Los Angeles Downtown News 08-17-20

EYE ON EDUCATION Pages 6-7

August 17, 2020 I VOL. 49 I #33

Novel Ideas Keeping The Last Bookstore afloat

Transfer of Floor Area Rights New program offers affordable housing with zoning changes Page 2

Rossoblu Learn the secrets behind this Italian restaurant Page 10

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New program offers affordable housing with zoning changes

By William Bergholz he Los Angeles City Planning Department released plans for a new incentive-based zoning system for more affordable housing units Downtown.

“Downtown creates something of a unique challenge where on the western side of Downtown there’s this older TFAR program that’s existed since the 1980s,” said Steve Garcia, city planning associate, external affairs, division of Los Angeles City Planning.

TFAR is the transfer of floor area rights program. It allows developers to sell their floor area rights to other parcels. In addition to floor area rights, some programs allow for the sale of height, or housing or parking units.

“There’s no prioritization of benefits within that program,” he added. “It’s really all just subject to this lengthy discretionary process.

We knew that we would need to expand the boundaries of this domain of community benefits, but then also it just needed to be a modernized program, both in terms of value of benefits and prioritization. So, in July of last year, we released the first draft of the Community Benefits Program.”

The existing TFAR would be replaced by the Community Benefits Program, which will increase affordable housing opportunities across neighborhoods, including an approval process that is simplified, standardized and fair.

Unlike the TFAR program, which covers less than 25% of Downtown, the Community Benefits Program would expand housing, including permanent supportive and affordable housing, to about 60% of Downtown.

“The benefits program as it’s proposed extends to pretty much the entire community plan area,” Garcia said. “So this is getting as

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far north as Chinatown, across the Arts District, the Fashion District, the Historic Core, and then into Bunker Hill and the Financial District.”

The proposal includes a new base and bonus system for Downtown that will establish a clearer set of objective standards for projects that wish to build beyond their base zoning.

All future project applicants will have to adhere to these standards.

To exceed a project’s base floor area, developers will need to set aside a specified amount of units as affordable.

A new category—deeply low income— for affordable housing has also been developed for the policies and stated goals of the Community Benefits System. That category is for those who earn less than 15% of the area median income, which is $0 to $15,000 for a household of four.

By including the minimum prescribed affordable housing, a project will be eligible for a 35% increase in floor area.

Additional incentives are also available for projects that provide neighborhood-serving amenities, such as open space and child care facilities. However, they must still set aside a number of units as affordable.

The Community Benefits Program would replace a lengthy and complicated process for reviewing individual project appraisals with a straightforward set of approvals that would apply the same rules to each project.

“This is really a forward-looking 20-year plan. So this is looking at the future of Downtown through the year 2040,” Garcia said. “In doing that, it’s establishing fundamentally goals and policies to help guide the city’s thinking about Downtown over this period of time. And then it’s establishing what the zoning will be to help facilitate

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those goals and policies.”

Following a fall public hearing, the Community Benefits System will advance to the City Planning Commission for its consideration.

“Our hope is the advancement to the City Planning Commission will take place in early 2021,” said Garcia.

After the City Planning Commission makes a recommendation on the plan, it will then go to the City Council, at its land-use committee, for consideration.

“It’s possible that if we have our hearing in the fall and we have our City Planning Commission meetings in early 2021, the council could potentially take action within the first half of the 2021 calendar year,” Garcia said.

Altogether the Community Benefits Program is for Downtown Los Angeles through 2040.

“The Downtown plan really is centered around accommodating the anticipated growth Downtown in an equitable and sus-

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski STAFF WRITERS: William Bergholz, Sarah Donahue ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Claire Folger, Michelle Sobel ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

tainable manner, which is really pointing at the need for things like community benefits,” Garcia said.

“It’s also looking at supporting and sustaining the ongoing revitalization of Downtown—just understanding that there’s a lot of fantastically positive momentum Downtown and wanting to continue to bolster that. It’s looking at reinforcing Downtown’s job orientation. This is a regional job center.

This is the employment epicenter within the Southern California region, and we want to continue to recognize and reinforce that.

“Also we’re really looking at growing and supporting the residential base Downtown.

This is a relatively new challenge. There weren’t nearly as many people living Downtown 10 to 15 years ago. That has continued to grow, which is a wonderful and positive thing, but with that comes the challenge of ensuring that there are the amenities and services Downtown that are necessary to sustain a residential population.”

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Covered help LETTERSCalifornia TO THE will EDITOR

KIRK’S OPINION

COVID-19 pandemic: effects of distance learning Editor: As COVID-19 cases continue to increase at an alarming rate, the pandemic has caused Los Angeles Unified School District to make a difficult decision and opted to continue with distance learning for the fall 2020 semester.

The district’s decision will affect many families in the way that they will manage the demands of work and their children’s educational needs. This will exacerbate strained schedules, create more uncertainty and provoke a colliding of worlds between all family members. In addition, children’s learning routines and peer social interactions may be disrupted.

Most families will need reliable child care, technology and internet services to adequately support their children with distance learning. Parents must adjust to rap-

id changes and today’s reality to new platforms of distance learning.

Parents must juggle taking care of their children while supporting their educational endeavors. Communities will need to work together by having socially appropriate interactions through telephone calls, video chats and writing letters to remain connected to their friends and loved ones.

Additionally, because Los Angeles County is one of the largest school districts in the country, the school will need support from the government to be able to achieve their educational goals. We hope that the COVID-19 cases will subside in the near future and families can resume their daily lifestyle and routines.

Jessica Huerta, Yajaira Toledo, Josie Quintanilla, Shanay Lucious

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AUGUST 17, 2020

Archdiocese of Los Angeles welcomes 8 new priests

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski rchbishop José H. Gomez ordained eight new priests August 8 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in a Ordination Mass that, for the first time, was held outdoors on the plaza of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, complying with public health guidelines for worship gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The August 8 Ordination Mass led by Archbishop José H. Gomez was the first to be held outdoors on the plaza of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels by the the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, in an effort to comply with public health guidelines for worship gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, the ordination has been held in June and open to the public, family and friends of the new priests, but due to the current crisis, it was pushed back and limited to 100 people.

“This is a unique celebration—the first time we’ve ever celebrated an ordination outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels,” Gomez said in his homily.

Eight new priests were ordained August 8 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Photo courtesy the Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Photo courtesy the Archdiocese of Los Angeles

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Burbank Section Burbankto toLos Los Angeles Angeles Project Project Section

WARNING / AVISO

Open Comment House Project Update Meetings Period Extension August 31, 2020 March 9 - 13, 2020

ALL PROJECT MEETINGS WILL BESECTION IDENTICAL WITH A THE BURBANK TO UPDATE LOS ANGELES PROJECT DRAFT EIR/EIS PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD WILL NOW END ON AUGUST 31, 2020.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) recently released the Draft Environmental BURBANK LOS ANGELES* Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS) for the Burbank to Los Monday, March 9, 2020 Thursday, March 12, 2020 Angeles (B-LA) Project Section. The Draft EIR/EIS is available for public review and comment 5:30 p.m.The to 7:30 p.m. has extended the 5:30 p.m. toperiod 7:30 p.m. at www.hsr.ca.gov.

Authority comment an additional 31 Buena Vista began Branch on Library Parkon Recreation Center days, which May 29, 2020 andCypress will close August 31, 2020.

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To commentBurbank, on the Draft EIR/EIS, you can submit Los comment inCA the90065 CA 91505 Angeles, following ways: *English/Spanish Meeting

GLENDALE ATWATER virtual Open House starts at 5:30 p.m.

Via mail to ATTN:/Burbank to Los AngelesThe Draft EIR/EIS Comment, March 2020Los Angeles, Live webcast presentation starts at 6:00 p.m.

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California Electroplating, Inc. emite cromo hexavalente (un producto químico conocido por el estado de California para causar cáncer también se sabe que causa defectos de nacimiento u otros daños reproductivos). Las personas dentro del área que se muestra dentro de la línea gruesa en el mapa están expuestas al cromo hexavalente a un nivel determinado por el Estado para requerir una advertencia

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http://ustream.tv/channel/chsra Via web comment form on Center the Authority’s Burbank to Los Angeles Draft EIR/EIS Glendale Adult Recreation website: 201 E Colorado St https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_burbank_los_angeles_co Glendale, CA 91205 For more information, please visit hsr.ca.gov mment.aspx Meeting: The Los Angeles meeting willthe be conducted in English Via email*English/Spanish to Burbank_Los.Angeles@hsr.ca.gov with subject line “Burbank and Spanish. presentation starts at 6:00 p.m.; Spanish presentation to Los Angeles DraftEnglish EIR/EIS Comment” starts at 7:00 p.m. Simultaneous translation will be offered during both presentations.

The comment period for this Draft EIR/EIS began May 29 and now ends August 31, 2020. *Joinbe Usreceived Via Webcast: The Los Angelesor meeting will also be offered a webcast.

Comments must electronically postmarked on oras before August 31, The will virtual Open House starts at 5:30 p.m.

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The Authority does not discriminate on therequests basis of disability and, upon request, willrequest. provide reasonable accommodation to ensure access Other language can be accommodated upon Meeting facilities are accessible for equal persons with to programs, services and language activities. services must be made three working disabilities. All requests for reasonable its accommodations and/or days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. Please youtube.com/ call (877) 977-1660 or the Authority’s facebook.com/ @cahsra @cahsra TTY/TTD number at (916) 403-6943 for CAHighSpeedRail assistance.

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The Ordination Mass on August 8 included various rituals, rich in meaning and history.

Photo courtesy the Archdiocese of Los Angeles

“The priesthood is so important, not only for the church, but also for the whole world. Every priest is a sign of God’s love, a sign that he is still working in the world, still carrying out his plan of redemption. A priest should always be transparent. People should always be able to ‘see right through you,’ and through you see the love of Christ. Your ordination today is historic. My brothers, you are the first priests of the pandemic generation.”

The men who entered the priesthood today are Frs. Filiberto Cortez, Daniel Garcia, Michael Mesa, Jonathan Nestico, Justin Oh, Thomas Park, Manuel Ramos and Louie Reyes.

All have completed five to seven years of theological formation at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, preceded by four years at Queen of Angels Center (for those who had not earn a university degree, which is mandatory), plus their service as transitional deacons and a year-long internship at different parishes in the Archdiocese. They celebrated their first Mass as priests on August 9 and will begin their parish assignments on September 1.

“After a months-long delay due to the pandemic, we are overjoyed at the ordination of the eight new priests for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” said Fr. Sam Ward, director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Vocations, spearheading the event.

“Like many with graduations and weddings, plans for the Ordination Mass have changed several times. Nonetheless, our eight new priests are very grateful to God that their big day is finally here. They will get to work right away in their first parish assignments on September 1 preaching the good news of the Gospel of Christ and celebrating the Sacraments.”

The Ordination Mass is a sacramental ceremony in which a man becomes a priest and is enabled to minister in Christ’s name and that of the Church. The essential rite of the Sacrament takes place during the Laying on of Hands and Prayer of Consecration, an ancient tradition in the church, mentioned in the Bible.

The ceremony included various rituals, rich in meaning and history, including prostration, or when the men being ordained lay face down before the altar as a symbol of his dependence upon God and the prayers of the Christian community. They also received their investiture, the vest or robe used by the priests when they celebrate Mass, from a priest and were anointed with chrism oil, only used during baptisms and the anointing of the sick and dying.

To view the entire Ordination Mass, visit https://youtu. be/XZ3BdGaRucI.

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Support students through community programs

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s kids prepare for the upcoming school year, school supplies remain critical to their success. While school districts struggle with the challenge of delivering education and resources to students amid a pandemic, many parents are working to determine how they will ensure their children have the necessary supplies.

Community youth programs are innovating to fill gaps and ensure kids from low-income families in particular are equipped with learning materials and supplies, enrichment activities and food. For example, when schools closed, local corps of The Salvation Army started adapting creative alternatives to their youth programs

to provide activities, snacks and educational materials like coloring sheets, scavenger hunts and more to keep kids entertained and learning.

If you’d like to make a similar impact in your community, consider lending a hand in one of these ways: Tutor or mentor students. Although most kids across the nation face the same challenges with academics, some are at more of a disadvantage because their access to remote learning resources is limited or parents are unable to assist at home. You can help by volunteering to tutor students as they practice learned skills and get back into the swing of a new school year.

Donate supplies. There are 30 million children in the United States whose parents will have to choose between buying school supplies or other necessities like putting food on the table. Consider adding extra common items like crayons, markers and glue when you shop for your own children and dropping them off at your local youth center. Campaigns like The Salvation Army’s “Stuff the Bus” events allow shoppers to purchase and drop off requested items at collection bins located at the front of participating retailers.

Get involved with extracurricular activities. If you have a particular skillset or experience—for example, as a high school or college athlete—lending your knowledge to a local youth group can help provide a constructive outlet for kids while enriching your own life.

Volunteer for meal distribution. Many children rely heavily on schools for meals;

AUGUST 17, 2020

in fact, the food some students receive through their schools’ breakfast and lunch programs may be the only meals they get in a day. Across the country, organizations have partnered with local school districts to provide meal kits and coordinate food distribution routes and pickup locations to get meals to kids and families. Depending on the needs in your area, you may be able to donate food, assist with organizing the meal kits or help coordinate deliveries.

Help fund youth programs. Uncertainty caused by COVID-19 has many people reconsidering their finances, and that means the donations and contributions many programs rely upon have slowed. If your situation allows, consider a monetary contribution to a youth-oriented cause, which can help deliver programming even if you’re not able to volunteer in other ways.

Learn more about getting involved in your community at salvationarmyusa.org.

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AUGUST 17, 2020

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

Para Los Niños celebrating 40 years in LA In 1980, Para Los Niños was founded with the idea of creating a safe space for the children of Skid Row to “just be a kid.”

Building on the importance of a healthy, stable home and idea of education as an equalizer, Para Los Niños became a resource to the Downtown Los Angeles community through children’s programming, after-school services, and social work and case management.

For the past four decades, Para Los Niños has worked to create effective, culturally appropriate programs for low-income, primarily Latino children and their families. Drawing on decades-long partnerships in the community, Para Los Niños provides an unmatched comprehen-

sive social services model that incorporates high-quality education, family support and mental health services, parent engagement and community building to families across Greater Los Angeles.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Para Los Niños now serves over 6,000 children, youth and families across Los Angeles County through seven early education centers, three charter schools, two youth source centers and three mental health offices. With more than 400 dedicated staff members, Para Los Niños continues to place education at the core of its work to ensure children and families have the tools, resources and support needed to reach their full potential and thrive.

Pilgrim School: an anchor in a time of uncertainty The mission of Pilgrim School is to nurture the mind, spirit and moral awareness of its students.

Pilgrim School is an extraordinary independent school located in the heart of one of the largest and most diverse cities in the country. Small class sizes and a close-knit community ensure that children are supported to be their best self.

In a time like this, when the world is unpredictable and even frightening, the Pilgrim community comes together in mutual support.

Online classes offer the full range of choices, from kindergarten to AP calculus, and small, engaging classes; frequent parent meetings; and the always-available faculty and staff mean that each student’s education can be individualized and can carry on as seamlessly as possible.

Online summer school offered a baking class that was extremely well attended.

Pilgrim is small enough to be nimble, and large enough to be safe, so as soon as schools are able to reopen, all curriculum plans and facilities configurations are ready to go at a moment’s notice. Everyone at Pilgrim can’t wait to get back to campus— to the STEM Fab Lab, to the beautiful art center, to the Field of Dreams, where “everybody plays” and learns the value and joy of teamwork. Pilgrim’s college counselor is the director of achievement

and works with students to set their personal goals beginning in ninth grade or earlier. This program continues whether online or in person, as does the rich and extensive diversity and inclusion programming. At Pilgrim School, the goal is to find the particular way that each child can thrive—as a student, an athlete, an artist, a member of the community, and most importantly, as a confident and caring individual.

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AUGUST 17, 2020

The novel ideas that are keeping The Last Bookstore afloat

Jenna Spencer, co-owner and director of The Last Bookstore, smiles while surrounded by books.

Photo by Michelle Sobel Photography

By Sarah Donahue The Last Bookstore, which is known for its “Instagram-worthy” displays and whimsical labyrinths of bookshelves, used to have thousands of tourists cycle through each weekend.

Then, when COVID-19 hit and nonessential businesses were forced to halt operations, the two-story, 22,000-squarefoot bookstore had to get creative to pay its “astronomical” rent, said the co-owner, Jenna Spencer. Because of the major financial setbacks, the owners had to lay off two-thirds of their staff.

“Everything completely stopped,” she said. “That doesn’t mean your bills stop. That doesn’t mean that people aren’t still looking for books, but it literally just came to a huge halt and it was a shock for everyone.”

The pandemic’s barriers created a major issue for the owners and their customers: People were stuck inside wanting books to occupy their time and the giant bookstore had copious amounts of inventory with no way to get it to them.

Then Spencer had the novel idea of creating curated book bundles for people that could be ordered online, where the reader fills out a questionnaire of their favorite authors, books and subjects and receives a stack of books picked out personally by the employees.

“Here we had zero business at all to overnight having thousands of orders that we were trying to fill,” said Spencer, saying many people waited patiently for three weeks to a month to get their order. “People felt like it was Christmas or something when they opened their mailbox.”

Readers can choose to be surprised or choose to approve the book bundles in advance. Most who chose to be surprised were extremely satisfied, Spencer said, adding that The Last Bookstore’s website has over 500 positive reviews on its bundles.

