Brentwood News November 27, 2020

November 27 – December 25, 2020

Joe Biden’s Stop in Brentwood (on His Way to the White House)

See more page 6 Then-candidate for president Joe Biden at a July 2019 event in Brentwood hosted by Bob Arbour. Left to right: Bob Arbour, Jordan Pynes (Tom Safran’s son), Biden, Tom Safran, Elyse Arbour, Aliza Karney Guren, Marc Guren, Robin Keefe, James Frost, Nancy Freedman and her grandson, Giles Freedman.

New Gardener to Care for Brentwood’s Coral Trees

San Vicente to get sprinkler repairs as well By sam Catanzaro

The City of Los Angeles has contracted a new gardener to care for Brentwood’s coral trees.

“Please note that a new gardener has been contracted by the City of LA after a significant delay,” the Brentwood Community Council (BCC) said in a recent email newsletter.

According to the BCC, the gardener will begin mowing the median regularly, while

the City Department of Urban Forestry will perform some basic repairs on the median sprinkler systems.

“The goal will be to water the grass while adjusting the spray so the consistent watering does not further damage the Coral Trees (which are sensitive, desert-loving trees),” the BCC said.

The BCC noted that the next step is gopher control, which will involve trapping and other non-toxic methods as approved by the City.

Lining San Vicente Boulevard, coral trees are fast-growing and suffer from weak wood, making them susceptible to collapse unless pruned regularly but cver-pruning,

REDEFINING LUXURY REAL ESTATE ON THE WESTSIDE GARY GLASS | 310.820.9343 Lic# 00933169 Gary@GaryGlassEstates.com GaryGlassEstates.com

©2019 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC

however, causes the trees to “sunburn.”

Furthermore, San Vicente’s coral trees have not been spared by the impacts of California’s recent, record-breaking drought. Although coral trees thrive on little water, the drought forced the city to turn off irrigation to the median, posing a problem to future tree upkeep.

Compounded with the effects of neglect and unfavorable weather, Brentwood’s coral trees suffer from a fungal infection spread by gophers. Oak Root Fungus is a common plant disease in California that thrives in moist conditions — the fungus has spread through the San Vicente Corridor through gopher damage.

TAX

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

Coral trees on San Vicente Boulevard.

Open as an essential service for: • Taxes, consulting, help with all the new programs and problems, etc • Can work long distance, with email or the U.S. mail

Samuel Moses, CPA 100 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica • 310.395.9922

2 | November 27 – December 25, 2020

Brentwood News

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Brentwood-Area Police Arrest Catalytic Converters Thieves LAPD says City of Los Angeles has experienced a dramatic increase in the theft of catalytic converters

By Chad Winthrop Brentwood-area police arrested two men suspected of stealing catalytic converters, a crime that is on the dramatic increase in Los Angeles.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) West Los Angeles Division, on Monday, November 16, at around 7:25 a.m., patrol officers arrested two suspects for receiving stolen property (catalytic converters).

Officers recovered cutting tools (electric saws and blades), tools commonly used to saw off catalytic converters, and several vehicle floor jacks from inside the vehicle.

The suspects also had a freshly cut catalytic converter on the rear seat of the vehicle, police say.

“The City of Los Angeles has experienced a dramatic increase in the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles countywide,” the LAPD noted.

Photo: LAPD West LA Division (Facebook)

Items recovered by the LAPD in a recent arrest of two individuals suspected of catalytic converters.

Brentwood Annual Crime Update LA County Board of Supervisors approves $75M to fund acquisition

By Captain Jonathan Tom LAPD West Bureau The good news is that as compared to last Year to Date (YTD), West LA has achieved a 7.3% reduction in Violent Crime (Homicides, Rape, Robbery and Aggravated Assault) and a 0.4% reduction in Property Crime (Burglary, Grand Theft Auto, Burglary Theft From Vehicle, and Theft) Year to Date. This is on top of the 18% reduction in Violent Crime and 10.4% reduction in Property Crime from 2019/2018 YTD. The only crime categories with significant increases YTD were Homicides at +300% (4 vs 1) and Grand Theft Auto with a staggering +59.3% (537 vs 337). Both of these categories are experiencing increases across the City (Homicides are up 24.7% Citywide (278 vs 223) and Grand Theft Auto is up 34.9% Citywide (17,527 vs 12,989). To put these numbers in perspective, WLA Homicides accounted for only 1.4% (4 vs 278) of the City’s Homicides and 3.1% (537 vs 17,527) of the City’s Grand Theft Autos.

In our analysis of these crime categories, we believe that both crimes are up in large part due to Covid 19 related issues. Two of the four homicides occurred at short term rental party houses, which had seen an increase in activity during Covid due to bars and night clubs being closed. These homicides spurred our efforts to address this ongoing issue and we have seen some success in reducing that type of activity through enforcement of the Mayor’s Safer LA Order. In regard to Grand Theft Auto, we believe that it is due in large part to more people staying home, which means they check their

“The criminals that prey upon our community generally shy away from locations where people are paying attention,” writes Captain Jonathan Tom of the Los Angeles Police Department West Bureau.

vehicles less. For several months this year we saw a disturbing trend of approximately 50% of the stolen vehicles having their key fobs left in the vehicles. Utilizing our Senior Lead Officers, Social Media and community organizations we were able to get the word out to the community to remind that although we are a relatively safe community, we all have to do our part to minimize the chances of being a victim of crime.

Live your lives, but be cautious as you go about your daily activities. Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Hide your valuables and lock your vehicles, homes and businesses.

Install motion lights and security cameras if

possible and get to know your neighbors. If you do all of these things you will reduce the chances that you will be the victim of a crime. The simple act of being observant will also lessen the chances of you being targeted for a crime because criminals generally choose what they perceive as easy targets. The criminals that prey upon our community generally shy away from locations where people are paying attention to their surroundings, that are well lit, have clear lines of sight, that have alarms and cameras and have animals that might be protective of the property. Our criminals, like the vast majority of criminals, are looking for the most return for their efforts. They want to take things that

Photo: Getty

are easily converted to cash while minimizing their chances of being caught. Doing the things I’m suggesting will harden the target, namely yourselves and your property.

We need your eyes and ears out there. We cannot be everywhere and rely on you being good community members by letting us know when suspicious activity or crimes are occurring.

As the old saying goes, if you “See something.

Say something!” Rest assured that West LA continues to be one of the safest communities in the City and we will always strive to keep you safe, lower our crime numbers and address your quality of life issues to the best of our ability.

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Brentwood News

November 27 – December 25, 2020 | 3

Make the Holidays Festive with AltaDena and Knudsen ALTADENA EggNog

$3.69

One Quart Carton • Choice of Variety

ALTADENA Sour Cream • Regular • Light

$2.29

One Pint Container

KNUDSEN

Half and Half

$3.49

One Quart Carton

KNUDSEN

Heavy Whipping Cream

$3.99

One Pint Carton offer good Nov 23 to Dec 27, 2020

4 | November 27 – December 25, 2020

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Brentwood News

Brentwood Restaurant Name Pasta ‘Laboratory’ Opens in Los Angeles’ Best Steakhouse Westwood Village Acclaimed Brentwood steakhouse Baltaire wins 2020 honor

By Kerry sLater An acclaimed Brentwood steakhouse has won the Best of Los Angeles Award – “Best Steakhouse – 2020”.

On November 17, Aurora DeRose, award coordinator for the Best of Los Angeles Award community, announced that Baltaire Restaurant–located at 11647 San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood–won the Best of Los Angeles Award – “Best Steakhouse – 2020” honor.

“The mission of the community is to celebrate the best of Los Angeles and allow its community members to connect with other members who share the highest standards of quality and integrity,” expresses DeRose.

“We’re honored to include Baltaire Restaurant

Photo: baltaire.com

into our BoLAA family.”

Baltaire–a venture from the team behind Coral Tree Cafe, Mora Italiano & FLINT

By Baltaireis–, is helmed by Executive Chef Travis Strickland leading the kitchen and a certified sommelier conceptualizing cocktails and curating the wine list.

“The light and airy dining room gives way to a gorgeous outdoor terrace by way of floor-to-ceiling glass doors, providing spacious seating for sun-soaked lunches and lavish nighttime wining and dining. It

Brentwood Restaurant, see page 9

Price of Pasta grand opening with free tasting

By Kerry sLater A self-described “pasta laboratory” is opened recently in Westwood Village where guests will be able to watch hand-crafted pasta being made right before their eyes.

On Friday, November 13 Prince of Venice will open their first physical location at 1091 Broxton Avenue in Westwood Village.

After four years of successful service with

the Prince of Venice food truck, chef Emanuele Filiberto from Napoli has decided to bring a Prince of Venice fast-casual restaurant to Westwood, complete with a pasta laboratory where guests will be able to watch hand-crafted, authentic Italian pasta being made right before their eyes.

“The idea is to have the best ingredients from Italy and Southern California – locally sourced organic vegetables, cage-free eggs, and free-range meats from California farms, paired with Italian flour, olive oils, and truffles,” Emanuele said.

In addition, the restaurant will serve fresh Roman-style pizza, Arancini – roman-inspired rice and pasta balls stuffed with cheeses and meats.

For more info, visit https://princeofvenice.us/

Why Vistamar?

Reason #3:

Better outcomes with our individualized 4 year college planning process and low student:counselor ratio.

JOIN US AT A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: December 12, January 9

Hear all the reasons you’ll succeed at Vistamar More information: vistamarschool.org/admissions

@vistamarschool

We believe there’s a better way to do high school.

Vistamar is a private independent high school in the South Bay. VM 2021 OH ad 4.91x5.75.indd 1

10/21/20 8:26 AM

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Brentwood News

BCC Says Don’t Congregate & Socialize Inside Brentwood Farmers Market Brentwood Community Council addressing crowds at Brentwood Farmers Market

By Sam Catanzaro

Community leaders are addressing ­ COVID-19 guidelines at Brentwood Farmers Market, telling patrons to not use the market as a place to gather and socialize.

The Brentwood Farmers Market takes place Sundays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 741 Gretna Green Way. Back in March, photos posted to Twitter from the Market showed people packed on the streets, prompting Katherine Schwarzenegger to speak out and eventually leading to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to temporarily shut down all Farmers Markets in the city.

In April, the Brentwood Farmers Market reopened with new COVID-19 safety measures in place. Now in November with COVID-19 cases rising in Los Angeles County again, the Brentwood Community Council is reminding Farmers Market patrons to follow COVID-19 guidelines.

“With the spike in COVID-19 cases this

month, we’d like to address complaints about folks attending the Farmers Market.

The Market has done a great job on safety, but they can’t have eyes on every person at all times, so we make this caring request,” the Brentwood Commmunity Council said in a recent email newsletter. Please do not use the Farmers Market as a place to gather and socialize when you are inside the actual Market. The number of people who are allowed into the Market at any given time has been limited due to Covid, so please enter, shop and depart – which then allows other neighbors to enter the Market.

According to the BCC, the following rules apply when shopping at the Brentwood Farmers Market.

1. Wear Masks at All Times and enter/exit the Market at the appropriate locations.

2. Download the Venmo App to your mobile phone to avoid handling cash – All Vendors Have Been Required to Offer this Option, if a Vendor doesn’t offer it, let the Farmers Market know 3. Social distance of 6 feet from others and don’t be shy about kindly asking others to remain distanced 4. If a vendor isn’t carefully distancing customers at their booth, ask them to form a line or space people so you can purchase from their booth 5. Wash everything purchased at the market when you get home.

November 27 – December 25, 2020 | 5

THE BEST CANCER THERAPY YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF

• Hyperthermia Naturally Heats Tumors • Studies Show Significantly Increased Survival Rates and Response to Treatment • Typically Minimal or No Side Effects • FDA-Approved for all Solid Tumors • Covered by Medicare and Many Insurances

(888) 580-5900 www.HCIoncology.com

A crowded Brentwood Farmers Market in March.

Photo: Isky Iskandar (Facebook)

2001 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 1190W, Santa Monica, CA 90404

6 | November 27 – December 25, 2020

Brentwood News

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Bob Arbour and the Making of a President Founding Publisher Brentwood resident Robert (Bob) Arbour is a big supporter of Joe Biden.

It all started long ago: Arbour’s late aunt, Sonia Sloan, was there at the beginning, working on Joe Biden’s campaign to become a U.S. Senator from the State of Delaware in 1972.

Joe Biden was 29 at the time (he would turn 30 by the time of being sworn in, the minimum age requirement to become a U.S. Senator).

Bob Arbour is originally from New Jersey, but over the years, he often heard Aunt Sonia brag about how she helped Joe Biden get his start in politics (Biden would later call Sonia Sloan his “mentor”).

So, when Joe Biden announced in April of 2019 he was running for president, Bob Arbour knew he had to leap into action.

He would do this for Joe Biden because he believed Biden was uniquely qualified to unite America; he would do this for Aunt Sonia, who died in 2019.

Aunt Sonia was the wife of the brother of Arbour’s mother. Sonia and her husband, Gil Sloan, 92, both worked at DuPont, where they met.

Arbour immediately contacted the Biden campaign and offered to organize a fundraiser, in Brentwood.

With encouragement from the campaign, Arbour reached out to his friend and fellow Brentwood resident, Tom Safran, who has hosted many political fundraisers in his backyard over the years.

According to Bob Arbour, Safran told him, “If you organize the attendance, I’ll provide the venue.”

It took a lot of work, according to Arbour, but on July 18, 2019, it all came together.

Approximately 300 individuals gathered in Safran’s backyard and listened to Joe Biden explain why he wanted to be president, raising over $150,000 of early campaign funding.

With that Arbour became a member of the Biden National Finance Committee. He traveled to Des Moines and Las Vegas to campaign and served as a Biden precinct captain in each of the caucuses. He is now working to support the transition effort.

Tom Safran introduced Bob Arbour, who then talked about hearing of Joe Biden from Aunt Sonia.

Bob Arbour (right) introduces Joe Biden.

Arbour, who is married to Brentwood real estate agent Elyse Arbour, quoted from Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech.

Arbour said, while introducing Joe Biden, that the U.S. was facing a “crisis of division” and that Joe Biden represented America’s best hope in the 2020 election.

Here’s a story I posted in the Brentwood News on July 24, 2019 about the event: https:// brentwoodnewsla.com/joe-biden-comes-tobrentwood/ In Joe Biden’s extemporaneous remarks, he seemed completely sincere, talking about the battle for the soul of America – and how Americans, when they came together, could accomplish anything they wanted to.

I stood in line and shook Joe Biden’s hand.

He and I talked for a full two minutes and I never felt like he was looking over my shoulder, looking for the next, possibly more important, hand to shake. He was completely at ease and in the moment.

I told Joe that one of his lines – about never being more optimistic about the future of America – was a good one, in my view. It seemed hopeful in a time of growing darkness.

“I believe it,” he said. “I really do.”

I believe he believes it – I really do.

In winter of 2019, pollsters weren’t giving Joe Biden much of a chance. But it’s clear now, looking back, Joe Biden really was the best candidate the Democrats could put up against Donald Trump in the Year 2020. Joe Biden is a uniter at a time when most Americans want that.

Arbour, who is in commercial real estate financing, obviously had keen political instincts in 2019. I asked him how he thought the Joe Biden presidency will go.

Arbour said he thought Joe Biden would reach out to congress to make progress on important issues. Arbour said that Biden looks to build bridges and that often requires compromise.

Let’s wish our new president well – and take pride that Joe Biden chose to say hello to Brentwood on his way to the White House.

Thank you, Tom Safran and Bob Arbour, for co-hosting this very memorable – and successful – event. Who knew we were witnessing history in the making that day?

Arbour would like to thank Elyse Arbour, Nancy and Gary Freedman, Ruth Goldway, Aliza and Marc Guren, Judy Jonas, Scott Mayers and Wendy Kneedler for their help on the organizing committee.

Joe Biden and Tom Safran hold a photo of the two of them taken years ago.

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Brentwood News

November 27 – December 25, 2020 | 7

BCC Homelessness Task Force Update

From the Brentwood Community Council (BCC) On October 28, the BCC Homelessness Task Force hosted it’s 5th public homelessness task force meeting via zoom, including the Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles Sheriff, LAPD, County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s staff and local VA homeless service provider, Village for Vets.

Primary take aways include: 1. VA BEDS – More than 60 beds were available at the VA for homeless Veterans on the date of the meeting; additional beds were available at the CalVets Hospital, but their complete count was not available. In sum: there is a bed available for homeless San Vicente encampment Veterans in several different VA programs on any given day. The new VA “safe camping” program currently has excess capacity, tents can be moved from the San Vicente sidewalk into the VA program or the VA will provide an 8 x 10 ‘walk-in’ tent. Veterans may bring their non-Veteran significant others into the safe camping area.

2. TENTS ON SIDEWALK – Limits on homeless tents on City sidewalks are being discussed as part of a City Motion being heard on Nov 24 which seeks to limit sidewalk camping – see full Council Motion at this link. Councilman Bonin opposes this

Motion and has entered an amendment. As a reminder, the City of Thousand Oaks passed a law that complies with the Federal Court “Boise” decision on homeless camping – e.g. anyone can sleep in a specific City designated public location from 10PM – 6AM every day; no tents open during the day.

3. MENTAL HEALTH – The meeting highlighted what the BCC Homelessness Task Force has known for some time – the Department of Mental Health has not been working in direct coordination with West LAPD. Under the current County outreach plan, DMH must first be called by our local homeless service outreach team, led by St. Joseph Center in Venice (which received a $9M Dept of Public Health grant to deliver homeless services this year to all of CD11, Bel Air and other areas in County Service Area 5 – see map here). To date in 2020, the St. Joseph Center outreach team made a total of 14 referals to DMH – less than 2 per month – for Brentwood/West LA, yet West LAPD could easily use far more support.

LAPD and DMH are now communicating directly. We are still advocating for West LAPD to be included in the bi weekly homeless services meetings that take place with DPH, DMH, St. Joseph Center and other providers.

4. SIDEWALK CLEAN UPS – Garbage

continues to be collected by the sanitation department near Brentwood encampments, but full scale sanitizing of sidewalks was halted by Covid safety rules. As a reminder, the difference is that sidewalk sanitizing requires advance notice to move tents, power washing of sidewalks, providing mental health and intensive outreach assistance on the day of the clean up. It is likely the Sheriff will resume sanitation clean ups very soon on County sidewalk next to the VA. After renewed clean ups take

place, Federal ADA clearance requirements of 36″ will likely be enforced, again, so the public can easily use community sidewalks.

No date was provided for renewed power washing clean ups of City sidewalks.

5. HOMELESS LITIGATION – Nothing has changed which directly impacts Brentwood in the current Federal litigation (LA Alliance v City/County of LA). There is an order pending from the Judge related to moving people from under freeways.

8 | November 27 – December 25, 2020

Brentwood News

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

12-Story Senior Housing Center Planned for Westwood

Renderings of the Belmont Village project.

Belmont Village

project to go before Westwood Design Review Board

By Sam Catanzaro A 12-story, 153-foot-tall, senior housing project is in the works for Westwood.

The project, known as Belmont Village, is planned for 10822 Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood.

New renderings of the project will be presented on November 18 to the Westwood

Design Review Board.

Plans call for a 12-story senior housing project with three levels of subterranean parking. The project calls for 53 independent dwelling units, 77 assisted living guest rooms and 46 memory care guest rooms. The ground floor will include amenity spaces such as an indoor pool and a screening room. The top floor will include a dining room, lounge, great

Photos: Shimahara

room, bistro, gym and outdoor terraces.

The proposal also calls for a two-story education center to include preschool, toddler and infant classrooms with supporting administrative spaces and play areas. Church offices for the adjacent Westwood Presbyterian Church and Sunday school education spaces including a children’s classroom with breakout spaces will be provided on the upper level.

VA Master Redevelopment Plan Update From the Brentwood Community Council (BCC)

While Veterans Day was celebrated last week, the VA Master Redevelopment plan was off and running to complete 2000+ units of housing for Veterans.

As a refresher, here is a link to the plan website: http://westlaveteranscollective. org/ Here is an update from the West LA Veteran’s Collective on current VA construction/renovations as of last week: A. Building 205/208 are under construction (and have been since August) with a 2Q 2022 completion – these will add group supportive housing units B. Building 207 – Enhanced Use Lease was executed in October, 2020.

Construction is expected to start in December 2020 with a Summer 2022 completion.

C. The Bonsall Utility Infrastructure backbone is scheduled to start in December

2020 and finish by Fall 2021 – these are

upgrades to the electrical infrastructure at the transformer station near Ohio Avenue

D. The Principal Developer is applying

for financing for the next wave of Phase I

developments (~300 units)….these would

start in 2022 and includes Parking Lot 38,

Building 156/157, MacArthur Field (Phase I), Parking Lot 48, and Building 300.

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Brentwood News

November 27 – December 25, 2020 | 9

City to Purchase 10 Hotels for Conversion Into Housing

Los Angeles City

Council approves $100M purchase

By toi CreeL The City of Los Angeles is spending over $100 million to convert 10 hotels and a handful of apartment buildings into interim housing.

The purchasing of a total of 10 hotels will cost $105 million. $68 million will be provided via grants through California’s Project Homekey program. The rest of the cost will come from $37 million in city matching funds.

The hotels will provide housing for up to 536 people at full operation. In addition to the 10 hotels, in a separate purchase, the City’s Housing Authority is also looking to acquire five more apartment and hotel buildings to create 214 more units. The funding will be split —$39.7 million from Project Homekey and $30 million from city funds.

The 10 hotels will be located across Los Angeles in the areas of Harbor Gateway,

Chatsworth, West Adams, Exposition park, Reseda, North Hills, Westlake, and El Sereno.

• Howard Johnson – 7432 Reseda Boulevard; • Panorama Motel – 8209 Sepulveda Boulevard; • Best Inn – 4701 W. Adams Boulevard; • EC Motel – 3501 S. Western Avenue; • Econo Motor Inn – 8647 Sepulveda Boulevard; • Hotel Solaire – 1710 7th Street; • The Nest – 253 S. Hoover Street; • Travelodge (Devonshire) – 21603 Devonshire Street.

• Titta’s Inn – 5333 Huntington Drive North; • Travelodge (Normandie) – 18606 Normandie Avenue • The Solaire and Howard Johnson hotels are being used for the Project Roomkey program. The rest are mostly vacant and are expected to open within the next month.

The purchase by the City of Los Angeles comes just after the County of Los Angeles purchased eight motels using $60.7 million would in Project Homekey funding and roughly $14.7 million in federal CARES Act funds.

Commercial and Residential Servicing Southern California since 1996

NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS WATERPROOFING GUTTERS

Over 20 years of Experience!

Factory Certified Installers

Hotel Solaire - 1710 7th Street.

Brentwood Restaurant, from page 4 is truly a completely re-imagined way to experience a steakhouse. The spacious dining room juxtaposes an intimate fireside lounge, complete with a baby grand piano, and a sprawling 2,500 square-foot outdoor terrace, ensuring an ideal setting for a variety of occasions,” the Best of Los Angeles write-up

Photo: Google

says of the restaurant.

The “Best of Los Angeles Award” community was formed five years ago and consists of over 7,300 professional members living and working in Southern California and celebrates the best people, places and things in Los Angeles. It celebrates the best people, places and things in Los Angeles with a slogan “No Ads. No B.S. Only the Best.”

All work is done safely and under state COVID 19 Regulations 5843 Fallbrook Ave. Woodland Hills, CA. 91367

818-835-9337

10 | November 27 – December 25, 2020

Brentwood News

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Serving Area since 1996 Locally Owned Business

OPINION

Column: Defying the Hype: State’s Voters Smarter Than ‘Experts’ Think TOM ELIAS Brentwood News Columnist

For more than two months, California airwaves were filled with political hype, in large part because of the unprecedented push for early voting caused by the coronavirus pandemic and threats of a deliberate U.S. Postal Service slowdown.

Not much was spent here on the presidential race, because its outcome in California was never in doubt. Not even Donald Trump thought he had the slightest chance to beat Democrat Joe Biden in this deeply blue state.

Rather, most radio, television and social media advertising here was about the 12 initiative propositions voters were asked to vote up or down.

For the most part, as usual, these were voted down, as was predictable under the old adage that if voters don’t understand a ballot measure, they generally say no.

In the meantime, hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on initiatives, perhaps the largest expenditures aiming to defeat Proposition 23, which would have required the state’s 550 outpatient dialysis clinics to keep a physician specialist on duty at all times, adding greatly to expenses but little, if anything to quality of care.

Voters had already rejected a very similar proposition two years ago, and handily did the same this time. On that one, they went along with most of the ads that were aired, rejecting the few that insisted this change

would greatly improve care for the 80,000 Californians on kidney dialysis.

But voters rejected the hype on most other highly contested propositions.

There was a common theme in the ads and arguments backing several initiatives this fall: pass this, the arguments went, and there will be billions of dollars more for schools, roads, firefighting and just about anything else a voter might like.

Nowhere was that claim stronger than in the messages backing Proposition 15, the so-called Split Roll initiative aiming to tax commercial property at higher rates than residential land and buildings. Backers promised $12 billion in new money, mostly for local governments, and never backed off that figure even when thousands of office buildings and store went largely vacant after the coronavirus pandemic struck.

Trouble was, nothing in the measure spelled out where the new money would be spent.

So it could have gone anywhere, including into higher salaries and pensions for public employees. Voters realized that by the end of election season, and with most votes counted, they apparently were rejecting 15 narrowly, probably not by enough to prevent sponsors from trying again.

Things were a bit different with Proposition 19, a hodge-podge of tax changes allowing senior citizens more opportunities to sell their homes and move without losing the property tax benefits of the 1978 Proposition 13. Opponents argued it also would cause problems for anyone who inherited a home

Elias Brentwood, see page 11

SPECIALIZING IN:

• Garage Conversion/ADU • Bathroom Remodel • Kitchen Remodel • Interior and Exterior Design • With you from Concept to Completion, 100% of the way • All work is done safely and under state COVID 19 Regulations • Superior Quality and Craftsmanship, Attention to Detail, Integrity and Care

818-518-3131

Photo: Jeff Hall

“Voters essentially laughed off frequent claims by advocates for Proposition 21 that its statewide mandate for rent controls would somehow alleviate the state’s very serious and growing problem with homelessness. They saw that nothing in the proposition would have allowed tenants to remain in houses and apartments without paying rent,” writes Tom Elias in his latest column.

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

Brentwood News

November 27 – December 25, 2020 | 11

Brentwood Celebrates the Holidays While

the holidays look much different

this year due to the pandemic,

Brentwood

residents and businesses are still going above

and beyond when it comes to decorations.

Brentwood News’ Founding Publisher Jeff Hall has been out and about capturing the

festive spirit this fall with photos of these decorations.

Got News? Got a Photo?

Send them to us!

Email editor@smmirror.com or give us a call at (310) 310-2637

A worker hanging a wreath at the Brentwood Country Mart.

A ghost on Westgate Avenue

Photo: Jeff Hall

Holiday lights on Westgate Avenue.

More Westgate Avenue Halloween action.

A snowman on top of the Brentwood Country Mart.

Elias Brentwood, from page 10

California, would mean “equal opportunity for all…” They soundly rejected this measure, which essentially would have made merit a secondary factor for both hiring and admissions.

Voters also passed Proposition 24, giving themselves more privacy rights over their electronic information and geographic locations. They did this despite loud arguments from purists contending the additional rights still are not good enough.

They may not be perfect, but they certainly

represent improvement, and voters figured that’s better than nothing.

And voters essentially laughed off frequent claims by advocates for Proposition 21 that its statewide mandate for rent controls would somehow alleviate the state’s very serious and growing problem with homelessness.

They saw that nothing in the proposition would have allowed tenants to remain in houses and apartments without paying rent. They apparently saw it did nothing to make housing more affordable, as some ads

from parents or other relatives. Backers claimed it would deprive the wealthy and “trust fund heirs” of current privileges and voters narrowly passed it, going for current benefits over possible future deficits.

Most voters apparently did not believe loud and frequent claims that Proposition 16, aiming to end a 24-year ban on affirmative action hiring and college admissions in

prominently claimed.

The bottom line: For the most part, loud messages did not fool the majority of California voters. At least not this time.

Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com.

His book, “The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Government’s Campaign to Squelch It” is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net

12 | November 27 – December 25, 2020

Brentwood News

BRENTWOODNEWSLA.COM

SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Get ahead this 2021 Complete a full-credit class in just 6 weeks.

Winter classes start Jan 4 smc.edu/winter

SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Nancy Greenstein, Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff, Vice Chair; Dr. Louise Jaffe; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Barry A. Snell; Joshua Elizondo, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu