BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Fire at Fairfax Theater pg. 3 Sunny, with • Traffic death on highs in the 101 Freeway 80s pg. 4 Volume 31 No. 27 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities July 8, 2021 E-scooter program is a go n BH stays neutral on George Floyd bill Controversial devices hit WeHo’s streets again n Gold seeks more BY AARON BLEVINS Erickson said. That is to be expect- input from law ed with a new program; it will be a enforcement Bird, Lime and Wheels are back process, he added. on the streets – and hopefully not “That’s an education campaign, BY CAMERON KISZLA the sidewalks – of West Hollywood, and we can’t let the actions of a few as the city launched its dockless bad actors scare us off from making The George Floyd Justice in mobility pilot program for e-scoot- better transit opportunities for our Policing Act is currently awaiting ers and e-bikes last week with few residents,” Erickson said, adding a vote in the United States Senate, issues, city officials said. that he had not heard of any injuries and while members of the Beverly The 18-month pilot program associated with the launch. Hills City Council have expressed began on July 1. Thus far, the only According to city regulations, support for some parts of the bill, issue has been riders parking the riders must have a valid driver’s they voted last month to remain devices in unapproved areas, such See page neutral. as sidewalks, Councilman John E-scooter 21 The bill would prohibit police chokeholds, allow more prosecu- tion of police officers in use-of- force cases and create a registry for police misconduct, among other changes. photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills The neutral stance was pro- The city of Beverly Hills illuminated George Floyd’s name on City Hall posed by the council’s last year. Legislative/Lobby Committee, which is comprised of rules for police officers that will input from police officers and Councilmen Julian Gold and John “make sense in the real world.” policing experts, the bill would Mirisch. “It ought to be decided by those not achieve its goals. “The reason that we stayed neu- who know how policing works … “We’re supportive of the con- tral is because I wanted to support goals don’t have to be achieved, cept, but we want to see that when it and I think Julian wanted to necessarily, by legislation that we do get change, it’s meaningful oppose it,” Mirisch said. does not involve people who have change,” he added. Beverly Press/Park Labrea News file photo Gold was not made available to carry out that legislation,” Gold Mirisch argued that “standards” Bird, Lime and Wheels are part of West Hollywood’s dockless mobility for an interview, but in the June 24 said. pilot program. meeting, he said he wanted new Gold indicated that without See Police page 22 Office planned for former Sunset Jag dealership n Dealer has moved to Hotel ordinance talks La Brea Avenue continue in WeHo BY EDWIN FOLVEN n Item to be discussed Lindsey Horvath and Councilwoman Sepi Shyne – say A new office building is pro- by council on July 19 will better protect hotel workers posed at the former site of the BY CAMERON KISZLA from sexual misconduct, ensure Hornburg Jaguar-Land Rover deal- they are properly compensated ership in West Hollywood, and the The public discourse is heating for their work and make sure they public is being asked to weigh in on up as a vote nears for a potential are rehired by hotels as tourism the plan. ordinance related to hotel work- picks up, among other changes. The Jaguar and Land Rover deal- ers in West Hollywood. The union and council mem- ership changed ownership earlier this On July 19, the City Council bers claim that housekeepers and year and moved operations to 400 S. will consider a proposal that sup- other hotel workers were under- La Brea Ave. The new dealership porters – including the union opened on May 21 in a completely Unite Here Local 11, Mayor See Hotel page 22 remodeled building that formerly housed La Brea Chevrolet, which closed more than a decade ago. photo by Edwin Folven Suzanne Kurges, controller for A new Jaguar and Land Rover dealership opened in May in the former the new Jaguar of Los Angeles and La Brea Chevrolet building. Land Rover of Los Angeles, said operations have been consolidated The two-story building that for- vide input. To participate, visit at the La Brea Avenue site. merly housed the car dealership on weho.org/Home/Components/Cale Previously, vehicle sales were Sunset Boulevard is currently ndar/Event/23815/18. Those with- offered at 9176 Sunset Blvd. and planned for demolition and devel- out computer access can call service was offered at another site opment by Faring, a company (669)900-6833 and use