WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Commission backs Norm’s. Partly cloudy, pg. 3 rain possible • Auto burglaries on Sunday rise. pg. 4 Volume 25 No. 8 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities February 19, 2015 Water main rupture causes Manzanar milestone sparks memories n Internees observe a big mess in Hollywood 73rd anniversary n Flooding damages street, cars in parking lot By luis Rivas By edwin folven Avenue and Dix Street, just east of When he was 7 or 8 years old, Cahuenga Boulevard. More than Jim Matsuoka remembers hating A water main that burst early 100,000 gallons of water flooded himself for being Japanese. Wednesday morning in the street and collected in a park- Hundreds were gathered out- Hollywood flooded a residential ing lot behind a residence located side his elementary school during street north of Franklin Avenue approximately a half-block from the winter listening to an adminis- and partially submerged four vehi- the rupture in the 6400 block of trator who was lecturing on the cles in an underground parking Dix Street. horrors of the Pearl Harbor attack lot. Crews worked to shut the water by Japan. Matsuoka and his class- Los Angeles Department of off on Wednesday morning and mates were listening, shivering in Water and Power (DWP) officials the repairs would likely take at the desert cold. said an 18-inch cast iron water least 15 hours, said Marty Adams, “She was talking about Pearl main broke at approximately 4:30 senior assistant general manager Harbor. You know, going through the gruesome details. And we’re a.m. near the corner of Ivar See Pipe page 20 not stupid. We know that we’re photo by Luis Rivas associated with people that did One of the guard towers used by the U.S. military to monitor the that. It’s like having a group of Japanese and Japanese American internees at Manzanar was recon- young Muslim students and con- structed to preserve that moment in U.S. history. tinually bringing up 9/11,” Matsuoka said. we’re so bad that we have to be in Japanese Americans who were Matsuoka and his family were prison — because everybody interned. in a relocation camp more than hates you, you know?” Matsuoka Roosevelt’s executive order 200 miles north of their home in said. authorized the internment of all Los Angeles. The peaks of the Matsuoka, now 80, and approx- people of Japanese ancestry in Sierra Nevada mountain range imately 120,000 other people of direct response to the bombing of just behind the camp were perpet- Japanese ancestry were put into Pearl Harbor by Japan on Dec. 7, ually capped with snow. It was relocation camps for two-to-four 1941 due to claims of espionage, cold during the winter in years, 73 years ago after President sabotage, and in the name of Manzanar. Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed national defense. The worst part came when the Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, However, of the 10,046 people school administrator began to cry 1942. interned at Manzanar, no one was as she retold the story of Pearl On Feb. 28 a Day of ever convicted of espionage or Harbor, Matsuoka said. Remembrance will be held at the sabotage. photo by Edwin Folven “She’s sobbing and, you know, Japanese American National “It was essentially a prison Water from a broken main flooded a parking lot and damaged vehicles you feel like crap. Whatever I am, Museum in Little Tokyo in com- camp with barbed wire encircling behind a residence on Dix Street. it must be a bunch of crap because memoration of the Japanese and See Manzanar page 20 Civil rights activists honored for courage Saga continues over who n NCJW/LA hosts panel on Voting Rights Act will operate Greek Theatre n RAP commission tions of the Greek Theatre to be By luis Rivas released after review and does not announce approval by the city council.” The National Council of Jewish how it will proceed On Wednesday morning, RAP Women/Los Angeles (NCJW/LA) commissioners heard a report on celebrated the 50th anniversary of By jonathan van dyke the city council action, and went the 1965 Voting Rights Act with into closed session to discuss the former 1960s-era civil rights The Los Angeles Recreation Greek Theatre matter. activists as guest speakers on and Parks (RAP) Commission is Afterwards, they filed the report, Wednesday, Feb. 18 at their head- staring down the possibility of but did not announce how they quarters on Fairfax Avenue. hitting the restart button. would proceed. The speakers included former Last week, the Los Angeles The RAP commission original- voter registration volunteers, for- City Council voted against con- ly selected the Live Nation bid photo by Luis Rivas mer Freedom Riders and civil curring