WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • WeHo examines LGBT District. pg. 3 Mostly sunny, • City looks for part- with temps ners to run zoo. pg. 4 around 90º Volume 21 No. 33 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities August 18, 2011 Understanding the Unimaginable ‘McMansions’ Turn Into n NCJW Hosts Panel on Violence Against Hot Issue in Beverlywood Congolese Women n Koretz Proposes Limiting New Home Sizes BY AARON BLEVINS to 3,000 Square Feet ike the minerals they BY TIM POSADA houses to 3,000 square feet. extract from the ground, Recently, Koretz’s office con- Lrebels in the Democratic motions were high Tuesday ducted a survey of more than 300 Republic of Congo have been pry- night in a meeting held by participants in Beverly Grove to ing the souls from Congolese men Ethe Beverly Wilshire Homes determine if residents wanted and women. Association (BWHA) at the stronger housing regulations or no That was the story told Tuesday, Original Farmers Market. The further action. Just over 60 percent when the National Council of topic: mansionization. Los Angeles voted in favor of more restrictions. Jewish Women, Los Angeles, City Councilmember Paul Koretz, As a compromise, Koretz proposed hosted a panel discussion about 5th District, met with Beverly a new ordinance for a part of the the ongoing struggle in eastern Grove residents, both for and Beverly Grove area, from Colgate Congo and the efforts to bring a against mansionization, to discuss Avenue to Fairfax Avenue and his proposed ordinance to limit sense of normalcy back to the See ʻMcMansionsʼ page 21 area. “What we’re doing (now) is very little compared to what the reality is,” one of the guests, Odiane Lokako, said through a translator. “We don’t want to be in a movie. We want this to end.” Lokako is a former Miss Congo who founded E.L.CO.S., a French acronym that translates to “Together Let’s Fight Against HIV/AIDS.” Mamie Kabongolo, of photo by Aaron Blevins E.L.CO.S., said the Congo has a Mamie Kabongolo, of E.L.CO.S., said six million people died in the population of 70 million people, Congo from 1997 to 2003 as the result of ongoing violence. and between 1997 and 2003, six million died as a result of the vacant power seat “by creating electronics such as cell phones tragedies that are occurring in her fear.” They began to attack vil- and computers, Kabongolo said. country. She said that, following a lages, seeking to mine minerals “Our riches have become a regime change during that time, such as tin, tantalum and tungsten, curse for us,” she said. “The rebels photo courtesy of the BWHA groups of rebels grappled for the which are used to create everyday See Panel page 20 Councilmember Paul Koretz has authored a motion preventing homes Police Weigh Options to Control Flashmobs from being built that are out character with lot size in the Beverlywood area. n were looking at the issue after a New Political Maps Authorities Admit rapper known as The Game There May be Few allegedly sent out a tweet last Friday stating that people could Options for Prosecution secure a music internship by calling Now Official a phone number that was actually to damental government reforms by BY EDWIN FOLVEN n Local Area to be the Compton Sheriff’s Station. creating the Citizens Thousands of people called the Represented by Redistricting Commission, he Los Angeles County number, which tied up lines and 50th Assembly District charged with the responsibility to Sheriff’s Department and the prevented authorities from create districts that provided can- TLos Angeles Police responding to legitimate emergency didates of all political persuasions BY TIM POSADA Department are examining ways to calls, according to Capt. Mike a fair chance to be elected.” respond to large disruptions caused Parker, with the Sheriff’s he end is near for the Little changed since the draft by people who send out messages Headquarters Bureau. The Game California Citizens maps were released July 29, via Twitter and other social net- apologized for the incident Redistricting Commission including Assembly District 50. working outlets. T Wednesday, after which Parker said as they released Monday the final Once primarily District 42, The action follows incidents that no charges would be sought drafts of California senate and District 50 will become home to have recently occurred in because of a lack of evidence. assembly district maps, conclud- Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Compton. On July Only one person has been ing the group’s eight-month Hollywood, Malibu, Santa 27, a DJ associated with the charged so far in connection with efforts. Monica and West Hollywood, Electric Daisy Carnival raves the incident in Hollywood. The “For far too long, Californians along with the Hancock Park, tweeted that he was going to appear LAPD had to call in officers in riot