Take Dad To The Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance This Sunday!
BEVERLY HILLS NUMBER 25
THIS ISSUE Please see page 40 for special commentary on the weakened new Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage Ordinance from Adrian Scott Fine and Geoffry Oblath.
Thumbelina is one of this week’s adoptable pets, presented by Freshpet. 4
Beverly Hills residents had their fill last weekend at the annual Piesta event. 4
Beverly Hills residents the Rund family took The Courier to Niagara Falls. 5
Bear, The Courier’s new mascot, visited City Council chambers this week! 13 •Fashion •Birthdays •Letters to the Editor
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George Christy, Page 6 In 1953 Seven Women, Affiliated In The Entertainment Industry, Met For Lunch In Beverly Hills With The Hope Of Helping Children In Need, And Their SHARE Group Has Raised $53 Million To Date
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June 19, 2015
There Goes The Neighborhood Amendments Slash Cultural Heritage Ordinance By Victoria Talbot A few tweaks away from a potentially superior ordinance, Mayor Julian Gold and Councilmember Willie Brien, with Councilmember Nancy Krasne following, jumped the gun and voted to accept the proposed Cultural Heritage Ordinance as written despite protests of many present in the City Council Chambers who stayed past the witching hour Tuesday night to register their concerns. The vote was 3-2, with Councilmember Lili Bosse and Vice
Mayor John Mirisch voting "no" and asking for the changes that would have strengthened the ordinance and still preserved the element of “certainty” the amendments set out to achieve. Pithy assurances from Cultural Heritage Commissioner Noah Furie, Planning Commission Chair Howard Fisher and Planning Commissioner Craig Corman did little to alleviate concerns. “The conservancy believes it will severely limit the ability of the (see ‘HERITAGE ORDINANCE’ page 40)
JMB Realty Abandons Century City Center, Prepares To Sell By Laura Coleman JMB Realty has spent fortunes on lobbyists, glitzy marketing campaigns and legal bills over the years fighting for approval to develop residences and office buildings at the corner of Avenue of the Stars and Constellation Boulevard–and last week, with nary a shovel in the ground, the Chicagobased company announced that the 5.5-acre property was up for sale. “After receiving a lot of unsolicited offers, it became clear this
was an opportunity we couldn’t ignore,” said JMB spokeswoman Marie Garvey, who underscored that all offers were for developing residential. “9900 Wilshire went for [$420 million] and this property is very, very attractive.” JMB, which received approval from the City of Los Angeles earlier this year to build a 37-story office tower is currently mired in litigation with JP Morgan Chase over the so-called “Century City Center” plan to build 500,000-square(see ‘JMB REALTY’ page 13)
Beverly Hills Elder: Elaine & Peter Bernard, The Movie Star Couple Part 40 in a series on Beverly Hills residents who have grown with the Centennial City By Laura Coleman For the past seven years, Elaine DuPont Bernard, 81, and Peter Bernard, 83, have shared a fulfilling life together as husband and wife. In fact, the two first met 47 years ago at the Church of the Good Shepherd, where they are still active today. “I was born in the barrio and he was born in the hood,” Elaine said, clarifying that in 1930s Los Angeles, “the hood was South L.A. and “the barrio” was East L.A.. “My husband and I are real Angelenos.” Born on July 13, 1933, a Friday, Elaine said her life has been (see ‘BERNARDS’ page 37)
Elaine & Peter Bernard
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL WILL ROGERS AWARDS
Friends of Beverly Gardens Park is now accepting nominations for Beverly Hills stars of real estate in two categories – “Rookie of the Year” and “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Compelling entries with reasons for the candidate’s nomination can be sent to submissions@willrogersawards.org through July 1, 2015. Winners will be announced at a starstudded gala event October 15 at the Montage Hotel.
IN THE FAST LANE — This Sunday Beverly Hills will host its greatest Father’s Day tradition, the annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance, on Rodeo Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featuring Alfa Romeo as the Honored Marque, the event pays tribute to the Autobahn, the Autostrade and Route 66. To get yourself ready for this event, this week’s Courier includes the special event program. Beginning on page 17, find 20 pages of great car photos, information on the vehicles you will see Sunday, maps for the event and more! Check it out, and bring dad out Sunday to enjoy the show!
Report: Low Morale Permeates Beverly Hills Police Force By Victoria Talbot The Beverly Hills Police Department is lacking in strategic vision, trust in leadership and morale according to a consulting report by Management Partners that was presented to the City Council on Tuesday. Ironically, on the same day that the council reviewed the critical report, buried as item 12C on the City Council Study Session agenda, the Council, led by Mayor Julian Gold, presented outgoing Police Chief Dave Snowden with a proclamation for his service. Snowden announced his retirement shortly after it became public knowledge that he was also serving as a paid consultant to
Heather Hart/A La Mode Photo
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a private security firm employed by the Beverly Hills Unified School District. To craft the report, Management Partners, which specializes in consulting for public agencies, reviewed the police department practices for filling sworn officer vacancies and current disciplinary procedures. The report offered 23 recommendations on how to improve the BHPD, but was clearly buried on Tuesday’s study session agenda, and will not appear on a council agenda again. Mayor Gold sets the City Council’s agenda. (see ‘POLICE REPORT’ page 15)
UNFORGETTABLE — Natalie Cole performed for the Disney Family Fund benefit supporting the Alzheimer’s Association (California Southland Chapter) at a private estate that raised $500,000. Attending were Susan Disney Lord and Disney’s Bob Iger, Eva Stern and Connie Towers Gavin. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.