Tag: Beverly Hills

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills posted on its Facebook page on Saturday, July 20 that from Monday, July 22 through August 9, that the Burton Way Resurfacing Project will begin.

The project includes grinding, paving, and striping along Burton Way between Rexford Dr. and Roberston Blvd within the City of Beverly Hills Right-of-Way.

There will be lane closures along Burton Way to allow for the work starting July 22 to August 9. Work hours will be Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and striping at night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

For further questions regarding this project contact askBH (310) 285-1000 or askBH@beverlyhills.org.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Thursday, July 18, the Beverly Hills Police Department informed Canyon News via email that several suspects involved in an armed robbery have been arrested.

The BHPD reported an armed robbery transpired on Wednesday, July 17, at approximately 2:55 P.M. in the area of Canon Drive and Charleville Avenue. The suspects, at least two in number, confronted the victim as he sat in his car, produced handguns, and forcibly took his property, including a Rolex watch, a ring, and an iPhone, before fleeing in a vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Officers provided critical information to the Real-Time Watch Center (RTWC), which quickly identified the suspect’s vehicle and relayed the information to the Detective Bureau.

Utilizing Police Department resources, the suspect’s vehicle was located in the city of Hawthorne. The Hawthorne Police Department (HPD) located the suspect’s vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, which led to a pursuit. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) helicopter provided aerial assistance during the chase. Three suspects abandoned their vehicle in the area of 74th Street and Hoover Street in South Los Angeles
and fled on foot.

One suspect was quickly apprehended, while another suspect carjacked a victim in a further attempt to evade capture. After a short pursuit, the carjacked victim fled from the vehicle, and the suspect was apprehended.

LASD Deputies attempted to stop a vehicle containing a male matching the description of the outstanding suspect, leading to another pursuit. The pursuit ended in the 3900 block of Shedd Terrace, Culver City, where LASD Deputies apprehended the suspect.

The investigation is ongoing. Taken into police custody were:

• Semaj Lopez, a 24-year-old from Los Angeles, California, was booked for PC 211 – Robbery
• Michael Smith, a 19-year-old from Lancaster, California, was booked for PC 211 – Robbery
• Daiyaan Henderson, a 21-year-old from Los Angeles, California, was booked for VC 2800.2 – Felony
  evading and seven (7) felony warrants.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday, July 16 that an interactive virtual workshop will be held on July 31 to discuss potential changes to multi-family Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations. The virtual event will be held via Zoom.

Key topics that will be discussed include:

Key topics include:

-Height

-Floor area

-Setbacks

The public’s feedback is valuable for the city’s Planning Commission and the Beverly Hills City Council. To learn more details visit www.beverlyhills.org/adu. The event will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31. For additional questions the public can email longrange@beverlyhills.org

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its Facebook page that they will be hosting a Community Blood Drive with the Red Cross on Thursday, July 11.

The event will transpire from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Hall Municipal Gallery located at 455 N. Rexford Drive.

Individuals can make an appointment at redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: CityBevHills.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, July 8, the city of Beverly Hills posted details on how the public can remain safe during the extreme heat in the weather.

Residents should stay indoors, and if possible spend time in air-conditioned locations. In Beverly Hills, the following locations are available as a cooling centers during regular business hours.

-Roxbury Park Community Center: Weekdays 8 am to 9:30 pm; Weekends 8 am to 5 pm.

-La Cienega Park Community Center: Weekdays 8 am to 9 pm; Weekends 8 am to 5 pm.

-Beverly Hills Public Library: Monday through Thursday 9:30 am to 9:30 pm; Friday through Saturday 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday Noon to 6 pm.

For a list of Los Angeles County cooling centers visit the Public Health website or call the LA County Information line at 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone within the county.

Ways to Beat the Heat

-Drink cool, non-alcoholic beverages often. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.

-Avoid unnecessary exertion.

-If you experience dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst you need to relax in a cooler, shaded place and drink water or a sports drink.

-More severe symptoms (such as disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing) may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke. Seek immediate medical attention.

If You Must Be Outdoors

-Try to limit your activity to morning and evening hours when the temperature is cooler.

-Cut down on exercise.

-Try and rest often in shady areas.

-Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and using sunscreen.

-Wear light-weight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes.

Groups Are at Greater Risk For Heat-Related Illnesses

-People aged 65 or older.

-Infants and young children.

-People with chronic medical conditions.

The public is being warned to never leave a senior, child or pet in a closed car or any vehicle since temperatures can quickly rise to life-threatening levels. Anyone who knows seniors who live alone or people whose immune and/or respiratory systems are not working properly, they should check on them regularly to make sure they are staying cool.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, July 2, the Beverly Hills Police Department announced in a media release that they are alerting drivers to plan ahead if they are planning to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday by drinking.

The BHPD reported that in 2022, 487 people were killed in crashes throughout the country during the Fourth of July holiday period. Of those fatal crashes, 40 percent involved alcohol. In California, 68 people were killed in crashes during the 2023 Independence Day holiday period. In addition, California Highway Patrol officers made nearly 1,224 arrests for driving under the influence – an average of one DUI arrest every five minutes.

“Choosing a sober driver is not just about following the law; it’s about saving lives,” said BH Police Chief Mark G. Stainbrook. “If you plan on celebrating the Fourth of July with a drink, we want you to make a plan to go safely with a sober ride home. Think of your loved ones, friends, and family before getting behind the wheel.”

Driving under the influence includes impairment from prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and marijuana. The BHPD is alerting the public who may be hosting friends and family for barbecues and watching fireworks shows, offer nonalcoholic drinks for designated sober drivers and monitor who is drinking. If they see people leaving who have been drinking, offer to have them stay the night or make arrangements for them to take a sober ride home. Anyone who sees an impaired driver or witnesses someone driving recklessly should contact 9-1-1.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills posted on its Facebook page on Monday, July 1 that it is hiring. There are open positions in various departments such as Public Works, Beverly Hills Police Department, Community Services and more.

Several full-time positions are available with the Beverly Hills Police Department, which include Communications Dispatcher, Lateral Police Officer, Pre-Service Police Officer (Entry Level). Other positions available include: Parking Supervisor, Senior Recreation Supervisor, Systems Integrator and Water Resources Engineer. Some of the positions start at an annual salary of $74,000 to upwards of $178,000.

Work history is required on the application. A resume submitted in lieu of an application will not be sufficient. Furthermore, “See resume” is not an acceptable response under ‘Work Experience’ section. An application containing such a response may be deemed incomplete. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

The first application created will be saved and can be used for subsequent positions individuals wish to apply for. The application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. Collect details about education and employment history before creating the applicants application. Please complete the application in its entirety making sure you give detailed information on all relevant areas as a poorly completed application can be a disadvantage to meeting the minimum qualification for a position.

Individuals planning to spend more than 30 minutes applying, should be certain to click on the save button as they go along. Failure to do so will result in loss of information. Do not click submit until certain they have completed the application. Once an applicant clicks submit they will no longer have the option to update.

They can print a copy of the job bulletin and their application for future reference. An automated confirmation email will be generated following submission. Keep this confirmation as proof. If an applicant is selected for the next round(s) of the recruitment process, their qualification may be evaluated through written, skill assessment, and oral exams.

Be sure to add the email of government jobs to the address book, so applicants can receive emails regarding the positions they are applying for. See all openings at www.beverlyhills.org/jobs.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its Facebook page that it is hosting a multi-family ADU Community Workshop on Monday, July 8.

The workshop will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Beverly Hills City Hall Municipal Gallery. Participants can join BH planners for an interactive workshop to discuss potential changes to multi-family Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations.

Key topics include height, floor area, and setbacks. The participation of the public will be valuable feedback for our Planning Commission and the Beverly Hills City Council.

The city of Beverly Hills posted on its website that Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are attached or detached units that provide complete, independent living facilities for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation on the same site as a single-family residence or multi-family building.

Sometimes called second units or granny units, ADUs can be an effective way to provide additional housing on single- and multi-family properties where housing units already exist. ADUs cannot be sold separately from the main residence; but can be optionally rented for periods of 31 days or longer. ADUs are allowed on any property that is zoned for residential or mixed-use that has an existing or proposed dwelling unit.

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 24-O-2892 amending the ADU regulations in the Beverly Hills Municipal Code (BHMC) on March 18, 2024, which became effective on April 18, 2024. The ordinance includes, but is not limited to, amendments to the BHMC that:

-Repeal and replace the existing ADU code sections [BHMC §10-3-409; §10-3-603.5; §10-3-702.5; §10-3-803.5; §10-3-902.5; §10-3-1002.5; §10-3-1102.5] with a new Article 50 (Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units) in Title 10, Chapter 3 (Zoning) of the BHMC to comprehensively regulate ADU development consistent with state law, including local standards beyond state law minimums for single-family development;

-Amend the Definitions section [BHMC §10-3-100]; and

-Create a discretionary review path for ADUs located on any residential property developed with a single-family residence to allow ADUs that do not conform to the proposed by-right objective standards [BHMC §10-3-3600].

For those unable to attend in person, they can join the virtual workshop on Zoom occurring on July 31. That workshop will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. To learn more about the event visit www.beverlyhills.org/adu.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its Facebook page on Wednesday, June 26 that it has released its latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).

“It’s more than just a requirement – it’s our promise of transparency and ensuring you have all the info about your water quality. Curious about your water’s source or what’s in it? Look no further!,” the city of Beverly Hills stated on Facebook.

The CCR offers a comprehensive snapshot of our water quality, mandated by the State Water Resources Control Board and submitted to the Division of Drinking Water (DDW) local division office.

Residents can access the CCR online at www.beverlyhills.org/waterqualityreports.Those wanting a printed copy can contact (310) 285-1000 or send an email at askBH@beverlyhills.org, and the city will mail one out.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, June 24, the city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that applications for the Team Beverly Hills program are being accepted through Friday, August 9.

Formed in 1996, Team Beverly Hills provides residents with a hands-on look at the operations of local government. The program features a variety of class sessions and includes interactive experiences with many departments.

Team Beverly Hills is an interactive and educational program that informs community members about their local government representatives, departments and programs; community associations; and current community issues.

Program participants explore the behind-the-scenes operations of Beverly Hills’ including Public Works, Emergency Management, Information Technology, Community Services and Public Safety. More than 800 residents have completed Team Beverly Hills and over 70 percent of all current elected officials and City Commissioners are Team BH alumni.

The program allows open dialogue with city officials, city representatives, and community/business leaders in order to enable and offer participants an understanding of issues, opportunities, and challenges facing Beverly Hills.

The Team Beverly Hills program will select 50 residents (30 appointed by the Beverly Hills City Council, 18 selected by a random lottery, and two selected by the Beverly Hills Unified School District) for its upcoming class. Five representatives from the city’s business community (appointed by the BH City Council) will also be selected for the program, which kicks off later this year.

To learn more about Team Beverly Hills and fill out an application online, visit beverlyhills.org/teambeverlyhills or by emailing teambh@beverlyhills.org.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that Beverly Hills Mayor Les Friedman will host ‘Les is More: An Hour with the Mayor,’ a special talk series held at City Hall featuring guest speakers and topics.

The first event will be on Monday, June 24 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at City Hall | Municipal Gallery at 455 N Rexford Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Mayor Friedman’s guest speaker will be Beverly Hills Fire Chief Greg Barton who will share highlights from the Fire Department’s unhoused and nurse practitioner program as well as how the community can continue to stay safe and diligent when it comes to protecting themselves, loved ones and their property.

Participants can join via Zoom with the link below:

Launch Meeting – Zoom

Or call in at (310) 285-1020. Individuals with questions can email LesisMore@beverlyhills.org.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its Facebook page that on Thursday, June 20 from 3p.m. to 7p.m. roads surrounding Beverly Gardens Park will be impacted, including N Crescent Dr. and Park Way.

There will also be meter closures and truck staging on Park Way. Individuals with questions can contact the ask BH team at askBH@beverlyhills.org, dial (310) 285-1000 or via the city of Beverly Hills mobile app.

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA—Lt. Erika Aklufi of the Santa Monica Police Department indicated in an email to Canyon News on Wednesday, June 12, that a suspect involved in a 2016 home invasion was convicted in court.

The SMPD reported on August 28, 2016, officers responded to a ‘shots fired’ call at a residence in the 600 block of Adelaide Drive, Santa Monica. They discovered the homeowner had been shot once in the torso during what was determined to be a failed robbery attempt. The victim survived and was taken to UCLA hospital where they were treated.

A multi-year investigation, aided by DNA evidence, linked the incident to additional home invasions in Beverly Hills and Downey. All four incidents transpired within a two-week period in 2016. The suspect, Vacho Shahen, 39, of Las Vegas, was arrested in Philadelphia, PA, in 2018.

Last week, after a three-week trial, Shahen was convicted by a jury on 16 of 17 felony charges. His sentencing is scheduled for June 24, 2024, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The SMPD is offering free home security assessments to all residents. The assessments help identify potential vulnerabilities and provide recommendations to better secure your home. To schedule an assessment contact the Community Affairs Unit at 310-458-8474.

For additional details regarding this investigation contact Sgt. Chad Goodwin at 310-458-8931 or Lt. Erika Aklufi at 310-458-8493.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, June 11, the city of Beverly Hills posted on its Facebook page that Southern California Edison will be conducting work in select neighborhoods will encounter 15-minute outages that SCE is conducting to perform circuit connectivity checks on the system.

These outages are required to help improve outage communication data to customers. The outages will occur on Friday, June 14 at 12:30 a.m. and at 2 a.m. Anyone with questions can contact the SCE 24-Hour Outage Hotline at (855) 683-9067.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its Facebook page that it will be holding an Emergency Preparedness Fair on Sunday, June 23.

The city of Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Fire Department and the Beverly Hills Police Department will participate in the family-oriented community event with raffles, family-fun activities and emergency vehicles on display.

The Beverly Hills Fire Department posted on its website that during a major disaster, the Fire and Police Departments could be delayed in their response, it may take up to 72 hours for medical care response depending on the severity of the event or events.

The Just in Case BH helps to facilitate a neighborhood of trained CERTs (Community Emergency Response Team) and facilitates access to local doctors, basic medical supplies, and central meeting locations. The program will also supply block captains with a way to communicate during power and internet outages.

The CERT program educates volunteers about emergency and disaster preparedness for different hazards that may occur and impact their area and trains them in basic emergency and disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, medical operations, and terrorism.

The Emergency Preparedness Fair will include participation from the Office of Emergency Management, Public Works, Human Services, K-9 units, BHCPR and more. The event will be held at Greystone Mansion from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 905 Loma Vista Dr. To learn more visit www.beverlyhills.org/justincasebh.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its Facebook page that it will be holding a virtual workshop on Monday, June 24 to educate the community regarding the regulation of single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene.

On March 18, the Beverly Hills City Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting the distribution of single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene (e.g., Styrofoam) foodware.

The ordinance will decrease plastic waste by requiring food facilities that provide disposable foodware to use compostables or recyclable items, impacting businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, and pharmacies. Items that will be permitted include compostable 100 percent fiber-based, free of PFAs & non-fiber additives. Items that are recyclable will also be permitted as long as they are unlined aluminum & containers with a CRV value.

Single-use plastic foodware and expanded polystyrene (e.g., Styrofoam) products comprise a significant proportion of Beverly Hills’ waste production, dominating landfills. Such items also pollute streets, critical waterways, and local ecosystems, breaking down into hazardous microplastics that accumulate in perpetuity. Additionally, producing conventional plastics and expanded polystyrene depends on extracting and processing fossil fuels, resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions.

