Newhouse has served in various elected positions, including on the Los Angeles Planning Commission and, previously, as President of the Venice Neighborhood Council. 

Newhouse is endorsed by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly Josh Lowenthal, Inglewood City Council Member Alex Padilla, the Gardena Police Officers Association, the Redondo Beach Police Officers’ Association, the LA Airport Peace Officers Association, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 47, the California Fraternal Order of Police, the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association and more. 

The Courier spoke with Newhouse in an exclusive interview about issues facing Beverly Hills and SD 24.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

BHC: You are a long-time Venice resident. What’s your connection to Beverly Hills? 

Newhouse: I grew up just east out in the Diamond Bar, Walnut area, and I’ve been in Venice for 30 years. But my law office — I’m a small, eight-attorney law firm — was in Century City, right on the border with Beverly Hills for close to 20 years. I spent a lot of time in Beverly Hills; I represent a lot of clients in Beverly Hills. 

BHC: What is your opinion on large-scale development, such as One Beverly Hills, and what is Sacramento’s role in its governance? 

Newhouse: Sacramento’s role in facilitating is, I think, based upon a carrot approach—if you develop a certain kind of development, you will get these benefits. Offering incentives like additional funds, additional infrastructure funds, the state subsidizing additional work on roads, can make development attractive to a city and attractive to voters.

Local control isn’t just the ability to approve or to deny a project. Local control means the state actually working with the locality on what the solution is that everybody can live with. 

BHC: Some residents and businesses in the Southeast neighborhood of the city have safety concerns about the new Metro station opening at La Cienega. Is there a role for the state there? 

Newhouse: People are rightfully concerned about transportation safety, especially Metro, because of how poorly it’s been managed in the past. I think most people acknowledge that when you have people who are mentally ill in an obvious way and they’re on public transportation, most people feel uncomfortable using it. 

So, the answer is that again, it’s not a top-down approach from Sacramento. But a big part of it is having a Senator who is willing to say to constituents, we want you to use Metro. We want you to be comfortable about it, and that’s why we’re going to have turnstiles. That’s why it’s not going to be a free-for-all. We have to make it really clear that it’s okay that you don’t feel safe based on what has happened in the past, and say, we hear you, we’re working on that. 

BHC: BHPD has the Real Time Watch Center and is looking at other high-tech upgrades, including AI. What is your opinion about the use of those products in law enforcement, and what kind of oversight, if any, is necessary?

Newhouse: AI is potentially extremely detrimental in a lot of ways. I have a lot of reservations. I’m a professor of intellectual property at the USC law school teaching AI issues. Obviously, we want to make sure AI doesn’t take away jobs unnecessarily or unnecessarily quickly. 

But what I am a big fan of AI for is safety. So, I really like that the BHPD has been really on the cutting edge of that in terms of appropriate placement of cameras and appropriate drone use. But of course, this has to be balanced. People’s privacy rights have to be always at the forefront. 

I do think it’s a really important part of the future of policing. We just have to make sure that we’re constantly monitoring it and making sure that it’s that it’s not being abused.

BHC: What would you do as State Senator to address rising insurance costs—or denial of insurance altogether—for homeowners in high fire severity zones? 

Newhouse: We have to get the insurance companies and fire experts in the same room to figure out exactly what level of practical fire prevention we can require on homes, and then once that is done, require coverage to be offered at reasonable rates.

In short, what is a reasonable and practical level of fire prevention to trigger an obligation to offer reasonable priced policies.

BHC: AB715 has been facing some backlash. Where do you stand on that legislation?

Newhouse: I am a big supporter. I’m a proud supporter of Democrats for Israel. I’m Catholic. My wife is Jewish. My sons are Jewish, and so we’re sort of an interesting example of the families out there. We’ve got to make sure that we as a state have absolute freedom to teach and talk and to discuss all the issues that are out there, even if they’re uncomfortable, even if opinions are unpopular. It’s one thing to say that you take issue with the way a certain foreign government or foreign leader is doing business, or way something’s being taught in schools. We can have that discussion. 

But when you see dangerous trends happening, I do think it’s the responsible thing to step in and put up more reasonable parameters for that. And I was proud to support it. 

The post State Senate Candidate Mike Newhouse on the Issues Facing Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“I am proud to be a first, but my responsibility has always been to serve the entire community,” she told the Courier in an interview as she prepares to leave the office of mayor. “Leadership is about listening. It is about collaboration, working together and making sure every voice is heard.” 

Upon taking office in 2025, Nazarian launched a variety of mayoral initiatives focused on unity. They included Straight Talk with Sharona, a town hall-style event in which residents could interface with leaders in the community and provide their thoughts on issues facing the city; Spotlight with Sharona, which highlighted local small businesses; and A Moment of Unity, which was held at every City Council meeting and brought into focus the contributions of various local individuals and organizations. 

“When I came into office, I knew ‘unity’ could not just be a slogan,” Nazarian said. “It had to be lived through action, and I structured my decisions to reflect that … at its core, ‘responsive governing for the people’ was my goal with every step I took.”

Spotlight with Sharona focused residents’ attention on businesses in the Southeast, which at times have not received as much attention as businesses in the Golden Triangle. Nazarian said the effort was deliberate and that the results garnered visibility, foot traffic and renewed excitement about the area. 

“When I saw a projected budget deficit, I knew we needed to be proactive and creative in generating revenue for the city,” she said. “At the same time, I recognized that areas like the Southeast and Robertson were not seeing the same level of activity as the Triangle. This initiative was designed to change that … When our businesses succeed, the city generates more revenue. That revenue allows us to invest in public safety, infrastructure improvements, and services.”

Safety played a key role in Nazarian’s accomplishments as mayor. During her term, the city saw a 20% reduction in crime, she said. Her administration advanced and supported AI law enforcement tools such as BHPD Live Link and AI Blue Scribe, and launched BH FireWatch, an AI-driven fire detection system.

Additionally, the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) recently launched its “Drone-in-a-Box” program, which utilizes automated drone platforms housed in docking stations throughout the city. The systems allow for drone deployment within 90 seconds of an emergency notification. 

As the city prepares for the opening of the La Cienega/Wilshire Metro Station, Nazarian said that Beverly Hills is “fully prepared” with services ranging from a dedicated cleaning team to extensive CCTV coverage and the budget for eight uniformed officers. 

“We’ve coordinated with the sheriff’s department, and our Police Substation is nearly operational, ensuring a constant presence,” she said. “That was my promise from day one on my campaign material four years ago, and I’m proud we’ve followed through.”

Nazarian’s term was not without its challenges, as the city continued processing 16 Builder’s Remedy applications. The projects were submitted when Beverly Hills’ Housing Element was not in compliance, creating a window for developers to circumvent local zoning and building restrictions.

Nazarian called the situation “one of the most frustrating issues facing Beverly Hills.” 

“[Builder’s Remedy] limited local control … It was one of the hardest decisions we faced, because it directly impacted our neighborhoods and the people who live here,” Nazarian said. “We were often required to evaluate projects under rules that gave us very little ability to respond in the way our residents would expect or deserve.”

She emphasized the need for reform at the state level and continued involvement at the local level in order to institute change in the future. 

“We need clearer and fairer housing laws, stronger coordination with the state, and a process that respects local planning, neighborhood character and infrastructure realities,” she said. “At the local level, we must remain proactive. That means keeping our planning documents current, staying engaged early and continuing to advocate firmly for Beverly Hills.”

Nazarian’s mayoral term also found her heavily involved with the development of the Oct. 7 Memorial, whose design recently changed course. 

“While this memorial is deeply important, the cost was becoming unsustainable and the design was not aligning with expectations,” Nazarian said. “At that point, it was time to pivot. Leadership requires knowing when to make responsible adjustments.” 

During her time in office both as mayor and as a councilmember, Nazarian has not shied away from sharing her own immigrant story. Having arrived in the United States at the onset of the Iranian Revolution, she emphasizes the importance of leading by example and through hard work. 

“I will continue to serve by building bridges, mentoring young people and staying engaged in both local and international efforts,” she said. “Leadership is not about titles. It is about showing up, doing the work and creating opportunities for others to rise.”   

The post Sharona Nazarian Reflects on Her Mayoral Term appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The report is a requirement of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) issued to the project applicant in 2022, which authorized an APF to satisfy the Beverly Hills Municipal Code’s parking requirements. The permit requires a second review of the APF’s operations at the one-year mark. 

Located in its subterranean parking structure, Dior’s APF became operational in September 2025. It utilizes mechanical lifts to increase the number of vehicles that the structure can accommodate by stacking two vehicles vertically in a single parking spot.  

Thirteen of the subterranean parking level’s 15 parking spots utilize mechanical lifts. The lifts are operated only by trained personnel. 

According to a report provided by the applicant, it takes an average of five to six minutes to retrieve vehicles, depending on “parking stacker cycles, traffic conditions, vehicle storage location, and operational demand.” 

Parking demand peaks between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the busiest days of operation typically falling on Friday through Sunday and the highest volume of activity happening during the December holidays.

The facility had routine maintenance, minor repairs and general system servicing between December 2025 and February 2026, according to inspection reports. On two occasions, the applicant was notified that the parking lifts were obstructed by various items. They were promptly removed and the lifts were returned to full capacity. 

At the April 6 meeting, Beverly Hills resident Steve Mayer called in during public comment. Mayer noted that mechanical stackers can be loud, and that the noise can potentially endanger the health of workers. 

“Should there be some accommodation for workers who are exposed to the noise?” he said. 

Commissioner Terri Kaplan echoed Mayer’s concerns. After hearing from the valet owner that staff do not currently wear headphones and that management has not received complaints from employees about the noise, she suggested that they nevertheless weigh the possibility of examining the impact of the lift’s sound. 

“Perhaps you should consider testing the noise level of the full operation of the lift, and what provisions you perhaps should make for staff who are exposed to the noise all day long,” she said. 

Commissioner Myra Demeter said that during a visit to the site, “I got a full run through of cars being lifted up … I didn’t notice any exceptional noise there, but I do think that Commissioner Kaplan’s suggestion of having a monitor, just, why don’t you have somebody come in and just monitor the noise level and if something is out of whack, then you can take care of it.”

Kaplan added that overall, the Dior space and experience is “beautiful.” 

“Everything seems to be operating as intended,” she said of her observations during a recent visit. “The facility is quite clean. The store is beautiful. The opportunity to dine at the restaurant was amazing. It’s really quite beautiful up there.”

The AFP will be reviewed by the commission again in October.

In other business, the commission approved a request for a one-year time extension for a previously approved CUP to allow an addition to a villa at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. 

The proposed 1,200-square-foot addition will include an internal reconfiguration of Villa 127 and the construction of an additional bedroom.

The CUP was originally approved by the commission in December 2023, and a first extension was approved in February 2025. The project has not changed since it was originally approved by the commission, and the applicant is not seeking any modifications. 

Speaking to the commission, Michael Tenner, a registered legislative advocate for the project, noted that the request stems only from the need for more time. 

“There are no changes to this project,” he said. “This is just a time issue for the hotel. There was also no opposition from the community.” 

Offer Nissenbaum, the hotel’s managing director, expounded further, offering details regarding the reasons for the project’s delay. He noted that the original architect retired, and that the villa which will be remodeled has been occupied by long-term stay guests. 

“We are fully committed and ready to go now with the new architect,” Nissenbaum said. 

According to Nissenbaum, construction on the project is expected to start in the fall.    

The post Planning Commission Approves Parking Facility at Dior appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The Rotary Club luncheon began with a tribute led by Bruce Meyer to the late historian, author and philanthropist Robbie Anderson. Meyer announced that the Anderson family will graciously continue the generous support of the organization established by Robbie. Allen began his remarks by acknowledging that Anderson’s book, “Beverly Hills: The First 100 Years” has always held a place of honor in his home. 

Allen spoke on an array of topics, including the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic games and FIFA World Cup; the long-term impact of the Eaton and Palisades Fires; the state of film and television production in Southern California; Builder’s Remedy and more. 

He began by examining the decrease in tourism in the area. 

“We’ve all been following the state of California’s tourism industry, which impacts this city a great deal,” he said. “We of course have had some rocky times, both with the pandemic and the significant decrease in Asian tourism over the years. It’s a result of many different things; Chinese policies, some of the tensions that exist between our countries.”

He then noted that the Olympic and Paralympic games present an opportunity to reignite interest in the area. 

“There’s so many wonderful opportunities and exciting things that are going to be coming out of this, and we know that the towns up and down the community will be hosting fan engagement activities, watch parties, hospitality houses … it’s almost going to be a bit of a world’s fair,” he said. “And I know that there are a number of these hospitality houses that will be here in Beverly Hills.” 

Allen encouraged everyone present to be proactive in participating in and planning events. 

“Don’t just expect the games to come to you and ask you to do something,” he said. “We need everybody to step up in wherever your own personal capacity is, wherever you feel as though you can give and participate and contribute to help Los Angeles really put its best face forward for the world.”

Regarding the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades Fires, Allen noted that he represents parts of the Palisades, Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains that were hit hardest. He spoke about the need to ensure fair practices by insurers, including addressing rising premiums and considering best practices when it comes to rebuilding.

“There’s actually a lot of ways that homes can be built and communities can be built that dramatically lower risk … it’s the sidings of your home, the type of glass you use, the vegetation management practices, the roofing, making sure you have screens on your vents, making sure your eaves don’t become an easy place to catch embers that are floating around,” he said. 

Additionally, he said, officials are looking at “whether we really should be developing in the very high fire zone if folks are not using the very highest fire risk reduction strategies.” 

“Quite frankly, those people that are building significant new developments in the very high fire zone that are not incorporating the highest fire resilience strategies are really freeloading off of the rest of us,” he said. 

Addressing concerns about the entertainment industry and its ability to keep production in the state, Allen noted that state officials were able to double the size of the TV and film tax credit. Since doing so, he said, over 135 new TV and film projects have been accepted to the program. 

Even so, he acknowledged the ongoing challenges facing the industry. 

“None of us think that this is some sort of magic bullet,” he said. “We know there continue to be massive headwinds for the industry, both because of some of the incredibly generous incentives that are being thrown at productions in the UK and Canada and other parts of the country, but also just because we know that the world of entertainment consumption is changing.”

During the question-and-answer period, Allen fielded a pointed query about Builder’s Remedy and what is being done at the state level to rein it in. 

“The sad truth of that, but my most truthful answer to you is that the governor knows all about this and is pretty supportive of the current state of play, as are a lot of other folks in leadership there,” he said. “They feel as though local governments have been standing in the way of housing production.”

Noting that the gubernatorial race is currently tight among top Democratic candidates, Allen encouraged members of the audience to press candidates on these issues. 

“As these gubernatorial candidates are coming into town asking for a lot of money, ask them tough questions … because the next governor will be helping to determine whether we rein this in in a way that will allow for more nuance,” he said. “Local control, yes, but nuance and more local input into how we address these broader housing challenges, or whether it’s just going to continue to be this really clunky, one-size-fits-all model that’s shoved down from Sacramento.”

Allen answered additional questions about local film production, fire safety and the country’s political culture before concluding his address.  

The post State Senator Ben Allen Addresses Rotary Club appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The update included a summary of the study’s goals, headway and next steps.

Development impact fees are applicable for one-time expenses that are associated with infrastructure needs created by new residents and workers, called the new service population, brought into the city as a result of new development. 

The study analyzes current and existing needs for facilities and equipment that allow the city to provide essential services and for residents to maintain a high quality of life. 

The fees cannot be used to fund shortages in the level of service provided to the current population, nor for operations costs, maintenance costs or personnel costs. They are governed by the state’s Mitigation Fee Act. 

At the March 26 meeting, ESP representative Julie Cooper presented the update along with a colleague.

“The nexus study helps to define the relationship between the impact that new people are having on city infrastructure, what sort of infrastructure projects are needed to address those impacts and the cost of those projects,” said Cooper. “That’s creating the relationship, the nexus, between the impacts and the costs.” 

As part of the nexus study, the city is considering adopting six impact fee categories: fire facilities, police facilities, information technology, parks and recreation facilities, library facilities and general administrative facilities. 

These would apply to new developments in the future. 

Responding to a question from Commissioner Myra Demeter, Cooper explained that the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers factor into the calculation of development impact fees.

“The RHNA number is something that is informing our growth projections,” Cooper said. “We’re looking at growth over the next 10 years, and we have to have a number for how much growth the city is likely to see so that we know the new service population. So, there are a few different data sources that we’re using to come up with those projections, and your RHNA number is one of the data sources that we’re looking at.” 

Demeter noted that the question of how the city is going to support new residents who arrive as a result of RHNA numbers has come up frequently at Planning Commission meetings. 

“We’ve heard at all our meetings of projects, people asking, ‘How are you going to deal with the infrastructure, with this increase in population,'” she said. “They talk about the water; they talk about all different things … the [RHNA] number represents 10% of our present population. That’s a huge amount for a little city to absorb. So, I just wanted to get this straight that yes, that’s what you’re anticipating. You’re anticipating capital projects that will help us handle this influx of people.” 

The fees will not be applied to Builder’s Remedy projects for which applications were submitted when the city’s Housing Element was out of compliance, according to City Planner Cindy Gordon.

Funds collected through development impact fees are accrued in special restricted funds that can only be used for the types of projects identified in the nexus study. They do not go into the city’s General Fund. 

Currently, Beverly Hills does not charge development impact fees under the Mitigation Fee Act. The city does charge taxes and fees on new development that are similar to development impact fees, including a condominium conversion tax, a dwelling unit tax, a parks and recreation construction tax and an inclusionary housing in-lieu fee, which is applied per square foot of residential development for projects that opt out of offering required inclusionary housing units. 

Beverly Hills additionally collects a school fee, which is charged per square foot of new development and paid to the Beverly Hills Unified School District. 

Development impact fees are calculated by dividing the total cost of capital developments attributable to the new service population by the number of people expected to comprise the new service population, then converting that number into a fee per square foot of development. 

Different fees are applied for different types of land uses. 

The study being conducted by ESP and city staff began by collecting data to predict what capital improvement projects will be needed based on the current level of services provided by the city and establishing growth projections and service standards. This phase of the project is complete. 

Public comment and city feedback will be collected prior to the fees being finalized, and the fees are expected to be adopted by July.   

The post New Fees Will Offset Impact of Future Developments appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The decision overturned a denial of the same review and permits made by the Planning Commission in November 2025. 

The hearing, which lasted into the early hours of March 25, included nearly two hours of public comment. 

Developer Crescent Heights first submitted an application for the project in March 2024. In October 2025, the Planning Commission directed city staff to prepare language to deny the project, and in November 2025, the commission voted to deny the project. 

Commissioners cited concerns about, among other items, the ability of the Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) to access higher floors and the potential for increased traffic causing delays for residents who may need emergency medical care. 

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) weighed in almost immediately following the commission’s October 2025 decision. In a Letter of Technical Assistance dated Oct. 29, 2025, HCD urged the commission to be “mindful of the stringent requirements for making findings of denial under the HAA.” 

The letter additionally stated that if perceived noncompliance of state housing law occurs, “HCD may notify the California Office of the Attorney General that the local government is in violation of state law.”

HCD sent another communication to the city following its November 2025 vote. In a Notice of Potential Violation (NOPV) dated Nov. 20, 2025, HCD refuted the commission’s reasons for denial. 

In order to deny Builder’s Remedy projects based on health and safety concerns, a city must provide written findings and overwhelming evidence demonstrating specific, adverse impacts on public health that cannot be avoided or mitigated. 

In its NOPV, HCD wrote that “there is no ‘significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact’ related to traffic” nor “any evidence in the record that would suggest that emergency access to all floors of the building would be an issue.”

On March 23, the state sent a follow-up to the NOPV “to inform the city of further obligations under state law that were not mentioned in the November letter, including the burden of proof for conditions of approval under the HAA and potential fines under Government Code section 65914.2, which took effect on January 1, 2026,” it stated. 

According to the letter, under Government Code section 65914.2, local governments that were advised in writing of potential state housing law violations and are subsequently sued by applicants can face fines between $10,000 to $50,000 per unit. 

Applied to the Burton Way project, those fines could total between $2 million and $10 million. 

A report prepared by city staff for the March 24 meeting concurred with the state’s findings in its two previous letters.

In the report, staff notes that the BHFD reviewed the project and stated that they “do not foresee concerns with being able to provide emergency services” to the building. 

With regard to concerns that additional traffic will impede emergency services, the report states that “BHFD does not anticipate any disruption to services as a result of the project” and that “the level of service currently provided is not anticipated to change once the project becomes operational.”

During public comment, a group or residents calling themselves the Neighborhood Legal Fund requested that the council uphold the Planning Commission’s decision. They alleged that, contrary to staff and state findings, the project does not meet the state’s legal safety requirements. 

The group referred to a booklet they had prepared and submitted to council for the hearing. It states that an emergency pedestrian egress route for residents of 300 North Swall Drive, located in a 20-foot-wide alley, will be “completely blocked” during construction. Alleging that an analysis of the route was “vehicular only” and “deliberately omitted” the impact to pedestrians, the booklet states that “the council cannot adopt health or safety findings based on an incomplete factual record.”

The booklet additionally alleges that the alley blockage will violate California Fire Code, and that the geotechnical report on file for the project was written when it was proposed to be 20 stories. The project is now proposed at 26 stories.

The group independently commissioned a geotechnical report by Terraphase Engineering which recommended, in part, “that the anticipated static and seismic deformations of the planned foundations be re-evaluated” based on the updated height from 20 stories to 26 stories. 

Mayor Sharona Nazarian asked city staff how residents’ concerns would be addressed if the project were approved. 

“Can you fit a fire engine in the 20-foot alley?” she said. “Was there a foundation calculated for a 20-story building?”

City Planner Cindy Gordon responded that the next step would be for the developer to go through the architectural review process, then it could move toward acquiring a building permit. 

“That’s when the next phase would come into play with some of the technical studies … [if] the soils report or any geotechnical report was prepared based on old project data, they would be required to update those studies to ensure that the documentation provided to the city reflects the project that is proposed and that they intend to construct,” Gordon said. 

Gordon also said that “the city has every intent and interest in maintaining protections and ensuring adequate, egress and ingress” for residents of neighboring buildings. 

Representatives for the development expressed their satisfaction with the council’s decision. 

“The development at 8844 Burton Way will be the premier residential project in Beverly Hills,” Bruce Menin, a founding partner of Crescent Heights, told the Courier. “Crescent Heights is committed to bringing world-class architecture and much needed housing, including affordable housing, to Burton Way.”

Elliott Kahn, Crescent Heights’ West Coast managing partner and a resident of Beverly Hills, expressed his gratitude. 

“I want to thank the council for their leadership through the long and deliberative process,” he said. “So many members of the community came to support growth and the future of our city.”  

The post City Council Votes 5-0 to Approve 26-Story Burton Way Project appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The event attracted more than 200 guests and featured a keynote address by Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, the co-founder of OPI Nails, as well as a performance by “American Idol” finalist Olivia Soli, artwork by Reyhan Gulses Demircioglu and speeches by local officials including Mayor Sharona Nazarian. 

The evening was organized to celebrate women’s empowerment, leadership and philanthropy and bring together local professionals.

Guests began the evening with a cocktail hour held in The Maybourne’s foyer featuring Champagne, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment from a jazz pianist. Demircioglu’s work was displayed and, speaking with the Courier, the artist explained how her pieces align with the unity the evening sought to promote. 

“My work explores the depths of human experience, the visible and the invisible parts of who we are,” she said. “I believe art functions as a universal language that unites people, like those cultures in a shared human condition…[my characters] don’t represent a fixed individual, and they blend in abstraction. They’re all about emotions, memories and inner worlds we all share.” 

After guests took their seats in the ballroom, Soli opened the evening with a rendition of “The Greatest Love of All.” 

“I thought this song was fitting for today’s event, because it talks about having love within yourself,” she said. “And truly the greatest love you’ll ever have in your life comes from yourself, before you can love anybody else.”

Following the performance, Nazarian shared some words with the crowd. 

“The obstacles that we face [as women] are exactly what gives us the strength to move forward with determination,” she said. “They are what drive us to change those challenges into passion and possibility. And each of you remarkable ladies here tonight represent that …we see other women in other parts of the world that are really struggling right now, and how wonderful that we live in a free nation, that we are able to speak up and we are able to live freely, and we pray that they also see freedom very soon, especially our sisters in the Middle East. And we also know that when someone cannot find their voice, we work together and we lend them ours.”

Weiss-Fischmann then delivered her keynote address, telling the audience about her journey from the child of Hungarian Holocaust survivors to the head of a highly successful international beauty brand. 

After emigrating to America in 1969 with her family, Weiss-Fischmann said that she first experienced, “freedom, choice and possibilities unlike anything I’d known before” upon arriving in the new country. Working in the garment manufacturing business in New York, she developed her taste for entrepreneurship. 

“When clothing production surpassed the weekly scheduled amount, I would sell the extra clothes to employees and suddenly find money in my pocket for the weekend,” she said. “The freedom that came with having these extra funds cemented for me the desire to take control of my own destiny.”

OPI began as a dental supply company, and Weiss-Fischmann quickly realized that dentures and artificial nail extensions have “very similar chemistry,” she said. 

“We saw an opening in the market and seized it,” she said. 

The company began dropping off nail supplies up and down Ventura Boulevard and launched its nail endeavor from there. 

“The lesson here is to take the opportunities that come your way and to make decisions,” said Weiss-Fischmann. “You will lose so many opportunities if you can’t make a choice and make one quickly. Deliberating about something for too long, second-guessing yourself after making a choice, is time that could be spent on more worthwhile work that will advance your business.”

Weiss-Fischmann stressed the importance of trusting your instincts in business even when others around you don’t agree. She also emphasized having patience and taking time to do things the right way, noting that some of the brand’s most popular shades, including Alpine Snow, Dutch Tulips and Kyoto Pearl took time and dedication to create.  

Addressing the question of gender imbalance in many American households, Weiss-Fischmann said that finding equilibrium relies on having help and being kind to those around you. 

“I feel confident saying that, while maybe you can find some balance, you can’t do everything,” she said. “Along with the support system at home, align yourself with help at work. It’s just as important. There’s often an expectation placed on women in charge, that they need to be cutthroat to be competitive. But that’s not true. I’ve always found that being nice, being humble and listening to people has served me well. Instead of pushing others down to get to the top, inspire them and bring them along on their journey.” 

The main event was followed by a post-reception on the hotel’s terrace overlooking the city.  

The post Chamber Hosts Women Who Shine Event appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The renewal includes requirements that the applicant complete certain restoration projects on the building, which is a designated historic landmark. 

Following deliberation, the commission voted to condition the permit approval by requiring that the applicant submit annual status reports to the city until all restoration work is complete. The first of those reports will be presented to the commission. 

Additionally, the applicant will be required to demonstrate, within six months of the approval of the request, that they have engaged a project manager to oversee the project, contractors have been selected, and that they have set an anticipated start date and timeline. 

The conditions were made in part because of the length of time that has passed as Chabad of North Beverly Hills has tried to meet the restoration requirements of the property.  

The building was added to the city’s Local Register of Historic Properties in August 2014.  Designed by architect Millard Sheets, who is included on the city of Beverly Hills List of Master Architects, it was originally constructed in 1959 for the Ahmanson Bank & Trust Company.

The building’s character-defining features include mosaics along the Wilshire facade, Italian marble cladding, ceramic-fired gold tiles and stained glass. 

Chabad of North Beverly Hills purchased the property in 2017, and initial conditional use, extended hours and historic incentive permits were conditionally approved by the Planning Commission in April 2019. 

An application for renewal of the entitlements was submitted by Chabad in July 2023, but a number of delays ensued. The item was reviewed again in July 2025, continued to November 2025, and continued once again to March 12. 

At the November 2025 meeting, commissioners expressed their concern about a lack of progress towards restoration of the building. Specifically, the commission zeroed in on a damaged column at the southeast corner, which at the time remained unrepaired and exposed. 

The commission granted a continuance request that offered the applicant additional time to finalize its updated materials. 

As of the March 12 meeting, the damaged column had not been repaired. The applicant did submit updated architectural plans and a comprehensive work plan, which outlines a phased implementation schedule including structural repairs, surface treatment, stabilization and material repair, among other site improvements. 

During the March 12 meeting, commissioners expressed both their satisfaction with the work plan and dissatisfaction with the ongoing lack of progress on repairs. 

Commissioner Lou Milkowski said that he thought the plan, which was prepared by the applicant’s historic consultant, Chattel, Inc., is “a big step forward.” 

“I understand that staff is supportive, I believe, of this being approved today, and with the condition of a report to be submitted annually, I think that goes hand in hand with the approval [of the requested permits],” he said. “I think the two together are a significant step to putting this time-consuming, promises and broken promises behind us.”

Commissioner Myra Demeter voiced her displeasure in the applicant’s ongoing failure to address problems and concerns that have been raised by the commission. 

“I’m severely disappointed and have a lack of confidence in your past performance in property maintenance,” she said, addressing Rabbi Mendel Shusterman, who was there on behalf of Chabad of North Beverly Hills. “I have no confidence that, as you move forward, that you will take over this project and continue maintaining it. There’s been a complete lack of action even in terms of maintaining the property basically.” 

Commissioner Terri Kaplan expressed similar concerns. 

“Your building, if it’s not already, it is well on its way to becoming an eyesore…I lack confidence that anything will happen in terms of repairing, restoring and maintaining the landmarked building,” she said.

Commission Chair Jeff Wolfe then proposed a condition requiring the applicant to submit the first of its annual status reports to the commission rather than the city’s director of community development.  

Demeter added that she would like to see the project handed over to a project manager rather than continue to be managed by Shusterman. 

“There has to be somebody who is going to take responsibility, and not the spiritual leader of the congregation, who does a very good job at what he does, but he’s not a construction manager,” she said. “And in the past, nothing has been done.”

Shusterman agreed to the terms of the proposed conditions.  

“I understand the concerns and I think it’s fair,” he said. “I’m OK with that.”

The decision now enters a 14-day appeal period during which anyone may bring a challenge of the commission’s decision to City Council.  

The post Planning Commission Approves Permits for Chabad of North Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The commission’s denial was initiated in October 2025 and finalized in November 2025. The decision is being appealed by the project’s developer, Crescent Heights. 

The commission’s decision to deny the project came in spite of multiple communications from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) urging the commission to move it forward. 

The city received a Notice of Violation (NOV) in December 2024 from HCD, a Letter of Technical Assistance (LTA) in October 2025 and a Notice of Potential Violation (NOPV) in December 2025. 

In the LTA, sent just days after the October 2025 decision, HCD stated that, “The Planning Commission should be mindful of the stringent requirements for making findings of denial under the HAA as it considers the Project [at 8844 Burton Way]. If the Planning Commission is unable to meet these requirements, HCD urges the Planning Commission to recommend approval of the Project at the proposed density, with the proposed concessions and waivers.”

