West Hollywood City Councilman John Heilman will replace Councilman John Duran on the council’s subcommittee that works with Christopher Street West on the annual Pride celebration.

Duran was removed from the subcommittee, which also includes Mayor John D’Amico, at the last meeting following accusations of sexual harassment against Duran from Gay Men’s Chorus members. City Attorney Mike Jenkins said a formal censure of Duran over the recent allegations will be on the council’s April 1 agenda.

Estevan Montemayor, the board president of Christopher Street West, said this year’s Pride, sched-uled for June 8-9, with a free kick-off event on June 7, is “focusing on uniting our community.”

Ongoing construction at West Hollywood Park created problems fitting all the attendees last year, so a series of street closures are under consideration for this year’s event

to increase the available space. Street closures under consideration include Santa Monica Boulevard, from La Cienega Boulevard to Doheny Drive; San Vicente Boulevard, from Melrose Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard; and Robertson Boulevard, from Melrose Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard.

“Moving to a full street closure is

very expensive for the city, it’s very impactful for the residents and the businesses,” Heilman said. “I’m not necessarily convinced we should be doing this going forward, on a long-term basis, but certainly this year it makes sense since the park is still not going to be fully open.”

The configuration of the week-

On March 19, a contentious com-munity meeting at the West Hollywood Library highlighted the public opposition to what some people say is an attempt to remove a piece of music history from West Hollywood.

West Hollywood-based Silver Creek Development has plans to tear down the Viper Room, which is known as a place to catch famous musicians in intimate shows and was once co-owned by Johnny Depp, and the other businesses on that block of Sunset Boulevard and build a hotel and apartment build-ing in its place.

The 15-story structure by Morphosis Architects, which fea-tures one plant-adorned vertical tower and a crescent-shaped tower that join at the top and the bottom, will contain 115 hotel rooms, 31 market-rate residential units and 10 affordable housing units.

But a variety of concerns led more than 50 people to the library’s community room to address Jennifer Alkire and Doug Vu,

senior planners for the city of West Hollywood, and four representa-tives of the development team.

Following bans on flavored tobacco products and smoking in multiunit housing, Beverly Hills City Councilman Julian Gold’s one-year term as mayor ended Wednesday night as the city attempts to become the first in the

U.S. to end tobacco sales. “We did a whole lot of things

for health,” said Gold, co-chair-man of Cedars-Sinai’s Dept. of Anesthesiology, reflecting on the past year. “As a physician, that always feels good.”

Volume 29 No. 12 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities March 21, 2019

INSIDE

• Formosa becomes

landmark. pg. 3 • Hollywood Hills

prepares for disaster. pg. 7

Partly cloudy, with highs in the mid 60s

WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM

n Heilman replaces Duran on subcommittee that works with CSW

photo by John Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood

Duran, pictured at last year’s Pride, was removed from a City Council subcommittee that works with Christopher Street West to plan each year’s Pride celebration.

n John Mirisch becomes new Beverly Hills mayor, Les Friedman sworn in to first term as vice mayor

n The 15-story structure would involve demolition of the iconic music venue

rendering by Morphosis Architects

More than 50 people came to a meeting at the West Hollywood Library, many of them in opposition to plans by Silver Creek Development to tear down the Viper Room and the other businesses on its block of Sunset Boulevard.

Residents oppose Viper Room project

Plans for annual Pride in WeHo underway

Gold’s term as mayor ends

photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills City Councilman Julian Gold began his second term as mayor last year, when he was sworn in by his wife with his daughter looking on.

Park La Brea residents had a mixed reaction when they first heard of the Town and Country project, which aims to build a mixed-use building at the southeast corner of Third and Fairfax avenues, said retired Army Col. Donald Harris, secretary-treasurer

of the Park La Brea Residents Association. The original idea was to build a tower that would reach more than 20 stories tall at the northwest corner of Park La Brea.

“That massive building would’ve blocked light and air to a whole subduction of our Park La Brea community,” Harris said.

Proposed project near Park Labrea raises concern

By luke harold

By cameron kiszla

By cameron kiszla

See Viper Room page 25

photo by Cameron Kiszla

A planned mixed-use building at the intersection of Third and Fairfax aims to keep Whole Foods and CVS while constructing 331 apart-ments.

See Pride page 26

See Gold page 26

By luke harold

See Project page 25

‘Cars & Fashion’ Join the Petersen Automotive Museum for an unveiling of fall and winter apparel by fashion icons Naeem Khan and Nicolas Jebran in the museum’s new exhibit “Winning Numbers: The First, The Fastest, The Famous” on Friday, March 22, from 7 to 11 p.m. The event is part of the Cars & Fashion series and includes a cocktail reception, dinner, fashion show and after-party. Tickets start at $63 for members, $70 for nonmembers and $120 for VIP access. 6060 Wilshire Blvd. (323)964-6331, petersen.org.

‘The Wolves’ Enjoy the Los Angeles premiere of Sarah DeLappe’s “The Wolves” run-ning from Friday, March 22, through Monday, April 22 at the Echo Theater Company. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, a group of 16- and 17-year-old female indoor soccer play-ers navigate big questions and wage tiny battles with the ferociousness of a pack of adolescent warriors. Showtimes are 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday and Monday; 4 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $34. 3269 Casitas Ave. (310)307-3753, echotheatercom-pany.com.

‘Artists on Art’ Enjoy a glimpse into LACMA’s collec-tion through the eyes of Los Angeles artists during “Artists on Art: Jennifer West” on Saturday, March 23, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the museum’s Study Center for Photography and Works on Paper. West is an artist whose work explores. She will display artwork from the Photography and Prints & Drawings collections and discuss how they relate to her practice. Admission is free but tickets are required. 5905 Wilshire Blvd. (323)857-6010, lacma.org.

Piano Spheres benefit Piano Spheres is holding a “Madhatter’s Tea Party” on Saturday, March 23, at 3 p.m. at a private location

in Hancock Park. The benefit for Piano Spheres includes hats for sale from the personal collection of Catherine Uniack, as well as vintage costume jewelry and collectibles. Location pro-vided upon RSVP. (323)226-0326, or email pianospheres@gmail.com.

‘The Marriage Zone’ Playwright and director Jeff Gould’s “The Marriage Zone” has been extended from

Saturday, March 23, through Sunday, April 14 at the Santa Monica Playhouse. The play is the fourth in a series of come-dies exploring the dynamics of relation-ships between men and women. Gould’s previous works in the series include “Troubled Waters,” “Is There Sex After Marriage” and “It’s Just Sex.” Showtimes are 8 p.m., Saturday; 3 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $40. 1211 Fourth St., Santa Monica. (800)838-3006, brownpa-pertickets.com/event/3919605.

Oscar Peterson tribute LA Philharmonic presents “Oscar, With Love,” a tribute to pianist Oscar Peterson, on Saturday, March 23, at 8 p.m. at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Peterson, considered one of the finest pianists of the 20th centu-ry, was beloved by jazz and classical audiences for his virtuosity, influenced by his classical training and jazz icon Art Tatum. The man Duke Ellington called “the maharajah of the keyboard” was also a prolific composer and will be remem-bered by an all-star line-up of jazz greats performing Peterson’s composi-tions and selections from the album, “Oscar, With Love.” Tickets start at $57. 111 S. Grand Ave, laphil.com.

‘Faith Healer’ “Faith Healer,” playwright Brian Friel’s mysterious, humorous and unforget-table work about the life and times of an itinerant Irish healer, runs from Saturday, March 23, through Sunday, May 12, at the Odyssey Theatre. The play examines whether Fantastic Francis Hardy is a miracle worker or a show-man in search of a dollar. Showtimes are 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday. Tickets start at $32. 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. (310)477-2055 ext. 2, odysseytheatre.com.

Hollywood history Hollywood Heritage’s Richard Adkins will present a program on the life and career of theater, film and couturier designer Gilbert Adrian on Sunday, March 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. Adrian cre-ated costumes and apparel for “The Wizard of Oz,” including the famed ruby slippers, as well as hundreds of other Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films from 1928-41. The presentation is part of the Afternoon @ the Barn series. General admission is $15. Hollywood

Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave. hollywoodheritage.org.

Learn to speak Japanese Learn to speak Japanese through acting during a workshop on Tuesday, March 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles. Through role playing, gestures and facial expres-sions, Japanese actor Naoyuki Ikeda will teach participants how to react like Japanese people in natural settings, and how to speak spontaneously using basic Japanese phrases. He will also share his cross-cultural experiences as a Japanese actor working in movies and theatrical productions in the United States. Admission is free. 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 100. (323)761-7510, jflalc.org.

2 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

photo courtesy of Corniche Entertainment

Master conguero, vocalist and bandleader Louie Cruz Beltran returns to Hollywood’s legendary Catalina Jazz Club on Friday, March 22, at 8:30 p.m. Beltran blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with soaring vocals and daz-zling percussion work, performing a blend of Latin jazz, jazz, R&B clas-sics and originals. Tickets start at $20; dinner or two-drink minimum required in addition to tickets. 6725 W. Sunset Blvd. (323)466-2210, catalinajazzclub.com.

5150 WILSHIRE BLVD.

SUITE 330 P.O. BOX 36036

LOS ANGELES, CA 90036 (323)933-5518

BEVERLY HILLS OFFICE: 8440 WILSHIRE BLVD. SUITE 2B

BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211 WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM

Michael Villalpando

PUBLISHER

Karen Villalpando EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Edwin Folven

editor@beverlypress.com EDITOR

Luke Harold

luke@beverlypress.com Cameron Kiszla

cameron@beverlypress.com REPORTERS

Maura Turcotte

maura@beverlypress.com COPY EDITOR

Jill Weinlein, Tim Posada, Rebecca Villalpando, Emily Jilg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS The Park Labrea News and Beverly Press are weekly newspapers, published on Thursdays. Mail subscription is $120 annually. Decreed newspa-pers of general circulation, entitled to publish legal advertising, Feb. 10, 1960 by Superior Court Order No 736637.

Founded 1946

CALENDAR

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra performs the world premiere of Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award-nominated composer James Newton Howard’s “Concerto for Orchestra & Cello” on Saturday, March 23, at 8 p.m. at the Alex Theatre, and Sunday, March 24, at 7 p.m., at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Newton Howard’s work, under-

written by and dedicated to Maurice Marciano, was written for and spotlights Principal Cello Andrew Shulman. Conductor Laureate Jeffrey Kahane will lead the orchestra, which will also per-form Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 14, and Symphony No. 36, “Linz.” LACO Principal Timpani and Percussion Wade Culbreath takes center stage on marimba for Gabriella Smith’s “Riprap” for marimba and strings.

Newton Howard, one of the most versatile and respected composers currently working in film, has com-posed scores for more than 120 movies during a 30-year career, including the Oscar-nominated scores for “Defiance,” “Michael Clayton,” “The Village,” “The Fugitive,” “The Prince of Tides” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” He also received Golden Globe nominations for his orchestral score for Peter Jackson’s blockbuster remake of “King Kong,” his sym-phonic score for “Defiance,” and his songs from “Junior” and “One Fine Day.” He won the 2009 Grammy Award for his co-score with Hans Zimmer for “The Dark Night,” and an Emmy for the theme to the Andre Braughter series “Gideon’s Crossing.” In 2008, World Soundtrack Award named

Newton Howard Film Composer of the Year for his work on the films “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “Michael Clayton” and “I Am Legend,” and he has received BMI’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Howard has also written for classical music artists and ensembles and has worked with popular music icons Elton John, Rod Stewart and Chaka Khan, among others.

Kahane, equally at home at the keyboard, on the podium and as a soloist with major orchestras, stepped down as LACO’s Music Director in 2017 following a suc-cessful 20-year tenure. He has established an international reputa-tion as a truly versatile artist, recog-nized by audiences around the world for his mastery of a diverse repertoire ranging from Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to Gershwin, Golijov and John Adams.

Concert Preludes, pre-concert talks held one hour before curtain and free for ticket holders, provide insights into the program’s music and artists. Tickets start at $28.

The Alex Theater is located at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Royce Hall is located at 340 Royce Drive. For information and tickets, call (213)622-7001 ext. 1, or visit laco.org.

LACO to perform music of James Newton Howard

photo courtesy of E F Marton Productions

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Conductor Laureate Jeffrey Kahane will lead the orchestra in performances on March 23, at the Alex Theatre, and March 24 at Royce Hall.

U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris and Rep. Adam Schiff introduced the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act, a bill to add more than 191,000 acres of the Rim of the Valley Corridor to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

“Protecting natural places like the Rim of the Valley Corridor from urban expansion is essential for improving the quality of life in the Los Angeles basin,” Feinstein said. “Our legislation would con-nect more Southern California res-idents to the trails and vast open spaces in the foothills of the sur-rounding mountains. It would also protect sensitive habitat for California wildlife including mountain lions, bobcats and gold-en eagles. The foothills surround-ing the Los Angeles basin are a truly special place worthy of stronger protections.”

“The Rim of the Valley is the critical bridge between our urban city centers, suburbs in the Los Angeles basin and the spectacular wilderness that surrounds us – our bill would help protect these lands for generations to come,” Schiff said.  “As more of this area is developed and open space dimin-

ishes, the wildlife it supports is increasingly at risk. Congress must preserve the Rim of the Valley for the next generations, but we must act quickly on a bipartisan basis or this once in a century opportunity will be gone forever.”

The expansion would allow the National Park Service and the local community to work together to better protect natural resources and habitat in the corridor and improve access for recreational and educa-tional purposes.

The legislation gives the park service the authority to implement capital improvements, including new trails, roads and public facili-ties; monitor and study wildlife and ecosystems; participate in cooperative conservation and recreation planning; provide tech-nical assistance for resource pro-tection and recreation planning; contribute financially to projects that protect important natural resources; and acquire land through donation, exchange or purchase.

The proposed expansion respects existing private property rights and local land-use authori-ties.

It would not require a landowner to participate in any conservation or recreation activities or place additional restrictions on property owners.

The legislation does not allow for land acquisition through emi-nent domain.

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 3 March 21, 2019

The Formosa Cafe, scheduled to reopen this May or June, has been designated a local cultural resource by the city of West Hollywood.

“Please do what’s right for the place,” Bobby Green, a partner in 1933 Group, which owns the Formosa, told the council before it unanimously approved the designa-tion. “Let’s save it for future genera-tions.”

The Formosa is looking for a gen-eral manager and other staff mem-bers as it prepares for its reopening. There will be a hiring event at the restaurant on March 5 from 1-3 p.m.

The cafe was frequented over the years by singers, actors and mob-sters during Hollywood’s Golden Age, but closed suddenly in December 2016. Following some uncertainty about the building’s fate, 1933 Group, a hospitality company that specializes in renovating and reopening historic hospitality venues, secured a lease in spring 2017.

The Formosa’s local designation comes two years after the City Council recognized it as one of near-ly 60 properties throughout the city that could be eligible for historic designation at the local, state or national level. The city’s Historic Preservation Commission recom-mended the cafe’s designation in January, and local residents and preservation enthusiasts have long supported it.

“The iconic Formosa Cafe on Historic Route 66 played an impor-tant role in West Hollywood’s com-

mercial development, especially in the growing film industry,” said Victor Omelczenko, board presi-dent of the nonprofit West Hollywood Preservation Alliance, after the commission approval in January.

Omelczenko and another mem-ber of the alliance were not avail-able for comment before press time.

Several key details of Formosa’s origins are unknown, including its architect and builder, according to the city of West Hollywood’s his-toric preservation records. The con-struction date is estimated between 1920-29. Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra were among its regulars. Christopher Lloyd and John Cusack, who advocated for landmark desig-nation when the cafe faced the threat

of demolition in the early 1990s, were two of the Formosa’s contem-porary regulars. It has also made several memorable cameo appear-ances in “L.A. Confidential” and other movies and TV shows.

The interior was renovated in mid-2015, a little more than one year before the Formosa closed. 1933 Group is working with the grandson of former owner Lem Quon to deco-rate the new Formosa with the same autographed celebrity photos and other artifacts that used to be on dis-play, and the menu will have a “modern twist” on the Mongolian beef, Beijing chicken and other favorite dishes from the past.

A total of 762 places in West Hollywood have been designated as cultural resources, including 15 that have a national designation.

Formosa becomes WeHo’s newest local landmarkBy luke harold

photo by Luke Harold

The Formosa Cafe is months away a reopening that many local resi-dents have been looking forward to.

Feinstein, Harris, Schiff introduce bill to protect Rim of the Valleyn Schiff calls the Rim and bridge between the city, suburbs and ‘spectacular wilderness’

A 75-year-old man was struck and killed by a vehicle on March 17 in the 1100 block of South Robertson Boulevard, near the inter-section of Whitworth Drive.

The Los Angeles County coro-ner’s department identified the vic-tim as Los Angeles resident Philip Difranco. He was struck by a 2006 Toyota Corolla at approximately 8:30 p.m. while crossing Robertson

Boulevard outside of a marked crosswalk.

The driver pulled over and waited for police to arrive. Alcohol or drugs were not a factor and authorities did not cite or arrest the unidentified dri-ver. Paramedics pronounced the vic-tim dead at the scene.

The collision remains under investigation by the LAPD’s West Traffic Division. Anyone with infor-mation is urged to call (213)473-0234.