Key provisions

-Food facilities cannot provide single-use articles* to customers with ready-to-eat food, including cutlery, straws, and containers, unless they are compostable or recyclable. This requirement also applies to food trays and egg cartons.

-Retail establishments cannot sell, rent, or offer expanded polystyrene products to customers.

-Third-party online food ordering businesses must allow food facilities to indicate which single-use foodware accessories they offer and allow customers to select which accessories, if any, will be included with their order.

-Full-service restaurants may only provide multiservice utensils, which are designed to be cleaned and reused, to customers for consumption on the premises.

*A single-use article is any disposable foodware item used to serve, consume, transport, or contain food or beverages. This term includes plates, bowls, clamshells, pizza boxes, cups, trays, egg cartons, and wrappers, among other items. It also includes single-use foodware accessories provided alongside ready-to-eat food, such as forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, straws, stirrers, spill plugs, hot beverage sleeves, cup lids, napkins, and condiment containers.

Impacted Businesses

Most retailers and food facilities, including restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, and pharmacies, will have until March 18, 2025, to comply. Mobile facilities and farmers’ market vendors must comply by September 18, 2025, and March 18, 2026, respectively.

To further educate the community, the virtual meeting will be held via zoom on June 24, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. To learn more visit beverlyhills.org/plasticandfoam for additional details.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The Beverly Hills Police Department announced on May 30 that two esteemed members, Lieutenant Jesse Perez and Captain Giovanni Trejo graduated from the University of La Verne with a doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Lieutenant Jesse Perez’s Achievement has earned his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, advancing his field in law enforcement. He has 21 years of experience; Lieutenant Perez is a Patrol Lieutenant.

Watch Commander and SWAT/CNT Commander, his doctoral research, titled “Law Enforcement and Advanced Drone Technology: A Comprehensive Inside Look at the Use and Implementation of Law Enforcement Drone Technology and Its Effect on Officer Safety, Police Culture, and Public Perception,” delves into the transformative potential of drone technology in modern policing.

Lieutenant Perez’s research provides invaluable insights as law enforcement faces challenges such as losing confidence in government institutions, recruitment and retention issues, community trust, legal changes, and technological advancements. He emphasizes technology when used legally, ethically, and morally, can be a significant ‘force multiplier’ in 21st-century policing. He advocates for the responsible use of drone technology to enhance officer safety, gather intelligence, reconstruct crime scenes, search for missing persons, and support SWAT operations.

“Lieutenant Perez’s vision includes integrating drone technology in partnership with the community to promote transparency, accountability, and legitimacy in law enforcement. His work highlights the importance of using technology as a tool to assist law enforcement, not as a replacement for police personnel,” the BHPD stated on its Facebook page.

Captain Giovanni Trejo’s Achievement

Captain Giovanni Trejo graduated with a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, furthering his commitment to enhancing law enforcement practices through innovative leadership. His dissertation, “Organizational Change in Law Enforcement: Exploring the Use of Change Management Practices of Police Executives Adopting Less Traditional Patrol Procedures,” underscores his dedication to professional development.

Captain Trejo’s academic journey started in 2020 during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reflecting on his experience, Captain Trejo shared, “This program tested my patience and determination. We were known as the pandemic class. We started in 2020 by attending classes virtually and spending weekend sessions in Zoom. Thoughts of quitting often traveled through my mind, and I’m sure my classmates did as well. But I am not one to start something and not complete it. Two things that helped me get through the program were my love and appreciation for law enforcement. Our communities deserve the best. Anything below the mark of excellence is simply a disservice to them. That mark of excellence was my target when I embarked on this venture. Commitment to public service propelled me and got me to where I am today.”

Chief Mark G. Stainbrook praised Captain Trejo’s accomplishment: “Captain Trejo’s dedication to professional development and his innovative approach to law enforcement leadership are commendable. His achievement is a testament to his unwavering commitment to serving our community with excellence.”

“The Beverly Hills Police Department congratulates Lieutenant Jesse Perez and Captain Giovanni Trejo on their outstanding achievements. Their academic and professional accomplishments inspire the entire Department and the community they serve. The Department looks forward to the continued impact of their contributions on law enforcement practices and the broader community,” the BHPD said in a statement on Facebook.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills will be celebrating its Building Safety Event Mission Impossible 2024 on Wednesday, May 22. The event will transpire from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will take place at the Beverly Hills City Hall, at the Municipal Gallery. Located at 455 N. Rexford Drive, 2nd Floor.

The city of Beverly Hills posted the following message on its Facebook page:

“Discover our services, participate in Q&A sessions, enjoy refreshments, and win prizes! We hope to see you there.”

The public will get the chance to connect with Plan Review Engineers, Building Inspectors, other Building & Safety experts, and the City’s Building Official. Property owners, design professionals, contractors, students, and community members are welcome to attend.

May is Building Safety Month, and is an international campaign celebrated in May to raise awareness about building safety. For more than 43 years, Building Safety Month has reinforced the need for the adoption of modern, regularly-updated building codes, and helps individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills disclosed on its website on May 14, that the 2024 Concours d’Elegance will return to the area on Sunday, June 16. This year the event will celebrate 29 years and will showcase more than 100 rare automobiles in the heart of Beverly Hills. The event is free to the public.

Fathers, families and car enthusiasts of all ages are invited to enjoy an up-close look at some of the world’s most exotic and expensive vehicles at the 29th annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance. The area’s must-attend Father’s Day event will run from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. on Rodeo Drive.

This year’s event, powered by O’Gara Coach, will host a full slate of incredible vehicles lining Beverly Hills’ most famous street between Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. There will be a special celebration of hypercars and supercars that include the McLaren, Pagani, Czinger and more, in addition to race cars, classics and custom-built showstoppers.

Attendees can enjoy a stroll or stay in one of Beverly Hills’ top hotels and experience luxury boutiques, shopping and dining all within walking distance of the car show.

This event is supported by the city of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee with returning sponsors O’Gara Coach, Auto Vault Storage, GEARYS, Ferrari of Beverly Hills, Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills, Lucid Motors, Two Rodeo and RM Sotheby’s. The Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance is pleased to welcome new sponsors for this year’s event, including the upcoming Netflix Film “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” and Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Proceeds from the Concours benefit will help the Beverly Hills Police Officers Association and Beverly Hills Firefighters’ Association. They are non-profit charities raising funds for first responders and their families. Parking will be available at nearby parking garages.
Individuals interested in having their vehicle for display can complete the following application: https://fathersdaycarshow.formstack.com/forms/application.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On May 8, the city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that on May 1, the city of Beverly Hills was notified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) that its revised draft Housing Element that was adopted March 18, 2024, and submitted for review on March 19, 2024, was in substantial compliance with the State Housing Element Law.

“We are pleased that our efforts were recognized and received formal certification by HCD,” said Michael Forbes, Director of Community Development. “I commend the intensive work of our City Staff working closely with HCD during the process and we look forward to implementing the plan’s programs as soon as possible.”

The State of California requires that each jurisdiction’s housing element be updated every eight years and certified by the State. Beverly Hills updated its Housing Element for the 2021 to 2029 period. A major component of this update is the 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment (“RHNA”), in which the State estimates each region’s housing needs for all income groups.

The city of Beverly Hills is continuing to review plans and issue building permits for all types of projects. To learn more and view the certification letter, visit beverlyhills.org/housingelementupdate.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Wednesday, May 8, the Beverly Hills Police Department posted on its Facebook page the celebration of Class #8 from the Citizen Police Academy.

They graduated last week at the Greystone Mansion after an eight-week deep dive into the police department. The class learned about the K-9 Unit, SWAT, Defensive Tactics, Crime Lab, and Range Day, and even participated in a Ride-Along among other activities.

Beverly Hills residents interested in the Fall class can learn more information at https://linktr.ee/bhpd_90210.

Established in 2015, the Citizen Police Academy (CPA) was established in 2015 and was created with the mission to foster trust and communication by educating the Beverly Hills community in the daily aspects of law enforcement. The application period for the Fall 2024 class will be July 18 to August 13. To be notified about the next application period or to learn more about the program email aguvlekjian@beverlyhills.org.

CPA Schedule

Classes run from 6 pm to 9 pm.

Fall 2024 Classes

-Thursday, September 5 (mandatory attendance)

-Thursday, September 12

-Thursday, September 19

-Tuesday, September 24

-Thursday, September 26

-Sunday, September 29 (Range Day)

-Tuesday, October 1

-Thursday, October 10

-Thursday, October 17

-Tuesday, October 22

-Thursday, October 24

Being a member of the Citizen Police Academy provides behind-the-scenes experiences and knowledge of police work that many never have the chance to encounter. Participants will:

-Engage in practical, real, and meaningful hands-on experiences

-Gain insight into police policies, procedures, and training

-Have first-hand experiences with specialized units (K9, SWAT, Detectives, etc.)

-Be invited to participate in a ride-along with an officer

Eligibility

To become a member of the Citizen Police Academy, applicants must meet the following requirements:

-Be at least 21 years old

-Pass a background check

-Never have been a member of prior Citizen Police Academy classes

-Commit to attending all scheduled training sessions

Proof of residency in the city of Beverly Hills is required by providing one of the following documents:

-California Driver’s License or Identification Card

-Utility bill

-Vehicle registration

Attendance on the first day of the CPA program is mandatory. Failure to attend may result in the termination of your enrollment in the program.

Each applicant must submit a completed application and pass the limited background check in order to become part of the Citizen Police Academy class. The Citizen Police Academy is an 8-week program, held in the Spring and another session in the Fall, with one additional optional training day. Each weekly session is approximately three hours long.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The Beverly Hills Police Department indicated in a news release on Friday, May 2, updates regarding AB-481. The Beverly Hills City Council will address AB-481 during its next session on Tuesday, May 7.

As of January 1, 2022, AB-481 requires law enforcement agencies to obtain City Council approval regarding the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment. AB-481 designated certain equipment as “military equipment,” regardless of whether it was procured from the military. Approved military equipment currently utilized by the Beverly Hills Police Department includes:

-Unnamed ariel vehicles (Drones)

-Long Range Acoustic Devices (LARD)

-Robotics

-Armored Vehicles

-Command and control vehicles

-Breaching apparatus that are explosive in nature

-Ammunition of .50 caliber or greater

-Specialized firearms

-Specialized firearms with the ability to launch explosive projectiles

-Flash-bang devices

-Projectile launch platforms and their associated munitions

Individuals can review the inventory of the military equipment that the BHPD is requesting to purchase and an annual report on military equipment use.

During that Council Session the general public will get the opportunity to share their comments and any concerns they have.

For comments, questions and complaints can be submitted to: https://www.beverlyhills.org/569/Military-Equipment-Use-Policy-Assembly-B.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Wednesday, May 1, the Beverly Hills Police Department announced the start of Bicycle Safety Month. May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and the BHPD is encouraging everyone to get active and safely take bike rides while reminding drivers to be on the lookout for more people biking and walking.

“Everyone deserves to reach their destination safely,” Police Chief Mark G. Stainbrook said. “Unfortunately, there has been an increase in bicycle fatalities and injuries over the last few years. Bicyclists do not have the same protections as people in a vehicle, so if you see a bicyclist — slow down.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,105 people killed while riding a bike in 2022, and an estimated 46,195 bicyclists were injured. In 2021, 976 bicyclists were killed (a 1.9 percent increase from 2020), and an estimated 41,615 bicyclists were injured (a 7 percent increase from 2020).

In an effort to keep those biking and walking safe, the Police Department will conduct a traffic safety operation on Tuesday, May 21, focused on driver behaviors that put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk, such as speeding, making illegal turns, failure to yield the right of way, and running stop signs or red lights.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Saturday, May 11, the city of Beverly Hills will host Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. The event will transpire from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Beverly Hills Fire Department Station #2 located at 1100 Coldwater Canyon. The event is free for the public to attend.

Participants can receive education material and handouts regarding vegetation maintenance, home hardening, fuel modification, and emergency planning.

The city of Beverly Hills indicates on its website that catastrophic brush fires are happening at an increasing rate in the state and across the country. The many hillside communities within Los Angeles are under threat of devastating wildfire. As this risk increases, it is important to plan, prepare, and stay aware.

The “Ready, Set, Go!” program is designed to walk individuals through the steps to take to ensure they are prepared in the case of an approaching wildfire.

Being “Ready” for wildfire starts with maintaining adequate vegetation clearance/maintenance around your home. By following the Beverly Hills Brush Maintenance Program, residents can create an area around their home that is free of dead, dry, and hazardous vegetation. Without this vegetation maintenance, the fire will quickly spread throughout the property and to your home and there is little that can be done to defend it.

In addition to the Brush Clearance Program, individuals can harden the home by using fire-resistant building materials. Flying embers from a wildfire can destroy homes up to a mile away. Individuals should prepare for the possibility of evacuation before the need arrives as a result of a wildfire.

Stay informed by following local media and your Beverly Hills Nixle Alerts via text to BEVHILLS to 888777 to receive text message alerts.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills will be hosting its Building Safety Event as part of Building Safety Month. The event will take place on May 22.

The Building Safety Event, ‘Mission Impossible 2024’ will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public will be able to discover services available, participate in Q&A sessions, enjoy refreshments, and win prizes.

The public will get the opportunity to connect with Plan Review Engineers, Building Inspectors, other Building and Safety experts and Beverly Hills’ Building Official.

May is Building Safety Month, and the opportunity to highlight the importance of keeping the City of Beverly Hills safe. Building Safety Month is an international campaign celebrated in May to raise awareness about building safety. For more than 43 years, Building Safety Month reinforced the need for the adoption of modern, regularly-updated building codes, and helps individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures.

It will be held at the Beverly Hills City Hall – Municipal Gallery located at 455 N. Rexford Drive on the Second Floor.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—Starting Wednesday, May 1, the city of Beverly Hills announced starting Wednesday, May 1, the city will unveil its new website, that underwent an extensive refresh under the guidance of its Website Steering Committee which consisted of community members and Council liaisons, Councilmember John Mirisch and former Councilmember Lili Bosse.

The new website, designed by Beverly Hills’ selected vendor, CivicPlus, features improved functionality, easy navigation as well as at-a-glance information about city news and upcoming events.

In conjunction with the website launch, Beverly Hills will unveil its new customer relations program called ‘askBH’ which will serve as the primary contact service for non-emergency assistance on city services, programs and events.

This new program will make things easier for community members to get in touch with a Beverly Hills representative by phone, email, mobile app, website or via text.

“It’s imperative that we provide effective and hospitable customer service to our community and point them in the right direction when they need a question answered,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman. “Our new askBH team will be readily available to serve anyone needing assistance.”

During the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, the askBH customer service team can help the public navigate with recreation reservations, solid waste and commercial trash services, reporting code violations, street repairs, obtain fire permits and more. Additional information will be made available soon.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on Wednesday, April 10 that the La Cienega Community Center will be temporarily closed from April 3 thru April 30.

Due to recent heavy rains and resulting water intrusion at La Cienega Park Community Center, the facility is temporarily closed through April 30.

Following the storms, staff detected odors throughout the building. To be cautious, the city of Beverly Hills is in the process of air testing to ensure satisfactory air quality. Staff is continuing to assess the level of water intrusion and any potential damage to the building.

