VOL . LVII NO. 24
JUNE 11, 2021
IN THIS ISSUE
Summer Style Issue
THE NEWSPAPER OF RECORD FOR BEVERLY HILLS
In-Person Graduation Ceremonies Return to Beverly Hills BY BIANCA HEY WARD
BEVERLYHILLSCOURIER .COM
Courier FactChecks Caitlyn Jenner About Homelessness in Beverly Hills BY SAMUEL BR ASLOW
Small Businesses in Beverly Hills Express Security Concerns 5
Horace Mann Elementary School promotion ceremony
June 21 is “Make Music Day” in Beverly Hills 6
On June 8, both Hawthorne Elementary School and Horace Mann Elementary School held their first in-person promotion ceremonies for fifth-graders—the first event of its kind since the district-wide reconfiguration in 2019. At Hawthorne, Principal Sarah Kaber and Assistant Principal Kevin Painter spoke, in addition to several students
and fifth-grade teachers. Similarly, speakers at Horace Mann included Principal Craig Bugbee and Assistant Principals Samantha Jung and Chris Regan. At the event, teachers and students also honored Mason DuncanBook, a fifth-grader who tragically passed away of Leukemia in November. (Graduation continues on page 12)
Just In Case BH Makes Its Case BY SAMUEL BR ASLOW
Courier Calendar 2 News 4 Community 6 Birthdays 6 6 Fun & Games 6 9 Classifieds 7 3
THE WEATHER, BEVERLY HILLS
Friday
74° | 58°
Saturday
76° | 62°
Sunday
77° | 63°
Monday
80° | 65°
Tuesday
88° | 71°
Wednesday
88° | 69°
Thursday
84° | 68°
Acting Capt. Max Subin with Just In Case BH
Longtime resident Vera Markowitz and Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) Acting Captain Max Subin walked into Pascal on Beverly Drive in the midst of the Saturday brunch crowd on June 5. Markowitz, laden with a stack of glossy flyers for the city’s new Just In Case BH program, made a beeline for
the cashier; Subin, weighed down by his utility belt, followed close behind. The cashier, sensing that this might be above his pay grade, fetched Pascal owner Bruno Marcy. On cue, Markowitz gave him her pitch for Just In Case, the city’s effort to harden its communities for potential threats and crises. “We’re trying to get everyone together so we can all work together in case there’s something that may need help,” she said. At this stage of the nascent program, all Markowitz requested of Marcy was to place a Just In Case BH sticker in a prominent location on the restaurant’s window. As with every business she and Subin visited that day, Marcy obliged. ( Just In Case continues on page 10)
On June 4, California Republican gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner decried the state of the homelessness crisis in California by pointing to Beverly Hills. “When you drive in Beverly Hills and you look at the park, and there's tents in the park, we have to look at that issue very seriously," the former Olympian said in an interview with Fox LA. "But to be honest with you on a big picture, living in a tent in a park in Beverly Hills, it's just different today. Before, the homeless were all downtown. I'm sure you've been downtown. I mean, you walk down there, and it's just like so tough, so difficult on these people." To many in the city, Jenner’s comments came as a surprise—mainly because they were false, they say. (Homelessness continues on page 10)
One Beverly Hills is Approved by City Council BY SAMUEL BR ASLOW
The Beverly Hills City Council voted to approve the historic One Beverly Hills development in a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember John Mirisch casting the only no vote. Though the project is far from breaking ground, the vote grants the entitlements it needs to move forward. The One Beverly Hills development is one of the largest in the city’s history—a $2 billion luxury complex including 340 residential units and 42 hotel rooms. (One Beverly continues on page 12)
MEET AND GREET THE BEVERLY HILLS COURIER STAFF JUNE 13 Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market Sunday, June 13
SINCE 1965
9 a.m.-1 p.m