BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • LA Pride to be mostly virtual Partly cloudy, this year pg. 3 with highs in • Murder in the 60s Hollywood pg. 4 Volume 31 No. 19 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hanock Park and Wilshire Communities May 13, 2021 Beverly Hills looks to pass Alleged gang members arrested budget to keep ‘status quo’ n Despite pandemic, leaders tout financial security for ‘brazen’ Beverly Hills robbery n Half-million-dollar BY CAMERON KISZLA are in a very fortunate position of watch still missing having significant reserves,” said Despite the pandemic and the Jeff Muir, the city’s director of BY EDWIN FOLVEN impact public safety-related clo- finance. sures have had on the city’s tax Muir and other department heads Three male suspects who police base, Beverly Hills remains in rela- advised the City Council about the described as gang members from tively good financial standing, city proposed capital improvement pro- South Los Angeles have been staff and City Council members ject budget for fiscal year 2021-22 arrested and charged for a March said on May 4. on May 4, which is expected to be 4 robbery at the Il Pastaio restau- “Due to the fiscal prudence of the rant in Beverly Hills. current and prior City Councils, we See Budget page 21 The suspects, Malik Lamont Powell, 20; Khai McGhee, 18; and Marquise Anthony Gordon, 30, each face one federal count of conspiracy to interfere with com- merce by robbery. They remain in federal custody in downtown Los Angeles and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, police said. photo by Edwin Folven The arrests were announced by Beverly Hills Police Department Chief Dominick Rivetti, right, and the Beverly Hills Police Assistant Chief Marc Coopwood outlined the charges against three Department and the FBI during a alleged gang members arrested for an armed robbery at Il Pastaio. press conference on May 12 out- side Beverly Hills City Hall. “This robbery was a brazen ition of bold and brazen, occurring BHPD Chief Dominick Rivetti attack midday in Beverly Hills, at one of the busiest intersections said identifying and arresting the endangering the lives of everyone in Beverly Hills, if not the county photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills suspects was a top priority and the in the area. In excess of 40 people of Los Angeles. Beverly Hills Crowds may return this year when Beverly Hills is decorated for the department committed many witnessed this crime,” Rivetti holiday season. resources to solving the crime. said. “This robbery was the defin- See Robbery page 21 WeHo looking to curb fossil fuel gas stations Fairfax Theater’s historic n City hopes to assist shift to electric vehicles BY JUSTIN SAYERS contributions reconsidered n Commission calls for for the long-vacant theater in West Hollywood is considering 2010, but agreed the new applica- banning new fossil fuel gas stations, further examination tion has information that merits a move that would make them the BY EDWIN FOLVEN further examination. It will next second city in California to do so as be considered by the commission the state continues its move toward The Los Angeles Cultural in a virtual meeting on June 3. its goal of 100% zero-emission car Heritage Commission sided with Steven Luftman, a member of sales by 2035. preservationists on May 6 and the grassroots group Save The West Hollywood City voted to further consider a new Beverly Fairfax and board mem- Council unanimously voted last application seeking historic-cul- ber for the Art Deco Society of month to direct staff to evaluate the tural status for the Fairfax Los Angeles, filed the new peti- possible prohibition on new fossil Theatre. tion for historic monument status. fuel gas stations, and for any expan- The commission denied a pre- sions of current gas stations to be vious request for historic status See Theater page 22 limited to zero-emission vehicles. photo by Justin Sayers The West Hollywood City Council is looking into banning new fossil fuel The item, which was co-spon- sored by Mayor Lindsey Horvath gas stations within city limits, while limiting expansion of current stations and Councilman John D’Amico, is to serving only zero-emission vehicles. the latest in a long line of city efforts to promote sustainability Hollywood.” around taking care of the environ- and zero-emissions vehicles. It also D’Amico, who has driven an ment and the ecology,” D’Amico follows Petaluma, which passed a electric car for six years and has said. “It seemed to us that now was similar ordinance in February. been an advocate for zero-emission the time to take the next step and “We are often at the forefront of vehicles, including attending con- stop new gas stations from showing these conversations,” Horvath said. ferences around the globe, said that up and the ones that we have, if “We really