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December 13 – 26, 2019

Toll Lane for the 405? LA Metro to conduct feasibility study into converting 405 carpool lane into toll lane

By S am C atanzaro LA County officials are considering converting the 405 freeway carpool lane into a toll road, allowing solo drivers to use the lane by paying a fee. Last week, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) hired engineering firm WSP USA Inc. to

conduct a study into the feasibility of converting the San Diego (405) Freeway carpool lanes into a tool lane accessible to solo drivers for a fee. The $27.5 million studying, to be conducted over three years, will look at the segment of the freeway between the San Fernando Valley and the 10 Freeway in West Los Angeles.

Part of the study will be determining how much money drivers would be willing to pay to use the toll lanes. The potential toll lanes would be modeled after the ExpressLanes on the 110 and 10 freeways. The maximum toll on the 110 is $23.10 while the maximum toll on the 10 is $29.4, with per-mile rates ranging between 25 cents ant $2.10 depending on

congestion. If Metro approves the creation of toll lanes, they would begin operation in the fall of 2027, in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. According to Metro, to receive federal funding for the toll lanes, traffic speeds in the lane would have to be at least 45 mph 90 percent of the time during peak periods.

Police Search for Suspect Who Assaulted Staffer in UCLA Parking Lot Suspect suffers head injuries By S am C atanzaro A UCLA was staffer was hit on the back of the head suffering serious injuries in a campus parking lot, authorities have announced, as university police search for the attacker. According to the University of California, Los Angeles Police Department (UCLA PD) in an alert released Tuesday, the incident occurred on November 27 at around 2:20 a.m. in Parking Structure 18 located on Le Conte Avenue, between the Doris Stein Eye Re-

search Center and Geffen Hall. “The suspect hit the victim on the back of the head in an unknown method, causing the victim serious injury,” UCLA PD said in the alert, adding that the victim was a UCLA employee and that they suffered a head injury and body pain in the attack. The age, gender and name of the victim have not been disclosed. According to police, the suspect is described as a male, black, approximately 6’0”, wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. As authorities search for the suspect, UCLA PD is advising students, staff and the public to “Always be alert and aware of your surroundings” and to “Avoid poorly-lit or deserted areas when walking at night.”

Photos: UCLA PD.

A suspect wanted for sexual battery after groping a female UCLA student this week and the suspect’s vehicle.

UCLA Police Seek Man for Sexual Battery After Groping Student Suspect grabs female student by buttocks near Covel Commons By Sam Catanzaro

UCLA Parking Structure 18.

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Authorities are looking for a man wanted for sexual battery after he grabbed a female student by the buttocks this week on the UCLA campus, police have announced. According to the University of California, Los Angeles Police Department (UCLA PD) in an alert released Tuesday, the incident occurred on December 3 at around 2:10 a.m. near the

Covel Commons at 200 De Neve Drive. “…the suspect approached the victim on the Covel Steps near Covel Commons and grabbed her buttocks,” UCLA PD said in an alert. UCLA police describe the suspect as a male, black, 23-28 years old, light-skinned, thin build, short black braided hair, wearing khaki or gray colored pants. The suspect was not wearing a shirt and had tattoos around his torso, according to police, who say the man was driving a silver or gray four-door sedan. This incident is currently under investigation and UCLA PD is advising students, staff and the public to “Always be alert and aware of your surroundings” and to “Avoid poorly-lit or deserted areas when walking at night.”

STREAMING WEEKLY TO ANY SCREEN NEAR YOU MONDAYS: Westside Today Beat FRIDAYS: Fun Friday

DECEMBER 13 – 26, 2019

CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

Aahs! Gift Stores Closing Company announces closure of all gift stores By Sam Catanzaro Aahs, the company behind the popular gift and costume store with locations throughout Los Angeles, including in Westwood Village and Santa Monica, is closing all their Aahs! Gift Stores throughout Southern California. The company, when reached for comment, would not divulge why they are closing the gift stores and did not give a date for when loca-

tions throughout Southern California would cease operations but did confirm that they will be closing all seven of their Aahs! Gift Store storefronts. Aahs’ other three companies, Aahs Signs, Aahs Corporate Awards and Aahs Halloween Club, will remain in business. Aahs has been in business since 1981 and the company’s gift stores in Santa Monica, Westwood Village, West Hollywood, Encino, Torrance, Buena Park and Puente Hills are popular destinations for shoppers looking for costumes, party supplies, toys, novelties and gag gifts. With their upcoming closures, clearance sales are underway at the gift stores.

