VOL . LVI NO. 6
FEB. 7, 2020
THE NEWSPAPER OF RECORD FOR BEVERLY HILLS
BHCOURIER .COM
Beverly Hills City Council Candidates Compete for Votes at Municipal League Debate
IN THIS ISSUE
The Scene 6
BY L AUR A COLEMAN
Wolfgang Puck Gears up for Hollywood’s Biggest Night 14
Legendary Beverly Hills Resident Kirk Douglas Dies at 103 2 7
Courier Calendar 2
Beverly Hills voters packed City Council chambers on Feb. 3 for a lively candidate forum hosted by the Municipal League of Beverly Hills at City Hall. The debate, which included a round of questions where each candidate was allowed to ask a fellow contender a question, took place on the very same date that Los Angeles County sent out the Vote by Mail ballots. From the surprise inclusion of attorney Aimee Zeltzer as the sixth contender, who just that morning qualified for the ballot as a write-in candidate for one of two open seats in the March 3 election, to the marijuana/ cannabis-advocating Rabbi Sidney Green, to technologist Robin Rowe’s emphasis on creating a people mover (gondola) in the sky to solve traffic woes and his suggestion of building two 70-story residential towers to solve the City’s housing problem, the evening was certainly never dull. Incumbent Councilmembers Lili Bosse and Dr. Julian Gold, as well as Planning Commissioner Lori Greene Gordon, all referenced their voting records during the forum. Following candidate opening statements, Municipal League moderators asked a series of seven questions, ultimately finishing the forum with audience questions. Below are excerpts from the questions and candidate responses.
The Scene 6 Community 1 0 Arts & Entertainment 1 2 Courier Connoisseur 14 Courier Cupid 1 6
BY ANA FIGUEROA
Birthdays 1 8
Few local races have attracted as much national attention as the Los Angeles District Attorney race. The New York Times has described it as the most important D.A. election in the country. Incumbent D.A. Jackie Lacey is seeking a third term in a hotly contested battle in which her main opposition is former San Francisco D.A. George Gascón. Last week, the Courier ran an exclusive Q&A with Lacey. This week, Gascón provides the Courier with a counterpoint to Lacey’s responses. (Gascón continues on page 17)
Fun & Games 1 9 Classifieds 24
THE WEATHER, BEVERLY HILLS
Friday
67° | 50°
Saturday
67° | 52°
Sunday
65° | 52°
Monday
69° | 49°
Tuesday
67° | 50°
Wednesday
67° | 48°
Thursday
65° | 48°
of the businesses that are in Beverly Hills are catered to a lot of people that have a lot of money. And that’s a beautiful thing, but not every single person in Beverly Hills wants to spend $200 for a dinner. So, I would love to encourage local businesses and for people to keep those businesses. (Debate continues on page 8)
City Council candidates shared their visions at the forum hosted by the Municipal League of Beverly Hills on Feb. 3 at City Hall. Pictured (from left): Robin Rowe, incumbent Councilwoman Lili Bosse, Rabbi Sidney Green, Planning Commissioner Lori Greene Gordon, incumbent Councilman Dr. Julian Gold, and Aimee Zeltzer. Photo by Marc Saleh
George Gascón Responds to Jackie Lacey in Heated L.A. District Attorney Race
News 4
SINCE 1965
Municipal League: What plans do you have to enhance the City’s revenue in light of the continuing loss of retail business to the internet and as further evidenced by the departure of Barneys, Nike and all the vacancies on South Beverly Drive as well as elsewhere throughout the City? Zeltzer: Well I’ve given this quite some thought and actually I’ve noticed that a lot
Beverly Hills Shores Up Inclusionary Housing Ordinance BY L AUR A COLEMAN
George Gascón
Gone are the days of building multifamily projects sans consideration for those who can’t afford market rate housing in Beverly Hills. On Jan. 28 the City Council reaffirmed its commitment to affordable housing with a 5-0 vote to extend the Interim Inclusionary Housing Ordinance through Nov. 15. “We need affordable housing. We need a lot of it,” Mayor John Mirisch said just before the unanimous vote to require inclusionary housing for multifamily developments with five or more units. (Housing continues on page 13)
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