thought that was the he’s hoping the vehicles become a they want to renovate, they have to right example. We hope that we’re “regular part” of the city moving put in some renewable energy sys- able to follow in that vein. I think forward. tem for powering cars.” photo courtesy of Mott Studios, 1932/California State Library collection not only is it smart for our clean “Lindsey and I have long sup- The council’s move comes Steven Luftman, who filed the new application for historic status, energy future. It’s also not the best ported new regulations and oppor- found this 1932 photograph in the California State Library’s archives use for the land that exists in West tunities around sustainability and See WeHo page 22 showing the theater two years after it was built. 2 May 13, 2021 Beverly Press/Park Labrea News CALENDAR the Bay Area L.A. Filmforum during the Art Fowler Museum Film lovers won’t want to miss an Deco-era. Wan The Fowler Museum and the UCLA online Los Angeles Filmforum arrived in San Chicano Studies Research Center screening presentation titled “What Francisco at the will celebrate Chon Noriega, who is We Imagine in Its Absence: Films age of 17 in stepping down after 19 years as by Vika Kirchenbauer and Caroline 1900 with $10. CSRC director, in a virtual program Key” running from Thursday, May He became a on Wednesday, May 19, from 5 to 13, through Thursday, May 27. The well-known herbalist, but his busi- 6:15 p.m. Join Noriega for conver- three-part program explores works ness acumen led to much larger ven- sations and special presentations by artists and filmmakers tures, including a café, department with CSRC collaborators in arts and Kirchenbauer, of Berlin, and Key, of store, shrimping fleet, multiple culture, civil rights, law and policy. Brooklyn. Kirchenbauer’s films will restaurants and nightclubs in Special guests include Fowler be shown from May 13-16, and Oakland and San Francisco. With Director Marla photo courtesy of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office Key’s films will run from May 20- exotic fan dancers, magicians, acro- C. Berns, U.S. The city’s mobile vaccination clinics surpassed 100,000 doses adminis- 23. A conversation with both artists bats and singers from China, the Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, tered last week. and curator Leeroy Kang will be venues were very popular from the held on May 27, at 5 p.m. General 1930s to 1950s. Tickets are $10. art- actor and admission tickets are $20. (323) decola.org. activist Cheech Marin and many 377-7238, lafilmforum.org. others. Poetry Appointments no longer needed readings by Interactive Japan Foundation Roberto Tejada and Vickie Vértiz, and a performance by Dan Guerrero Los Angeles are included. fowler.ucla.edu. kids play The Japan Foundation Los Angeles for vaccinations at L.A. sites Geffen Playhouse is holding the presents “Soybean: The Japanese Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti The city will also operate its mass world premiere of “The Door You Superfood,” a virtual program on has announced new efforts to vaccination sites at Pierce College Never Saw Before: A Choosical Friday, May 14, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. Foster care and expand vaccine access throughout and L.A. Southwest College from 8 Musical,” a virtual and interactive The two part program includes theatrical adventure for young audi- Los Angeles. a.m. until 8 p.m., administering vac- Kenji Onuma speaking about the adoption ences running from Friday, May 14, This week, the city began offer- cinations after regular working nutritious value of natto (fermented People interested in foster parenting through Sunday, June 27. The pro- ing appointment-free vaccinations hours. A third night mobile clinic soybeans), followed by representa- or adoption are encouraged to join the duction features music and lyrics by at all of its permanent sites and will also be open from 9 a.m. to 9 tives of the nonprofit Table For Two Children’s Bureau for an orientation Geffen Playhouse Writers’ Room extended hours for vaccinations at p.m. at Green Meadows Recreation USA discussing the benefits of on Thursday, May 20, at 4 p.m., via alumnus Matt Schatz. Part musical, Pierce College and L.A. Southwest Center in South L.A. edamame. Admission is free but Zoom. May is National Foster Parent part adventure, the new play is College. Officials estimate that Garcetti also announced that the reservations are required. Appreciation Month. Individuals and designed to take frustrated kids in more than 250,000 vaccinations city’s mobile vaccination clinics us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regis- couples can learn how to help chil- quarantine on an outrageously fun will be administered from May 10- surpassed 100,000 doses adminis- ter/tZUkduyurzItH9ZJdAIaKeZCc dren in foster care, and how to pro- virtual journey.