A man who authorities said was experiencing a psychiatric emergency climbed approxi-mately 80 feet up a crane in Koreatown Monday evening, prompting a large police and fire department response.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were notified about the man climbing up the crane in the 3000 block of W. Eighth Street at approximately 4:45 p.m. Police summoned a crisis negotiator and Eighth Street was closed near Berendo Street, LAPD spokesman Frank Preciado said.

“He climbed up the crane on a ladder system. The crane was pointed northbound over Eighth Street and we had to close down the street to protect vehicles and pedestrians,” Preciado added. “The crisis negotiator communi-cated with the individual and the personnel attached harnesses and climbed up. They put a harness on the man and he came down around 8 p.m.”

Preciado said the man was in his 20s and was distraught over family and financial issues. He was taken to a hospital for a psy-chiatric evaluation and was to be held for 72 hours.

4 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

Wilshire Division detectives are no longer investigating a case in which bloody symbols were scrawled on a bench in Pan Pacific Park as a hate incident after authori-ties determined the symbols resem-bling swastikas were actually Hindu symbols.

The incident drew widespread attention on March 4 after park employees found a large amount of blood in and around a restroom near the park’s recreation center, and the symbols marked on a concrete bench near the playground. Because the symbols were initially believed to be swastikas, which they closely resem-ble, and there was a large amount of blood found, the LAPD launched an extensive investigation that involved using a blood hound to follow a scent and blood trail leading away from the area. The dog followed the trail south through the park and east on Third until the it went cold.

Nobody linked to the incident was found. The symbols were quickly cleaned up after being documented by authorities.

Senior Lead Officer Perry Jones said park staff later told investigators about a homeless man with a serious foot injury who had frequented the

park in the days before the blood was found, and he is likely the person who scrawled the symbols. He added that a woman of Indian descent who lives nearby and saw the symbols told police they were Hindu in origin. Writing associated with Hinduism was also found near-by, he added.

Police are still uncertain about the individual’s identity and vandalism charges could be filed if they are found. Wilshire Division Det. Ozzie

Delgadillo added that investigators are determined to get to get to the bottom of the situation.

“It’s quite unusual to find a sub-stantial amount of blood in a bath-room and that’s why we got the blood hounds,” Delgadillo added. “If anyone out there knows anything about it, we would like them to call us.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Wilshire Division detectives at (213)922-8205.

Symbols originally thought to be anti-Semitic in park no longer considered a hate incident

photo by Edwin Folven

A large amount of blood and bloody graffiti was found near the play-ground and recreation center at Pan Pacific Park in early March.

By edwin folven

By edwin folven By edwin folven

Man comes down from crane after more than three hours

The Los Angeles Police Department is searching for four items of original furniture from the Samuel Freeman House in Hollywood.

The house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the furni-

ture was removed and placed in storage after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The four pieces of fur-niture disappeared from a locked room in a storage facility sometime between July 5 and Sept. 17, 2012. There were no signs of forced entry.

The storage facility is managed by USC’s School of Architecture.

To view the furniture, visit lap-donline.org. Anyone with informa-tion is asked to contact the LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division at (213)486-6940.

Missing furniture from Freeman House sought

Two men have been charged with defrauding a dozen victims out of nearly $4 million in a luxury automobile sublease scam, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Arman Mave Hazarian, 47, also known as Dean Hazarian, of Tarzana, and Afshin Hashemi, 47, also known as Al Hashemi, of Hollywood, face 40 felony counts of grand theft of an automobile and six felony counts of grand theft. The charges include allegations of taking more than $500,000 through fraud and embezzlement and tak-ing property valued at more than $3.2 million.

Hazarian and Hashemi allegedly used internet ads to convince

investors to lease or purchase luxu-ry vehicles and turn them over to the defendants, who were supposed to sublease the vehicles at a profit, said Deputy District Attorney Alex Karkanen of the Automobile Insurance Fraud Division. The men are accused of selling the automo-biles to unsuspecting buyers and pocketing the cash.

Some of the victims allegedly provided multiple cars to the defen-dants, resulting in losses of up to $750,000. Hazarian and Hashemi also are accused of defrauding the secondary buyers by receiving money for the vehicles but never signing over the titles.

The defendants face 15 years and four months in state prison.

Suspects charged for allegedly running a luxury vehicle scheme

Pedestrian struck and killed on Robertson Boulevard

The Beverly Hills City Council joined the many voices condemning the horrific murders of dozens of innocent civilians in New Zealand.

“Our hearts break for the peo-ple of New Zealand,” Councilman Julian Gold said. “Once again, an unimaginable tragedy has left lives in senseless ruin and we can only pray for the day when we can live in peace.” 

Authorities say a gunman opened fire in two mosques in Christchurch and streamed the incident on social media. A man-ifesto belonging to the alleged gunman was later discovered and included references to white

supremacy and praised mass murder. 

“In the face of this assault on humanity, we must unite to eliminate Islamophobia in all of its despicable forms,” Councilman John Mirisch said. “As a Jew representing a large Jewish community, I stand in solidarity with Muslims around the world and express my deep-est sympathies to the families of the victims.” 

The city of Beverly Hills’ flag was lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims. The City Council remembered those lost with a moment of silence at its March 20 meeting.

Beverly Hills condemns mass shooting in New Zealand

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 5 March 21, 2019

6 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion on March 19 directing county departments to stop using the her-bicide glyphosate while an investi-gation is conducted to examine whether the chemical has potential adverse environmental and health impacts.

Glyphosate is a main ingredient in the herbicide “Roundup,” which is used by many public agencies and private companies for weed abatement. There is a growing body of scientific study about the safety of using herbicides and the potential for negative impacts on human, animal and environmental health, said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, 5th District, who co-authored the motion

“I am asking county depart-ments to stop the use of herbicide until public health and environ-mental professionals can deter-mine if it’s safe for further use in

L.A. County and explore alterna-tive methods for vegetation man-agement,” Barger said.

“In a 2015 study led by 17 experts from 11 countries, the World Health Agency’s International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that glyphosate should be classified as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans,’” added Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. 3rd District. “That conclusion makes it imperative that we question any long-term use of this controversial herbicide, and that’s exactly what this motion calls for.”

The motion directs the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the department of Public Health, Parks and Recreation, Beaches and Harbors and the Agricultural Commission, to study the chemi-cal’s use and report back to the board within 30 days.

County seeks study of weed killer’s effect on health and environment

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Sunset Strip was known for its large billboards and tall wall signs that advertised the newest records from musicians who now fall into the classic rock category. Through the years, the content of those bill-boards changed – now advertise-ments encourage passersby to check out the newest television shows – but the allure remains for large outdoor advertisements in West Hollywood.

Along Sunset Boulevard, many of the billboards are static, meaning they only show one advertisement, but there may soon be more digital signs that can show multiple ads and serve the public good as well.

On March 19, the West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously to approve an amend-ment to the zoning ordinance and an amendment to the Sunset Specific Plan.

By doing so, the council “adopt-

ed the rules that will guide the future of advertising on the Strip,” said Bianca Siegl, long-range plan-ning manager for the city. Up to 20 new billboards could come to the Strip over the next 15 years.

Though the billboards and tall wall signs can be static or digital, market trends show the new adver-tising spaces are likely to all be dig-ital, Siegl said.

The billboards will also display civic announcements and art, mov-ing and still imagery, 17.5 percent of the time.

“A lot of artists are now working in digital media, and we think this is a great opportunity to create almost an outdoor museum of digital art for people to enjoy while on the Strip,” Siegl said.

Councilman John Heilman called the policy a “win-win.”

“It’s a win for the sign companies and the property owners, but it’s also a win for the community … Ultimately, this is a good compro-mise between the businesses and the city,” he said.

The exact amount of time the art and civic announcements will be shown was the subject of some dis-

agreement during public comment, but everyone seemed to agree that the art will add to the atmosphere on the Sunset Strip.

“This would make West Hollywood a world leader in pre-senting digital artwork on this mag-nificent scale,” said Catherine Lee, who spoke during public comment.

The city plans to retain a curator to select the art that will be dis-played and will host quarterly meetings with the billboard owners to get their input about the art that’s chosen. Then, the West Hollywood Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission will make the final decisions on which artwork will be shown and when it will be exhibit-ed. The city will schedule the art a year in advance so billboard owners can have an idea of what will run alongside their advertisements.

Though the motion passed unan-imously, several council members raised concerns, especially con-cerning the scoring system that will be developed to choose which bill-boards and wall signs will get brought to the council for the neces-sary approval.

Councilman John Duran said he wanted to be sure the scoring sys-tem rewarded creativity, not medi-ocrity, and Heilman and Mayor Pro Tem Lindsey Horvath said the applications that have already been filed should receive some sort of bonus to give them priority.

Some concerns were also raised about the digital displays themselves.

Councilwoman Lauren Meister said she was worried that the light from digital billboards would adversely affect residents and businesses, such as hotels, where incoming light could cause problems.

“I don’t want us to look like Vegas. I really don’t, and that’s my fear,” she said.

Siegl said the next step will be for West Hollywood to decide how to score the criteria for applicants, and she said she expects a call for bill-board project proposals to go out this summer.

The city will probably begin with about 12 billboards over the next couple of years, which will allow the city to see how the program is progressing and save some bill-board space for future applicants, Siegl said.

n Up to 20 signs could be built in next 15 years

photo by Robert Landau

The Sunset Strip was once home to advertisements for many of the pop-ular rock ‘n’ roll acts of the day.

West Hollywood paves way for digital advertisements on the Sunset Strip

BY CAMERON KISZLA

photo by Cameron Kiszla

West Hollywood may start accepting applications for new billboards as soon as this summer.

“I don’t want us to look like Vegas. I really don’t, and that’s my fear.”

-Councilwoman Lauren Meister

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 7 March 21, 2019

Months removed from the dev-astating Woolsey fire, the Los Angeles Fire Department and other local agencies hosted an emergency preparation and evacu-ation town hall for Hollywood Hills residents on March 16.

“We need folks to be ready and start thinking ahead,” said Barbara Mariscal, a disaster program man-ager for the American Red Cross Los Angeles region, addressing a roomful of local residents at the American Legion on North Highland Avenue.

County officials called the Woolsey fire one of the worst wildfires in modern history, and warned that climate change is cre-ating a year-round wildfire risk. Other natural disasters, such as earthquakes, could strike at any time as well.

Many residents have a series of “disaster denials,” including “it won’t happen to me” and “it’s going to be so bad, it doesn’t mat-ter what I do,” Mariscal said. But having the foresight to make sure you have your phone charger, medicines you might require and other necessities will come in handy in a shelter following an evacuation when help from gov-ernment agencies could be at least a few days away.

“All those basic items are important to hold you down at a shelter for at least three days,”

Mariscal said. During the 1994 Northridge

Earthquake, many residents flocked to park areas for safety because the open space provided a sense of security. With Los Angeles overdue for another big earthquake, city officials are expecting residents to make their way to open spaces, including city parks, in the immediate aftermath.

“Our job will be to just bring resources to those areas and help people in those areas,” said Sonya Young Jimenez, emergency man-agement coordinator for the city of Los Angeles.

Excessive rain can also pose a risk. Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, recalled the heavy rainfall the city was expecting from the El Nino a few years ago. In November 2015, Mayor Eric Garcetti created an El Nino task force to make sure the city was adequately prepared. The heavy rains ended up missing Los Angeles, but the relatively mild downpour did create a few safety hazards.

“Even with a mini El Nino, there were so many mudslides, so much rain,” Ryu said.

A year later, a concrete slab of the foundation of a house in Laurel Canyon slid down a hill and blocked a roadway due to rain.

“We knew back then, I knew back then, that public safety was paramount,” Ryu said.

Brownley introduces bills to fix VA funding process

Hollywood Hills residents urged to be prepared if disaster strikes

photo by Luke Harold

Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, mentioned a por-tion of a house that slid down Laurel Canyon during heavy rains as one recent example of why residents need to be prepared.

By luke harold

photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County Fire Department

The Woolsey fire, pictured, burned approximately 150 square miles, and destroyed approximately 1500 structures.

U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee, introduced two bills to ensure that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has the resources it needs to care for America’s heroes.

The “Veterans Healthcare Improvement Act” would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct an independent audit of VA’s medical care budget so that Congress can ensure there are enough resources for veterans to get the care they’ve earned and deserve. The “Build a Better VA Act” would fix a bureaucratic bud-geting rule that is an unnecessary roadblock to quickly expanding veterans’ access to VA care in underserved communities across the nation.

“President Trump released limit-ed details on his proposal for next year’s budget, and there are many unanswered questions about whether his VA healthcare budget is adequate to uphold the promises we have made to our nation’s heroes,” Brownley said. “It is imperative

that VA’s budget is sufficient to meet the healthcare needs of our veterans and that it provides suffi-cient funds to upgrade and replace outdated facilities. VA must also be nimble and have the legal authority necessary to open new community clinics in areas of greatest need. That’s why I introduced legislation that will help us better ensure VA has the funds it needs to serve our veterans and to cut through bureau-cracy that is making it harder to get care to some of our most vulnerable and underserved veterans. We have a responsibility to the men and women who served our nation, and these bills will help us uphold our commitments.” 

In 2006, 2007 and 2008, VA ran out of money, requiring emergency supplemental appropriations, because VA’s budget underestimat-ed the influx of new veterans need-ing care. To ensure this never hap-pened again, Congress passed a law in 2009 requiring GAO to provide an independent analysis of the department’s health care funding needs. That requirement expired in 2013, and in the years since, VA has

again run low on funds – threaten-ing access to care for many veter-ans. The Veterans Healthcare Improvement Act would bring back this neutral GAO assessment so that Congress can better ensure VA has the resources necessary to sup-port the care America’s veterans have earned and deserve.

Every major VA medical facility lease — those with yearly rental costs over $1 million — must be authorized by Congress, and for many years, this was done routine-ly. However, bureaucratic budget battles in Congress have prevented these routine authorizations from moving forward in recent years. The Build a Better VA Act would eliminate this roadblock, allowing major medical facility leases to be authorized by resolution rather than legislation – the same process cur-rently used for other agency leases that are executed by the General Services Administration. By cutting through the bureaucracy that holds up new leases, this bill will help ensure that veterans can access the care they need, especially in under-served communities.

8 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

When D.G. Cathcart, Los Angeles County’s former chief personal property appraiser, was journaling about his life, his job and anything that caught his fancy, he could never have guessed how many people would show interest.

But 20 of Cathcart’s journals dating from 1934 to 1951 were discovered in the basement of the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration by Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, a self-described “history buff” who realized how important such docu-ments could become.

“He was just keeping track of what’s going on that day, and now it has become history,” Prang said.

On March 18, Prang donated the journals to the Seaver Center for Western History Research at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

“I’m glad we could give it to the museum, where it can be appreci-ated and maybe provide some valuable insight and research opportunities for people in the future,” Prang said.

The journals contain a wide variety of information and docu-ments.

For instance, Cathcart recorded information relating to work, like notes about “escaped assess-ments” – missed tax payments overlooked by the assessor – and a promotion he didn’t get. Just a few pages away, he placed newspaper clippings, like articles discussing the then-burgeoning World War II, advertisements for pianos and anything else he found interesting.

When Prang brought the jour-nals, Betty Uyeda, a collections manager for the Seaver Center, thanked him for the donation and showed him some of the other assessor-related documents the museum already has, including fire insurance maps and the prop-erty records of famous Angelenos like Pío Pico, the last Mexican governor of Alta California and namesake of Pico Boulevard, and his brother Andrés Pico, a general, state assemblyman and state sena-tor.

Uyeda said the photographs, clippings and other papers in the journals will be preserved, scanned and cataloged for future research.

“Thank you for not throwing these materials away. It’s due to visionaries such as yourself that the museum is able to save and preserve a lot of these documents, especially these government doc-uments,” she said.

John Cahoon, another collec-

tions manager for the Seaver Center, said the journals have a lot of value because they can shed light on local government of the past, making them an ideal fit for

the Seaver Center’s collection. “This is the kind of stuff that

this place is about,” he said. Prang said he was happy to be

able to help, and finding the jour-nals allowed him to pursue anoth-er of his passions: genealogy. He said he’s traced his family history back more than 1,000 years, and

Prang put some of his skills to work researching Cathcart and other former assessor’s office employees on Ancestry.com

Prang also wasn’t afraid to put his assessor skills to the test, and he took a stab at estimating the value of the journals.

“Priceless,” he said.

Assessing the value of the past

BY CAMERON KISZLA CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the West Hollywood Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following item: LOCATIONS: CITYWIDE, West Hollywood, California REQUEST: Amendment to the General Plan to incorporate the recent-

ly revised Earthquake Fault Zone Map into the Safety and Noise Element of the General Plan, and the updated Hazard Mitigation Plan as an Appendix of the General Plan.