with the commission’s last fall, rather than the bid of cur- rights activists — both black and Gertrude E. Bradley sang the spiritual “Steal Away” at the beginning of recommendation to enter into rent operator Nederlander, which white — who traveled throughout the panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights contract negotiations with Live paired with AEG for its bid to the U.S. and into the segregated Act at NCJW/LA’s headquarters. Nation to run the city’s famed continue operating the Greek south to challenge Jim Crow laws. Greek Theatre live music venue. Theatre. Ralph Fertig, civil rights Former Los Angeles City in civil rights advocacy, especially In the same motion, the city Many community members lawyer, federal administrative Councilman and Freedom Rider between white, black and Jewish council requested that the RAP and community associations judge and former Freedom Rider, Robert Farrell, was scheduled to communities, according to commissioners “consider prepar- called for city council to reject the and Rick Tuttle, former volunteer speak but had to leave at the NCJW/LA. ing, in consultation with the com- Live Nation bid, or at least have during 1963’s Voting Freedom beginning of the event. Fertig grew up in Chicago, munity and the arts, parks, health, RAP staff reexamine the process. Summer in Mississippi and The discussion honored the which was one of the most segre- aging and river committee, a new “The main thing we feel at this RFP for concessions and opera- Georgia, spoke at the event. legacy of multi-cultural diversity See Panel page 22 See Theatre page 21 NOW YOUR NEW HOME LEASING !!! """ 2 February 19, 2015 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 20 ‘Treehouse’ 24 Estate Planning/ ndie film fans are encouraged to see Long-Term Care Ithe new movie “Treehouse” running C a l e n d a r from Friday, Feb. 20 through Thursday, Insurance Feb. 26 at Arena Screen in Hollywood. 22 Family Dance Jam earn about estate planning and The film focuses on two brothers who amilies with children are invited Llong-term care insurance during a unwittingly stumble across an old tree- Fto the “Family Dance Jam” on seminar on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 5:30 house deep in the woods, and find Sunday, Feb. 22 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 7 p.m. at the offices of the Kramer themselves in the middle of an unimag- p.m. at the Autry National Center in Law Group. Attorney Stephen W. inable nightmare. Showtimes on Feb. Griffith Park. A DJ will spin music, Kramer and New York Life Insurance 20 and 21 are at 6:30 and 8:05 p.m.; and a team of dancers will lead dance Company council agent Solomon S. check schedule for additional show- games. The event is geared toward Moore will provide information. times. Admission is $12. 1625 N. Las children 2 to 8 years old, and is free Refreshments will be served. 5858 Palmas Blvd. (323)306-0676, with museum admission. 4700 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 205. RSVP to www.arena-screen.com. Western Heritage Way. (323)667- (323)964-7100, www.kramerlaw.biz or 2000, www.theautry.org. www.solomonsmoore.com. ‘Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea’ Oscar Viewing Party LGBT Literary Club athan Alan Davis’s “Dontrell, IDS Project Los Angeles embers of the Lambda Literary NWho Kissed the Sea” runs from A(APLA) is hosting its annual MBook Club will discuss author Friday, Feb. 20 through March 29 at “The Envelope Please” Academy Richard Blanco’s “The Prince of Los the Skylight Theatre. The play tells the awards viewing party on Sunday, Cocuyo” on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. story of a present-day hero’s quest to Feb. 22 at The Abbey Food and Bar in in the West Hollywood Library right history’s wrongs, and explores photo courtesy of the Alex Film Society West Hollywood. Actress Pauley Community Meeting Room. The club the lengths and depths to which people Classic film fans are encouraged to attend the Alex Film Society’s pre- Perrette will host the party, which is moderated by Tony Valenzuela, and must go to free themselves from the sentation of “The Band Wagon” on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the includes a red carpet ceremony at 4 highlights a different LGBT book each month. Admission is free. 625 N. San misdeeds of personal history. Alex Theatre in Glendale. The 1953 film starts Fred Astaire, Cyd p.m., and a seated dinner at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $100, and benefit Vicente Blvd. (310)652-5340, Showtimes are at 8:30 p.m., Friday; 8 Charisse, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant and Jack Buchanan. Special p.m., Saturday and 3 p.m., Sunday.