BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Capitol riot update pg. 4 Rain, with • Guaranteed highs in the income coming to 60s WeHo? pg. 5 Volume 31 No. 4 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities January 28, 2021 Term limits coming to BH? n Voters could consider measure in November Concerns aired over Olympia closure n Despite outcry over BY CAMERON KISZLA limits … I think there are pros and sale, public officials cons of long-standing service … If The Beverly Hills City Council [voters] really like somebody, why face limited options took the first steps toward enacting shouldn’t they be able to have a per- term limits for city officials during son continue to serve in a posi- BY EDWIN FOLVEN a Jan. 26 study session. tion?” Vice Mayor Robert The council agreed on a general Wunderlich said. The Los Angeles County framework for a three-term limit for Despite his reservations, Emergency Medical Services members of the City Council and Wunderlich and the other council Commission held a virtual public the city treasurer, also a publicly members said the decision should hearing on Jan. 27 to consider the elected position. The decision was ultimately be left to the people of closure of Olympia Medical made despite the differing opinions Beverly Hills. If the council Center, which has announced that of several council members. it will discontinue services after “I’m generally not a fan of term See BH page 21 March 31. At the end of the hear- ing, the commission recommended a six-month delay in the closure. The public hearing was photo by Cameron Kiszla required for informational purpos- Olympia Medical Center was sold to UCLA Health last year. es for the county and to provide an opportunity for interested citizens to comment. The commission’s renovate the medical center’s Despite reports of the COVID- recommendations are nonbinding campus and possibly convert it 19 pandemic straining health care and will be sent to the Los into a facility specializing in men- services nationwide, Sarrao said Angeles County Board of tal and behavioral health services. Olympia Medical Center has not Supervisors for consideration. Attorney Michael Sarrao, who experienced a significant increase Olympia Medical Center, which identified himself as executive in patient volumes. The daily is operated by Olympia vice president of Olympia number of patients at Olympia Healthcare LLC, a subsidiary of Healthcare LLC, said the sale of Medical Center remains at Irvine-based Alecto Health the hospital had been under con- approximately 60-70, he said. The Services, sold the property at 5900 sideration for at least a year to 18 number of COVID-19 patients Olympic Blvd. to UCLA Health months. It was strictly a business being treated was not specified. photo by Edwin Folven for an undisclosed amount. UCLA decision to address difficulties See page The Beverly Hills City Council may put a term limits ballot measure to the voters. Health has announced plans to with profitability, he said. Olympia 22 WeHo off-leash dog area leaps forward Outdoor dining to reopen n City to open third dog park tomorrow in L.A. County BY LAURA COLEMAN n Leaders praise the Board of Supervisors on Jan. progress, urge caution 26. West Hollywood pups will soon “We’re encouraged particular- have an opportunity to frolic freely BY CAMERON KISZLA ly by the significant reduction, at in a new off-leash dog play area in this point, in daily cases … Our death rate, unfortunately, remains Plummer Park following a unani- The pandemic outlook for very high … We’re still going to mous vote by the City Council. California is improving, and on see a high number of deaths for a The council approved the prelim- Jan. 25, Gov. Gavin Newsom lift- couple of weeks to come, but I’m inary plan for a pilot program on ed statewide stay-at-home orders. hoping that as we get into the Jan. 19 as part of the city’s long- In Los Angeles County, COVID- month of February, our death rate term plans to redevelop Plummer 19 is similarly lessening, Los will also come down significant- Park. Staff will need to return to Angeles County Department of council with a proposal that Public Health Barbara Ferrer told See Restaurants page 21 includes a site plan and budget for final consideration. “So many people during the pan- demic and the stay-at-home order photo by Jon Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood West Hollywood Park includes an off-leash dog park. have been adopting dogs and they have become more important in our lives than they ever were,” allowed their dogs to use the park park – and the only one on the east Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren off-leash, despite it being illegal. side. Both the West Hollywood Park