VOL . LVIII NO. 20
MAY 20, 2022
IN THIS ISSUE
City Issues Cease and Desist to Markowitz Over Logo 4
THE NEWSPAPER OF RECORD FOR BEVERLY HILLS
Candidate Donations and Expenditures Examined
Council Liaisons Consider Summer Installations 5
Business with Bosse 6 expenditures exceeding the sum of $100. The Courier has reviewed the most recent campaign financial disclosures for each candidate as of press time. Candidates will file their final pre-election disclosures on May 26. Because voting has already begun, the Courier has opted to report the most current information for those casting early ballots. (Fundraising continues on page 15)
News 4
Courier Wins Two First Place California Journalism Awards
Community 6
Total of Four Awards as of Press Time
Courier Calendar 2
Community Voices 9 BY ANA FIGUEROA
Birthdays 1 2 Fun & Games 14 Police Blotter 1 6 Classifieds 2 1
THE WEATHER, BEVERLY HILLS
Friday
70° | 59°
Saturday
70° | 58°
Sunday
72° | 58°
Monday
76° | 59°
Tuesday
78° | 60°
Wednesday
78° | 61°
Thursday
78° | 62°
SINCE 1965
Samuel Braslow reporting in the field Photo by Ashley Balderrama
Planning Commission Rebukes Spring Place BY SAMUEL BR ASLOW
BY SAMUEL BR ASLOW
Registered voters across Los Angeles and Beverly Hills have already received their ballots in the mail for the June 7 Primary and General Municipal Election, which includes three open seats on the Beverly Hills City Council. The 11 candidates vying for the positions have poured tens of thousands of dollars into the race thus far, with less than three weeks to go until decision day. California election law requires the candidates to disclose contributions and
BEVERLYHILLSCOURIER .COM
The California News Publishers Association (CNPA) has recognized the Beverly Hills Courier with two first place 2021 California Journalism Awards (CJA) and a total of four awards as of press time. All of the pieces were written by Courier Staff Writer Samuel Braslow and tackle topics ranging from city ordinances to policing, crime and human interest. Given out yearly by the state’s preeminent advocate for the publishing industry, the CJA recognize excellence in reporting across California. This year, CNPA received nearly 3,000 entries in an array of categories. Eligible stories were published in the calendar year 2021. ( Journalism Awards continues on page 8)
In a contentious hearing on May 12, the Planning Commission issued a stern rebuke of the private club and co-working space Spring Place and crafted stringent limits on its 6,000 sq.-ft. rooftop space. “You've had your last chances; you've had it many times again, and again, and again, and again,” said Planning Commissioner Myra Demeter, who presided as chair over the hearing. “We have pages of violations and pages of letters and pages of telephone calls and pages of different people contacting you, letting you know what is allowed and what is not allowed. And you continued again and again with making promises that you would do this, and you would do that, and we haven't seen it.” Planning Commission Chair Andy Licht recused himself from the hearing given his home’s proximity to the club and the fact that he is a member. Commissioner Thomas Hudnut also recused himself given the proximity of his home and office to the club. (Spring Place continues on page 13)
City Council Discusses New Mental Health Services BY BIANCA HEY WARD
With a growing population of homeless and those experiencing mental illness in the city, the Beverly Hills City Council discussed the implementation of a new Mental Health Evaluation Team (MET) at its May 17 Special Study Session. The MET is a collaboration between the City of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County, pairing a licensed clinical social worker with a Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) officer to provide timely, proactive, and reactive outreach seven days a week to those in the community struggling with mental health issues, prevalent among the unhoused. (Mental Health Services continues on page 15)
