BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • L.A. looks to crack down on Partly cloudy, PPE litter pg. 3 with highs in • Hit-and-run on the 70s La Cienega pg. 4 Volume 30 No. 22 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities May 28, 2020 West Hollywood holds BH retail reopens, restaurants may follow n Council in support, Pride celebration online but Mirisch has health n This year’s event to focus on LGBT artwork and safety concerns BY JOSE HERRERA the city and manager of the One BY CAMERON KISZLA City One Pride LGBTQ Arts The city of West Hollywood cel- Festival, said “Pride and art have Last week, with many business- ebrates the artistic achievements of always been closely linked.” Many es closed or operating only for the LGBTQ community with its newsletters and magazines pro- takeout, curbside pick-up and One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts duced by early gay rights organiza- delivery, multiple members of the Festival. This year, due to the coro- tions included a mix of fiction, Beverly Hills COVID-19 navirus pandemic, the community poetry and visual art, he added, Business Recovery Assistance is turning to online events to substi- such as Lisa Ben’s magazine “Vice Task Force expressed their frustra- tute in-person gatherings and cele- Versa,” the first lesbian magazine in tion with the regulations put in brations. place by the state and county. Michael Che, arts coordinator for See LGBT page 22 “[Reopening] is imperative. The hotels are in dire straits. I can’t stress enough how critical this is, photo by Cameron Kiszla and we need to do it now. This is Councilman John Mirisch said he sees some Beverly Hills residents not an option; this is a must-do,” not wearing masks in public, despite the city’s requirement to do so. said Offer Nissenbaum, managing director of the Peninsula Beverly rants to reopen. application, which, if approved, Hills. According to the county, faith- would also allow barbershops and On May 26, those business based groups are limited to 25% hair salons to resume operations. owners saw some signs of hope, as of their building’s capacity or 100 “We are pleased the county has Los Angeles County officials people, whichever is lower, and moved into this next phase of announced that faith-based ser- retail – including those in malls recovery. Our retail community is vices, retail stores, drive-in and shopping centers – can allow ready to open safely while adher- movies and more could resume in-person shopping at 50% of the ing to all county protocols, and we business, and the Los Angeles normal capacity of the business. are here to support them during County Board of Supervisors The rules for restaurants will this unprecedented time,” Mayor photo by Jon Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood reportedly announced that they depend on whether the state Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Pride will be celebrated online. will ask the state to allow restau- approves the county’s “variance” See Retailers page 21 ‘Slow Streets’ catches on quickly Business task force discusses n Mid City West customer safety and confidence implements program for n 22 – attempted to pressure the pedestrians, cyclists Beverly Hills businesses prepare to council members to be more BY EDWIN FOLVEN aggressive in pushing the county welcome shoppers and state to loosen restrictions on Angelenos are taking to the businesses. streets in new ways in the Beverly and diners That request was partially Grove, Fairfax and Melrose dis- BY CAMERON KISZLA granted with the May 26 tricts as part of the Mid City West announcement that Los Angeles Community Council’s implementa- The Beverly Hills City Council County would allow retail stores, tion of the city’s “Slow Streets” again convened the subcommit- faith-based services, drive-in program. tees of its COVID-19 Business movies and more to operate in The program was launched by Recovery Assistance Task Force. limited capacities. County offi- Mayor Eric Garcetti in mid-May in The task force members on both cials reportedly plan to ask the the Del Rey and Sawtelle commu- subcommittees – Retail and state for permission to reopen nities, and later adopted in Eagle Property, which met on May 20, restaurants and hair salons as well. Rock. On May 23, the Mid City and Tourism, Hospitality and West area became the fourth neigh- Restaurants, which met on May See Sidewalks page 21 borhood in Los Angeles to imple- photo courtesy of Mid City West Community Council ment the program, which includes Mid City West is the fourth neighborhood in Los Angeles to implement signage to reduce traffic on residen- the “Slow Streets” program. tial streets while encouraging pas- sive uses on roadways such as Avenue between Colgate and forms of transportation, cars can walking and cycling. Oakwood avenues, Oakwood