BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • BH considering auditor changes Sunny, with pg. 3 highs in the • Homicide in 70s Miracle Mile pg. 4 Volume 31 No. 26 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities July 1, 2021 Beverly Hills adjusts Project pulled from WeHo’s ‘pocket’ n LACMA building mask on COVID-19 rules fragments incorporated n In-person council meetings may return this month into design BY CAMERON KISZLA why we shouldn’t do it as soon as BY AARON BLEVINS practical in terms of having every- After more than a year of virtual thing set up and ready to go,” A pocket park project in West City Council meetings, Beverly Hills Councilman Lester Friedman said. Hollywood that has not been pub- took the first steps toward resuming “If that’s the first meeting in July or licly discussed since July 2020 has in-person events on June 24. the second meeting in July or when- resurfaced, as city staff are look- The council discussed the ever, there’s no reason in my mind ing to move forward on a 1,000- resumption of public meetings in the to delay any further.” square-foot park development at council chambers, which they are “I don’t see any reason to delay it Melrose Avenue and Norwich ready to start “as soon as possible,” unless there’s a practical, technical Drive. as Councilman John Mirisch said. The West Hollywood City “I really don’t see any reason See BH page 25 Council included the project on its photo by Karen Villalpando agenda at the beginning of June, Pieces of the now-demolished buildings at LACMA will be repurposed but technical difficulties prevent- ed the item from being consid- for a park in West Hollywood. ered. Due to the delay, the city scheduled a community meeting people in different ways. … We seating, improving lighting and the night of June 30, after press want something that creates a more. The Melrose Norwich time. respite from the city and provides Gathering Space is among three Thus far, feedback for the pro- art integration into that space. such spaces included in the pro- posed project – referred to as the Ultimately, that’s what we’re ject, she said. Melrose Norwich Gathering proposing.” The gathering space will incor- Space – has been mixed, said Dimond said the park is part of porate fragments collected from Rachel Dimond, senior planner in the city’s Design District the demolition of the William the city’s Long Range Planning Streetscape Master Plan project, Pereira-designed buildings at the photo by Cameron Kiszla Division. which was adopted in 2013 and Los Angeles County Museum of While masks are no longer required outdoors in Beverly Hills, they con- “Frankly, I expect that type of looks to “redo the entire Art to reimagine the space as a tinue to be required in places where children, who cannot yet be vacci- response when it comes to art,” streetscape of that neighborhood” nated, are likely to be present. she said. “Art speaks to different by expanding sidewalks, adding See Park page 26 Officials address State of West Hollywood Feuer promises bold n City primed for post- pandemic bounce back BY AARON BLEVINS action in bid for mayor n City attorney Angeles. The state of the city of West campaigns for Feuer said his tenure represent- Hollywood is not unique – like ing the Los Angeles City cities across the country, West 2022 election Council’s 5th District, serving in Hollywood is still reeling from the the California State Assembly effects of the pandemic while wit- BY EDWIN FOLVEN and leading one of the largest city nessing plenty of reasons for opti- attorney’s offices in the United mism as the economy slowly, but Los Angeles City Attorney States has placed him in a unique steadily, returns to form. Mike Feuer has tackled many position to guide the city into the That was among the sentiments challenges during his 27 years in future. Feuer said his aspirations expressed on June 29, when the public service, which sets the to serve as mayor come from a West Hollywood Chamber of stage for what he hopes will be See page Commerce virtually hosted its 2021 his next job as mayor of Los Feuer 26 State of the City address. Chamber President and CEO Genevieve Morrill said the majority of the city’s photo courtesy of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce businesses survived the pandemic Outgoing West Hollywood City Manager Paul Arevalo said goodbye with and are on the road to recovery. a beer in hand. “But it’s going to take solid part- ners … to ensure that we can thrive strong relationship with our City event, “Open for Creativity,” and over the next few years,” she said. Council, with our city government said the city will need to be innova- Chamber Chair