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The Courier Endorses Paul Koretz For L.A. City Council
LAS MADRINAS–At its annual meeting last year, Las Madrinas completed its year with a major gift to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Pictured: outgoing President Marcie Newby (right) and incoming President Lisa Brandt (left) presented Bonnie McClure, chairman of the Associates and Affiliates of CHLA with a large contribution to complete the $5 million Las Madrinas Pediatric Simulation Research Laboratory Endowment at the hospital. The group’s newest project was then announced – the $5 million Las Madrinas Endowment for the Chief of Neurology Chair and the Neurological Institute Epilepsy Program, under the direction of Douglas Nordli, Jr., MD, chief of neurology at CHLA. Photo by Kelly Rouse
Beverly Hills Sidewalks Under Scrutiny In New Survey By Victoria Talbot Don’t be surprised if you notice a Beverly Hills Public Works All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) driving down City sidewalks. It’s not a joyride. The City is looking for sidewalk cracks. The Public Works Department is using a specially-equipped ATV to survey sidewalks throughout the City for raised concrete panels, cracks, holes and other damages. This survey uses both manual observation and technology to take photographs of the damage, which will be compiled into a Geographical Information System (GIS) database to help the City prioritize sidewalk repairs. The survey will take up to three months to complete, and the ATV will be surveilling the sidewalks seven days
a week, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. – or until businesses are open - in commercial areas; and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. in residential neighborhoods. The survey will then be repeated every two years to update the database. It is being conducted for the City by IMS Infrastructure Management Services, LLC. Call Public Works Customer Services for more information 310-2852467.
Beverly Hills Author/Space Scientist Irwin Stambler Dies At Age 92 By John L. Seitz Beverly Hills author and aeronautical engineer Irwin Stambler died last Friday at age 92. The Brooklyn native was born Nov. 20, 1924, within walking distance of Ebbets Field, home at the time to his beloved Dodgers. He attended New York University before being drafted into the Army during World War II. While in the service, he studied aeronautical engineering at Texas A&M and George Washington University, later returning to NYU where he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in that field. In the 1950s, with the expertise gained in that field, he began writing for Space Aeronautics Magazine and was sent by the publication to open a West Coast office. Beginning in 1960, Stambler wrote a series of books about America’s exploration of space (Project Mercury, Project Gemini, and Project Apollo) and attended many of the space launches, including the Apollo 11’s in which Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. A sidelight to his life was a love of music. He composed his first song Yesterday’s Love Affair, recorded by Frankie Laine.
BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | FEBRUARY 17, 2017 Page 5
His The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock & Soul, published in 1974, was the first to document the personalities and impact of rock ‘n’ roll, from Elvis, to The Beatles, to Michael Jackson. Previously, Stambler had written about Broadway musicals in The Encyclopedia Of Popular Music, followed by The Folk Country & Western Encyclopedia, and later on Country Music: The Encyclopedia, and Folk & Blues: The Encyclopedia. He is survived by Constance, his wife of 66 years; daughters Amy Sprague Champeau (Everett Ogawa), and Alice Seidman; sons Lyndon (Terry Silberman), and Barrett (Bobbie Regan); plus nine grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, 2601 E. Chapman Ave., (Suite 204), Fullerton, CA. 92831; or at sweetrelief.org.
By Courier staff The Courier endorses L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz in his fifth district race because of his proven track record of leading anti-mansionization efforts and championing protections for residents against overdevelopment and environmental issues, while supporting public safety and spearheading homeless and animal cruelty initiatives. Koretz’s Achievements Against Overdevelopment: – Authored motion for the Interim Control Ordinance, which limits hauling from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days a week and limits the amount of belowgrade development allowed without counting against the square footage of a project in L.A. hillsides to 6,000 square feet. The ICO protects districts such as Bel Air, Beverlywood, Westwood, Miracle Mile, Hancock Park, Hollywood Hills and others. – Bel Air Construction Overlay which prohibits Saturday exterior construction, limits dirt hauling from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and homes over 17,500 square feet must go through additional environmental review. – Baseline Hillside Ordinance, which removes all basement exceptions that previously allowed requests of 50,000+ square foot basements, and reduced overall grading. – Saved historic properties, such as the Century Plaza Hotel and Norms Restaurant, from demolition.
Environmental Issues: – Authored citywide ban on plastic bags and greenhouse gas reduction to 80 percent of 1990 levels by year 2050. – Co-authored plan to create exclusive commercial waste hauling franchises, which reduce traffic and air pollution. Co-authored the moratorium on hydraulic fracking in L.A. – Launched and funded the “cool blocks” project to reduce energy and water use and increase emergency preparedness in L.A. communities. Homelessness: – As a member of L.A. Budget Committee, helped to push for $138 million to reduce homelessness in L.A. – Strongly supported Measure HHH, to build 10,000 housing units for L.A. homeless. Animal Cruelty: – Authored ban on painful bill(see ‘KORETZ ENDORSEMENT’ page 20)