Meister said. “The idea is to try to “I just really thought it was Dog Park on San Vicente Boulevard do something for people during the important to give [residents] a place and the William S. Hart Dog Park pandemic that they’ll enjoy and it’s to go socialize with their dogs and on De Longpre Avenue offer off- outside and people can be out there for their dogs to socialize in a safe leash spaces for canines to play. with their masks socializing with environment where it would be Meister estimated that the city their dogs.” legal to take your dog off leash,” would move forward in creating the Meister characterized the park as she added. pilot in the next several months. a backyard for nearby residents, Once established, the new off- “Given the density of West photo by Cameron Kiszla Before they were forced to cease outdoor dining, many restaurants most of whom live in apartments. leash play area in Plummer Park She said that many people already would become the city’s third dog See Dog page 22 invested in equipment to create a more pleasant dining experience. 2 January 28, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press CALENDAR City honors Tom LaBonge by Ethan Kross’ ‘Sound of Metal’ The Broad Stage American Cinematheque welcomes ‘Chatter’ director Darius Marder and stars Riz celebrates dance naming peak in Griffith Park Join Ethan Kross for an online dis- Ahmed, Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci The Broad Stage and Dance Camera Mayor Eric Garcetti on cussion on his new book “Chatter: for an online discussion of the film West have announced the winners of Jan. 27 announced the estab- The Voice in Our Head and How to “Sound of Metal” on Friday, Jan. 29 the Dance Camera West Drive-In, lishment of Tom LaBonge Harness It” with journalist Phoebe at 6 p.m., via Zoom. The music- Best of the Festival. They will be fea- Summit in historic Griffith Lovatt on Thursday, Jan. 28, from 7 filled drama follows a rock drummer tured in Best of Fest and Outstanding to 8 p.m. Tuning Achievement Park, joining the LaBonge challenged by hearing loss and into our inner Award films pre- family in honoring the late addiction. RSVP by visiting voice and the eventbrite.com/e/sound-of-metal- sented in a drive- councilman’s life and legacy. silent conversa- virtual-qa-with-director-stars-tick- in experience LaBonge died on Jan. 7 at tions we have with two differ- ets-135611685201. the age of 67. with ourselves ent programs on Nothing was closer to for- reveals a power- Saturday, Jan. mer LaBonge’s heart than ful force that Robey Theatre 30, and Sunday, the hikes, trails and hills of shapes our lives. Jan. 31, at the Griffith Park, Garcetti said. Considered one of the world’s lead- Company Santa Monica College Bundy Renaming Mount ing psychologists of the conscious The Robey Theatre Company’s ongo- Campus, East Parking Lot. Award Hollywood Summit in his mind, Kross has spent decades ing Evening Conversation series will winners Henrique Pina and Adi memory is a fitting tribute to researching the hidden power of feature a discussion on COVID-19 on Halfin’s films will be shown in his decades of service to the internal monologues and how they Friday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m., via Zoom. Program A and B, and Best of the city of Los Angeles, he can help people live healthier, more The presentation will be moderated Fest winners Robbie Synge and added. satisfying and productive lives. by Millena Gay, chair of the Robey Garry Stewart will be featured in “Our city lost a giant, a Creative Content Committee and spe- Program B only. Showtimes for leader who brought so much cial events producer, and will feature Program A are Jan. 30, at 5:30 p.m., energy, enthusiasm, decency Omar Offendum Dr. Roshonda Clemons, a practicing and Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. Showtimes for physician specializing in Pediatrics; Program B are Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. and and passion to the task of photo by Edwin Folven Katherine Conte, director of STEM Jan. 31, at 5:30 p.m. Single screening building a stronger, safer, The summit will be named after former and Thanks Joey fairer city,” Garcetti said. UCLA’s Center for the Art of partnerships and outreach for tickets are $45 per car. 3171 S. Bundy Councilman Tom LaBonge, shown here in American University; Matthew “Tom held such genuine Performance is holding the fourth Drive. thebroadstage.org/dancecam- 2012 in front of one of the many other Conte, a principal investigator in viral erawest. affection for everyone he installment of L.A. Omnibus, with landmarks in Griffith Park. Omar Offendum and Thanks Joey, on genetics and emerging diseases for met and served, and he loved Thursday, Jan.