The letter further offered a reminder to the city of HCD’s jurisdiction to enforce the HAA and “other state housing laws.”

“HCD may review local government actions to determine consistency with these laws,” the letter stated. “If HCD finds that a jurisdiction’s actions do not comply with state law, HCD may notify the California Office of the Attorney General that the local government is in violation of state law.”

In its subsequent NOPV, the state appeared to invalidate the commission’s reasons for denying the project. The commission’s stated reasons included assertions that the building’s units reserved for low-income tenants were not properly dispersed, and that the structure would create health and safety risks.

According to state law, affordable housing units are required to be spread out on more than one floor. That requirement is met in the proposal submitted by Crescent Heights, and the NOPV notes that, “dispersal of affordable units as proposed by the applicant should not be identified as a reason for denial.” 

Cities furthermore may not deny Builder’s Remedy developments based on concerns about health and safety without providing written findings and overwhelming evidence demonstrating specific, adverse impacts on public health that cannot be avoided or mitigated. 

Addressing some commissioners’ assertion that traffic in the vicinity of the proposed building would impact public health and that emergency services would be hindered in accessing units at the top of the building, HCD pointed to a transportation assessment that was prepared for the developer. 

“[T]here is no ‘significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact’ related to traffic,” and HCD is “not aware of any evidence in the record that would suggest that emergency access to all floors of the building would be an issue,” the NOPV states. 

In fact, Beverly Hills Assistant Fire Chief-Fire Marshall Trevor Richmond was specifically asked by Planning Commission Chair Jeff Wolfe during a hearing whether he had “any concerns related to fighting a fire at a building such as this or response times?”

Richmond’s response: “To answer your question commissioner, no I don’t.” 

Crescent Heights submitted its original application for the Burton Way project in March 2024. The building’s initial height was proposed to be 20 stories; however subsequent revised plans increased the proposed height to 26 stories. 

The project features 200 residential units, including 22 that are earmarked for extremely low-income and moderately low-income households. Parking spaces accommodating 316 vehicles are included in the plans, as well as more than 42,000 square feet of open space and a deck on the rooftop. 

In the wake of the commission’s decision to deny the project, Dave Rand, an attorney representing the applicant, described the vote as “shocking” to the Courier.    

“The city is absolutely playing with fire here,” he said. “The commission had zero legal basis to deny this project, as was told to them repeatedly by their own staff city attorney. I was shocked by the brazen disregard for the law.”

During the three years when its Housing Element lapsed, the city received 16 applications for Builder’s Remedy projects. Nine have been approved by the Planning Commission and the remainder are under review or in litigation. 

In August 2025, the city was ordered by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to process a Builder’s Remedy application for a development on South Linden Drive. The court found the city to be in violation of the HAA and California’s Permit Streamlining Act.  

The post Council Will Consider Burton Way Appeal Next Week appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The priorities that will move forward to the City Council for review are the Festival Beverly Hills; programming for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games; several film and speaker series; community outreach to chefs, retailers and galleries; and the development of informational sources such as kiosks and billboards for visitors to the city. 

The commission discussed its priorities for over an hour. Many commissioners expressed a desire to emphasize arts education in the city and to house certain events under the umbrella of arts education, such as the city’s annual ArtWalk event. 

“ArtWalk is…arts education,” said Commissioner Karla Gordy Bristol, later adding, “Can we combine arts and culture, community engagement under arts education where anything related to arts in the community would fall under that one item on the work plan?” 

Chris Paulson, the city’s assistant director of community services, advised the commission to be sure that their priorities were feasible given the scope of the commission’s purview and the city’s financial capabilities.  

“We need to limit [the priorities] to just the five,” he said. “They need to be realistic. They need to follow SMART goals. So, they’ve got to be strategic. They’ve got to be measurable, achievable. So, if that means we’re looking at a capital improvement project where construction is required, probably not the most feasible right now, when the city is looking at a multimillion-dollar deficit.”

The commission’s work plan process reflected a new developmental procedure that was implemented by the city this fiscal year, replacing a system in which commissioners submitted and voted on proposals. The new system involves presenting potential commission work plan items to the City Manager and City Council alongside the council’s annual priorities. 

The updated process is intended to offer commissioners increased clarity, structure and discretion.

During the process of developing a work plan, commissioners are asked to consider factors such as timelines, staff resources, and budget so projects can be realistically completed. 

In considering their priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, commissioners and city staff determined that the acquisition of fine art is a foundational priority and did not count towards one of the five work plan priorities. 

A conversation about programming for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games was tabled due to time constraints.

Commissioners additionally heard updates to its 2025-26 work plan. The current plan focuses on fine art acquisition, Festival Beverly Hills, the ArtWalk program, Concerts on Canon performer selection criteria, developer-owned art, inspection of developer-owned art, arts education and programming for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 

The city has five fine art projects currently in progress: “Hymn of Life: Tulips” by Yayoi Kusama, “Trinity” by Judy Chicago, “IO” by Carol Bove, “Home” by Charles Arnoldi and “Fin” by Alex Israel. 

Assistant Director of Community Services Patty Acuna and Arts and Culture Program Associate Brandy Scott, providing progress reports on the projects, said that a base and redesign of two replacement tiles for “Hymn of Life: Tulips” has been approved by the artist. 

The city received a signed agreement for the acquisition of the sculpture “Trinity” from Chicago’s legal team. 

“IO” has received support for relocation to the Burton Way median, and city staff are producing estimated costs for the restoration of the artwork and its base as well as any other associated costs. 

The relocation of the cast bronze sculpture “Home” has also been discussed by various commissions. The Arts and Culture Commission recommended Coldwater Canyon, and the Recreation and Parks Commission recommended Beverly Gardens Park. The Arts and Culture City Council Liaisons considered the issue on March 6 and supported Beverly Gardens Park. 

With regards to developer-owned art and inspections thereof, city staff presented a proposed inspection process at the commission’s Feb. 10 meeting. Commissioners conditionally approved the proposed process, and it will be shared with City Council in April. 

The Beverly Hills ArtWalk program has progressed to offering twice-monthly tours in the spring and fall of exceptional artworks and historical aspects at locations including Beverly Gardens Park, the Civic Center campus and the Burton Way median. 

This session’s first tour took place on March 1 and will continue through April. 

The commission’s proposed work plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year will move forward to the City Council for review in April or May.  

The post Arts and Culture Commission Advances 2026-27 Work Plan appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Speaking to the Courier, Fisher said that if reelected, his goals for his next term would include institutionalizing zero-based budgeting and focusing City Council’s attention on fiscal issues. He added that overall, he believes the city is doing well financially. 

“In my almost nine years, we’ve never lost money on any investment, which I’m proud of,” he said. “We’re in good shape there; we’re in good shape with the long-term pension and benefit obligations…we’ve been paying down a substantial amount of the pension deficit, and maybe in another 10 years will be fully caught up like most cities, so we’re in really good shape.”

Fisher said that implementing zero-based budgeting, which assigns a specific purpose to every dollar spent instead of adjusting spending based on revenue and expenses from previous months or years, would force the city to take a closer look at its financial decision-making.  

“The way we do budgets now, the way a lot of companies do, and most cities do, it’s an additive process,” he said. “We look at last year’s budget and we say, ‘What new tasks do we have? What tasks have we completed? Let’s add or subtract.’ But it’s always a given that we start with last year’s budget.”

Instead, under zero-based budgeting, the city would consider its spending more critically and reassess line items on a more regular basis. For example, Fisher said, a city’s public works department might reexamine its trash routes or street sweeping schedules. 

The goal, he said, is increased efficiency in addition to financial savings. 

“It’s a big undertaking,” said Fisher. “You don’t do it across all departments, and you don’t do it every year, but maybe you’ll do a department every year, thinking about whether there is a better way [to do things]…you build that into the process instead of saying, ‘We’ll just throw more money at it.'”

Citing his accomplishments over the past nine years, Fisher said he’s most proud of encouraging City Council to take a more in-depth look at financial issues such as hotel occupancies based on their transit occupancy tax (TOT) reports. 

“We get a TOT report on the dozen or so hotels [in the city]…for a long time, people weren’t looking at these 60, or 80-90-page reports we’d be getting from our consultants, and so I started looking at all these things,” Fisher said. 

Currently, projections show that the city will face a budget deficit in the coming years. Fisher noted that the deficit is now “not quite as big as it was being projected,” and said his role in managing the issue, since he does not vote on the budget, will be to continually focus city officials’ attention on issues that could cause problems. 

For example, he noted that summer tourism from the Middle East has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in less revenue from shopping, hotel stays and restaurant bills. Some of that decline has been compensated for by Southern California locals who book staycations, renting a bungalow or room for several nights. 

Fisher said that while those staycations help fill hotel rooms, they do not provide the same amount of revenue as “the Middle East contingency,” who frequently produced high restaurant bills and shopping tickets. 

Since the city receives one penny on every dollar spent in sales tax, those revenues have gone down. However, Fisher said, “Sales have still been strong. You don’t have to sell very many Ferraris or Rolls-Royces or diamonds” to see an impact from sales tax. 

A tax and business attorney specializing in planning, transactions and litigation, Fisher previously served on the city’s Planning and Public Works Commissions. He graduated from the University of Southern California and received his J.D. from Southwestern University. A member of the Beverly Hills High School (BHHS) class of 1969, he has been married to his wife Francine since 1976. 

Their two sons are graduates of Beverly Vista Middle School and BHHS. 

“I grew up here, I live here, I work here,” Fisher said. “My wife worked here … my boys both went to Beverly. I went to Beverly. So, this is truly home.”

There are no challengers in the race for city treasurer. Fisher will appear on the ballot in the city’s June 2 election.   

The post Howard Fisher Will Run for Final Term as City Treasurer appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The item was placed on the agenda by Board President Judy Manouchehri, who requested that the board hold a study session to learn more about how technology is being used in classrooms and how it impacts students. 

“I am interested in the developmentally appropriate use of technology in the classroom and beyond,” she said. “The problem is that what you want for your 4-year-old is different than what you want for your 10-year-old, is different than what you want for your 14-year-old, and is different than what you want for your 18-year-old. We, as a board and as a district, are tasked with getting it right for so many different age levels and for so many different purposes.” 

Manouchehri added that she has heard various points of view from teachers in the district regarding the use of tech in the classroom, particularly the widely used classroom program iReady. 

“I think that [teachers are] on both sides of the coin,” she said. “Some of them want to do the iReady. Some of them don’t want to do the iReady. And it’s hard for me to answer them one way or another, because I don’t have enough information.” 

All board members were in support of holding a study session on the issue. Board Member Amanda Stern noted that some programs are perhaps deployed too frequently but added that technological skills are a necessary part of education in the current moment and looking ahead. 

“Let’s look at the reality of, say, 2030,” she said. “Some of the emerging core skills that are projected at that time are AI and big data…technological literacy, as well as understanding systems in computers.” 

Stern added that most college campuses have thoroughly integrated apps and software into their learning environments. 

“That is just a part of our world,” she said. “So, we really need to make a demarcation between the very young brains and making sure that the students that we graduate from our schools are those that are career ready and poised to be economically independent and having viable careers. And very often that involves a minimum of, say, understanding how the cloud works and … Google Docs and all that sort of thing.”

BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss agreed to look at schedules and propose some options for a study session. 

In other business, the board heard from the president of the Beverly Hills High School (BHHS) Israel Club about a controversial speech given on Feb. 17 at the school by internet personality Ben Azoulay. 

Azoulay faced allegations of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2008 when he was 18. His  online content includes derogatory speech about women and exhortations for students to stop their education at a young age. 

The club president said that BHHS knew in advance about Azoulay’s talk and approved the event. 

“In planning this event, I submitted all the required forms, and the event was approved by the school, and I have documentation proving this,” he said. “Why would the school explicitly approve a guest speaker to come on campus, then subsequently penalize us for bringing him?” 

These comments seem to contradict statements from the district. In a comment to the Courier following Azoulay’s address to students, Superintendent Alex Cherniss said, “Had the principal or district known ahead of time, [Azoulay] would have never been approved to speak to this student club.” 

The club president additionally stated that as a result of Azoulay’s talk, Rabbi Daniel Illulian, whom the club president described as the club’s “rabbi and spiritual mentor,” has been indefinitely banned from entering the school. 

Speaking to the Courier at the end of February after the event took place, Illulian stated that he knew about the allegations against Azoulay in advance of the talk. 

“I did hear of alleged stories…and I reached out to him,” Illulian said. “I asked him directly about being convicted. He said he was not convicted. He said he was cleared. I looked it up online as well and did not see any convictions.” 

Public records reviewed by the Courier include a civil lawsuit in which Azoulay admitted his guilt on a charge of oral copulation with a minor, and in at least one public video posted to Azoulay’s Instagram account, Azoulay states that he was held in jail for 30 days. 

Illulian additionally stated that he offered Azoulay some guidelines about what would be appropriate to talk about, and, calling his speech “incredible,” said that Azoulay “really inspired the kids.” 

In a statement to the Courier following the event, Manouchehri said of the talk and permitting Azoulay on campus that she was “deeply disappointed that this oversight occurred.”  

The post BHUSD Board Discusses Restricting Education Technology appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The event also honored Patricia and John Nickoll with the Douglas M. Mancino Spirit of Humanity Award, which was renamed this year in memory of Mancino, who was a co-founder of CBF and who died in September 2025. 

The dinner was attended by over 500 people. The total funds raised have not yet been calculated. 

The evening began with a cocktail hour and silent auction, offering items for bidding such as a VIP tour of the Beverly Hills Fire Department and ride-along in a fire truck; a Porsche driving experience and four tickets to an L.A. Rams game.  

Emcee Fritz Coleman, the vice chairman of the board and retired NBC4 weathercaster, made opening remarks. He welcomed attendees and took a moment to honor Mancino.  

“Tonight, we come together in celebration of courage and compassion and community,” said Coleman. “We also recognize the inspired contributions and leadership of Douglas M. Mancino, who we lost this last year.”

The nonprofit CBF offers services such as medical care, reconstructive surgeries and emotional and psychological support to children who suffer burn injuries and their families. Their support continues throughout the child’s and family’s years of recovery. 

Jessica Pashkow, who co-chaired the dinner with her husband, Pash Pashkow, also addressed attendees.

“This evening is more than an event,” she said. “It’s a promise—a promise that no child will endure the long road of burn recovery alone.”

During a live auction, guests were invited to bid on items including a seven-night stay in a luxury villa in Costa Rica, lunch with Wyle on the Warner Bros. lot and a vacation at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.

In remarks during the program, Patty and John Nickoll expressed their gratitude for the honor of receiving the Douglas M. Mancino Spirit of Humanity Award.

“Patty and I are thrilled to receive this honor from the Children’s Burn Foundation,” said John.

“Doug Mancino was a dear friend, and to receive the Spirit of Humanity Award in his name is truly special and meaningful to us,” said Patty. 

Dami Mokuolu, a burn survivor who was injured at age three and a half and went through more than 50 surgeries, spoke to the audience about his experience healing from his burns through help from CBF. 

“I vividly remember returning to school while under excruciating pain from surgeries, having to endure that pain on a daily basis all while just trying to fit in, being bullied and ridiculed for what made me different,” he said. “What brought me solace was knowing that I wasn’t facing this alone. CBF gave me the medical, emotional and physical support to move forward. They provided me with a safe place to call home … this is the path that has shaped me into the confident and resilient man you see today.”

Wyle, the executive producer, writer, director and star of “The Pitt,” acknowledged his parents in the audience during his remarks. Wyle noted that his mother is a nurse and his stepfather was a Marine who later served in a photography unit and took time-lapse images of healing burn wounds. 

“I was raised to know two things: health care workers do angel work, and burns are as bad as bad as it can get,” he said. “I’ve spent a good deal of my professional career working in television emergency departments, but I am not an actual physician … the real heroes are the health care workers who dedicate their careers and lives to helping others.”

Speaking to the Courier after the event, Beverly Hills Fire Chief Greg Barton praised the work of CBF. 

“Burn prevention saves lives, and the work of Children’s Burn Foundation plays a vital role in supporting both prevention and recovery,” he said. “Members of the Beverly Hills Fire Department were proud to be part of the evening and to see so many from the medical community, burn survivor families, and supporters gathered to honor Patricia and John Nickoll, whose generosity has made a lasting impact in the Beverly Hills community. Events like Giving New Hope highlight the power of community coming together to support children and families on their journey to recovery.”

For more information or to donate, visit www.childburn.org.  

The post Noah Wyle and Nickolls Honored by Children’s Burn Foundation appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Much of the conversation focused on the city’s progress towards its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation, the minimum number of housing units each jurisdiction in California must accommodate through zoning capacity. Beverly Hills was allocated 3,104 housing units across different income levels for its 2021-29 Housing Element cycle. 

According to a report prepared by city staff, full entitlement approvals were issued to 11 multifamily and mixed-use developments, including seven Builder’s Remedy projects, in 2025. Those developers may now apply for building permits, and the projects are expected to create a total of 693 new housing units, including 127 affordable units for varying income levels.

Building permits were issued for 68 housing units, including 42 above moderate-income units, two moderate-income units, six low-income units, two extremely low-income units and 16 acutely low-income units. These units are comprised of 37 single-family homes, 17 accessory dwelling units and 14 ancillary living quarters.

In addition to the permitted housing units, more applications for multifamily housing units are in progress or under review, three of which are proposed Builder’s Remedy developments. Combined, these projects have a total of 612 units, including 131 affordable units for varying income levels.

During discussion, Commissioner Terri Kaplan asked city staff how Beverly Hills’ progress toward its RHNA allocation compares to nearby cities such as West Hollywood, Culver City and Santa Monica. 

Chloe Chen, the city’s principal planner, said the advancement was similar. 

“It seems that we’re pretty on par with overall numbers; however, some of our numbers for different income levels are a little bit lower,” she said.  

Commissioner Myra Demeter asked staff what efforts are being made to ensure that the city’s Housing Element does not lapse again. The Housing Element lapsed between 2021-24 and opened the door to Builder’s Remedy projects, which utilize state law to circumvent certain zoning and building laws in exchange for developing a given percentage of affordable housing units.

“Have you been in communication with anyone at [the California Department of Housing and Community Development] to see how they are monitoring us, or if they’ve given us any direction … is there anyone working to see that we don’t go through the same rejection that we did before?” said Demeter at the meeting. 

Chen replied that since the current Housing Element is in effect until 2029, the process of developing the next cycle will likely begin in 2027 or 2028. 

“We will work very closely with a consultant and contacts at [the California Department of Housing and Community Development] to ensure that we’re in compliance,” said Chen. 

Demeter replied that preparation should begin “now.” 

“If we had a buddy or a contact that could help us determine if we’re moving in the right direction, it would be very helpful,” she said. “We did switch consultants a lot.” 

In other business, the city approved a request to allow walls, fences and hedges of no more than six feet to encroach into the front yard setback area of a single-family residence on Coldwater Canyon Drive.

According to a report developed by city staff, many properties along the same street utilize such structures to provide privacy from the public right-of-way. 

During a presentation, the applicant was represented by Crest Real Estate. Company President Jason Somers said that the hedge would serve several purposes, including creating a “cohesive hedge line across the property.”

“What the client is most interested in is creating some sort of a sound barrier from Coldwater,” he said. “He wants to be able to enjoy the front yard of the property, and having this wall will really assist in reducing the noise coming through.”

The commission approved the request unanimously. 

Finally, the commission had a brief study session regarding a request for renewal of a conditional use permit, development plan review and extended hours permit associated with the restaurant and open-air dining on the ground floor of the Beverly Terrace Hotel. City staff requested direction as to whether the director of community development or Planning Commission should act as the reviewing authority. 

The commission was in agreement that the issue could be handled by the director. 

“I don’t see any compelling reason for this to come before the commission,” said Kaplan. 

The Planning Commission will meet again on March 12. 

The post Planning Commission Hears Update on Housing Element appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Moderated by journalist Alex Cohen of Spectrum News, the event was a collaboration between Jewish Federation Los Angeles (JFEDLA), Jewish California (formerly JPAC), Jewish Community Relations Bay Area and 12 cosponsors. It drew an in-person audience of approximately 1,000 and more than 3,400 online viewers. 

Speaking to the Courier, Rabbi Noah Farkas, JFEDLA’s president and chief executive officer, described the importance of holding the event at this moment. 

“We really need to understand, as Californians, where these candidates stand on issues important to the Jewish community around antisemitism, Israel, education, even prosperity and affordability and taking care of Holocaust survivors,” he said. “The best way to do that is to bring everyone in a room and ask them a question and hear what they have to say.”

Jessie Kornberg, the Skirball’s president and CEO, added that the community wants real answers. 

“It’s important for these candidates to hear that we are not here to be pandered to,” she said. “We’re not here for a superficial conversation. We want to know how all of California is going to thrive in any future administration. We want to make sure Jews are included in that calculus. We want to make sure we don’t revert to stereotypes.” 

The candidates who participated in the forum were former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, political commentator Steve Hilton, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, entrepreneur Tom Steyer and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell. 

During their opening remarks, the candidates each described their connection to or support for the Jewish community. 

“I don’t want our Jewish community just to be safe or just be tolerated,” said Mahan. “I want you to be celebrated for the deep civic, cultural, economic contributions you make to this state every day, and as governor, I will be your biggest ally.” 

Steyer noted that his father served as a naval officer in the Second World War and was the assistant to the chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. 

“If you’re wondering how deeply I care about diversity, about the Jewish community, specifically knowing where [antisemitism] can go, knowing the increasing number of events, stop wondering,” he said. “I understand where this can go, and I couldn’t possibly take it more seriously.”

Speaking about Assembly Bill 715, which was passed in 2025 and creates new accountability systems and stronger responses to antisemitism and discrimination, each candidate emphasized the importance of the legislation. 

Hilton said his focus would be on enforcement. 

“I think we’re very good in this state at passing laws and then not really enforcing them,” he said. “We have to make sure this actually happens … we’ve got to make sure that every single part of our system roots out the ideology of division and hate and anti-Jewish hate.”

Villaraigosa drew attention to a pin on his lapel, which appeared to depict the Israeli flag. 

“When you start talking about aggressor and oppressor and basically say that Israel doesn’t have a right to exist—I wear this pin because I believe in Israel’s right to exist,” he said. “I wear this pin because I know what ‘from the river to the sea’ means. I stood with this community [in years past], and I will stand with this community.”

All candidates stated that they reject the idea of severing ties with Israel or divesting from partnerships with the country. 

“You don’t have to agree with the government of Israel to be able to say strongly and clearly that Israel has a right to exist, to defend itself, to be proud of its history, of its culture, its people … in Silicon Valley, I’ve lost count of how many brilliant entrepreneurs, investors I’ve met from Israel who have brought incredible innovation to our state, and that exchange is something we need to continue to invest in,” said Mahan. 

Asked about activities conducted in the state by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Swalwell stated that if elected, he would use emergency powers if necessary, and “go on offense every single day.”  

“The next governor of California has to build a firewall between President Trump, his ICE agents and all Californians,” said Swalwell. “For 14 years, I have represented a community where 40% of my constituents were born outside of the United States … I have voted against ICE funding. They need to be stripped down from the root to the stem. I have introduced legislation that would take away their qualified immunity. They think they’re invincible. They’re not.” 

The candidates will compete in the primary election on June 2. The top two vote-getters in the primary will advance to the general election on Nov. 3.   

The post Gubernatorial Candidates Convene for Jewish Coalition appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Calling the law “crystal clear,” Judge Lisa K. Sepe-Wiesenfeld determined that the Beverly Hills Municipal Code (BHMC) 2-1-21, which limits councilmembers to three lifetime terms, applies to all terms served, including terms served before the ordinance was enacted in 2022.

Speaking to the Courier immediately following the hearing, Mirisch expressed his disappointment in the ruling and said he believed the case was “improperly decided.” 

“David, who represented me, made excellent arguments,” he said. “I think our brief was solid … I can’t say I’m shocked or surprised. This is the world we live in.” 

Attorney Fredric Woocher, who represented the city, voiced his satisfaction with the outcome. 

“[The judge] adopted our arguments, and we were pretty confident that was the correct reading; the case law was all on our side,” he said. “We appreciate the judge’s decision. We’re very grateful that she managed to schedule the case very quickly to allow us to get certainty on this question, and so the election can go forward.”

In her decision, Sepe-Wiesenfeld responded to the question that formed the crux of the case, which was the meaning of the word “prospectively” in California Government Code Section 36502(b). The code states that City Council term restrictions apply “prospectively only.”

Mirisch and his attorney argued that the language limits restrictions to terms that have not yet been served. The city argued that the language was put in place so elected officials cannot be removed from office in the middle of a term.  

The court agreed with the city’s interpretation. 

“The Court understands this to apply … to future elections and does not apply to past elections in a way that would take officials out of office,” Sepe-Wiesenfeld wrote in her reasoning. “Term limits are ‘analogous to a minimum age requirement, which looks at an event in the past—the person’s birth—to determine his or her present eligibility to drink, run for office, etc.'”

The ruling additionally stated that elected officials “cannot reasonably expect that eligibility conditions will never change in the future,” and that the application of BHMC 2-1-21 to prevent Mirisch from running for a fifth term is not unlawful but rather, “it is a prospective application to bar him from running for future terms based on facts occurring before the ordinance was enacted.”

Speaking to the Courier, City Attorney Laurence Weiner said that the city’s effort to block Mirisch from running was an effort to enact the will of voters. 

“We’re simply enforcing what the people intended when they voted on [BHMC 2-1-21],” he said. 

Mirisch announced that he would challenge BHMC 2-1-21 in January. The ordinance was approved by voters as Measure TL in 2022, the same year Mirisch was elected to his fourth term. 

Mirisch filed the petition for writ of mandate on Jan. 12 and was not permitted to pull nomination paperwork from the City Clerk’s office on Feb. 10. 

Speaking to the Courier, he said that he has not yet decided whether he will pursue the issue any further, although he noted that he would not be able to challenge the court’s ruling in time for the upcoming election. 

“I don’t think there’s going to be time for this election, [but] I think there’s a principle that is important here, and it could affect other people in future elections,” he said. “So, we haven’t made any decisions about that.”

The court’s decision means that Mirisch’s seat on the council is now open to new candidates who will not face an incumbent. The other two seats that will be on the June 2 ballot are currently held by City Councilmember Lester Friedman and Mayor Sharona Nazarian, both of whom are running for reelection. 

As of press time, 11 individuals have pulled nomination paperwork for City Council, including Friedman and Nazarian, Architectural and Design Review Commission Chair Rebecca Pynoos, Beverly Hills Cookies owner Barry Axelrod and filmmaker Jonathan Mariande. Their candidacy will be confirmed when they return completed paperwork, along with 20 signatures of registered voters in Beverly Hills, to the City Clerk’s office.  

The post Judge Rules Mirisch Can Not Run in June Election appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The settlement was reached between developer Wilshire Camden, LLC and the city in December 2025. It brings to an end litigation filed as a writ of mandate against the city in June 2025 in Los Angeles Superior Court regarding the application for a 15-story residential development project. 

Under the terms of the settlement, the city has agreed to rescind a decision made by the Beverly Hills City Council in March 2025 that denied the applicant’s appeal to overturn a previous incompleteness determination. Beverly Hills additionally agreed to rescind a letter sent to the developer in May 2025 that alleged that the project’s preliminary application had lapsed. 

As long as the developer resubmitted their applications and responses in a timely manner, city officials also committed to refraining from arguing that the project is divested of its right to utilize the Builder’s Remedy law.

Finally, the city agreed to pay the petitioner over $73,000 in attorney’s fees and costs. 

An attorney for the applicant declined to comment for this story, and as of press time, the city had not responded to multiple requests for comment. 

The application for 140 S. Camden Drive made its way to court following a disagreement between the applicant and the city regarding 30 minutes on the evening of Aug. 30, 2024. 

That night, the final application and fees for the project were submitted by 5:30 p.m. The city responded with an incompleteness determination on Oct. 3, 2024, alleging that certain architectural details and studies were missing. 

According to state law, if a completeness determination is not issued within 30 calendar days of an application being submitted, the application defaults to completion. At the City Council’s March 4, 2025, meeting, Ryan Leaderman, an attorney for the applicant, argued that the Oct. 3, 2024, response was too late. 

The city argued that since the fees were not paid until after business hours, the application was not considered formally submitted until the following business day, Sept. 3, 2024, and therefore the city’s response was timely. 

Under the terms of the settlement, Wilshire Camden, LLC agreed to submit additional information within 45 days. That information includes updated architectural drawings; a revised shade and shadow study; an updated density bonus supplemental form that accurately lists the project’s proposed incentives and waivers; and a construction management plan, including a supplemental historic resource assessment report, an inclusionary housing plan that reasonably disperses the affordable units, and a current title report/policy for the project. 

The items were submitted to the city by the developer on Feb. 5. 

According to the revised materials, the project is substantially the same as the initial proposal. It features a 15-story residential building with 27 units, which will replace the lot’s current two-story residence. Six units are earmarked for affordable housing. 

The building will offer four underground parking levels with 40 spots and 3,629 square feet of outdoor living space, including private areas and common areas.  

As a term of the settlement, the developer modified the distribution and location of affordable units. They are now located on five separate floors. 

The project is being designed by Los Angeles-based CARA Architects, which is also designing a 19-story Builder’s Remedy project at 145 S. Rodeo Drive. The proposed buildings at 145 S. Rodeo Drive and 140 S. Camden Drive are being helmed by the same developer, Max Netty. 

The city has 30 days to respond to the revised application. 

In its materials submitted on Feb. 5, the applicant noted that “the Project qualifies as a Builder’s Remedy project, with 20 percent of the dwelling units reserved for lower-income residents. As a Builder’s Remedy project, the city may not lawfully deny the application on the basis that the Project does not comply with local development standards.”

According to the settlement, the city may still issue an incompleteness determination in good faith. The applicant would be provided with time to respond in accordance with state law. 

Beverly Hills became subject to Builder’s Remedy, which allows developers in California to circumvent certain zoning, density and height restrictions in exchange for affordable housing, when its Housing Element lapsed between 2021 and 2024. During that time, 16 applications for Builder’s Remedy projects were submitted. The city has approved nine thus far.    

The post City Agrees to Process 15-Story Builder’s Remedy Project Application appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Speakers included Offer Nissenbaum, board chair of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and managing director of The Peninsula Beverly Hills; Kathy Gohari, president of the Rodeo Drive Committee, boutique manager of Audemars Piguet on Two Rodeo Drive and president of luxury advisory firm KG Relations; and Sam Jagger, chairman of the board of the Conference and Visitors Bureau and the general manager of The Maybourne Beverly Hills. 