Nick Rimedio and with the business community tive in its approach toward pre-pan- echoed her statements, saying that that’s built on trust, mutual respect demic revenues “and better.” the city’s economy is showing signs and support as we rebuild these Rimedio said the new council and of life, especially after an “amaz- stronger tomorrows,” Rimedio new city manager could present ing” Pride weekend. While the added. “There are sunny days such opportunities. city’s streets and businesses were ahead, thank goodness, but we Mayor Lindsey Horvath gave the full, West Hollywood will still need know it is going to take so much keynote address. She mentioned the © Courtney Lindberg Photography years to recuperate, he said. time to rebuild.” Mike Feuer said decades of experience in public service and prob- See page “Now more than ever, we need a He referenced the theme of the WeHo 25 lem solving have prepared him to lead Los Angeles. 2 July 1, 2021 Beverly Press/Park Labrea News CALENDAR August and October. “Chronicles of interview with Hollywood Improv Our Culture,” featuring Simmons trumpeter and Enjoy an evening of comedy during Dashboard offers public a and contemporary artists throughout band leader “Tonight at the Improv” with Gary the African diaspora, will be featured Swartz. While Cannon, John Hastings, J.F. Harris, through July 18 at Aziz Gallerie, the in-person Allan Havey, Guz Khan, Brad 3343 W. 43rd St. “Capturing Beauty: concert series is glimpse into city finances Williams and Craig Robinson on The Artwork and Photography of currently on Thursday, July 1, at 8 p.m., at the John Simmons” will be on display hold, join the Los Angeles City Controller comes from and how it is kept Hollywood Improv. Comedians through Aug. 31 at the Jean Deleage virtual concert experience hosted by Ron Galperin on June 24 released and spent. Grant Cotter, Ahamed Weinberg, Gallery at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 LACMA’s Mitch Glickman. an online dashboard that tracks “Until now, there hasn’t been a Adam Ray, Jay Mohr, Greg E. First St. “In Focus: Protest,” fea- Viewing is free. lacma.org. the city’s most important finan- simple way for Angelenos to Fitzsimmons and Amir K will per- turing images by Simmons and oth- cial information in real time. track the city’s complex and con- form on Friday, July 2, at 10:30 ers from periods of social struggle in “Inside L.A. City Finances” stantly changing finances in real p.m.; and Frazer Smith, Dustin the United States, will be on display Fireworks contains datasets and visualiza- time,” Galperin said. “This dash- Nickerson, Brent Weinbach, Doug through Oct. 10 at the J. Paul Getty tions showing the current balance board makes it easy for everyone Benson, Kirk Fox, Jay Mohr and Museum, 1200 Getty Center Drive. Spectacular in each of the city’s 800-plus to see how much money is in Pete Lee will perform on Saturday, azizgallerie.com, casa0101.org, The Los Angeles Philharmonic funds, including the general and each of the city’s hundreds of July 3, at 8 p.m. Audience members getty.edu. Association is holding the annual reserve funds; charts city salaries funds daily. It gives residents a must be 21 or older. Proof of vacci- Fourth of July Fireworks and overtime; and tracks budget better understanding of L.A.’s nation is required for entry. General Spectacular on Saturday, July 3, revenues and expenditures. The financial health and encourages admission is $25. 8162 Melrose and, Sunday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. at first dashboard of its kind at the even greater accountability for Ave. improv.com. ‘Providence Part 1’ the Hollywood Bowl. The events The Robey Theatre Company pre- include disco-funk favorites by city of Los Angeles, “Inside L.A. public dollars.” sents an online reading of the play Kool & The Gang and patriotic City Finances” enhances the con- Dashboard information is “Providence Part 1,” by Albert ‘Summer Of Soul’ music by the Hollywood Bowl troller’s open data portal by giv- updated regularly. For informa- Cowart Jr., on Friday, July 2, at 7 Arena Cinelounge is showing the Orchestra, conducted by Thomas ing Angelenos a more transparent tion, visit lacontroller.org/city- p.m. The story is a dramatization of film “Summer Of Soul ( … Or, Wilkins. Celebrate Independence picture of where the city’s money finances. events from the life of Elizabeth When the Revolution Could Not)” Day with family, fireworks and fun. Evelyn Wright, a woman of Black running from Thursday, July 1, Tickets start at $26. my.hollywood- and Cherokee descent who founded through Thursday, July 15. The bowl.com. Harlem Cultural Festival took place Voorhees College in South Carolina.