PERMIT(S): General Plan Amendment, and any other required permits. APPLICANT(S): City of West Hollywood TIME/PLACE Thursday, April 4, 2019 OF HEARING: at 6:30 p.m. West Hollywood Park Public Meeting Room – Council Chambers 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069 ZONES: Citywide ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS: Categorically exempt from the provisions of the California

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section §15061 (Review for Exemption)

The staff report will be available on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at City Hall, 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard, the W.H. Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, and on-line at www.weho.org IF YOU CHALLENGE this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in the written correspondence delivered to the West Hollywood Planning Commission, via the Planning & Development Services Department at, or prior to, the Public Hearing. To comply with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) will be available for checkout at the meeting. If you require spe-cial assistance to participate in this meeting (e.g., a signer for the hearing impaired), you must call, or submit your request in writing to the Office of the City Clerk at (323) 848-6409 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The City TDD line for the hearing impaired is (323) 848-6496. Special meeting related accommodations (e.g., transportation) may be provided upon written request to the Office of the City Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. For information on public transportation, call 1-323-GO-METRO (323/466-3876) or go to www.metro.net ALL INTERESTED PERSONS are invited to attend said Public Hearing to express their opinion in this matter. For further information contact Tara Worden, Assistant Planner, in the Planning & Development Services Department at (323) 848-6475; or via email at: tworden@weho.org Yvonne Quarker, City Clerk Мы сообщаем вам об обсуждении проекта. Для дополни-

тельной информации на русском языке звоните: 323-848-

6826

photo by Cameron Kiszla

Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang points out some of the highlights of the 20 journals he found in the basement of the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration.

n Jeffrey Prang finds and donates decades-old journals to Natural History Museum

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced on March 11 that the Los Angeles County Library is among the 30 finalists for the 2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for ser-vice to their communities. For 25 years, the award has celebrated institutions that demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service and are making a difference for indi-viduals, families and communi-ties.

“The 30 National Medal final-ists showcase the tremendous ability of libraries and museums to serve as vital community resources,” said Kathryn K. Matthew, director of the IMLS. “The Institute of Museum and Library Services is honored to recognize these leading institu-tions.”

This is the second year in a row the library has been selected as a finalist, as it also made the list in 2018.

“We are thrilled to be one of this year’s finalists for the IMLS National Medal, the most presti-gious recognition in our field,”

said L.A. County Library Director Skye Patrick. “Libraries are much more than books, and L.A. County Library strives to improve the lives of all Los Angeles County residents through our many programs focused on lifelong learning, bridging the digital divide, culti-vating creativity and serving as a gathering place for community engagement.”

Throughout March and April, IMLS will celebrate the excel-lent community work of these institutions through its Share Your Story social media cam-paign, which will feature the finalists on their Facebook and Twitter pages. L.A. County Library was featured on March 15. IMLS is encouraging com-munity members who have visit-ed L.A. County Library loca-tions or regularly use the library’s services to share their story on social media using #IMLSmedals and by tagging @LACountyLibrary.

National Medal winners will be announced later this spring. To see the full list of finalists and learn more about the National Medal, visit imls.gov.

For information, visit lacountylibrary.org.

L.A. County Library named as finalist for 2019 service medal

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 9 March 21, 2019

A few months after deciding to end WeHo Pedals, a bikeshare program that was losing money and never met ridership expecta-tions, the West Hollywood City Council voted to launch a new dockless electric bikeshare pro-gram that it hopes will be more popular with residents and visi-tors.

An 18-month pilot program will be established. The council con-siders the program to be dockless, but bicycles would have to be returned to docking stations, locked at a rack, remain on private properties with owners’ consent or left in other designated areas to avoid bikes left askew on public rights of way. One company will be selected to operate the pro-gram, and bicycles will be avail-able to users via smartphone app.

The city’s contract with CycleHop for operation of WeHo Pedals expires at the end of August, but the city can exercise a 30-day termination clause if the pilot program is ready to launch before then.

“I’m for getting rid of what we have now because we’re losing so much money on it, but I also think that we need to have infrastructure in place before we do anything,” said Councilwoman Lauren Meister, one of two votes against the proposal.

When the City Council voted to end WeHo Pedals, which operated on an approximately $200,000 deficit in its first year, a lack of bicycle lanes throughout the city was mentioned by council mem-bers as one of the obstacles. WeHo Pedals riders also struggled riding up West Hollywood’s hilly terrain, an issue the council hopes electric bicycles will solve.

Councilman John Duran was the other no vote. He said it’s unlikely that riders will return bicycles to designated areas. He also supported a Transportation Commission recommendation to

include electric scooters in the pilot program. There is currently a citywide ban that prohibits scooter companies from leaving their devices within the city, with an exception for private property owners who choose to allow them.

“Enough time has passed by and it looks like, as a passing fad, that the novelty is wearing down,” Duran said. “But there are still people who are utilizing the scoot-ers and I’d like to at least get an understanding through a pilot pro-gram of whether or not we can successfully regulate them, rather than a complete no.”

Since hitting the streets late in 2017, many Angelenos have embraced scooters as a first-mile/last-mile solution and for being environmentally friendly. But many other residents and local leaders have been worried about the safety concerns, including rid-ers using the devices without hel-mets and on sidewalks within close proximity to pedestrians.

“Are we going to stop progress on a new industry that is not only here to stay but actually represents the solution, or at least a big part

of a larger solution for mobility in Los Angeles and getting cars off the road?” Genevieve Morrill, president of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said about the scooters.

The council asked city staff to present an ordinance to ban bicy-cle riding on sidewalks while they’re in electric mode, and options for a possible city subsidy of the program.

WeHo adding revamped bikeshare pilot program

By luke harold

n After WeHo Pedals underperformed, city will bring in electric bikes hoping to attract riders

photo by John Viscott/courtesy of the city of West Hollywood

WeHo Pedals will continue in West Hollywood until the new pilot pro-gram is ready to launch, or until the city’s contract with CycleHop expires in August.

Los Angeles County is launching its draft Vision Zero Action Plan to guide the first five years of its effort to elimi-nate fatalities on roadways. It’s a plan with a role for everyone.

Throughout March, the public is encouraged to help review and provide comments to the Vision Zero Plan that is intended to be applied to unincorpo-rated communities where local streets and roadways are managed by the county of Los Angeles.

With Vision Zero, traffic deaths and severe injuries are looked at through the lens of actions and behaviors that can be changed through engineering, education and enforcement. Vision Zero is nothing new. It’s a traffic safety initiative that began in Sweden in the 1990s that has grown to U.S. cities and counties over the past decade.

In 2017, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors embraced bring-ing Vision Zero to unincorporated communities and roadways, where about 80 of those deaths and 500 of those injuries occur each year.

The draft plan identifies actions aimed at enhancing county processes, trainings and practices.

Traffic deaths are on the rise in unin-corporated Los Angeles County. Between 2013-17, traffic-related deaths increased by nearly 28 percent on unincorporated county roadways. During this time, 383 people died and 1,648 people were severely injured.

Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for children 5 to 14  years old, and the third leading cause of premature death overall. About 10 percent of all fatal and severe injury collisions on unincorporated county roadways were hit and run col-lisions, meaning that the driver did not stop to render aid or report the colli-sion.

Although people walking were only involved in 9 percent of all collisions (including those resulting in minor, severe, and fatal injuries) on unincor-porated county roadways from 2013-17, they were involved in 20 percent of the fatal and severe injury collisions.

County seeks public comment on Vision Zero plan for traffic

10 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

Dr. Zab Mosenifar, professor and executive vice chair of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Medicine, is a man of routines. He has spent his entire career at Cedars-Sinai, lived in the same house for 39 years and runs every day – rain or shine, without fail or exception.

“I don’t remember a day I haven’t run in the last 50 years,” said Mosenifar, 70, who also serves as the Geri and Richard Brawerman Chair in Pulmonary

and Critical Care Medicine and as medical director of the Women’s Guild Lung Institute.

On Saturday, Mosenifar ran his 100th marathon – the Catalina Island Marathon, rated the sixth toughest in the world, on a rugged course he had already conquered 37 times. By the time he complet-ed this latest marathon, Mosenifar had run roughly 5.6 times around the Earth, a total of about 135,200 miles.

“Only my last car had more miles on it than my own knees,” said Mosenifar, although he admit-tedly shares that he has only owned three cars in his entire life – all black Porsches – that he drives until they can be driven no more. “I’m frugal.”

The same cost-saving approach comes into play when buying his running shoes, the biggest expense in his life. Mosenifar, who puts about 450 miles on each pair of shoes, shops various online retail-ers to see if his favorite brand, Hoka, is on sale.

go home and go for a 10-mile run, even if I already ran in the morn-ing. That’s my bar. That’s how I try to get over some of these stresses of my life.”

Before Saturday’s race,

Mosenifar said he wasn’t focused on the milestone number of 100 completed marathons.

“I’m more impressed that I’ve been able to run all of these years,” said Mosenifar.

Cedars-Sinai doctor runs 100th marathon Mosenifar laces up his Hokas by

5 a.m. each day, then he’s out the door running in the Santa Monica Mountains. Monday through Thursday he runs six miles. On Fridays, he’s alongside a group of men he’s trained with for years and runs eight miles. On the weekends, he goes 11 to 12 miles – a total of 50 miles per week.

After each run, Mosenifar enjoys a cup of black coffee and half a bagel. He’s in his office at Cedars-Sinai by 7 a.m., and by noon he’s sipping on vegetable soup for lunch. Without fail, he takes an espresso break at 3 p.m., using the same yellow mug his daughter – now 30 – made for him as a young child. And for dinner every night, Mosenifar enjoys a dinner of pasta with pesto and a salad with his wife of 35 years, though she eats a different meal altogether.

“I use running not just for my own solitude, but as a tremendous release of stress from work, because there can be some really tough, sad days,” said Mosenifar. “I am disciplined. I am not some-one who will have a few drinks. I

On March 24, more than 24,000 participants from 63 countries and all 50 states will gather before sunrise as they pre-pare to run in the 2019 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon.

Nicknamed “Stadium to the Sea,” the marathon begins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and passes through West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Century City before ending near the Santa Monica Pier.

To accommodate the runners, multiple streets will be closed in Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

In Hollywood, the runners will travel down Hollywood Boulevard, North Orange Drive and Sunset Boulevard before entering West Hollywood. The streets will close at 4 a.m. and should reopen by 1 p.m.

Hollywood Boulevard will be closed between Hillhurst Avenue and La Brea Avenue, North Orange Drive will be closed between Hollywood and Sunset boulevards, and Sunset Boulevard will be closed between Highland Avenue and Doheny Drive.

Some cross streets will also close at 4 a.m. and are expected to reopen by noon.

Hillhurst Avenue will be closed between Franklin Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, and La Brea Avenue will be closed between Hollywood Boulevard and De Longpre Avenue.

In addition, Vermont Avenue, Normandie Avenue, Western Avenue, Wilton Place, Gower Street, Vine Street, Cahuenga Boulevard and Highland Avenue will be closed between Franklin Avenue and Sunset Boulevard.

In West Hollywood, the marathon’s course will require some streets, including the Sunset Strip, to be closed from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parking will be strictly prohibited along the marathon route, and “No Parking” signs will be posted

prior to the event. Vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

The West Hollywood closures are: Sunset Boulevard between Havenhurst and Doheny drives, San Vicente Boulevard between Sunset Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Boulevard between La Cienega Boulevard and Doheny Drive, and Doheny Drive between Santa Monica Boulevard and Beverly Boulevard, where the marathon will enter Beverly Hills.

In Beverly Hills, the road clo-sures will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The closures are: Doheny Drive from North Santa Monica Boulevard to Burton Way, Burton Way from Doheny Drive to South Santa Monica Boulevard, South Santa Monica Boulevard from Rexford Drive to Rodeo Drive, Rodeo Drive from South Santa Monica Boulevard to Wilshire Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard from Rodeo Drive to South Santa Monica Boulevard, and South Santa Monica Boulevard from Wilshire Boulevard to Moreno Drive.

For information, visit lama-rathon.com.

Roads to be closed for Los Angeles Marathon

Nicknamed “Stadium to the

Sea,” the marathon begins at Dodger Stadium in Los

Angeles and passes through

West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and

Century City before ending near the

Santa Monica pier.

“I don’t remember a

day I haven’t run in the last 50 years.”

- Dr. Zab Mosenifar, professor and executive vice chair of

the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of

Medicine

photo courtesy of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Dr. Zab Mosenifar ran his 100th marathon Saturday, March 9, on Catalina Island. Mosenifar, 70, has run more than 135,000 miles.

while permanent housing is built. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, toured the new facility and said it will help alleviate the home-less crisis.

“We are investing billions of dol-lars in permanent housing and ser-vices to end this crisis for good, but our homeless neighbors can’t wait,” Garcetti said. “They need a place to sleep tonight, and that’s what ‘A Bridge Home’ brings to our communities. I’m grateful to Councilmember O’Farrell for his hard work and leadership, as well as the many partners that have made [this] possible. This site in the heart of Hollywood is another important step forward, and we won’t stop working until we bring every homeless Angeleno indoors.”

O’Farrell said the shelter is a model to be replicated throughout the city. The structure was built with outer membranes over rigid frames so the building can with-stand the elements but can be easily removed. It was built on the site of

a city-owned parking lot. “Homelessness is the number

one crisis facing our city, and noth-ing less than an ‘all hands on deck’ approach will bring relief to our challenges,” O’Farrell said. “From day one, Hollywood has recog-nized the critical importance of working together to bring this resource to the area. This facility was built with a collaborative approach that is reflective and emblematic of the Hollywood community.”

O’Farrell spearheaded the pro-ject, meeting with community groups and building support on the City Council. It is the second “A Bridge Home” facility to open, fol-lowing the first at El Pueblo in downtown Los Angeles.

Stephen Fletcher, regional direc-tor for PATH’s LA Metro Programs, said the new shelter will make a difference in many people’s lives.

“We will be providing program-ming and support services for peo-ple coming off the streets and being connected to permanent supportive

programs where they will, as soon as possible, be moved into perma-nent homes,” Fletcher said. “The outreach teams have been working in collaboration with LAHSA’s (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) coordinated entry sys-tem for the past few months to gen-erate a list of people who are expe-riencing homelessness in the Hollywood community and all those folks are the ones who will be coming into the shelter next Tuesday.”

The new facility has separate dorms for men and women with individual cubicles for each resi-dent. It also has restrooms, showers and a laundry facility, as well as office space for case workers. Full-time security will be stationed at the site and the city will oversee maintenance. A small outdoor area for pets is also included.

“This innovative bridge housing program is a way to provide imme-diate assistance where it’s needed the most,” said Miriam Gonzalez, of the social service agency The People Concern. “Having a shelter in the community where homeless individuals reside is paramount, and that will get people moving into more permanent housing.”

Additional city resources will be dedicated to the area around the facility including enhanced out-

reach, sanitation and public safety personnel. Capt. Cory Palka, com-manding officer of the Hollywood Division, said the new shelter will be a benefit for Hollywood.

“I think this is a major step for the city and the Hollywood com-munity to address this crisis called homelessness,” Palka added. “We are in desperate need of this alter-native and we owe it to the com-munity and the taxpayers who paid for this to give it everything we’ve got to see this turn into a huge suc-cess. It’s a solution to bridging the gap between homelessness and permanent housing.”

Others added that the facility has a welcoming layout, including a communal courtyard, that offers homeless individuals a dignified place to stay until they are placed in permanent housing.

“When I was homeless, I was in an old shelter model with a dorm-style room that was like jail,” said Shanae Cannon, who is now an outreach worker in Hollywood for LAHSA. “The new shelters give back more dignity and respect to people. Residents will have their own cubicle and more space and the service providers are more aware. We’re bringing more lived-experience staff like me to better connect with the people we’re serving.”

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 11 February 21, 2019

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted on March 19 to update codes to better address threats to public health posed by cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and cannabis smoking.

The new codes apply to unincor-porated areas of Los Angeles County and the approximately 5,000 county-owned facilities. They require a 50-foot buffer for smoking near windows and doors, and prohibit smoking in county parking lots. Previously, county code required a 25-foot buffer for smoking near buildings.

Anticipating the development of future technologies, the ordinance also defines smoking so that it cov-ers yet to be invented technologies using nicotine, tobacco and cannabis.

“Rules regarding cigarettes and cigarette-like products have not been significantly updated in a very long time,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, 3rd District. “No doubt future entrepreneurs will invent new ways to smoke, and rather than specifically update our ordinances each time, we have written this ordinance so that the rules protect-ing public health should not need updating again.”

The new codes also prohibit smoking at hospitals, libraries, museums, bus stops, outdoor dining establishments, beaches and parks.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control, secondhand smoke causes more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths and nearly 34,000 premature deaths from heart disease among U.S. nonsmokers each year,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “These changes will help save lives.”

For information, visit supervi-sorkuehl.com.

County updates smoking codes

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More than 100 people gathered on March 19 at an open house at a new temporary homeless shelter scheduled to open next Tuesday in Hollywood.

The facility at 1533 Schrader Blvd. will house 72 men and women, and will provide on-site services to help residents transition into permanent housing. It will be run by People Assisting the Homeless and The Center at Blessed Sacrament.

The shelter is part of the mayor’s “A Bridge Home” program, which provides extra funding for resources to City Council districts where temporary homeless shelters are created. The goal is for the shel-ter to be in place for three years

photo by Edwin Folven

Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilman Mitch O’Farrell spoke to the media during a tour of the new shelter’s dormitory.

Bridge housing to bring 72 homeless individuals indoors in Hollywood BY EDWIN FOLVEN

photo by Edwin Folven

Mayor Eric Garcetti (right) and Councilman Mitch O’Farrell toured the new bridge housing facility in Hollywood on March 19 and said it will make an impact on homelessness in the area.

“Homelessness is the number one crisis facing our

city.”

-Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District

12 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

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Dr. Susan Cheng, one of the nation’s leading cardiologists spe-cializing in population health sci-ences, has been named the Erika J. Glazer Chair in Women’s Cardiovascular Health and Population Science at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Cheng, who joined the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in 2018 as director of Cardiovascular Population Sciences in the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center and director of public health research, is a cardiologist, echocar-diographer and clinician-scientist who leads research programs

aimed at uncovering the drivers of cardiovascular aging in women and men.

“This endowment is an incredi-ble honor and privilege,” said Cheng, who came to Cedars-Sinai from Harvard Medical School, where she was assistant professor of medicine. She also served as an associate physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, as well as associate director of its Cardiac Imaging Core Laboratory. “This recognition represents Cedars-Sinai’s exceptionally strong com-mitment to advancing precision medicine in ways that are mean-ingful to both patients in the clin-ic and to public health.”

Cheng’s work is focused on unraveling how and why women and men experience the aging process differently and how this leads to different types of heart dis-ease, as well as diseases affecting other organ systems. Cheng also works on pinpointing predictors of healthy aging that may be specific to women or men by analyzing large volumes of population data, with the goal of developing rigor-

photo courtesy of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Susan Cheng, one of the nation’s leading cardiologists specializing in population health sciences, has been named the Erika J. Glazer Chair in Women’s Cardiovascular Health and Population Science at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Health. Endowed chairs enable Cedars-

Sinai to attract and retain highly distinguished scholar-researcher-physicians. Since the first in 1983, 70 chairs have been established at

Cedars-Sinai, generating continu-ing resources to support research and teaching efforts.

Cedars-Sinai is located at 8700 Beverly Blvd. For information, visit cedars-sinai.org.

Population health sciences expert to chair women’s cardiovascular health at Cedars

ous, data-driven approaches to maintaining health over the course of life.

“We need to better understand why we see persistent population level differences between women and men in heart health, as well as overall health over the lifespan,” said Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center. “Dr. Cheng’s research will help us develop new strategies for improv-ing long-term health and outcomes for both women and men world-wide.”

Cheng has served on the editorial boards of major cardiovascular and imaging journals and on leadership committees for the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology. She has chaired and contributed to American Heart Association scientific statements on research methods, heart disease statistics and the cardiovascular care of older adults. She has authored more than 170 publica-tions, and her work has been recog-nized with multiple awards and supported by continuous funding from the National Institutes of

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will hold four commu-nity meetings in March to evaluate the options to extend the Crenshaw/LAX Line to the north with connections to the Metro Expo, Purple and Red lines, as well as numerous bus lines.

The first three meetings will be in Los Angeles: from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 21 at the Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd.; from 10 a.m. to noon on March 23 at Virginia Road Elementary School, 2925 Virginia Road; and from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 26 at United Teachers Los Angeles, 3303 Wilshire Blvd.

The final meeting will be in West Hollywood from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 28 at the West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.

The Crenshaw/LAX Line is cur-rently under construction and runs between the Metro Green and Expo lines. With a scheduled opening in 2020, the light rail line will provide service to the Crenshaw Corridor, Inglewood

and LAX communities. The Crenshaw Northern

Extension will continue the line north and will serve portions of the cities of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. The project will ultimately provide a rail connection between the South Bay, LAX area, South Los Angeles, Inglewood, Crenshaw Corridor, Mid-City, Central Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Hollywood communities.

There are five potential align-ments under review. Metro is con-ducting technical analysis of the alignments and gathering public input to determine which alterna-tives will be studied further during the subsequent environmental review process.

The Crenshaw Northern Extension project is one of several new rail projects with funding from Measure M, a countywide sales tax measure approved by 71 percent of Los Angeles County voters in November 2016. Based on the current Measure M sched-ule, this project is planned to start construction in 2041 and begin operations in 2047. Metro is con-

ducting this study now as there are efforts underway to identify fund-ing to accelerate this schedule.

Information from this study will be used to help determine which alignment options will be studied further in a formal environmental review process that is anticipated to begin in early 2020.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate in the plan-ning of the transit project. The information at all four community meetings will be identical. All Metro meetings are held at ADA accessible facilities. Spanish trans-lation will be provided for all meetings. Korean translation will be provided for the March 26 meeting at United Teachers Los Angeles. Russian translation will be provided for the March 28 meeting at the West Hollywood Library. Other ADA accommoda-tions and translations will be avail-able by calling (323)466-3876 or California Relay Service at 711 at least 72 hours in advance.

For information, call (213)418-3093, email crenshawnorth@metro.net or visit metro.net/crenshawnorth.

Metro to host community meetings on Crenshaw Northern Extension

“This endowment is

an incredible honor

and privilege.”

- Dr. Susan Cheng, Erika J.

Glazer Chair in Women’s Cardiovascular Health and

Population Science at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 13 March 21, 2019

Metro has started potholing in Beverly Hills at the site of the future Wilshire/Rodeo subway sta-tion, which will be located on the southwest corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Reeves Drive,

Potholing, which is necessary to determine if there are any under-ground obstructions such as utility wires and pipes, is anticipated to continue through April 15. All work will be completed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lane closures and turn restrictions will be required, with two eastbound and west-bound lanes maintained on Wilshire Boulevard.

A two-year closure will likely begin in April on North Canon Drive at Wilshire Boulevard so trucks can access the construction staging yard. Canon Drive will be reconfigured as a cul-de-sac north of Wilshire Boulevard.

Excavation, hauling, instrumen-tation and street restoration is also occurring near Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards. North Gale Drive will be intermittently closed at Wilshire Boulevard to support excavation in the Gale Drive stag-ing yard.

Wilshire Boulevard to be reduced to one lane in each direc-tion between La Jolla Avenue and San Diego Way through March 22,

Excavation and hauling is also occurring near Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. Ogden Drive will be closed intermittently at

Wilshire Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday, to support hauling. Intermittent lane closures may also be necessary to support concrete pours and deck panel mainte-nance.

Near Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, excavation and dirt hauling continues as tunneling progresses. Hauling and deliveries to and from the La Brea Avenue staging yards will continue, as well as to and from a work zone in the center of Wilshire Boulevard just east of Sycamore Avenue. East and west Wilshire Boulevard will be intermittently reduced to one

lane between Sycamore and Mansfield avenues for deliveries.

Additionally, excavation, con-crete work and street maintenance is ongoing near Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue. Northbound Manhattan Place will be closed intermittently from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Friday, and temporary single lane closures on Wilshire Boulevard may be needed between Western Avenue and Manhattan Place

For questions and concerns, call the 24-hour project hotline at (213)922-6934, email the project team at purplelineext@metro.net or visit metro.net.

Potholing work underway at future Beverly Hills subway station site

photo courtesy of Metro

Crews excavating the future Wilshire/Fairfax subway station have reached the floor of the subway station box.

More than 100 county, city and community leaders gathered recently to highlight racial dispari-ties and address systemic racism in public policy affecting black resi-dents experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.

Black residents make up 9 per-cent of the county’s population, but more than one-third of its popula-tion experiencing homelessness. A groundbreaking new report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness highlights con-tributing factors and puts forth a broad set of targeted recommenda-tions.

The report, a culmination of nine months of work by the 26-member Ad Hoc Committee, includes 67 recommendations to create a framework that will advance equi-ty and eliminate disparities that impact black residents experienc-ing homelessness. The report is the first step of a collaboration between stakeholders to imple-ment recommendations, which include interweaving racial equity throughout homelessness policy and service delivery, and in public, private and philanthropic institu-tions.

A theme that was present throughout the committee’s work was that racism, discrimination and unconscious bias in public sys-tems and institutions has con-tributed to, and remains inter-twined with, homelessness. Ending homelessness will require a collective commitment to dis-mantling racism and addressing racial disparities, and sustained support from funders, policymak-ers, mainstream systems of care,

service providers and community partners, according to the report. The report highlights persistent cases of systemic bias in policies affecting housing, employment, criminal justice, and child welfare, and identifies ways to advance racial equity in the homeless ser-vices system.

“This report is a critical first step to address the collective failings of systems and institutions that – de facto and de jure – have been designed to deliver the painful dis-parities that affect so many of our brothers and sisters,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, 2nd District. “Hard work lies ahead to counter this tragic inheritance. If our region is to prosper, it is not only a moral imperative, it is an absolute eco-nomic imperative that all who call Los Angeles home are able to attain their full measure of dignity and self-worth.”

“We have long understood the painful reality that a disproportion-ate number of African-Americans are caught in the grip of homeless-ness, and we have to be more intentional about how to confront and end this crisis,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “This report puts the spotlight where it needs to be, and helps us focus efforts on the individuals, families and communities that need the most help.”

The report offered methodolo-gies for improvement. They include improving data collection, analysis and collaborative research to better understand and track issues affecting black individuals experiencing homelessness; advancing racially equitable poli-cies, programs and funding to insti-tutions, including LAHSA, home-less service providers, and city and county agencies; and enhancing cross-system collaboration and partnerships to more effectively prevent and reduce homelessness. Additional recommendations are to expand training opportunities to ensure service providers under-stand the impact of institutional racism; target investments and funding enhancements to initia-tives aimed at reducing disparities; and ensure sufficient funding is provided for services and pro-grams supporting black people experiencing homelessness.

For information and to read the report, visit lahsa.org.

Leaders look for new ways to address homelessness

The city of West Hollywood is partnering with Ring to provide discounts for residents wishing to purchase home security devices.

Launched in early 2019 for households in the city’s east side neighborhood watch areas, the West Hollywood City Council recently approved a plan to expand the program citywide. Funded by

the city of West Hollywood and Ring, the expanded program will enable 200 households to receive $100 promotional rebates toward Ring products. The program is part of the WeHo Smart City Initiative with the goal of creating a citywide security network for residents. To verify eligibility and for informa-tion, visit weho.org/smartcitycam.

The rebate program provides incentives when purchasing Ring video doorbells and security devices that connect to users’ mobile devices using the free Ring app. Ring is also offering $30 dis-counts on additional security devices, For more information, call Kate Kigongo at (323)848-6464, or email kkigongo@weho.org.

WeHo and Ring partner on doorbell security initiative

The Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council is holding a candidates forum on Monday, March 25, at 6 p.m. at the Hollywood City Hall building, 6501 Fountain Avenue.

The candidates are Louis

Abramson, Eman Al-Hassan, William Anabel, Patricia Andrews, Elvina Beck, Alexander Massachi, Daniel Perez, Barry Priester, Francis Shivers, Ferris Wehbe, Melvin Weiss and Natalie Yaru. Attendees can meet the candidates

and learn how they want to change the Hollywood community.

Voting will take place on Sunday, March 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hollywood City Hall. For information, visit chnc2019.org.

Central Hollywood council to host candidates forum

The Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has partnered with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and the Los Angeles Sparks in the largest community-based partner-ship in WNBA history.

The year-long campaign, titled “Spark the True You,” highlights women on active duty, female vet-erans and their families with the goal of helping them achieve career goals. The program will educate, assist and activate a grow-ing community of support for mil-itary women through advocacy workshops, self-care and healthy lifestyle seminars, retreats, youth assemblies, sports clinics and ath-lete mentorship.

“L.A. County is home to the

largest concentration of female veterans,” said Ruth A. Wong, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general. “The Spark the True You campaign and partnership will build our female military community, turning adver-sity to advantage, by enhancing the physical, mental and spiritual capacity of women veterans and their families.”

“Military women face hurdles in obtaining mental health services, medical services and support for traumatic experiences,” said Los Angeles Sparks President and COO Danita Johnson. “I’m hon-ored the Sparks will have the opportunity to work with L.A. County to play a role in normaliz-

ing the stigma around mental health issues and ensure military women and their families have bet-ter access to the resources they need to be successful and achieve their goals.”

The program will be launched at an event on Friday, March 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, 1816 S. Figueroa St. Attendees scheduled to attend include Johnson, Sparks Head Coach Derek Fisher and Sparks Guard Karlie Samuelson.

The Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs provides active duty service members and veterans help with obtaining benefits and resources.

For information, visit mva.lacounty.gov.

County joins L.A. Sparks to help female veterans

Letters to the EditorTom Bergin’s building has outlived its usefulness

Re “Tom Bergin’s on verge of landmark status,” March 14 issue

I had always automatically

been in favor of any proposal to designate a building as a historic-cultural monument, until I read Cameron Kiszla’s article. That made me see the light.

Apparently, what was once a prestigious bar named Tom Bergin’s, which opened some 70 years ago and was once frequented by many celebrities, has become unprofitable for its owners.

“It hasn’t turned a dollar in almost 20 years,” according to current owner, Derek Schreck. I recall having dinner there several times many years ago, but that was then, and not in recent years.

In a few words, this building has outlived its usefulness. Time moves on and things change (at age 92, I ought to know). Located on Fairfax Avenue, there are bound to be many purposes to which that property can serve a really useful function that would be of much greater value to the community. How about homeless housing?

George Epstein Detroit Street

“This report puts the spotlight

where it needs to be, and helps us focus efforts on the individuals,

families and communities that

need the most help.”

-Mayor Eric Garcetti

14 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

Make March Matter at Terranea Resort

Come eat and drink at Terranea to support patients at

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Now through March 31, order a Guinness at Nelson’s or the sea beans café, and Terranea will donate $1 from the sale to CHLA. Order a glass of ONEHOPE Wine or specialty Tito’s cocktail at any of the resort’s venues, and Terranea will donate $1 from each sale to CHLA, plus ONEHOPE Wine and Tito’s will match the resort’s contri-butions for the month. Additionally, at sea beans, purchase one of the CHLA blue butterfly cookies, vegan croissants or s’mores kits, and Terranea will donate 50 cents each. Dine at catalina kitchen, and Terranea will donate $5 to CHLA from every order of kid’s brunch. The fundraising campaign culmi-nates on March 31 in the Lobby Bar & Lounge with live entertainment by Richard Sherman, food, bever-ages and a silent auction. A portion of the sales will benefit CHLA. 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, (866)547-3066.

Dog Haus March Madness

During March Madness, Dog Haus in North Hollywood cel-

ebrates with three different varieties of Loaded Tots. Now through April 8, try the Reuben Tots, Southwestern Tots or BLT Tots. On Tuesday, March 26, the Dog Haus North Hollywood location also cel-ebrates its three-year anniversary

with $3 gourmet hot dogs and $3 draft beers. Enjoy the eatery’s all-beef dogs or vegetarian options from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  4929 Lankershim Blvd., (818)505-1033.

Gabi James craft beer dinner

Gabi James hosts an anniversary celebration on March 25 at 7

p.m. with a special five-course craft beer dinner and tap takeover with Smog City Brewing Co. Guests can enjoy a glass of Little Bo Pils with a trio of pinxtos, a Spanish bar snack. A white peach saison fol-lows with a citrus quince salad. A pour of Wow Pop! American pale ale is paired with Fideos Picanté, while the Infinite Wishes bourbon barrel-aged stout comes with braised short ribs Française. Finish with a glass of Sabre-Toothed Squirrel amber with Valencia orange upside-down cake and house-made whipped cream. A spe-cial cask ale, created just for Gabi James, will also be presented at the dinner. Jonathan and Laurie Porter, the owners of Smog City, will join Sara Gabriele, owner of Gabi James, to present each course. The dinner is $75 per guest. Tickets are limited and can be purchased by calling the restaurant. Gabi James also offers 22 gins, from the tradi-tional genever and sweeter Old Tom gin, to classic London dry gins. The restaurant features 10 ton-ics on the menu, and offers over 200 gin and tonic combinations. Specials on gin and tonics will be available March 25-31. Guests who get the restaurant’s gin passport and try each of the 22 gins receive a free flight of their favorite three gins, or

a gin and tonic beverage, along with a commemorative T-shirt. 1810 S. Catalina Ave., Redondo Beach, (310)540-4884.

Night with Legends of Basketball

Members of the Los Angeles chapter of the Legends of

Basketball will make an appearance at The Mixing Room on Friday, March 29, from 4 to 10 p.m. Come hang with your favorite retired players during the televised Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets game. Enjoy a double-patty cheeseburger with an Angel City IPA for $16. Guests who pur-chase a Tequila Comisario flight will have the chance to shoot a bas-ket with an NBA Legend before the game. Tip-off begins at 7:30 p.m. These legends will sign autographs throughout the evening. 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 765-8800.

Masters of Taste food & drink festival

The fourth annual Masters of Taste will be held on Sunday,

April 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the icon-ic Rose Bowl Stadium. This year, executive chef Michael Hung from Faith & Flower will serve as the event’s host chef and ambassador. All proceeds from the Masters of Taste will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services. Ticket holders can enjoy unlimited tasting from Los Angeles’ top master chefs, restaurants, craft cocktail bars, wineries and local breweries. This year’s featured restaurants include Preux & Proper, Salazar, The Raymond 1886, Faith & Flower, The Pizza Plant, Patina, Maple Restaurant at Descanso

Gardens, Eagle Rock Public House, La Bohème and Loquita. Sweet treats will be provided by Lark Cake Shop, Mignon Chocolate, Lady M Confections, Porto’s Bakery, Nomad Ice Pops, Supercool Creamery and more. Beverages will be offered by San Antonio Winery, Boxed Water, American Born Moonshine, Califia Farms, Humm Kombucha, Indie Brewing Company, Iron Triangle Brewery, Lincoln Beer Company and Otoño, among others. Attendees must be 21 years and older. General admission tickets are $105, and VIP tickets, which allow entrance at 3 p.m., are $165. Both tickets include unlimited tastings of all food and beverages. Parking is free, however, guests are encour-aged to use taxis or rideshares. To purchase tickets, visit mastersoft-

astela.com. 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, (626)791-6677.