the meeting near Sunset Boulevard and Wilcox based in West Hollywood. The pro- ID: 914 1622 7299. Avenue in Hollywood. ject is in the draft environmental Faring is planning to build a five- “Now, we are all in one loca- impact report phase and the city of story office building with ground- tion,” Kurges added. “We are going West Hollywood will hold a virtual floor retail and restaurant space. to be able to offer better customer scoping meeting on July 21 from The approximately 53,000-square- photo courtesy of Unite Here Local 11 service because everything is in one 6:30 to 8 p.m. via Zoom. The public Unite Here Local 11 led a picket of the Mondrian Hotel, which is location.” can learn about the project and pro- See Jaguar page 21 accused of refusing to rehire workers laid off due to the pandemic. 2 July 8, 2021 Beverly Press/Park Labrea News CALENDAR fled to Toulouse, France, and later baudhosting.com/27926/Virtual- ‘Art Genesis’ Switzerland, a neutral country. Story-TimeLive-From-Noahs-Ark- Mashonda Tifrere’s project “Art Among the rest of the family, only 25Jul2021. Genesis: The Beginning of Legacy” one of Lerner’s uncles survived. will be on display from Thursday, After the war, she lived in Israel, July 8, through Sunday, Aug. 8, at Argentina and Jamaica before mov- ‘A Midsummer SHOW Gallery. As an artist, curator ing to the United States in 2018. and activist, Tifrere brought togeth- Suggested donation is $10. RSVP er seven emerging artists – Lauren Night’s Dream’ requested by visiting Theatricum Botanicum is hosting its Pearce, Unyime Edet, Ruth Owens, us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regis- signature summer production of “A Chantel Walkes, Yulia Bas, Lanise ter/WN_9hZo6_uoRsiz-sqwmej-Vw. Midsummer Night’s Dream,” infus- Howard and Martin Alexander ing Shakespeare’s language with Spratlen Etem – to create an emo- music in a production running from tive group show that transcends Sunday, July 1 through Sunday, Nov. genres and mediums. Each artist Culinary history 7. The venue brings a unique perspective while Culinary Historians of Southern will be trans- maintaining the unity of the show, California presents “Yogurt: A Food formed into an photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills all working toward the common Fad Trending for Millennia,” an enchanted for- goal of community and progress. An online program with author June The Beverly Hills Fire Department will provide an overview of the report est. The produc- opening reception will be held July Hersh on Saturday, July 10, at 10:30 at public meetings on July 12 and 13. tion features 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Regular viewing a.m., via Zoom. Hersh’s first book, Melora Marshall hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday “Recipes Remembered, a as Titania, Lisa through Saturday. 1515 N. Gardner Celebration of Survival,” was writ- Wolpe as St. (323)834-8142, show.gallery. ten in association with the Museum Oberon and Thad Geer as Bottom. of Jewish Heritage. Her other books Beverly Hills plans to release include “The Kosher Carnivore,” Theatricum Botanicum’s 2021 “Still Here, Inspiration from Repertory Season is sponsored by ‘Taming the Lion’ Survivors and Liberators of the the S. Mark Taper Foundation. Theatre 40 presents Jack Rushen’s Holocaust” and “Yogurt: A Global General showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Wildfire Assessment Report “Taming the Lion” running from History.” The Saturday, and 4 p.m., Sunday. Check Thursday, July 8, through Sunday, The city of Beverly Hills will cant vulnerabilities, city of Beverly latter features the schedule for dates and times. Aug. 1, at the Reuben Cordova release an assessment of its wildfire Hills spokesman Keith Sterling said global yogurt Tickets start at $26. 1419 N. Topanga Theatre on the campus of Beverly risk on Friday, July 9, and will hold in a press release. recipes as well Canyon Blvd. (310)455-3723, the- Hills High School. Directed by public meetings at 10 a.m. on July “Protecting our community from as historical atricum.com. Melanie MacQueen and produced background and 12 and 6 p.m. on July 13 to provide the very real danger of wildfire is our by David Hunt Stafford, “Taming current research an overview with the report’s top priority,” Beverly Hills Fire Chief the Lion” is a story about film star on the world’s authors and information about wild- Greg Barton added. “In recent years, William Haines, who appeared in 50 Jewish Free Loan oldest food fad. fire safety. the Beverly Hills Fire Department movies from 1922-34. Haines was Admission is free but registration is The Wildfire Assessment Report has taken many steps to prepare for a the top box-office draw at the end of Association required.