LOCAL
Vanderpump sued as Venice’s Roosterfish expands to WeHo
WEST HOLLYWOOD Lisa Vanderpump’s husband, Ken Todd, is being sued for nearly $1 million for allegedly breaching his rental contract with the landlords of the former Pump RestauRoosterfish is moving to Pump rant located at 8948 SanRestaurant ta Monica Boulevard. (Photo courtesy WEHO TIMES) As of August 1, 2023, a legal case was initiated by 8948 Santa Monica Partners LLC, a California Limited Liability Company, against P U M P, LLC, another California Limited Liability Company, along with other parties. The lawsuit, falling under the category of “Other Contract,” was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Courts, specifically at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles. The current status of the case is listed as pending. Page Six reports that The company 8948 Santa Monica Partners claims that Pump – of which Todd is the guarantor – has failed and refused and continues to fail and refuse to keep and perform” their lease conditions. The company pursuing the legal action is seeking $750,000 in damages for the alleged breach of contract and an additional $200,000 due to purported failure to transfer a liquor license, which holds an estimated fair market value of $150,000, among other claims. In a statement provided to Page Six, the owners of 8948 Santa Monica Partners LLC expressed their determined pursuit of damages, emphasizing Todd’s full liability in the matter. P U M P was expected to transfer the liquor license to the next tenant upon surrendering the property on July 13, 2023. However, it is claimed that Todd, at 77 years old, has
retained the liquor license, causing a delay in the opening of a new restaurant on the premises. This delay is said to have incurred monthly losses of around $56,500 in base rent and related charges for the landlords. The property owners assert that Todd engaged in deliberate and malicious fraudulent activities when entering the lease contract in 2013. They believe that Todd’s actions were carried out with a disregard for ethical and legal standards. Responding to these allegations Todd stated that when they took over the location, known as Pump, a decade ago, it was a vacant parking area. He maintained that they had planted olive trees and installed antiques like chandeliers, which he claimed to have carefully removed when they vacated the property. Todd also insisted that the liquor license in question had been in use by their business for the past decade and was rightfully theirs, although he expressed a willingness to sell it to the other party at a fair market value. Pump Restaurant closed its doors in West Hollywood on Wednesday July 6, 2023.
ET reported this week that Roosterfish will be taking over the spot as soon as next month Roosterfish is coming to West Hollywood. It turns out the rumors are true that the Venice watering hole is opening a new location at 8948 Santa Monica Boulevard, which was formerly home to Lisa Vanderpump’s PUMP restaurant. ET reports that Roosterfish, which currently has a space located at 1302 Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, will open another location on the corner on Santa Monica Boulevard and Robertson Boulevard made famous by Lisa Vanderpump and her reality TV show Vanderpump Rules. They are hoping to open as soon as next month. A source tells ET, “Roosterfish has already started con-
struction and if everything goes as planned, it will open next month.” The new location will be different from the original, which used to mostly be known as a gay watering hole. Roosterfish West Hollywood will serve food. “They’re going to be doing lite casual Italian fair,” reports a source to ET. The Venice gay bar closed on May of 2017, after being open for 37 years. Owners announce it was re-opened back in September of that same year. They hosted a pop event to raise funds for Venice Pride. According to its website the original Roosterfish no longer identifies as gay: When [Roosterfish] first opened, it quickly claimed itself as a gay bar, welcoming only patrons of similar sexual orientation. With this safe haven claimed, patrons were able to drink in peace without judgment from an archaic-minded society…with modern-day Roosterfish, its doors have reopened, welcoming in all walks of life. As one of the original bars along Mr. Kinney’s boulevard, is a part of a rare collective of original restaurants along Abbot Kinney, embracing the openness that makes Venice, CA as unique and special as it is! Roosterfish was one of the first progressive bars for the community and the new owners have kept its namesake in respect to the history Roosterfish has undergone.” Lisa Vanderpump announced PUMP restaurant was closing on May 4th via a statement, in response to rumors and reports that the space had been listed for lease on LoopNet, the online marketplace for commercial property, which listed the 2,865 SF space as a storefront retail. The listing has been removed from LoopNet as Roosterfish gets ready to move into the restaurant space known for its courtyard covered with olive trees. The closure of PUMP restaurant was filmed for season 11 of Vanderpump Rules. PAULO MURILLO
More Californians are accessing higher quality health care services
SACRAMENTO — A new report from the Department of Health Services (DHCS) found an increase in Californians accessing and utilizing the wide array of benefits and services provided by the Medi-Cal program’s Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports during the first year of implementation. These resources are available through Governor Newsom’s CalAIM initiative. ECM and Community Supports are focused on the most vulnerable Californians with the most severe health conditions. These programs provide hightouch, person centered care and access to assistance, like housing and healthy meals. Together, these initiatives will help reduce overall health care costs borne by taxpayers and improve outcomes. KEY DATA: In the first 12 months: 109,004 Medi-Cal members received Enhanced Care Management benefits(40% increase between end of Q1 and end of Q4), and 36,391 members received 80,859 Community Supports services (160% increase between end of Q1 and end of Q4).
The most utilized support was housing transition navigation services, which helped more than 40% of members who received Community Supports find, secure, and maintain stable housing. The second most utilized support was the housing tenancy and sustaining service, which provides members with landlord coordination assistance, eviction prevention resources, and the annual housing recertification process. The third most utilized support was housing deposit assistance, which helps members pay for housing security deposits, first and last month’s rent, and first month of utilities and related setup fees. Members can also receive funding for medically necessary items like air conditioners, heaters, and hospital beds to ensure their new home is safe for move-in. “California is investing in innovative solutions to make sure people get what they need to live healthy, stable lives. Increasing access to quality health care dramatically impacts people’s lives for the better, which is why we are expanding access so more Californians can get the help
California Department of Health Services (DHCS) headquarters, Sacramento. (Photo Credit: State of California)
they need. We are showing what’s possible when government prioritizes people and embraces innovation,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement Thursday. Managed care plans (MCPs) and health care providers are moving to swiftly train new staff, build capacity, and develop new infrastructure to reach more members. To support this, DHCS’ $1.85 billion Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) initiative is building the capacity and infrastructure of on-the-ground partners, such as community-based organizations, public hospitals, county agencies, tribes and others. LA BLADE STAFF
LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • AUGUST 11, 2023 • 05