Shaquille’s is open at L.A. Live

Hall of Fame basketball player and former Lakers star

Shaquille O’Neal has opened his first L.A. restaurant at L.A. Live. The restaurant serves Southern-style appetizers, salads, burgers, sand-wiches and plates with a focus on farm-fresh produce. It’s the only place in Los Angeles to order O’Neal’s famous fried chicken. The dish features a Jidori free-range chicken brined for 48 hours, and is served with pickled vegetables and house-made barbecue and hot

RESTAURANT NEWSBy Jill Weinlein

T-Bone Sale!

6333 W. Third St. • Farmers Market 323.938.5131

www.marcondas.com Family Owned at the Farmers Market for 78 Years

USDA Prime Now

$17.98 per lb. Good through 3/27/19

photo courtesy of Tomatomania

Tomatomania!

In addition to its spring bloom, Descanso Gardens hosts a tomato-centric event March 29-31 with cooking demos and a special bloody mary

bar.  The garden will offer different tomato plant seedlings for sale and share growing tips for your home garden. Enjoy weekend brunch at Maple Restaurant, by Patina Restaurant Group Maple, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tomatomania! is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada, (818)949-4200.

See Restaurant News page 17

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 15 March 21, 2019

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huntingtonmeats.com

MGM Resorts International con-tinues its partnership with Art Basel in Hong Kong, an art show running from March 29 to 31, through its multifaceted arts pro-gram MGM Resorts Art & Culture.

MGM Resorts Art & Culture will host the MGM Resorts Lounge in the Art Basel Collectors Lounge, in addition to presenting special events on-site at Art Basel in Hong Kong and at MGM COTAI in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing. The events highlight MGM Resorts’ engagement with art institutions around the world.

“Art Basel in Hong Kong is always an exciting time of the year because of all the opportunities to participate in initiatives and pro-jects surrounding the fair and the region,” said Tarissa Tiberti, exec-utive director of MGM Resorts Art & Culture. “We look forward to working in tandem with our coun-terparts at MGM China – MGM

MACAU and MGM COTAI – and are thrilled to support their second annual Symposium [at MGM COTAI] focusing on art and inno-vation.”

MGM Resorts Art & Culture continues its support of the Encounters sector of the Art Basel show in Hong Kong. Titled “Still We Rise,” Encounters will consist of 12 institutional-scale installa-tions, with eight works premiering at this year’s show.

Additionally, MGM COTAI will host its second annual “Transforming Art with Technology” symposium on Sunday, March 24. The recently completed, large-scale Spectacle installation at MGM COTAI is the

world’s largest concentrated area of interconnected LED screens. It displays digital content from around the world and will be the basis of a discussion on innovation and art.

Royal Academy of Arts Artistic Director Tim Marlow will moder-ate a discussion on the complex role of technology in the artistic process and how it affects the future of digital media. Panelists

include Michael Govan, CEO and Wallis Annenberg director at LACMA; Jeffrey Shaw, chair pro-fessor of media art at City University of Hong Kong; Bas van Beek, a multi-disciplinary contem-porary artist from the Netherlands; and contemporary artist Yang Yongliang.

MGM Resorts Art & Culture will also celebrate its partnership with LACMA and UCCA at a pri-

vate party on Thursday, March 28. Titled “The Endless Voyage of the Grand Nomad,” the event will be hosted by Princess Alia Al-Senussi and Dino Sadhwani at The Mills, a revitalization project of formerly defunct cotton-spinning mills. Guests will embark on an exciting adventure through different realms in a maritime exploration.

For information, visit mgmre-sorts.com.

MGM Resorts partners with LACMA for Art Basel in Hong Kong

photo courtesy of MGM Resort

Art Basel in Hong Kong features numerous exhibits and special presentations.Panelists include Michael Govan, CEO and Wallis

Annenberg director at LACMA.

16 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

United States Attorney Nicola T. Hanna recently announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California collected over $317 million in crim-inal, civil and forfeiture actions in fiscal year 2018.

The majority of the money was owed to victims of federal crimes, and some of it will be used to fund programs that support victim ser-vices. Included was more than $61.2 million in restitution and fines ordered in criminal cases – more than double the amount recovered in fiscal year 2016.

Last year’s collections also include over $235 million in assets forfeited for crimes committed in the United States and abroad, including more than $100 million recovered as part of the ongoing 1MDB international kleptocracy investigation. Prosecutors in the Asset Forfeiture Section also col-lected millions of dollars – includ-ing cash, numerous luxury and col-lectible vehicles, and residential properties – from a parking lot oper-ator who defrauded the Veterans

Administration. Forfeited assets, including money and the proceeds of property that will be sold, are deposited into the U.S. Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund. That money is used to compensate crime victims and fund law enforce-ment operations such as federal task forces and education initiatives.

The balance of the money collect-ed during the preceding fiscal year – $21.2 million – was secured through civil enforcement matters in which prosecutors recovered fed-eral funds lost through fraud or other misconduct. Additionally, the office’s Civil Division collected an additional $162.2 million from civil cases. That figure that includes a $65 million settlement with Prime Healthcare Services and its chief executive officer to resolve allega-tions of Medicare fraud.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is based in Los Angeles and is comprised of approximately 275 assistant United States attor-neys. For information, visit usdoj.gov.

Funds acquired in criminal cases to be used for victim assistance

POLICE BLOTTER

Beverly Hills Police Department March 1 At 4 p.m., an unknown suspect assaulted a victim near the corner of Charleville and S. Doheny. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 300 block of N. Beverly at 8:45 p.m. At 11:14 p.m., an unknown sus-pect committed a residential bur-glary in the 600 block of Alta. March 2 At midnight, an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked near the corner of Dayton and North Almont. An unknown suspect robbed a vic-tim in the 400 block of N. Bedford at 7:10 p.m. March 4 At 2:30 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 1000 block of Benedict Canyon. An unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 300 block of Spalding at 3 p.m. March 5 At 1:50 a.m., an unknown suspect stole a vehicle parked in the 200 block of S. Swall. March 6 An unknown suspect robbed a vic-tim in the 100 block of S. Elm at 2 a.m. At 4:45 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 9600 block of Brighton. An unknown suspect committed a commercial burglary in the 9200 block of Civic Center at 5 p.m. March 7 At 10:30 a.m., an unknown sus-pect committed a grand theft in the 9700 block of Wilshire. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 9400 block of Brighton at 6:50 p.m. At 8:15 p.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 9400 block of Brighton. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 9800 block of South Santa Monica at 10:05 p.m. At 10:30 p.m., an unknown sus-pect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 9900 block of South Santa Monica. March 8 At 7 p.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 100 block of El Camino. March 9 At 12:05 a.m., an unknown sus-pect assaulted a victim in the 200 block of N. Beverly.

An unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 100 block of S. Roxbury at 4:20 a.m. At 4:53 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 9500 block of Wilshire. March 10 At 2:15 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 300 block of Rodeo. An unknown suspect assaulted a victim in the 300 block of S. McCarty at 2:28 p.m. At 7:08 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 300 block of N. Camden. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 400 block of N. Maple at 10 p.m. March 11 At 2:56 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 200 block of N. Rodeo. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 200 block of N. Canon at 9 p.m. March 13 At midnight, an unknown suspect committed a residential burglary in the 9100 block of Alden. An unknown suspect robbed a vic-tim in the 400 block of N. Doheny at 2:30 a.m. At 9:01 a.m., an unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 400 block of Camden. An unknown suspect committed a residential burglary in the 400 block of N. Doheny at 1:39 p.m. March 15 At 7:30 p.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 300 block of S. Elm. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 9600 block of South Santa Monica at 10 p.m. March 16 At 12:53 p.m., an unknown sus-pect committed a petty theft in the 400 block of N. Canon. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 9500 block of Brighton at 3:29 p.m. At 9 p.m., an unknown suspect stole a vehicle parked in the 200 block of S. Rexford. West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station March 11 At midnight, an unknown suspect stole a vehicle parked in the 8400 block of Sunset. An unknown suspect committed a burglary in the 900 block of Palm at 2 a.m. At 2:30 a.m., an unknown suspect

committed a petty theft near the corner of Palm and Santa Monica. An unknown suspect committed a burglary in the 900 block of Palm at 1:45 p.m. March 12 At 2:15 a.m., an unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 8800 block of Santa Monica. March 13 An suspect burglarized a vehicle in the 1100 block of Fuller at 6 p.m. At 8:50 p.m., an unknown suspect robbed a victim in the 8600 block of Santa Monica. March 14 At 12:06 p.m., an unknown sus-pect committed a grand theft in the 7100 block of Santa Monica. An unknown suspect robbed a vic-tim near the corner of Santa Monica and Sweetzer at 3 p.m. At 3:33 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a burglary in the 7100 block of Santa Monica. An unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 8400 block of Sunset at 10:40 p.m. March 16 At 1 a.m., an unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 8800 block of Santa Monica. An unknown suspect committed a grand theft in the 8800 block of Santa Monica at 2:15 a.m. At 4:55 a.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 1300 block of Laurel. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked near the corner of Croft and Santa Monica at 6:50 a.m. At 5:10 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 8400 block of Sunset.

Los Angeles Police Department March 1 At 2:10 a.m., an unknown suspect

burglarized a vehicle parked in the 6600 block of Lexington. An unknown suspect committed a burglary in the 100 block of N. La Brea at 3:25 a.m. At 4:45 p.m., an unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 1100 block of Cole. An unknown suspect robbed a vic-tim in the 7400 block of Melrose at 5:50 p.m. At 9 p.m., an unknown suspect stole a vehicle parked near the corner of Sunset and Seward. March 2 At 2:05 a.m., an unknown suspect committed a grand theft near the corner of Selma and Las Palmas. An unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 1700 block of Highland at 7:35 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., an unknown sus-pect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 7000 block of Hollywood. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked near the corner of Sixth and Curson at 10:30 a.m. At noon, an unknown suspect robbed a victim near the corner of Lilian and Santa Monica. An unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 6200 block of Waring at 3 p.m. At 3:15 p.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked near the corner of Hollywood and Sycamore. An unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 5600 block of Wilshire at 10:30 p.m. At 11 p.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked near the corner of Melrose and Detroit. An unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 6400 block of Hollywood at 11:30 p.m. March 3 At 1:45 a.m., an unknown suspect stole a vehicle parked in the 7000 block of Sunset. An attempted burglary was report-

ed near the corner of Fountain and Wilcox at 7:30 a.m. At 7:17 p.m., an unknown suspect robbed a victim near the corner of Melrose and Fuller. March 4 At 12:01 a.m., a suspect burglar-ized a vehicle parked in the 7400 block of Hollywood. A suspect burglarized a vehicle near the corner of Hollywood and Cahuenga at 1:30 a.m. At 1:30 a.m., an unknown suspect stole a vehicle parked in the 1100 block of Seward. An unknown suspect stole a vehi-cle parked in the 1500 block of Cassil at 4 a.m. At 5:11 a.m., a suspect assaulted a victim in the 4300 block of Wilshire. An unknown suspect committed a petty theft in the 6700 block of Sunset at 1 p.m. March 7 At 11 p.m., an unknown suspect burglarized a vehicle parked in the 800 block of Hudson.

The following crimes occurred in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the areas patrolled by the LAPD’s Wilshire and Hollywood divisions between March 1 and March 16. The information was compiled from www.crimemapping.com. To report a crime, call local law enforcement agencies: Los Angeles Police Department, Wilshire Division (213)473-0476, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station (310)855-8850, and the Beverly Hills Police Department, (310)550-4951.

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 17 March 21, 2019

Pleasing Peruvian plates at Los Balcones Hollywood

New chef Michelangelo Aliaga shines at Los Balcones in Hollywood,

where he incorporates proteins with Peruvian staple ingredients like corn, potatoes, peppers, quinoa, rice and beans to create authentic and hearty South American fare.

Raised in Peru by Italian parents, Aliaga was inspired by his grandfa-ther to become a chef. After training and working in Spain and Italy, he came to California where he has worked in kitchens such as Cecconi’s in West Hollywood and Primo Italia in the South Bay before he joined the team at Los Balcones.

The Hollywood restaurant fea-tures a cozy and dark space with close tables and walls lined with bold yellow and red Inca symbols painted on top of reclaimed wood panels. Packed with people the night I dined, it also offers a fun atmosphere. Los Balcones is con-

nected to The Parker Room, which pays homage to Billy Berg’s, one of the most iconic jazz clubs in Hollywood. This small and lively lounge gets its name from the 1940s jazz saxophonist and composer Charlie Parker, and is a great place to meet friends, enjoy a cocktail and bar menu items before a night in Hollywood or seeing a moving at the nearby Cinerama Dome and ArcLight complex.

Sitting inside the main dining room, I noticed almost everyone was drinking the Peruvian national cocktail, a pisco sour. At Los Balcones, they make it with Caravedo pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, a pour of Angostura bitters and frothy egg whites. The restau-rant also offers a maracuyá sour made with the same ingredients plus passion fruit juice. While ordering one of each drink, our server deliv-ered a bowl of crispy plantain chips with a pleasing garlic verde dip to enjoy with our drinks.

We started with a bright mixto

ceviche bowl with marinated striped bass, shrimp, octopus, squid, sliced purple onions, choclo (Peruvian corn) and flavorful chopped Peruvian rocoto pepper.

For guests eager to try some Peruvian anticuchos, or grilled street food, Los Balcones offers a tasting plate with choice of five dif-ferent proteins. The beef heart is perfect for adventurous diners. We enjoyed the smoky Peruvian panca pepper-marinated chicken with bal-samic-glazed portobello mush-rooms, grilled sea bass belly, sliced green onions and sesame.

For entrées, our first dish, the arroz con pollo, arrived on a plate with cilantro rice, peas, carrots and corn alongside salsa criolla (onion relish). Yellow streaks of huancaína, a Peruvian staple made from boiled yellow potatoes, provide a creamy and slightly spicy sauce that pairs nicely with the crispy baked chicken leg and thigh.

Next, we tried the plate of seco de carne which featured a thick and tender piece of slow-cooked short rib in a cilantro beer broth. Peruvian lima beans with sliced purple onions and peppers tucked under the meat rounded out the dish.

We also enjoyed the lamb shank on a bed of polenta with crispy green beans and cilantro, a new menu item created by Aliaga.

Desserts, however, were not quite my cup of tea. I found the picarones, or Peruvian sweet potato beignets, a bit greasy. The tropical passion fruit syrup poured on top was cloying. I

did, however, like the flavor of the lucuma ice cream imported from Peru. The fruit looks like an avoca-do, but has yellow flesh similar to a sweet potato. Its flavor offers a maple syrup-like essence, but the dish is not as creamy as regular ice cream and has almost the consisten-cy of cooked egg yolk.

There’s more coming to Los Balcones as well – within the next few weeks, Aliaga plans to add dishes on the dinner and brunch menus. There’s also the recently opened restaurant location in Studio City, which hosts a different chef, menu and atmosphere.

The hours at the Hollywood loca-tion are Monday through Thursday

noon to 11 p.m. The restaurant stays open until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and until 10 p.m. on Sunday. $$ 1360 Vine St., Los Angeles, (323)871-9600.

By Jill Weinlein

photo courtesy of Los Balcones

The interior of Los Balcones is warm and inviting and usually fills up with pre-theater patrons early, and stays open late for traditional Argentine diners.

sauces. The beverage program includes local draft beers, wine and hand-crafted cocktails with an emphasis on bourbons and whiskeys. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. A150, (213)746-7427.

photo by Jill Weinlein Los Balcones’ Pisco Sour

Restaurant News From page 14

18 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

Summer School & Camps District voices support for bill to improve after school programs

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer and LAPD Olympic Division Capt. Patricia Sandoval hosted the Prom Closet clothing giveaway on March 16 to help low-income students prepare for school proms. The program alleviates the high cost of purchasing clothing for proms. Boys and girls from 15 high schools throughout Los Angeles chose outfits from a collec-tion of hundreds of new and slightly-used designer dresses and suits, all of which were donated. The students also selected shoes and acces-sories to complete their outfits. City Attorney’s Office Community Resource Specialist Kimberly Morosi coordinated the Prom Closet pro-ject. Volunteers helped students select their outfits and taught boys how to tie their ties. For information, email kimberly.morosi@lacity.org.

photo courtesy of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office

City attorney and LAPD partner to ensure students are ready for prom night

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously on March 19 to approve Vice President Nick Melvoin’s resolution in support of California Assembly Bill 1725, which seeks to increase state funding to maintain after school programs.

Introduced by Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), AB 1725 will increase appropria-tions for the state’s After School Education and Safety program, approved by a 2002 ballot measure. The program provides students in low-income communities with access to safe, enriching after school programs that offer academ-ic assistance, enrichment and recre-ational activities.

“Our kids’ learning doesn’t stop after the last school bell rings,” Melvoin said. “I’m grateful that Los Angeles Unified has so many partners in this work so that we can continue to provide the enrichment that our students need to grow, learn new skills and expand their educa-tional opportunities.”