THE 6 STRESSFUL STAGES OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION

By Ron Wynn

Everyone hopes for the perfect real estate transaction. A perfect real estate transaction is one without a single problem from start to finish. Although a good realtor should be able to mitigate most problems, things do come up. Selling a home can be a stressful experience. When you select a real estate agent, one of the most important things to anticipate is, who will be the best and most proactive at mitigating or handling problems before they come up. A real estate transaction can be broken down into 6 stressful stages. 1. Preparing the house for sale. Although some people will sell their home “as is” with no or minimal staging, equally there are situations more advantageous to make some repairs, freshen it up, and stage. A good real estate agent will know how to guide you through the process, without adding stress to your life. If you are still living in your house, it makes it more difficult; especially if you have children and pets. A good real estate agent will guide you through the process and provide recommendations, to keep the process comfortable. 2. Showing the house. Showings can be stressful because a house needs to look good when it is shown, which can be especially challenging if you are still living in your house. You might’ve stayed up late doing homework with your kids or you have a non-cooperative dog. It can be stressful to deal with everything, including cooking and housekeeping, while the house needs to be ready with a moment’s notice. A good real estate agent is able to schedule times that work for you in order to add some comfort to your life. They would have these discussions with you in advance. 3. Qualifying the client. It can be stressful finding out if a client will qualify for a loan, and finding out when a contingent escrow is going to close. A good real estate agent will screen “wild card” offers and present those that are accompanied with preapproval letters and verification of funds. We like to provide offer guidelines in advance allowing people to know exactly what is expected of them to keep positively moving forward. The more information provided and the more communication, the better the chance of a flawless transaction. You need to be confident that your real estate agent is going to bring you qualified people only; not only financially qualified but also people who are emotionally ready to make a big purchase, without getting “cold feet”.. 4. The negotiating process. It can be stressful going through the negotiation process. You may wonder if your real estate agent is prepared to “out-negotiate” the agent on the other side. Is your agent good enough to hold your ground and still not lose a qualified buyer? You must be confident your realtor is an

expert negotiator and has a great track record with this skillset. The more you know about your agent’s track record and the more confident you are, the less stressed you will be during the negotiating process. 5. Clearing contingencies. This can be a very stressful time. Your house is in escrow and you are preparing to move, yet you still know that things can go wrong. A good real estate agent knows how to clear contingencies quickly and will not let things go out of hand. In order to have a non-stressful experience, you need to feel confident your real estate agent is “hands on” and tenacious at clearing contingencies; avoiding extensions and delays. 6. Closing and walkthrough. It is stressful at this time because now you need to get the house all packed up and start thinking about your final move. Not only are you moving out, but you are also moving in to your new place. All the arrangements need to be synchronized. It is important you are not left with one escrow closing, and the other not. There can’t be any last minute flaws or hiccups. Even one trailing document can cause an escrow not to close. Is your real estate agent “hands on” and knowledgeable enough to know how to synchronize your move and make sure everything happens when it is supposed to? Look at their track record and make sure they have a good track record for closing on time and providing their client the necessary time to move out, whether that is a leaseback or complimentary prearranged holdover. Of course selling your home for top dollar seems always to be a homeowner’s top priority, but if you’ve ever endured a transaction before you already know how important it is to have a “hands on” agent in your corner. Stress is rarely dodged 100% but hiring an agent who is a master at “stress management” can be the difference between an enjoyable transaction and the “transaction from hell”. For comment email ron@ronwynn.com

David Geffen Adds $46M to UCLA Medical Scholarships Program

Total among donated by Geffen to UCLA nearly half-a-billion By Sam Catanzaro

UCLA has received an additional $46 million gift from longtime supporter and entertainment visionary David Geffen, a donation that brings the amount of the David Geffen Medical Scholarship Fund to $146 million and the total Geffen has donated to UCLA to nearly half a billion dollars. According to UCLA, this latest contribution will allow an additional 120 at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA to benefit from the fund, bringing the total number of students estimated to receive awards to 414 over a decade-long period. The full-ride scholarships, consisting of full tuition and a living stipend, have allowed UCLA bring in a broader range of top-tier medical school candidates, says UCLA. Between 2013 and 2018, the number of applications increased over 50 percent and nearly a quarter of U.S. medical school applicants apply to UCLA. “Mr. Geffen’s groundbreaking contributions have inspired others across the nation to assist more students with the cost of their medical education,” UCLA Chancellor Gene

Block said. “His support has made it possible for UCLA to lead the way.” According to UCLA, 73 percent of 2019 Geffen Scholar graduates are pursuing residency training in California, and 63 percent of all Geffen Scholar graduates are training in California. “That is significant in California, where physician shortages are a growing challenge,” UCLA said in a press release. Dr. Allen Rodriguez graduated as a Geffen Scholar in 2018 and is now a second-year family medicine resident at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista Family Medicine program, which provides integrated health care, just north of the San Diego–Tijuana border. “Without looming debt from medical education, I was able to choose to go into family medicine, a field I find to be extremely challenging but one that positions me to provide care for the greatest number of people with the greatest number of issues — and pursue it in a location where my work is very much needed,” Rodriguez told UCLA News. Geffen launched the scholarship fund in 2012 with a $100 million donation. The reinvestment brings his total contributions to UCLA to over $450 million. “The Geffen Scholars program is life-altering for our students and their future patients,” said Dr. Kelsey Martin, dean of the Geffen School of Medicine. “Mr. Geffen’s generosity has remarkable ripple effects.”

CENTURY CITY CONDOMINIUMS

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CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

DECEMBER 13 – 26, 2019

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SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, Chair; Dr. Nancy Greenstein, Vice Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff; Dr. Louise Jaffe; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Barry A. Snell; Brooke Harrington, Student Trustee; Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, Superintendent/President

DECEMBER 13 – 26, 2019

CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

Rip Taylor Memorial and Bob Hope Foundation

SOCIAL

CITY NEWS by Marci Weiner

An eclectic group gathered to pay homage and laughter to celebrate the life of “The Master of Mayhem” and ‘King of Confetti” star of stage, screen and Vegas – Rip Taylor. I met Rip at the opening and unfortunate closing of his good friend, Debbie Reynolds hotel in Vegas. Accordingly, the wake for Rip was held on the Debbie Reynolds stage at the El Portal Theatre, and among those sharing rip-roaring memories were Ruta Lee, Julie Newmar and hilariously funny Bruce Villanch. Did you know that after serving in the Korean War, Rip made of 2,000 television appearances? We hope that Rip and the recently deceased Debbie Reynolds are up there in Heaven regaling everyone with their blend of comedy and good-natured humor. The amazing Ann Margaret was honored by the LA Press Club by the Dolores and Bob Hope Foundation at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. This was the 12th Annual National Arts and Entertainment Awards, honoring excellence in journalism and contributions to society. The evening was dedicated to our deceased friend, Oscar winner, Robert Forester. Quentin Tarantino received an award for storytelling outside

of journalism, by Jamie Fox, and among the score of honorees, spotted Danny Trejo, Ben Mankiewicz, and our gal, the legendary Ann Margaret received the lifetime achievement award for her boundless efforts to helping others. Did you know that she appeared alongside Bob Hope on hundreds of trips to entertain the troops? Others enjoying the festivities included actress Lee Purcell, Maude Adams, Roslyn Kind. Rosanna Arquette and Allison Anrgrim (Little House on the Prairie)

As a long-time Entertainment Reporter (check out my website) HollywoodMarci.com I am proud to be a member of the “real press” not the false one that reports unfound rumors. Photos: Courtesy.

TOP LEFT – 2. Banner in memorial to Rip Taylor TOP RIGHT – Rip Taylor... King of Confetti fell down on guests at the party. Photo: Bobby Dahlquist

BOTTOM RIGHT – Legend Award winner Ann Margaret

CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

DECEMBER 13 – 26, 2019

Getty Fire Victims File Power Lines Underground Wake of Getty Fire? Suit Against LADWP in Homeowners take legal “LADWP has been acutely aware of these risks,” reads claim By Sam Catanzaro Brentwood homeowners who suffered losses in the Getty Fire are taking legal action against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), seeking monetary damages for the fire, which burned more than 700 acres for over a week in late October. As reported by Bloomberg News, the plaintiffs are owners of a multimillion-dollar, 1,540-square foot home in Brentwood that was one of 27 homes destroyed or damaged in the fire. The Los Angeles Fire Department says the fire, which forced widespread evacuations in Brentwood and Pacific Palisades, was sparked by a tree branch falling on a city-owned powerline. According to the claim, which seeks monetary damages, LADWP was aware for years about the hazardous state of its electrical system infrastructure and the department could have prevented the blaze with better brush and vegetation control. “LADWP has been acutely aware of these risks and their catastrophic results for a significant period of time,” reads the complaint per

Bloomberg News. According to city officials, less than 10 percent of wildfires in California are ignited in some form by power lines. Of these fires started by power utilities, 38 percent are the result of downed or impacted power lines (including by mylar balloons), 18 percent are due to failed hardware and 16 percent are attributed to vegetation contact. The remainder are due to line slapping and animal contact. Because power lines have recently sparked several of the large-scale wildfires in California, Councilmember Paul Koretz has introduced a motion asking the LADWP to report back on the feasibility, including costs, to underground electric distribution facilities in LAFD designated Very High Fire Severity Zones. According to Koretz, the portion of fires caused by vegetation contact with electrical facilities may decrease if power distribution facilities such as poles and wires are underground rather than overhead. “Our climate is not going to get better, it’s going to get worse and likely much worse, depending on how successful we are in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. Which means these horrific fires will continue to persist in their size and scope and relentlessness,” Koretz said. “If re-engineering our power system in an affordable manner will help cut down on fire ignition points, we should look into it. This motion will at least start that conversation.”

Be valued. Be inspired. Be you.

action against LADWP By Sam Catanzaro

Councilmember Paul Koretz, who represents Century City and Westwood, is proposing burying LADWP power lines underground in the wake of the Getty Fire, which was sparked by a tree falling on a power line. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) the fire, which burned more than 700 acres in late October, was caused by a tree branch falling on a city-owned power line in the Sepulveda Pass. The fire, which burned for over a week, forced widespread evacuations in Pacific Palisades and Brentwood. According to city officials, less than 10 percent of wildfires in California are ignited in some form by power lines. Of these fires started by power utilities, 38 percent are the result of downed or impacted power lines (including by mylar balloons), 18 percent are due to failed hardware and 16 percent are attributed to vegetation contact. The remainder are due to line slapping and animal contact. Because power lines have recently sparked several of the large-scale wildfires in California in addition to the Getty Fire, Koretz has introduced a motion asking the LADWP to report back on the feasibility, including costs, to underground electric distribution facilities in LAFD designated

Very High Fire Severity Zones. According to Koretz, the portion of fires caused by vegetation contact with electrical facilities may decrease if power distribution facilities such as poles and wires are underground rather than overhead. “Our climate is not going to get better, it’s going to get worse and likely much worse, depending on how successful we are in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. Which means these horrific fires will continue to persist in their size and scope and relentlessness,” Koretz said. “If re-engineering our power system in an affordable manner will help cut down on fire ignition points, we should look into it. This motion will at least start that conversation.” Last week, Brentwood homeowners took legal action against the LADWP, seeking monetary damages for the fire. As reported by Bloomberg News, the plaintiffs are owners of a multimillion-dollar, 1,540-square foot home in Brentwood that was one of 27 homes destroyed or damaged in the fire. According to the claim LADWP was aware for years about the hazardous state of its electrical system infrastructure and the department could have prevented the blaze with better brush and vegetation control. “LADWP has been acutely aware of these risks and their catastrophic results for a significant period of time,” reads the complaint per Bloomberg News.

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DECEMBER 13 – 26, 2019

CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

Motorcyclist in 405 Crash to Receive $21.5M Jury orders Irvine mechanic and employee to pay Culver City resident Matthew Rada By Sam Catanzaro An auto dealer and one of its mechanics must pay a Culver City man over $20 million after the mechanic struck the victim’s motorcycle while test-driving a car on the 405 freeway. On Tuesday, December 4 a Los Angeles Superior Court jury ordered defendant Hardin Irvine Automotive Inc. and its employee Justin Dimapasac to pay 28-year-old plaintiff Matthew Rada $21.5 million in damages for the 2018 crash.

Photo: Panish Shea & Boyle LLP.

Helmet footage shows a motorcyclist get struct bar a car on the 405 freeway.

The incident occurred on February 8, 2018, on the San Diego (405) Freeway around 5:45 p.m. near the Los Angeles County-Orange County border. Captured on film by another motorcyclist’s helmet camera, Dimapasac veered out of the HOV lane, colliding with Rada, sending him ca-

reening across three lanes of the 405. As argued by Rada’s attorneys during the trial, Dimapasac — who was test-driving a customer’s vehicle — should not have been in the HOV lane, to begin with. Rada suffered “life-changing injuries in the collision, including … several orthopedic frac-

tures requiring multiple surgeries, chronic pain and commensurate mental and emotional distress,” according to the suit. “He spent more than two weeks at UC Irvine Medical Center where he underwent numerous surgeries followed by two weeks of inpatient rehabilitation. A graphic designer at Schuberth North America before the incident, Mr. Rada’s functional limitations and chronic pain, compounded with the commensurate mental and emotional distress caused by the collision, have left him unable to perform the work he used to do,” said Panish Shea & Boyle LLP attorneys Brian Panish, Andrew Owen, and Matthew Stumpf who represented Rada. Defendants Hardin Irvine Automotive Inc. and Justin Dimapasoc were represented in the case and at trial by Kurt A. Schlichter, William A. Percy and Roberto R. Martinez of Schlichter & Shonack, LLP.

“Richard Jewel”: A Movie not to be Missed By W hitney S cott Bain

At 89, Clint Eastwood has directed 40 films and is one of the greatest directors today who joins the company of John Ford, Howard Hawks and mentor, Don Siegel who knew how to tell a solid story with emphasis on characters we can identify with; ordinary men doing extraordinary things in extraordinary situations. Paul Walter Hauser turns in a brilliant performance as Jewel. We get to know him in his early, humble beginnings as a mailroom clerk. He’s likeable and a Johnny-onthe-spot kind of guy ready to help others in his office while dreaming of a career as an Atlanta police officer. He’s an avid video arcade game player, a gun collector who visits the range on a regular basis and studies the penal code every night. Jewell finally lands a job as a campus security guard, but his over-zealousness gets him into trouble and finally his termination

with a file full of complaints against him. A momma’s boy in heart, he lives with his mother, Bobi (magnificently portrayed by Kathy Bates who has to be nominated for Best Actress for her performance). that is his Rock of Gibraltar. A single mom, who wants the best for her son and stands by him. Landing a security guard job at the Atlanta ’96 Olympics Centennial Park he discovers on his second night a pipe bomb where he instinctively evacuates the area concerned for the safety of the public as the device goes off injuring 111 people with one death not related to the event of a French reporter who died of a heart attack rushing to the scene. Hailed as a hero for the first three days, a disgruntled, former employer calls the FBI with his suspicions about him and Jewell falls under scrutiny by FBI agent Tom

Shaw (Jon Hamm in a real nasty role.) who believes he planted the device to gain attention. Jumping on the bandwagon is Atlanta -Journal Constitution reporter, Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) who sees an opportunity to advance her career as a media jackal encouraging the guilt of Mr. Jewell lacking any kind of journalistic integrity even sleeping with Shaw to obtain information. They gang up on Jewell branding him as a loose canon, gun nut, etc. and that he fits a certain “profile.” He is now alone in the world and branded a bad guy by the growing pack of media piranhas hungry for headlines and ratings railroading him, but in reality Jewell’s a good guy who did the right thing. It all looks bad for him until an attorney from his mailroom days Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell genius in his role.) takes his case and defends him. He’s like

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Paul Newman in the Verdict starting off rough then gaining momentum full steam to defend Jewell’s innocence. Screenplay by Billy Ray based on the article “American Nightmare: the Ballad of Richard Jewell” by Marie Brenner fires on all cylinders and is first rate. A movie not to be missed

Mirror Media Group Publisher: T.J. Montemer tj@smmirror.com 310.310.2637 ext. 107 Executive Editor: Sam Catanzaro editor@smmirror.com 310.310.2637 ext. 103 Production Manger: Amy Patton Editor-at-Large: Beverly Cohn Advertising VP of Sales: Judy Swartz judy@smmirror.com 310.310.2637, ext. 102 Business Manager: Max Montemer Distribution: distribution@mirrormediagroupla.com Contributors: Tom Elias • Keldine Hull Morgan Genser • Barbara Bishop

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CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

DECEMBER 13 – 26, 2019

Former Fantasy Island Building, ‘Lighthouse’ Demolished Longtime West LA building razed to make way for apartments

Rendering: KFA Architecture

By S am C atanzaro An iconic building with a mock lighthouse and rich history that once was home to a Hawaiian restaurant and more recently a gentlemen’s club has been demolished and will soon be replaced by an over 100 unit apartment complex. For over 40 years, the building at 11434 W. Pico Boulevard, was home to Kelbo’s Hawaiian restaurant. Easy to spot with its mock lighthouse, Kelbo’s was a West LA favorite for Hawaiian BBQ fare and tiki drinks. In addition, the restaurant — founded in 1948 as one of several local chains by Thomas Kelley and Jack Bouck — was beloved for its tropical decor including tiki gods, fishnets and lanterns in the shape of pineapples. “Once inside, the timid may further recoil at a decor that employs pulleys, barrels, old bottles, street lamps, plastic spheres encased in fishnet and the best collection of illuminated blowfish this side of Tahiti. And this is not to mention the bamboo overhang discreetly encasing the bar and most of the booths,” wrote LA Times food crit-

ic Phil Tracy in 1986. “Above the circular dance floor hangs a 22-foot-diameter coconut shell-shaped speaker system, complete with dancing lights and a spinning mirrored globe. The system is designed to pitch the music to the dancers and allow those at the tables to hear each other speak. If you’re into ballroom dancing or simply drunk, the place is an absolute delight.” According to Tracy, for decades co-founder Kelly lived upstairs above the restaurant even after he stop being involved in day-to-day operations. When the restaurant closed and was re-

placed by Fantasy Island Gentlemen’s Club, the new owners kept the mock lighthouse and some of the tropical decor. In 2018, the Amoroso Companies purchased for property for $8 million and submitted plans to the City of Los Angeles to build a new apartment complex in its place. According to plans, the development will include 102 studio, one-, and two-bedroom units. 11 of these units will be for extremely low-income affordable housing. Plans call for above-ground parking for 67 cars. The development will include a community room, gym and rooftop deck.

Photo: Google.

Former Fantasy Island Gentlemen’s Club on Pico Blvd.

DECEMBER 13 – 26, 2019

CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

OPINION

Can Money, New Dwellings Stem Homelessness? TOM ELIAS Mirror Columnist

Californians are about to find out whether money and new apartment-style dwellings can do much about the state’s expanding and seemingly intransigent problem with homelessness. As ad hoc encampments proliferate, featuring everything from small pop tents to excrement in the streets and chop shops where parts are taken from stolen bicycles and sold, politicians have begun throwing money at the depressing scene. The newest state budget allocates $650 million to local governments for helping the homeless, while another $1.7 billion-plus is earmarked for drug and mental health treatment and other homeless services. Los Angeles alone has more than 10,000 new rooms under construction or in the planning phase for use by the currently homeless. There’s little doubt about the severity of the problem or its causes, ranging from job losses to recent prison releases, low wages, drug addiction, alcoholism, family disputes, rent increases, domestic violence and mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorders affecting war veterans. The scope is enormous. Of the more

than 570,000 people sleeping in American streets, cars or other places unsuited for human habitation, more than 114,000 are in California. That puts one-fifth of homeless Americans here, while the state has only a bit more than 10 percent of the national populace. So far, providing small dwelling units for them has not solved the problem. Said one city official in the homeless Mecca of Santa Monica, “For every one we manage to house, two more will arrive shortly after.” Or, as a member of the state’s new commission to investigate homelessness remarked in a radio interview, “If we house 33 people in new units, another 150 will arrive on the streets the next day.” The problem drew tweeted attention from President Trump, who caught sight of a couple of homeless encampments as his motorcade drove last fall from a helicopter at the Santa Monica Airport to several Los Angeles fund-raisers. He saw others on a fund-raising visit to San Francisco. Trump blasted state and local officials, mostly because almost all are Democrats who usually oppose him. Meanwhile, he proposes reducing the federal investment in housing vouchers which are probably the foremost tool cities and counties can use to provide private space for the unhoused, many of whom shy away from mass homeless shelters lacking privacy or partitions. And yes, California’s state and local in-

vestment in fighting homelessness amounts to more than one-third of the $6 billion the federal government spends on the problem. City and county officials here say their problem could be eased considerably if Trump and Housing secretary Ben Carson provide 50,000 new rent vouchers through two existing programs. A letter to Trump from Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California officials after Trump’s blast at the state’s homelessness also suggested the value of vouchers should be upped because of high rents. Newsom asserted those vouchers could “eliminate veteran homelessness in the state,” where about 15,000 former military personnel sleep outside or in cars every night. So far, no response from Trump, who appears preoccupied with staving off impeachment. The Department of Housing and Urban Development also did not respond.

So as winter approaches, there is no significant relief in sight for the homeless, despite all the state tax dollars being spent and a new state law exempting proposed developments to house the homeless from environmental reviews until 2025. Lest Californians rely on the urban myth that most of the homeless prefer to stay that way, one recent study showed that 34 percent of them say their problem would be solved with employment assistance and another 31 percent say all it would take to get them inside is substantial help paying rent. Without doubt, some state money now going to cities and counties will go to rent subsidies. But it’s uncertain that will be enough. No one knows how many of the homeless will want to move into new housing if it looks like dormitories or barracks. No one knows how many will agree to drug or mental health treatment, problems that together afflict almost half the current homeless. Which suggests all the new money may help a bit, but probably won’t rid the landscape of many current scruffy encampments. 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, go to www. californiafocus.net

CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

DECEMBER 13 â€“ 26, 2019

DECEMBER 13 – 26, 2019 A M A N A

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A M I L I C U T E F M P I I O L A M P I R S T E R N U T E O R B O A R T E N I T C W I T T A P A S

A D M A S U E D O R T H N A D A N I N G M Y T O P E E L F A L L O M R O T E K E A N B U S S A T H S I N E E H O L E T A T A Y Y O M E N I T E

A U S T U S H E D S K I E S N E E R

Q E I I A N O S S T A R S E A M U P R E S E T I L E A G O D C O N V I L S I O U X A R M Y M S L O E D Y O U M O E I N E R T O L O S R E S I S V E N R F A R E T A T E A X E D

E N D S I T C H O P R A S N A G

M G M T A R E A K I D S E N E T T D A Y H S E T E M T O K E E N E S E E D S M B S A B U T T R B O B O B L A W A I T S L O L H A R E O W A N E S L A

ACROSS

1 “Me too” 6 Expert on jingles 11 U.K. V.I.P. 15 Corp. leadership 19 Baby’s woe 20 Nap for a loafer? 21 “Cien ____ de Soledad” (Gabriel García Márquez novel) 22 Bailiwick 23 Lane restricted to allow motorcades through? 26 Ribs 27 Jerry’s adversary, in cartoons 28 ____ colada 29 Night vision? 30 Early online forum 32 Honolulu’s historic ____ Palace 34 Current 36 Pressing and shoving me as I enter the subway? 41 Sounds before sneezes 42 Word repeated by Romeo in “As mine on ____, so ____ is set on mine” 43 Brown v. Board of Education city 44 Last words of a pep talk, perhaps 48 Not taking a bow? 51 New Haven collegian 52 Mousetrap brand 54 Take a hit 55 Highway obstructed by accidents, detours and construction? 59 Things sometimes stolen in Hollywood 61 East Berlin’s land: Abbr. 62 Prosperous period

CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS RUSH-HOUR HEADACHES

BY RUTH BLOOMFIELD MARGOLIN / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

63 Standing Rock tribe 65 Pays attention to 66 Rope for strangulation 69 Package sender to an enlistee, maybe 71 Kosher 74 Title kitten in a Key and Peele action comedy 76 Not stay in the pail, say 77 Youth org. since 1910 80 They sit in front of a cox 82 Took public transportation while one’s wheels were at the shop? 86 City near Provo 87 “Time ____ a premium” 89 Grp. with a co-pay 90 Bit of dangly jewelry 91 “Star-bellied” Seussian creature 93 Net fisher 96 Song lead-in to “di” or “da” 97 Rural turndown 98 “This tollbooth line will make me late!”? 103 Portal in “Alice in Wonderland” 106 Shellac and myrrh 107 Rule against singing 108 Toodle-oos 111 Peddle 112 115 Where Scarlett got a letter? 116 Split an Uber? 120 Fun-run length, for short 121 Last thing said before eating? 122 Washington, but not Jefferson 123 Any local in “The Music Man” 124 Matter of interest? 125 Spot 126 Like legalized marijuana 127 Alternating-current motor inventor DOWN

1 ____ no. 2 Home of many Big Apple galleries 3 One with ’18 after one’s name, say 4 Alma mater of Wm. Hewlett of HewlettPackard 5 Colorful summer treat 6 Like the “s” in “aisle”

NY TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE

7 Dodge S.U.V. 8 Brave adversary 9 Condition for some distracted kids, for short 10 Not e’en once 11 Like some oil money 12 Canine coat? 13 “Hmm, the oven was on. Did ____ didn’t …” 14 Time release 15 Get to Grand Central right at 5:00? 16 Tool for a blacksmith 17 Jason’s wife in myth 18 Finger-licking good 24 Thread: Prefix 25 San Francisco : BART :: Philadelphia : ____ 31 Sweater damage 32 “No more for me, thanks” 33 Force onward 35 Utah’s ____ Canyon (locale of petroglyphs) 36 Kale alternative 37 Fix, as a golf green 38 Pianist Rubinstein 39 Rise above the din, say 40 Somewhere over the rainbow they’re blue, in song 45 Carry-____ 46 Scraped (out) 47 Cleanup target 49 Tax ____ 50 Queen dowager of Jordan 52 ____ Homme (fashion line) 53 Awkward 56 Decision point 57 Simple life? 58 Through 60 “Quantico” actress Priyanka ___ 64 Prefix with -phone 66 “I’m scared by the speed you’re going in this traffic!”? 67 Not sagging at all 68 No-nonsense quartet? 70 Pout 71 Elton’s johns 72 Bring in 73 Special soldier 75 Did some theater work, casually

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77 Good ol’ boy 78 Certain vodka order, informally 79 Up 81 Neighbor of Hond. 83 Radiate 84 Campaign supporter 85 Expressive facial features 88 ____ Tzu (dog) 92 Doofus 93 Take care of 94 Put on a pedestal 95 Sister of Snow White 99 Delaying response to “Is it time?” 100 Comic Boosler

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101 ____ qua non 102 Sends a breakup text, say (tsk!) 103 Helicopter feature 104 Refrigerator handle? 105 Snacks during hora feliz 109 N.Z. neighbor 110 Mlle., in Managua 112 House work? 113 ____ cavity 114 Golden Globe winner Dunham 117 Friend of Francine 118 Kind of paper 119 Help make the bed?

STAR GAZING

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Aries will spend today without major victories. At the finale of the work week, you will be occupied solely with something that has nothing to do with your career. In the evening you will rush to where a person who is especially dear to you is waiting. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Taurus today will give up resisting changes in their personal living space. This is at a time when your beloved partner is determined to modify the interior, using the services of professional designers. Before giving a definitive “no” to such projects, think again. GEMINI (May 21-June 21) Gemini today will lose in a conversation with their other half. Your partner will refuse to admit that they were fundamentally wrong when talking to one of your parents. If you do not want your parents to continue to be treated so disrespectfully, state this clearly. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Cancers should not hide your heart behind hundreds of locks. Determine who or what makes you so much afraid of a new love affair. The person who suggested that you start a new romance is worthy of respect, admiration, and the right to be with you. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Leos today will be guided by vanity and selfishness. Because of them, you venture to make a deal with your own conscience. In order to become famous, you will set up one of your friends or relatives. Success will come to you, but the price you paid for it will be prohibitive. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Virgo will not find it easy to understand the true intentions of his second half. They will hint that they want to spend the next weekend alone with you. However, as soon as you offer a specific itinerary for this ro-

mantic trip, they will change their mind. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Libra will not experience joy or anxiety today. Remembering that on Saturday you will have to work again, you will refuse to attend a traditional Friday party at the house of your best friend. This evening you will be alone with some video project. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) Scorpios today will determine for themselves a new life plan for the near future. The number one item of this plan will be a very expensive purchase, which you will save for today. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today it will be typical for Sagittarians to give an elaborate answer to the most simple questions. Thus, you will not pursue any goals. Expressing your thoughts in vague phrases, you will be in a distracted mood when you wake up. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Capricorns will spend today separated from the bustle. You will perceive what is happening around you, like a movie or some strange TV show, run by creative directors. You will be the winner by the end of this day. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Aquarius will spend this day doing business with family. You want to devote all your free time to your household, remembering that in the last few days you did not give them hugs, love and care. You even prepare a pleasant surprise for your relatives. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Pisces today will acquire a very useful object, capable of making household affairs less tedious. However, not all your relatives will like this thing. Representatives of the older generation will begin to grumble unhappily.

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CENTURY CITY-WESTWOOD NEWS

DECEMBER 13 â€“ 26, 2019

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