still travel on the streets. The idea is “People are really enjoying this Avenue between Sweetzer and to reduce cut-through traffic as green space that they need right Hayworth avenues, Hayworth much as possible, while giving res- now,” said Scott Epstein, chair of between Oakwood and Rosewood idents a new way to safely exercise the Mid City West Community avenues, Rosewood from and adhere to social distancing rec- Council. “The signage is placed in Hayworth to Formosa Avenue, and ommendations. the middle of the street and has a Formosa Avenue north to Epstein said the project was a traffic-calming effect. We hope Willoughby Avenue. Although the natural fit for Mid City West, which photo by Cameron Kiszla people will take advantage of it.” signage is placed at intersections is in the process of creating its Retail business owners and operators say they’ve been preparing The Mid City West’s ”Slow and people are encouraged to walk, their stores for reopening, which Los Angeles County allowed on Streets” program includes Sweetzer ride bikes and use other alternative See Supporters page 22 May 26. 2 May 28, 2020 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Officials announce $100 million L.A. Surge Hospital to close at the end of June n Future of former fund to help struggling renters St. Vincent Medical n Program will be part stituents are struggling.” Center is unclear Details of how the fund will be of broader effort to disbursed are still being worked By Jose Herrera assist people in need out. Tenants would receive funds based on need. Tenants will have The California Health and By edwin folven to document that they have been Human Services Agency and impacted by COVID-19 to quali- Governor’s Office of Emergency Los Angeles City Council fy. Martinez said the fund is antic- Services announced the state will President Nury Martinez, 6th ipated to help 74,000 to 80,000 reduce the number of medical surge District, announced on May 27 people. sites, including the Los Angeles that she has introduced a motion The city is also looking for Surge Hospital at St. Vincent to establish a $100 million relief donations that will increase the Medical Center, which will close fund for renters in the city of Los amount of relief available to on June 30. Angeles. renters. The announcement follows a Martinez was joined in making She encouraged people seeking three-month effort by the state, hos- the announcement in a video press information or who want to help pital systems, local health jurisdic- conference by Mayor Eric to visit the Los Angeles Housing + tions and emergency medical ser- vice agencies to expand the capaci- Garcetti and Councilmembers Community Investment Depart- photo by Jose Herrera ment website at hcidla.lacity.org. ty of health care delivery systems Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District; Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the opening of the L.A. Surge Hospital on Herb Wesson, 10th District; and The renter relief fund is part of throughout California. Data on hos- the St. Vincent Medical Center campus to relieve other hospitals if there John Lee, 12th District. The $100 a comprehensive effort to help pitalizations indicate California is million would come from federal struggling Angelenos during the showing signs of successful mitiga- is an overflow of patients needing treatment for COVID-19. funds allocated to Los Angeles pandemic. The City Council pre- tion of COVID-19 infections, and under the Coronavirus Aid, viously passed a moratorium on the surge hospital will no longer be Relief, and Economic Security evictions during the COVID-19 needed, according to the California safety of Californians as we begin proceedings. Act. The officials said it will pro- public health emergency and has Health and Human Services to reopen the state.” The state’s lease was transferred vide badly needed relief for prohibited rent increases in rent- Agency. Gov. Gavin Newsom directed to Soon-Shiong, but he was not renters who are struggling to stay controlled apartments. “Because of the great work of more than $42 million in emer- involved in the operation of the housed during the COVID-19 The renter relief fund would Californians across the state, we gency funding to expand surge hospital. pandemic, and will create a source come from an approximately have flattened the curve,” said California’s health care infrastruc- Los Angeles City Councilman of funding to landlords and prop- $700 million allocation from the Mark Ghaly, secretary of the ture and secure equipment and ser- Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, sup- erty owners when the tenants are federal government to the city California Health and Human vices to support the state’s response ported Newsom’s decision to able to begin paying their rent under the federal CARES Act.