Since it went into effect in 2006, the statewide program has served over 400,000 students daily, approximately 250,000 of whom attend LAUSD schools. Despite increasing operating costs, alloca-tions in state budgets have decreased over the last decade, a pattern AB 1725 would reverse.

“After school programs help us better serve our students and fami-

lies,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “The enrich-ment provided during these hours forms a vital bridge between class-room time and time at home where learning continues.”

Board President Mónica García co-sponsored the resolution and said after school programs create safe spaces for youth to continue learning and develop beyond school hours.

“These programs allow students to engage deeper in activities and topics that are of high interest to them,” Garcia added. “An invest-ment in after school programs is an investment in our children so that they thrive in life and become pro-ductive members of our society.”

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education School Board reaffirmed its support for the federal Dream and Promise Act during its meeting on March 19. Introduced by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles), the Dream and Promise Act provides permanent legal pro-grams and a path to citizenship for people brought to the United States as undocumented children. The board approved a motion calling for its formal support of the legislation.

“Los Angeles Unified is commit-ted to helping all children regard-less of where they were born, or the circumstances of their arrival in this country,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said.

The district has a long history of

supporting immigration reform and undocumented youth, including support for the original Dream Act in 2007, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2013 and “We Are One: Standing with Immigrant Families,” an ongo-ing initiative that began in 2017.

“I have and will always continue to stand with our immigrant stu-dents, families and communities,” said LAUSD board President Mónica García, who sponsored the resolution in support of the Dream and Promise Act. “I proudly sup-port the House Resolution to rein-state the Dream Act and provide our students an opportunity to con-tribute to our society as an active and productive citizen. This action represents hope, progress and a bet-

ter tomorrow for both Los Angeles and our nation.”

“Every child deserves an oppor-tunity to dream without bound-aries,” added board Vice President Nick Melvoin. “As we continue to fight this administration’s senseless attacks on our immigrant commu-nities, we will also continue to ensure the safety and well-being of the students, families and employ-ees in our schools.”

LAUSD board pledges support for federal Dream and Promise Act

“LAUSD is committed to helping all children regardless of where they were born,

or the circumstances of their arrival in this country.”

Austin Beutner LAUSD Superintendent

Zoo’s dinner series focuses on sustainability and conservation

The Los Angeles Zoo is launching its 2019 Sustainable Wine + Dinner

series on Thursday, March 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. The first dinner will highlight the Presqu’ile Winery, of Santa Maria. Additional dinners will be held on Thursdays, April 11, May 30 and June 27.

The annual series features farm-to-table cuisine, sustainable wines, up-close animal encounters and curator conversations. Each evening focuses on a different topic and is set in a unique location in the zoo. Enjoy a five-course meal paired with a selection of California wines.

The March 21 dinner will be held in the Amazonian Stilthouse at the zoo’s Rainforest of the Americas exhibit. It includes selections from Presqu’ile Winery. The educational component includes Los Angeles Zoo Curator of Birds Mike Maxcy discussing illegal wildlife trafficking and its impact on biodiversity.

On April 11, the dinner will take place on the Cambodia Viewing Terrace at the Elephants of Asia exhibit and will highlight Cambria Estate Winery, a female-owned winery located in the Santa Maria Valley known for single vineyard pinot noirs and chardonnays. Cambria Estate recently created the “Stewards of the Land” environmental sustainability grant program in part-nership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. It honors and empowers female leaders making contributions to environmental and community-based causes. Zoo Curator of Mammals Alisa Behar will discuss the criti-cally endangered Visayan warty pig, the most threatened wild pig species in the world.

On May 30, Brave & Maiden Estate will showcase its estate-grown wines from the Santa Ynez Valley during a dinner on the Mahale Mountain Terrace in the zoo’s Africa section. Brave & Maiden is a SIP-certified sus-tainable vineyard dedicated to producing handcrafted, single-vineyard estate wines and red blends. Zoo Curator of Mammals Candace Scliment will discuss her work with Cameroon’s wildlife.

The dinner on June 27 will focus on Riverbench Vineyard & Winery, a boutique winery crafting still and sparkling wines at a vineyard on the bank of the Sisquoc River known as the Santa Maria Bench. Guests will dine on a bridge overlooking the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles) exhibit and enjoy a discussion led by Curator of Reptiles & Amphibians Ian Recchio on crocodilian conservation.

Tickets for the dinners are $150 per person, per event. Guests must be 21 or older. The Los Angeles Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive. For informa-tion, visit lazoo.org/sustainablewinedinners.

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 19 March 21, 2019

Publishing weekly through June

Summer School & CampsCall (323) 933-5518 to reserve space today

or email karen@beverlypress.com

IMMACULATE HEART

“Educating the Hearts & Minds of Young Women Since 1906”5515 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (323) 461-3651 www.immaculateheart.org

Middle School Summer SessionJune 17 — July 12, 2019One, Two and Four-Week ClassesFor Girls Entering Grades 4 - 8

Academics, Enrichment, & Learning Fun!Animal Communications CSI/Forensics ScienceSalsa & Ballet Folklorico Digital Photography Coding & Robotics Knitters & KnottersCooking Workshops Panda SportsCrafts & Creativity SwimmingFilm Making Writing Workshops

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Experience Immaculate Heart!Join Us for a Summer of Discovery

LADWP helps teachers expand environmental learningLaurel Elementary teacher Anna Melkumyan was

among 30 instructors who recently attended the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Environmental Institute, which provides information on environmental topics that participants can later use in lesson plans at their schools. Topics covered during the program’s three eight-hour sessions include conservation, renewable energy and the nexus of water and energy in the context of climate change. The institute is co-sponsored by LADWP, the Metropolitan Water District, California Department of Water Resources and the California

Environmental Education Foundation. Teachers learn from experts at the utilities and are provided with hands-on lessons they can share with students.

The Environmental Institute launched in Los Angeles in 2015, and the most recent installment was the seventh in a series that was started in 2011 in Northern California by the California Environmental Education Foundation.

For information, visit ladwp.com/education.

photo by Chris Corsmeier/courtesy of LADWP

Laurel Elementary teacher Anna Melkumyan, right.

Center Theatre Group has named Dejean Deterville, Mylah Eaton and Daniel Velez as the top performers in the August Wilson Monologue Competition Regional Finals held on March 11 at the Mark Taper Forum. Deterville and Eaton, the first and second-place finalists, will represent Los Angeles in the national finals on May 6.

Deterville, of South Carolina Virtual Charter School, placed first in the regional competition, earning a $500 scholarship. Eaton, of CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts, was the second-place winner and received a $400 scholarship; and Velez, of Ramón C. Cortines High School of Visual and Performing Arts, earned third-place honors and received a $300 scholarship.

Deterville and Eaton will also receive a paid trip to New York City to perform at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. They will compete in a semi-final round with 22 other students from cities around the country. Fifteen of those students will be selected for the national finals while the other nine will be part of a performance montage. Velez will serve as the Los Angeles alternate.

The competition marked the eighth consecutive year Center Theatre Group hosted the Southern California component of the national mono-logue competition. The program inspires and educates using monologues from Wilson’s “American Century Cycle,” a 10-play cycle that details the complexity of the African American experience in the 20th century.

Deterville, Eaton and Velez were selected from a pool of 12 regional finalists representing seven local high schools within Los Angeles County. As preparation for the national component of the competition, the three selected students will attend master classes to work on their monologues.

Center Theatre Group also offers an in-school residency as part of the August Wilson program. The August Wilson In-School Residency is a semester-long program that provides students with an in-depth study of Wilson’s work.

For information, visit centertheatregroup.org/augustwilson.

photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging

Student performers joined the judges and program administrators for the 2019 August Wilson Monologue Competition Los Angeles Regional Finals on March 11 at the Mark Taper Forum.

Student finalists named for August Wilson Monologue Competition

School News

publishes every Thursday. Submit news about your school - academics, sports, arts, theater - and we will consider

them for publication. Email editor@beverlypress.com. Be sure to include contact information.

20 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

How in the Lego world is “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” not decimating all those non-Lego films at the box office? The year might be young, but the sophomore adventure of the legendary Master Builders, heroes with the special ability to turn their surroundings into amazing inventions, is the best film of 2019 thus far. Too bad a lackluster gross (and awards sea-son’s disdain for originality) might prompt this one to go unnoticed. What a loss that would be.

All the great characters from the first movie return, led by overly positive Emmet (Christ Pratt) and the muscle, Wildstyle (Elizabeth Banks). And the Lego Universe needs the pair’s combined strength, since an invading force of Duplos, designed for ages 18 months to 5

years old, enjoy destroying more than building any structure. (You might recall the previous film’s enduring focus on a father’s col-lectible Legos and a son who just wants to play and create with dear old dad; cut to now, sister’s entrance wreaks havoc on one boy’s idea of play.)

Picking up at the previous film’s cliffhanger, things go very wrong, hysterically wrong, and Lord Business (aka, dad; aka, the voice talents of Will Ferrell) just lets the onslaught arrive unchallenged. The universe quickly devolves into a Mad Max dystopia. For Emmet, however, everything is still awe-some, even those “sewer babies” he creates. Batman (Will Arnett) adapts well, sporting a new outfit to match the desolate surroundings.

photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Wildstyle and Emmet traverse a dystopian Lego Universe in “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.”

photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Something isn’t right with Superman, Green Lantern and others who went missing in the newest installment of the “Lego Movie” series.

and then another. That’s right: “Lego 2” is a musical, and every song drips with an alluring hook sure to annoy you for the next six months. One audacious attempt, “Catchy Song,” performed by T-Pain and That Girl Lay Lay, is sim-ply the same line over and over: “This song’s gonna get stuck inside your head.” And yes, it will. And yes, it’s actually quite good.

In some ways, “Lego 2” surpass-es its predecessors in laughs and the sheer number of pop culture Easter eggs. The emotional punch of the first is now expected based on the franchise’s rules (actions in the Lego universe represent something happening in a family’s life). But making those connections, guess-ing the payoff along the way, is half the fun. And the dialogue wonder-fully telegraphs the payoff with an impending doomsday scenario dubbed “Armamageddon.”

The opening sequence of “Toy Story 3” is the franchise’s most clever moment, featuring all the toys interacting in a way that cap-tures the beautifully free imagina-tion of a child. The “Lego” movies capitalize on this concept to most-ly successful ends (sorry “Ninjago,” you’re canceled). The sequel proves this franchise is not an accident but something worth continuing, something that can thrive even when original direc-tors Chris Miller and Phil Lord (the masterful co-writer of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), who did write this one together, move on to other pro-jects completely at some point.

“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” (gotta love that name) is the third hit in a smart franchise meant for adults, perhaps more so, and kids. Fast paced, written with care, it reminds us why Legos are the

‘Lego Movie’ sequel deserves way more love

Even Unikitty (Alison Brie) changes with the times, occasional-ly wearing her rage on the outside as an enormous saber-toothed ver-sion of herself, Ultrakatty.

While the universe faces regular attacks from those Duplo, someone new arrives. The masked General Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) cap-tures the best warriors and takes them to her boss, fluidly shaped Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish). Take a moment and say the queen’s name again; it’s a clever joke.

Apparently, Emmett’s newfound builder abilities from the first film don’t last, and he remains behind, the sole hero to save everyone else, since the Justice League, including Aquaman (Jason Momoa basically hired to bellow his signature “woohoo”), and Marvel heroes are all busy. Luckily en route, Emmet encounters Rex Dangervest (also voiced by Pratt), a hilarious parody of Pratt’s entire career. He’s an Indiana Jones-style space explorer with a team of well-trainer raptors (just remember “script doctor”).

The clever story and consistent humor aren’t the best parts. Prepare yourself. Remember that insanely catchy song from “The Lego Movie” by Tegan and Sara, “Everything is Awesome?” Yes, a new song vies for control of your humming voice, and then another,

Whether it’s the national anthem played before every game, the music ballplayers select to accent their walk to home plate or the sev-enth inning stretch when fans sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” music is an integral part of the baseball experience.

To celebrate the soundtrack of baseball, the Grammy Museum proudly presents “Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Popular Music and the National Pastime.” Edward Meeker and The Edison Orchestra’s original 1908 record-ing of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year.

The exhibit opened on March 14 when Bob Santelli, founding exec-utive director of the Grammy Museum and the exhibit’s curator, discussed the history of music in baseball with Barry Zito at the museum’s Clive Davis Theater as part of the museum’s public pro-grams. The exhibit will run through baseball season until fall 2019.

“Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Popular Music and the National Pastime” offers insight and histori-cal reference for the history of music in baseball. The exhibit takes museum visitors on a journey that starts before the 20th century, when interest in baseball-themed music was fostered through the sales of sheet music, then explains the rise of baseball songs becoming a part of a new era of American music in the early 1900s and dis-cusses modern popular music being a central part of players preparing to take the field and excite the fans.

All forms of music – including pop, jazz, country, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll – embraced America’s baseball passion and are reflected throughout the exhibit.

“Baseball and popular music have been practically inseparable for the past century and a half,” said Santelli. “Hundreds of songs have been written about the nation-al pastime. And today, with ballplayers personally selecting walk-up-to-the-batter’s-box-music and with retired players like Barry Zito and Bernie Williams actually

launching music careers, the base-ball-music connection is stronger than ever.”

Exhibit highlights include sheet music from the game’s early years, handwritten lyrics to baseball clas-sics, special edition Fender guitars, MLB sportscaster Harry Caray’s microphone and limited-edition posters, vinyl records, and pho-tographs.

The Grammy Museum is located at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. For infor-mation and tickets, visit grammy-museum.org.

New Grammy Museum exhibit showcases music’s integral history in the baseball experience

photo courtesy of the Grammy Museum

A new exhibit at the Grammy Museum, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Popular Music and the National Pastime,” features sheet music, hand-written lyrics and Harry Caray’s microphone.

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 21 March 21, 2019

CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the West Hollywood Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following item: LOCATIONS: PROJECTS SPANNING COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS West Hollywood, California REQUEST: The Planning Commission will consider an amendment to

Title 19, West Hollywood Zoning Ordinance, to amend the requirements for projects spanning commercial and resi-dential districts, West Hollywood, California.

PERMIT(S): Zone Text Amendment, and any other required permits. APPLICANT(S): City of West Hollywood TIME/PLACE Thursday, April 4, 2019 OF HEARING: at 6:30 p.m. West Hollywood Park Public Meeting Room – Council Chambers 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069 ZONES: Multiple Zoning Districts, Citywide ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS: Statutorily exempt from the provisions of the California

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section §15061 (Review for Exemption).

The staff report will be available on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at City Hall, 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard, the W.H. Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, and on-line at www.weho.org IF YOU CHALLENGE this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in the written correspondence delivered to the West Hollywood Planning Commission, via the Planning & Development Services Department at, or prior to, the Public Hearing. To comply with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) will be available for checkout at the meeting. If you require spe-cial assistance to participate in this meeting (e.g., a signer for the hearing impaired), you must call, or submit your request in writing to the Office of the City Clerk at (323) 848-6409 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The City TDD line for the hearing impaired is (323) 848-6496. Special meeting related accommodations (e.g., transportation) may be provided upon written request to the Office of the City Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. For information on public transportation, call 1-323-GO-METRO (323/466-3876) or go to www.metro.net ALL INTERESTED PERSONS are invited to attend said Public Hearing to express their opinion in this matter. For further information contact Rachel Dimond, AICP, Senior Planner, in the Planning and Development Services Department at (323) 848-6475, or via email at: rdimond@weho.org Yvonne Quarker, City Clerk Мы сообщаем вам об обсуждении проекта. Для дополни-

тельной информации на русском языке звоните: 323-848-

6826.

Venice Family Clinic will host its 37th annual Silver Circle Gala on Monday, March 25, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Ivy Kagan Bierman will receive the organization’s Humanitarian Award for her commitment to empowering women and minori-ties, and advocating for greater equity for women and minorities in the workplace. Kagan Bierman is a partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP; vice chair of civil rights for the Anti-Defamation League; and is a member of the Legal, Legislative and Policy Committee on Sexual Harassment and Gender Parity, as well as the Safety Committee, for Time’s Up.

Additionally, Russel Tyner,

president, principal architect and co-founder of Houston/Tyner Architects, will be honored with the Irma Colen Leadership Award for his volunteer work with the clinic during the past 34 years.

The gala, sponsored by UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, will begin with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. It also includes live performances by Grammy-nominated artists Carmen Bradford and Shelly Berg.

The Beverly Wilshire Hotel is located at 9500 Wilshire Blvd. For information, call (310)664-7932, or email nponnusamy@med-net.ucla.edu.

Clinic hosts annual gala at Beverly Wilshire Hotel

The 8th annual Miss Russian LA 2019 competition returns to Hollywood on Sunday, March 24, at the Taglyan Cultural Complex.

This evening will highlight the strength, intelligence, beauty and tal-ent of finalists representing their Russian roots as they compete to win the coveted Miss Russian LA 2019 title.

“I founded this event to showcase new talent in our community as it is not only a beauty pageant but also an

exciting talent event,” said event producer and director Lika Osipova. “Even with all the turbulence sur-rounding Russia, we are grateful for all the incredible amount of support and enthusiasm for this pageant in the Los Angeles community. My goal is to provide a challenging competition as well as an entertain-ment-filled evening.”

The star-studded event will include special performances by Lev Axelrod, a 13-year-old finalist

Miss Russian LA pageant returns to HollywoodThe final ten contestants were

selected from over 50 applicants. They will be judged in the cate-gories of talent, bikini, evening gown and interview. The evening gown portion will be overseen by Russia’s fashion icon Bad Apple Couture. Both English and Russian

will be spoken throughout the pageant. Tickets start at $150. A red carpet ceremony begins at 6:30 and doors open at 7 p.m. The Taglyan Cultural Complex is located at 1201 Vine St. For tickets and infor-mation, call (310)880-6909, or visit eventcartel.com.

on Russia’s version of “The Voice,” and Robert James Dobbs, of the pop and rock band The Mid-Summer Classic.

A photograph in the Feb. 23, 1950, issue of the Park Labrea News showed Park La Brea resident Rita Eskin enjoying early spring weather on the patio of her Lindenhurst Avenue apartment. The Los Angeles area experienced unseasonably warm weather that year, according to the accompanying article, prompting residents to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The first day of spring was yesterday, March 20, and the forecast calls for partly cloudy weather and tem-peratures in the 60s through the weekend, perfect for outdoor adventures.

Russel Tyner

Ivy Kagan Bierman

Following an extensive national search, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has appointed David R. Marshall as senior vice president and chief nursing executive, effec-tive June 3. He brings more than three decades of health care experi-ence to the medical center and is known for enhancing innovation and emphasizing compassionate care.

Marshall comes to Cedars-Sinai from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, also known as UTMB Health, where he serves as system chief nursing and patient care services executive.

“We are privileged to welcome a nurse executive of Dr. Marshall’s caliber and breadth of experience,” said Dr. Jeffrey A. Smith, executive vice president of hospital opera-tions and chief operating officer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “In addition to many noteworthy accomplishments at UTMB Health,

David is a nationally recognized leader in nursing who currently serves on the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commis-sion on Magnet Recognition Program.”

22 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

photo courtesy of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

David R. Marshall will become Cedars-Sinai’s senior vice presi-dent and chief nursing executive in June.

CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the West Hollywood Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following item: LOCATIONS:SUNSET SPECIFIC PLAN AREA,

West Hollywood, California REQUEST: An amendment to the Sunset Specific Plan to increase required

rear setback requirements where commercial zones abut resi-dential zones.

PERMIT(S): Sunset Specific Plan Amendment, and any other required per-mits. APPLICANT(S): City of West Hollywood TIME/PLACE Thursday, April 4, 2019 OF HEARING: at 6:30 p.m. West Hollywood Park Public Meeting Room – Council Chambers 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard

West Hollywood, CA 90069 ZONES: SSP (Sunset Specific Plan) ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS: Categorically exempt from the provisions of the California

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section §15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations).

The staff report will be available on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at City Hall, 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard, the W.H. Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, and on-line at www.weho.org IF YOU CHALLENGE this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in the written correspondence delivered to the West Hollywood Planning Commission, via the Planning and Development Services Department at, or prior to, the Public Hearing. To comply with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) will be available for checkout at the meeting. If you require special assistance to participate in this meeting (e.g., a signer for the hearing impaired), you must call, or submit your request in writing to the Office of the City Clerk at (323) 848-6409 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The City TDD line for the hearing impaired is (323) 848-6496. Special meeting related accommodations (e.g., transportation) may be provided upon written request to the Office of the City Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. For information on public transportation, call 1-323-GO-METRO (323/466-3876) or go to www.metro.net ALL INTERESTED PERSONS are invited to attend said Public Hearing to express their opinion in this matter. For further information contact Bryan Eck, Senior Planner, in the Planning and Development Services Department at (323) 848-6475, or via email at: beck@weho.org Yvonne Quarker, City Clerk Мы сообщаем вам об обсуждении проекта. Для дополни-

тельной информации на русском языке звоните: 323-848-

6826.

Cedars to welcome new nursing leadership inaugural chief health equity offi-cer, leading the health system’s efforts to improve outcomes for all members of the community.

Marshall began his nursing career at UTMB Health as a staff nurse in 1983 sand later became chief nursing and patient care ser-

vices officer. “It is a special oppor-tunity to be joining the Cedars-Sinai team,” Marshall said. “As healthcare leaders, we must create an environment where nurses are supported so they can do their very best work and our patients can receive the very best care.”

Crossword Puzzle by Myles Mellor

Across

1. Institute, e.g.: Abbr. 4. Wan 8. Pops 13. Furthermore 14. Collegian 15. Rat related 16. Rock music style 17. Anger 18. Large peninsula 19. Remaining calm under stress 22. “Death on the ___” mystery thriller 23. Beehive State native 24. Famished 28. Amber wine 33. Quitter’s word 35. Have ___ (wield influence) 36. Red carpet goer 43. Cracker spread 44. Stray Cats “Rock ___ Town” 45. Performed on a hasty manner, in music 49. Polite response 54. Company going public 55. Palo ___ 56. Frequent horror movie plot feature 62. Correct a recording 64. Face-to-face exam 65. Vane direction 66. Muscat residents 67. Chihuahua child 68. D.C. VIP 69. Badlands National Park sight 70. Hurry-up letters 71. Dutch astronomer, Van O___ Down

1. Mugs 2. Allocate, as funds 3. Stir 4. Henry VIII’s sixth 5. Dismounted

6. 60s singer 7. Part of E.M.T.: Abbr. 8. Acted in place 9. Russian city on the Oka 10. Dreadful 11. Comes before a J 12. Baltic, e.g. 15. Mazda ___ 20. End for election or auction 21. Try to get for free 25. Taper 26. Grab a bite 27. Paternity identifier 29. Plug or lobe? 30. Connections that help you get ahead 31. Girl from Ipanema came from here 32. ___ Arbor 34. Demolition compound 36. Internet addresses 37. It’s big in fast food 38. Bake sale org. 39. Original manufactured equipment, for short 40. Biblically yours 41. Sugar ___ 42. Curlicue 46. Apple 47. Fencing sticks 48. ____ Giovanni 50. Livid 51. “The Tempest” king 52. Penitent one 53. Jiffy 56. “Play ___ It Lays,” 1972 film 57. ___ a ___ (fighting hand to hand) 58. Spanish lady 59. Pupil’s place 60. Babysitting nickname 61. Soggy food mixture 62. Lowe or Reiner 63. Big recording label

See Answers page 25

Marshall succeeds Linda Burnes Bolton, who has been with Cedars-Sinai for 48 years. Burnes Bolton will next serve as Cedars-Sinai’s

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 23 March 21, 2019

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The Fowler Museum at UCLA presents “Dressed with Distinction: Garments from Ottoman Syria” running through Sunday, Aug. 18.

The exhibit includes a collection of rare garments assembled by David and Elizabeth Reisbord with examples of Arab and Ottoman attire dating from the late-19th to early-20th centuries. It celebrates clothing created in urban centers such as Aleppo, Damascus and Homs, where dyeing, weaving and decorative techniques earned the region international renown for tex-tile production. Residents were famous for wearing brightly-col-ored silk clothing glittering with gold and silver thread.

After World War I (and the end of 400 years of Ottoman rule), Syrians began showing preference for Western attire, leading to an eventual decline in handwoven gar-ment production. More recently, conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean region has virtually eradicated most remnants of the textile traditions and skills. Thus, the exhibition documents the her-itage of iconic Arab and Ottoman garments and the importance of fashion as a marker of cultural knowledge.

“The Fowler Museum is honored to become the repository and custo-dian of this rare collection of Ottoman Syrian attire, both donat-ed and promised to the museum by the Reisbords,” said Marla C. Berns, the Shirley and Ralph Shapiro Director at the Fowler Museum. “This record of Middle

Eastern textile heritage offers extra-ordinary opportunities for study and appreciation.”

Installed according to type, gar-ments worn by urban women, men and children are on display includ-ing full-length cloaks (abaya), jack-ets (qumbas), smaller head cover-ings (hatta) and a two-piece woman’s body and head covering (çarşaf). Silk and woolen garments have retained their rich red, blue and purple hues, while diaphanous patterns adorn summer housecoats woven in lighter colors. Colorful and complex ikat techniques

(involving resist-dyed threads prior to weaving) incorporated an exten-sive range of natural dyes. The gar-ments were created using a diverse range of weaving techniques including tapestry weaves, brocade and painstaking hand-stitched embroidery. Garments with certain cuts and decoration could define the wearer as Arab or Ottoman, and indicate religious preferences and class status.

The Fowler Museum at UCLA is located at 308 Charles E. Young Drive North. For information, visit fowler.ucla.edu.

Exhibit highlights clothing from Ottoman Syria

photo courtesy of the Fowler Museum at UCLA

The “Dressed with Distinction” exhibit includes a colorful women’s gar-ment known as a çarşaf.

RWALL d’Art gallery in Beverly Hills recently hosted an interactive St. Patrick’s Day scavenger hunt.

To entered the hunt, guests first had to follow @rwallgallery on Instagram, after which they set out to find seven hidden “lucky charms” in the gallery’s art-works. Once the hidden “charms” were located, partici-pants had to post them to Instagram.

Each participant received a gift certificate for the RWALL Paint

Lounge launching this spring on Canon Drive across the street from the gallery. They also had a chance to win an exclusively designed gold clover necklace by Isaac Kay. Actors and Instagram influencers also attended, includ-ing Jason Caceres and Kassandra Escandell.

Currently, works by artists Kay, Mariela, Giancarlo Calicchia and RMoodie are on display at RWALL d’Art, located at 350 N. Canon Drive. For infor-mation, visit rwall.com.

Gallery hosts art scavenger hunt for St. Patrick’s Day

photo ©2019 CenterofAttention

Actors and Instagram influencers Jason Caceres and Kassandra Escandell attended the event at RWALL d’Art gallery.

The American Red Cross hon-ored Bowen H. “Buzz” McCoy as its Humanitarian of the Year at an awards ceremony on March 8 at the S. Mark Taper Foundation.

The Bowen H. and Janice Arthur McCoy Charitable Foundation was also honored as Humanitarian Organization of the Year.

The event brought together celebrities, business leaders, phil-anthropists and elected officials in support of the Red Cross in Los Angeles.

The Humanitarian Awards cere-mony recognizes donors who make the lifesaving work of the Red Cross possible.

The McCoy family has been committed to supporting the Red Cross for nearly a century, begin-ning with Bowen McCoy and Berniece Hadley, two members of the organization who responded to the 1933 Long Beach-Compton earthquake. Their son “Buzz” started serving with the organiza-tion as a teenager.

“I have supported the Red Cross because I value its mission of peo-ple helping people in times of need, regardless of their race, creed or culture,” said Buzz McCoy, who received the award with his wife, Barbara. “The Red Cross is not elitist. There is no

room service in a shelter. It is peo-ple helping people. It is each teach-ing one another, comforting one another, serving one another. In a time when we all seem to be searching for values and vision, The Red Cross [is] one of those institutions that shows us the way.”

The S. Mark Taper Foundation, the namesake of the new Red Cross Los Angeles headquarters, was recognized for its more than 30 years of generosity and assis-tance in times of crises.

“The S. Mark Taper Foundation is very proud to be a partner and supporter of the American Red Cross” said foundation Vice President Amelia Taper Bolker. “There is no doubt that the Red Cross is indispensable to our com-munity and communities world-wide. We are thrilled to be hon-ored and proud to see our name on the new regional headquarters opening in downtown Los Angeles this spring.”

Along with the honorees, this year’s Humanitarian Awards focused on the commitment vol-unteers have made to alleviating human suffering during emergen-cies. Actress Nancy Yoon, of “Days of Our Lives” served as master of ceremonies.

For information, visit redcross.org/la.

Red Cross recognizes supporters of humanitarian causes

24 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

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The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County recently pub-lished “Wild L.A.: Explore the Amazing Nature In and Around Los Angeles,” a book equal parts local nature stories, field guide and trip planner.

Los Angeles is the second most densely populated city in the United States and a major biodiver-sity hotspot. With the book, the museum is showing residents and visitors that the urban environment is teeming with nature.

“Wild L.A.” was co-written by NHM Community Science Senior Manager Lila Higgins, NHM Herpetology Curator and Urban Nature Resource Center Co-Director Greg Pauly, science jour-nalist Jason Goldman, and poet and naturalist Charles Hood. The book includes 10 chapters on species found in the L.A. area, including more than 100 accounts describing local plants and animals and ways to identify them. It also includes guides for 25 hikes and offers infor-mation on how to track insects and learn about the Pleistocene Age at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. “Wild L.A.” also highlights natu-ralization, migration, climate change, extinction and human impact while promoting urban engagement with the natural world.

“We live in a place with amazing nature,” Pauly said. “With so much change due to the rapid growth of agriculture and then urban develop-ment, every species here has an amazing story to tell.”

“Many of us think that nature is something that is far away, that we have to make a special trip to dis-

cover,” Higgins added. “We hope this book changes people’s minds about that and inspires them to pro-tect and nurture nature in our city.”

NHM is holding a “Wild L.A.” book launch on Tuesday, March 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will include a panel discussion with the

authors on the research and stories in the book, followed by a Q&A session. Special museum collec-tions highlighting elements of the book will be on display from 6 to 7 p.m. Admission is free but reserva-tions are required by visiting nhm.org/wildla.

NHM book explores urban flora and fauna

photo by Johanna Turner

Bobcat kittens are among the native animals identified during NHM’s programs to study wildlife in Los Angeles.

Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has announced Center Theatre Group’s 53rd season at the Ahmanson Theatre will fea-ture seven shows from across the theatrical spectrum with three musicals, two hilarious one-per-son plays, the return of a land-mark dance theater piece plus one production to be announced at a later date.

“The 2019-2020 season at the Ahmanson Theatre showcases work from some of the world’s finest artists and creators,” Ritchie said. “From an iconic rock star – Sting starring in his heartfelt and empowering musi-cal ‘The Last Ship’ – to a pair of raconteurs direct from Broadway – John Leguizamo in ‘Latin History for Morons’ and Mike Birbiglia in ‘The New One’ – we’ve curated a collection of shows that are both passionate and personal.”

“Latin History for Morons,” written and performed by Leguizamo, will run from Sept. 8 to Oct. 20. Inspired by the near total absence of Latinos from his son’s American history books, Leguizamo embarks on a funny, frenzied search to find a Latin hero for his son’s school project.

Following, “The New One,” written and performed by Birbiglia, will run from Oct. 23 to Nov. 24. In the comedy show, Birbiglia delves back into his own life to tell a new story.

Catch Bourne’s “Swan Lake” with performances from Dec. 3 through Jan. 5, 2020. Retaining the iconic elements of the origi-nal production loved by millions

around the world, Bourne and award-winning designer Lez Brotherston will create a reimag-ining of the classic production.

“The Last Ship,” starring Sting, opens Jan. 22 and runs through Feb. 16. The musical was initially inspired by Sting’s 1991 album “The Soul Cages” and his own childhood experi-ences growing up in the shadow of the legendary Swan Hunter shipyard in Wallsend, England.

Back by popular demand, “The Book of Mormon” is mak-ing its Ahmanson debut after three previous sold-out engage-ments in Los Angeles. The musi-cal comedy follows the misad-ventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the good word. Performances will be from Feb. 18 to March 29.

Finally, winner of the 2018 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, “Once on This Island” opens April 8 and contin-ues through May 10. The musi-cal is the sweeping, universal tale of Ti Moune, a peasant girl in search of her place in the world and ready to risk it all for love.

Tickets for the 2019-2020 sea-son are currently available by season subscription and group sales only. General ticket on-sale dates for each show will be announced in the future.

The Ahmanson Theatre is located at 135 N. Grand Ave. For information and to purchase a subscription, call (213)972-4444, or visit centertheatre-group.org/ahmanson.

Ahmanson Theatre presents ‘The Book of Mormon,’ ‘Swan Lake’ and more

photo by Matthew Murphy

Written and performed by John Leguizamo and directed by Tony Taccone, “Latin History for Morons” is part of Center Theatre Group’s 2019-20 season at the Ahmanson Theatre and will be pre-sented Sept. 8 through Oct. 20.

Rooftop Cinema Club and APLA Health are hosting a special screen-ing of the film “Love, Simon” (2008) on Thursday, March 28, at 8 p.m. at LEVEL in downtown Los Angeles. The film by director Greg

Berlanti and starring Nick Robinson is a coming-of-age drama. Proceeds benefit APLA Health’s programs for underserved communities affected by HIV. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and audi-

ence members can enjoy cold drinks, street food and rooftop views. Tickets start at $17. LEVEL is located at 888 S. Olive St. For tickets and information, visit rooftopcinemaclub.com.

Rooftop Cinema event benefits APLA Health

The Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts will partner with fine jewelry and high-end watch-making brand Harry Winston in 2019.

The centerpiece of the partner-ship will be Harry Winston’s pre-senting sponsorship of The Wallis’ spring celebration fundraising event, “The Wallis Delivers: An Evening of Wicked Fun Honoring Stephen Schwartz” on May 16.

“The Wallis Delivers: An

Evening of Wicked Fun Honoring Stephen Schwartz” is a benefit supporting the artistic, education and outreach programs of The Wallis. Honorary co-chairs are Wallis Annenberg, Alan Menken, and Julie and Marc Platt. Event co-chairs are Cathy Louchheim and John Bendheim.

The Wallis is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills. For information, visit thewallis.org.