“We were all shocked by how successful they’ve been, and it’s all due to how knowledgeable our staff is,” Spencer said, mentioning how they were able to keep around 15 employees hired. “They’re really experts in the field here, and we’re so lucky to have them. Without that knowledge, we would not be able to do it—and no one could replicate it. Even an algorithm couldn’t replicate what these guys are able to do.”

It was beauatiful to be able to continue to thrive as a business while also reaching the customers, she added.

“That’s when we realized what a loyal customer base that we had, and it really made us appreciate our customers so much more,” she said. “It kept us alive for sure. We wouldn’t have survived otherwise.”

The store opened for in-person business again on June 15.

As of now, the owners are focusing all their energy on finding ways to stay open as well as keeping their customers safe, Spencer said.

As a precautionary measure, they closed their book-buying counter, which Spencer said was unfortunate because that was a huge service for their community where they would buy books for cash or store credit. Any books that do enter the store are quarantined for three days before going to the main shelves, she said.

Other than the obvious precautionary measures, like social distancing, masks and limited occupancy, they implemented a $5 deposit upon entry. The money goes toward any purchase made in the store and can be saved for store credit.

The reasoning behind the deposit fee was to protect their

AUGUST 17, 2020

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book-buying customers from any extra potential exposure, she said, explaining that many people were coming in the store to take photos and putz around, which put other customers at risk.

The deposit fee also helps filter out those who give staff a hard time about requiring masks, she added. They started the precaution just before the major shutdown and decided to implement it again upon the reopening.

Spencer said she doesn’t know how long they’ll keep the $5 deposit rule, adding, “We don’t even know how long we’re able to stay open.”

Another creative idea the owners implemented was renting their space after hours for “micro” weddings, birthdays and anniversary parties as well as photoshoots for authors and wedding engagements.

Those who want to live their fantasy bookstore wedding can eat their wedding meal on a large farm table set up in the middle of the store, filled with food, flowers and decor organized by the events coordinator, Spencer said.

“We’ve been able to open up our store a lot more than we were able to in the past,” she said. “It’s so beautiful, and it’s just such a unique time that we might not be able to do that forever.”

The Last Bookstore started in 2005 out of a DTLA loft and later grew into its location in the Spring Arts Tower.

Spencer, who is the store’s co-owner and director, has been working in the bookstore and behind the scenes for the past year and a half after transitioning from the beauty world of celebrity nails. After accomplishing everything she had sought out to do in that industry and remaining president of her company, she said it has been fulfilling to put her energy in the bookstore.

“The bookstore is perfect for me,” she said. “I’m so happy to be involved in all the ways that I am, whether it’s helping a customer find a book or heading up a completely new service that we’re offering. So it’s been very exciting, but Josh— he’s really the hero of the whole store.”

She and the original store owner, Josh Spencer, married in December. He takes the time to sort through all the books, deciding which ones go to the store and which ones are sold online. They also donate books to homeless shelters and the neighborhood book boxes called Little Free Library.

“It’s not just about wanting people to buy; we want to give as much as people give to us,” she said.

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Jenna Spencer, co-owner and director of The Last Bookstore, peruses a stack of records in the store.

Photo by Michelle Sobel Photography

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AUGUST 17, 2020

Covered DINING California will help

Learn the secrets behind Rossoblu Italian restaurant

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ince Rossoblu was founded, partner Hans Luttman has wanted the community to have full access to his Italian restaurant’s brand through hands-on classes.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Luttman yearned to continue that mission. So the restaurant’s staff is offering online courses revealing the secrets behind its pasta, cocktails and pastries.

“One of the things we’ve worked on is to be involved in the community,” Luttman said. “We saw that as an extension of sharing our education and giving our community a different way to access our brand.

“We realized we had the talent to do it.”

That talent is bar director Adam Sanchez, pastry chef Rose Lawrence and sfoglino Francesco Allegro. The trio create their curriculum and maintain its variety, Luttman said.

“At its essence, they’re giving, in each class, the rudiments and foundations of making (the items) and then they just fuse

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different pasta shapes or recipes for pastries or cocktails to really exemplify what are the foundations of baking, pasta making and cocktail making,” Luttman added.

He has witnessed a change within the classes since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“One of the things I’ve found super delightful—especially with pastries and baking classes—is our audiences with that particular group is mothers with young children,” he said. “Children are getting involved. That’s what we’ve been seeing in the last six weeks or so. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Going forward, Luttman hopes to simplify and streamline the classes.

“Some of the classes are ingredients driven, when the student or guest has to come down to the restaurant and pick up the ingredients so they can be prepared,” he said.

“Sometimes there are some missed connections there and it gets a little challenging.

We’re thinking about streamlining it down to a demonstration where the guests and students purchase the ingredients themselves

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Rossoblu’s staff is offering online courses revealing the secrets behind its pasta, cocktails and pastries.

Photo courtesy rossoblula.com

and play along.”

In the meantime, the classes are fun ways to get the public involved with the restaurant.

“It’s a dynamic way for folks to connect with restaurants in a new fashion,” he said.

“Some folks who attend the classes are still a little bit shy about coming to dine in because of COVID. There’s a great opportunity to kind of be excited about the restaurant industry, to be in touch with what’s happening and to be around the community.

“I think that’s one of the big byproducts of the educational component. It’s a chance for people to intersect and connect—even if you can’t attend in person.”

Upcoming classes Pastry: Saturday, August 22 Join Rossoblu pastry chef Rose Lawrence

online to learn the foundations of baking with two classic pastry items—olive oil cake and superfine chocolate chip cookies with fleur de sel. Starts at $25 Pasta: Saturday, August 22 Join acclaimed sfoglino Francesco Allegro in an online demo to learn how to roll fresh pasta al mattarello. In this demonstration class, guests will see how he creates his fresh egg pasta dough by hand, rolls out the pasta al mattarello and cuts out his pasta shapes.

As a bonus, he’ll show students his secret to cooking fresh pasta. $25 Cocktail: Sunday, August 23 Join Rossoblu bar director Adam Sanchez online to learn how to shake up and stir two types of cocktails. This will be a demonstration class. $85

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Covered California will help ARTS & CULTURE

Maxwell Simkins jumped on Netflix’s ‘The Sleepover’

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ctor Maxwell Simkins felt there was something special the first time he read the script for Netflix’s “The Sleepover,” which debuts on August 21.

“It was really out there,” said the 13-year-old Philadelphia native.

His father, John, added, “The script and the story was something we really enjoyed and we’re grateful to have the opportunity.”

In the family adventure-comedy, Maxwell plays Kevin, the brother to Clancy (Sadie Stanley). The two discover their stay-at-home mom, Margo (Malin Akerman), is a former high-end thief in a witness protection program.

When her mom and dad (Ken Marino) are kidnapped, the siblings must team up to rescue their parents in one night. Directed by Trish Sie (“Pitch Perfect”), the fast-paced “The Sleepover” also stars Joe Manganiello as Margo’s former flame.

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John said Kevin is a lot like his son.

“They’re both really outgoing and adventurous and kind,” he said. “He was able to use his own experiences and personality with Kevin.”

Maxwell, who steals the show in “The Sleepover,” isn’t so sure.

“My character is a little more over the top,” he said. “He’s like me after a Capri Sun or two.”

Maxwell has been acting since he was 6 years old, when he starred as Caleb in the Diane Keaton and Michael Douglas film “And So It Goes.” He’s inspired by the late Cameron Boyce, who died at age 20 in July 2019 due to complications from epilepsy.

“I’ve been an actor ever since I saw Cameron Boyce for the first time,” he said.

“I was really bullied at times. I want to make people laugh, just as he did. That’s the goal.

“I actually met him once. I almost peed myself. It was an out-of-body experience.

“The Sleepover” stars, from left, Sadie Stanley (Clancy), Maxwell Simkins (Kevin), Lucas Jaye (Lewis) and Cree Cicchino (Mim).

Photo by Claire Folger/Netflix

He was so nice. It’s so tragic.”

Maxwell not only wants to make people laugh, but he wants to entertain them. He’s been rapping for a bit.

“My mom shared the movie ‘8 Mile’ and there’s just something about how they use poetry to express their thoughts,” he said about rapping.

“I just fell in love with it immediately.

Ever since then I’ve been inspired by Dr. Dre and Rakim and Nas—all the original rappers. The OGs really influenced me.”

Up next for Maxwell is the Disney+ series “The Mighty Ducks,” a reboot of the 1992 movie.

“I’m from Philly, so I skated a bit back east,” he said. “They did put me in a boot camp for skating in Vancouver and we’re going to do it again.”

In the meantime, Maxwell hopes fans enjoy “The Sleepover.”

“I hope everyone learns from the movie that, through thick or thin, friends will be friends and family comes first,” he said.

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