Brentwood News/ Century City - Westwood News April 2023

Arnold Schwarzenegger Fills Service Trench, Mistakenly Believed to be Pothole in Los Angeles

Not Immediately Clear Whether the Hole Schwarzenegger Filled In Was Scheduled for Repair

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent efforts to fix what he thought was a pothole in Brentwood were met with mixed reactions.

The actor and former California governor posted a video on social media showing him and his team patching up what he believed to be a “giant pothole” that had been causing issues for drivers and bicyclists in the area for weeks. However, it was later revealed by the Los Angeles Department of Public Works that the hole was actually a service trench being used by SoCal Gas for active, permitted work, as reported by NBC. It was not clear whether the hole Schwarzenegger filled in was scheduled for repair or not.

Schwarzenegger, who has been known for his philanthropic efforts and community involvement, tweeted about the incident, saying, “Today, after the whole neighborhood

has been upset about this giant pothole that’s been screwing up cars and bicycles for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it. I always say, let’s not complain, let’s do something about it. Here you go.”

However, the Los Angeles Department of Public Works confirmed that the location was not a pothole, but a service trench related to ongoing work being performed by SoCal Gas, with an expected completion date of the end of May. SoCal Gas is expected to repair the area once their work is completed, as per similar projects impacting city streets.

Daniel Ketchell, a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger, stated that Brentwood residents had made repeated requests for road repairs since winter storms hit the area in February and March. Keith Mozee, executive director and general manager of the Bureau of Street Services, acknowledged that the city has been inundated with pothole repair requests, with over 19,000 requests since December 30, and that crews are being diverted from other daily jobs to address the demand. Mozee stated that repairing potholes is a daily task for the city, but acknowledged that more needs to be done for those impacted by potholes.

The city of Los Angeles has a system in place for residents to report potholes and has

Brentwood Home of Late Betty White Demolished

Home purchased with husband Allen Ludden in 1968

The longtime Brentwood residence of beloved actress Betty White has been recently demolished, according to reports. White, who passed away on December 31, 2021, just a few weeks before her 100th birthday, had purchased the home with her husband, TV personality Allen Ludden, back in 1968.

The Wall Street Journal revealed that the celebrity couple had bought the twostory home due to its private setting and its convenient proximity to Hollywood studios. Aerial footage now shows mostly dirt where the once-standing home used to be, signaling its recent demolition.

After White’s death, the property was reportedly sold for $10.678 million in June of the same year. The late actress, known for her iconic role on the popular TV show “Golden Girls” and her philanthropic work, had a long and illustrious career in the entertainment

committed to repairing them within three days of notification, as mandated by state law. Residents can file a claim and provide documentation such as repair bills and pictures to support their request. The city’s response time is typically four to six weeks.

Potholes are a common issue in Los

Angeles and are typically formed when water seeps into cracks in asphalt, causing erosion and eventually creating holes when the asphalt sinks and cracks under the weight of passing cars. Despite efforts to address the problem, potholes remain a persistent challenge for the city’s infrastructure maintenance.

industry. Her Brentwood home held special significance as a place where she had made memories with her late husband and had resided for many years.

As of now, no details regarding the reason

behind the demolition of the Brentwood home have been disclosed. However, the news has generated interest among fans and followers of the legendary actress, as they remember her life and legacy in the entertainment world.

Photo: Twitter (@Schwarzenegger)

Daily Operations of Virginia Robinson Gardens Will Transition to the City of Beverly Hills

Los Angeles County Will Continue to Own The Property With Beverly Hills Taking Over Stewardship

By Dolores Quintana

The local government is currently transferring the responsibility of day-today operations of the Virginia Robinson Gardens from Los Angeles County to the city of Beverly Hills as reported by Patch. com. The 6.2-acre property and historic estate were left to the county in 1977 by Virginia Robinson, the wife of the late Harry Robinson of Robinson department stores.

Recently, new operating hours and regulations for special events have been implemented to expand public access to the gardens. On March 21, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to explore alternative ways of operating the gardens, which could involve handing over stewardship to Beverly Hills according to LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath said in

an emailed statement from her office, “I moved to transition operations of Virginia Robinson Gardens to the City of Beverly Hills because they have an outstanding track record maintaining properties for the public’s enjoyment. Coming from city government, I know how valuable it can be for the local community to operate an asset like this in partnership with the County. I look forward to working with the City and our County Parks and Recreation Department to develop the plan that will guide this transition so that the gardens can both honor the legacy of Virginia Robinson and adhere to her wishes for it to continue as a cherished community gathering space.”

Beverly Hills Mayor Julian A. Gold M.D favors Beverly Hills taking over stewardship of the property and mentioned that the city is already well-versed in preserving such an estate and dealing with any potential impact on the environment. Gold and Horvath worked as a team to arrange the transfer of the estate to Beverly Hills.

Mayor Gold said at his swearing-in ceremony, as quoted by Patch.com, “We should be (stewards of the property) because it is in the middle of the community. We’ll be able to administer it in a way that will preserve Virginia Robinson Gardens and all that happens there, but at the same time allow Beverly Hills to control the impacts.”

Streets for All Launches Westwood Connected Campaign for Safer Transit and Mobility

Advocacy group calls for bus lanes, bike lanes, and pedestrian improvements in Westwood, supported by local partners and changing city council representation

Streets for All (SFA) announced its new Westwood Connected campaign last week, aiming to bring new bus lanes, protected bike lanes, scramble crossings, pedestrian plazas, and additional mobility improvements to the Westwood area.

SFA, a local advocacy group, emphasized the need for safer transportation options, stating that “No UCLA student should have to risk their life to get to/from the Expo line, or even just around Westwood Village.”

The campaign has garnered support from various partners, including the Westwood Village Improvement Association, the North Westwood Neighborhood Council, the UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) Facilities Commission (FAC), and the UCLA Campus Bike Advisory Committee.

The launch of the campaign comes at a significant time, coinciding with changes in the L.A. City Council and ongoing transportation projects in the area. City Councilmember Katy Young Yaroslavsky, a proponent of bike and transit infrastructure, has recently replaced Councilmember Paul Koretz. The campaign also aligns with Metro’s plans for the D (Purple) Line subway extension station in Westwood, as well as the future Sepulveda Transit Corridor connecting Westwood to the Valley and LAX. This presents an opportune moment to build community consensus around implementing first/last mile connections.

Some of the key demands of the Westwood Connected campaign include a heavy rail stop at UCLA, extending existing bus lanes on Wilshire Boulevard to close gaps, implementing protected bike lanes on Gayley Avenue from Wilshire to Veteran Avenue, establishing protected bike lanes on Westwood Boulevard from UCLA to the Metro E (Expo) Line Westwood Station, creating protected bike lanes on Wilshire from the Westwood VA to Century City (up to the Beverly Hills city boundary), pedestrianizing Broxton Avenue between Le Conte and Kinross Avenues, and reopening pedestrian/ cyclist access to Constitution Avenue.

For more information, visit https://www. westwoodconnected.com

Mayor Karen Bass Releases Statement Regarding The Death of Former Mayor Richard Riordan

The Memorial Mass Will Be Held On Friday, April 28, 2023

Two-term Mayor and Brentwood resident was 92 years old. Mayor Karen Bass issued the following statement on the passing of former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan:

“Mayor Richard Riordan loved Los Angeles, and devoted so much of himself to bettering our City. He always had a place in his heart for the children of LA and worked to improve how the City served our youth and communities as a passionate member of the Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners.

“Mayor Riordan’s legacy includes our City’s iconic Central Library, which he saved and rebuilt, and which today carries his name.

“In the wake of the Northridge earthquake, Mayor Riordan set the standard for emergency action — he reassured us and delivered a response with an intensity that still pushes us all to be faster and stronger amidst crisis.

“Though born in New York, Mayor Riordan will be remembered as an LA original. I extend my deepest condolences to all who loved and looked up to Mayor Riordan. May he rest in peace.”

As reported by The Daily News, a memorial mass for former Mayor Riordan will be held on Friday, April 28. It will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles at 2:00 p.m. For those who cannot attend in person, a live stream of the ceremony will be available here and you can read more about the service at the Cathedral’s website. The Mass will be presided by Archbishop José H. Gomez, and the homily will be delivered by Monsignor. Lloyd Torgerson. The service is open to the public.

Avison Young Acquires 97% Occupied Office Building in Los Angeles for $9.3 Million

The Property Was Purchased As Part of 1031 Exchange

Avison Young, a commercial real estate firm, has recently acquired a 20,576-square-foot office building situated in the Brentwood/Westwood submarket of

Los Angeles for $9.3 million as reported by What Now Los Angeles. The buyer, a Southern California-based private investor, completed a 1031 exchange, with Avison Young Principal Mitch Stokes representing the buyer in the transaction.

The seller, 520 Sepulveda LLC, was represented by Christian Holland and T.C. Macker of Westmac. Built in 1970 and renovated in 2022, the four-story office building was 97% occupied at the close of escrow by various small and mid-sized tenants.

The property includes two levels of subterranean parking with 55 spaces, an atrium/courtyard area, and signage visible from the 405 freeway, which is east of the asset. The property has 80 feet of frontage on Sepulveda Boulevard and is situated near UCLA, Westwood Village, and numerous other amenities.

Avison Young Principal Mitch Stokes

said, in a statement quoted by What Now Los Angeles, “I identified this property on behalf of my client who was seeking an upleg in its 1031 exchange,” said Stokes in a statement. “520 Sepulveda is in an affluent, prime Los Angeles submarket and provided a high occupancy with a diverse tenant mix which will provide a favorable cash flow for the new ownership.”

Alex Hall Appointed Interim Director of Ucla’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge

UCLA professor Alex Hall has been named interim faculty director of the UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, effective March 1, following the completion of former director Eric Hoek’s three-year term.

The interdisciplinary university-wide initiative, launched in 2013, aims to transform Los Angeles into the world’s most sustainable megacity by 2050. It employs UCLA research, expertise and education to create the most livable, equitable, resilient, clean and healthy megacity in the world.

Hall, a professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and director of UCLA’s Center for Climate Science, was one of the faculty founders of the initiative. His research focuses on using global and local

climate models and other data sources to study climate variability and climate change. He has developed new techniques that distill global climate change projections down to the regional level, particularly Los Angeles and California, to help researchers and residents better understand and respond to climate change threats to neighborhoods and local ecosystems.

Hall and his team at the Center for Climate Science work closely with regional stakeholders like water agencies and wildland managers to develop approaches to sustainability planning and managing natural resources in a changing climate.

In a statement, UCLA Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activities Roger Wakimoto said, “As interim

director, Professor Hall will provide leadership and vision for the initiative; continue to grow partnerships with faculty, researchers, students, and staff across campus; and engage external stakeholders from government, academic, business, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors.” Wakimoto also thanked Hoek for leading an overhaul of the initiative, expanding its scope to include areas like transportation while highlighting and addressing issues of equity, access and justice that are crucial to urban sustainability efforts.

Hall’s appointment follows the decision of former director and engineering professor Eric Hoek to return to research and teaching after completing a threeyear term in the role

Spring is in Our Brentwood Air

Brentwood Meet Is Bringing Brentwood Neighbors Together

By Jeff Hall

There is something fresh in our Brentwood air, and it feels – and smells –good.

A few months ago, I wrote about BrentwoodMeet.com, a group organized by Brentwood resident Simone Joseph. Simone is originally from France, became a U.S. citizen and she lives in Brentwood.

She made an observation about Brentwood that I think is very accurate: It’s a great place, filled with intelligent, interesting people – but we are quite disconnected.

BrentwoodMeet.com is organizing all kinds of mini-events: French lessons, trivia nights, street cleanups, dinner nights, cards, and more.

Often, participants don’t know each other, pre-arrival. Then, at the event, they become friends.

I think BrentwoodMeet is a splendid

idea. It is said loneliness is rampant in our society. Maybe BrentwoodMeet offers a model that can be reproduced all around the country. We should all get together more often than we do.

BrentwoodMeet helped organize an Earth Day event recently at Barrington Recreation Center, along with the Brentwood Community Council. Young kids planted flowers and enjoyed activities, including planting flowers into flower boxes.

Traci Park, our newly-elected city councilwoman, attended.

Especially since the pandemic, we all go out less and seem to prefer the convenience of Zoom. I know I hate to drive, so finding new friends right here in Brentwood. Let’s give BrentwoodMeet.com a shot.

Congratulations to Simone Joseph. She saw a need and actually did something about it. She’s quite vivacious and makes it look fun.

Arnold Schwarzenegger took matters into his own hands recently and did something about a pothole that needed fixing (or maybe it didn’t, depending on the source).

I have suggested before in this column that putting the homeless to work fixing potholes and cracked sidewalks would be beneficial for all. Our unhoused friends could see the connection between work and pay; we’d all see better streets and

sidewalks over time.

Those in charge of repairing streets and sidewalks take forever to get around to this – if they ever do – so I applaud Arnold even if he gets his wrist slapped for having done this himself.

Maybe we should all go out and fix sidewalks on our blocks. Maybe BrentwoodMeet can help organize this and we can approach some homeless individuals about joining us for a day. We

Photos: Jeff Hall

Simone Joseph, founder of BrentwoodMeet.com.

Planting flowers at the Brentwood Earth Day Event at Barrington Recreation Center.

Brentwood Air, from page 10

can rustle up some money to pay them. We can feed them, too.

Maybe this idea could catch on, too. If we put the homeless to work, that could be an important part of their recovery.

Carolyn Jordan, head of the Brentwood Community Council, was also there. She was unloading BCC baseball caps because the BCC is adopting a new logo. I don’t know about you, but I really like it.

I look forward to a new baseball cap with the new logo!

Congressman Adam Schiff visited Brentwood recently. He attended a fundraiser at Tom Safran’s house. Adam Schiff is now running for U.S. Senate.

I was told it was an off-the-record fundraiser, so I didn’t take notes. I did take a few photos after the event concluded.

I will say this: I have watched Adam Schiff on television many times, as have we all. He has always struck me as very lawyer-like, professorial, even – very careful to get each word exactly right. He is often presenting a “case.”

In person, he exudes a lot more personality. Or maybe he’s getting speech

coaching as he enters the race to become senator, I don’t know.

Schiff wove several jokes and even a few expletives into his remarks. He did a really good job warming up the crowd. I hope he will show more of this side of his personality when we see him on TV; it will serve him well, I think, in his senate run.

Here’s a funny one for you, if you haven’t heard it before: Adam’s wife is named Eve. Yup, you got that right.

Before closing out this column, I need to mention Dick Riordan, a Brentwood resident who served ably as mayor of Los Angeles. As everyone knows, he died recently. He was always very generous with his time when it came to being interviewed by the Brentwood News. He was fun to interview; he wasn’t your typical guarded politician, not at all.

I think his taking command the way he did right after the Northridge Earthquake offers a good example of how things really can be done if you set your mind to it.

I remember hanging out with him at Kenter Canyon Elementary School one day. He purposely acted dumb in front of the kids, saying he didn’t know how a computer worked.

The kids loved showing him what to do. He kept showing delighted surprise at the kids’ genius and encouraged them to show him more, which they happily did. He wasn’t in any hurry to rush off to his next event. Just as he lifted up those kids that day, I think he lifted up our city.

Maybe it’s the better weather, a new mayor, a new city councilwoman, or a new logo for Brentwood Community Council, but everyone’s mood seems to be lightening up a bit these days.

There’s only one problem with all this “spring is in the air” stuff. My allergies have really kicked in.

Here’s to a glorious spring and summer.

Brentwood Community Council’s new logo.

Brentwood real estate agent Sheila Simmons and Traci Park, our new CD11 city councilwoman, at Barrington Recreation Center.

Adam Schiff greets well-wishers in Tom Safran’s backyard.

Snell, Chair; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, Vice Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff; Dr. Nancy Greenstein; Dr. Tom Peters; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Catalina Fuentes Aguirre, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D.,