The Wallis forms partnership with jewelry maker Harry Winston

Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 25 March 21, 2019

The city of West Hollywood, which celebrates the creative arts through its Arts Division program-ming, is proud to host the debut workshop reading of “Beverly Johnson: Naked!,” supermodel Beverly Johnson’s one-woman show.

“Beverly Johnson: Naked!” was written with and directed by Josh Ravetch, the co-creator of Carrie Fisher’s hit “Wishful Drinking.”

Beverly Johnson  is an American supermodel, actress, singer, and  businesswoman. Johnson rose to fame when she became the first  African-American  model to appear on the cover of American  Vogue  maga-zine in August 1974. In 1975, Johnson became the first black woman to appear on the cover of the French edition of  Elle maga-zine. In 2012, Johnson was the star of the reality series Beverly’s Full House,  which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The New York Times  named Johnson one of the 20th century’s most influential peo-ple in fashion in 2008. 

Johnson has more than 500 mag-azine covers to her name and she remains one of the most iconic fig-ures in the world of fashion and modeling. Her life took an unex-pected turn when she broke her silence and revealed  that she too was among the many women

drugged by Bill Cosby. A  workshop  reading production

is a form of theatrical performance, in which a  play  or musical is staged in a modest format which does not include all aspects of a full production. For example, costumes, sets, and musical accompaniment may be excluded, or may be included in a simpler form. The actors often perform with script in hand.

The event will take place on Friday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the West Hollywood Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at the West Hollywood Library, located at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.

Admission is free, but RSVP is required at http://bit.ly/bever-lyjohnsonweho. The event is expected to be at capacity.

WeHo to host debut workshop of Beverly Johnson one-woman show

Answers from page 22

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilman Gil Cedillo took an important step toward ending L.A.’s reliance on fossil fuels, announcing the ter-mination of an oil and gas lease agreement at the St. James Controlled Drill Site in the University Park neighborhood, permanently closing a portion of the drill site.  

The St. James Exploratory Oil and Gas Lease, operated by AllenCo, was approved by city officials in 1963, allowing the company to access oil under city-owned land. After federal, state, and local agencies found that the company had violated numerous environmental orders, AllenCo voluntarily ceased oil production at the site in 2013. According to the terms of the lease, any lapse in production allows the city to revoke the company’s operating authority under city property.

“Our climate crisis demands a swift end to dependence on fossil fuels, and we’ll seize every opportunity to plug up a well,” Garcetti said. “By shutting down these wells for good we are putting communities first, helping keep the air clean for our families, and moving us closer to a clean energy future that doesn’t depend on dirty oil.”

During past operations, AllenCo Energy was found to have violated several environ-mental, health, and safety laws, including the Federal Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. The Environmental Protection Agency determined that AllenCo had failed to maintain a safe facil-ity by failing to take necessary steps to prevent accidental releas-es of extremely hazardous sub-

stances. In 2016, the city attorney found

AllenCo in violation of the California Health and Safety Code, Water Code, and Public Resources Code.

The city’s petroleum adminis-trator, Uduak-Joe Ntuk, issued a letter notifying AllenCo Energy of the expiration of the lease agreement due to a lack of pro-duction at the facility, ending the company’s right to operate wells that run beneath city-owned prop-erty from the site.

“It’s my job to determine com-pliance with all provisions of the city’s petroleum leases,” Ntuk said. “This letter serves as a notice that AllenCo’s rights to operate wells from the St. James Controlled Drill Site that run beneath city-owned property are terminated.

Twenty-one idle wells will still remain on the St. James site. The city will continue working with the landowner to identify alterna-tive uses for the property that are more compatible with the needs and values of Angelenos.

Garcetti ends oil production under land in University Park

Garcetti

A mix-up on the meeting’s start time led some in attendance to come at 6:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m., further inflaming an already heated discussion, but the city officials and members of the development team stayed until everyone had a chance to ask questions.

Aside from one man who said he liked the idea of the project but wished the building was more ener-gy efficient, the vast majority of people spoke out strongly against the structure, which many described as out of character with the other buildings on the Sunset Strip. One speaker called it “a par-ticularly ugly building, a blight.”

Others raised concerns about increased traffic and what they per-ceived to be a glut of hotels in the tourist-friendly area of West Hollywood.

But one of the most common arguments was in defense of the Viper Room, a historic music venue that many felt would be a shame to tear down.

The development team said they planned to reopen the Viper Room inside the hotel, but multiple speak-ers, such as Viper Room employee Rita Fiora, said that wouldn’t be the same.

Fiora, who said she’s been with the Viper Room for 10 years, said the venue’s “gritty” nature is part of what makes it special, and while she could support renovations or

improvements, the “stage is sacred.”

“People want to feel the history, they want to feel the vibe. It’s an experience. All the bands that come through there are really, really tal-ented. You never know on any given night who’s going to go on that stage,” she said.

With the meeting winding down, many in attendance said they planned to oppose the project, which Alkire said was submitted to the city in December.

The public will next have a chance to get involved at the scop-ing meeting for the environmental

impact report, which Alkire expects to take place sometime this sum-mer, possibly as soon as late June. Nothing has been decided about the project yet, she said.

“This is entirely up to the City Council,” she said.

In the meantime, DJ Moore, a land use attorney with Latham and Watkins who spoke on behalf of the development team, said the devel-opers will be listening to the com-munity and the project could evolve over time like the Arts Club project.

“This is just the very beginning [of the public outreach],” Moore added.

Viper Room could be demolished for new project

But Harris said the developers, the Holland Partner Group and Regency Centers, won over some doubters when they came back ear-lier this year with a plan for an eight-story building.

The project, which will include 331 apartments, more than 147,000 square feet of retail space and two levels of subterranean parking, will be an asset to the area of Third and Fairfax, Harris said. The plan is to keep the existing Whole Foods and CVS and bring in new retailers while increasing the green space and walking areas, which Harris said will add to the shopping envi-ronment on some of the other cor-ners of the intersection.

“We, as the Park La Brea Residents Association, feel as the overall project will be an improve-ment to the community by provid-ing new shops and services and will complement the original Farmers Market and the Grove Complex,” he said.

But not everyone is a fan. Harris said he’s heard a few Park La Brea residents, especially those nearest the development, are concerned about pollution, noise and traffic arising from construction and the project, issues that have been echoed by some parents and staff at the adjacent Hancock Park Elementary School.

Los Angeles Unified School District employees are limited in what they can say to the press, but Shanon Trygstad, who serves as president of the Friends of Hancock Park School, said demolishing the existing buildings might release pol-lutants into the air that the students breathe, and emissions from the construction equipment could be

harmful as well. In addition, she’s worried about

increasing the number of cars in the area. The streets around Hancock Park Elementary are already “beyond a traffic jam” in the morn-ings, she said, and the noise from construction vehicles, as well as from the demolition and construc-tion, could be distracting for stu-dents, especially those with autism and other special needs children, she said.

“It’s just feet from the school campus where the kids are playing every day,” she said.

Trysgstad and other representa-tives from Hancock Park Elementary, as well as area busi-nesses, residents, members of the Mid City West Community Council and other stakeholders, have been meeting at a working group hosted by Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, to work out some of the issues surrounding the development and advise him about their concerns.

Mark Pampanin, Ryu’s spokesman, said the councilman is working to “facilitate a conversation between the developer and commu-nity stakeholders that is productive and positive, leading to real solu-tions and options. His goal is to reach consensus on a site design that improves the property, provides community benefits and minimizes impacts, especially to Hancock Park Elementary School during construc-tion and after.”

Emma Howard, a senior planner with Ryu’s office, said the project is currently going through the environ-mental review process, and a scop-ing meeting was held last week.

“The goal here is we’d like to get a well-designed project where everyone feels safe during the con-struction,” Howard said.

While Ryu’s group is letting Trygstad voice her concerns, she

said she’s not sure it will actually lead to change from the developers.

“They won’t really agree to any-thing. They just keep saying they hear us,” she said.

However, Tom Warren, executive managing director for Holland Partner Group, said the feedback from the community, and specifical-ly Hancock Park Elementary, has already made a difference. It was because of requests from parents at the school that the project was low-ered to eight stories, and the devel-opers “expect to continue making adjustments throughout the process.”

“Going forward, we’re commit-ted to maintaining this collaborative approach and active cadence of communication with the ultimate priority of delivering a project that not only fits in but enhances the sur-rounding neighborhood,” he said.

photo by Cameron Kiszla

The Viper Room has hosted some of the top musical performers throughout its long and stories history on the Sunset Strip.

From page 1

Project near Park Labrea causes concern for residentsFrom page 1

“Going forward, we’re committed

to maintaining this collaborative

approach and active cadence of

communication with the ultimate

priority of delivering a

project that not only fits in but enhances the surrounding

neighborhood.”-Tom Warren

executive managing director for Holland Partner Group

26 March 21, 2019 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

end’s events could also c Pridehange to expand east of Santa Monica Boulevard.

“I think if you’re really about uniting the community you need to come up with a better urban idea,” D’Amico.

Headliners for this year’s 49th annual Pride are pop singer Meghan Trainor on June 8 and English synth-pop band Years & Years on June 9. Under the pro-posal, Santa Monica Boulevard, between Robertson and San Vicente Boulevard, would be free and open to the public with exhibitors, nonprofits and local

artists, including an art installa-tion honoring the 50th anniver-sary of the Stonewall riots.

The proposal for this year’s Pride also includes $418,000 for Los Angeles County Sheriff per-sonnel to provide security.

“What we’re trying to do this year is experiment with some-thing that can help us build toward a 50th anniversary of Pride next year that takes into account everything I’m sure we want to do for such a milestone anniversary,” Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath said. “Hopefully we’re building toward that and this is something that will help us learn from and plan for next year as well.”

Those health-based initiatives will continue under Councilman John Mirisch, who was sworn in to his third term as Beverly Hills mayor on March 20, and Councilman Les Friedman, who became vice mayor for the first time. Both have supported increased restrictions on smoking.

Gold was first elected to the City Council in 2011, following terms on the city’s Traffic and Parking Commission and Recreation and Parks Commission. He previously served as mayor in 2015.

Addressing Beverly Hills resi-dents at his swearing in last year at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Gold also vowed to continue efforts to revi-talize the shopping, dining, tourism and late-night culture in Beverly Hills. Stores have tradi-tionally closed around 6 p.m., and Beverly Hills hoteliers have said they’re forced to send their guests outside the city for late-night entertainment.

“How can we improve what we have, being mindful of our her-itage, but being aware of our competition?” Gold said when he was sworn in. “We must find a way to compete where perhaps we have not had to compete before.”

In 2018, the city continued the BOLD programming that Councilwoman Lili Bosse initiat-ed during her last term as mayor in 2017. Plans are currently in the works for this summer’s BOLD

events. The city saw an uptick in pedestrians on Rodeo Drive from 4-8 p.m. on Saturdays during August and December, when BOLD events were scheduled, one of several encouraging met-rics city staff reported to the council.

Since passing an urgency ordi-nance in 2017 aimed at giving renters more protections, the City Council continues to chip away at passing a Rent Stabilization Ordinance. It took a step forward earlier this month when it passed an ordinance to create a Rent Stabilization Commission, with prospective appointees to be interviewed by council members.

As mayor, Gold also oversaw the completion of the Santa Monica Boulevard reconstruction project and the debut of the Beverly Hills Fire Department’s Nurse Practitioner 1, which responds to calls for service and is staffed with both a nurse prac-titioner and firefighter paramedic.

“All of these things contributed to the residential quality of life in a big way,” Gold said of the council’s efforts in the last year.

Gold also said the city just started talking with electric scooter company Bird about ways the two sides can work together on safety regulations that would make council members comfort-able overturning the city’s electric scooter ban.

The five council members worked well together during a “very productive year,” Gold added,

“We came away much better off than when we started it,” he said.

Gold touts health-based initiatives addressed by the City CouncilFrom page 1

Pride planning begins

photo by John Viscott, courtesy of the city of West Hollywood

West Hollywood City Council members celebrated Pride in 2018.

From page 1

President Trump signed into law a package of public lands bills that included four bills authored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.): the California Desert Protection and Recreation Act, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Act, the Santa Ana Wash Plan Land Exchange Act and the Contra Costa Canal Transfer Act.

“This is a major victory for California’s public lands,” Feinstein said. “The lands package secures new protections for our desert, cre-ates California’s first National Heritage Area, develops smarter ways to manage the Santa Ana Wash and facilitates safety upgrades to the Contra Costa Canal. I’m grateful that these four bills were included in the lands package and are now signed into law.”

The lands package passed the Senate on Feb. 12 and the House of Representatives on Feb. 26.

The California Desert Protection and Recreation Act builds upon the legacy of the California Desert Protection Act, Feinstein’s landmark bill passed in 1994 that established Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, the Mojave National Preserve and protected more than 7.6 million acres of California desert wilderness.

In 2016, Senator Feinstein asked President Obama to expand protec-tions for the desert by creating the Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow and Castle Mountains national monu-ments. Those new public lands will also benefit from this legislation.

This legislation completes efforts started in 1994 to restore and protect the desert and its surrounding com-munities. It is the result of years of engagement with a range of stake-holders including local and state gov-ernment officials, environmental groups, off-highway recreation

enthusiasts, cattle ranchers, mining interests, the Department of Defense and California’s public utility com-panies.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Act establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as California’s first National Heritage Area. It authorizes $10 million in federal assistance over 15 years to provide matching grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations. This federal funding is necessary to help implement the locally developed National Heritage Area management plan to promote environmental stewardship, heritage conservation and economic develop-ment projects throughout the Delta.

The bill has no effect on water operations in and around the Delta, water rights, water contracts or prop-erty rights, nor does it create any new regulatory authority or burden on local government or private citizens. The bill also has no effect on fishing and hunting within the National Heritage.

Santa Ana Wash Plan Land Exchange Act directs the Bureau of Land Management to exchange approximately 300 acres of land with the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District in the Santa Ana Wash, at the junction of the Santa Ana River and Mill Creek.

The 4,500-acre Santa Ana Wash is a patchwork of land parcels owned by the water conservation district or BLM. The land exchange will help consolidate 1,347 acres of open space to preserve and protect habitat along the river’s floodplain as part of the broader Santa Ana River Wash Plan.

The area is also occupied by two mining companies that extract mate-rials for cement and concrete produc-tion. The bill allows these commer-cial operations to continue in the

Santa Ana Wash in an environmen-tally sensitive manner.

The Contra Costa Canal Transfer Act transfers the title of the Contra Costa Canal System from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Contra Costa Water District to allow the water dis-trict to complete necessary safety improvements to the canal. Since the Contra Costa Canal has been opera-tional, 82 people have drowned in the uncovered canal.

Built between 1937 and 1948, the canal delivers water to homes and businesses throughout Contra Costa County, as well as to the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys for irriga-tion. The 48-mile system is currently an open canal, but following the transfer, the water district will enclose it in a surface pipeline to help prevent deadly accidents, including a drowning last year. It will also help improve recreation and land use around the canal system by revitaliz-ing land located in the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

Trump signs package with four Feinstein bills

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti broke ground on the auto-mated people mover, a train which will connect travelers directly to airport terminals and create new and convenient locations for pas-senger pick-up and drop-off out-side the central terminal area.

The historic infrastructure pro-ject will transform public trans-portation, reduce traffic conges-tion, and deliver a world-class experience for travelers at Los Angeles International Airport.

The mayor was joined by Councilman Mike Bonin, L.A. County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Mark Ridley-Thomas, Board of Airport Commissioners President Sean Burton and Los Angeles World Airports CEO Deborah Flint, as well as commu-nity and labor leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony.

“Everyone traveling to or from LAX should have access to mod-ern, reliable public transportation that gets them to their destination on time,” Garcetti said. “The Automated People Mover is a his-toric investment in our city’s trans-portation infrastructure – a mile-stone that will create middle-class jobs, reduce traffic congestion, and deliver a world-class experience for travelers.”

Since taking office, Garcetti has guided forward a more than $14 billion transformation of LAX that began in 2009. Garcetti’s historic infrastructure investments have strengthened working families and the middle class. Under his leader-

ship, unemployment has been cut in half and 212,000 new jobs have been created. Construction of the train is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs.

The train is the centerpiece of the Landside Access Modernization Program, which also includes a consolidated rent-a-car facility and associated road-way improvements. Once com-pleted in 2023, the APM will con-nect with L.A. Metro’s light rail system.  

Convenience, reliability and accessibility are at the heart of the project. Trains will arrive every two minutes, have wide doors for easy access, large windows for viewing, and plenty of hand holds and seats for those in need. Station platforms are open air and will have escalators, elevators, and moving walkways for quick access to the terminals. The trains will

relieve traffic congestion and are expected to serve 30 million trav-elers annually from 2023.

On April 11, 2018, a 30-year, $4.9 billion contract with LINXS, the developer of the APM, was unanimously approved by the Los Angeles City Council, marking the largest contract ever awarded in the city’s history. Since then, LINXS has focused on finalizing the design of the guideway, opera-tions systems, and stations along the 2.25 mile path, work that now allows for the start of major con-struction on the project. Through this public-private partnership contracting model, LINXS is designing, building, and financing the project and is also responsible for operating and maintaining the trains and stations for a 30-year period.

For information, visit flylax.com/connectinglax.

LAX airport train project breaks ground

photo courtesy of the mayor’s office

Feinstein

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