“Today, we have a very special opportunity to meet our city partners … we are going to discuss how these organizations and these groups are relevant to the city of Beverly Hills, and how they enhance community life,” said Nazarian, introducing the panel. 

During the discussion, Nazarian noted that many globally recognized events choose to host their gatherings in Beverly Hills. She asked panelists to speak about which events were most important in their estimation, and why those events benefit the city. 

“The Golden Globes [is] a real tie to the entertainment industry of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles as a greater area,” said Jagger. “And to have this halo effect, especially from a media perspective, and to recognize all the peers in the entertainment industry, really supports the glamour of what we offer here in the city … another one is the Milken Conference that happens here every May. Brings together the most influential CEOs—from the financial world, anyway—in the country and internationally, and they all descend here for four days. It’s a real power brokerage conference that puts us on the map, and this kind of conference you only see in a few destinations in the world.” 

Remarking that these events often cause traffic or congestion, Nazarian then asked panelists to discuss why the events nevertheless benefit residents and the city. 

“If there’s no traffic, there’s no money,” said Gohari. “They come for the Milken, they go to the restaurants, they go to different hotels, they stay in hotels, and they come shopping on Rodeo Drive. And it’s a circle.”

Nissenbaum added that the city’s economy relies on tourists. 

“We’re very much dependent on these visitors coming here, because it really helps support everyone,” he said. “And when I say everyone, we talked about the culinary side, restaurants, hotels, retail, and it’s really, really important that they are here and the businesses are thriving. The only way businesses can thrive is by attracting outside people from Beverly Hills, not just the local residents and ourselves that live here. It’s just not enough to generate the kind of income and, consequently, generate the taxes that we need.” 

During the question-and-answer period, a member of the audience asked the panelists what impact the “national situation regarding immigration” is having on business in the city. 

“Our audience has slightly changed,” said Gohari. “We’re not getting as many international visitors as we used to. However, I have to tell you, in my entire career, I’ve never seen so many local tourists come to Beverly Hills. So, we will roll with the times.”

Both Nissenbaum and Jagger said that international travelers are more cautious and concerned about coming to the U.S.

“In the hotel industry, we have seen a drop in international travel,” said Nissenbaum. “We think it’s for various reasons, not just one. One of them is the perception of immigration and difficulty in, when you get to LAX, they’re worried about how they’re going to be treated, and so on and so forth. There’s a lot of PR and a lot of real conversations you have to have with people internationally to really project reality and what’s going on. It has affected us. Thankfully, the domestic business within the United States has risen. So, it makes somewhat up for the international drop.”

Jagger echoed Nissenbaum’s comments, although he expressed more hopefulness. 

“We feel the same things, especially in the hospitality world … But there seems to be an optimism from the Middle East market to still come to the U.S.,” he said. “And obviously, for us in the summer, all the hotels, it’s a critical part of the economy to have those international travelers coming here. Equally, Europe is a little less committed to coming, and that takes time and effort and conversations to convince them that this is still the right place for them to consider coming over the next two, three, four, five years, or however many years into the future. And so, we have to work hard or harder than we’ve been working. And we’re no strangers to that.” 

The next Straight Talk with Sharona is scheduled for March 12 and will feature a conversation with outgoing City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey as she prepares for retirement.  

The post Mayor’s Conversation with City Partners Focuses on Tourism, International Travel appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

According to the applicant, Falcon Car Rental has been operating on the fourth floor of the building without the necessary permits since 2015. A code enforcement complaint was filed against the company in December 2024, and the company began its permit application process approximately one month later. 

Falcon Car Rental is a digital platform specializing in luxury vehicles. Clients reserve cars online which are then picked up on site or delivered to an off-site location. According to the applicant, over 90% of customers complete reservations online, and 60% to 70% of cars are delivered off site. 

Rental vehicles are parked in nine designated spaces on the upper level of the building. The company also has three parking spaces on the lower level of the building which are used for both rental vehicles and employee parking. The applicant estimates that vehicle exchanges currently take place approximately three times per day.

Employees are provided parking on-site and are prohibited from parking in residential neighborhoods north of Santa Monica Boulevard. Customer check-in takes place on the fourth floor.

Cars are cleaned and prepared for rental off-site in locations in West Hollywood and Los Angeles. The facility does not conduct sales, maintenance, repairs or test drives at the Canon Drive site. 

The facility will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekend days. 

No changes are being sought to the parking or building structure under the CUP. 

At the Feb. 12 meeting, several commissioners expressed their dismay that the business had been operating for so long without the necessary permits. 

“I’m appalled that a business was operating for 10 years without a CUP,” said Commissioner Myra Demeter. “It is not the responsibility of the city to inform you, as I heard it does when you take out a business license, et cetera. It is the business owner’s responsibility. So, I do hold you responsible for it. I think you’re running a very good business, I’m happy that I can support it and continue it, but I think that you have to take responsibility, not just say, ‘I didn’t know.'”

Commissioner Gary Ross, while echoing other commissioners’ disappointment that the business was out of compliance for so long, voiced his support for the company and the efforts made by the owners.  

“I think it’s for the greater good that we support our businesses in Beverly Hills,” he said. “I think the applicant is in good faith when he says that he didn’t realize that a conditional use permit was required; he was probably too busy building his business and, again, doing something for the greater good.”  

According to city staff, the business will not face any additional penalties for having operated without permits because it moved forward with trying to attain compliance after the 2024 complaint was filed. 

In other business, the commission voted to renew a CUP, development plan review and extended hours permit associated with the restaurant and open-air dining on the ground floor of the Avalon Hotel. 

The hotel currently features a restaurant, bar, cabanas and open-air dining which are all open to the public. The open-air dining area is located in a courtyard at the center of the hotel alongside an outdoor pool, all of which is fully enclosed by the hotel building. 

The restaurant, which operates from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, features 40 indoor seats and 74 outdoor seats across six cabanas and six tables. 

Two enforcement codes have been opened against the hotel since its most recent renewal in May 2022. One involved delivery trucks that were parked in metered parking spaces or double-parked in the street, and the case was closed after it was discovered that the alley where the trucks typically make deliveries was being resurfaced at the time of the complaint. 

The second case involved a complaint about deliveries parking in the street. That case was closed upon an investigation which did not reveal any violations. 

During their deliberation, commissioners expressed their support for the hotel and its operations and offerings. 

“This remains one of the very special places in our city, and I hope that in approving this conditional use permit we will ensure your continued presence,” said Commissioner Terri Kaplan.  

Chair Jeff Wolfe voiced his appreciation for the attention paid to complaints lodged against the hotel in the past.  

“I want to thank you … for how diligently you were willing and able to follow up on the issues that were raised with respect to the delivery trucks, and of course trust that you will continue to be just as diligent in the next few years after approval of this,” he said.  

The post Permits Approved for Falcon Car Rental and Avalon Hotel appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A third-generation resident of Beverly Hills, Pynoos has served on city commissions for nearly 15 years. Prior to her work on the Architectural and Design Review Commission, she was a Cultural Heritage Commissioner. 

Describing herself as “the next generation of leadership Beverly Hills,” Pynoos, 42, is running on a platform of transparency, accountability, public safety and representing underserved residents including renters, seniors and small business owners beyond Rodeo Drive. 

Speaking to the Courier, Pynoos said one of the primary issues she will focus on is public safety, including advocating for renovations to support the Beverly Hills Police Department which, she said, has outgrown its current location. 

“Public safety is the biggest concern on everyone’s minds, and I think it’s the reason so many people choose to live here,” she said. “It’s a place they feel safe. Maybe their kids feel safe, their grandkids feel safe. I would disseminate more information around that and keep our public safety strong.”

A resident of the Southwest portion of Beverly Hills, Pynoos believes the city missed an opportunity to master plan around the new Wilshire/La Cienega Metro Station. Much of the city’s planning for the station, which will open by the end of March, has been based on an assumption that public transit will primarily pose safety problems to the city. 

Noting that those concerns do need to be addressed, Pynoos said that by viewing the Metro only as a risk, the city squandered a chance to bring new businesses to and around La Cienega for visitors and residents alike.

“There is a misnomer in this city that only a certain kind of person, or homeless people, will be riding Metro,” she told the Courier. “I think we don’t have Metro riders on [City] Council, so I don’t think there’s an understanding that yes, people are concerned about safety, but there’s also an economic opportunity we’re leaving on the table … we need some resident-facing retail and some rider-facing retail. People who ride the Metro will be excited to come here, and they’ll want to spend money, they’ll want to go out to eat, they’ll get a coffee, they’ll do all of that.” 

Another major issue facing the city is Builder’s Remedy, a state law that allows developers to circumvent certain zoning and building codes in exchange for affordable housing. Beverly Hills became subject to Builder’s Remedy projects when the city’s Housing Element was out of compliance. During that time, 16 Builder’s Remedy applications were filed. 

“We’re not the only city who has come across this, but my understanding and feeling is that perhaps some of our city staff and city officials didn’t initially take this as seriously as they should have,” Pynoos said. “Perhaps they were waiting to see about lawsuits going on with other cities, and I think we left a big window open in between where we did not have an approved Housing Element, where 16 projects could come in. That’s a big failure.”

Acknowledging that there is little the city can do now to prevent those projects from moving forward, Pynoos said her focus will be on proactive leadership to prevent the same thing from happening again. 

“It’s important to build relationships with our regional and state leaders,” she told the Courier. “We need to … have councilmembers who have real, active relationships, who can best advocate for the needs of our community.”

Pynoos also discussed allegations of racism and antisemitism in the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD). The district is facing multiple lawsuits alleging racial discrimination against employees, and at the end of 2024, Beverly Hills High School students and parents who are Black spoke to the BHUSD Board repeatedly about ongoing racial harassment in the high school. 

In October 2025, the state found sufficient facts and evidence to support an allegation of race-based bullying and a racially hostile environment at Beverly Vista Middle School.

Pynoos said that the issue runs deeper than the school system and affects the city socially, financially and institutionally. 

” I don’t want to encroach at all upon the school board [which] is a separate entity … These are universal issues in Beverly Hills that maybe show up in the school system, to some degree, but are probably everywhere,” she said. “I don’t want to pull the wool over my eyes and pretend that this isn’t an issue in this community, and that there isn’t something we can really do to address it … I’m here to do some of that; take an honest look and do the hard work.” 

Beverly Hills municipal elections will be held on June 2.  

The post Rebecca Pynoos Announces City Council Candidacy appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In the housing element of its general plan, the city has committed to facilitating the development of 557 affordable housing units on city properties. The commitment is a partial fulfillment of the city’s requirement under state law to develop 3,104 housing units for all income levels by 2029.

As part of its general plan, the city has also committed to developing 125 affordable units at 8401 Wilshire Blvd., which is known as Gale Yard.

Gale Yard consists of three city-owned parcels which were being used until October 2025 by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in relation to construction of the D-Line extension project. The city is now determining what to do with the property.

Located at the northwest corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Gale Drive, Gale Yard is approximately one block east of the Wilshire/La Cienega Metro Station and directly alongside the Clock Market building. In all, Gale Yard totals 31,280 square feet.

The city hosted two public forums in 2022 to discuss the possible development of Gale Yard. During the second forum, four priority outcomes were identified: public safety, enhanced vibrancy, parking and housing.

Members of the public who participated in the forums expressed a strong desire for a police substation on the site or nearby. The group also voiced excitement about the possibility of redeveloping the area to support new businesses such as retail and the arts.

In regard to parking, commenters suggested that vehicles should be accommodated underground in order to preserve valuable surface area and mitigate spillover into nearby residential neighborhoods.

At the Feb. 11 Study Session, several residents spoke out against the development, citing some of the same concerns such as parking and safety as those who participated in the 2022 forums.

Carly Steel, who lives in the area, said that for many of her neighbors, the proposed development is part of a trend that is “all too much, too soon.”

“We already have some of the highest crime rates in the whole of Beverly Hills, the recent homicide being notable,” she said. “It’s created a lot of stress … we’re also the first adopters of the Metro. We’re going to be the end station for several years; that’s another unknown, conditions that we don’t know what to expect, but what we can see from the precedent of the City of L.A., it’s most likely not going to improve our safety. And now we’re going to be the first ground zero to have affordable housing.”

Steel said that she and many of residents of the area would like to see the development at Gale Yard be devoted to senior living.

During discussion, councilmembers noted that additional environmental testing could help the city understand the site conditions at Gale Yard.

However, if the city does not make good on its commitment to develop affordable housing, it risks having the state decertify its Housing Element.

The lack of a certified Housing Element in the past led to 16 Builder’s Remedy applications being filed.

Councilmember Lester Friedman agreed that further environmental testing is needed, however he emphasized that it must be completed in a timely manner. He also stressed the importance of taking residents’ opinions into account.

“I think we really should do those [environmental tests], but I think we need to do those really quickly,” said Friedman. “I don’t think we can delay moving forward … if we go to an RFP, I would want to make sure that the developer listens to this tape or watches this tape, because that’ll give them an idea of where the community wants to have additions to it. I would think that we need to point out the fact that parking, retail, senior uses are really paramount to incorporate into the property.”

Vice Mayor Craig Corman agreed.

“I see no harm in, if the Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies show that this parcel, the Gale Yard, is buildable as we initially anticipated, coming back at that meeting with a draft RFP — which we’re not even issuing until we have community input on—I just think we need to be efficient in the way we proceed here,” he said. “If we do it too piecemeal like, we could run out of time, and that’s something I don’t think any of us want to have happen.”

The post City Takes Step Toward Gale Yard Development appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The individuals who received paperwork for City Council include several newcomers to public elections as well as several incumbents.

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian, City Councilmember Lester Friedman and Cultural Heritage Commissioner Andy Licht all pulled nomination paperwork for the City Council race on Feb. 9. Joining them were Beverly Hills Cookies owner Barry Axelrod, filmmaker Jonathan Mariande and another individual whose name has not yet been made public

The candidates will run to fill three seats currently held by Nazarian, Friedman and John Mirisch. Elections will be held on June 2.

It remains unclear as to whether Mirisch’s name will appear on the ballot. Beverly Hills Municipal Code (BHMC) 2-1-21 limits City Councilmembers and City Treasurers to three total lifetime terms. That code was put in place in 2022, the same year that Mirisch was elected to his fourth term.

California’s Government Code Section 36502(b) states that City Council term restrictions apply “prospectively only,” but city officials assert that Mirisch may not run again because his previously served terms count towards a councilmember’s total tally.

Mirisch would be running for his fifth term.

Mirisch filed a petition for writ of mandate against the city on Jan. 12 in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking to compel the clerk’s office to accept his nomination papers. A hearing is set for Feb. 23.

As of press time, Mirisch was not permitted to pull nomination paperwork from the City Clerk’s office.

It was not clear whether Howard Fisher, the incumbent City Treasurer, had pulled nomination paperwork as of press time.

Speaking to the Courier on Feb. 9, candidates expressed an overarching desire to maintain Beverly Hills’ strengths and work to solve problems facing the city.

Axelrod, whose store is located on South Beverly Drive, said that residents and businesses in that part of the city need representation.

“I think I have enough knowledge about Beverly Hills in general, the residents and the businesses to be able to make a difference,” he said. “A lot of the store owners [on South Beverly Drive] are a little bit dismayed. They don’t know what to do. They’re not experienced, or they don’t understand the new retail policies that Beverly Hills has to follow due to government and society regulations.”

Nazarian, who appeared at the City Clerk’s office with her husband and two of her adult children, voiced her hope to continue strengthening the city as a community.

“I am so excited and energized for this election season,” she said. “It’s my honor and privilege to be able to serve the city of Beverly Hills, and I am looking forward to getting things done for our community as we listen, as we learn, as we grow as a stronger, safer and more united Beverly Hills.”

Friedman, who will run for his third term on the council, expressed his desire to focus on the city’s economic well-being.

“Most important is the financial security of our city, because right now, that’s where we’re teetering,” he said. “We’re at a point where our budget is balanced. The forecast is that we will not have a balanced budget, but there are things that we can do to make sure that we stay within our means, and that’s what we need to do while not degrading any services that we have.”

Mariande said he was motivated to “get involved instead of just talk about things.”

“I think we’ve gone through a lot of turbulent times, a lot of polarizing times … I’m setting roots down here, and I really like the city of Beverly Hills a lot,” he said. “I think being involved would really energize me, and I think it sounds like there’s a lot to do.”

Licht, who pulled paperwork alongside his wife, said in a statement that he seeks to bring experienced, responsible, community-focused leadership to City Hall.

“I’m running because I want Beverly Hills to be the safest city in the country, while preserving the quality of life and community character that make it so special,” he said.  to the Courier, he said he is “very excited to begin this process.”

Prospective candidates have until March 6 to file their nomination paperwork, at which point they become official candidates.   

The post Filing Period Begins for City Council Race appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Dustin Seemann, the district’s assistant superintendent, said in a presentation that all elementary grade levels completed i-Ready diagnostic tests in the fall and winter and will complete another at the end of the school year. Each grade level showed improvement from the first test to the second, with significant decreases in students performing below grade level and increases in students performing at or above grade level.

During Seemann’s presentation, Board President Judy Manouchehri noted the difference between the same data presented to the board one year ago.

“This time last year, we had this conversation, and it was a totally different presentation in terms of where our students were,” she said. “It looks like we are in much better shape, and I would say, in much better control of the academics and the learning.”

Board Member Rachelle Marcus said that she was “tremendously impressed” with the changes in student performance among those who are reaching or exceeding grade level.

The diagnostic testing was also used to identify students who would benefit from High Impact Tutoring, which was fully launched in grades three through 10.

Reporting on the Spanish Dual Language Academy, which was rolled out at El Rodeo Elementary School and Horace Mann Elementary School this school year, Seemann said the program has opened enrollment for the 2026-27 school year. To date, 21 families at Horace Mann have committed to the program and 14 families have committed at El Rodeo.

Finally, Seemann reported on student engagement with extracurricular activities. According to his presentation, an additional 232 students in fifth through eighth grade engaged in off-season activities this year, including wrestling, volleyball, swimming, water polo, cheer and flag football.

Fall extracurriculars added 47 students, including 26 to the girls’ flag football team and 21 to the boys’ flag football team. Winter extracurriculars added 73 students altogether to girls’ and boys’ basketball, an academy team and a competition cheer team.

Superintendent Alex Cherniss said he plans to continue focusing on and building the district’s athletics program.

“My vision is to make those that want to choose athletics be the very best, and we need to start at a very young age … so this is just the start,” he said. “I want to continue to put resources into athletic performance, so our kids get the best equipment, the best training, and so by the time they get to high school and compete, no matter what it is, they’re going to be the best athletes.”

In other business, the board appointed local parent and investment strategist Sam Namiri to the District Finance Committee. Speaking briefly at the meeting, Namiri emphasized the importance of economic responsibility.

“I think it’s really important to be fiscally prudent and responsible so that not only are we catching up for the lack of funding in the past, but making sure future generations don’t struggle and make up for lack of funding that we do in our time period,” he said.

The board additionally approved an agreement with the law firm Orbach, Huff and Henderson for ongoing legal services. Marcus voiced concern about the necessity of bringing on another law firm since the district already contracts with Best, Best and Krieger.

Cherniss responded by noting that Orbach, Huff and Henderson specialize in “entertainment-type, revenue-generating contracts for school districts” such as advertising, billboards, signage and facilities rentals.

“The purpose of this agreement would be specifically for our enterprise fund and for revenue-generating opportunities,” he said. “They have experience with that … this is a transactional attorney that specializes in this. I’ve worked with them in the past.”

The board approved the contract in a 4-1 vote, with Board Member Amanda Stern voting no.

In a 3-0 vote, the board additionally formally rejected a claim set forth in a lawsuit filed by district parent and attorney Daniel Lifschitz, which alleged that the board violated its own bylaws by denying the position of vice president to Stern and instead installing Board Member Sigalie Sabag to the position.

Stern and Marcus abstained from the vote.

During the public comment period, district parent Ellie Kadz spoke at length about an alleged chat group with over 100 members of the BHUSD community. The chat, she said, included “character attacks” and “defamation.”

“A highly vocal subset regularly assign motives, mock others and circulate serious accusations about community members in a way that would not be acceptable in any setting,” she said.

Kadz has written several op-eds praising Board Member Russell Stuart, Sabag and Manouchehri for the Beverly Hills Standard, a digital publication founded by Stuart.

The post BHUSD Hears Update on Student Performance appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Metro staff apprised commissioners on the status of construction at two stations that will open in Beverly Hills: one at Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards, and another at Wilshire Boulevard and Reeves Drive (Beverly Drive Station).

The extension project is being completed in three sections. The Wilshire/La Cienega Station is part of Section 1, and the Beverly Drive Station is part of Section 2. Section 1 also includes new stations at Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, and Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. Construction for Section 1 started in 2014. Work on Section 2 got underway in 2018.

According to Metro, work on the Wilshire/La Cienega Station, which is expected to open this quarter, is near completion. The restoration of utilities between La Cienega Boulevard and South Hamilton Drive was finished in December 2025, and restoration on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard is “substantially completed,” according to a report written by city staff.

This month, Metro anticipates completing the replacement of curbs and gutters both north and south of Wilshire Boulevard in the area that has been under construction. Ramps along several parts of Wilshire Boulevard are also expected to be removed.

“Section one is very, very close to opening,” said Beverly Hills Project Manager Christine Chung at the meeting. “Metro CEO will be announcing the official date when determined.”

The Beverly Drive Station is expected to open in spring 2027. Construction on the station resumed on Jan. 2 following a holiday break, and crews are currently working on both the interior and exterior of the station, including the escalator and elevator shaft, stairways and walkways, plumbing, and electrical work.

Metro is also currently working on preparations to reopen North Canon Drive at Wilshire Boulevard by March 14. An existing soundwall has been removed as part of that effort.

Going forward, Wilshire Boulevard between Crescent and El Camino drives will be maintained as two lanes in each direction between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and may be reduced to one lane in each direction overnight.

According to the same report written by city staff, miscellaneous utilities work, including sewer mains, manholes and water main connections are substantially complete.

The art that will be featured in the Wilshire/La Cienega Station was deeply inspired by the city of Beverly Hills.

Artist Mariana Castillo Deball collaborated with one of the lead paleontologists during excavation for the Wilshire/La Cienega Station. According to Clare Haggarty, the director of public arts and design at Metro, the land for that station produced more fossils than any other area.  Deball utilized the recovered relics for fossil rubbings which she then included in her station artwork.

Artist Todd Gray, inspired by early designs for the Saban Theatre, created pieces for the entrance of the station intended to conjure the idea of a blueprint and descending into a theatrical space.

The entrance of the station will feature artwork by Devon Tsuno, a fourth-generation Angeleno whose grandfather worked as a gardener in Beverly Hills for 30 years. Tsuno’s piece depicts azaleas and other plants descending along the escalator walls into the station, inspired in part by his family history.

“A lot of azaleas were planted in gardens here that his grandfather had a hand in,” said Haggarty. “So, it has a really personal connection to the artist.”

Other contributors were inspired by historical elements of Beverly Hills, the people who live and work in the city and the city’s theaters and connection to the world of cinema.

Commissioners expressed their endorsement of the visual components of the upcoming station.

“I’m truly blown away,” said Commissioner Michael Karric. “It’s really impressive, just how much thought and just how intentional it really is in conjunction with the actual station. The fossils—that’s incredible. I can’t wait to tell people about it when I’m waiting for the train … I can’t express how excited I am about it. Thank you for all your hard work and everything you do to make the Metro feel like a place that’s welcoming and safe and interesting.” Commissioner Negar Kamara echoed Karric’s sentiments.

“This was absolutely fascinating,” she said. “I am so impressed by all the diversity, the people, the artists, the artwork, you know, from history to the vegetation to the community and the people in our community.”

Sections 1 and 2 of the Metro D Line Extension project are funded largely through federal grants and Measure R, which was approved by voters in 2008. The entire extension will cross nine miles of the city when it’s complete, starting at the Wilshire/Western Station and ending at the Westwood/VA Hospital Station.

The post Metro Station Art Inspired by Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The conference is a nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more, of which there are over 1,400 in the U.S. It affords the mayors of such cities the opportunity to connect and share resources, as well as to engage directly with the president and Congress.

On Jan. 29, Nazarian participated in a panel entitled “Bridging Policy and Practice: Shaping America’s Health Future” alongside Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and several other mayors and experts.

The panel examined the ways in which state and national health policies bolster outcomes for residents. Nazarian spoke in part about Beverly Hills’ investment in initiatives such as wraparound services for unhoused individuals, the Nurse Practitioner Program and the Beverly Hills Wellness Network.

Speaking to the Courier, Nazarian said that her participation on the panel was a chance to demonstrate “how local governments can lead in delivering effective human services and health care solutions.”

“The discussion reinforced that while policy frameworks are often set broadly, meaningful impact happens at the local level, where programs are designed with direct knowledge of community needs … other cities can learn from the importance of aligning policy with practice, building programs that are measurable and adaptable, and leading with compassion while maintaining accountability,” she said.

The meeting ran from Jan. 28 to Jan. 30 and was attended by more than 270 of the nation’s mayors. It was led by USCM President David Holt, the mayor of Oklahoma City.

“America’s mayors continue to be the most effective and unifying leaders in our nation,” said Holt in a statement. “In a time of divisive national politics, we are bringing our residents together to get things done, and we also work together as mayors across bipartisan lines. This Winter Meeting of our nation’s mayors was an opportunity for our mayors to come together to speak with one voice in the nation’s capital. It’s also an opportunity to learn from one another, exchange best practices, and support each other as peers.”

Panels held during the conference featured experts on housing, technology, safety and more. Among the conversations about technology included many discussions about artificial intelligence, seen by experts as playing a key role in the future of municipal planning.

One such panel, featuring authorities including the head of data center markets at Siemens USA and the chief legal officer of Edison Electric Institute, considered the impact of AI and other advances on the demand for electricity, energy reliability and workforce readiness.

Another featured Waymo’s regional head of state and local policy for the Eastern United States.

Nazarian said that such discussions offered information that elected officials could potentially apply to Beverly Hills.

“Engaging with mayors from across the country provided valuable insight into best practices,” she said. “I was curious to learn about how cities are using technology and emerging tools, including AI, to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.”

She was also impressed by the sense of unity among cities.

“There was clear alignment around the need for collaboration, innovation, and responsible planning, particularly in addressing housing, health care, and major global events on the horizon,” Nazarian said.

Beverly Hills will take part in hosting several major events coming to Los Angeles County over the next few years, including the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games in July 2028, and the FIFA World Cup soccer games in the summer of this year. Nazarian said that one of the most productive conversations at the conference spoke to the needs of cities during such occurrences, including ways in which cities can coordinate regionally while “still preserving local authority and community character.”

Another major issue facing Beverly Hills is Builder’s Remedy, a state law that allows developers to bypass certain local building codes in exchange for affordable housing. Some discussions at the conference spoke to this concern.

“Local decision-making remains critical, especially as cities navigate state mandates,” Nazarian said. “A recurring theme among mayors was that housing solutions must be thoughtful and context sensitive. There was broad consensus that increasing housing supply will require building vertically in appropriate areas.”

Upon leaving the conference, Nazarian said she was pleased to be able to come back to Beverly Hills with new ideas, and to leave Washington, D.C., having advocated for residents.

“Despite the extremely cold weather in Washington, D.C., the energy and purpose of the conference were unmistakable,” she said.

The post Nazarian Speaks at DC Mayoral Conference Panel appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The circumstances surrounding her resignation are not clear, however Collins-Williams filed a lawsuit against the district and the BHUSD Board of Education in January 2024. The suit alleges discrimination on the basis of age, race and gender; a hostile work environment; retaliation and a violation of the labor code protecting whistleblowers.

In the complaint, Collins-Williams, who is Black, alleged that the district’s culture “traumatiz[ed]” students, parents, community members and staff of color.

The lawsuit states that Collins-Williams was passed over for the job of deputy superintendent after being considered for and, she thought, “groomed” for the position. The suit states that instead, the district hired a younger Caucasian woman with no prior relevant experience, then promoted the new employee and raised her pay multiple times.

Meanwhile, Collins-Williams claims she was tasked with working towards rectifying data that showed that administrators at BHUSD disproportionately disciplined students of color. According to a court filing in Sept. 2024, Collins-Williams alleged that administrators “continue[d] to misrepresent and/or underreport this disciplinary data” and “endorsed a racially hostile work environment, which included racial slurs and racially discriminatory policies directed at Plaintiff” and other Black students and teachers.

In April 2025, attorneys for Collins-Williams were granted a motion to compel the attendance of former BHUSD Superintendent Michael Bregy at his continued deposition, answers to deposition questions and the production of documents.

The district declined to comment for this story. As of press time, an attorney representing Collins-Williams has not replied to the Courier’s request for comment.

A jury trial is set for her case in May.

The post BHUSD Assistant Superintendent Resigns appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The DLA was rolled out at Horace Mann and El Rodeo Elementary Schools with one kindergarten class and one first-grade class at Horace Mann, and one kindergarten class and two first grade classes at El Rodeo.

According to Horace Mann Assistant Principal Adrienne Kim, who together with El Rodeo Assistant Principal William Cameron gave a presentation to the board, first grade students enrolled in the program are “building Spanish literacy skills at the expected rate for a first-year immersion program, and the instructional approach is working.” 

Kinder students in the program have shown “a consistent performance across sites, which tells us that our launch implementation is aligned,” she said.  

Student progress is being evaluated through a combination of i-Ready, classroom assessments and teacher evaluations.  

Addressing some parent concerns, Assistant Superintendent Dustin Seemann spoke about the program’s “90-10” approach, in which 90% of core subject instruction is done in Spanish and 10% is done in English. As students enter middle school, instruction will shift to a 50-50 model, he said. 

“We spent the weekend at a DLA conference this past weekend at San Diego State, and everything and every session we sat through consistently doubled down on the fact that a 90-10 model within the first two years, as we move into a 50-50, those students … do outperform their English-only students by the time that they hit middle school,” he said. 

In advance of the presentation given by Kim and Cameron, a group of first graders enrolled in the DLA program performed a poem, “El Puente,” in both English and Spanish and a story, “Isabel Ayuda,” in Spanish.  

The board initially discussed the idea for the DLA in May 2025 and gave administrators the green light to bring the idea to fruition at that time. At that board meeting, Seemann noted that it seemed to be the right time to implement the idea since BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss had spearheaded similar projects in other districts, and the idea had the support of the board. 

Curriculum was vetted by district personnel, and teachers were recruited as students were simultaneously enrolled. Students in the program are instructed using the same state-approved curriculum as those in English-only classes. 

BHUSD additionally partnered with TNTP, a nonprofit educational consultation organization, to launch the DLA. 

At the Jan. 27 board meeting, Cherniss expressed his enthusiasm about the DLA. 

“This program will forever change the Beverly Hills Unified School District,” he said. “We each and every year will grow this program to where we are going to have fluent students in Spanish beginning by the time they get to middle school. So, I couldn’t be happier with the progress. I can tell you we’ve already started enrollment for next year, and we’re on our way to two full classes, one at each school already … it’s a huge win for our district that we put in place in very short time.”

Speaking in Spanish, Board Member Amanda Stern thanked the teachers and Cherniss, and said that she wanted to practice her own Spanish as she was once a student in a bilingual program as well. She additionally stated that she was very impressed with all the children. 

“It was a turning point for us to see [the program] because it was one of the most distinct programs we’ve had in a long time,” she said. 

Board Member Rachelle Marcus, who taught in the district for more than 50 years, also voiced her appreciation for the teachers, students and parents who have participated in the DLA so far. 

“I hope that we’re able to keep up with the need and the demand so that we can find the people to continue the program, because I see it’s wonderful, and I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “I’m just thinking to myself, they’re going to get to sixth grade, and my goodness, are Spanish classes going to have to be AP at that point? Because they’re going to be so super ready. And I’m glad that we’ve got the program in. It’s been very popular, and I’m glad to see it’s continuing on.”

According to Seemann, registration recently opened for current transitional Kindergarten students whose families wish to enroll them in the program for the next school year.  

The post BHUSD Spanish Immersion Program Shows Progress appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The commission’s vote was unanimous. Commission Chair Jeff Wolfe was not present at the meeting. 

The project, developed by applicant Hamilton Drive LLC and SDLP Holdings LLC and property owner Leo Pustilnikov, will include 90 residential units, including 16 earmarked for low-income households and two earmarked for very low-income households. 

A one-level subterranean garage will provide 13 parking spaces, and a combination of private outdoor living space on the units’ balconies and common outdoor living space on the rooftop will provide residents with a total of 9,997 square feet of open space. 

Currently, 214 S. Hamilton Drive houses a two-story duplex and a detached garage built in 1935, and 216 S. Hamilton Drive houses a two-story triplex and a detached garage built in 1941. In total, the project site comprises 10,400 square feet. 

The applicant submitted a preliminary application in October 2023 and a development plan review application in April 2024. The application was deemed complete by the city in January 2025.

Pustilnikov is also listed as the property owner of four other Builder’s Remedy projects in the city. 

During public comment at the Jan. 22 meeting, residents spoke about their concerns regarding parking, privacy and noise. 

Frances Burrell, a resident of S. Hamilton Drive who lives next door to the proposed project in what she described as a three-unit condominium building, expressed her apprehension about the proximity of the development’s proposed balconies to her residence. 

“Our front doors face the south side of the project, and there’s actually very little space between our two buildings … there’ll be balconies on all sides of the [new] building,” she said. “When I look out my front door or my bedroom, there’ll be all these windows and balconies, so everyone can see into my place, and I can see into theirs … it’s just very, very dense, on a very small street.” 

Other residents, concerned about traffic and parking, noted that the neighborhood is already heavily impacted by vehicles traveling in and out of the area for shows at the Saban Theatre. The theater is located on Wilshire Boulevard approximately one-half of a block north of the proposed development. 

“It’s my understanding that no specific parking or traffic studies have been undertaken to assess where the vehicles of future occupants, their visitors, and service providers will be accommodated,” said resident Davida Hagan, who also lives on S. Hamilton Drive alongside the proposed development. “Without such analysis, it is difficult to understand how the increased demand for parking will be managed … the street regularly experiences traffic congestion, particularly during the regular performances and events at the Saban Theatre. The introduction of additional residential units without sufficient onsite parking is likely to further existing traffic and parking challenges.”

Several commissioners voiced their displeasure with the limited scope of their ability to deny the project based on its lack of adherence to the city’s General Plan and other regulations. 

“We who are sitting here are bound to follow the law, and we may not agree with it. It may be very, very difficult for us,” said Commissioner Myra Demeter. “Some of these are very, very dear issues to my heart as a resident who has experienced many of these problems, but I understand the Builder’s Remedy—although it is not consistent with the General Plan, it is not consistent with setback, it is not consistent with the modulation, it is not consistent—the state has demanded that we do not consider that in our deliberations.”

A representative for the development said that at last count, in April 2024, four out of the five  units on the project site were occupied. Beverly Hills Project Manager Edgar Arroyo said that renters in the buildings who may face eviction due to the project have certain rights provided by the state. 

“The tenants have a right to remain in the unit [until] six months before construction activities start on the site … [and] they have a right to return at the prior rental rate if the demolition of the project never happens and the property’s returned back to the rental market,” he said. 

In response to several commissioners’ concerns about three street trees that stand to be removed during construction, a condition was added stipulating that the developer will replenish the trees to the best of their ability. 

That condition read, “The applicants shall coordinate with the community development department and the city arborist regarding replacement of at least one street tree and shall provide replacement of up to three trees if determined to be feasible by the city.”

The project has now entered a 14-day appeal period during which anyone may appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council. 

The commission’s vote marked the 10th Builder’s Remedy project approved since October 2025.  

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The two actions taken by the board were challenged before, during and after the meeting, including in a complaint and petition for writ of mandate, declaratory and injunctive relief filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Jan. 26 by district parent Daniel Lifschitz. 

In his filing, Lifschitz argued that Board President Judy Manouchehri, and Board Members Sigalie Sabag and Russell Stuart—who together form a majority on the board—violated the board Bylaw 9100 in voting to deny Board Member Amanda Stern the vice presidency at the mandatory board organizational meeting in December 2025. 

At the time of that meeting, Bylaw 9100 existed in a version passed in 2024. Its terms stated that the vice presidency shall be determined in a rotation according to term of service and number of votes received. Stern received the highest number of votes in comparison to the other two board members—Sabag and Stuart—with the same length of service in the current term. As such, she was in line for the vice presidency. 

The lawsuit filed by Lifschitz alleges that the majority “elected to brazenly violate Bylaw 9100 based upon nothing more than animus towards Dr. Stern. They cited defamatory (and ultimately pretextual) reasons for lacking confidence in Dr. Stern’s fitness to lead, then assumed ad hoc authority to instead install Sabag as the vice president by majority vote.”

In addition to his complaint, Lifschitz appeared in court on Jan. 27 on an ex parte application for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the board from changing the bylaws and electing Sabag to the vice presidency at the board meeting later that day. His application for extraordinary relief was denied by a judge, but the lawsuit will nonetheless proceed.

After the judge’s ruling on the TRO, the district sent out a press release with the heading “Beverly Hills Unified School District Prevails over Lifschitz; Gipson Hoffman & Pancione.” Gipson Hoffman & Pancione is Lifschitz’s employer. His lawsuit against the district was filed by him as a plaintiff acting as his own attorney. 

Lifschitz’s employer, the Gipson firm, is not involved in the case. Nonetheless, the release with their name on it was distributed by the district to members of the firm. 

In the release, the district states that BHUSD “prevailed” over Lifschitz and that the judge’s decision “reaffirm[ed] that the board conducts its business lawfully, transparently, and in full compliance with applicable law.”

“The judge said no such thing,” Lifschitz told the Courier. He went on to describe the release as a  “thuggish attempt in intimidation” that is “beneath the dignity of the district.” 

He added, “The retaliatory nature of this tactic only underscores the majority’s unprofessionalism and serves as further evidence of why the lawsuit against them must and will continue.”

At the board meeting on Jan. 27, the board voted to revise Bylaw 9100 to strike the language regulating the terms of the vice president’s selection. It also removed language stating that no board member shall serve more than one consecutive year in the same office. 

The vote to revise the bylaw passed by a 3-2 vote, with Stern and Board Member Rachelle Marcus voting no. 

The board then took another vote to elect Sabag as vice president by a 3-2 vote, with Stern and Marcus again voting no. 

The board stated that its rationale for the reconsidered election was an alleged violation by Stern of California’s Ralph M. Brown Act, which governs the conduct of public officials in meetings. The Brown Act prohibits “any use of direct communication, personal intermediaries, or technological devices that is employed by a majority of the members of the legislative body to develop a collective concurrence as to action to be taken on an item by the members of the legislative body.”

Sabag raised allegations of Brown Act violations against Stern at the board’s Jan. 13 meeting. She stated that Stern had spoken with her as well as Board Member Rachelle Marcus prior to the December 2025 organizational meeting. 

Sabag and Stern have differing accounts of the conversations. But, Stern was accused at the Jan. 27 board meeting of conducting a prohibited “serial meeting” in violation of the Brown Act. A serial meeting involves a majority of the board discussing board business in one-on-one communication with the intent to decide on a course of action. 

Stern responded that her actions were “scarcely a Brown Act violation.”   

“Neither I, nor anyone acting on my behalf violated the Brown Act, as no collective action was taken or caused by me on a non-discretionary matter,” Stern said.

The board majority nonetheless cited a 90-day obligation to “cure” Stern’s Brown Act violation and proceeded to revise the bylaw and reelect Sabag. 

The Courier has reached out to the district and to its counsel Michael Travis, who appeared by video at the hearing, to clarify the specific authority governing the board’s curative actions. 

A representative for the district said it would not comment on litigation. As of press time, the Courier has not received a response from Travis. 

Speaking on her own behalf, Stern later told the Courier that “The voters made it clear that the ‘will of the people’ was that the board conform to the bylaws and thereby install me as vice president by the end of 2025. That failed to happen. I am hopeful that the board will correct their course of action. Meanwhile, I wish to showcase our district in a positive light, and I am excited about some recent student accomplishments.” 

The post BHUSD Board Changes Bylaws, Installs Sabag appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Ten months into her mayoral term on the City Council, Nazarian said she considered her run for reelection carefully before coming to any conclusions.  

“Running for reelection was not a decision I made lightly,” she said. “I thought deeply about where Beverly Hills is as a city, the challenges we are facing and whether I could continue to be effective in helping guide us forward. I listened carefully to our residents and business community, and what I heard again and again was the need for steady leadership, strong public safety, and a mayor who will continue to fight for Beverly Hills.”

First elected to the City Council in 2022, Nazarian was installed for her first mayoral term in 2025. Prior to serving on the council, she was a Public Works Commissioner and a Human Relations Commissioner. She also previously served on the Beverly Hills Police Chief’s Advisory Board and as president of the Rotary Club of Beverly Hills.  

In addition to Nazarian’s seat, voters will elect representatives to two other open positions on the council in June, including those currently held by Councilmembers Lester Friedman and John Mirisch. 

Nazarian holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from Alliant University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Southern California. She has lived in Beverly Hills for over three decades with her husband and three sons.

During her time on the council and as mayor, Nazarian has focused her efforts on public safety, community engagement and promoting small businesses. She cites as a core part of her work her collaboration with the Beverly Hills Police Department to implement AI as a tool for streamlining reports and processes, including the adaptation of AI Blue Script. 

Nazarian additionally oversaw the launch of BH Wellness, a program through which residents can receive unlimited emergency and non-emergency medical transportation per household for $90 per year. 

Her mayoral term introduced initiatives such as Spotlight with Sharona, which highlights local businesses; Straight Talk with Sharona, town halls in which she invites an expert or local authority for an hour-long public discussion; and community-building efforts for young adults and active adults. 

Nazarian, who was on the City Council when the events of Oct. 7 transpired, has been a strong supporter of the plans to erect a garden and memorial to those lost on that day. 

“Public safety is not only about technology and enforcement,” Nazarian said of the memorial effort. “It is about compassion, remembrance and standing together as we educate the next generation, so such atrocities never happen again to any race, religion, or cultural background. Oct. 7 reminded us that safety, vigilance, education and unity must go hand in hand.”

Nazarian’s tenure as mayor has not been without its challenges. Among them has been preparations for the upcoming opening of the city’s first Metro stop at La Cienega and Wilshire boulevards. Nazarian worked with officials at Metro and elsewhere to finalize an agreement to develop a safety plan for the station. 

“Greater mobility must be matched with greater preparedness,” Nazarian said. “We are planning ahead and building public safety into the infrastructure [of the station] from day one.”

Another issue that has taken center stage during Nazarian’s term as mayor is Builder’s Remedy, the state law that allows developers to circumvent certain local zoning laws in exchange for providing affordable housing. Ten such projects have been approved despite strong opposition by residents and other stakeholders.

Nazarian acknowledged that while the city cannot ignore state law, she and other officials have worked closely with legal and planning experts to scrutinize Builder’s Remedy applications. Nazarian told the Courier that she has “flown to Washington, D.C. and Sacramento to advocate for our city.”

“Our responsibility is to protect our neighborhoods while navigating difficult state mandates,” she said. 

Nazarian told the Courier that her experience on the council and her background in mental health uniquely position her to serve the community. 

“During my time in office, I’ve learned to anticipate challenges rather than react to them, and to fight relentlessly for Beverly Hills while staying grounded in what is legally and fiscally responsible … that experience and the impact on our community will guide every decision I make going forward,” she said. 

Looking ahead, Nazarian said she has already begun preparations for upcoming events such as the LA 28 Olympic Games, the Paralympics and the World Cup by convening a dedicated task force with regional and local partners. 

If elected to a second term, she said, “Economic vitality remains a core priority for me.” 

“Our most important issues are safety, economic vitality and preserving what makes Beverly Hills special … my vision is a city that supports residents, local businesses, keeps our streets clean and safe, and attracts thoughtful investment while protecting neighborhoods,” she said.

Nazarian added, “I serve the residents of Beverly Hills,” she said. “Every decision I make is guided by what is best for our community. I hope to continue serving our city with integrity, experience, and heart.”  

The post Nazarian Will Seek Reelection to City Council appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The event, part of Mayor Sharona Nazarian’s “Never Again is Now” initiative, was focused on bearing witness to the horrific events of the Holocaust and World War II. It was co-organized by student advocate Eleanor Samuel and moderated by Frank Mottek, the host of KABC’s “Mottek on Money.” 

“Tonight’s program is … a call for all of us to come to action,” said Nazarian. “We’re living in a moment when hatred, antisemitism, dehumanization are once again being normalized in ways that are deeply, deeply troubling. We do this to educate. We do these events to educate so such atrocities never happen again to any race, religion, culture or background.”

Mottek began by asking each panelist to share their interpretation of the meaning of “bearing witness” and their story of living through the Holocaust. 

Panelist Susanne Reyto spoke first. Born in 1944 in Hungary, Reyto entered the world just six days before the Nazi invasion of her country. She and her mother were still in the hospital when the Nazis arrived and established their headquarters on the hospital’s grounds. Reyto and her family eventually immigrated to Australia. 

“It was very difficult, but we had no choice,” she said. “We had to learn a new language. We had to learn a new way of life, and coming from totalitarianism to freedom is not so easy … however, [we learned] to deal with it and knowing what my parents had gone through, the learning lessons of resilience, hope and after surviving, thriving and really doing as well as one can.”

The next survivor to speak, Eva Perlman, shared her story of being born eight months before Hitler came to power. Perlman described her family’s survival as the result of “absolute miracles.” Her family soon moved to France but still required help from neighbors.  

“We owe our lives to many non-Jewish people who helped us,” she said. “Any non-Jew in whose house we lived, whether they were our landlord or landlady, risked their lives by sheltering us. No Jew could survive in Europe unless we had help from non-Jews. So, I’m eternally grateful to some of the people in my life.”

Panelist Joseph Alexander, who turned 103 in November, survived 12 concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau. Born in a small town in Poland, Alexander and his family fled after the Nazis invaded and forced many Jewish residents to leave. They were later sent into the Warsaw ghetto, where Alexander lived for six months. 

“You can’t even imagine the life of the ghetto, how terrible, how bad it was,” he said. “You walked out in the morning, was dead people on the streets, on the sidewalks, everywhere.”

Eventually, Alexander was sent to a concentration camp and moved “from one camp to another,” he said, until he finally landed in Auschwitz, where he narrowly missed being sent to the gas chambers. His group was divided into two lines, and when a guard wasn’t looking, Alexander ran to the other line. 

“I didn’t run back to the other side, I wouldn’t be here talking to you tonight,” he said. “The people [in the other line] went straight to the gas chamber.” 

Finally, panelist Ella Mandel, born in 1926 in Poland, shared her story of being 13 years old when the Nazis invaded and closed the Jewish community off in a ghetto with barbed wire. Mandel described a horrific day in which her family and neighbors were called to the cemetery by the Nazis for what was called a “selection.”  

“‘Selection,’ where Jews were involved, would always be sad, sad, very sad,” she said. “As we got to the cemetery, they picked the small children, put them against the wall, in every child’s face, head, a bullet. We started crying and screaming, ‘What are you doing?’ They said, ‘Deutschland, Germany has no room for children, no room for grandparents. All those are going to be shot and left in the cemetery.'”

Among those murdered was Mandel’s 9-year-old sister. 

The panel closed with each survivor’s story of coming to America and their hopes for future  generations. 

“If … the young generation was able to … be informed enough and feel strong enough to withstand all the hatred and to stand up to the bullies, perhaps you can eliminate some of the hatred around us,” said Reyto. “And it’s only doing it every day, and we can never give up, because we never know what tomorrow brings, and we have to prevent the worst things from happening.”  

The post Holocaust Survivors Tell Their Stories at ‘Bearing Witness’ appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The council decided to keep the voluntary expenditure ceiling for candidates at its current limit, voted to adopt certain new campaign contribution limits and voted to approve additional funding for the city’s election budget. 

Beverly Hills’ municipal election is scheduled for June 2. Voters will elect three City Councilmembers to the seats currently held by Mayor Sharona Nazarian, Councilmember Lester Friedman and Councilmember John Mirisch. Voters will also elect a City Treasurer, the office of which is currently held by Howard Fisher. 

Friedman announced on Jan. 16, in an exclusive to the Courier, that he will seek reelection. Mirisch has indicated that he intends to run for reelection, however it is unclear whether he will be permitted to do so due to existing term limits. Mirisch filed a petition for writ of mandate on Jan. 12 in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking to compel the City Clerk’s office to accept his nomination papers. And as reported by the Courier on pg. 1 of this issue, Commissioner Andy Licht has announced his candidacy. 

Fisher has not yet announced whether he will run for reelection.

During their discussion on Jan. 21, the council considered whether candidates’ voluntary expenditure ceiling should be increased from $100,000 to $110,000. The issue was last considered in October 2023, when the sitting council at that time voted to increase the ceiling from $80,000 to $100,000. 

Councilmember Mary Wells expressed her opinion that the ceiling should be kept at $100,000. 

“Having that expenditure cap [for a candidate] to be able to accept supports not having our local elections just get so out of control in terms of spending,” she said. “The more that happens, the more that ratchets up, then the more it excludes people that would want to run, because it’s just too daunting.” 

The council then discussed campaign contribution limits. Prior to last night’s vote, contributions were capped at $500 for candidates who accepted the voluntary expenditure limit and $125 for those who did not accept it. 

Wells and Vice Mayor Craig Corman, who together formed the City Council Liaison Elections Ad Hoc Committee, recommended increasing the cap to $500 for all candidates. Explaining his reasoning, Corman said he believes that differentiating the amounts that candidates may accept is a violation of federal law. 

“It’s been my belief for a long time that actually violates the First Amendment as found in a Supreme Court case back in 2008, Davis v. FEC … that’s why the proposal is to have the limits the same, whether you agree to the [voluntary expenditure] cap or not,” he said. 

During a back-and-forth about case law and precedent regarding campaign contribution limits and voluntary expenditure limits, Corman and Mirisch were interrupted by Nazarian who said that the discussion felt “like we’re in a courtroom.”

Speaking to Corman, Nazarian said, “I think each person should have an opportunity to speak, and then it’ll be your turn.” 

Mirisch responded that he was interested in what Corman had to say, and the discussion continued. 

The council agreed to keep the voluntary expenditure limit at $100,000, which did not require a vote because it did not represent a change to the Beverly Hills Municipal Code.  

It then voted 3-2 to adopt an ordinance increasing the campaign contribution limit for certain candidates for city elections, with Corman and Mirisch voting no. Based on that vote, the campaign contribution limits for candidates who do not accept the voluntary expenditure ceiling will be $400. For those who do, the ceiling will be $500. 

Notification will be provided to voters as to whether a candidate has accepted or not accepted the voluntary expenditure limit. 

The council voted unanimously to approve a funding request of $210,000 from city staff for the election budget, bringing the total budget to $295,000. According to a report prepared by staff, the current funding set aside for elections is insufficient due to increasing costs and an increasing number of elections. 

In other business, the council voted to amend various sections of the BHMC to adopt a transit-oriented development alternative plan pursuant to California Senate Bill 79 (SB 79). SB 79 increases the allowable density, floor area ratio and height for certain housing developments located within a given proximity to transit. By creating and adopting an alternative plan, the city can exert some level of local control over the location of the residential densities mandated by SB 79.

City staff prepared three alternative plan scenarios that distribute the density in varying ways. The council voted to adopt “Scenario 3 (‘La Cienega Focused Scenario’),” which focuses new density around the La Cienega/Wilshire Boulevard Metro stop. According to a report prepared by city staff, Scenario 3 is consistent with previous discussions about revitalizing the city’s southeast area. 

The election filing period for nomination papers and candidates’ statements is Feb. 9 through March 6, however the deadline for non-incumbents will be extended to March 11 if an incumbent does not file by March 6.  

The post City Council Takes Action on Election Spending and Contributions appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

California state law requires all cities to have an OSE, which provides guidance and regulations for open space, park space and recreational amenities. Beverly Hills’ element was originally adopted in 1977 and last revised in 2010 as part of the city’s General Plan update. It is being revisited based on the requirements of California Senate Bill 1425 (SB 1425). That statute requires  municipalities to address issues such as equal access to open space, climate resilience, the restoration of ecosystems to their natural states and consistency with other elements of their General Plans. 

The update process in Beverly Hills started in August 2025 with a review of the existing conditions, literature and relevant policies by city staff and infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, as well as feedback from the city’s public works and community services departments. 

According to a report prepared by city staff, Beverly Hills currently has 145 acres of open space such as parkland, recreational facilities and playgrounds. 

In a presentation made at the Jan. 8 meeting, Deborah Hong, an associate planner with the city, said that some of the major proposed updates to the OSE include increased public education, needs assessments, ongoing improvements to public transportation and collaboration with state and local governing bodies. 

The proposed changes incorporate more support for expanding bike lanes and pedestrian routes, as well as other non-vehicular means of access to open space.

City staff also suggested implementing an annual calendar of events to inform the community about existing environmental-focused programming. The revised draft further recommends wildfire protection strategies such as structures that are resistant to flames, an increased reliance on the state’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones designations when considering the location of buildings and trees and using landscaping that is more likely to mitigate risk. 

Other suggested changes include needs assessments at public parks, periodic updates to the Beverly Hills Garden Handbook and the implementation of stormwater capture strategies. 

If approved by City Council, the changes to the General Plan will be implemented by the city’s community services division and public works staff. They will be funded through Capital Improvement Program general funds.  

The post Planning Commission Moves Open Space Element Forward appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The council voted unanimously to vacate the Planning Commission’s approval of the project at its original height of 14 stories, remand the matter to the commission for further consideration at a height of 26 stories and grant in part related appeals with amendments. 

A preliminary application for the project was filed by developer 9229 Wilshire Skyline LLC on Dec. 14, 2023. Formal entitlement applications were submitted on April 15, 2024, and the application was deemed complete by the city on Jan. 10, 2025. 

The project proposed at that time was a 14-story, mixed-use Builder’s Remedy development with 116 units, 60 hotel rooms and ground-floor retail space, as well as three subterranean parking levels with 140 parking spots. 

On Oct. 29, 2025, the Planning Commission conditionally approved the project’s request for a development plan review, conditional use permit and density bonus permit. 

However, on Oct. 28, 2025, the applicant submitted a revised application for the project. The new design proposes a 26-story mixed-use building with 195 residential units, ground floor retail and seven levels of above-grade parking for a total of 252 parking spaces. 

Unlike the initially proposed project, it does not include a hotel component. 

The last-minute submission was permissible under the state’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA). 

City staff did not have time to properly process the new application, and instead considered and approved the development as outlined in the original application. In response, two appeals were filed to the City Council: one by the applicant requesting that the approval be set aside and the revised project be processed instead, and one by the Beverly Hills Citizens Coalition, a group of residents with concerns about the project. 

At its Jan. 13 meeting, the council focused its discussion primarily on the applicant’s appeal, which was submitted on the grounds that the commission’s decision violated the developer’s right to revise a Builder’s Remedy application, constituted arbitrary and capricious action and violated the HAA, denied the developer procedural fairness and due process and demonstrated evidence of bad faith and a potential violation of the HAA. 

Several residents spoke out against the project during the public comment period of the meeting.

Several councilmembers expressed their dislike of the project, but noted, as they have in the past that there is little they can do to deny Builder’s Remedy projects. 

The council voted unanimously to send the matter back to the Planning Commission, and to refund the appeal fee of $7,101 paid by the Beverly Hills Citizens Coalition.

In other business, the city unanimously approved a resolution condemning the Islamic Republic of Iran’s response to recent peaceful protests. The resolution condemns the regime’s violent and extreme tactics including shutting down internet and phone lines and use of tear gas and live ammunition on citizens. 

The chamber was full of people supporting the resolution, some of whom could be seen weeping and draped in Iranian flags during public comment. 

The council received a standing ovation following the vote. 

The post City Will Consider 26-Story Development on Wilshire appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The news came on the heels of multiple indications of trouble for the company, including the sale of the land below Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, a change in leadership and reports that the company could not pay its vendors. 

News of the impending bankruptcy broke in late December, when Saks Global reportedly missed an interest payment of over $100 million on bonds. Shortly thereafter, Marc Metrick stepped down from his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), handing the reins over to Richard Baker. 

The company then announced that former Neiman Marcus CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck would take over for Baker.  

In the immediate aftermath of its Chapter 11 filing, Saks Global announced that it had secured an approximately $1.75 billion financing commitment. According to a statement issued by the company, its stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks OFF 5TH remain open and operational to serve customers. 

“This is a defining moment for Saks Global, and the path ahead presents a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the foundation of our business and position it for the future,” said van Raemdonck in a statement. “In close partnership with [our] newly appointed leaders and our colleagues across the organization, we will navigate this process together with a continued focus on serving our customers and luxury brands.”

According to documents filed in court, the company’s estimated assets and liabilities are listed between $1 billion and $10 billion. 

The sale of the land below Neiman Marcus at 9700 Wilshire Blvd. to New York-based private real estate firm Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. was announced in late December. 

In Beverly Hills, Saks Global is pursuing a major development at and around the site of the historic Saks Fifth Avenue Women’s Building at 9600 Wilshire Blvd. The two-block project sits inside the rectangle created by Camden Drive, Bedford Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, extending approximately halfway south on the Bedford and Camden blocks. 

Michael Forbes, the city’s director of community development, told the Courier in an email that the project is proceeding as planned. 

“Saks told us that the bankruptcy filing is not expected to have any effect on the project and that they will continue moving forward with the entitlement process for the City Council to consider the project,” he said. 

The post Saks Global Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

After serving twice as mayor during tumultuous times locally and nationally, he said he is running “to finish the job.” 

“I had hoped that two terms would give me the time to address and begin implementing many of my priorities,” Friedman told the Courier. “But as we know, man makes plans, and you know who laughs. My years as mayor were upended by unforeseen and society-changing events: the pandemic, George Floyd civil unrest and the Palisades and Eaton fires.”

Friedman, an attorney, mediator and judge pro tem, was first elected to the City Council in 2017 and again in 2022. Prior to serving on the council, he spent six years on the Beverly Hills Traffic and Parking Commission, acted as chair of the Beverly Hills Taxi Review Committee and served on the Blue-Ribbon Commission for Santa Monica Boulevard Reconstruction. 

He was installed for his first mayoral term in 2020 and his second in 2024. 

Friedman’s seat will be one of three open positions on the council in this year’s municipal elections, including those currently held by Mayor Sharona Nazarian and Councilmember John Mirisch. 

If reelected to the council, Friedman said he plans to focus on security, economics and managing growth. 

“We need to prepare our infrastructure and reassess our public safety services—police and fire,” he said. “The good news is that Beverly Hills has already begun investing in the tools that enhance and support the work of our police and firefighters. But we need to do more.” 

Noting that economic projections in the city predict a deficit and tourism is down, Friedman said he intends to examine the factors behind those realities and tackle them head-on. 

“Our business district is facing real challenges,” he said. “For example, the fire at Porta Via has had a ripple effect on adjacent businesses. Several have now closed. Canon Drive is one of the city’s most vibrant districts. I want to work with business and property owners to help get these fixtures in our community open again. We need to recognize our economic opportunities and then capitalize on them.”

During Friedman’s most recent term on the council, Beverly Hills has faced over a dozen Builder’s Remedy projects: developments that utilize state law to sidestep certain zoning, density and height restrictions in the city. 

The result has been displeasure and disappointment among many impacted residents and businesses. Without going into detail, Friedman acknowledged the issue and said the council is exploring its options. 

“We are facing tremendous legal obstacles with the state’s illogical imposition that thousands of new apartments be built in Beverly Hills,” he said. “But there are legal remedies the council is pursuing.” 

While serving as mayor of the city from 2024-25, Friedman was heavily involved in efforts to combat rising antisemitism, hosting over 200 North American mayors for the Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism and launching Beverly Hills’ Oct. 7 Memorial. 

He was on the political front lines when the Palisades and Eaton fires blazed through Los Angeles in January 2025 and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. 

Dealing with those emergency situations, Friedman said, afforded him the opportunity to lead through watershed events—and learn how to better the city in the process. 

“The knowledge I gained from each of these crises led to the beginning of real improvements in the city’s security infrastructure, including more license plate readers, our drone program and most significantly, the 24/7 real-time closed-circuit television system,” he said. “I’m very proud to have initiated or expanded these programs with the backing of the council and [Beverly Hills Police] Chief Stainbrook.” 

Friedman also noted that serving as mayor during the 2025 wildfires gave him the chance to examine ways to strengthen the city’s emergency responses. 

“The aftermath of the fires had reverberations for Beverly Hills even as we emerged unscathed … [Beverly Hills] Fire [Department] Chief Barton and I worked to begin assessing our future fire needs,” he said. “How do we protect our residents? What are our vulnerabilities?” 

Friedman has lived in Beverly Hills for more than 40 years. His wife, Simone Friedman is also involved in public service, having served on the Recreation and Parks Commission and as chairperson and president of the Beverly Hills Education Foundation. Together, they have four children and six grandchildren. 

In addition to his work with the city, Friedman has been the official scorer for UCLA Men’s Basketball, the Pac-12 Conference Basketball Tournament and the NCAA West Regional.

