BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • SB 50 tabled. pg. 3 Partly cloudy, • 4 a.m. bar bill with highs in advances. pg. 6 the upper 60s Volume 29 No. 21 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities May 23, 2019 ‘We’re not going back’ John D’Amico sworn in as WeHo mayor n West Hollywood councilwomen, local activists speak against other states’ restrictive abortion bans n Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath By cameron kiszla On May 20, the City Council voted unanimously for a resolution becomes mayor With eight states – Georgia, that denounces Georgia’s law and pro tempore Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, suspends official travel to Georgia Mississippi, Missouri, Utah and and any other state that passes sim- By cameron kiszla Arkansas – passing restrictive abor- ilar legislation. The next morning, tion bans this year and several oth- May 21, West Hollywood Mayor When West Hollywood Mayor ers considering similar measures, Pro Tempore Lindsey Horvath, John D’Amico was sworn in on the city of West Hollywood has See Laws page 22 May 20, he wanted everyone in started to mount a counter-offen- attendance to know that he’s not sive. leading the city alone. D’Amico said he wants all of the city’s residents to act as the city’s mayors. To illustrate his point, a rainbow of brightly-col- ored T-shirts adorned with the words “Mayor of West photo by Jon Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood Hollywood” covered the seats in West Hollywood Mayor John D’Amico was sworn in on May 21. This the City Council chambers. is his second one-year term as mayor, a mostly ceremonial position. “You know West Hollywood, you’re hoping to advance it and you’re responsible for keeping it March. Duran said he was unable council chambers and outlined his moving in the right direction,” to continue as mayor due to health priorities for the upcoming year. D’Amico said. “Isn’t that what a issues, but he was also facing First, he said he wants to see the mayor is supposed to do?” accusations of sexual harassment city find “the correct level of The reorganization meeting from members of the Gay Men’s social services funding” to ensure marked the official start of Chorus. help for seniors, homeless individ- photo by Cameron Kiszla D’Amico’s second one-year term D’Amico, who was first elected uals and those with HIV. West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Lindsey Horvath, Councilwoman as mayor, though he has filled the to the City Council in 2011 and D’Amico also said he wants to role since Councilman John served his first mayoral term in Lauren Meister, and several advocates and nonprofit executives Duran relinquished the title in 2014-15, addressed the packed See D’Amico page 22 denounced the abortion restrictions enacted this year by several states. Protesters march outside Hollywood hospital First reading of tobacco sale n Kaiser Permanente ban passes in Beverly Hills employees are fighting for better terms in their n The ban would take where smoking is more prevalent. That’s when council members gave next contract effect in January 2021 direction to allow hotels to continue tobacco sales to guests only. By edwin folven By luke harold The only person who spoke about the tobacco ban during public Chanting “stand up, fight The Beverly Hills City Council comment at this week’s meeting back” and “corporate greed has approved the first reading of an said there should be more study to go,” hundreds of protesters ordinance that would ban tobacco about how the ban would impact marched along Sunset Boulevard sales in the city during its May 21 hotels, which maintain an occupan- on May 21 in front of Kaiser meeting. cy rate of 80%, according to the Permanente Medical Center in The first reading was passed as Beverly Hills Conference and Hollywood. part of the council’s consent calen- Visitors Bureau. Organized by SEIU-United dar. The law, scheduled to take “If we don’t know how many of Healthcare Workers West, a effect in January 2021, would make the 80 percent are smokers that are union representing more than photo by Edwin Folven Beverly Hills the first U.S. city to the majority of the guests in the 55,000 Kaiser Permanente Demonstrators rallied outside Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on ban tobacco sales. It also includes hotels, then we don’t know how employees in California, the Sunset Boulevard Tuesday during a protest organized by SEIU-United exemptions for the city’s three cigar many people are being exposed to demonstration was part of a Healthcare Workers West. lounges and businesses that apply secondhand smoke by having their series of protests planned in May for and receive a hardship exemp- balcony doors open while their at Kaiser Permanente facilities 30. It primarily represents here to say Kaiser has lost their tion if their revenue streams rely families are guests who are non- throughout the state. Union employees serving in support way,” SEIU-UHW spokesman significantly on tobacco sales. smokers,” Beverly Hills resident members said Kaiser has “drift- capacities; physicians and nurses Mike Chavez said. “A lot of peo- Hotel concierge services would still Michael Newmann said. ed” from its mission of providing are represented by different ple [protesting] have worked be allowed to sell tobacco to hotel “Nothing’s been talked about quality health care, is outsourc- unions. A similar demonstration here a long time and they like guests. where the people in the hotels ing too many jobs and putting is planned today outside Kaiser working here, but things have At the last meeting, when the smoke, so therefore I find this huge profits ahead of patients’ well- Permanente Medical Center on changed. It’s for investing in the council gave its feedback on the contradiction.” being. Cadillac Avenue in West Los staffing we need so patients get terms of the ban, the city’s hotels There are 28 retailers in Beverly The union is in contract nego- Angeles. better treatment, it’s about were worried that stricter smoking Hills with tobacco and electronic laws would repel international tiations with the hospital, with “We are in contract negotia- See Hospital page 22 contracts set to expire on Sept. tions, but honestly, we are out guests who come from countries See Tobacco page 21 2 May 23, 2019 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press ‘Happy Days’ at 8 p.m. Dancers ‘Herland’ Reyes Barrios, Yale Repertory Theatre’s production of Arleen Hurtado “Herland,” a play about women growing Samuel Beckett’s classic “Happy and Briseyda up, growing old Days” running from Thursday, May 23, Zarate will per- and rocking out to through Sunday, June 30, at the Center form with singer the beat of their Theatre Group’s Mark Taper Forum. Juan de Dios and own drums, will Beckett’s masterpiece stars Dianne guitar masters run from Thursday, Wiest and Michael Rudko in an Antonio Triana and Ben Woods. May 30, through absurdly funny and boundlessly com- General admission is $40. 5060 Sunday, June 23, at passionate portrait of the human spirit. Fountain Ave. (323)663-1525, foun- the Greenway Showtimes are 8 p.m., Tuesday through taintheatre.com. Court Theatre. The coming of age comedy Friday; 2:30 and 8 p.m., Saturday; and is written by Grace McLeod and directed 1 and 6:30 p.m., Sunday. Tickets start at by Tiffany Moon. It stars Gladys Bautista $32. 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown. ‘Kahane Plays (pictured), Laura James, Samantha June, (213)628-2772, centertheatregroup.org. Victoria Ortiz, Lisa Richards and Judith Kahane’ Scarpone. Showtimes are 8 p.m., Friday PianoSpheres presents acclaimed pianist, and Saturday; 4 p.m. on Sundays June 2, 9 Outdoor Film conductor and music director laureate of and 23. A special matinee is also sched- Enjoy an outdoor screening of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra uled at 3 p.m. on June 15. Tickets start at “Coming to America” (1988) on Jeffrey Kahane in a program titled $34; $20 for students and seniors. 544 N. Saturday, May 25, “Kahane Plays Kahane” on Tuesday, Fairfax Ave. (323)655-7679, greenwa- at the Autry May 28, at 8 p.m. in the Zipper Concert yartsalliance.org. Museum. The Hall. Kahane is recognized by audiences comedy stars around the world for his mastery of a Eddie Murphy, diverse repertoire ranging from Bach, Arsenio Hall, Mozart and Beethoven to Gershwin, James Earl Jones, Golijov and John Adams. Tickets are John Amos and $35; $20 for students. 200 S. Grand Ave., Louie Anderson. downtown. pianospheres.org. The screening is part of the EAT|SEE|HEAR outdoor film series and will be held on the museum lawn. Beverly Hills Doors open at 5:30, followed by music at 7 and the movie at 8 p.m. Tickets Chamber start at $8. 4700 Western Heritage Way. Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce is (323)667-2000, theautry.org. hosting a workshop on “Podcasting for Your Business” on Wednesday, May Kaitlyn Aurelia 29, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the chamber photo by Michael Lamont office. Speaker Deborah Deras will dis- cuss how podcasting can grow busi- Smith meditation Max E. Williams and Susan Priver star in a production of Tennessee ness. According to Edison Research, Join electronic composer Kaitlyn Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” running from Saturday, May 25, online radio including podcasts has Aurelia Smith for a guided meditation through Sunday, July 7, at the Odyssey Theatre. Dance On Productions, grown 61% in the past 10 years. set to her album “Tides: Music for in association with Linda Toliver and Gary Guidinger, present Williams’ Admission is $15 for members; $30 for Meditation and Yoga” on Saturday, Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece.