Managing Your Wealth – Pgs 17-19!
BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME XXXXVI NUMBER 23 $135 PER YEAR - $1.25 PER COPY •
www.bhcourier.com
THIS ISSUE
SINCE 1965
June 8, 2012
Courier Exclusive Report:
Metro To Feds: Always, Only Constellation, Not Santa Monica By Marla Schevker The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority never considered a station on Santa Monica Boulevard despite public statements to the contrary. Metro was apparently caught in a lie when documents Metro filed with the Federal Transit Administration years ago were discovered with data only for a Constellation Boulevard location
El Rodeo Students Hold Bake Sale Fundraiser for Tourettes Syndrome. 4
Four Boy Scouts from Beverly Hills Troop 110 became Eagle Scouts on Sunday. 4
Beverly Hills resident Elly Newton honored during Older American Month. 5
BHHS Grad accepted into prestigious NYU dance program. 23 •Birthdays
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George Christy, Page 6 John O’Hurley, Neil Sedaka, Norm Crosby and Lainie Kazan rocked the Beverly Hilton Ballroom during the 59th annual Share show that’s raised $49 million over the years for children. Editorial from Rabbi Pressman AND MORE
CLASSIFIEDS • • • • •
Announcements Real Estate Rentals Sales and More
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(see ‘FTA’ page 22)
City Council Bows To Metro BACKDRAFT BALL— More than 650 guests, residents and VIPs attended Sunday night’s 20th annual Backdraft Ball in The Beverly Hilton honoring the brave and committed firefighters of Beverly Hills. The annual event is the main source of fundraising for the Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Trust Fund which provides medical insurance to firefighters and their families post retirement. Pictured above, Fire Chief Tim Scranton and “Firefighter of the Year” winner Glenn Pinson. Photo by Roger Reiner
City Council Mulls Raise For Kolin AYSO U10 Boys Extra Team brings home Orange County Classic title. 5
for its Century City station. That document, a “risk assessment report dated Aug. 24, 2010,” pre-dates the draft environmental impact report and all seismic research conducted by Metro. Metro has claimed for years that it fully considered the Santa Monica Boulevard location as the “locally fa-
By Marla Schevker Despite freezes on rank-andfile city workers, the Beverly Hills City Council last night tried to give City Manager Jeff Kolin a 2 percent cost-of-living pay hike without debate or discussion. The item, showing up only on last night’s consent calendar, gives Kolin an increase of $5,610 to his $280,499 annual salary. The raise also increases his pension payout. Reform Vice Mayor John Mirisch told The Courier he would pull the item off the consent calendar and force a debate on it. Mirisch said, “We’re faced with tremendous economic chal-
lenges and leadership needs to show their willingness to make sacrifices and change the system.” Under his employment agreement with City, Kolin's salary is reviewed annually. The increase, however, is not required under the agreement. The discussion of Kolin’s raise fell on the same night as the City Council’s discussion about the City budget. In the proposed 2012/13 budget, the police department will be taking a $253,300 cut and the police administration a $23,600 cut.
The Beverly Hills City Council refused to go the extra mile yesterday to stand up for Beverly Hills High School against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The City Council refused to write a resolution dictating, in no uncertain terms, that Beverly Hills’ support for the Westside Subway Extension is
predicated on the alignment not going underneath Beverly Hills High School. Vice Mayor John Mirisch requested the City Council write a new resolution in light of the Metro Board of Directors approving the Constellation Boulevard station location and tunnel underneath (see ‘RESOLUTION’ page 22)
(see ‘KOLIN,’ page 23)
“A LIFE OF EXCESS,” asseses Larry Thompson, the producer of Liz And Dick, the Lifetime original movie about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who hated to be called Liz and Dick. “Their’s was an excess of alcohol, food, yachts, planes, drama and love.” Lindsay Lohan (left) stars as Elizabeth and Grant Bowler plays Richard Burton during this local 20-day shoot. Larry has produced films about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and finds Elizabeth and Richard’s relationship to be a forerunner of today’s Brangelina (Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt). More photos in George Christy’s column on page 6. Be sure to check out George Christy’s Pick of the Week on page 13. Photo by Lifetime TV
QUEST AWARDS — Pictured (from left): Frank Brown and Zak Zukoski were named “Male Co-Athletes of the Year” Tuesday night at the QUEST Awards. Courier Photo by Matt Lopez
Beverly Hills High Celebrates Top Athletes At QUEST Awards By Matt Lopez Beverly Hills High School’s top athletes were honored Tuesday night at the 2012 QUEST Awards in the school auditorium.
Fresh off a trip to the CIF State Championships, track star Brianna Simmons took home honors for Female Athlete of the Year and also won (see ‘QUEST AWARDS,’ page 23)
Assembly Race To Heat Up, Cigarette Tax Stomped Out By Laura Coleman California’s first top-two primary since voters passed Prop 14 in 2010 primed incumbent Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D) for a heated race against Santa Monica
Mayor Richard Bloom (D) in the Nov. 6 runoff election for the Westside’s Assembly District 50. Butler nabbed 25.9 percent of the vote and Bloom received 25.6 per(see ‘ELECTION RESULTS,’ page 23)