ership qualities and experience. lion in payments.