While repairs are being performed, the La Cienega preschool program has been relocated and combined with the Coldwater Canyon preschool class. Other community programs have been moved to other facilities, as a result. The safety of our preschool students, visitors and staff is always our top priority.

“We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate the community’s patience and look forward to reopening the Center soon,” the city of Beverly Hills said in the Facebook post.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its website on Monday, April 8 that commuters and residents who use North Santa Monica Boulevard are informed to avoid or allow ample time to travel through a two-block portion of the area as crews from the Metropolitan Water District urgently repair a leak in a major water pipeline starting at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9.

Water service to residences and businesses will not be impacted by the leak or construction activities. Only one lane will be open in each direction on North Santa Monica Boulevard between Moreno Drive and Wilshire Boulevard (link to map), where Beverly Hills borders Angeles, through at least Saturday, April 13, although repairs may extend beyond that timeline.

“We will work as quickly as possible to address this issue to protect the region’s water supplies, as well as public safety,” said Shane Chapman, Metropolitan assistant general manager of operations. “We appreciate the public’s cooperation during this urgent repair.”

The leak was discovered in Metropolitan’s Santa Monica Feeder, a 24-mile pipeline that provides water to the cities of Glendale, Burbank, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Metropolitan crews will excavate to inspect the pipeline and immediately repair the leak.

In addition to the traffic impacts, residents and businesses may notice increased noise due to construction and excavation. For updates, email communityrelations@mwdh2o.com.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, April 2, the city of Beverly Hills held its ceremony for its newest Mayor, Lester J. Friedman who was sworn in.

Friedman was elected Mayor of Beverly Hills at the City Council’s reorganization meeting on Tuesday evening. He succeeds Julian A. Gold, MD who completed his third and final term on the Beverly Hills City Council. During the same ceremony, Councilmember Lili Bosse completed her third and final term. New Councilmembers Craig A. Corman and Mary N. Wells took the oath of office.

“I am deeply grateful to once again serve our community,” said Mayor Friedman. “Maintaining the safety and security of our community is a top priority, while preparing for the excitement of the 2028 Olympics and other world events will lead to some productive conversations. The year ahead will certainly be one filled with meaningful commitments that will enhance the quality of life for everyone living in and visiting Beverly Hills.”

Mayor Friedman was first elected to the BH City Council in 2017 and served as Mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He previously served on the Beverly Hills Traffic and Parking Commission from 2011 through 2017 and served as its Chair in 2015. Mayor Friedman is also an attorney. Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD was named Vice Mayor by the BH City Council during the ceremony.

Vice Mayor Nazarian, who was first elected in 2022, previously served as a Beverly Hills Public Works Commissioner and was a past Chair of the Beverly Hills Human Relations Commission. The Mayor and Vice Mayor serve one-year terms and are selected by their City Council colleagues during the annual reorganization meeting.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills has announced new details for the New Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Council Installation Ceremony on Tuesday, April 2. The city of Beverly Hills posted on its website the event will be held at 7 p.m. at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Beverly Hills.

Current Mayor Julian A. Gold, and councilmembers John A. Mirisch and Lili Bosse will be in attendance at the ceremony, where Lester J. Friedman will be sworn in as a the new Mayor of the city and Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD will be sworn in as the new Vice Mayor.

Newly elected Beverly Hills City Councilmembers Craig A. Corman and Mary N. Wells will be sworn in during the ceremony. A total of 10 candidates ran for two open seats on the Beverly Hills City Council during the March 5, 2024, General Election.

The Wallis Annenberg Center is located at 9390 North Santa Monica Blvd. A reception is scheduled to take place after the ceremony. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and free parking will take place at the following garages: 450 N. Crescent Drive structure and the Rexford/Civic Center structure located at 450 N. Rexford Drive.

By Trevor

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Tuesday, March 19, the city of West Hollywood announced in a press release it is moving forward with the next steps in the renovation of the historic Log Cabin building, that houses the West Hollywood Recovery Center (WHRC) on N. Robertson Boulevard.

During its meeting on Monday, March 18, the City Council received a design update for the Log Cabin renovation project that included direction to move forward with the design concept. High-resolution design renderings and photos are available on the city’s official Flickr site. For more information about the project including a preliminary project schedule and FAQ visit: https://go.weho.org/logcabin.

The Log Cabin renovation plan provides received over $7.5 million in funding that has been provided to date to support renovations of this historic space, which is important to safeguarding recovery services in the community.

The design upgrades will include:

-Expanded meeting rooms, food preparation areas, and storage capacity to support local recovery services;

-New mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, which help to contribute to an enhanced onsite experience;

-ADA-compliant bathrooms;

-Improved streetscape and landscaping; and

-New electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and solar panels.

The WHRC hosts more than 90 separate addiction recovery meetings a week, more than 4,500 meetings a year. For details about the WHRC visit https://thewhrc.org/home.

The Log Cabin building has history spanning nearly a century. The building was built on property purchased in 1928 by the city Beverly Hills. The north portion of the property was leased to the Lions Club in 1936, which constructed the Log Cabin in its style as a Boy Scouts of America (“BSA”) clubhouse.

In the early 1970s, the Lions Club subleased the building to the West Hollywood Recovery Center for use for addiction recovery group meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. In 2019, Beverly Hills indicated its wish to sell the property and West Hollywood entered into a lease with the city of Beverly Hills with the option to purchase the property. In 2022, West Hollywood exercised its option to purchase the property and the city started a feasibility analysis with the West Hollywood Recovery Center to determine a renovation plan.

With the design concept approved, West Hollywood will take the next steps to move toward construction, which is slated to begin in October 2024. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2025. For detailed information visit https://go.weho.org/logcabin.

For additional details contact Alicen Bartle, West Hollywood Project Development Administrator, at (323) 848-6323 or at abartle@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing call TTY (323) 848-6496.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, Mach 18, the Beverly Hills City Council provided an update regarding the city’s partnership with the non-profit organization, ‘Step Up on Second’ that supports and offers rehabilitation to those experiencing homelessness and mental health issues.

The partnership started under the direction of Beverly Hills’ Unhoused Services Ad Hoc Committee which helps place unhoused individuals into 30 permanent supportive housing units, consisting of community-based apartment units owned by independent landlords, scattered across Los Angeles County. The program allows for up to 280 nights of interim housing each year, to place individuals into motels for temporary housing, pending the availability of permanent supportive units.

Since the supportive housing program started on November 16, 2023, 14 of the 30 permanent supportive units have been occupied. Tenants who have been placed have started taking community college courses and are learning to cook and work toward independent living.

“It’s remarkable that we have housed as many people as we’ve housed in such a short period of time,” said Mayor Dr. Julian Gold. “It’s even more remarkable that we’ve sent so many people back to their families. This is only the beginning of what we are going to see with our new community public health program and I think the world will emulate us.”

Individuals who are placed are required to see a Step Up Housing Case Management staff member at least once a week to help them work toward independent living and address mental health concerns. The organization has contracts currently with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) that offers additional support such as therapy, psychiatry, nursing and more.

For additional details about the program visit beverlyhills.org/homelessservices or if there is someone who is unhoused that may need assistance contact (310) 286 – BHOT (2468).

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, March 25, the city of Beverly Hills will be hosting the Coffee With Code event. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. During the event, the public can meet some of the City’s Code Enforcement Officers at Euro Caffe.

“Come learn what they do and stay for a special Q & A session where you can ask questions! 427 N Cañon Dr. #111! See you there,” the city of Beverly Hills posted on its Facebook page.

The event will discuss the following:

-Benefits of Code Enforcement

-Program Goals

-Q&A Session

For those with questions contact Community Preservation at (310) 285-1119 or visit www.beverlyhills.org/cp.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, March 5, Beverly Hills residents went to the polls to vote for new members of the Beverly Hills City Council. A total of 10 candidates were vying for 2 open seats being held by current councilmembers Mayor Julian A. Gold and Lili Bosse.

As of Wednesday, March 6, Craig Corman led all candidates with 23.73 percent of the vote (2,160). Currently in second place was Mary Wells with 19.68 percent of the vote (1,791) and in third place was Alissa Roston with 15.01 percent of the vote (1,366).

Sitting in fourth place is Myra Demeter with 12.03 percent of the vote (1,095) and Russell Stuart in fifth place with 11.64 percent of the vote (1,059).

Other candidates running included: Nooshin Meshkaty, Hamid Omrani, Tiffany Davis, Sharon Persovski and Robin Rowe. The city announced on its website that on Tuesday, April 2, the city will hold its installation ceremony for the new Mayor, Vice Mayor and Beverly Hills City Council.

The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. No official announcement has been made regarding the winners in Tuesday’s race.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—It was reported over the weekend that a Tesla Cybertruck suffered some damage after colliding with the curb near The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, March 3. The vehicle ran onto the road near the iconic signage for the entrance of the hotel. The vehicle sustained damage to its front-end. There were no reports of any injuries during the incident.

It was initially reported that a valet at the hotel was responsible for the collision, but that report was proven to be inaccurate. X user Greggertruck tweeted: “The truth is SO important, and I want to make sure I always share it. I received a message this morning letting me know that the crashed Cybertruck at the Beverly Hills Hotel was NOT driven by the valet. While I can’t completely verify the message received, there’s now been…”

X user J$LATT tweeted: “This is true, incident happened around 2am and I drafted up this joke of a tweet with employees of the valet and hotel. Not thinking it would blow up, we thought it would be funny to say it was valet and not our friend who just crashed his new cybertruck… BHH is not at fault!”

Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla posted the following message via social media on Monday, March 4:

“Cyberbeast is faster than a Porsche 911, but looks like a truck, so perhaps the valet wasn’t expecting so much acceleration.”

The Beverly Hilton Hotel is located at 9876 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. The Tesla Cybertruck is valued between $57,000 to $96,000 and can travel from 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds. It is shatter resistant and there is no paint and no chips. The “ultra-hard stainless-steel exoskeleton helps to reduce dents, damage and long-term corrosion. Repairs are simple and quick,” Tesla states on its website.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that on Tuesday, April 2, the city will hold its installation ceremony for the new Mayor, Vice Mayor and Beverly Hills City Council.

The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.

A total of 10 candidates including 2 incumbents are vying for two open seats currently held by Mayor Julian A Gold and Lili Bosse.

Candidates vying for those two seats include: Alissa Roston, Mary Wells, Sharon Persovski, Myra Demeter, Craig Corman, Nooshin Meshkaty, Hamid Omrani, Tiffany Davis, Robin Rowe and Russell Stuart.

All candidates are responsible for filing their Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) forms on time.  The primary election to vote for Beverly Hills City Council will be held on Tuesday, March 5.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that a special ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, February 28 to celebrate the completion of its Burton Way Green Street and Water Efficient Landscape Project. The event will be held at 11 a.m. at the mini park located on the southeast corner of Burton Way and Rexford Drive.

“Burton Way is the first of many Green Streets our City will have as we move toward adopting a more environmentally conscious infrastructure. This is critical for our water conservation efforts and our broader City sustainability goals,” said Mayor Dr. Julian Gold.

The project marks Beverly Hills’ first Green Street that will prevent polluted urban runoff from reaching Santa Monica Bay and will serve as the city’s water efficient garden model.  This new Burton Way Median will save approximately five million gallons of water annually.

The project incorporates infiltration swales, native water efficient plants, and a 1-million-gallon underground reservoir that will store treated urban runoff to irrigate the new landscape. The design layout features over 16 specific plant species arranged to highlight Beverly Hills’ exceptional public art pieces.

The project received approximately $6.7 million from grant funding from Measure W- Safe Clean Water Program and the Department of Water Resources (DWR).

Additional details about the project can be found at beverlyhills.org/burtonway. The public is invited to attend. Free parking is available at the Rexford Parking Garage located at 450 N Rexford Dr.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, February 20, President Joe Biden arrived in California to expound upon the fundraising efforts of the Biden-Harris Campaign. Haim Saban of Saban Capital LLC hosted the fundraising event at his Beverly Hills home.  He is the owner of Saban Films and co-owner of Celestial Tiger Entertainment. The co-host of the President’s fundraising efforts was entertainment executive, Casey Wasserman.

Reports indicate that both Haim Saban and Casey Wasserman tested positive for COVID following the fundraising event.

Reports also indicate that Biden’s numbers in the polls have reached an all-time low. Biden’s fundraising team had him in a heavily Democratic area of California where wealthy donors are likely to support him. California, at one time, was considered a Republican state and still has a large core of Republican supporters.

A spokesperson for the Biden campaign told the New York Times that more than 422,000 donors contributed funds to the Biden-Harris campaign with 97 percent being donations less than $200 each.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) came back to California to assist Biden in his campaign efforts. Pelosi has been quoted multiple times defending Biden’s cognitive abilities which have played center stage in recent events because of instances of having difficulty finishing a statement, needing assistance exiting the stage he’s speaking on, sometimes from world leaders, fumbling, and falling.  None of which is undue criticism of the President.  It was all captured on film.

On February 13, in a CNN interview, Anderson Cooper asked Nancy Pelosi about possible age concerns when it came to Biden as a Presidential nominee.

“So, I think that, again, age is an objective fact. As I say, it’s all relative. He’s younger than I am, so what do I have to say about his age? But he is, again, knowledgeable, wise,” Pelosi stated. Biden turned 81 on November 20. Nancy Pelosi will be 84 in March.

Multiple media sources have been accused of ageism after repeatedly calling attention to his misspeaks, what appears to be bouts of confusion, blank stares, and fumbling. Some are more blatant like some on talk radio who call the President of the United States (POTUS) a “dementia patient.”

After the fundraising efforts in southern California, Biden and Pelosi were captured on film walking arm and arm to the plane. Though Pelosi is the elder of the two, multiple reporters indicated that it appeared that Pelosi was helping Biden to the plane.

On Tuesday, January 30, Biden spoke to reporters on the White House lawn on the way out to a fundraising trip to Florida. Reporters questioned Biden about his immigration efforts.

“I’ve done all I can do. Just give me the power. I’ve asked since the very day I got into office.”

In December 2023, Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson wrote a letter to President Biden stating, “Immediately take executive actions available to you under existing immigration laws to stem the record tide of illegal immigration.”

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—Lt. Elisabeth Albanese of the BHPD indicated in an email to the Canyon News on Wednesday, February 14 that authorities are currently investigating reports of political sign thefts.

At least one theft suspect has been identified, at the present time. Investigators are following up on more leads to identify additional suspects. The individual arrested could face misdemeanor theft charges. All complaints will be investigated and at the conclusion of the investigations, presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for criminal filing consideration.

Since these investigations are ongoing, the names of any victims or suspects are not being released to the public.

The Beverly Hills Police Department is reminding community members that the taking or destruction of lawfully displayed political signs can be a criminal offense.

“The Police Department takes these matters seriously and investigates reports of theft and vandalism,” the BHPD said in a statement.

“At this time in the investigation we don’t have reason to believe the suspect and victim know each other,” said Lt. Albanese in a statement to Canyon News via email.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills disclosed information on its website that individual who own a home and it is your principal place of residence on January 1, you may apply for an exemption of $7,000 from your assessed value. New property owners will automatically receive a Homeowners’ Property Tax Exemption Claim Form (BOE-266/ASSR-515).

Homeowners’ Exemptions may also apply to a supplemental assessment if the prior owner did not claim the exemption. Further instructions are included with the claim form which is available by clicking on the “Forms” tab.