have been frustrated by a legisla- Wilshire and Fairfax Districts. at a block party outside the gear to get the crowd to disperse, tive process that drew districts Part of the redistricting meant photo by Edwin Folven Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where and three people were taken into that primarily supported the preserving the ecosystem of the A flashmob gathered outside the a documentary on raves was being custody for resisting arrest, vandal- reelection of incumbent legisla- region, hence the entire Santa screened. Thousands of people ism and failing to disperse. Three Graumanʼs Chinese Theatre in tors,” commissioner Vincent Monica Mountains – Leo came to Hollywood Boulevard, LAPD patrol cars were damaged, Hollywood on July 27 after a DJ Barabba said in a statement. “The Carrillo, Malibu Creek and where a near-riot broke out. and the boulevard was closed for tweeted there was going to be a voters showed they wanted fun- See Maps page 22 Sheriff’s Department officials See Police page 21 block party. 2 August 18, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 19 Business Forum well as a no-host bar. Tickets are $55 he West Hollywood Chamber of Calendar (805)525-7910, www.fwry.com. TCommerce and the City of West Hollywood are hosting a free small 21 Islamic Art Tickets are $58. 1001 N. Alameda St. business seminar titled “Strategies for he Los Angeles County Museum www.esotouric.com. Success in Today’s Economy” on Tof Art is hosting a free workshop Friday, Aug. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. The titled “Islamic & Indian Arts of the seminar will give small business own- Birdie’s Playhouse Book: The Art of Writing in Islamic ers the opportunity to connect directly irdie Mendoza, of “Birdie’s Art” on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. with government agencies. Topics BPlayhouse”, will be the featured Shelia Blair, the Norma Jean covered include avoiding sales and performer in “It’s Time To Groove!”, Calderwood Chair of Islamic Art and use tax problems, navigating the IRS, a fun family program being held on Asian Art at Boston College, will dis- and business marketing. Fiesta Hall Saturday, Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to cuss some of the ways that artists used Community Room, 7377 Santa noon at the MiMoDa Studio/Paper or and embellished script to decorate Monica Blvd. (888)847-9652, Plastik Café on Pico Boulevard. The buildings and objects for both religious www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/sbf.htm. show also includes a live DJ set from and secular purposes. LACMA’s children’s entertainer, Groovy David, Brown Auditorium. 5905 Wilshire as well as puppets, face painting, car- Blvd. (323)857-6000, www.lacma.org. ‘Fantasia’ at the Bowl icatures and more. Admission is $20 n celebration of the 20th anniver- per family. 5772 to 5774 W. Pico Isary of the Hollywood Bowl Blvd. (818) 554-8652, tiffany@total- Kid’s Concert Orchestra, founding director John talentsolution.com. heatricum Botanicum is holding a Mauceri returns to recreate Walt Tchildren’s concert titled Disney’s “Fantasia” on Friday, Aug. “Gwendolyn & The Good Time Gang” 19 through 21 at the Hollywood Bowl. Eldercare Forum on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. usan B. Geffen, an expert in the The evening will feature selections Gwendolyn and her band will perform eldercare field, is holding a semi- from the classic film with clips on the S works from their latest CD that are sure nar for seniors, baby boomers and Bowl’s big screen. Audiences will see to get the kids’ feet moving. Tickets are adult children of elderly parents titled and hear favorites, and get a glimpse $9. 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. “Raising UP Your Parents” on into the artwork and unfinished seg- (310)455-3723, www.thea- Saturday, Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon ments of “Fantasia”. Showtimes are at tricum.com . 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 and 20; 7:30 at the Santa Monica Sheraton Delphina Hotel. Geffen holds a mas- p.m., Aug. 21. 2301 N Highland Ave. 25 Poncho Sanchez (323)850-2000, www.Hollywood- ters degree in gerontology from USC azz Bakery Movable Feast presents Bowl.com. and a law degree from Loyola Law photo courtesy of A VEE Corporation Production. ©2011 Lyons Partnership L.P. School. The seminar will cover topics Jconguero legends, Poncho Sanchez Families with children are invited to celebrate with their favorite purple such as the financial and emotional and his Latin Jazz Band, performing on Poker Seminar dinosaur in “Barney Live in Concert – Birthday Bash!” on Saturday, Aug. strain of caring for an elderly loved Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. The per- he Claude Pepper Senior Center 20 and 21 at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk.