Every Saturday for the last 18 weeks, Beverly Gardens Park has transformed from tourist attraction and leisure destination to de facto town square. The weekly “Freedom Rally” has given a home to locals and people across Los Angeles County who support President Donald Trump and oppose public health guidelines they view as onerous. But with the presidential election over and still no end in sight to the unrest animating the rally, residents of Beverly Hills have begun asking: when will we get our park back?
At a Special Meeting on Nov. 24, the Beverly Hills City Council passed new restrictions on the use of its public parks for unpermitted assemblies. The restrictions, made as an amendment to a previous ordinance on gatherings, prevent any group from repeatedly staging unpermitted assemblies at La Cienega Park or City Hall. More stringently, the amended ordinance prohibits unpermitted assemblies from taking place at Beverly Gardens Park. The council voted 4-1 to approve the amendments. Councilmember John Mirisch cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing that the amendments did not do enough to enforce the city’s mask wearing ordinance.