Individuals that are eligible and would like to apply for the exemption, can download, complete, sign, and return form BOE-266/ASSR-515 claim form by mail to the office address below:

Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office
500 W. Temple St. Room 227
Los Angeles, CA 90012

For the security of one’s data the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office does not accept electronically transmitted documents with sensitive personal information. Follow the instructions on the form and complete the required information.

For more details or additional help use the Contact Form. One of the Teams will provide you additional instructions via email or can confirm receipt of a previously mailed claim.

Homeowners’ Exemption versus Homestead Exemptions

Homeowners’ Exemption is a statutory tax provision, which provides a homeowner a $7,000 reduction off the taxable value on their primary residence. With an approximate 1 percent property tax rate, the exemption provides roughly a $70 annual saving off your property taxes.

Homestead Exemption is a civil code provision, which may protect part of the homes equity from creditors. It has no application in property assessment or taxation. For more details on automatic and declaring a Homestead Exemption visit Department of Consumer & Business Affairs’ website on Homestead Protection.

For more information on filing visit the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder’s Homestead Exemption page for forms and filing requirements. They can also be reached at 1 (800) 201-8999. The Registrar Recorder’s Office is the authorized county agency to record deeds and Declarations of Homestead.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Saturday, February 10, the Beverly Hills Police Department released drone footage of a burglar falling into a pool while attempting to escape the scene. The incident occurred on Saturday, January 6.

The burglar, identified as 36-year-old David Verdun, broke into a home in Beverly Hills, ABC 7 reported. While attempting to flee the scene, Verdun climbed out of a window of the home and tried using a ladder to climb over the barrier wall. Verdun fell off the ladder and into the home’s pool. 

Prior to the incident, the home’s security system alerted BHPD of the break-in. BHPD sent a drone to survey the property and caught the incident on camera. 

Upon getting out of the pool, Verdun reportedly tried to hide in the backyard, but police found him, and he was arrested.

No further detail has been disclosed about the incident or what Verdun was attempting to steal.

By Lacy

BEVERLY HILLS—Vanity Fair will be returning to Beverly Hills for its post Academy Awards Party on the 400 block of North Crescent Drive, adjacent to Beverly Hills City Hall, on the evening of Sunday, March 10.

South Santa Monica Boulevard, the 400 block of the street will be closed starting Monday, February 26 at 10 p.m. to Thursday, March 14, reopening by 10 p.m.

All businesses on North Crescent Drive are accessible during the closure. Motorists are asked to use alternates routes. Access remains open to local parking garages.

On the day of the Vanity Fair post-Oscars bash beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10 to 2 a.m. Monday, March 11, the following roads surrounding the North Crescent closure will be impacted. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes during that time.

-North Cañon Drive between North and South Santa Monica Boulevard will be closed

-Eastbound lanes on South Santa Monica Boulevard starting at Civic Center will be impacted, with lanes closed from Rexford Drive to North Cañon Drive

-Detours will be in place routing traffic North and South on Rexford Drive

-North Santa Monica Boulevard Westbound lane closures will be in place from Rodeo Drive to Rexford Drive

For more details call the City’s Hotline: Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (310) 285-2408.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills posted on its website on February 7 that the 39th Annual Los Angeles Marathon “Stadium to the Stars,” presented by ASICS, will take place Sunday, March 17. Athletes from all 50 states and more than 67 countries will race through the streets of Beverly Hills for miles 16 and 17 before ending at the Avenue of the Stars in Century City.

Major road closures and parking restrictions on the day of the event, March 17 from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include:

-Doheny Dr. closed from North Santa Monica Blvd. to Burton Way

-Burton Way closed from Doheny Dr. to South Santa Monica Blvd.

-South Santa Monica Blvd. closed from Rexford Dr. to Rodeo Dr.

-Rodeo Dr. closed from South Santa Monica Blvd. to Wilshire Blvd.

-Wilshire Blvd. closed from Rodeo Dr. to South Santa Monica Blvd.

-South Santa Monica Blvd. closed from Wilshire Blvd. to Moreno Dr.

There will be a detour in effect on the western border of Beverly Hills at Wilshire Boulevard and North Santa Monica Boulevard, as well as at Moreno Drive and South Santa Monica Boulevard until 6 p.m. Access to all local businesses will be maintained.

The Beverly Hills Police Department and message boards will direct vehicles around the marathon route. Wider regional closures for the route will be in effect from as early as 3 a.m. until 6 p.m.

On the day of the marathon, from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m., any questions regarding street closures in the region can be directed to the Beverly Hills Hotline by dialing (310) 550-4680.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Thursday, February 1, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced in a news release that over 200 cases have been filed to fight against organized retail theft and the task forces are comprised of regional law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office partnering together to prosecute these crimes.

“Organized retail theft stole the feeling of safety and security from Angelino’s and business owners alike last year,” said LAPD Chief Michel Moore. “This regional organized retail theft task force has restored much of this, although, there is work still to be done. I am proud of the hard work and dedication to public safety of those not only from the Los Angeles Police Department, but our partnering agencies as well. As public servants, we cannot work in silos; we cannot work alone. Public safety belongs to all of us.”

“The Sheriff’s Organized Retail Crimes Task Force in collaboration with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and our partner law enforcement agencies are continuing to work tirelessly to tackle these brazen smash-and-grabs that are having a significant impact on our business communities,” said LASD Major Crimes Bureau Acting Captain Rob Peacock. “Since inception of our task force, we have arrested 438 suspects related to retail theft and 309 cases have been successfully filed. We are not only focused on the individuals responsible for the thefts, but those that are in the criminal chain—the getaway drivers, those that harbor them, and those that sell the stolen merchandise. These individuals need to understand that there will be consequences—we will use all our resources to identify, pursue, and arrest these suspects.”

From January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, the District Attorney’s Office filed at least 200 cases involving adult and juvenile cases, the majority involving multiple defendants, under PC 490.4. This penal code section makes it a felony for an organized group of two or more persons to steal goods from a merchant with the intent for resale. This applies to online merchants and physical stores. Individuals who have partaken in such thefts are being prosecuted, as the thefts have caused large revenue losses for the businesses.

There are some cases pending, sentences can range from probation to state prison, and can include charges such as: organized retail theft, grand theft, robbery, second-degree robbery, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property.

Some of the cases filed included stores that have been targeted like: 99 Cent Store, American Eagle, Bed Bath and Beyond, CVS, Kevin Jewelers, Kohls, Macy’s, Marshall’s, Nike, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Rite Aid, Ross, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sam’s Club, Sephora, Target, Ulta, Victoria’s Secret, WSS, and numerous small businesses.

“WSS acknowledges and supports the vital efforts of the Organized Retail Theft Task Force and the District Attorney’s Office in combating organized retail theft, which detrimentally affects neighborhood security and local businesses. We remain committed to collaborating with law enforcement to deter and prosecute these crimes,” Blanca Gonzalez, senior vice president and general manager, Warehouse Shoe Sale.

In addition to prosecuting these cases, law enforcement worked with task force partners to recover millions of dollars in stolen goods which have been returned to retailers by law enforcement. Over $188,000 in merchandise has been returned to Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, $250,000 in recovered goods has been returned to Kevin Jewelers, and hundreds of thousands of dollars has been returned to Target and CVS.

Anyone with details on these types of crimes that have occurred in Los Angeles County can call the LAPD Organized Retail Theft Task Force contact, Lt. Michael McComas at 818-374-9420 or email orc@lapd.online, or the LASO Organized Retail Crime Task Force contact, Lt. Derek White at 562-946-7270 or email orctf@lasd.org.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On January 29, Tracey Wilen-Daugenti at Friends of Library bookstore announced their new reading initiative, waiting to unfold. The idea is whether you’re celebrating Valentines Day, The Lunar New Year, or Black History month, to spend it falling in love with reading again.

The following commentary came directly from Tracey:

“Discover Love Unfolding: Blind Date with a Book at the Friends of the Beverly Hills Friends Bookstore!

Escape the ordinary and let your next literary love story begin with the Friends of the Beverly Hills Library Bookstore’s enchanting twist to Valentine’s Day – Blind Date with a Book! Journey into the world of mystery as you explore a curated selection of concealed books, each holding the potential for a captivating tale. It’s like speed dating for book lovers, where every book is a chance for a perfect match.

Not every book is a perfect match? No worries! Pass it off to a friend and try again for a match made in book heaven. Visit the Beverly Hills Library Bookstore at 444 N. Rexford Drive, Library Lobby to embark on a literary adventure like no other. Discover love unfolding within the pages of a book – your next great literary love affair awaits!

Get ready to soar into the Lunar New Year of the Dragon. Join the festivities with Friends of the Library bookstore as we celebrate with a feast of newly donated Asian Cookbooks and feature the captivating works of top-selling Asian authors. Let the flavors of culture and literature come together in a vibrant celebration.”

Friends of the Library invite you to a special Valentine’s Day edition of their Book Discussion Group on February 14 at 10:15 a.m. in the Library Auditorium located at
444 N. Rexford Drive in Beverly Hills. Come help us celebrate the day of love while engaging in discussion on our book of the month.

The Book of the Month is, “The Girl with the Louding Voice” by Abi Dare.

This event, facilitated by the wonderful Judith Palarz promises to be a heartwarming literary experience. There is a $5.00 donation required for non-members and Free admission for members.

For more information please call (310) 288-2244

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that applications are now being accepted for the Community Assistance Grant Fund until Thursday, February 29 at 5 p.m.

Maintaining a social service safety net is a public service policy stated in the Beverly Hills’ General Plan. The city of Beverly Hills allocates General Fund dollars to Community Assistance Grant Funding (CAGF) which is administered by the Human Services Division.

Agencies funded through CAGF provide social services the city does not provide directly to the most vulnerable members of the community including homeless individuals, active and frail elderly, disabled and low-means residents.

By funding a safety net, Beverly Hills establishes a continuum of care that improves coordination across providers, increases access and availability of services to community members and supports the quality of life in the region.

Evaluation Criteria

Applicants will be considered based on the following criteria:

-Organization provides a unique service that addresses an unmet need of the community and does not duplicate other providers or programs.

-Organization does not rely solely on community assistance funding to remain viable and the services would cost more to the City if the City provided them directly.

-Organization provides services that support the City’s commitment to the provision of a social service safety net that addresses the health and welfare of community members.

-Organization provides regional services that enable the City to meet its regional obligation to help ameliorate social issues.

For 2024, Beverly Hills will be accepting applications for cultural grants. These applications must still meet the above criteria one and two, but they also must be existing Beverly Hills organizations that have demonstrated a history of exemplary cultural opportunities which respond to community needs.

Application Review and Awards for Funding

Proposals are reviewed by the Human Services Division and two commissions. (1) The Charitable Solicitations Commission evaluates each applicant’s finances. (2) The Human Relations Commission evaluates proposed programs and services. Reports from the Human Services Division and the two commissions then inform funding recommendations to City Council. City Council considers this information and determines final funding allocations.

Application Elements

Submission of the following documents is required:

1) Completed CAGF application,
2) Documentation of 501c.3 status or proof of 501c.3 status through partnership,
3) Copy of most recent Form 990 – Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax,
4) Copies of any current Charitable Solicitations Permits that have been obtained from the City of Beverly Hills.

The annual CAGF funding process begins with a request for proposals due in Q1 of the calendar year. Applications are then processed, evaluated and recommended for funding by the parties listed above. The funding cycle covers July 1 through June 30 of each fiscal year.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—Squatters have been having drunken, lewd parties at some of the vacant mansions out in the Hollywood Crest neighborhood just a couple houses away from the Lebron James estate. Distressed neighbors had reportedly begun reporting the nuisance October 2023. In a January 19 Daily Mail exclusive some details were revealed on who was present at these parties.

Police arriving at the scene of these massive parties indicated that they were there with permission from the landowners, tenants in fact. The tale went on to include that the price of the never-ending party was $25,000. The landowners denied any such agreement.

It was already at least three months of perturbed neighbors disgusted with the number of drugs, trash, alcohol, noise and people before the extent of the disturbances came to light.

Morgan Garguilo, 34, was reportedly convicted of an assault and battery charge for beating his wife. Reports indicate that Garguilo was granted probation on December 29, 2023, for the assault charge.

It is not clear if this happened at one of the mansions the partygoers were squatting at or if it was in another location. No information was readily available regarding this case on the LASD website or the inmate locator, which could indicate either that the files were sealed or that Garguilo was never booked into jail.

There was a legal report that Garguilo along with Ruben “Avi” Avinadav, 30, have permanent restraining orders against them from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for their involvement in a student loan fraud scheme.

The Daily Mail indicated that Avi may have been one of the party planners in the group. Veronica Michelle Monger and Martin Gerardo Vincent, 47, were also involved.

Some of the other homeowners that live in the vicinity of the squatters’ parties include “The Family Guy” creator, Seth McFarlane, Producer, Steve Levins, Jeff Bezos, Steve Wynn, Ron Burkle, John Legend, and his wife, Chrissy Teigen.

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—On Thursday, January 18, the Los Angeles Times reported that Beverly Hills authorities are appealing Judge Kim’s December 21, 2023 decision to place a moratorium on building permits other than new residential developments due to the reported failure of city leaders to provide evidence of a plan for affordable housing.

Judge Kim noted in his ruling that Beverly Hills is relying on medical office buildings and car dealerships being converted into affordable housing despite Beverly Hills’ admission that this transition is unlikely, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Kim is allowing some permits and relayed that doing so places cities at risk of penalties for not fulfilling requirements by California law.

Real estate agents indicate that population growth in Beverly Hills stagnated, and potentially declined.

According to the World Population Review, the current population in Beverly Hills is 29,748. In 2021, the population was 31,900. In 2022, 31,200, and in 2023, 31,400 people resided in the region.

Californians for Homeownership is a non–profit organization that filed lawsuits against ten California cities that failed to meet state housing planning obligations including, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Claremont, Fullerton, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Laguna Hills, Manhattan Beach, South Pasadena, and Vernon.

“We have filed lawsuits against ten Southern California cities for violating state laws that require cities to plan for the development of housing. The litigation aims to enforce the requirements of California’s RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) and housing element laws. Under the RHNA system, the state and local governments work together to identify regional housing needs and distribute them among a region’s cities and counties. Each city and county must then develop a housing element, a component of the city’s general plan that identifies sites available for future housing development sufficient to meet the city’s RHNA allocation.

If the city cannot identify adequate sites, it must change its zoning to allow additional housing development. Our lawsuits against Manhattan Beach and Beverly Hills focus on problems with the cities’ adopted housing elements. State law requires housing elements to identify sites that are likely to be developed into housing over an eight-year planning period by 2029,” reads a statement from the California for Homeowners website.

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is a process under California state law that allows cities and unincorporated areas in the counties to plan and prepare to accommodate projected population growth.

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—On January 17, the Los Angeles Police Department announced they are investigating a carjacking of a food delivery truck near Beverly Hills on January 15, at approximately 9:50 p.m., at the corner of Plymouth Avenue and 10th Street.

According to police, the victim, who was driving a 2013 white Hyundai Sonata was the driver/delivery man for a food service company. He disclosed to police that he felt like he was being followed after picking up an order for delivery. The vehicle was described as a black, newer model SUV. The driver drove in front of the victim’s vehicle and stopped blocking him so he could not pass. Four suspects were inside the black SUV.

Two suspects were described as Hispanic males between the ages of 25-30 years old. They exited the SUV, and approached the victim at gunpoint, forcing him out of the car, and onto the ground. The suspects took the victim’s wallet and keys and drove away. There is no description of the third and fourth suspects as they stayed in the SUV leaving to follow the other two suspects in the victim’s car.

