VOL . LVII NO. 8
FEBRUARY 19, 2021
IN THIS ISSUE
Road Closures Planned for Golden Globe Awards Feb. 28 4
THE NEWSPAPER OF RECORD FOR BEVERLY HILLS
BEVERLYHILLSCOURIER .COM
Term Limits Spark Hot Debate BY SAMUEL BR ASLOW
The Beverly Hills City Council decided in a tense hearing to place term limits for Council members on the ballot on June 7, 2022. If approved by a majority of voters, the initiative would limit those holding city elected positions (Councilmembers and City Treasurer) to three terms. But the initiative contains a legally problematic provision that would apply the limits retroactively, including to
the Council members currently serving in office. In a memo to the City Council, City Attorney Laurence Wiener expressed ambivalence over whether that provision would stand legal muster. Nonetheless, a majority of the Council voted to place the initiative on the ballot as written, with Mirisch and Vice Mayor Robert Wunderlich casting no votes. While term limits exist throughout
different levels of government, they are not required in most cases. At the highest level of government, the President of the United States has been limited to two terms since the ratification of the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution. (Term Limits continues on page 13)
Hawthorne School Welcomes Holocaust Survivor 6
First International African Contemporary Art Gallery Opens on Melrose 8
The Beverly Hills City Council discussed term limits at its Feb. 16 meeting. Courier Calendar 2
BHUSD Working to Safely Reopen Elementary Schools
News 4 Community 6 Arts & Culture 8
BY BIANCA HEY WARD
Birthdays 1 2 Fun & Games 14 Classifieds 17
THE WEATHER, BEVERLY HILLS
Friday
69° | 51°
Saturday
70° | 52°
Sunday
74° | 51°
Monday
78° | 54°
Tuesday
74° | 53°
Wednesday
68° | 50°
Thursday
68° | 50°
SINCE 1965
On Feb. 16, officials from the L.A. County Department of Public Health (Public Health) announced that all elementary school campuses in the county could reopen for in-person instruction, effective immediately. The announcement came after the county coronavirus infection rate fell below an adjusted rate of 25 new daily cases per 100,000 residents for five consecutive days— meeting the reopening threshold. On Feb. 16, the adjusted case rate for L.A. County was 20, marking the first time in nearly a year that all elementary school students in the county were eligible to return to campus. The adjusted case rates must fall to seven cases or below per 100,000 in order for middle and high school campuses to reopen, however. A safe return to the classroom requires
face masks to be worn at all times in school by students and staff; smaller class sizes; an isolation room in place should someone on campus become symptomatic; multiple exits and entrances; contract tracing; temperature checks and daily health screenings; taping over water fountains; sanitizing and disinfecting schedules; contingency plans for full and partial school closures; 10-day quarantine requirements due to travel and more. Students in grades TK-2 must be assigned to stable groups—cohorts of up to 14 students and two supervising adults—that maintain stable membership and do not mix with other groups. (BHUSD continues on page 15)
WeHo to Close Robertson on Weekends BY SAMUEL BR ASSLOW
The West Hollywood City Council unanimously passed a resolution at its Feb. 16 Regular Meeting that will reshape nightlife and weekend life on Robertson Boulevard for at least the next three months. The city will exclude vehicles on Robertson Boulevard from Santa Monica Boulevard, the epicenter of West Hollywood’s Boystown, to El Tovar Place, right before Melrose Avenue. The stretch will be closed for pedestrians, bicyclists, and outdoor dining from 6 p.m. on Saturdays to 2 a.m. on Mondays starting on April 1. (WeHo continues on page 15)