“The security and prosperity of Beverly Hills is my priority,” Friedman said. “I bring the experience, ideas and knowledge that are needed to protect our quality of life as we meet the challenges ahead.” 

The post Friedman Will Seek Reelection to City Council appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Saks Global is reportedly seeking funding to keep its businesses afloat. In the meantime, the company has sold the two-city block Neiman Marcus site in Beverly Hills to the New York-based private real estate firm Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. Neiman Marcus, located at 9700 Wilshire Blvd., will remain operational. 

The price of the acquisition was not made public, however in a press release, the sale was compared to the recent acquisition of the Wilshire Rodeo Plaza for approximately $211 million, and the $90 million purchase of 8942 Wilshire Blvd. by Alo Yoga. 

As of press time, Saks Global has not responded to a request for comment. 

In other changes at the company, CEO March Metrick stepped down and was replaced by Richard Baker, Saks Global’s executive chairman. 

Saks Global is currently behind a major development project in Beverly Hills. The project, which was approved by the Planning Commission in August, includes the construction of four new buildings, consisting of two six-story residential structures and two commercial buildings, one six stories and the other seven stories. A spa, boutique hotel, membership club, retail space and office space will be included in the commercial buildings. 

The development will also include the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the historic Saks Fifth Avenue Women’s Building at 9600 Wilshire Blvd. as well as the creation of an underground parking structure with 744 spaces and new public outdoor space. 

The project parcel is bordered by Camden Drive, Bedford Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, extending about halfway down the Bedford and Camden blocks towards Charleville Boulevard.

According to Michael Forbes, the city’s director of community development, Saks Global has not reached out with any changes to the plan.  

“So far we have not heard anything from them on this issue or any effect it may have on the project,” Forbes said in an email to the Courier.  

The post Saks Global Makes High-Profile Changes Amid Rumors of Impending Bankruptcy appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Municipal elections scheduled for June will see local voters choose representatives to fill three seats on the Beverly Hills City Council and elect a new City Treasurer. Candidates for City Council will vie for positions currently held by Mayor Sharona Nazarian, Councilmember John Mirisch and Councilmember Lester Friedman.

Nazarian is currently serving the final year of her first term. Elected to the council in June 2022, she served as vice mayor in 2024-25 and is now serving her mayoral term. Friedman is currently serving the last year of his second term. He was first elected to the council in 2017 and again in 2022. Friedman served as mayor in 2020 and 2024. 

Mirisch’s bid for reelection challenges section 2-1-21 of the Beverly Hills Municipal Code (BHMC), which limits City Councilmembers and City Treasurers to three lifetime terms. 

BHMC 2-1-21 was passed as Measure TL in 2022. Simultaneously, Mirisch was elected to his fourth term. City officials have argued that a councilmember’s previously held terms count toward their total lifetime tally, meaning that Mirisch has reached his term limit.  

Mirisch and his attorney Eric George argue that Mirisch is still eligible to run, pointing to California’s Government Code Section 36502(b). The code applies City Council term restrictions “prospectively only” to future terms that haven’t been served yet.  

The council was scheduled to discuss the matter at a closed session in December 2025 but did not get to it because of time constraints, Mirisch told the Courier.  

In response to questions about whether the city will allow Mirisch to run again, City Attorney Laurence Wiener told the Courier in an email, “At the moment, no one has officially filed as a candidate for a City Council office.”

The filing period for anyone interested in running for City Council is Feb. 9 to March 6. According to the city, if an eligible incumbent doesn’t file by March 6, the deadline extends to March 11 for other potential candidates.

Because the filing period has not officially begun, representatives from the city declined to state whether Friedman and Nazarian will run for reelection or whether there are any challengers. 

“An individual is formally a City Council and/or City Treasurer candidate once their nomination filing has been completed and approved by our office,” City Clerk Huma Ahmed told the Courier in an email, adding, “They may make announcements of their ‘intentions’ to run for office … but it’s not official until their nomination paperwork is complete.”

Current City Treasurer Howard S. Fisher is finishing his second term in office. Treasurers are allowed to serve three terms. Fisher has not yet confirmed whether he is running for reelection, and no candidates for the office are currently listed on the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

The election for City Council and City Treasurer will be held on June 2. 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who represents District 3, which includes Beverly Hills, will also reach the end of her current term this year and is running for reelection, according to a representative for her campaign. Horvath was sworn into office in 2022. Prior to her election as a county supervisor, she served as a West Hollywood city councilmember and mayor.  

For some time, speculation has grown that Horvath is considering a run for Los Angeles mayor, although she told the Los Angeles Times in October 2025 that she had no plans to do so. As of press time, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk lists one individual, Tonia Arey,  challenging Horvath in the Nov. 3 election.

Voters will also choose representatives for the California State Senate and Assembly in November. 

California State Senator Ben Allen represents District 24, which includes Beverly Hills, and will reach his term limit this year. At least 12 candidates have announced their intention to run for his seat, including Brian Goldsmith (D), Sion Roy (D), Brittany McKinley (D), John Erickson (D), Ellen Evans (D), Eric Alegria (D), Kristina Irwin (R) and Mike Newhouse (D). 

Goldsmith, a resident of Beverly Hills, told the Courier in April that his mission will be to “listen to my neighbors, here and across the district, and work for better results from our state government.”

California State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D) represents District 51, which includes Beverly Hills. Zbur has filed a statement of intention to run for reelection. Colin Hernandez (D) and Dick Lucas have also filed statements of intention to run. 

Elections will be held on Nov. 3 for Congressional Districts 36, which includes Beverly Hills, and 32, which abuts some of the northwestern outskirts of the city.

District 36 is currently represented by Congressman Ted Lieu (D), who is up for reelection. According to the U.S. Federal Elections Commission (FEC) website, other candidates who have registered and filed a financial report include Melissa Leah Toomim (R), Houston Brignano (R) and Rustin Knudtson (D).

District 32 is currently represented by Congressman Brad Sherman (D), who is up for reelection. According to the FEC website, other candidates who have registered and filed a financial report include Jake Levine (D), Jake Rakov (D), Christopher Ahuja (D), Anna Wilding (D), Larry Thompson (R), Dory Benami (D) and Josh Sautter (D). 

The Courier will continue to follow election news and updates throughout the year.  

The post Busy Year Ahead for Local Elections appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In a separate statement, she said that Tanenbaum was “a great man who gave his immense passion, heart, soul and intellect to serve his fellow man. The world will be a smaller place without him.”

Robert K. Tanenbaum served as mayor of Beverly Hills in 1988 and 1992. An accomplished attorney and author, his most recent publication, “That Day in Dallas—Lee Harvey Oswald Did Not Kill JFK,” was released in June 2025. 

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1942, Tanenbaum received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) on a basketball scholarship before graduating from UC Berkeley School of Law. 

As an assistant district attorney in New York County, Tanenbaum served under District Attorney Frank Hogan. During his tenure, Tanenbaum ran the homicide bureau, served as chief of the criminal courts and led the District Attorney’s legal staff training program. 

Tanenbaum rose to national prominence when he was appointed deputy chief counsel for the congressional committee investigation into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

In Southern California, Tanenbaum worked as a special prosecution consultant on the Hillside Strangler case and handled a number of other high-profile matters, including the defense of Amy Grossberg and the representation of eight Black plaintiffs in a significant racial profiling case. He taught Advanced Criminal Procedure for four years at UC Berkeley School of Law and conducted continuing legal education seminars for practicing attorneys in California, New York and Pennsylvania.

Tanenbaum’s legal work informed his writing, which was prolific. As the author of 34 fiction and nonfiction books, Tanenbaum drew on his experiences in the court system for books such as “Echoes of My Soul,” which examined the murders of two young women in 1963 and the twisted turns that led to their killer, and “Badge of the Assassin,” which recounted Tanenbaum’s investigation and trials involving members of the Black Liberation Army who assassinated two New York Police Department officers. 

“Badge of the Assassin” was later adapted as a television film featuring James Woods as Tanenbaum. 

“That Day in Dallas” alleges that the government’s handling of the investigation into Kennedy’s assassination was deeply flawed and dishonest.  

In a video interview with Open Road Media in 2011, Tanenbaum described the inspiration for, and deeper purpose of his writing.

“The stories I tell flow from the kinds of observations and participation when I was very much active in the justice system,” he said. “In my novels, we come to recognize the dark side of human nature and the angelic side of human nature, and it’s that confrontation that causes us to reflect on how we want to deal in our own private lives.”

Tanenbaum is remembered as a loving father and grandfather whose greatest pride was his family. 

“I am forever grateful for his friendship and love,” former Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse told the Courier. “He treated me like a big brother, always looking out for me with support, guidance, wisdom and integrity. He loved our community with every ounce of his being and never was shy with his opinions. He had a presence that equaled his tall stature and was equally passionate with his love for Beverly Hills. I will miss his ‘Hey kiddo’ endearing texts and true friendship.” 

In an Instagram post, City Councilmember Mary Wells wrote, “I will greatly miss having Bob Tanenbaum in my corner. He told it straight, welcomed debate, and stood firmly by those he believed in. Fiercely loyal and deeply principled, Bob was both a mentor and a dear friend.”

Jimmy Delshad, who served as mayor of Beverly Hills in 2007 and 2010, said in a statement to the Courier, “I mourn the passing of Robert Tanenbaum—former Beverly Hills mayor and celebrated author—who came into my life first as a thoughtful critic and demanding teacher, and over time became a trusted mentor and a dear friend. In his final book he left me a gift I will forever cherish, writing, ‘for Jimmy Delshad, a great mayor and a dear friend with utmost respect and admiration,’ words that reflect the generosity, integrity, and depth of character that defined him.”

Patti Tanenbaum told the Courier that her husband lived the past year with gusto and saw multiple projects through that were very important to him. 

“He got so much accomplished this past year that he was hoping to, and I’m so grateful for that,” she said. 

In the interview with Open Road Media, Tanenbaum spoke briefly about his dreams for the future when he was a child in New York. 

“When we were kids and came to Coney Island, came to the beach and went on the rides and went to Nathan’s that had those great hot dogs and French fries, we always knew we’d make it,” he said. “We were invincible. We were fearless. We were Americans from Brooklyn; there was nothing going to stop us.”

Tanenbaum is survived by Patti, to whom he was married for 58 years; their three children, Rachael, Roger and Billy; daughter-in-law, Paige; and two grandchildren, Virginia and Joey Dodge. 

A memorial service will be held for Tanenbaum on Jan. 11 at 3:30 p.m. at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries, located at 5950 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles.  

The post Robert K. Tanenbaum, Former Mayor, Dies at 83 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Builder’s Remedy was added to the government code in 1990 and heavily modified in 2024, resulting in what many called “Builder’s Remedy 2.0.” The provision allows developers to circumvent certain city codes, including those governing building and zoning, in exchange for providing a certain number of affordable residential units in cities lacking a certified Housing Element.

In Beverly Hills, a major turning point for developers seeking to make use of Builder’s Remedy occurred in August 2025, when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Curtis A. Kin ordered city officials to process the application for a proposed 19-story, mixed-use development at 125-129 S. Linden Drive. 

Kin determined that the city violated California’s Housing Accountability Act and Permit Streamlining Act in its decisions regarding the project, and the case has effectively set precedent for other, similar projects. 

Of the 16 applications submitted to the city, nine were approved by the Beverly Hills Planning Commission in October 2025. Another was denied, four are currently in litigation, one will be heard by the Planning Commission in January, and one is on hold at the request of the applicant. 

The nine projects approved by the Planning Commission are: 

• An eight-story mixed-use development with 135 residential units at 333-353 S. Beverly Drive;

• A 12-story residential project with 65 residential units at 346 N. Maple Drive;

• An 11-story residential project with 25 residential units at 401 N. Oakhurst Drive;

• A 13-story residential project with 53 dwelling units at 9430 Olympic Blvd.;

• A 13-story mixed-use development with 75 residential units at 9441 Olympic Blvd.;

• An eight-story mixed-use development with 105 residential units at 9467 Olympic Blvd.;

• A 19-story mixed-use development with 30 residential units at 145 S. Rodeo Drive;

• A 14-story mixed-use development with 116 residential units at 9229 Wilshire Blvd., and 

• An eight-story residential development with 55 residential units at 232 Tower Drive.

Two of those projects have been appealed to the City Council. The project proposed for 9229 Wilshire Blvd. was appealed by an interested party and the applicant. That hearing is currently scheduled for Jan. 13, according to a representative from the city. Additionally, the applicant submitted a revised project which is currently being reviewed by the city. The revised project would be 26 stories with 195 residential units.

The project at 232 Tower Drive was also appealed to the City Council by the Carthay Beverly Hills Neighbors, a group of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles residents. A hearing date for that appeal is pending.  

In November 2025, the Planning Commission denied a request for a development plan review and density bonus permit for a proposed 26-story project at 8844 Burton Way. Dave Rand, an attorney representing the developer, told the Courier at the time that the commission “completely and flagrantly ignored the law.” 

In a recent email to the Courier, Rand said that “We have made it pretty clear in our papers to the city and in response to questions from the press that the applicant will sue the city if the project is denied. Obviously, the City Council has the opportunity to ensure that does not happen by following the law and approving the project.”

The four applications involved in litigation include two side-by-side developments at 8800 and  8820 Wilshire Blvd., both of which would be 19 stories and include retail space and residential units; a 15-story residential building at 140 S. Camden Drive; and and the development at 125-129 S. Linden Drive.

In March 2025, two nearly identical lawsuits were filed regarding the Wilshire Boulevard projects claiming that the applications were unfairly denied. Trial setting conferences are scheduled for both complaints in January. 

The city was sued by the developer of the Camden Drive project in June 2025 in a complaint that challenged the city’s determination that the application for a Builder’s Remedy project was forfeited. 

Finally, the city filed an appeal in the Linden Drive case in November 2025. 

As part of the 16 Builder’s Remedy applications submitted to the city, two were proposed for projects on Hamilton Drive. An eight-story residential development at 214-216 S. Hamilton Drive will be reviewed by the Planning Commission on Jan. 22, and an application for a residential development at 211-217 S. Hamilton Drive has been placed on hold at the applicant’s request. 

The post Builder’s Remedy Projects Moved Forward in 2025 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“Occasionally, the discussions on the board are robust and passionate, and they are also open and transparent,” she said. “We have five board members who are, in their own very important way, trying to do the best for this district.”

In an interview with the Courier, Manouchehri said that her priorities for BHUSD will center on the implementation of the district’s strategic plan. As its six broad priorities, the plan cites student achievement, teaching and learning, student engagement, facilities completion, fiscal responsibility and school safety and security.

“The strategic plan establishes a true meeting of the minds, where everybody can see what the priorities are, and we are all on the same page and moving towards the same goals,” Manouchehri said. “These are the pillars that we believe will lead us to continued improvement and success [and] keep us all accountable for the year moving forward.”

During the past several years, the board has had multiple discussions about student test scores. State testing results from 2024 showed that approximately 31% of third through eighth graders and 11th graders fell below grade-level standards in English Language Arts. In the same year, approximately 42% of those students fell below grade level in math.

“There has been a very honest and transparent conversation about making sure that our students’ basic educational needs are being met, and we believe we can do even more than that,” said Manouchehri. “Our students are diverse, and the intention is to meet all of our students’ needs whatever they may be.”

As president, Manouchehri will head up a board comprised of Board Members Amanda Stern, Rachelle Marcus and Russell Stuart and Vice President Sigalie Sabag.

Marcus was elected to the board in 2018 following a 50-year teaching career in the district. Stern, a board-certified school psychologist, was elected to the board in 2020. Stuart, a security expert and owner of Beverly Hills Guns, was elected to the board in 2024. Sabag, a consultant and business owner, was also elected to the board in 2024. 

Relations between the board have been tense at times. At its organizational meeting on Dec. 16,  Manouchehri read a lengthy, prewritten speech to Stern implying that Stern has violated a number of terms of the board, including adhering to the Board Governance handbook and California’s Ralph M. Brown Act, which governs the way elected officials conduct public meetings. 

Manouchehri then voted alongside Sabag and Stuart to not appoint Stern to the vice presidency for which Stern was next in line, according to the board’s bylaws. 

Still, in speaking to the Courier, Manouchehri disagreed with a characterization of the board as being divided on the issues, noting that the board votes 5-0 “on almost all votes.” 

“The board is a very good representation of our community,” she said. “I don’t shy away from having difficult conversations, and that’s the duty of the board. We are occasionally 4-1 and we are occasionally 3-2, and it does seem that the occasional 3-2 votes get a lot of attention, but I will note that we have been 5-0 on the vast majority of votes.”

She also emphasized the fact that since a majority of the board is prohibited by the Brown Act from discussing agenda items outside of open session, conversations witnessed by the community are happening for the first time. 

“The conversations are not happening behind closed doors,” she said. “Conversations are happening transparently and in real time during open session meetings. And that means we, as board members, are listening, hearing, sharing and learning from one another in real time. It’s a valuable process, and it’s not an easy one.” 

The board has also recently faced some pushback from the community. In March, Stuart and Sabag were served with notifications of an intent to circulate recall petitions against them. In the months prior, board meetings were packed with community members protesting certain staffing decisions made by the district. 

To that end, Manouchehri encourages members of the public to “speak to your board members and to get to know all of them.”

“Some of us have believed that a little bit more change has been necessary and advisable in this last year,” she said. “I think it’s really about being able to see what the vision is and getting to know board members to trust their visions and how they’re trying to improve the district.”

To Manouchehri, that improvement has already begun. She noted that a student was accepted to Harvard University last year, and one of this year’s graduating seniors recently announced their acceptance to Stanford University. 

The district has also revamped its college and career counseling center which Manouchehri said now, “matches and mirrors that of the private schools.” The district is establishing an AI task force to prepare students for future careers and expanding their athletic programming to include girls and boys flag football teams, tennis, golf, swimming and wrestling, she said. 

“We know that BHUSD students are the best of the best, and can be the best of the best,” Manouchehri said. “And the board’s responsibility is to help them realize that.”  

The post Manouchehri Looks Ahead to Her Term as BHUSD Board President appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

It also conditionally approved an architectural review for a façade remodel in an existing parking structure that will be converted into ground floor retail space, and a sign program for tenants who may occupy that space. 

One of the single-family residences approved by the commission will be located at 509 N. Rodeo Drive. According to a staff report, it will replace a demolished structure at the same location. 

The design for the home is described by the applicant as inspired by European architecture. The project will have a symmetrical front façade and material finishes that include smooth light-gray stucco, precast trim, slate roof tile, wrought-iron railings and aluminum-clad wood windows. 

During discussion, commissioners expressed concern about the flatness of the façade and a lack of sufficient landscaping in keeping with design standards for the city. 

“I think you need a lot more large trees in the front than what you’re proposing here,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Daniels. “It is a rather bland, flat, uninteresting façade. I mean, we can’t design it for you, but landscaping would help a lot to offset that blandness of the façade.”

Chair Rebecca Pynoos agreed. 

“Part of our charge, our criteria for what we’re supposed to look at is that the proposed development’s design appropriately minimizes the appearance of scale and mass and enhances the garden-like quality of the city, and appropriately maximizes the use of open spaces within the proposed architectural style,” she said. “And I have to say … we’re still not there yet with elements of this property.” 

Following a discussion that included various design suggestions, the commission approved the request with five conditions addressing the property’s landscaping, façade windows, paving and pediment. 

The second single-family residence reviewed by the commission will be located at 708 Sierra Drive. 

The applicant described the project’s architectural style as “modern farmhouse,” incorporating light-colored stone veneer, cement plaster, wood accents and a standing seam metal roof. The front façade features multiple front-facing gables, black metal windows and a street-facing garage. 

Commissioner Evan Meyer expressed his disappointment over the destruction of the previous home on the lot but also voiced his support for the design of the new home.  

“I always hate it when some of these name architect[ural homes] that were designed really elegantly and understated are being torn down … the good news is, I think what you have proposed is just a really nice departure from what we see so often in our commission,” he said. “We get a lot of these very boxy, rectangular-shaped homes with very little articulation, and I think this is a much more interesting approach.” 

Other commissioners largely agreed with Meyer. Some expressed concerns over certain portions of the front façade as well as the roofline, and the final approval was conditioned with revisions to those elements of the project. 

Finally, the commission approved an architectural review of a façade remodel and sign program at 450 N. Roxbury Drive. 

The site is an existing parking structure. The city’s Planning Commission in November 2024 conditionally approved the conversion of nearly 6,800 square feet of the structure into retail floor area. 

Brian Nelson, a representative for the project, told the commission that the conversion seeks to encourage foot traffic in the area. 

“The impetus is about creating some pedestrian-friendly storefronts along a street that really doesn’t have them at the moment … this side [of the street] in particular is mainly office fronts,” he said. 

Meyer voiced his support for the proposal. 

“Overall, I think this is well-designed, good-looking,” he said. “I think it will be a much better use of space and hopefully help activate that section of the street which, as you mentioned, is very quiet on the retail front. I think this is a positive change of use.”

Daniels asked the applicant “how confident” they are that they can lease a “seven-foot-high retail space.”  

“That’s a very low space,” Daniels said. “As clever as I feel you have been with the design and the concept to turn parking into retail, which I think is excellent, I’m just wondering, have you thought about that?” 

Michael Farahnik, another project representative, acknowledged that leasing might be challenging because of the structure’s height.  

“That’s going to be one of our impediments as far as trying to lease this space,” he said. “So, we’re going to have to lease this space as, Beverly Hills Triangle address that’s not perfect … our position is going to be, build it and they will come. We are the only folks on Roxbury that can revitalize that street.”  

The post Design for Two New Residences Approved in the Flats appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The commission also heard reports from the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) and the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD).

The Kindness Week initiative was launched in 2022 to align with the national Random Acts of Kindness Week and “to promote civility, compassion, and community connection through inclusive programming and public engagement.” Kindness Week in Beverly Hills will take place Feb. 8-14, 2026, with each day devoted to acts of kindness or community building.

In a presentation, Joana Torres, the city’s community services manager, outlined the plan for each day of the event. Feb. 8 will serve as a Day of Giving at the Beverly Hills Farmer’s Market, at which four organizations or entities will be the recipients of donations from the community. 

The West Side Food Bank and Midnight Mission are confirmed as recipients thus far. 

Commissioner Laura Margo also brought up the possibility of providing items for local families in need. 

“I was wondering if we could possibly throw around some ideas about how to help them,” she said. 

The commission discussed the possibility of creating Amazon wish lists that are linked to a QR code, which those who wish to donate could scan on Giving Day. 

On Feb. 9, a Valentine’s Day dance for the Beverly Hills Active Adult Club will take place at the Roxbury Park Community Center. On Feb. 10 and 12, the Boys and Girls Club Kindness Van will visit Beverly Vista Middle School and Beverly Hills High School (BHHS), and Feb. 11 will serve as Walk to School Wednesday. 

Commissioner Noelle Batista suggested including a “kindness public assembly” near the Beverly Hills sign in Beverly Gardens Park or in Beverly Canon Gardens. 

“[It could be] a ‘honk for kindness’ as people drive by,” she said. “You see so many areas for protesting, and it can be very hostile in that area. So, if it’s just a very positive display, I think that would be nice.” 

The commission also heard from BHPD Executive Officer Lt. Kevin Orth on the city’s most recent crime statistics. Orth reported that crime continues to trend downward but noted that there is often an uptick during the holidays. 

To that end, he offered safety tips for the season. 

“Be aware of your surroundings, set your alarm, make sure your car door is locked,” he said. “If you are shopping, not leaving items inside the car where they are in plain view for people, and if you see something, please say something. Call our non-emergent line, or if necessary, the emergency line, of course. And then just try to keep property such as bags, purses, near you, not unattended, even if it’s for a moment.”  

BHUSD Board Member Amanda Stern gave a presentation showcasing some of the district’s year-end events as well as an update on college acceptances and construction completion at BHHS. 

Noting that the district is seeing “some great four-year college acceptance rates,” she said that those rates are an important metric for how the district ranks with the U.S. News and World Report. 

Stern also reported that the BHHS Grand Lawn is expected to be unveiled at the end of January, the school’s new gym will be ready in approximately one year, and that a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Peters Auditorium is planned for Jan. 28, 2026. 

At the Dec. 18 meeting, Recreation Services Manager Michael Muse reported that the new, integrated Health and Human Relations Commission will meet on the fourth Monday of every month beginning on Jan. 26, 2026. Several commissioners on the Health and Safety Commission will term out within the next year. 

The City Council voted in March to merge the Human Relations and Health and Safety Commissions after finding significant overlap in the work of the two bodies.  

At the end of the meeting, commissioners highlighted and praised the work of city staff, including Torres, Muse, Management Assistant of Community Services Lori Tanner and Project Staff Assistant Christina Garcia. 

The post Human Relations Commission Plans 2026 Kindness Week appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

It also voted to recommend that the City Council adopt a general plan amendment, a zone change to amend the land use map, and land use element, and zoning map and a draft ordinance amending sections of the Beverly Hills Municipal Code to adopt a transit-oriented development alternative plan.

The showroom on North Canon Drive will feature AFEELA electric vehicle models and will allow customers to review model specifications. 

According to the applicant, Sony Honda Mobility of America, Inc., which owns the newly created AFEELA brand, approximately 90% of sales transactions happen online. The showroom, which will have frontage along North Canon Drive and North Santa Monica Boulevard, will be used for appointments, consultations and test drives. 

The showroom will keep up to three display cars and two test-drive cars on-site. The company’s additional inventory is stored in Torrance, according to a staff report.

Customer deliveries will also happen off-site, as will vehicle service, maintenance and repairs. 

Test drives will begin at the showroom’s valet area, and continue in a loop along North Canon Drive, South Santa Monica Boulevard, South Moreno Drive, North Santa Monica Boulevard and back onto North Cañon Drive. 

The project site will provide three dedicated employee parking spaces on-site, with two additional parking spaces reserved for test-driving vehicles.

At the Dec. 11 meeting, J. Thongnop, the senior director of marketing for Sony Honda Mobility of America, Inc., explained that AFEELA is a joint venture between Sony and Honda. 

“AFEELA is meant to bring together two brands that have backgrounds in both intelligence and mobility, but also we’re adding in entertainment as we’d expect from the Sony side of things,” he said. “We’re really excited to be opening up our location in Beverly Hills. We want to consider it our flagship, and we understand the importance of being a good citizen.”

The company also has a pop-up location in Century City. 

The commission spoke favorably of the proposal in its discussion of the request. 

“For me, in terms of land use and in terms of economic viability, this is a desirable tenant with a desirable product and a desirable location,” said Commissioner Gary Ross. 

Commissioner Terri Kaplan thanked the applicant for “playing by the rules.” 

“I’d like to acknowledge the applicant and thank you for … coming to the city for a special event permit as opposed to just showing up and starting to do what you wish to do,” she said. “Thank you. I hope you set an example for others.”

The permit was unanimously approved, with Commissioner Myra Demeter absent from the meeting. 

In its vote to recommend that the City Council adopt a general plan amendment, a zone change to amend the land use map and land use element, and zoning map and a draft ordinance amending sections of the Beverly Hills Municipal Code to adopt a transit-oriented development alternative plan, the commission addressed requirements set forth in California State Senate Bill (SB) 79. 

SB 79, which was signed into law in October and goes into effect in July 2026, increases the allowable density, floor area ratio and height for certain housing development projects located within certain distances from transit-oriented development stops. 

In its report, city staff outlined three possible scenarios for alternative plans that would allow the city to exert some level of local control over the requirements of SB 79. The commission did not agree on which scenario to support; however, it did support the creation of an alternative plan. 

The recommendation passed 3-0. Commissioner Terri Kaplan recused herself from the discussion due to a conflict of interest. 

The proposed plans will now go to City Council for review.  

The post Planning Commission Approves AFEELA Showroom and SB 79 Plans appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Residents have long expressed concerns about the new station. Wilshire/La Cienega will temporarily be an end-of-line location, meaning that there are no stops past it. That designation can result in more riders disembarking into the surrounding area. 

The station will remain an end-of-line location until Phase 2 of the Metro’s D Line extension is complete, which is currently projected for the end of 2026 or beginning of 2027. 

“The good news is this is going to be a temporary issue, but … there are always going to be new people who come [off the Metro and into the city],” said Councilmember John Mirisch. “So, I think we just have to manage it as best we can.” 

The city has poured considerable resources and time into ensuring the safety of the area when the Metro station opens. 

The station will have an above-ground public safety kiosk that, according to the same representative from the city, will be staffed by Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) Community Service Officers (CSOs). 

The council approved six CSO positions in its 2025-26 budget. According to the same representative, the city is in the final stages of hiring for those positions and plans to have the officers trained and available when the station opens. The kiosk will not be complete at that time, but a temporary structure will be erected. 

The council also approved eight additional sworn BHPD positions to patrol the neighborhood around Wilshire/La Cienega. The same city representative did not make clear whether those positions have been filled, but said that they are “part of the overall department staffing and the city is continuously recruiting and hiring,” and that BHPD is “prepared to deploy the necessary officers to support the community and area surrounding the station.”

Metro will provide two sworn police officers and one sergeant on duty 24/7, and at least one fare enforcement official.  

Additionally, Metro is in the process of developing its own police department that will serve the entire Metro system, including Beverly Hills. 

The creation of that department is expected to take several more years. In the interim, the city is negotiating with the Los Angeles Police Department to provide officers below ground. Those officers are on track to be in place for the station opening. 

At its Dec. 16 meeting, the council focused its discussion largely on how to provide services to Metro passengers who may need help, including people experiencing homelessness, and ways to communicate with local businesses that may be affected by the station and the increased foot traffic it will generate. 

Beverly Hills’ existing structure for providing services to people experiencing homelessness is a collaboration between multiple partners including the Beverly Hills Fire Department, BHPD, the Beverly Hills Outreach Team, contracted security and a Department of Mental Health clinician.

“Beverly Hills is already ahead of many jurisdictions with end-of-line stations due to our established Beverly Hills Homeless Collaboration Team and the city’s consistent One City, One Team approach,” a staff report notes. 

City staff also discussed at length how outreach and communication with businesses and residents in the neighborhood of the station will be conducted. 

Enisha Clark, the city’s Human Services Administrator, said at the meeting that feedback from those living and working in close proximity to the station will be collected regularly. Since safety data is already gathered on a routine basis, the city will be able to easily track and compare the impact of the station in terms of individuals exiting the Metro who may pose safety concerns. 

“We already know what our city looks like currently … so we have a baseline,” she said. “We’re not working from scratch. So, as we are seeing numbers increase, or influx, we have that data to go back and say, ‘This is what we’re seeing in our city.’ We can attribute it to [the new station] and really ask for that backup support.”