Anyone with information or who has details about the victim’s 2013 white Hyundai Sonata is asked to contact LAPD Wilshire Robbery Detective, A. Aguayo, at (213) 922-8215. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Anyone wanting to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters can download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 28 at the Farmer’s Market. This will be the 21st year of the Annual Earth Day event. The city indicated on its website that the theme for 2024 is “planet vs. plastic.”

The Public Works department will have a booth with information about Beverly Hills sustainability efforts, vendor and organizations booths, free compost giveaway, and free shredding services for the community take part of on that day.

Earth Day Celebration Events:

Earth Day Celebration at Farmer’s Market, free shredding, e-waste booth and compost give away on April 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Events are open to all community members.

When it comes to shredding, community members will be able to shred old documents safely, securely and pick up some compost for FREE.

Participants are expected to follow these rules for everyone’s safety:

• Noncompliance with these instructions results in non-participation.
• Please remain in vehicle at all times, and wait for instructions from staff.
• Drop off only.
• 50 pound limit per person.
• Staff will not open vehicle door or enter vehicle cabin.
• First come first serve.
• Stage parking line will be on Burton way in front of courthouse and the corner of Civic Center Dr. Exit through the alley on Foothill Rd

For inquiries regarding Earth Day email earthday@beverlyhills.org or contact Public Works Staff at 310-285-2467.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—Paula Neri, the Media Relations Coordinator for the Beverly Hills Police Department Lieutenant Reginald Evans will no longer serve in his current position, with Lieutenant Andrew Myers becoming the new Executive Officer and Public Information Officer (PIO) for the BHPD. He was thanked for his leadership and service during 2023.

Lt. Myers will oversee Media Relations, the Community Relations Unit, the Professional Standards Unit, the Reserve Unit, and the Disaster Communication System.

During his tenure, Lt. Myers served as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, and worked in an undercover capacity. He was a member of SWAT for 13 years and has been an active member of the Honor Guard and Peer Support Team since the inception of both units.

Lt. Myers built and managed the BHPD Instagram profile from 2015 to 2020, building a strong base of over 40,000 followers. Before his appointment as Executive Officer, he was the Administrative Services Lieutenant, managing recruitment, hiring, training, policies & procedures, and special projects.

His academic achievements in Criminal Justice and Sociology, along with his leadership roles, in SWAT and as the Administrative Services Lieutenant, make him qualified for his new position.

“Please join us in welcoming Lt. Myers to his new role. We look forward to a year of continued excellence and community engagement under his leadership,” said Neri in a statement.

The public is advised to continue to follow the BHPD online to stay informed.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills Public Works Department is inviting the public to the celebrate with Public Works Day on Saturday, May 19. The goal of the event is for the community to learn how the Public Works Department supports the quality of life in the community every day.

The event will be held at the Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market located at Civic Center Drive and Third Street. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will be things to entertain the entire family including a Public Works Construction Play Zone, petting zoo/pony ride for a nominal fee, goodie giveaways, big trucks, music and games.

For information contact the city of Beverly Hills Public Works Department at (310) 285-2467 or visit www.beverlyhills.org/pwday.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The Greystone Mansion will be hosting an upcoming event for the Greystone at the Movies on Wednesday, January 10 and Thursday, January 11 with a screening of the film “The Bodyguard.” The movie stars the late singer Whitney Houston and Academy Award winner Kevin Costner.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. Individuals can tour locations used during filming begins at 6:30 followed by the movie. Tickets: $15 (Beverly Hills residents) / $20 (non-residents)
Beverly Hills completed the restoration of the Greystone Theatre in spring 2020. It is now a multi-use space preserving the historic character of the room while offering a state-of-the-art cinema and small stage for live performance.

The 1992 film “The Bodyguard” was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Song for “I Have Nothing” and “Run To You.” The films soundtrack became the highest selling soundtrack of all time and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards.

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA—The City of Santa Monica is seeking volunteers for the 2024 homeless count to be held on January 24, from 8:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. The effort will be overseen by the Los Angeles Homeless Authority (LAHSA) in an effort to address and strengthen the lives of those living in homelessness.

According to the City of Santa Monica’s webpage, volunteers may register to help with the homeless count at TheyWillCountYou.org. For more information, please contact LAHSA at homelesscount@lahsa.org or call (213)683-3333.

Reports indicate that the homeless count rose by nine percent between 2022 and 2023 in Los Angeles and by 45 percent in Santa Monica. This is an increase from 4,604 in 2022 up to 6,669 people living in homelessness in Santa Monica in 2023.

Los Angeles County is divided into eight service planning areas. Santa Monica is included in SPA 5 along with many of the other cities in our coverage area including, Bel Air, Beverly Hills Brentwood, Laurel Canyon, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and Westwood.

The cities in SPA 5 outside or on the outskirts of the Canyon News coverage area are Beverly Crest, Century City, Culver City, Holmby Hills, Mar Vista Marina Del Rey, Manchester, Palms, Rancho Park, South Robertson, Venice, and Westchester.

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—On January 2, city officials in southern California reminded residents how to recycle their Christmas Trees. 

The Los Angeles County Public Works published the following information about the proper disposal of Christmas Trees on their website:

“Most of the Cities in Los Angeles County have requested residents to remove ornaments/decorations, tinsel, plastic containers, metal/plastic/wood stands, nails, and lights. If none shown, please contact your city for options. See below for special instructions. Unless otherwise noted. The Christmas trees can then be placed at curbside next to the recycling and waste containers on scheduled trash collection day(s) during the time-period noted. Please see special instructions for further details and possible exceptions to these rules in your city.”

The city of Bevely Hills collection dates are from December 26, 2023, through January 11, 2024.

The city of Santa Monica indicated on their website they are collecting trees from December 26, 2023, through January 31, 2024. The Resource Recovery and Recycling Administrator, Yvonne Yeung, who authored the post regarding the recycling of the trees advises that there is no need to call 311 for pick-up, and requests patience from the public as they are working diligently in getting the trees off the curbs in a timely manner.

“Place trees by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. No stands, ornaments or flocked trees accepted,” the city of Santa Monica stated. Residents may call 310-458-2223 or email recycling@santamonica.gov to schedule pick-ups through the end of January.

The city of West Hollywood has pick-up dates from December 26, 2023, through January 6, 2024.

The city of Malibu is allowing Christmas Tree pick-ups from December 26, 2023 – January 16, 2024. and stated:

“Place the tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Plastic trees/foliage will not be accepted, call to schedule a bulky item pick-up.”

Residents from some parts of the coverage area can take their Christmas trees to the local fire station for recycling.

In Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles Fire Department, Fire Station #88 is currently taking trees at 5101 N. Sepulveda Boulevard.

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced in an email to Canyon News that the first Beverly Hills Police Department Coffee with a Cop Event will be held on Thursday, January 18.

The gathering allows members of the community to meet with the BHPD over a cup of coffee. The event will occur from 9:30 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. at Café Sheera, which is located at 443 N. Bedford Drive.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Cafe Sheera for hosting this event and helping us bring the community together. No formal agenda, just a cup of coffee and friendly chats. Whether you have questions or just want to say hello, we’re here to connect,” the city of Beverly Hills stated.

For additional updates regarding the BHPD visit beverlyhills.org/BHPDconnect.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, December 18, the Beverly Hills Police Department disclosed results of the DUI Checkpoint that was conducted on Friday, December 15 at North Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Drive from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

A total of 1,790 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, and 173 were screened. Four drivers were cited for driving without a driver’s license.

DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on reported incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off roads.

Funding for the checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA/BEVERLY HILLS—The Los Angeles Police Department announced on December 13 that on December 5, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) conducted a retail theft operation near the 700 block of South Figueroa Street. One of the ORCTF strategies in resolving organized retail crime is the utilization of plain clothes operations, where officers work with retail stores in disrupting retail theft.

Personnel from ORCTF consist of detectives from the Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Burbank, Torrance and Glendale Police Departments. The ORCTF was assisted by personnel from LAPD Central Division, LAPD Transit Services Division, and Retail Loss Prevention personnel.

All the suspects who were arrested were spotted concealing merchandise and exiting the stores without paying. Uniform personnel contacted and arrested them.

The following arrests occurred on December 5, near the 700 block of South Figueroa Street:

• Tinder Math, female White, 43 years old, of Los Angeles, was arrested for 459.5(a)PC- Shoplifting, Release From Custody (RFC) citation #B44029
• Anthony Williams, male Black, 30 years old, of Los Angeles, was arrested for 459.5(a)PC- Shoplifting, RFC citation #B44032
• Dominique King, male Black, 33 years old, of Los Angeles, was arrested for 459.5(a)PC-Shoplifting, RFC citation #B44033
• Gabriel Anthony Rubio, male Hispanic, 31 years old, of Los Angeles, was arrested for 459.5(a)PC- Shoplifting, RFC citation #B44037
• Tyler Damon Bood, male White, 28 years old, of Los Angeles, was arrested for 459.5(a)PC-Shoplifting, RFC Citation #032321
• Jessica Mejia, female Hispanic, 31 years old, of Los Angeles, was arrested for 459.5(a)PC- Shoplifting, RFC citation #B44034
• Alecia Latonya Williams, female Black, 48 years old, of Los Angeles, was arrested for 459.5(a)PC- Shoplifting and a misdemeanor warrant for 484(a)PC- Petty Theft. She was booked and housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Booking No. 6721796, bail was set at $15,000.00.
• Davonte Charles Carter, male Black, 32 years old, of Los Angeles, was arrested for 459.5(a)PC- Shoplifting, RFC citation #B44026

Four juveniles were also detained and arrested for shoplifting and were subsequently released to their parents.

A total of 12 arrests were made during the operation. All stolen merchandise was returned to the retailers and the ORCTF, working with the assistance of divisional personnel, recovered all stolen items. The ORCTF will be conducting additional plain clothes operations during the holidays in the Los Angeles region, with the goal of identifying, locating, and arresting retail thieves.

Anyone with details is asked to call ORCTF Lieutenant II Mike McComas, (818) 374-9420, or email 37111@LAPD.Online. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Sunday, January 7, 2024, the 81st Annual Golden Globes Awards will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. To help with security for the event and to limit the impact of traffic on adjacent residential streets, street closures and parking restrictions will be implemented.

STREET CLOSURES

North Santa Monica Boulevard

Westbound curb lane closures: West of Wilshire Boulevard will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, January 2 through 4 a.m. until Monday, January 8, 2024.

Westbound complete sidewalk and street closures: from Wilshire Blvd. to Century Park East from 9 p.m. on Friday, January 5 through 4 a.m. on Monday, January 8.

Eastbound complete sidewalk and street closures: from Century Park East to Wilshire Boulevard from 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 6 through 4 a.m. on Monday, January 8.
Alternate Routes: South Santa Monica Boulevard to remain open in both directions.

Wilshire Boulevard

Eastbound curb lane closures: East of Whittier, beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2 through 4 a.m. on Monday, January 8.

Eastbound: Full closure of Wilshire Boulevard at Comstock beginning at 10 p.m. on Saturday, January 6 until 4 a.m. on January 8.

Eastbound lanes will be completely closed between the Los Angeles Country Club and North Santa Monica Boulevard (local access to residents and Country Club guests in the 10200-10300 blocks of Wilshire Blvd.) beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday, January 6 through 4 a.m. Monday, January 8.

Westbound: One westbound lane remains open to through-traffic until 6 a.m. on January 7.
At 6 a.m. on Sunday, January 7, ALL lanes will be closed to all traffic until 4 a.m. on Monday, January 8, from Wilshire Boulevard between Comstock and South Santa Monica Boulevard.

Whittier, Carmelita, Elevado and Lomitas at Walden Dr. and Trenton Dr. and adjacent alleys:

These streets will be “local access only” beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday, January 7 through 4 a.m. Monday, January 8; All streets will be posted with no-parking signs.

Parking will be completely restricted (no exceptions) from 6 a.m. Sunday, January 7 through 4 a.m. Monday, January 8:

-Whittier Driv: Wilshire Boulevard to Walden Drive
-Carmelita Avenue: Wilshire Boulevard to Walden Drive
-Elevado Avenue: Wilshire Boulevard to Walden Drive
-Trenton Drive: Whittier Drive to Wilshire Boulevard
-Walden Drive: Santa Monica Boulevard to Elevado Avenue

For residents without permit parking, a parking exemption can be obtained by contacting the Beverly Hills’ Parking Exemption Line at (310) 285-2548 or online at beverlyhills.org/parkingexemptions.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills is inviting the public to participate in the Menorah Lighting Celebration that will transpire on Thursday, December 7. Members from the Beverly Hills City Council will be in attendance at the Beverly Hills Gardens Park Lily Pond at Santa Monica Boulevard between North Canon Drive and North Beverly Drive.

The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The city of Beverly Hills is hosting a slew of events for the holiday season including the “Unwrap the Magic” Project Show at Beverly Hills City Hall until January 1, 2024.

Show times are daily every 30 minutes starting at 6 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. The Jolly Trolley is also running until December 30, 2023, where it will pick up individuals on the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way in downtown Beverly Hills, and will take visitors to the “Unwrap the Magic” projection show.

The trolley takes 30 minutes to loop back to a stop. It operates from 6 p.m. thru 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Stops alternate every 15 minutes. The schedule is tentative and subject to change.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The Beverly Hills City Council will consider the memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the city’s six (6) non-sworn employee associations: the Management & Professional Association, Supervisors Association, Confidential Employees Association, Safety Support Association, Municipal Employees Association and Municipal Employees Association Part-Time Unit during the Tuesday, December 5, City Council Formal Session. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in Council Chamber.

During that meeting, members of the City Council will consider proposed amendments to the Executive Compensation Plan.

According to a press release from the city of Beverly Hills website, under state law, the city participates in labor negotiations with its employee associations.

In accordance with state law, the City of Beverly Hills participates in labor negotiations with its employee associations. The results of the negotiations process are written agreements or contracts reached between Beverly Hills and the city employee associations. The agreements are commonly referred to as MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding).

A MOU is a cooperative agreement between two parties that can include general terms and goals and is not intended to be legally binding.

The MOUs have been ratified by each of the employee associations and are subject to adoption if approved by the Beverly Hills City Council. Negotiations with the groups were completed in mid-October with the proposed MOUs covering salaries and benefits for a three-year term for all six employee associations.

The first public meeting was held on February 21, 2023, and a community meeting was held on February 9 regarding the labor negotiations.

Per the City’s Civic Openness in Negotiations (COIN) Ordinance, an independent fiscal analysis was conducted for each MOU. The fiscal analyses and proposed MOUs are posted on the City’s website at www.beverlyhills.org/negotiations.

There are nine represented employee associations within Beverly Hills. The following association MOUs are currently not up for negotiations until 2025: The Beverly Hills Police Officers’ Association, Police Management Association and Firefighters’ Association.

While not required per the City’s labor relations ordinance (Beverly Hills Municipal Code, Article 5 Section 2-5-503-B), as is the case with the city’s represented employee groups, proposed amendments to the Executive Compensation Plan will be posted on city of Beverly Hills’ website at beverlyhills.org/executives on November 21, two weeks before the December 5 meeting.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, November 14, the City of Beverly Hills revealed that former Mayor Charles ‘Chuck’ Aronberg, M.D. passed away at the age of 93 on Thursday, November 9.

Aronberg served as a Beverly Hills Councilmember for 12 years in addition to his two terms serving as Mayor:1974-1975 and 1979-1980. Beverly Hills lowered its flag to half-staff.

“’Mayor’ Dr. Aronberg, Chuck, was an exceptional physician and a remarkably dedicated public servant,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Dr. Julian Gold. “He served as councilmember and mayor and his amazing achievements span decades, from developing the Joint Powers Agreement with our School District to bringing the paramedic program to Beverly Hills. His legacy will live on for many generations and he will be deeply missed.”

Aronberg was born in Chicago on August 30, 1930 and relocated to Los Angeles when he was just 10 years old. He graduated from Los Angeles High School at the age of 15.

He specialized in ophthalmology and served as the official team doctor for the Los Angeles Lakes, Raiders, and Kings, despite an interest in law. He also consulted for UCLA and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also served as the physician for two Olympic Games. He earned UCLA’s Alumnus of the Year for Community Service and Alumnus of the year for UCSF School of Medicine.

He was an advocate of seat belt legislation and its push to be installed in cars. He collaborated with Ralph Nader to mandate various safety improvements and worked with Congressman Henry Waxman during the development of water and clean air acts.

He earned the ‘Key to the City’ honor in 2022 from former Beverly Hills Mayor and current City Councilmember, Lili Bosse.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee revealed details for the upcoming annual Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration to take place on Thursday, November 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. featuring a special live performance by Emmy Award-winning actor and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Ralph is known for her work on the ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary” where she recently won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. She also appeared on the comedy series “Moesha” co-starring with singer and actress Brandy Norwood.

There will be lights on the palm trees, rose bushes and much more for the holidays.
“Our Holiday Lighting Celebration is an opportunity for us to come together, recognize how fortunate we are, and begin this year’s holiday season – a celebration of our City and a hopeful beginning for the New Year,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Dr. Julian A Gold. “At the same time, we recognize the impact of world events and our thoughts are with those here and abroad as we approach the holiday season. We hope they can find a sense of hopefulness and strength as we all overcome darkness with light.”

“The reveal of this year’s decor themed Up Up and Away Holiday! celebrates the start of the holiday season and brings together our community and visitors on Rodeo Drive. We are delighted to welcome Sheryl Lee Ralph to our iconic street, where each magical encounter promises to be a gift, unwrapping our hopes and dreams for everyone,” said Kay Monica Rose, President of the Rodeo Drive Committee.

There will be three stages on Rodeo Drive with performances from The Wallis’s critically-acclaimed theatrical experience “LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE” inspired by the 2003 holiday film written and directed by Richard Curtis, by cast members B. Slade, the two-time Emmy Award-winner and four-time Grammy-nominee and Madison Taylor Baez, who at 12-years old earned the “America’s Got Talent” Season 17 golden buzzer with her soulful voice, and there will be songs from The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA).

The evening’s entertainment will also include performances by The Maccabeats, a Jewish a cappella phenomenon that released four successful albums and made multiple TV appearances; LA-based Bollywood dance sensation Nazara, who will bring a fusion of Bollywood and Indian classical dance; timeless classics by Broadway’s seasoned singer and actor Terron Brooks and former American Idol contestant Vonzell Solomon, both individually celebrated for their remarkable talents and who have now joined forces as a soulful duet; a special drum performance by LA-based Cajon Drummer Nick Adams known for his collaborations with top artists and appearances on major TV shows; a special dance performance from the Holiday Rhythm Tappers, the duo from So You Think You Can Dance; harmonious renditions of beloved holiday tunes from The Four Parts Barbershop Quartet and Winter Wonderland Carolers, and sonic sounds by DJ Z. Celebrating the incredible shopping on Rodeo Drive and in Beverly Hills, the Holiday Helpers will perform Shopper’s Delight, a bold and colorful dance set.

There will be performers including those with towering Peppermint Stilts, food, a wine garden and photo opportunities for guests throughout the evening.

Mayor Gold and members of the Beverly Hills City Council members will countdown the crowd and illuminate Rodeo Drive’s center median bringing to life the Up Up & Away Holiday! decor in its full adornment. Santa Claus, led by the Beverly Hills High School marching band will arrive on the Beverly Hills Fire Truck and a fireworks finale will also transpire.

The holiday festivities will continue across the region through January 1, 2024 with the following installations available for viewing nightly: The “Glowing Gardens” which includes giant tree and ornament sculptures at Beverly Cañon Gardens Park; the “Lights on the Lily Pond” show at Beverly Gardens Park which takes place every 15 minutes beginning at 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and back for its second year, the incredible “Unwrap the Magic” projection show viewable nightly every half hour from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the iconic Beverly Hills City Hall Tower located at the corner of N Santa Monica Boulevard and N Crescent Drive.

Beverly Hills will have its historic trolley car, adorned with holiday garland and named the “Jolly Trolley” for the holiday season running to take visitors to the “Unwrap the Magic” projection show every Thursday through Sunday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (excluding holidays) from its stops at Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way and N Crescent Drive and N Santa Monica Boulevard.

There will also be a family friendly holiday celebration for children of all ages on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Greystone Mansion and Gardens.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that the Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market will be hosting the Holiday Craft Fair and Cookie Baking Contest on December 10 at the 9300 block of Civic Center Drive.

The event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature local artisans to help the community with their holiday shopping which includes jewelry, oils, clothing, pottery, florals and candles.

For the Cookie Baking Contest, the Best Tasting: 1st place $200, 2nd place $100, 3rd place $50. Best Looking cookie will receive a $50 prize. The rules of the contest are as follows:

1. Only home-baked cookies will be accepted. The cookies must be prepared and baked by the contestant submitting the entry for judging. Amateur bakers only. Professional chefs and restaurant entries will not be accepted.

2. One submission per contestant, please. Each contestant must bring 12 cookies of a single recipe.

3. Only the first 20 entries will be accepted. To be considered, complete the application below and pay the nonrefundable $5.00 entry fee. Contestants may pay on line here, bring payment to the Farmers’ Market Sundays 9-1pm in the info booth or mail a check to Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market, c/o Community Services, 501 Doheny Road, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

4. The submission deadline is Wednesday, December 6 by 5pm.

5. All entries become the property of the City of Beverly Hills. We reserve the right to use your entry in all print and electronic media, and to edit recipes for brevity and clarity.

6. Contestants must bring their cookies to the judges booth by 9am on Sunday, December 10, 2023. Winners will be announced at 12:15pm.

As always, the Farmers Market will feature 50 certified farmers and specialty vendors, family arts and crafts projects, a kid zone for pony rides and a petting zoo and live entertainment.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that crews from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) are planning repairs to a pipeline that delivers water to Beverly Hills. Water customers across the service area are being asked to conserve water from Monday, November 6 to Wednesday, November 8.

The city will be using water supplies from its existing reservoirs and its own water treatment plant while MWD work is completed.

Over the three days, the city is asking customers to refrain from outdoor watering and conserve water indoors as much as possible.

For additional water wise tips visit www.bhsaves.org. Such adjustments as the following can be completed:

Do your part, be water smart:

-Two (2) day per week watering due to  Drought:

Monday and Friday –  North of Santa Monica Blvd

Tuesday and Saturday -South of Santa Monica Blvd

-No watering (sprinklers or hose) after 9 a.m. or before 6 p.m.

-Approximately 8 minutes for overhead sprinklers and 15-20 for drip irrigation

-Turn OFF your irrigation system before a rain event. It can be left Off for long periods if there’s significant rainfall.

-Supplemental watering for trees allowed

-Violations will be issued for non-compliance

-30 percent citywide water reduction goal

-Find and fix leaks immediately

Water leaks are caused by running toilets. One toilet can run up to 200 gallons an hour. Other common continuous water flow issues are auto fills in pools or fountains, irrigation system issues and/or broken pipes.  Many leaks are not visible and can waste up to 5,000 gallons per day, the city of BH reports on its website.

For residents with continuous water flow issue at their property, check out the City’s Leak Flyer for more information. To see if there is a leak or are over watering one’s landscape – sign up for the City’s free Water Tracker program.

For more details call Beverly Hills Public Works Customer Service at 310-285-2467 or email askpw@beverlyhills.org.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced that the Doggy Daze event will return to Roxbury Park’s Wiggly Field on Sunday, November 5. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is celebrating 13 years.

The event will include a pet parade, pet talent contest, pet adoption, pet agility demonstrations, 35 pet-related vendors and food trucks. The event is open to the public and will be located at 471 S. Roxbury Drive.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on Monday, October 16 that it launched a new website survey as part of the first phase of its redesign and is seeking community input regarding usability, content and design.

After a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process, the city selected Civic Plus as its website vendor.

The survey questions will address how users search for information, feedback surrounding website design elements that aid in the overall look and feel and what content should be prioritized on its pages.

The Website Steering Committee consists of Councilmembers John Mirisch and Lili Bosse.  “The City Website Steering Committee will represent a diverse group of community stakeholders and City staff to help provide input on design and functionality. The re-design project is expected to be complete in the Spring of 2024,” the city of BH stated on its website.

To access the survey and to learn about the website design project, visit beverlyhills.org/websiteredesign. The survey can be completed at the following link: City Website Design Survey (beverlyhills.org).

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills selected veteran municipal employee Michael Forbes as its next Director of Community Development, via an announcement on Monday, October 9. As Director, he will oversee the divisions of Planning, Development Services, Community Preservation, Rent Stabilization and Special Events and Filming.  Forbes currently serves as Planning Director for the City of Westlake Village.

“I am thrilled to welcome Michael to Beverly Hills,” said City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey.  “His impressive and diverse leadership experience at cities across Southern California has prepared him well for the busy work ahead and we look forward to him joining our team later this month.”

The city indicated in a press release that Forbes has 25 years in Planning and worked for the cities of Burbank, Glendora, Thousand Oaks and served for 5 years as the Community Development Director of Temple City.

“I am deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity,” said Forbes. “The Community Development Department in Beverly Hills has an outstanding reputation and I look forward to working with the dedicated team as we continue to serve this world-class community.”

Forbes earned his bachelor’s degree in Geography from UCLA and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its website that drivers should expect modifications to Wilshire Boulevard starting Monday, October 16 as construction on the One Beverly Hills residential and hotel development project begins.

Since 2022, site preparation activities have been underway for the project, which will include a mix of luxury residences, hotel rooms, and landscaped gardens across the site’s 17.5 acres. It is slated to open in 2027. The project site sits adjacent to the Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills near the intersection of North Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard.

Starting October 16 and running through March 2024, the project’s construction team will be working to relocate utility lines along Wilshire Boulevard. The work will take place in the right-of-way and will consist of trenching and pipe installation from the western city limit to Whittier Drive.

To complete the work, existing landscaped medians and gateway monument signs along Wilshire Boulevard will be temporarily removed. The six Date Palm trees located in the median will be preserved and stored for future re-planting.

During the course of the construction, intermittent lane closures will occur in a phased approach. The first phase will consist of a one-lane closure in each direction along Wilshire Boulevard to Trenton Drive Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The second phase will involve longer-term closures of two lanes on Wilshire Boulevard (alternating between east and westbound directions) and eastbound left turn restrictions at Whittier Drive and Trenton Drive. The lane closures during this phase will be continuous, and active work will transpire Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more details about project construction, visit obhconstructionhelpline.com.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills will host a community meeting on Monday, October 16 at 10 a.m. in City Hall’s Municipal Gallery to inform tenants, landlords, contractors and other members of the public of important changes related to rental properties in Beverly Hills.

The city indicated in a news release that topics to be discussed will include an updated Means and Method Plan form and the return to the annual allowable rent increase calculations established in the Municipal Code for Chapters 5 and 6.

The meeting will talk about upcoming changes that may take place in the near future, such as topics of discussion by the Rent Stabilization Commission and prospective Division-wide projects.

“It’s important that we continue to educate our community with the latest information that could make a difference to those who rent, manage rentals or own rental properties,” said Nestor Otazu, Deputy Director of Rent Stabilization. “We invite our community to take part in this meeting by asking questions and getting the answers they need so that they can utilize resources that are available.”

Additional details can be found at beverlyhills.org/bhrent. The meeting can be viewed on BHTV Channel 10 and could be streamed online at beverlyhills.org/live. The meeting will also be accessible remotely via Zoom. The access information for the meeting is listed below:

Access link: https://beverlyhills-org.zoom.us/my/community

Passcode: 90210

Phone Access: (310) 285-1020

The Rent Stabilization Division administers and enforces the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). All multifamily rental properties, two or more residential units, are subject to the RSO unless expressly exempted by BHMC§§ 4-5-102 or 4-6-1. To report a violation of the RSO, please call Rent Stabilization Division at (310) 285-1031.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—On September 13, the Beverly Hills City Council voted to move forward with West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC), which is a nonprofit affordable housing developer, to start the negotiation process to possibly develop a 100 percent affordable senior housing project on a city-owned site located at 9268-9298 W. 3rd Street.

As a result of the Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) approved by the BH City Council, new plans and drawings will be given to the public during community outreach plans in the coming months.

“The Beverly Hills City Council has always been committed to providing affordable housing for our residents,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Dr. Julian Gold. “Sometimes it takes time to put these projects together and I am pleased we are able to move forward. While this is the first step, the Council is dedicated to providing more housing options for our community in the future.”

Back in April 2022, Beverly Hills solicited qualifications and various proposals for a project on a Beverly Hills owned site. They received 27 conceptual proposals and after nearly a year of evaluation the Beverly Hills City Council subcommittee recommended the project site and developer, WHCHC, to be chosen.

The conceptual proposal submitted by WHCHC calls for 252 one-bedroom units with affordability requirements. The building is expected to be six stories high with an additional usable rooftop level along with two levels of subterranean parking.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills will be hosting a free drive-thru shredding and compost event on Sunday, October 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will transpire at Civic Center Drive and 3rd Street. The event will end at 1 p.m. or whenever the truck is full, whichever transpires first.

Attendees are asked to stay in their vehicles during the event, and wait for instructions from staff. The shredding is for drop off only, first come first served. Staff will NOT open vehicle doors or enter the vehicle cabin. The stage parking line will start at Burton Way in front of the courthouse and the corner of Civic Center Dr. Participants can exit via the alley on Foothill Road.

Shredding will take place on the spot and content can be placed in boxes. Each individual will be allowed to bring 50 pounds per person.

No computer hard drives will be accepted, only paper documents. The company completing the shredding is Shred Source and they are AAA certified by NAID.

Items not accepted during the event include:

The following will NOT ACCEPTED:

-Hard drives

-Electronic waste (printers, batteries, computers, cell phones, tablets, etc.)

-Books

-3 ring binders

-Cardboard

-X-rays

-CD’s

-Tapes (VHS, DLT, etc.)

Paper clips, binding clips, rubber bands, staples, hanging folders, clasp folders and envelopes can go through the shredder, these items do not need to be removed from the paper.

For additional details on the event contact: Public Works (310) 285-2467, visit BEVERLYHILLS.ORG/SHRED or email AskPW@Beverlyhills.org.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills indicated in a press release that the Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) will see the return of its Empowerment Camp on October 14 and October 15. The event will give 9th thru 12th graders the chance to learn hands-on firefighting exercises, training and leadership opportunities

“Our Beverly Hills Fire Department and the City of Beverly Hills is committed to uplifting and empowering this next generation of great leaders,” said Mayor Dr. Gold. “We want to inspire all young people in their journey of becoming firefighters.”

The camp will be held in-person at the Fire Department at 445 N Rexford Dr. Women who are 18 and older and actively pursuing a career in firefighting are asked to apply as a mentor instructor.

“We are fortunate to have had so many curious young adults participate in our hands-on training, getting a close glimpse of what our women and men do to protect our community,” said BH Fire Chief Greg Barton. “We look forward to welcoming the class of 2023!”

“We had such a great turnout last year,” said Melissa Hillis, BHFD Fire Engineer. “The teens really pushed themselves and made us all proud. Our department is a huge proponent of improving gender diversity and increasing community ties, so we’re welcoming all curious minds this year who are aligned in our mission.”

Registration for residents will start Friday, September 1. and is free. Registration will remain open until the camp is filled. To register, visit beverlyhills.org/empowermentcamp or for questions email FiredUp@beverlyhills.org.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city will be celebrating the sixth annual NEXT NIGHT Street Festival on Saturday, September 23 from 4 p.m. thru 9 p.m. The event will be held on the 200 block of South Beverly Drive with land live music and family entertainment.

The city indicated on its website that the event is free and is a partnership with the Next BH Committee and will include food trucks, art, games, attractions and a beer and wine garden. Businesses along South Beverly Drive will provide experiences and promotions throughout the evening.

“Thank you to the Next Beverly Hills Committee for organizing another spectacular NEXT NIGHT out. I love the fact that our next generation leaders have created an event for the entire community – young, older and everything in-between,” said Mayor Julian Gold. “This is an opportunity for all of us to come to South Beverly Drive to celebrate our community. We look forward to seeing everyone there.”

The Legendary Wailers featuring Junior Marvin will be the headliner performing Bob Marley hits:  “One Love,” “Three Little Birds,” “No Woman No Cry,” “Get Up Stand Up,” “Is This Love,” and more.

“NEXT NIGHT is a perfect way for residents of all ages to reconnect and get involved with the community,” said Next Beverly Hills Committee Chair Noah Etessami. “We want everyone to come out and enjoy the music and what Beverly Hills has to offer!”

DJ Keybo will control the music with special performances by the Beverly Hills High School Madrigals, Drum Line, Dance Team and Theatrical Students.

“Last year, over 5,000 community members showed up and had a blast, and this year we have added even more to enjoy – it’s not to be missed!” said NEXT NIGHT Chair Tiffany Davis. “We hope everyone will celebrate the end of summer with top entertainment, great food, activities for all ages, and great deals from local merchants.”

There will be a full street closure between Charleville Drive and Gregory Way from 6 p.m. on Friday, September 22 and end at 4 a.m. on Sunday, September 24.

For a full list of activities and more information visit beverlyhills.org/NEXTNIGHT.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills will host its annual Household Hazardous Waste & E-Waste Roundup on September 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at West Third Street, between Foothill Road and Civic Center Drive. The event is open to all residents of Los Angeles County.

Hazardous Waste Collection Events, operated by the County and Sanitation Districts, are one-day, drive-through collection events where residents are invited to drive to a specific location to drop off their household hazardous waste and electronic waste (e-waste). There is a limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per trip.

For a complete listing of what you can and cannot bring or information on events, contact:

1 (888) CLEAN-LA or visit www.888CleanLA.com, or

1 (800) 238-0172 or visit www.lacsd.org

Toxic chemicals typically found in a household:

-Oven cleaner

-Pool supplies

-Used motor oil

-Oil paint products

Participants are warned to not place unused items or other toxic chemicals into any container.  Only empty toxic containers (with lids removed) should be placed in the trash.

To properly and safely dispose of hazardous waste, call the Los Angeles County Hazardous Waste Roundup Hotline: (800) 552-5218 or the city of Los Angeles (800) 98-TOXIC or attend a county sponsored round-up.

Anyone searching for additional details can contact the Public Works Customer Service at (310) 285-2467.

By Trevor

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On August 13, management from the Wrapstar restaurants announced that they are closing the doors of their WEHO store located at 8593 Santa Monica Boulevard. The following message may be found on the doors of the former Wrapstar, West Hollywood location and on their website. “Dear Wrapstar Customers, We regret to inform you that we are closing this location due to low traffic and higher operating costs in the area. We are so appreciative of everyone’s support and the amazing review we have received from you. We invite you to visit us online @ wrapstarla.com and at our other locations: 9533 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210 9426 Washington Blvd. Culver City CA 90232 [Both the Beverly Hills and the Culver City locations are open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.] With Gratitude, The Wrapstar Family The restaurant advertises that they have “reinvented the salad.” A full menu featuring both vegetable and flour tortillas with a large variety of meat and or vegetable fillings is available. Canyon News did reach out to Wrapstar management for more information but did not hear back in time for print. By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills is celebrating its first annual week-long Rodeo Drive Celebrates Fashion, which kicked off on Monday, August 7th. The event will run thru Sunday, August 13th.

The event will highlight the craftsmanship, uniqueness and variety of fashion on Rodeo Drive. The city of Beverly Hills indicated on its website that the Rodeo Drive Committee member boutiques, hotels and restaurants in the region will collaborate to invite customers and guests.

“This is a moment to raise a glass to Rodeo Drive! There is nothing comparable. The legendary street’s magic continues thanks to the exemplary fashion design and craftsmanship from the greatest fashion houses and brands in the world; the architect-designed boutique spaces, the spectacular window displays, exclusive artist collaborations and pop ups, and our unrivaled customer service,” said Rodeo Drive Committee President Kay Monica Rose. “With our new program Rodeo Drive Celebrates, Rodeo Drive Committee member boutiques and businesses who are committed to the advancement and preservation of the street and its unique community, have come together as neighbors. They will open their doors with invitations to customers, residents and visitors – local and international, to a series of special celebrations in honor of Rodeo Drive’s unique place in fashion.”

“As summer moves into full swing, we invite our visitors and community to see firsthand why Rodeo Drive is THE place to be for fashion; our merchants’ expert craftsmanship, their appreciation for fashion, as well as their unrivaled hospitality and customer service,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Dr. Julian Gold. “Rodeo Drive Celebrates Fashion is a great opportunity to visit our shops, stay in our hotels, and take advantage of the special offerings and personalized experiences.”

Rodeo Drive has been highlighted as a distinct destination of luxury, entertainment and fashion since the 1960s.

The opening of Giorgio Beverly Hills in 1961 by Fred Hayman, “the Godfather of Rodeo Drive,” followed shortly after by Aldo Gucci opening the first Gucci boutique, then Van Cleef & Arpels, a Vidal Sassoon salon and Bijan Pakzad’s “most expensive boutique in the world” cemented the foundation for one of the Rodeo Drive Committee’s early goals “to promote Rodeo Drive as America’s answer to the glamour of Rome’s Via Condotti, London’s New Bond Street and Paris’s Faubourg St-Honoré.”

Rodeo Drive Celebrates Fashion continues the street’s singular legacy as an international fashion destination with a variety of high-end retailers for consumers.

Join Rodeo Drive Celebrates Fashion

Auto Vault

Auto Vault invites you to enjoy fresh Paleta ice cream and an exclusive presentation of rare vehicles on the street from its private collection.

August 7th-12th, 12-2pm

Bulgari

Bulgari invites you to experience 75 years of the iconic Serpenti collection and a personalized jewelry styling session.

Bookings by appointment: Monday through Saturday 10-6pm and Sunday 12-5pm.

Brioni

Brioni invites you to preview the new Fall/Winter 2023 RTW and Bespoke fabric collections.

Appointments available to meet with the in-house tailor for a personalized fitting.

Cartier

Cartier invites you to celebrate fashion with jewelry wardrobing. Bespoke private appointments available all week and a special taste of the French Riviera on Saturday, August 12th, 2-5pm.

Frette

You are invited to discover the world of Frette and the presentation of the Fall / Winter 2023 collection:

An Homage to Moments of Dreaming.

Henry Jacques

Henry Jacques invites you to build the perfect perfume wardrobe to complement your lifestyle.

Receive a collection of Compartés chocolates reminiscent of its scents to accompany your purchase.

MCM

MCM invites you to celebrate Fashion; join them for cocktails, Dazzling Donuts, and a DJ set by Alysen James.

August 10th, 6-9pm

414 N. Rodeo Drive

RSVP at mcm.events@mcmworldwide.com

Moncler

Moncler invites you for Summer Aperitivos; drinks, light bites and a DJ set.

August 12th, 3-7pm

340 N. Rodeo Drive

RSVP at losangeles@moncler.com

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren invites you to private styling appointments in its VIP Suite with champagne, refreshments and a preview of the new Pre-Fall Collections.

208 Rodeo Restaurant

208 Rodeo Restaurant invites you to enjoy its summer special featuring Lallier Brut Champagne and Kaluga Caviar.

To make a reservation call 310-275-2428.

The Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

The Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel invites you to ‘THEBlvd After Dark’ – their new evening summer series.

Join them for sounds by a live DJ, drink specials and late-night summer vibes.

August 12th from 9pm -12am

Two Rodeo Drive

Two Rodeo Drive invites you to vibe to the rich tones and powerhouse vocals of live bands:

Gold Standard and Renaissance!

August 10th-12th from 2-6pm

Zegna

Zegna invites you to its new location for drinks by the bar and an exclusive preview of upcoming collections.

August 10th-12th, 2-6pm

455 N Rodeo Drive

Participants include Amiri, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, Dior, Giorgio Armani, Loro Piana, and Mikimoto. The second annual, week-long program Rodeo Drive Celebrates Timepieces & Fine Jewelry will occur October 1st thru October 7th.

By Trevor

BEVERLY HILLS—A robbery that occurred on Monday, July 17, resulted in the arrests of four suspects that are said to be connected to the crime.

At around 6:30 p.m. two people were robbed along the 600 block of North Doheny Drive near Santa Monica Boulevard. Two suspects who were armed demanded their watches then fled toward the City of West Hollywood.

When interviewing the two victims they gave detectives a description of the suspects getaway car.

By 10 p.m. BHPD officers identified the suspects getaway vehicle on Santa Monica Boulevard and Charleville Boulevards, between Wilshire and Century City. They conducted a traffic stop and arrested three men and one woman. Officers closed south Santa Monica Boulevard at Charleville Boulevard as they were conducting the arrest and they reopened it shortly after.

The four suspects were booked into the Beverly Hills Jail on armed robbery charges.

Personal possessions and weapons found in the vehicle were recovered. They are believed to have been used in the robbery.

By Christianne

BEVERLY HILLS—A 17-year-old was killed and two other victims were injured in a shooting that occurred near the Beverly Center in the early hours of Sunday, July 9.

At approximately 3:50 a.m., Police responded to a radio call of an ambulance shooting near the intersection of 3rd Street and Orlando Avenue, according to a statement released by the Los Angeles Police Department.

The first victim discovered, a 17-year-old male identified as Zackary Dickson-Hislop of Los Angeles, and was declared deceased at the scene. The two other male victims, ages 17 and 26, were transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in stable condition.

Details on events leading up to the shooting have yet to be released. 

Detectives are seeking information on the suspect who has yet to be apprehended. He was last seen running southbound on Orlando Avenue from 3rd Street on foot.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Bureau Homicide Detectives at 213-382-9470. Anonymous tips can be submitted by telephone at 1-800-TIPS (800-222-8477) or online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.

By Paige Strickland

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on Wednesday, July 5 that Arlen Eskandari was chosen as the next City Building Official (CBO) and Assistant Director of Community Development for Beverly Hills.

Eskandari currently serves as the City’s Deputy Building Official, managing plan review and building inspection services.  He assumes the role held by former CBO David Yelton who retired last week after 25 years of service to the Beverly Hills community.

“I am very pleased to welcome Arlen to this new role,” said Ryan Gohlich, Assistant City Manager. “His understanding of the City’s complex and technical codes and ordinances have prepared him well to lead the division and maintain the highest safety and quality standards that Beverly Hills requires.”

He joined Beverly Hills in 2014 as Senior Plan Review Engineer and was later promoted to Structural Engineer, Supervising Plan Review Engineer and recently Deputy Building Official.  He has over 20 years of experience in the design, plan review, construction, and management of various projects.

Eskandari holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Structural/Earthquake Engineering.  He is a registered Professional Civil Engineer, as well as Structural Engineer in the State of California.  He is also a Certified Project Management Professional and Building Official with the International Code Council.

By Casey

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills is spreading the word that July is Parks Make Life Better! Month that recognizes the importance of access to the city’s 15 parks, and recreation offerings in Beverly Hills, and open spaces and community centers that enrich our lives and are part of what makes the small town character this City so special.

“Parks and recreation help us stay healthy and well – mind, body and soul.  They give us a space to workout, stay active and fit.  They provide a much needed sanctuary in the urban environment to keep us connected to each other and the great outdoors, and to bring value to our lives in a variety of ways including being a cherished summertime community gathering space,” states the city of Beverly Hills on its website.

JULY – PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER! MONTH ACTIVITIES

Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market

Parks Make Life Better! Month – Kickoff

Sunday, July 2 – 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Join us at the Farmer’s Market on Sunday, July 2 for the kickoff of our July Parks Make Life Better! month. Stop by our Recreation & Parks booth for a chance to win some fun prizes. Come enjoy the market, and learn about the wide array of recreation classes, programs, and activities that we have planned for the summer and into our fall session for all ages.

Roxbury Park to Greystone Mansion & Gardens

Senior Excursion: Lunch & Movie at Greystone Mansion

Thursday, July 6 – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Join us on Thursday, July 6 for lunch and a movie at the Greystone Mansion. Participants will be picked up at the Roxbury Park Community Center, and transported to the Greystone Mansion & Gardens for lunch in the courtyard, a tour of the mansion, and a movie in the historic Greystone Theater. Attendance will be limited to approximately 30 attendees, and fees will include transportation, lunch, and a movie.

Beverly Canon Gardens Park

Concerts on Canon: Arts & Crafts & Games for Kids & Families

Thursday, July 6 – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Join us at Concerts on Cañon with the entire family on Thursday, July 6 for a fun-filled evening listening to a 60’s Tribute band “Beach St. A GoGo” while also enjoying children’s games, crafts, and activities!

Roxbury Park Community Center

Family Bingo

Friday, July 14 – 5 p.m.

Get ready for an exciting day of family fun and games! Join us on July 14 at 5 p.m. for a thrilling Bingo event that is sure to keep everyone entertained. This is the perfect opportunity to gather the whole family for a day of laughter, friendly competition, and of course, some amazing prizes!

Whether you’re a seasoned Bingo player or a newcomer to the game, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. With a variety of Bingo games to play, you will have plenty of chances to win and walk away with some amazing prizes. Mark your calendars and bring the whole family down to our Family Bingo event on July 14th. We promise a day of fun and excitement that you won’t want to miss! See you there!

Roxbury Park

Shakespeare By The Sea: The Tragedy of Hamlet

Wednesday, July 26 – 7 p.m.

Join us at Roxbury Park for an evening of Shakespeare with all your friends and family of all ages. Admission is free, and no advanced registration required – so bring your blanket and picnic while enjoying a fun summer night of theater outside at Roxbury Park.

Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market

Parks Make Life Better! Finale – Passport Activity Log, Scavenger Hunt & more

July 30 – 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Join us at the Farmer’s Market on Sunday, July 30 for the finale of our Parks Make Life Better! month activities. Come visit our kid’s booth, where you will find your very own Beverly Hills Parks Make Life Better coloring book, and a variety of interactive games to choose from. Don’t miss our Parks Make Life Better scavenger hunt at the Farmers Market – solve puzzles, riddles, and use your detective skills when meeting some of our farmers, to help find the treasure and earn some prizes.

FREE COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKSHOPS IN JULY

Roxbury Park Community Center

Sound & Breathwork Meditation with Chana Gedy

Thursday, July 13 – 4:30 p.m.

Join us for a unique family-oriented event, merging the calming elements of a sound bath, with the rejuvenating practice of breath-work. The experience is designed to foster connection, enhance mindful communication, and promote a shared experience among parents and kids alike through movement, breath-work and immersive soundscapes.

Please remember to bring your yoga mats, comfortable pillows, and anything else that could help create a perfect space for family relaxation. We look forward to sharing this special experience with you and your family.

Roxbury Park Community Center

Art with Ms. Dyana

Friday, July 21 – 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Get ready to unleash your creativity and let your inner artist shine! Join us for an afternoon of fun and relaxation on July 21 at 1 p.m. as you explore your artistic side at Roxbury Memorial Park.

This art class is perfect for all skill levels – whether you’re a seasoned painter or a complete beginner. We’ll provide all the materials you need, so all you do is bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to experiment with different techniques and styles.

During the class, we’ll be creating a beautiful art piece that you can take home with you at the end of the day. You’ll have the opportunity to express yourself creatively and meet new people. So if you’re looking for a fun and unique way to spend an afternoon with friends and family, come along to our art class at Roxbury Memorial Park. We can’t wait to see you there!

The dates and times for the Roxbury Park Adult/Senior Drum Circle and La Cienega Park Youth/Family Drum Circle have not yet been announced.

By Casey

BEVERLY HILLS—Comedian and actor Pete Davidson has been charged with one count of reckless driving after he crashed a vehicle into a Beverly Hills home on May 4. 

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office confirmed the charge in a statement to CBS on Friday, June 16. 

“We believe that Mr. Davidson engaged in reckless driving, which ultimately resulted in his involvement in a serious collision into a home,” the statement to CBS read. “Luckily, no one was seriously injured as a result of this collision.”

The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 11 p.m. on May 4 in a residential area of Beverly Hills near the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Elevado Avenue. 

According to TMZ, which first broke the news of the crash, actress Chase Sui Wonders was in the passenger seat as Davidson drove a Mercedes at a high rate of speed, coming in contact with a house.

No one was hurt in the crash, but damages were caused to a fire hydrant and the home. Reportedly, authorities do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved at this time, but the investigation is still ongoing. No arrests were made.

In Los Angeles, a reckless driving charge can result in a sentence of up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.  

Davidson is scheduled to be arraigned on July 27.

By Paige Strickland

BEVERLY HILLS— Beverly Hills Police Officers reportedly searched the 200 block of South Hamilton Drive for an armed robbery suspect on Tuesday, June 6, Citizen reported.  

At around 8:30 p.m., BHPD responded to calls about a male suspect who was jumping off roofs onto apartment balconies, confronting the residents and robbing them. According to reports, the male suspect robbed a man of his wristwatch and robbed a female on the third floor of an apartment building. 

A roadblock was established – and police were reportedly canvassing the area with dogs – in order to keep the suspect from fleeing. Individuals were on lockdown in the area and not allowed to leave or enter in. 

At around 8:57 p.m., it was reported that the suspect remained at-large and not in police custody, apartment residents and citizen users commented. 

By 10:04 p.m., BHPD sent out an alert that they have concluded their search and the suspect was not located. 

Canyon News reached out to BHPD Public Information Officer Perez for more detail but did not hear back before print.

By Lacy

BEVERLY HILLS—Applications for Team Beverly Hills program are being accepted now through Friday, July 14, Keith Sterling, Deputy City Manager for Beverly Hills announced on Monday, June 5.

Created in 1996, Team Beverly Hills provides residents with a hands-on look at the operations of local government.  This program includes a variety of class sessions and includes interactive experiences with various departments. Program participants explore the behind-the-scenes operations of Beverly Hills including Public Works, Emergency Management, Information Technology, Community Services and Public Safety. At least 750 residents have completed Team Beverly Hills and over 70 percent of all current elected officials and City Commissioners are Team BH alumni.

The Team Beverly Hills program will select 50 residents (30 appointed by the Beverly Hills City Council, 18 selected by a random lottery, and two selected by the Beverly Hills Unified School District) for its upcoming class. Five representatives from the city’s business community (appointed by the BH City Council) will also be selected for the program, which kicks off later this year.

Objectives from Team BH include the following:

-To build a resource of involved community members for future Commissions, committees, programs, and projects for the benefit of the Beverly Hills community.

-To develop, nurture, and utilize leadership potential within the community.

-To familiarize community members with all aspects of government, business, education, and service industries.

-To involve community members in community activities, projects, and endeavors.

To learn more about Team Beverly Hills and to fill out an application online visit beverlyhills.org/teambeverlyhills or call 310-285-1014 or email teambh@beverlyhills.org.

By Casey

BEVERLY HILLS—The first ballot count update after Beverly Hills’ special election on Tuesday, May 23 shows the majority of voters are currently not in favor of the billion-dollar Cheval Blanc hotel project on Rodeo Drive.

Residents of Beverly Hills cast their ballots on two measures that would accept or reverse the Beverly Hills City Council’s approval of plans for LVMH’s Cheval Blanc hotel. The hotel would stand nine stories tall and feature up to 115 rooms, a 500-member private club, and restaurant and retail uses on an approximately 1.28-acre site in the northern portion of the business triangle.

As of Friday, May 26, 50.88 percent voted no on Measure B, which would approve zoning code changes for the size of the hotel, while 49.12 percent voted yes. On Measure C, which details tax agreements with LVMH, 50.89 percent voted no, and 49.11 percent voted yes.

Voters opposing the hotel are currently in the lead by 123 votes on Measure B and 125 votes on Measure C.

According to Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan, the total election results count is now 7,028.

Approximately 135 remaining ballots are “pending signature cures from voters whose signature was missing on the Return Envelope or did not match their registration record.” Once the ballots are cured they will be added to the official count.

The special election was initiated due to a referendum created by Unite Here Local 11, a union group that seeks to protect hospitality workers in Los Angeles. The union collected enough signatures to force the election to take place. Unite Here Local 11 opposed the project due to the lack of Beverly Hills’ affordable housing. 

Residents Against Overdevelopment, a grassroots group, says the hotel would cause “unbearable traffic and congestion to little Santa Monica and the Triangle,” and lack of “adequate parking” would force guests to use “much needed parking in the city.” 

“We oppose the monolithic Cheval Blanc Hotel project because it is just too big and tall for our village. It goes up to 9 stories in height, instead of the allowed three stories, and has more than twice the allowed density,” the Residents Against Overdevelopment website states. 

Beverly Hills Mayor Julian Gold says Beverly Hills has “lost an incredible addition to Rodeo Drive that would have provided additional funding for vital city services.” 

Jessica Miller, a spokesperson from LVMH, addressed the outlook of the ballot update on Friday stating:

“If the final vote count confirms the voters’ rejection of our project, we will respect the outcome and will not bring the hotel project back in any form.”

Another ballot update is set for Tuesday, May 30, and the final results of the special election will be determined June 2.

By Paige Strickland

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on May 17 they are seeking committee members interested in joining Mayor Julian Gold’s new Electrical Resilience Ad Hoc Committee. The Committee will explore ways Beverly Hills might become more energy self-reliant in the future.

“Today, we are dependent on an aging infrastructure that is less reliable than we need.  As a result, we are subject to an unacceptable number of failures of the system,” said Mayor Gold. “The goal of this Committee is to investigate technology which will allow us to be more electrically independent in the future and avoid these failures.”

According to the city of Beverly Hills website, the Committee will be managed by both the BH City Manager’s Office, as well as the Public Works Department and will consist of two Councilmembers and three at-large volunteer members. Those who apply must be residents of Beverly Hills and appointments will be for an initial two-year term.

Applications are open until Friday, June 2 at 5 p.m. To complete an application visit beverlyhills.org/applyforacommission or call the Beverly Hills Clerk’s office at (310) 285-2400.

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced that Timothea Tway, the Director of Community Development accepted the same role in the city of San Luis Obispo starting June 19.

“I am deeply grateful for my 11 years in Beverly Hills and will truly miss the people I work with and the community members I have come to know so well,” said Tway.  “As a San Luis Obispo native with family still living in that City, this is a rare and special opportunity that my husband and I believe is the right decision for our young family. I would like to thank the members of the Beverly Hills City Council and City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey for the opportunity to serve as Director.”

Tway started working in Beverly Hills in 2012 as an Assistant Planner and later served as Associate Planner, Senior Planner, Principal Planner, and City Planner before being named Director in 2022.

According to a press release, the city of Beverly Hills will announce the process of choosing a new Director of Community Development in the coming weeks.

BEVERLY HILLS—The  city of Beverly Hills’ announced on its website that their contractor has started construction on Coldwater Canyon Drive to replace aging pipeline and install new pipeline. Through early 2024, work will take place 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

Coldwater Canyon Drive from Rexford Drive to Monte Cielo Drive will have only one lane open to traffic in each direction. In certain locations, only one lane will be available for both directions.

Motorists are asked to use alternate routes, be courteous and yield to those leaving their driveways and homes in the impacted area. The replacement of the pipelines are important to Beverly Hills’ water infrastructure. They were installed in the 1920s to 1960s and have been the site of several water main breaks in recent years.

For additional details on the Water Main Replacement Project and timeline contact Public Works Customer Service at (310) 285-2467 or email askpw@beverlyhills.org.

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on Tuesday, May 16 that Nestor Otazu, was selected as the next Deputy Director of Rent Stabilization beginning Monday, May 22. Otazu has been an employee of Beverly Hills for the past 25 years.

He currently serves as the City’s Community Preservation Manager overseeing compliance with various property maintenance, land use, building, health and safety regulations. As Deputy Director, he will administer and enforce the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance.

“I am very pleased to welcome Nestor to this new role,” said Timothea Tway, Director of Community Development. “With almost three decades in Beverly Hills and his directly relevant experience working with both our tenants and landlords, I’m confident he will thrive in the position and enhance this critical division of the City.”

He started working for the city of Beverly Hills in 1998 as a Building Systems Technician before shifting to Code Enforcement Officer in 2000. He was later named manager of the division in 2008. He has worked to expand the service and program operations to seven days a week. Otazu has managed and administered rent stabilization codes and tenant and landlord processes.

In the year 2017, he started an active role with Beverly Hills leaders in the implementation, rollout and development of the new Rent Stabilization Program and rent registry.

By Casey

BEVERLY HILLS—On Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and May 21 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. a free art show will take place at Beverly Gardens Park located at 9439 Santa Monica Blvd.

The art show will consists for artists from around the country and includes various formats including sculpture, photography and painting to name a few.

There will be activities for children, food trucks, and community exhibits at the event. There will also be a Wine and Beer Garden.

The event will take place regardless of weather conditions. Various facets of art will be on display such as jewelry, glass and paintings.

A map of the venue is available using at Detail Map, May 2023 (beverlyhills.org).  

Parking is available at 9455 North Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, which is 2 blocks away from the show. Anyone with questions about the event can call 310-285-6830.

By Rob

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills will celebrate Public Works Day on Sunday, May 21, at the Farmers’ Market. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The goal during the event as noted on the city of BH website that the event is “Connecting the World Through Public Works.”

The event will be held at the Farmers Market located at Civic Center Drive and Third Street. There will be Bike Safety Tips and Helmet Fittings, a Petting Zoo, Goodie Giveaways, Big Trucks, Free Compost and Games.

The Department of Public Works is responsible for The Infrastructure and Right-of-Way Caretaker. There are over 200 employees committed to maintaining and strengthening Beverly Hills’ infrastructure including: traffic and street lights, sidewalks, streets, the stormwater system, City facilities, parks and trees.

In addition, the department provides fresh water, trash and recycling service, wastewater removal, and parking at city facilities and meters.

For more information on our programs and services browse visit their social media platforms, sign up for the newsletter “The Backbone” or contact Public Works Customer Service.

For more information about the event contact the city of Beverly Hills Public Works Department at (310) 285-2467. For details about the Department of Public Works email www.beverlyhills.org/pw.

BEVERLY HILLS—City of Beverly Hills Public Information Manager, Lauren Santillana indicated in a news release on April 19, that Mayor Dr. Julian Gold traveled to Sacramento to attend the League of California Cities annual City Leaders Summit to speak about the Beverly Hills Nurse Practitioner Program (NPP) and the plans to expand its services. He was joined by Beverly Hills Fire Chief Greg Barton, Beverly Hills Medical Director Dr. Marc Cohen, as well as EMS Administrator Sean Stokes.

The summit last week is the first of many for Mayor Dr. Gold, Chief Barton and staff in the coming months as they bring awareness to the benefits the program offers. Upcoming events where they will speak at include the California Contract Cities Association in Indian Wells, CA on May 20th and the Congressional Fire Service Institute in Washington, D.C. on May 23.

“Our Nurse Practitioner Program is the beginning of the future of community-based medicine,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Dr. Gold. “We are leading this pilot program to demonstrate to the country how we can put less stress on our hospitals and effectively give the care that is needed to our residents where they are at home. As we seek programs which support aging in place, it is imperative that we develop solutions like this one.”

The City’s NPP has been in place since 2019, and serves as a Mobile Integrated Healthcare solution that responds to low acuity emergency calls and helps those needing treatment in their home, addresses chronic conditions and decreases the reliance on the emergency department so that fire suppression resources can be made available.

At the Beverly Hills City Council Meeting on April 18, the Mayor and City Council approved additional funding for the program.

BEVERLY HILLS—From April 20-23, the classical music festival, Music in the Mansion returns. Winners of the Beverly Hills National Auditions will be showcased. Music will play from 7-9 p.m. on the opening the opening two days, 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 and 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 23.

“The OC Classical Trio was brought to life in Irvine, California, in 2023 by the flutist Antonina Styczeń. Winning Beverly Hills National Audition in 2022 allowed Antonina a long-awaited opportunity to create a trio with musicians—Pola Benke (cello) and Phillip Matsuura (piano) with whom she has been collaborating for many seasons  on different chamber music and recording projects in Orange County and Los Angeles. This year’s Music in the Mansion marks the trio’s debut,” as sated on the city of Beverly Hills website.

“Mezzo-Soprano Melissa Birch has performed both nationally and internationally in countries including England, Germany, Italy and throughout the United States. She has collaborated with groups such as the Leipzig Baroque Orchestra, the New West Symphony, and the San Bernardino Orchestra. An opera singer and recitalist Korean baritone Sejin Park performed featured roles as Marcello, Belcore, Yamadori, Il Conte Le nozze di Figaro and Figaro Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Winner of numerous competitions including Verdi International Competition, ‘Citta di Pesaro’ and Medici International Music Competition in Italy, and ‘Galina Vishnevskaya International Competition’ in Moscow, Russia, he was a Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist and is an alumni of Palm Beach Opera Benenson Program. He will be singing Germont in La Traviata in 2023 in New York. He holds both an MM and BM from Yonsei University, and the graduate of the Professional Study program at Mannes,” the city of BH website reads.

The event will take place at Greystone Mansion located at 905 Loma Vista Dr. in Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Tickets cost $22 per night and are available using the link Catalog – City of Beverly Hills (rec1.com)  

Individuals with additional questions can call 310 – 285 -6830 or email BHEVENTS@beverlyhills.org.
By Rob