Vote ‘Yes’ On Measures Y And HH, Vote ‘No’ On M
BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME: LI
NUMBER 44
$135 PER YEAR - $1.25 PER COPY
•
www.bhcourier.com
SINCE 1965
October 28, 2016
Chicago-Based Lakeshore East President Mysterious Wanda Says He “Can’t Talk About” Anti-HH Funding Campaign Against Measure HH Grows Desperate By Victoria Talbot With residents choosing sides in the Measure HH campaign, the Courier continues to follow the money, which leads to Chicago, Illinois-based Lakeshore East Parcel P, LLC. Lakeshore East Parcel P has provided major funding toward the ‘No on HH campaign.’ The Courier called Dave Carlins, president of Lakeshore East, to ask why he was investing millions of dollars in the campaign to defeat an initiative for a hotel located in Beverly Hills. “We’re not making comment,” he said. When asked if he knew about Measure HH, Carlins
replied, “Sort of.” Why is a developer in Chicago spending millions on an initiative in Beverly Hills that does not affect his development?” the Pictured: The project allegedly funding the No on C o u r i e r HH campaign currently sits as an empty lot. asked. was coming from. “I can’t talk about it,” he The project that is allegedresponded. “But I can see why ly funding the No on HH camyou are asking.” paign broke ground Aug. 8. It is Carlins refused to say a hole in the ground (pictured). where the ‘No on HH’ money No units have been built.
By Victoria Talbot The Wanda Group, chaired by Wang Jianlin whose family is deeply entrenched in the Chinese Communist government, continues to make allegations about an American election. Representatives for the Wanda-owned One Beverly Hills project have
spent the past several months waging a campaign against the Hilton’s current expansion plans. In Wanda’s latest attack against Measure HH, the No on HH campaign this week alleged voter fraud. A complaint filed with the Los Angeles County (see ‘WANDA’ page 15)
DOUBLE SPEAK– Mayor John Mirisch has made several appearances on Farsi-language television this week, paid for by the Wanda Group, to speak out against Measure HH. Mirisch had his City Hall phone number, where taxpayer paid employees answer phones, displayed for people to call directly. Planning Commission Chair Joe Shooshani also appeared on the broadcast to translate Mirisch’s words.
Exclusive Party To Preserve Greystone Mansion Billed As Culinary Soiree THIS ISSUE Will Rogers Awards Read all about the nominees for Retailer and Development of the Year for this year’s Will Rogers Awards. See page 4 for the list of nominees.
George Christy, Page 6 “We Have Top Rankings For Knee Replacements, Hip Replacements and Congestive Heart Failure,” Informed Saint John’s Health Center CEO Marcel Loh At The Caritas 2016 Gala
Beverly Hills School Leaders Mull Earlier School Year Start By Laura Coleman If the early bird truly does get the worm, then Beverly Hills students should soon corner the market. Next year school is slated to start Aug. 7, 2017. That summer date is more than a week earlier than this year’s start date for Beverly Hills students. Los Angeles Unified School District students are slated to start school on Aug. 22, 2017. Board of Education President Howard Goldstein said that the start date might shift back to Aug. 14, depending on how current negotiations between the district and the teachers’ union shape up. “We’re working to finalize an MOU to all of this,” he said, underscoring that both sides truly do want a later start date. For the past three school years, students have been starting school increasingly early in order to allow first semester instruction to end before winter break. However, parents and teach-
ers are increasingly speaking up against next year’s early start date. In response to a petition to change the 2017-18 BHUSD school calendar to start later, Beverly Hills Education Association President Telly Tse sent a mass e-email advocating his support for a later start date. “Like you, the parents and members of our community, we want...to start later,” he wrote. Tse alleged that even though both the school district and the union want school to start Aug. 14, the district’s contract negotiations team is holding that later start date “hostage” in order to not agree to the BHEA’s demand that the new contract state that class sizes for grades K-3 cannot exceed 21 students. Negotiations are scheduled to resume Monday. Other issues on the table include the rights of substitute teachers and allowing children of employees to attend BHUSD schools.
By Laura Coleman Does food taste better while dining inside a mansion? Perhaps. Of course, there’s only one way to truly know. On Sunday, Nov. 13, 200 people will have the opportunity to enjoy a magical evening of food, art and live music in Doheny Greystone Mansion for the exclusive “Party to Preserve.” The upcoming cocktail attire soiree boasts a fivecourse tasting dinner with wine pairings inside the mansion
Avrich Archives
HOOPS WITH COPS—The Beverly Hills High School Boys’ varsity basketball team played a friendly “fan game” against Beverly Hills Police Officers this weekend. While the BHHS team “technically” won, the game was more about building camaraderie between students, families and the police.
prepared by The Belvedere, THE Blvd, FIG, Georgie and Mariposa. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Friends of Greystone and support the restoration of the mansion. “The Doheny Greystone Estate is Southern California's Hearst Castle and is in need of important restoration,” explained local philanthropist Steve Gordon, who is helping Friends of Greystone put on the fundraiser. (see ‘GREYSTONE’ page 16)
TOP GUN — Canada’s Barry Avrich with David and Robin Steinberg at the Canadian Consulate, where Barry was feted by Consul General James Villenueve, Parky and Peter Fonda on the publication of his memoir Moguls, Monsters and Madmen: An Uncensored Life In Show Business. Pure Hollywood fun. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.