Clark added that businesses and residents will be encouraged to use the city’s 24/7 hotline, 310-285-2468, for reporting non-emergency issues involving people experiencing homelessness, and that a letter will be sent to businesses along the Wilshire Corridor, in the Business Triangle and along South Beverly Drive with information about how to contact the city if help is needed. 

Members of the City Council expressed their satisfaction with the work being done by the Human Services Department. 

“While we support increased mobility and access, we must also ensure the safety of our residents living nearby these stations, the safety of our community, our businesses, the safety and dignity of visitors and individuals experiencing crisis,” said Mayor Sharona Nazarian. “So, I think this is balanced, it is compassionate, and most importantly, it reflects leadership that values safety, a proactive approach, having people get the care that they need with empathy, dignity and preparedness.”  

The post ‘We’re Prepared’: City Council Discusses Metro Safety at Study Session appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Prior to Sabag’s election, Board Member Amanda Stern was nominated for the vice presidency by outgoing Board President Rachelle Marcus. Stern’s nomination appeared to be in keeping with the board’s bylaws, which state that the vice president is determined by rotation based on how long each member has served on the board during their current term. 

The bylaws state that if, as is the case with the current board, multiple board members have “the same term of service, then they shall serve as vice president in descending order of the number of votes received in their most recent election.”

In November 2024, Stern, Sabag and Board Member Russell Stuart were all up for election with Stern up for reelection. Stern received the most votes with 26.85%, followed by Sabag with 25.26% and Stuart with 24.74%. 

Manouchehri, Sabag and Stuart voted against Stern’s nomination for vice president. Stuart later nominated Sabag, who was approved in a 3-2 vote. Marcus and Stern voted against Sabag’s appointment. 

Reading from a statement during the comment period discussing Stern’s appointment as vice president, Manouchehri directed a lengthy speech at Stern, listing a number of what she called “key governance capabilities.” 

“For example, adhering to the Brown Act, adhering to the Board Governance handbook … not responding to the media, not calling the media and asking them to run certain articles in order to bash other board members, not relitigating board votes in the papers, not making false statements to the public about closed session matters, and not misleading the public when you voted unanimously with the rest of the board in closed session and more,” Manouchehri said.

It is not clear what articles or media Manouchehri was referencing. The Courier has not received requests or phone calls from Stern. 

Directing her comments to Stern, Manouchehri claimed that she “pleaded with you on more occasions than I would like to count to please be mindful of these behaviors … with respect to you being an officer of the board, I have been very torn … but as a trustee whose sworn duty is to this district, I believe I have no choice but to vote no.”

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Stern referenced an incident in 2023 in which Manouchehri used profanity in board communication, calling Manouchehri’s actions “unacceptable, abusive and toxic.” 

“I continue to want to work on this board very much, but I’m not at all surprised,” Stern added. “It’s shocking too, because the bylaws say that if you got the most votes, and that would be me, you have the longest term, then that is the person who becomes the vice president. So, it’s shocking that you guys would just go against the bylaws, ostensibly because Mr. Stuart got the lowest number of votes and you want him to be president … please don’t assume that I go around and gossip or divulge information, because it simply isn’t true.”

In a statement to the Courier on Dec. 17, Stern said that “word reached” her that the vote against her had been planned, so she had been expecting it. However, she said, “What was shocking was Mrs. Manouchehri’s prepared statement full of false allegations, which was very hurtful.” 

Stern added, “Our school mission statement asks for ‘respect and integrity’ and a ‘culture of honesty.’ This is critical for board members, as we serve as role models … my colleagues know well that I aim for peace and kindness even through differences. I look forward to productive and positive work on behalf of our students.”

BHUSD told the Courier in a statement that the board “appropriately followed the law,” noting that the board bylaws and state education code both stipulate that the board is required to “elect a president, vice president, and a clerk from its members.”

“The BHUSD Board of Education fulfilled its obligation to elect a president, a vice president, and a clerk … The contradictory language in [the bylaws] which appoints a board member to the office of Vice President absent a legal vote by the school board is invalid and does not supersede education code” or other language in the bylaws, said the district. 

Speaking to the Courier about why he voted against Stern’s appointment and in favor of Sabag’s, Stuart said he made the decision he thought was best for the community. 

“I just simply said, I am going to vote for the person that I feel is best suited for the job for the next 12 months,” he said. “It’s nothing personal.”  

The post New BHUSD Board Officers Are Appointed Amid Shake-Up appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

As part of that discussion, it also considered changes to the medical taxation structure, which will be incorporated into a city-wide business tax modernization study being conducted by the city’s Finance Department.

The council’s discussion served as an annual update and the requisite three-year review of an ordinance adopted in 2022 that revised the city’s medical use regulations to allow the conversion of existing commercial space to certain medical uses, prohibited so-called “specialty clinics” and prohibited medical uses on the ground floor of commercial buildings.

Councilmembers were charged with ensuring that an increase in converting commercial spaces to medical use spaces hasn’t created unforeseen problems to commercial or residential properties and uses. 

The ordinance adopted by the City Council in 2022 served as a continuation of an urgency ordinance adopted in November 2020 that offered flexibility for commercially zoned properties during the COVID-19 pandemic, when commercial spaces were being vacated. 

Since the adoption of the ordinance in 2022 to October of this year, 88 permits have been issued for the conversion of commercial space to new medical uses. 

Of those, 17 were issued between January and October, including a nail spa that was converted into a medical spa, a general office space converted into an ambulatory surgical site and several office spaces converted to dental offices. 

In 2024, 13 permits were issued; 25 were issued in 2023; and between 2020 and 2022, 33 were issued. 

At the Dec. 9 meeting, Chloe Chen, the city’s principal planner, said that brokers and other interested parties have expressed “a high level of interest in allowing medical uses on the ground floor,” which could have positive impacts for the city because it would help fill existing vacancies. 

Susie Herrera, a representative for Cedars-Sinai, spoke in favor of expanding medical use during the public comment period. 

“Cedars-Sinai has a long history of serving Beverly Hills, and we are proud to provide world-class care to these residents,” she said. “Today, the need for care in the community is growing faster than our ability to meet it within the city’s current land use framework. Pediatric primary care appointments now average a three-week wait, and geriatric care often exceeds one month. With an aging population and rising demand for accessible, high-quality care, these pressures will only continue to increase. For this reason, we’re seeking to expand our services and footprint in Beverly Hills.”

During a discussion about the possibility of allowing medical uses on the ground floor of buildings, some councilmembers cited the negative impact on foot traffic in areas that are considered highly walkable. 

“For me, it’s almost a non-starter in terms of the high pedestrian areas,” said Councilmember Lester Friedman. “I just can’t see there being medical use in those areas. I think it would really impact significantly the pedestrian areas.”

Mayor Sharona Nazarian expressed a similar concern. 

“I feel that this is a challenging predicament, because on one hand, we want to support businesses and we have space that is vacant, and on the other hand, we don’t want to saturate our ground-level spaces with primarily medical spaces, especially in areas we want to promote the walkability,” she said.  

All members of the council said that they would like to see the results of the business tax modernization study before making any further decisions. 

“I support the study, so that we see what is in the best interest of the city and the residents, and bringing in revenue for the city, but also preserving the quality of life that we want to ensure in the future,” said Nazarian. 

In other news, the council adopted a resolution to approve an updated Hazard Mitigation Action Plan, which is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to a staff report, the goal of the plan is to “promote sound public policy designed to protect citizens, critical facilities, infrastructure, private and public property and the environment from natural and manmade hazards.”

The updated version of the plan reflects the city’s experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased risk for power outages due to severe weather events and the most current data on wildfire risk. 

Additionally, the council awarded a contract for more than $7.7 million to Palp Inc. (doing business as Excel Paving Company) for resurfacing Wilshire Boulevard between South Santa Monica Boulevard and Stanley Drive, San Vicente Boulevard between Clifton Way and Wilshire Boulevard, and other local streets to restore areas that have been impacted by Metro’s D Line Extension.    

The post City Council Considers Changes to Medical Uses in Commercial Spaces appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“It’s so beautiful,” BHHS Theater Director Samantha Howard told the Courier. “It’s just such a unique, cool space now. I’m beyond thrilled; it’s gorgeous.”  

The theater is located in the high school’s Building 3 (B3) and has been under renovation since 2019 as part of a larger construction project to upgrade multiple buildings on campus. Funded through local bond measures, the renovations at BHHS, including the work done on the Salter Theatre, are being overseen by management firm Fonder-Solari, which took over from Team Concept Development Services in 2022. Design was spearheaded by the DLR Group. 

The theater was named in 1991 for the family of the late Maxwell and Janet Salter. Maxwell served two terms as the mayor of Beverly Hills. 

According to the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD), upgrades to the Salter Theatre included the installation of modernized equipment such as industry-leading audio-visual technology, performance-grade sound and lighting systems, a redesigned backstage area and enhanced safety features. 

The stage floor was also made level with the ground floor, and seating was rearranged to create a more comfortable space for audience members and performers alike. The theater can now seat approximately 125 people. 

In addition to plays, the theater will host dance showcases, guest speakers and more.  

During construction, students who previously used the Salter Theatre for rehearsals and performances relocated to various sites on campus and in the community. Some shows were staged at Horace Mann Elementary School, and BHUSD also contracted with the Saban Theatre. 

Howard expressed her excitement at having a home stage so students can practice in the same place that they will perform without having to move around. 

“The trucking back and forth has been so hard to do, along with designing for an off-site space and rehearsing off-site and then trying to translate that in the kids’ minds and bodies onto a new performance space,” she said. 

Howard noted that students in all specializations will see their education “dramatically improved” by the renovations. Learners studying theater tech will have access to “state-of-the-art sound equipment and consoles that we really didn’t have a place to set up before,” she said. 

Faculty is also considering creating a light lab where those pupils can practice using the equipment with lower stakes. 

For actors, Howard emphasized the confidence that comes with performing in a familiar space as well as the possibility for instruction on techniques such as developing a stage voice without using a microphone. 

“I’ve been making do, but I think this will start to show a big difference in their vocal work,” she said. 

For the performance of “Little Women,” which ran from Nov. 13 through 15 and Nov. 20 through 22, Howard was able to make the most of the new space. She describes the stage as a “modified thrust,” referencing a stage that extends into the audience on three sides. 

“I tend to utilize all the space I can,” Howard said. “So, for Little Women, we had a set that was a little bit more of a traditional setup, further upstage. But then we were using the [Salter], and it was a way to connect with the audience differently. I also used the aisle around the stage as the exterior scene locations, which was very cool.”

BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss voiced his pride in the professionalism on display at the performances of “Little Women.”

“The BHHS production of Little Women is a shining example of the passion, discipline and creativity that define our performing arts program,” said. “Our students brought this classic story to life with extraordinary heart and talent, and I couldn’t be more proud of the team onstage and behind the scenes.”

Calling the performance “amazing,” BHUSD Board of Education President Rachelle Marcus expressed her enthusiasm for the work that went into every aspect of the show. 

“Little Women was beautifully done from start to finish,” she said. “Every part of the production: acting, set design, lighting and costumes was created by our students. It was moving, professional and a true example of the incredible talent we have in BHUSD.” 

The next performance scheduled for the Salter Theatre is a production of “The Pliant Girls” in April, which will be student-designed and produced.  

The post Renovated Salter Family Theatre Reopens to Rave Reviews at BHHS appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The station is part of Section 1 of Metro’s D Line Extension, which also includes new stations at Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea  Avenue, and Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. 

The extension will also include a new station at Beverly Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, which is part of the project’s Section 2 and is expected to open for operations in the spring of 2027. 

The construction update, which was given at Metro’s Oct. 15 board meeting, included details about completed work on the D Line Extension and next steps for the project. According to Metro’s Senior Executive Officer Jim Cohen, who delivered the presentation, work on Section 1 is 98% complete. 

“We will continue systems integration testing … and achieve a substantial completion in January of ’26 with the target of revenue service in the winter of ’26,” he said. 

Calling the project “very technically complex,” Cohen said that during construction on the Wilshire/La Cienega station, workers at one point encountered more groundwater than anticipated, necessitating the installation of French drains to dry out the bottom and the invert of the station. 

At the Oct. 15 meeting, Metro’s board approved an increase of $4 million that will go toward the remaining street restoration in Beverly Hills. Metro will coordinate with its contractor and the city to complete all work in the public right-of-way. That work includes engineering reviews, construction coordination, inspections and the administrative efforts. 

In addition to street restoration, the work that remains to be done on Section 1 includes final systems and safety testing, inspections, preparing for service and other finishing touches, according to a Metro representative. 

“These final steps are taken to ensure the stations, tunnels, trains and support systems all operate safely and reliably before opening,” the representative told the Courier in an email.  

Throughout the month of December, Metro will collaborate with first responders to perform live-emergency drills at the Wilshire/La Cienega station that are also necessary to complete prior to opening the station for public use. Incorporating emergency response vehicles and equipment, the drills will include the simulation of an active shooter, train fire and other rescue and response scenarios. 

“These simulation drills will allow First Responders to train in the new subway station to respond in the event of an emergency,” said the Metro representative.   

During his presentation, Cohen said that workers are already preparing for the drills. 

“Right now, they are reviewing each one of the stations, making sure it’s ready for the drills, and getting ready to put in the final details,” he said.  

The D Line Subway Extension is being completed in three sections. Sections 1 and 2, which include the Wilshire/La Cienega station and the Beverly Drive station are primarily funded through Measure R, which voters approved in 2008, and a pair of federal grants. 

When complete, the extension will span nine miles, beginning at the existing Wilshire/Western station and ending at the yet-to-be-completed Westwood/VA Hospital station. 

Construction began on Section 1 in 2014 and on Section 2 in 2018. 

The city of Beverly Hills has devoted considerable time and resources to ensuring the safety of the Wilshire/La Cienega station. The station will have a public safety kiosk staffed by community service officers who will have the authority to patrol the area and write reports. 

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian has spoken publicly about the city’s efforts to recruit more police officers to patrol the area, and the city is developing partnerships with nearby agencies for additional security.  

Tim Lindholm, Metro’s chief program management officer, said at the Oct. 15 meeting that Metro is not able to offer a definitive opening date yet because so much testing remains to be done. 

“We just hit a pretty good milestone down there in the tunnels,” he said. “We hit about 50% of our SCADA testing … soon, when we feel a little more comfortable about how we’re doing with our testing, we will be able to declare a date.”  

The post Wilshire and La Cienega Metro Station to Open First Quarter of New Year appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Stuart filed his complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 7 for injuries he sustained while attending the Rodeo Nights, Holiday Lights event in November 2024. At that time, he was hit at the intersection of Camden Drive and Wilshire Boulevard by a car driven by carjacking suspect James Portul. 

Portul drove over a curb and struck Stuart, along with several other people. 

Stuart, who was purchasing a balloon for his daughter at the time he was hit, was rendered unconscious. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and suffered a broken arm and ribs, among other injuries. 

Stuart’s complaint alleges a dangerous condition of public property. It seeks damages from the city including medical expenses, damaged and destroyed property and more.

The city filed an answer on Oct. 9 denying the allegations and setting forth several affirmative defenses. It is seeking the repayment of attorneys’ fees and costs related to the lawsuit.

The city also filed a cross-complaint against Portul, who was detained near the accident and later pleaded guilty to carjacking and hit-and-run with injury. 

Alleging that Portul was “responsible, in whole or in part, for the injuries, if any, suffered by plaintiff,” the city claims that Portul should be required to pay a share of the judgment and reimburse the city for any payments it makes that exceed its share of negligence. 

In response to a request for comment, the city referred the Courier to a statement provided in August in which City Attorney Laurence Weiner called Stuart’s accident “unfortunate,” but also said that the allegations in his complaint are “unreasonable” and that the city will “defend the case vigorously.”

Barry Novack, the attorney representing Stuart, told the Courier that he has served the city with discovery, and that the city requested an extension to the 30-day response period. 

“We are waiting to get that discovery response back to see what their position is,” he said.

Among the documentation Novack is requesting are photographs and videotapes depicting the incident, including footage from drones and law enforcement body cameras; documents relating to the planning and organizing of the event; and evaluations and analysis of whether K-rails at the location of the collision would have prevented or minimized Stuart’s injuries. 

“Once we get that discovery, it will give us two pieces of information,” Novack said. “It will let us know who are the persons most knowledgeable in terms of setting up the planning for the pedestrian safety for the event, and we will be able to see what standards they used, what was their criteria, why they had K-rails sitting around on the sidewalk doing nothing when they could have been used to protect pedestrians.”

Calling a vehicle jumping the curb a “reasonably foreseeab[le] event,” Stuart’s initial complaint alleges that K-rails and other barriers were put up near Camden Drive and Wilshire Boulevard and could have been used where the collision occurred as well. 

“These barriers could have been placed in the street at that location to alert drivers that the roadway was closed to through traffic, or on the edge of the sidewalk to protect pedestrians,” the lawsuit states. 

Novack also suggested that more K-rails were set up at this year’s holiday lights festival as a result of Stuart’s lawsuit. 

“What we’ve been arguing is their lack of proper pedestrian barrier protection, and if you go look … at a lot of the corners, they have either K-rails set up or they have these meridian protection barriers,” he said. “So, I think this lawsuit has accomplished one positive thing so far.”  

The post Discovery Underway in Stuart Lawsuit Against the City appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Gehry Partners chief of staff Meaghan Lloyd said that his death followed a brief respiratory illness.

Gehry recently designed the Louis Vuitton flagship store that will open in Beverly Hills’ Golden Triangle in 2029. Bernard Arnault, the Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton’s parent company, the luxury conglomerate LVMH, expressed his sorrow over Gehry’s passing.

“I am profoundly saddened by the passing of Frank Gehry, in whom I lose a very dear friend and for whom I shall forever retain boundless admiration,” Arnault said. “I owe to him one of the longest, most intense, and most ambitious creative partnerships I have ever had the privilege to experience. His oeuvre, crowned by the Pritzker Prize, is immense. He will remain a genius of lightness, transparency, and grace. Frank Gehry—who possessed an unparalleled gift for shaping forms, pleating glass like canvas, making it dance like a silhouette—will long endure as a living source of inspiration for Louis Vuitton as well as for all the Maisons of the LVMH group. With the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Création, he bestowed upon Paris and upon France his greatest masterpiece, the highest expression of his creative power, commensurate with the friendship he bore our city and the affection he showed for our culture. My wife, my children, and I express our deepest condolences to his wife, Berta, and to his children.”

Born Frank Owen Goldberg on Feb. 28, 1929, in Toronto, Canada, Gehry moved with his parents to Los Angeles after finishing high school and enrolled in art and architecture classes at L.A. City College.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from USC in 1954, and that same year changed his last name to Gehry.

Gehry gained the attention of the design and architecture world thanks to his renovations of his own Santa Monica home, which he remodeled into a livable work of art using unexpected materials such as corrugated metal and chain link fencing.

He went on to become the most recognized American architect since Frank Lloyd Wright. He received international acclaim for the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and many more structures.

In the hours following the announcement of his death, condolences and remembrances have poured in.

“Frank Gehry didn’t just design buildings—he created spaces that lift up artists and have brought generations of people together,” L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn posted on X. “His design of the SELA Cultural Center on the LA River will be a lasting gift to the families of Southeast LA. We’ve lost a giant. Thank you, Frank.”

In a statement, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis said that working alongside Gehry was “one of the great honors of my life.”

“Frank’s brilliance was matched only by his generosity of spirit, and his ability to see possibility where others saw limits transformed not only the County of Los Angeles and communities across the world, but all of us who had the privilege to work with him,” she said.

Gehry is survived by his wife, Berta, and four children.

The post Legendary Architect Frank O. Gehry Dies at 96 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

On Nov. 17, an attorney representing the project’s developer filed an appeal with the City Council over the commission’s decision. Three days later, on Nov. 20, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) sent a Notice of Potential Violation (NOPV) to the city regarding the commission’s vote. 

In his appeal letter to the city, attorney Dave Rand argued that the commission’s decision was illegal. 

“The Commission broke the law,” the letter states. “The City Council must correct this.”

In its NOPV, HCD concluded that “City Council should be mindful of the specific requirements for making findings of denial … [i]f the City Council is unable to make such findings, HCD urges the City Council to approve the Project.”

A preliminary application for the proposed project was submitted by developer Crescent Heights in December 2023. Following revisions, the final proposal called for a 26-story residential building with 200 units, including 22 affordable units. 

The project utilizes Builder’s Remedy, the state law that permits developers to circumvent certain local development codes in exchange for providing affordable housing units.

At its Oct. 21 meeting, the Planning Commission voted 4-1 to instruct city staff to draft language denying a request for a development plan review and density bonus permit for the project. That language was revisited at the commission’s Nov. 5 meeting, at which time the commission voted 3-2 to adopt the proposed denial resolution.  

Members of the commission who voted to deny the project cited an array of reasons. Commissioner Gary Ross alleged that the applicant “played games with what is and isn’t feasible,” alluding to a provision in state law that prevents city officials from imposing conditions on Builder’s Remedy projects that would render them infeasible. 

Commissioner Myra Demeter called the negotiation process with the developer “disturbing,” and ultimately concluded that the project “is not really going to work for me,” adding that she does not mind if it is appealed to City Council. 

Vice Chair Lou Milkowski said he believes that the project will have a negative impact on health and safety because it is not aligned with the city’s general plan. He then called the development “a mammoth monstrosity.” 

In his 13-page, strongly worded appeal to city officials, Rand outlined the reasons for his allegation that the denial of the project was unlawful. 

A large portion of the letter deconstructs Commissioners Ross, Demeter and Milkowski’s verbally stated reasons for denial, again calling them “illegal.” 

“[T]he three Planning Commissioners who voted to deny the Project did not state any valid bases for denying the Project during their verbal deliberations … the Commission went on a fishing expedition looking for any possible basis to reject the Project,” the letter states. “Ultimately the denial was devoid of any legitimate legal or evidentiary basis and therefore must be overturned.” 

In its Nov. 20 NOPV, HCD primarily addressed the reasons given by the commission for its Oct. 21 decision. Those reasons included allegations that affordable units were not adequately dispersed throughout the building and that the project posed health and safety risks. 

HCD wrote that neither of those reasons appears to be valid. 

State law stipulates that affordable housing units must be dispersed across more than one floor, which they are in the project proposed by Crescent Heights. 

“HCD reinforces to the City Council that dispersal of affordable units as proposed by the applicant should not be identified as a reason for denial,” the NOPV states.

With regard to concerns about health and safety risks, cities may only deny Builder’s Remedy projects on those grounds if they make written findings, supported by overwhelming evidence, that demonstrate a specific, adverse impact on public health and the impossibility of mitigating or avoiding that impact. 

Members of the commission expressed concern that public health would be impacted by traffic near the development and by the height of the building, which they worried would not allow for emergency access. 

Based on its review of a transportation assessment prepared for the Burton Way project, HCD stated in its letter that “there is no ‘significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact’ related to traffic” and that the department is “not aware of any evidence in the record that would suggest that emergency access to all floors of the building would be an issue.”

HCD also pointed out that city staff came to the same conclusion in their Oct. 21 report. 

The NOPV was the third communication from the state regarding the city’s handling of the proposed project at 8844 Burton Way. A Notice of Violation was issued by HCD on Dec. 2, 2024, and a Letter of Technical Assistance was sent on Oct. 28. 

The developer’s request for a development plan review and density bonus permit will now go before the City Council. According to a representative from the city, no date has been set yet; however city officials believe it is likely to be heard in February. 

In a statement to the Courier, Rand said that the city will face “substantial penalties if it fails to reverse the Planning Commission’s decision and approve this Project.”

“We are hopeful the appeal hearing is promptly scheduled and that the City Council follows clear direction from the state to approve the project,” he said. 

The post City Receives Notice of Potential Violation for Denial of Burton Way Project appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The district must pay $9.6 million to Siegman, per the jury’s Nov. 26 decision. 

Speaking to the Courier, attorney Stephen Weisskopf, who represented Siegman, expressed his contentment. 

“We are very happy with the jury, we are very happy with what they did,” he said. “We are happy for Laurie more than anything else.” 

In the suit, Siegman alleged that Hank “Henry” Friedman sexually abused her from 1978 to 1981. She also alleged that district officials knew or should have known about the abuse and failed to take action to protect her and other students. 

Siegman’s complaint, which was filed in 2020, took advantage of a California law which granted an extension of the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits alleging childhood sexual abuse. 

The first trial in the case took place in March 2024. It resulted in a hung jury on the issue of whether school officials knew or should have known about the abuse.

A second trial began in October and resulted in the current verdict. The jury unanimously concluded that administrators or supervisory employees were negligent, and that several district employees knew or should have known about the abuse. 

The jury also unanimously concluded that the negligent supervision of Friedman was a substantial factor in harming Siegman.

Friedman must also pay Siegman $6.4 million.

In a statement, Siegman expressed her relief and gratitude. 

“I am profoundly grateful to the victims and witnesses who had the courage to share their stories during my trial,” said Siegman in a statement. “After all these years, having the truth acknowledged means more than I can express. I am also thankful for the incredible legal team that stood by me and fought tirelessly on my behalf.”

BHUSD provided the following statement to the Courier: 

“This case involves allegations dating back more than 45 years. District counsel is reviewing all legal options, including a potential appeal. Importantly, our Superintendent, with the support of the Board, located insurance policies from the 1970s that previous administrations were unable to find. As a result, the Beverly Hills community will likely not bear the financial impact of this matter. While we respect the legal process and all parties involved, our focus remains on moving forward and continuing to create safe, supportive learning environments for every student.” 

The post Former Student Wins $9.6 Million Verdict Against BHUSD appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“’Unpacking Israeli History’ is amazing,” said Rabbi Erez Sherman, a senior rabbi at Sinai Temple who oversees the Sinai Temple Israel Center. “Noam Weissman is doing a beautiful job in explaining … difficult subjects in a very nuanced way.” 

Weissman’s podcast debuted in the fall of 2020 and is produced by OpenDor Media, which develops content related to Judaism and Israel. Since its launch, “Unpacking Israeli History” has featured guests ranging from hostages held by Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks to Palestinian activists to historians and experts on the Middle East. 

Bergman’s most recent book is “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations,” and he is a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine and Israel’s daily newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth. He is known for his expertise on Israel’s Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, also known as Mossad. 

Weissman and Bergman began their conversation by discussing how Bergman convinces individuals who are unauthorized to speak publicly, such as those involved with classified intelligence operations, to open up about their work. 

Bergman explained that while each has their own individual motivations, something that ties them all together is that as Israeli intelligence officials, they are on the front lines. 

“In Israel, these people are … the final frontier,” he said. “They take the first front in order to defend Israel. And at the end, they want people to know, and leave their footprint in the history of Israel … there is no country in the world where intelligence and special operations have a more decisive, consequential impact on the history of the country.”

Moving on to discuss the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Weissman asked Bergman whether he considered the assault a failure of Israeli intelligence. 

“Were things ignored?” Weissman asked. “Were things miscommunicated? Why was there such a blind side for a country with such amazing military, amazing intelligence?”

Bergman responded that a number of mistakes aligned on the part of Mossad that ended in the attack. Calling it a “perfect storm,” Bergman said that “everything was working against” the Israeli intelligence community. 

“Nothing worked, from the political level to the National Security Council to the military to the intelligence,” he said. 

Bergman asserted that Mossad and the Israeli government were spending most of their energy and efforts preparing for a war against Hezbollah, not Hamas. Between 2006 and 2023, he said, 70% of the overall resources of the Israeli intelligence community were invested in preparing for a war with Hezbollah. 

“The wisdom was that there will never be anything more than limited runoffs of hostilities from time to time against Hamas, that this is the marginal issue, where someday, earlier or later, there will be a war with Hezbollah,” he said, adding that “only something like 5% to 7% of everything was to prepare for the war with Hamas.”

Bergman also attributed the failure to “vanity.” 

“[Mossad was] speaking about intelligence supremacy, of superiority, before the October 7 War,” he said. “When you are intelligence officer and you say, ‘I have intelligence superiority,’ even if you have, once you said that, you lost. Because you’re no longer questioning the fact that maybe someone is totally deceiving you.”

Weissman and Bergman took written questions from the audience at the end of the event, including inquiries about which Israeli stories should be more widely known, whether the Saudis will normalize relations with Israel and what is still misunderstood about Israel. 

Speaking to the Courier after the event, Sherman said he was struck by the revelation of how little the Jewish community at large truly knows what goes on behind the scenes of Israeli intelligence operations. 

“That evening made me realize that what we do know is that we don’t know,” he said. “I don’t want to say it’s out of our control, but there’s a lot of pretty amazing people out there that are doing heroic things that we will never know.”

He added that he was struck by a comment Bergman made about intelligence officials doing what they do not for the thrill, but to save lives. 

“That was a really selfless answer,” Sherman said. “It made me think about how each of us has the ability to save lives in different ways. Noam does it through podcasting and having these conversations. Ronen does it by being deep into the Mossad and what that looks like. So, it really makes you think of, what job am I doing, and you’re doing, and each of us to make sure that the world’s a safer place.” 

The post Ronen Bergman Describes ‘Perfect Storm’ That Led to Oct. 7 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Christian Bond, the president of the BHPOA, told the Courier that he is “extremely happy” with the outcome of negotiations and expressed his gratitude to Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian, the Beverly Hills City Council, City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey and the city’s negotiating team. 

“I am extremely pleased and deeply appreciative of the negotiated and ratified contract we have reached with the city of Beverly Hills,” he said. “This agreement reflects meaningful progress, thoughtful dialogue, and a shared commitment to supporting the men and women who serve this community with dedication every single day.”

Nazarian also expressed her satisfaction with the MOU and the process of negotiations.  

“We are pleased that the city of Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills Police Officers Association have come to an agreement regarding the terms of a new three-year contract,” she told the Courier in a written statement. “There is nothing more important than a healthy collaboration with the incredible men and women who continue to protect our community. We remain focused on the safety and security of our residents, businesses and visitors, and this agreement supports the unified approach needed to protect and serve our community.”

Key topics of the negotiation included salaries and pay increases, longevity pay and compensated time off. According to Bond, members of the BHPOA initially pushed hard for longevity pay. 

When the city indicated that it would not include longevity pay in the MOU, the parties instead agreed to increased pay based on educational achievement. 

The final agreement states that the base pay of employees who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited or approved college or university will increase by 2.75%. The same figure applies to employees who have earned a master’s or doctorate degree and is cumulative if multiple degrees are earned. 

Employees who become certified in Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) will also see their base pay increase by 5% for an intermediate P.O.S.T. certificate and 7.5% for an advanced P.O.S.T. certificate. 

Police Sergeants who earn a supervisory P.O.S.T. certificate will see their base pay increase by 1.5%. 

“We went away from longevity and put it into education and P.O.S.T. certificate bonuses, and it worked out perfectly,” said Bond of the final agreement. “It encourages officers to get further education, get their advanced P.O.S.T., bachelor’s, master’s and educate themselves.” 

The contract must now be approved by the City Council, which will review the issue at its Dec. 16 meeting. If it is approved, its terms will be applied retroactively to Nov. 29, the beginning of the pay period following the BHPOA member vote.  

All employees who were members of the BHPOA at the time of ratification will receive a total base salary increase of 18.5% over the next four years as well as a lump sum of $1,500 upon the City Council’s approval of the contract. 

The first increase of 3.5% will be effective immediately. The second increase of 6% will be effective July 1, 2026; the third increase of 65% will be effective July 1, 2027; and the fourth increase of 5% will be effective July 1, 2028. 

The negotiations have been contentious at times since the BHPOA’s MOU expired on June 30. Members of the union repeatedly accused the city of failing to compensate its members at a rate on par with nearby departments. In several messages to registered voters, Bond said that the city was losing officers—and therefore, a certain level of safety—to other cities. 

At a City Council meeting on Aug. 5, Hunt-Coffey delivered a public presentation refuting a number of Bond’s claims. 

The relationship between officers and management within the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) was already a tense one. In June, the BHPOA issued a vote of no confidence in Police Chief Mark Stainbrook, followed by a cease-and-desist letter in July, alleging that Stainbrook engaged in retaliatory behavior against Bond.

If approved, the new contract will extend through June 30, 2029. 

The post BHPD Officers Vote to Approve MOU from City appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

BHMC 2-1-21 was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2022 as Measure TL. Mirisch was elected to his fourth term simultaneously with the measure’s passage.

Although the code language on its face appears to preclude another term in office for Mirisch, his position, as outlined in a recent letter from his attorney to the city, is that terms served prior to the measure’s passage cannot count toward the three-term total. 

This argument relies on California Government Code Section 36502(b), which states that City Council term restrictions may apply “prospectively only” to terms that have not yet been served. 

During the drafting phase of Measure TL, City Attorney Laurence Weiner advised City Council of the potential conflict with the Government Code, as well as an advisory opinion from then attorney general Kamala Harris. Weiner explained at length that the wording of the measure could leave it vulnerable to a court challenge. 

The provision has not been put to the test until now. 

Speaking to the Courier this week, Mirisch said that any “reasonable interpretation” of state law would find that past terms don’t count toward the three-term tally. 

“To me, that seems to be not only the most reasonable explanation [of the law], and according to my lawyers, one that would be in accordance with the law, but also the practice, as far as I know, of all other cities in California that have instituted term limits,” he said. 

He added, “Residents should have the right, if they want, to allow me to continue in accordance with what state law says.”

As of press time, the city has not formally responded to a request for comment on Mirisch’s stated intentions to run. It should be noted, however, that since the passage of Measure TL, California case law analyzing nearly identical legal issues supports the notion that Mirisch is barred from running again. 

As such, it is likely that the City Clerk’s office will reject any filing for a Mirisch candidacy, and he will have to sue to get on the ballot.

Mirisch told the Courier that he hopes the issue can stay out of court, but stopped short of confirming whether he would pursue litigation if his candidacy is blocked by the city. 

“Hopefully [my attorney’s] legal interpretation is persuasive,” he said. “You never want to have to go to court if you don’t have to. And hopefully, when people look at our arguments and the way that this law has been implemented in every other city that I know of … it should be no different here.”

Noting that he supports term limits for executive positions, such as a president or governor, Mirisch said he draws a distinction between those positions and members of legislative bodies. 

“When you’re a council member, you’re just one of five votes,” he said. “You’re part of a legislative process, and you make a contribution. You don’t have executive power.” 

In addition to Mirisch’s seat, two other City Council seats will be open, those of Mayor Sharona Nazarian and Councilmember Lester Friedman, in addition to the position of City Treasurer.  

The post Mirisch Will Challenge Term Limits in Bid for Fifth Term appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The council voted 4-1 to approve an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) between the city and West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC), a nonprofit affordable housing developer, regarding the potential for a 100% affordable housing development at 327-335 S. Robertson Blvd. 

Vice Mayor Craig Corman voted against the agreement.  

The approved ENA allows for a one-year negotiation period for a ground lease between the city and WHCHC with the possibility of extensions for up to six months. According to a report written by city staff, a project at the property could potentially deliver between approximately 50 and 80 affordable units. 

Beverly Hills has committed to facilitating the development of 557 units of affordable housing on city property under its housing element.

The possible project that has been preliminarily proposed by WHCHC, which would own and operate the development, is a four- to five-story building with a minimum of 50 units and an additional rooftop amenity level. The proposed development would include some ground-floor retail and surface parking. 

Public outreach and community input will inform the project plans. 

The property on Robertson Boulevard currently houses a single-story, 6,000-square-foot commercial structure containing eight retail spaces, five of which are vacant.

During the ENA period, the city will be prohibited from negotiating with any other entity for the sale, lease or development of the site. Under the agreement, WHCHC will be required to cover all costs related to an environmental review. The developer will also be obligated to hold public outreach meetings in coordination with the city. 

The issue was discussed in more detail during the council’s Study Session, also held on Nov. 12. At that meeting, Councilmember John Mirisch, who served on the Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee along with Councilmember Mary Wells, noted that the city has been in discussions with WHCHC for at least five years regarding senior supportive housing. He said that the first two sites they considered both turned out to be on fault lines. 

“This is essentially a pivot as a result of earthquake faults that don’t allow us to build where we would have preferred to have built, and where we could build a larger number of units,” said Mirisch. 

The council additionally voted 4-1, with Corman dissenting, to transfer the property at 327-335 S. Robertson Blvd. by a quitclaim deed from the city’s Parking Authority to the city. The Parking Authority acquired the property in November 2019 for $10.1 million with the intent of developing it into a parking lot or structure, but the city’s focus has since shifted to affordable housing. 

Councilmembers reiterated multiple times during discussion at their Nov. 12 Regular Meeting that the vote does not constitute an approval for development to begin, or even for a specific plan for the site. 

“They’re not definite plans to develop the site for affordable housing, it’s to the potential development of the site for affordable housing,” said Wells. “I don’t want people to be under the impression that it’s already been decided to develop this property for affordable housing.” 

Councilmember Lester Friedman further clarified that the possibility of building with WHCHC is “just one of many options that is being considered.”

“This is just another option in part because we lost the ability in another area of town to fulfill our requirement with the State of California Housing Division,” he said. “This is just another possibility. It is certainly not something that I envision as a final step.” 

Recent projects developed by WHCHC, which was founded in 1986, include four affordable housing developments in the Koreatown/Pico Union area and another in the Westlake North neighborhood of Los Angeles. 

The organization is not formally affiliated with the city of West Hollywood. 

According to a presentation given at the council’s Study Session by Logan Phillippo, the city’s real property development manager, WHCHC does not anticipate needing gap funding for the project and the city is not making any financial commitments at the moment. However, Phillippo said, “It’s always contingent on the availability of the funding sources and their successful application.” 

WHCHC plans to apply for $3 million in funding through the L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, which recently sent out a draft notice of funding availability using Measure A funds. In order to be eligible, WHCHC must demonstrate site control, which they may do with the approved ENA. 

The deadline for applications is Dec. 22.  

The post Affordable Housing for Seniors Moves Forward appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The event, organized by the Rodeo Drive Committee and the city of Beverly Hills, included two hours of performances on a main stage, food trucks lining the streets, festive light and sculpture displays and a fireworks finale. 

This year’s theme was “Enchanted Holiday Dreams,” inspired by Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” Decorations up and down Rodeo Drive gave nods to the famous ballet, including oversized nutcrackers operated by puppeteers and large silver sculptures of ballerinas dancing next to piles of gifts. 

Actors dressed as mice roamed the closed-off street in costume, posing for pictures with attendees. Stilt performers also made their way up and down the road, stopping periodically for photo opportunities. 

Rain was predicted for the evening, but the weather stayed dry until near the end of the event. Instead, the skies were cool and clear as attendees of all ages, many with children in strollers or pets dressed in their holiday finest, took in the sights and sounds while staying warm in heavy coats and sweaters. 

Throughout the night, lines grew long for food trucks that sold, among other gastronomic delights, barbecue, Maine lobster, mini-donuts, cakes, burgers and French fries. 

The evening’s performances took place on an open-air stage that was set up for the occasion at the corner of Rodeo Drive and Brighton Way. Emceed by Los Angeles-based singer Kara Freeman, the show featured over a dozen world-class performers. 

Warming up the crowd, which was packed into the intersection of the two streets, Freeman, dressed in a red A-line dress trimmed with fluffy white fabric and snowflake designs, performed “Santa Baby” backed by a barbershop quartet, followed shortly thereafter by “Christmas is Here Again.” 

After a high-energy performance by a quartet of carolers, Freeman introduced the USC Trojan Dance Force, noting that Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian is an alumna of the university. The team of young women got the crowd cheering with their lively pom routines choreographed to “Last Christmas,” “Jingle Bells Rock” and the Trojan fight song, “Fight On!”

Dancers from Westside Ballet, who ranged in age from 10 to 16, performed three dances from The Nutcracker’s “Land of Sweets”: Peppermint Candy (Act II), Chinese Tea (Act II) and the Doll Solo segment from the Party Scene (Act I). 

The experience was extraordinary, said 14-year-old Chloe Meyers of Beverly Hills, who performed in the Peppermint Candy dance.

“I had an amazing time being backstage, seeing all the different acts up close, and getting ready for the show with my fellow ballerinas who have become my closest friends,” she said. “It felt so special to be part of the festivities, and we definitely spread the Nutcracker magic all around Beverly Hills. It was one of those nights that felt exciting and festive from start to finish.”

Delilah Ahmadi, 15, performed in the Peppermint Candy and Chinese Tea dances and called the experience “unforgettable.” 

“I’ve attended the Tree Lighting for several years as my mom works for the city, and Beverly Hills has always felt like my second home,” she said. “I used to stand in the crowd in awe of the magnificent dancers on stilts and imagine what it would be like to be on that stage. Stepping out under those glowing holiday lights, in front of thousands of people gathered in the heart of a place I’ve grown up around, felt surreal.”

In a surprise appearance following The Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s stellar performance of the “Candy Canes” dance from The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, legendary director, performer, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen stepped onstage to applaud her dancers and rally support for the academy. 

Other performers included Broadway star Chris Mann, jazz vocalist James Tormé, Australian actor and singer Hugh Sheridan and guzheng musician Bei Bei.  

Halfway through the show, Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian was joined onstage by members of the City Council, the Rodeo Drive Committee, the Chamber of Commerce and the Conference and Visitors Bureau. 

Speaking to the crowd, Nazarian thanked the event organizers and sponsors. 

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome you to this fantastic holiday tradition right here on the iconic Rodeo Drive in beautiful Beverly Hills,” she said. “I want you to make sure to walk around. There are so many different installations all throughout the city … we want to invite you to eat, shop, dine, stay and enjoy in Beverly Hills.”

During a preview performance of “Soul of the Holidays,” which will be held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 15 to benefit the victims of the Eaton Fire, three singers performed “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!” and “Reach Out” as the crowd danced and sang along. 

The drizzle that began around 7:30 p.m. did not hamper the fireworks display, which exploded in rainbow colors above the shops of Rodeo Drive shortly after 8 p.m.  

The post Rodeo Drive Lights Up for ‘Enchanted Holiday Dreams’ appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The commission voted unanimously to approve a request for a development plan review to allow the construction of a new three-story commercial building with rooftop uses at 360 N. Rodeo Drive, and to find the project exempt from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

Commissioner Gary Ross was not present at the meeting. 

Calling the project “well thought-out,” Commissioner Terri Kaplan thanked the applicants for their proposal and expressed her enthusiasm for the project. 

“I think this is, as it’s pictured, a beautiful building,” she said. “I think it will be a wonderful, wonderful addition to Rodeo Drive. It follows on what seems to be a wave of new flagships for various luxury vendors.”

The existing building at 360 N. Rodeo Drive was constructed in 1960 and most recently housed the Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel. The Luxe closed in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered tourism across the globe.  

The proposed project by Tiffany & Co. parent company LVMH would include the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new, 30,468-square-foot structure. The project would include two levels of retail, a third-floor restaurant and a rooftop with an outdoor terrace area reserved for VIP clients. 

The retail store and restaurant would be open to the public between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, with access to the restaurant available only through the building’s interior.  

In addition to private VIP appointments, the rooftop would also be used for occasional invitation-only special events, such as private product launches or video shoots, with a maximum guest list of approximately 60. The applicant anticipates those events taking place roughly two to three times per month. They would be held between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. 

The project would include one level of subterranean parking and a surface parking lot with 14 spaces located at the rear of the property. Employees would be provided with monthly parking at garages in the Two Rodeo Drive structure to ensure that on-site spaces are available for clients, and that street parking does not become overcrowded. 

All rooftop events and appointments would utilize on-site valet, and at least three valet attendants would be on duty during operating hours and special events. 

The developer hopes to have a plan check complete by the end of the year, and construction is expected to take about 28 months. 

The project is consistent with the city’s general plan, and its height, scale and design are compatible with the character of the neighborhood.

Sean Devine, Tiffany & Co.’s vice president of store planning and construction, said at the Nov. 13 meeting that the Rodeo Drive shop would be the second-largest Tiffany & Co. retail store in the U.S., with the largest being the flagship location in New York City. 

“Tiffany has been in the city of Beverly Hills for 50 or 60 years now,” he said. “We are looking to expand our presence with this project.” 

Ashok Vanmali, a partner at the architecture and design firm Gruen Associates, which is working on the project, said neighboring tenants on the street are looking forward to the new development. 

“Most of the adjacent properties are very aware of this project, because I’m involved in quite a few projects on the street, and they seem to be very excited, because they’re tired of seeing that empty building for so long,” he said. “It will generate more business for them too, and so there’s this excitement.” 

The location is flanked by Tory Burch on the north and Tom Ford on the south. 

LVMH, which currently operates more than 15 storefronts on Rodeo Drive and in the Business Triangle, is also planning to break ground on a three-story Louis Vuitton flagship store at 458 N. Rodeo Drive in 2026. That project is being designed by Frank Gehry and, like the Tiffany & Co. location, will house retail, private space for VIP clients and rooftop uses. 

At the commission’s meeting, Commissioner Myra Demeter, who called herself “a real fan” of the developer, expressed her hope that the Tiffany & Co. project will bring more foot traffic to Rodeo Drive. 

“I think that people coming to Tiffany’s will go up the entire block of Rodeo … this is an enhancement,” she said. “Your firm … has been a very, very strong member of our community for many years. You have brought elegance and a clientele into Beverly Hills, and I think that the project fits all the requirements.” 

The project will now enter a 14-day appeal period.  

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Speaking to the crowd during a break between songs, lead singer Roger Daltrey thanked everyone for being there. The event was the 10th year of The Who’s Backyard Concert, which benefits Teen Cancer America (TCA)—the organization Daltrey co-founded with bandmate Pete Townshend—and the UCLA Health Center. 

“These are your young Americans,” Daltrey said of the community the organization works to support. “This age group has been forgotten too long in the hospital system. We are changing it, [and] I’m very positive for the future. Thank you very much. We love you.”

The Backyard Concert was emceed by producer, writer and director Judd Apatow and included performances by The Doobie Brothers, Peter Frampton, John Fogerty, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick and Eddie Vedder in addition to the performance by The Who. 

The event is remarkable in a number of ways. Thanks to the tireless work of Daltrey, Townshend and members of the TCA Board such as Board President and CEO Rebecca Rothstein and board members Rick French and Chris Stewart—both of whom also sit on the board of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—rock legends including Robert Plant, Van Morrison, Billy Idol, Melissa Etheridge, Green Day and many more have graced its stage.

“I now call it Yardstock because they’ve had more stars than Woodstock,” said Daltrey over the phone a week after the performance.   

According to Daltrey, the musicians who participate do so because of a shared belief that they owe their careers to the teens and young adults who champion their music, and that those who receive the devastating news of a cancer diagnosis deserve the music industry’s support.  

“All the bands understand the support that this age group has given them to have the success they’ve had in their lives, and they’re giving back big time,” he said. “Teenagers and young adults are the people that drive the music industry. They’re the ones that discover new music, push the new trends, drive it forward.”

TCA, which has its headquarters in Santa Monica, opened its doors 12 years ago. But in truth, its roots stretch back further than that. 

Daltrey  became  involved  with  Teenage  Cancer  Trust  in  the  United  Kingdom in 1990 at the behest of his general practitioner, Dr. Adrian Whiteson. Whiteson founded the organization with his wife, Myrna, after recognizing that most cancer centers have programs for pediatric patients and adult patients but nothing for individuals who fall in the ages between. 

“The ages between 13 and 26 are totally different from either a child or a geriatric, and there needs to be some provision made in the hospital system for that age group,” said Daltrey. “They need to be amongst their peers, and their mental health and social needs need to be met. You take care of that age group; you will build a far better society.”

Daltrey quickly became interested in launching an organization similar to Teenage Cancer Trust in the United States. He hadn’t gotten far with the idea when, in 2009, someone knocked on his dressing room door before a show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. 

“I opened it, and there was this young woman standing there, and she said, ‘Can I talk to you?’” Daltrey said. 

The young woman said she had a brain tumor, and that she was familiar with Daltrey’s work at the Teenage Cancer Trust. If she survived, she said, she wanted to help him get the same thing started in America. 

After that, Daltrey said, “It all came together relatively quickly.” He had recently become friends with Rothstein, who lives and works in Beverly Hills, and asked for her help launching the program. At the time, Rothstein had four young children and a full-time job at Merrill Private Wealth Management as one of the top-ranking female financial advisors in America. 

“Roger had been trying for years to get somebody to say yes to him to bring the program to America,” said Rothstein. “I kept saying to him, ‘Roger, I’m busy.’ And he kept saying to me, ‘You’re not too busy for this.’”

As it turned out, Rothstein had a personal connection to the cause. At the age of 22, her brother passed away from a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. 

“He died right at the beginning of his life,” she said, “and I watched how it affected my parents.” 

Daltrey then took Rothstein to visit a hospital and meet young patients. Once she saw the need, she couldn’t say no.  

“The word ‘yes’ came out of my mouth,” she said, “and so it began.” 

Rothstein brought on Simon Davies, who at the time was running the Teenage Cancer Trust. Together, they assembled a board and began growing the organization. Much of their early work involved meeting with hospital representatives, explaining the idea behind TCA and endeavoring to build partnerships. 

In the years since, TCA has partnered with 72 hospitals in the U.S., including some of the biggest names in cancer care: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center and more. TCA’s services have reached over 200,000 adolescents and young adults, and their modules and programming have become the standard of care for the age group they serve. 

“I have an active board,” said Rothstein. “There are 13 board members that all participate in developing and pushing this charity down the road. This is a village of people that have worked to make the mission of TCA as successful as it has become.” 

Now, hospitals interested in creating programs for teens and young adults often seek the organization out. Bringing together multidisciplinary teams that include representatives from pediatric and medical oncology, which are often siloed inside hospitals, TCA’s expert providers collaborate to ensure that young patients’ physical, emotional, social and psychological needs are met. 

“Teens and young adults are in a critical period of their development where they’re becoming independent from their families, or they’re starting their own families,” said Jackie Casillas, a pediatric oncologist and a health services researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the first hospital to partner with TCA. “They may be in high school, looking forward to college and working or at a job, and all of that can be disrupted by the cancer diagnosis.” 

Alec Kupelian was one of those people. Kupelian, 31, was nearing the end of his freshman year of college at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2014 when he drove home to Los Angeles to take a friend to her high school prom. He planned to be in town for one night before returning to college. 

For several months, Kupelian had been experiencing pain in his leg. But like most people his age, he assumed it would go away on its own. 

His father, an oncologist, thought differently. After taking one look at his son upon Alec’s arrival home, Kupelian’s father took him into the hospital for an MRI. 

From there, everything changed. 

“Saturday was prom,” Kupelian said. “Sunday, I had an MRI. Monday, I had a biopsy. Tuesday was my port placement, and by Wednesday, I started chemo.” 

Kupelian was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of cancer that often spreads to the lungs and bones. He was 19 at the time and spent a year getting chemotherapy and radiation at UCLA. While  there,  he became  involved  with  TCA, which at that time had a physical space in the hospital for teens and young adults, including a lounge where young people could hang out together as they would outside the hospital. 

“To have people who understood what I was going through during treatment and could laugh about it with me in a time where laughing is sometimes hard to come by was incredible,” said Kupelian. 

Kupelian and a friend bonded over their IV poles, which they named Earl and Steve. 

“They were so chatty, and they just loved to have conversations,” he said with a laugh. “There are things that only the people going through it can understand and connect on.” 

The importance of this social network, said Sullivan, cannot be overstated.

“Seeing that they’re not alone, that there’s a community that supports them and that they can move forward and life is going to be beautiful, there’s still so much opportunity, is critical,” she said.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more cancer care has become remote. To that end, TCA put together a teen and young adult advisory group to discuss ways to bring young people together, whether online or in person. The advisory group worked with TCA to build a website and began making videos, including interviews with young people who have cancer diagnoses or are in their survivorship stage. 

“We started with the bricks and mortar, but we really had to evolve upon that, because we need to bring the program where the patients are at,” Casillas said. 

Kupelian is one of many TCA patients who have maintained those close friendships well past his time in the hospital. 

“I still have friends from treatment,” he said. “I got married this last year, and one of my friends from treatment offered to have my wedding at their house for free.”

At the beginning of a new partnership, staff from TCA lend their support to staff from the hospital to identify needs and strategize what a teen and young adult program might look like, since all U.S. hospitals function differently. From there, hospitals that want to pursue a program further may apply for a grant from TCA to help fund staff such as nurse navigators, social workers, program managers or mental health specialists. 

Since its inception, TCA has provided 49 grants, funding 85 positions in 35 cities throughout the country. 

A critical element of care for this age group is also fertility education and preservation. 

“Patients may not be thinking about having a child right now—say they were diagnosed when they were 18—but you do want to make sure they have all options for their future,” said Casillas. 

In addition to its grantmaking programs, TCA offers ongoing training, education, resources and connections for its existing partners. Those include monthly webinars for health care providers, access to advisory panels and ongoing support from TCA staff.  

Recently, the organization launched Play It Back, a program that pairs cancer patients and survivors with a music producer. Together, they work for six months to a year writing songs and lyrics and producing their own music. 

“They meet other young people from all across the country who are equally passionate about music and about music production,” said Sullivan. “It really becomes such a therapeutic way for them to move forward.” 

Daltrey said he would like to see more individuals in the music industry give back to the age group that pays their bills. 

“The music industry itself needs to give, and start to think about this, because they haven’t been quite as generous as they should be,” he said. “We need a little bit more support from the big music companies, so let’s give them a kick.” 

His greatest hope for TCA, he said, is to have an adolescent and young adult program in every hospital in the U.S. 

“I would like that to be available to everyone who needs it in America,” he said, “all across the country.” 

The post Rock Legends Give Back to the Youth Who Made Them appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The conversation, held at the City Hall Council Chambers, was the sixth installation of “Straight Talk with Sharona,” one of Nazarian’s mayoral initiatives intended to open a dialogue with members of the community.  

During the event, Nazarian and Stainbrook discussed the organization of the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD); existing and future safety plans for the city; evolving technologies and more. They also took questions from the audience. 

Stainbrook explained that the department is staffed by nearly 250 people, including roughly 140 officers and 100 civilian employees. Their budget is about $100 million annually, with a ratio of approximately 4.8 officers for every 1,000 citizens. 

“It’s a very high ratio compared to other departments,” said Stainbrook. 

Some of the department’s staff works closely with schools and houses of worship to ensure that they are protected in their day-to-day activities and are prepared in case of an emergency. 

Schools in the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) have full-time, contracted security personnel. BHPD also sends its own officers annually to review the buildings’ layouts and develop response plans to emergencies should the need arise. Two full-time school resource officers at BHPD, who are experts on juvenile law, are tasked with liaising with the schools as well. 

“I feel like we have a good, close working relationship with the schools,” said Stainbrook. 

Many Beverly Hills residents have expressed concern about safety issues that may stem from Metro stations slated to open in the city, the first of which is expected to begin operations at Wilshire Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard in 2026. Stainbrook said that all city departments are engaged in, and working to address, those concerns. 

“It’s not just a police problem or initiative,” he said. “The whole city is working on the Metro station … we have a regular meeting with Metro, and we’re trying to work out all these details before the station opens.”

The station will have a public safety kiosk, which Stainbrook said will be the first and only such kiosk at an L.A. Metro station. Community service officers will staff the kiosk and will have the ability to take reports and patrol the area. 

Additional officers will also be dispatched to the area to patrol aboveground, and the city is working on partnerships with other agencies to patrol underground.

Stainbrook said that it’s important to establish the fact that the station will be well-guarded as soon as it becomes operational. 

“We want a heavy presence at the Metro station when it first opens to kind of set the tone about security and safety,” he said. 

Some of the safety measures that will be utilized at the Metro station rely on the city’s existing technology, including the Real Time Watch Center.

The Real Time Watch Center includes 3,000 cameras positioned throughout the city which are monitored around the clock, allowing officers to respond quickly when help is needed. The city also employs drones and has almost 120 automated license plate readers surrounding the city. 

“Our Real Time Watch Center is the envy of the nation,” said Nazarian. “We have so many people wanting to come to Beverly Hills to tour this remarkable space.”

Going forward, the city plans to implement tools that utilize AI to increase efficiency and offer real-time updates to residents when help is on the way. One program, which is currently being tested, will use artificial intelligence to generate reports based on footage from officers’ body cameras, which officers will then review and edit. 

Another program will communicate with civilians who have called in non-emergency situations. Updates will include how far away officers are, documents to have ready for when they arrive and follow-up messages to provide feedback. 

“All in all,” said Stainbrook, “it should be really interesting.” 

Members of the audience raised questions about safety around the new Metro station and various traffic safety concerns. 

Attendee Wendy Goldman said she lives in West Hollywood near Doheny Drive and Cynthia Street. She expressed her concern over several car crashes that have happened at the intersection recently. 

“The neighbors are in an uproar about this area,” she said. “The traffic people in West Hollywood are telling me that they can’t get cooperation with the other side of the street [in Beverly Hills] … can we possibly find resources, or help me find resources, or tell me who to talk to about this?”

Another attendee who did not offer her name voiced her worry about tourists taking pictures of palm trees in the middle of the road, citing an incident in which a small child ran into the road to get to his mother who was in the middle of the street. 

“It’s very, very dangerous … and I hate for tragedy to happen before we put someone there or put cameras or put signs,” she said.  

The post Police Chief Joins Mayor at ‘Straight Talk’ Event appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The event, held at the department’s station headquarters on North Rexford Drive, was organized as a collaboration between the BHFD, the Beverly Hills Fire Foundation and the Women’s Fire Alliance (WFA). The WFA is a non-profit founded by BHFD Captain Melissa Hillis, the first female officer in the BHFD’s 100-year history.

“[The WFA] believes in doing whatever we can to expose young girls to firefighting so that they know it’s a viable career choice,” said Hillis of the event. 

Attendees arrived at 7 a.m. on both days, then spent 10 hours learning core fire service skills such as hose evolutions, ladder throws and administering first aid through simulated emergency scenarios. 

People of all genders were welcome, but girls and young women were particularly encouraged to sign up. 

“There are so many avenues for young boys to become firefighters,” said Hillis. “This is just bringing girls up to speed, providing a safe space for women to have the same mentorship as the young boys do.”

With that said, the camp is open to all, said Hillis, because “women, for so long, were excluded from the fire department. We would never want to do the same thing.”

Camp activities were led by 30 volunteer firefighter instructors at a ratio of one instructor for every two campers. Over the course of the two-day event, Hillis said that campers were “transformed.” 

“When they walk in the door the first day, you can tell they’re a little hesitant … and then they leave like roaring lions, supporting one another, and they look comfortable in their own skin,” she said. “It’s just so important for our young people, especially young teenage girls.”

The camp’s volunteers are often female firefighters who want to open the career up to younger people, and who seek camaraderie in a field that has historically been male dominated. Hillis said that the camp also serves as a recruitment tool for BHFD; two women employed by the department found BHFD by volunteering at the empowerment camp. 

Members of the BHFD were heavily involved in planning and executing the camp. Hillis noted that male firefighters in the department were extremely supportive of the program. 

“The men at the Beverly Hills Fire Department worked so hard behind the scenes, they were seamlessly moving around chairs and apparatus, tying up different safety systems, and working tirelessly the whole weekend in order to make sure that that the rest of us were well-supported, so that we could be the face of the camp,” she said.

As part of the camp, the WFA handed out six scholarships in the categories of empathy, perseverance, resilience and a “kick-butt” award.

Another scholarship was accompanied by the Mayoral Award, for which Hillis asked Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian for three characteristics that she would like to see celebrated. 

“She wanted to see somebody who embodied leading with courage, unity and integrity,” said Hillis.

In a statement, Nazarian offered her gratitude to Hillis and Barton. 

“I’m also grateful to … our firefighters, volunteers, and partner agencies who dedicated their time to mentor these amazing young women,” she said. “This is how we build pathways, break barriers, and ignite the leaders of tomorrow as a united community.”

In attendance at the camp’s graduation ceremony on Nov. 9 were Nazarian, Vice Mayor Craig Corman and City Councilmembers Lester Friedman and Mary Wells. 

The post BHFD Camp Empowers Young Would-Be Firefighters appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In his remarks welcoming Gates, BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss said that the two men have known each other for 10 years, beginning when Cherniss, then the superintendent of the San Marino Unified School District, hired Gates to serve as the principal of San Marino High School. Under Gates’  leadership, the school became the number one academically achieving high school in California for three consecutive years. 

Gates’ tenure at PYLUSD also overlapped with that of Cherniss, who served as superintendent of PYLUSD beginning in May 2023. Gates was brought on to PYLUSD in June 2023. 

“There are so many accomplishments I could speak to, but what I would say [he does] best is his connections with people,” Cherniss said. “We are hiring him for Human Resources … he’s taught just about every grade there is, but he also connects well with students, and he connects well with teachers.” 

In a statement, Gates said that he is “honored” by his new role. 

“This is a community that deeply values excellence, possibility, and connection,” he said. “I look forward to supporting our extraordinary staff and ensuring that BHUSD continues to be a place where every student is known, challenged, and supported.”

There were some tense moments during the approval process for Gates at the Nov. 4 BHUSD board meeting.

Board Member Amanda Stern said she would abstain from voting on the agenda item that included Gates’ appointment because “The announcement of [Gates’] appointment … was unusually obscured and difficult to find in this agenda.” 

His appointment was included in an attachment to an agenda item on the consent calendar, which typically includes items that are approved collectively rather than discussed individually.  

“My choice to abstain has little to do with the individual in question and more to do with what felt like a bungled hiring process that lacked the usual transparency and due diligence that is required for such a high-level hire,” Stern said. 

Cherniss replied that the approval arrangement was valid. 

“This is the proper format to approve all personnel that are not under contract … and I did confirm that today with counsel,” he said.  

The board voted 4-0 to approve the certified personnel report, which included Gates’  appointment. Stern abstained from voting. 

“This agenda item absolutely was not where it was supposed to be,” Stern said. “It was obscured in a very unusual place. When something feels strange, it usually is.”  

The post New Executive Director of Personnel Services at BHUSD appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The commission voted 3-2 to deny the requests, with Commissioner Terri Kaplan and Chair Jeff Wolfe voting against the denial.

Developer Crescent Heights submitted an application for the Burton Way project in March 2024. The initial proposal was for a 20-story building with 40 affordable units. The application was revised to 26 stories and 22 affordable units earlier this year.

Commissioners Gary Ross and Myra Demeter and Vice Chair Lou Milkowski cited multiple bases for their denial on Nov. 5. 

Ross and Demeter both referenced the project’s feasibility. 

“I think that the applicant has played games with what is and isn’t feasible,” said Ross, citing the project’s reduction of affordable units and height increase. 

Ross added, “None of us really know what the law is in its vagaries and its changing contours, in what way that a judge or a court would interpret the law. I can only interpret the law the way that I see it.”  

Demeter said she had hoped the developer would agree to reduce the project from 26 stories back to 20 and was disappointed they did not do so. She also stated that she believed the project would be feasible at a lower height and with the original number of affordable units. 

“It’s disturbing, because I really came in here hoping that we could work out something,” said Demeter. “But unfortunately, I feel that what has been offered is not really going to work for me, and I don’t mind if it’s appealed to City Council.”

Milkowski cited his belief that the project will have an impact upon public health or safety because it “conflicts with the city’s general plan, use designation and zoning development standards, including density, outdoor living space and height.” 

“Specifically,” he said, “It’s a mammoth monstrosity that we haven’t seen elsewhere.”

Deliberations about the proposed project at 8844 Burton Way have been extensive and tense at times. On Oct. 21, the commission instructed city staff to draft language denying the project. That language was expected to be reviewed on Oct. 29 but was moved to Nov. 5. 

Following the Oct. 21 decision, the commission received a letter from the California Department of Housing and Community Development reminding the city, among other things, of “its obligations under the Housing Accountability Act and specifically the requirements for making findings of denial.”

There is now a 14-day appeal period during which anyone can appeal the commission’s decision to City Council.

Dave Rand, the attorney for the project developer told the Courier after the hearing that “The Planning Commission majority completely and flagrantly ignored the law and we are going to vigorously pursue our rights starting with an appeal to City Council and litigation if necessary.  The city is inviting the State to impose massive penalties for violations of state housing law.”  

The post Planning Commission Votes 3-2 Against Proposed Burton Way Project appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The decision came following a complaint filed with the district in December 2024 by Victoria Tate, the parent of a student who attended BVMS. The complaint described an incident in November 2024 during which, among other things, a racial slur was used in a classroom followed by a student pointing at a group of Black students, including Tate’s child. 

BHUSD initiated an investigation and concluded that the incident violated the district’s student conduct code. It took disciplinary measures against the perpetrators. It did not, however, agree that Tate’s child was “bullied, harassed and/or discriminated against on the basis of race.”

In response, Tate filed an appeal with the CDE. 

In the Oct. 23 ruling, the CDE held that the incident was, in fact, “sufficiently severe to intimidate and create a sense of lack of safety for a reasonable Black student.” As such, it constituted a violation of the California Education Code and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. 

The CDE went on to state that the district’s response to the incident was inadequate.

“[T]he district did not specifically tie its response to the inappropriateness and unacceptability of targeting black students with racially charged references to the n word in their classroom, regardless of their prevalence or use in popular culture, entertainment, or the media,” the ruling states. 

The CDE additionally assigned corrective action to the district, requiring a one-hour training at BVMS for administrators and staff about responding to allegations of peer-to-peer harassment and race-based bullying. The department included a requirement of proof of the training, including the date, attendees, content and provider information. 

Tate brought the CDE’s ruling to the attention of the community during public comment at the BHUSD Nov. 4 board meeting.  

The post State Finds Race-Based Bullying at BHUSD appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

It also conditionally approved, in a unanimous vote, a development plan review to allow for the construction of an eight-story, multifamily residential structure with 55 dwelling units at 232 Tower Drive owned by Leo Pustilnikov of Oak Investment Company, LLC and Beachside Suites, LLC.

Both projects will be exempt from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and both are being designed by Ottinger Architects. 

The votes represent the sixth and seventh Builder’s Remedy projects conditionally approved by the commission this month. On Oct. 9, the commission conditionally approved plans for two eight-story, mixed-use developments at 9467 Olympic Blvd. and 333-353 S. Beverly Drive and a 13-story mixed-use building at 9441 Olympic Blvd. All three properties are owned by Aflalo. 

On Oct. 14, the commission conditionally approved an 11-story structure at 401 N. Oakhurst Drive and a 12-story development at 346 N. Maple Drive. 

The project at 9430 Olympic Blvd. approved on Oct. 23 will take the place of an existing three-story office building. Of its 53 residential units, 11 will be reserved for low-income households. The development will also include 23 parking spaces in three levels of subterranean parking. 

On the first floor, a gym will be available to residents, and a common outdoor area will be located on the 13th floor. 

Beverly Hills resident Ari Tuchman, who advocated for increased privacy measures at South Beverly Drive, 9467 Olympic Blvd. and 9441 Olympic Blvd. developments, expressed his desire for the same measures to be taken at 9430 Olympic Blvd. 

“While this project may not abut single family directly, it is still very close to the block that I live on, which is El Camino, and it’s only a couple hundred feet away and so that’s kind of the reason and the basis for me coming here and addressing a couple concerns I have with this project,” he said, adding, “It’s my request that all of the conditions that were placed on the projects at Beverly and 9467 also be incorporated, by reference, to the extent feasible for this project.” 

Commissioner Terri Kaplan alluded to the fact that per state law, she has little choice but to vote in favor of Builder’s Remedy projects, regardless of her opinion about them.  

“I don’t necessarily like any of these projects, but I feel very constrained,” she said. 

Commissioner Myra Demeter recused herself from the vote on 9430 Olympic Blvd. because she owns property in the nearby vicinity. 

In discussing the Tower Drive project, Ken Dusick, a resident of Carthay Circle, spoke about the impact of the structure on his neighborhood. Dusick called the project “tawdry” and the evening’s proceedings “a hearing in form but not in substance.”

“I have to say that I feel, honestly, rather depressed about what I’m seeing and what I’m hearing … the sanction of the Builder’s Remedy is for the jurisdiction,” he said. “We in Carthay don’t live in that jurisdiction, though we are suffering the consequences of something we weren’t a party to, and that concerns me.” 

The property at Tower Drive is currently home to an eight-unit apartment building with two detached parking garages. The new structure will include 55 dwelling units of which 11 will be reserved for lower-income households.

Echoing Kaplan’s sentiments, Demeter noted that the project, like many Builder’s Remedy developments, is out of scale with the city. 

“This project is a Builder’s Remedy project and very different, not driven by the findings that we can approve a project by—it doesn’t fit any of the findings, it conflicts with the general plan, living space, height, setbacks, modulation, etc.,” she said. “Putting all that aside, we are obligated by the state to approve Builder’s Remedy projects that do not satisfy any of these findings.” 

Commissioner Chair Jeff Wolfe recused himself from the vote because he owns property near the proposed development. 

Both projects will now enter a 14-day appeal period during which they can be appealed to the City Council. 

The post Two More Builder’s Remedy Projects Move Forward appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Those laws include, most prominently, Assembly Bill 2097, which bans cities from imposing minimum parking requirements on developments located within a half-mile of major public transit.  

According to a report prepared by city staff, the relevant state laws were enacted, in part, to support California’s goals of encouraging public transit, discouraging the use of personal vehicles and reducing the cost of building housing. 

The proposed city ordinance is, according to the report, “in support of these statewide goals.” The limitations would also prevent street overcrowding and protect on-street parking for current residents and commercial users. 

Following a City Council discussion about limiting parking permits in October 2024, the city’s Traffic and Parking Commission reviewed the conceptual program in March. It was further refined in June. 

The city’s preferential parking permit program allows permit holders to park on streets in their zone between 8 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. and in excess of time-limited parking restrictions. The overnight parking permit program allows permit holders to park between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., which the city’s overnight parking prohibition otherwise forbids.

Under the new ordinance, projects whose residents will be ineligible for parking permits are defined as “those that have provided a reduced number of parking spaces than would otherwise be required by the city through the use of state and/or local exemptions.” 

Owners of such properties will be required to notify new residents of the prohibitions. If an existing project becomes ineligible for participation in the city’s preferential parking programs, residents who already have permits will be exempt from the ban. 

City Councilmember Lester Friedman expressed his support for the measure at the Oct. 28 meeting, adding that he is pleased that residents will be notified in advance that these buildings do not offer parking. He also voiced skepticism that public transit will be used as state officials predict.

“I know that the state of California believes that rapid transit in a city like Los Angeles is going to cure the evil,” he said. “I’m not so sure I agree with that. But in any event, that horse has left the barn … I just hope that some of the buildings that are being constructed now realize that they are under-parking and perhaps will change some of their plans so that each unit has parking available. But that, of course, is their own choice.”

Mayor Sharona Nazarian emphasized that the ordinance is an effort to align with regulations put forth by state government. 

“Sacramento and the state wanted to change parking laws so that anything that’s built near a transit does not require parking … and so I think that this is a great way to show our partnership with Sacramento in supporting that,” she said, adding, “If you are building close to a transit you should be relying less on cars. That’s what Sacramento’s message is. And so, we hear you, and we are abiding by that.”

In other business, the council adopted an urgency ordinance to adopt, by reference, the 2025 California Building Standards Code, with applicable local amendments to the California Building Standards Code and other technical codes. 

The California Building Standards Commission adopts a new version of the California Building Standards Code every three years. Following the council’s vote, the code will automatically take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. 

An urgency ordinance was needed to ensure that the city is aligned with the state’s implementation timeline. 

The post Council Acts to Limit Preferential Parking appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The policy stems from a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, which held that not providing guardians with those options constituted a violation of their religious freedoms under the First Amendment. 

The policy considered by BHUSD board members was drafted by the California School Boards Association (CSBA). 

Mahmoud v. Taylor involved an elementary school curriculum in Montgomery County in Maryland from 2022 that included several books with references to LGBTQ children or adults. Following a lawsuit brought by parents, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of providing notification and an opt-out policy if and when those books were read and discussed. 

On Oct. 28, the BHUSD board was presented with CSBA’s draft policy. Despite being instigated by Mahmoud v. Taylor, the policy prepared by CSBA did not reference LGBTQ. books or single out elementary schools. Rather, the proposed language offered broad regulations prohibiting district employees from interfering with students’ religious beliefs or engaging in “religious indoctrination.”  

The draft reads, in part, “Teachers and other district staff shall be highly sensitive to their obligation not to interfere with the religious development of any student in whatever tradition the student embraces, and treat all religions and religious convictions, including nonbelief, with fairness and respect.” 

The draft also requires that parents and guardians be notified and have the option to opt out of instruction “based on their religious beliefs,” and that students who are opted out must be offered an alternate educational activity. 

Many members of the board found the language offered by CSBA too vague. 

“It is supposed to be for sincerely held religious beliefs, which is not an issue, but if you look at different experiences in schools, unless we are very clear, there could be a lot of reasons for [opting out] … it’s a much broader and philosophical conversation,” said Board Member Amanda Stern.

Board Member Russell Stuart agreed. 

“What [was] passed was fairly specific, and then this is incredibly broad,” he said. “Now, you kind of open up these floodgates to cherry-pick anything that might cross your religious understanding … my understanding when this rule came down from the federal government was [that it was] very specific on a topic.” 

BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss requested that board members come up with wording that more accurately reflects the intent of the policy. 

“We’re hearing ‘no specifics,'” he said. “If the board, between now and the next meeting, wants to provide us with specific language, please do that and we’ll bring it back for second reading.” 

In other business, the board narrowly approved a resolution recognizing ten nationally observed Heritage and Pride Months throughout the year. The months celebrate various racial, ethnic and other historically marginalized groups. 

During discussion, Board Vice President Judy Manouchehri and Board Member Sigalie Sabag voiced their opposition to the resolution. 

“I’m just concerned that by acknowledging some [groups] and not others, which is what this does, that we’re creating another issue of disparity, because European American Heritage Months are not on here, other Heritage Months that could potentially be created are not on here,” said Manouchehri, adding that the “ship has possibly sailed on a resolution like this.”

Sabag added that the board should be “concentrat[ing] on the education.” 

“I think this is very polarizing, and I think the way it’s written is not going to be positive,” she said. 

The board voted 3-2 to pass the resolution, with Manouchehri and Sabag voting no. 

Additionally, the board heard and made comments on the district’s 2025-26 strategic plan. 

The plan, presented by Cherniss and Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Dustin Seemann, included six overarching goals: improving student achievement, improving the quality of instruction, increasing student engagement in extracurricular activities, facilities completion, ensuring fiscal responsibility and a continued emphasis on safety and security. 

Regarding student achievement, quality of instruction and student engagement in extracurriculars, the district plans to use measures such as tutoring, a new math curriculum, a district-wide writing workshop program and academic interventions when necessary to achieve its goals. 

Board members brought up various concerns regarding these goals. Stern noted that Horace Mann Elementary’s test scores were below those of El Rodeo Elementary School. 

“I really would love to know what can be done to support Horace Mann perhaps more comprehensively, given that difference,” she said. 

Board President Rachelle Marcus expressed a desire for students to do more reading on their own time. 

“In English, in the middle school and the elementary school … getting kids to read books just to read books, to improve their skills of understanding in reading—I don’t think I see enough of that,” she said. “They are required to read the book in class, they read the book in class. What about the reading outside of class, and the strength and the rigor that that will provide? And book reports? … I really feel that’s something we are missing.” 

The scheduled vote on the strategic plan was tabled to give administrators time to incorporate board comments and concerns.   

The post BHUSD Board Considers Opt-Out Policy for Religious Beliefs appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The decision to delay a discussion regarding the 26-story mixed-use project at 8844 Burton Way came on the heels of a preliminary 4-1 vote by the commission on Oct. 21 to deny a development plan review and density bonus permit for the proposed new structure. Members of the commission on that date instructed city staff to prepare a resolution denying the project, and the Oct. 29 review was expected to result in the commission adopting a final resolution to deny the development. 

In its preliminary vote to deny the project, the commission cited as one of the deciding factors an alleged violation of California Health and Safety Code 17929, which prohibits the isolation of affordable housing units to a specific floor or area on a specific floor. 

Commissioner Gary Ross said at the time that the Burton Way project violated the “spirit” of the law if not the law itself, as affordable units would be spread throughout the bottom five floors of the building.

Attorney Dave Rand, representing the applicant, asked for a continuance at the Oct. 29 meeting because the full commission was not present (Commissioner Terri Kaplan was not in attendance), and what he called “the gravity of the situation.” 

“We believe the findings and the denial resolution were made in error, in violation of multiple state laws,” he said. “And we think given … the importance of your decision, it would be most appropriate to wait until there is a full commission present to be able to deliberate it.”

Rand also cited a letter sent to the commission by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in response to its preliminary denial vote. The letter, dated Oct. 28, reminded the city of “its obligations under the Housing Accountability Act and specifically the requirements for making findings of denial.”

HCD specifically addressed the question of denying a project based on the dispersal of affordable units, stating that “dispersal requirements that are not required by state law and not found in the city’s objective standards cannot serve as a basis for denial.” 

The letter further suggested that the city work with applicants on conditions agreeable to both parties, as long as those conditions don’t render projects infeasible. 

Since the Oct. 21 meeting, the applicant for 8844 Burton Way submitted two revisions to the development, which included changes to further disperse the affordable units and to make them more comparable in terms of the number of bedrooms and bathrooms to those earmarked as market rate. 

Commissioner Myra Demeter said that she had not had the opportunity to look at the most recent revision and noted that she would “need a continuance” to get all the information. 

Multiple members of the public spoke in opposition against the continuance. 

A special meeting will be held on Nov. 5 to review the matter. 

In other business, the commission conditionally approved, in a unanimous vote, a request from developer Masoud Netty of Wilshire Rodeo Company, LLC, for a development plan review and density bonus permit to allow for the construction of a 19-story, mixed-use development with 30 residential units at 145 S. Rodeo Drive.

It also conditionally approved a request from developer 9229 Wilshire Skyline, LLC for a development plan review, conditional use permit and density bonus permit to allow for the construction of a 14-story, mixed-use development consisting of 116 residential units, commercial uses and a 60-room hotel at 9229 Wilshire Blvd. 

The buildings are the eighth and ninth Builder’s Remedy projects to be conditionally approved by the commission since Oct. 9. 

Designed by Los Angeles-based architecture and design firm Cara, the development on South Rodeo Drive will replace an existing two-story office building. At 237 feet tall, the new project will include three levels of subterranean parking levels with 54 spaces as well as an additional subterranean level to potentially accommodate a restaurant kitchen, mechanical equipment and a residential screening room.

Six of the building’s 30 residential units will be reserved for low-income households.

In the proposal brought to the commission for deliberation, all six affordable units were located on three floors. During discussion, the commission requested that the applicant disperse those units more broadly, citing the same concerns they cited in their initial denial of the Burton Way project. 

Ryan Leaderman, an attorney representing the developer, said that despite the further dispersal of affordable units not being required by state law, the applicant would agree to the commission’s request “in the spirit of compromise.” 

During public comment, residents expressed opposition to the project, voicing concerns about increased traffic, noise and congestion, particularly during the construction of the project. 

“I understand that the Planning Commission has limited discretion to deny the project … but the Planning Commission can and should impose conditions to at least try to ease our burden of the outrageous idea of a 19-story, completely out of proportion building that, without the Builder’s Remedy tragedy would never, ever have been built,” said Michelle Bellen, who identified herself as a resident of South Camden Drive.

The development at 9229 Wilshire Blvd. designed by Los Angeles-based architecture firm SPF:architects, will replace a two-story commercial building. Three subterranean parking levels would provide 140 shared parking spaces. The residential units would occupy most of levels two through 10, and a hotel would occupy levels 11 through 14. 

A hotel operator hasn’t yet been identified. 

The developments on South Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard are now open to a 14-day appeal period. 

The post Planning Commission Continues Hearing on Burton Way Project appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Many parents and members of the community have expressed concern about how demolition, excavation and building will affect the school and surrounding areas. 

Following a presentation from the One Beverly Hills representatives, questions from members of the board and Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss focused on dirt and dust exposure from construction, as well as the impacts of noise and privacy. 

Addressing one of the primary concerns of parents—that potentially harmful dust and dirt was being generated and making its way to the school—Lauren Eckhart Smith, the senior vice president of development with One Beverly Hills developer Cain International, said that the demolition phase of construction is complete. 

“Our demolition activities, which I think have generated most of the concern … is complete,” she said. “There were two buildings … that were part of the Beverly Hilton that have been demolished as part of the development to make way for the botanical gardens.”

Samson Debela, the senior project manager with Turner Construction, the company overseeing building work, said that to mitigate and monitor the impact of dust and dirt, the developer has set up a monitor at El Rodeo that takes data about air quality at five-minute intervals. If dust and dirt surpass a designated threshold, a representative is notified through a phone app, and a phone call is placed to the principal of the school and the city.  

Data is collected in real time. 

To date, the air quality has not triggered the alarm. In the case of the alarm going off, Debela said, work would stop, and in addition to the school being notified, an investigation would be undertaken. 

No hazardous materials are present in the buildings being demolished, Debela added, and if they had been, they would have been removed prior to demolition. 

Board Vice President Judy Manouchehri requested that the developer contribute to “very tall trees” being placed at the exterior of the school, and to monthly air filter replacements. 

Smith called the trees “a great suggestion” and committed to exploring the idea. Debela added that a 16’8″ sound wall will be erected within the next couple of weeks to mitigate noise.

Board Member Dr. Amanda Stern noted the city’s recent commitment of over $500 million in bonds to help finance the development.

“We really do expect that safety and comfort of the staff, the teachers, the kids absolutely is ensured,” she said. “That is a great amount of money that has been given … many residents and those who are parents and teachers and staff are well aware of the $550 million Mello-Roos indebtedness, and I hope and trust you guys will continue to take care of our kids and the staff who are inadvertently right there.”

Cherniss said that he still has apprehension about the project. 

“For the next three years, I’m concerned not just about the kids we have, but potentially about families turning away from enrolling in our schools because there is this big project here … I’m not convinced this is a positive for El Rodeo or our school district yet, and I hope it is,” he said. 

In other business, residents expressed during the public comment period concerns about how cuts to federal special education funding may impact the district, and again asked the board to adopt a resolution combating racism against Black and Hispanic individuals. 

Kimberly Lifschitz, whose child is a student with special needs, asked the board to take action to keep services intact. 

“I am once again reaching out to this board to beg it to do its job … these programs are actually, genuinely life changing for students and families, even if they don’t come with Nike-branded spirit packs,” she said. 

District parent Teairra Harris requested during public comment that the board adopt a resolution proposed by members of the community to combat anti-Black and anti-Hispanic prejudice. 

Harris, whose daughter recently entered BHUSD as a freshman, said her daughter witnessed several boys laughing and joking about the murder of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, in a classroom last week on or around what would have been Floyd’s birthday. 

“She was uncomfortable, it created tension, she was very tense, and she was also angry and confused about how someone could find murder, let alone police brutality, comical,” said Harris, adding, “To have [a resolution] like this passed would be a godsend.”  

The post One Beverly Hills Addresses Concerns About El Rodeo Elementary School appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Terri Kaplan voting against the denial of the review and permit. 

The commission’s decision came following a nearly four-hour deliberation, which included public comment that at times became personal as residents suggested that commissioners were not taking their concerns seriously. 

The applicant’s requests were denied on five counts, according to Commissioner Gary Ross, who summarized the reasoning behind the decision while making a motion to deny. 

Ross cited an alleged violation of the California Health and Safety Code 17929, which prohibits the isolation of affordable housing units to a specific floor or area on a specific floor; an alleged lack of evidence to  support the applicant’s claims that it would not be economically feasible to build affordable units on the top 19 floors; the applicant’s alleged refusal to provide evidence to support the need for transparent as opposed to opaque guardrails; health and safety concerns raised by residents during public comment, alleging that traffic created by the new development would prevent them from accessing necessary medical care at nearby Cedars-Sinai; and allegedly insufficient evidence that the Beverly Hills Fire Department is capable of addressing fires of more than 100 feet high. 

It was unclear how existing law applied to some of the allegations. For example, California Health and Safety Code 17929 prohibits mixed-income multifamily structures from isolating affordable housing units “to a specific floor or an area on a specific floor.” 

Affordable units in the Burton Way development would be spread throughout the bottom five floors of the building, as currently proposed.

Dave Rand, an attorney representing the applicant, told the Courier that the commission’s vote was “shocking.”   

“The city is absolutely playing with fire here,” he said. “The commission had zero legal basis to deny this project, as was told to them repeatedly by their own staff and city attorney. I was shocked by the brazen disregard for the law.” 

City Attorney Laurence Wiener told the Courier that “as requested, staff will prepare a resolution of denial to be brought back at the next Planning Commission meeting,” adding that the decision is subject to appeal. 

The application for the Burton Way project was first submitted to the city by developer Crescent Heights in March 2024. At that time, it was proposed to be 20 stories and 223 feet tall. Earlier this year, the applicant submitted revised plans that increased the project’s height to 26 stories and just over 309 feet. 

The project would include 200 residential units with 22 designated for extremely low-income and moderately low-income households. Parking spaces for 316 vehicles would be available, along with over 42,000 square feet of open space and a rooftop deck.

The commission’s vote to deny the permits came as a surprise to many involved in the project. In August, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the city to process the application for a Builder’s Remedy project on South Linden Drive after finding the city to be in violation of the state’s Housing Accountability Act and Permit Streamlining Act for having rejected the development.   

That decision was expected to set a precedent for the way the city handles applications for Builder’s Remedy developments. 

During public comment, resident Renee Strauss, who opposed the Burton Way development, expressed her frustration with commissioners who have said they have very little discretion about whether or not to approve Builder’s Remedy projects based on state law. 

“Mr. Wolfe brought up on several occasions, as did … Mr. Milkowski, that your hands are tied … don’t let us feel as a community like we are being silenced, and our words don’t matter,” she said. 

Resident Janet Fox singled out City Planner Edgar Arroyo, suggesting that city staff is at fault for all Builder’s Remedy projects in the city after not submitting a Housing Element to the state in a timely manner. 

“You comment ‘our hands are tied,’ … but you don’t look at Ed Arroyo and the planning staff who failed, who were neglectful in not providing a timely compliance element,” she said.

The commission directed staff to draft a resolution memorializing their findings, which will be brought back for finalization at their next meeting on Oct. 29. 

There is now a 14-day appeal period during which anyone can appeal the commission’s decision. 

Rand told the Courier that his team will wait to see what happens at the Oct. 29 meeting before taking further action, although he noted that he will prepare legal analyses to present at that meeting. 

Following that meeting, he said, “If they continue to disregard the law, we will appeal.” If necessary, he said, they will “one hundred percent litigate” the issue. 

In other business, the commission approved a development plan review and density bonus permit for a new six-story development at 9945 Durant Drive, as well as two permits to allow rooftop restrooms and a walkway in the front yard to exceed 5 feet in width.  

The project was found to be exempt from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The project, which will include 29 residential units, will occupy the parcel that currently houses several multifamily residential buildings at 9937, 9941 and 9945 Durant Drive. Of the 29 units, three will be reserved for very low-income households. 

Commissioner Terri Kaplan commended the developer for their “thoughtful” design. 

“It’s true, it’s very different from what exists,” said Kaplan. “It’s true it is somewhat—in my opinion, modestly—larger than what’s going on in the area, and as importantly, it furthers our quest to create more housing in accordance with state mandate. I think it is a positive development for our community.”  

The post Planning Commission Denies Permits for Burton Way Project appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“A lot of people are interested in building ADUs,” said Chloe Chen, the city’s principal planner, at the farmers’ market event. “We are encouraging them as alternate options for housing.” 

The booth, which received about a dozen visitors, was part of an ongoing initiative to spread the word about how to build an ADU, the regulations that govern them and what the process looks like in Beverly Hills. 

According to Chen, the Housing Element requires the city to achieve an average of 20 ADUs per year by the end of 2025 or face penalties. 

The need for more housing comes from the city’s Housing Element, which was certified by the state in May 2024. The certification followed three years of attempts by Beverly Hills officials to draft a document that met the state’s requirements, including four formal rejections from state officials and dozens of amendments. 

The final document requires the city to allow approximately 3,100 new housing units by 2029.

Among the programs that city staff were promoting at the Sunday market were the Incentive ADU (IADU) program and the city’s preapproved ADU plans. 

The IADU program allows owners of single-family lots of 13,000 square feet or larger to build one additional ADU above what is permitted by state law, with certain requirements. The structure cannot be larger than 800 square feet. It may be detached or attached to the home and at least one ADU on the property must be deed-restricted for rental use, with a minimum term of 12 months. 

IADUs must have separate entrances and bathrooms, and full kitchens. They must  include a parking space unless the property is within a half mile of public transit, within an architecturally or historically significant district, in an area where on-street parking permits are required and not provided to the occupant of the ADU or if they are within one block of a car-share vehicle pickup location. 

IADUs cannot be sold separately from the primary residence. 

The city currently has five preapproved ADU plans available on its website. Created by individual designers and architecture firms, the plans include architectural, structural and electrical designs that comply with city requirements and are approximately 70% complete for permitting. 

For households interested in building ADUs, the preapproved plans offer an option to move the process along more quickly. 

As part of their program to promote the option in the city, staff has made detailed guidelines for what is permitted in the Central Area of the city, the Hillside Area and the Trousdale Estates, as each region has slightly different regulations. 

For instance, the maximum size for attached or detached ADUs in the Hillside Area is 1,400 square feet or the site’s remaining maximum allowable floor area, whichever is less. In the Trousdale Estates, the maximum size is 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom ADU and 1,000 square feet for anything larger, or the site’s remaining maximum allowable floor area, whichever is less. 

Residents of the Trousdale Estates pushed back against proposed changes to regulations governing ADUs last year, expressing concerns that amendments to height restrictions would negatively impact neighborhood views. 

Chen noted that recent changes to city regulations allow for some two-story ADUs and for converting garages to ADUs. 

In addition to their booth at the farmer’s market, city staff was present at Beverly Hills’ National Night Out event in August and has been posting information about ADUs on social media. 

Chen was pleased to find that residents saw the social media posts and came to the booth. 

“I’m so glad it’s working,” she said. 

More information about the program can be found on the city’s website at beverlyhills.org/adu and beverlyhills.org/preapprovedadu. 

The post Outreach Efforts to Encourage ADUs Extend to Farmers’ Market appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The ventures are both multi-family residential buildings: an 11-story structure at 401 N. Oakhurst Dr., and a 12-story development at 346 N. Maple Dr. 

Developer Leo Pustilnikov is the primary applicant for both projects. 

Dave Rand, an attorney representing Pustilnikov, expressed his satisfaction with the commission’s vote. 

“We were very pleased at the decision by the Planning Commission,” he told the Courier. “The city has made a clear, deliberate decision to follow the law, and we’re grateful that was the outcome.” 

At the meeting, Commission Chair Jeff Wolfe said that the city has very little discretion with regard to approving Builder’s Remedy projects. 

“In a nutshell, while I may agree with all the [opposition] from the residents, while I may have all of the same concerns, I still feel, sitting here as a commission, we are bound by both the municipal code, bound by state law and therefore the law compels me to support the project[s] with the conditions as specified,” he said. 

Applications for both projects were submitted to the city in April 2024. Currently, the lot at 346 N. Maple Dr. houses an eight-unit apartment building and detached six-car garage. The new, 124-foot building will have 65 residential units, 13 of which will be reserved for low- and very low-income households. The project will include 15 parking spaces and a one-level subterranean garage. 

The approximately 7,700-square-foot lot at 401 N. Oakhurst Dr. is now home to a six-unit apartment building and a detached six-car garage. The new project will feature a 131-foot building with 25 residential units, five of which will be reserved for low- and very low-income households. It will include 14 parking spaces and a one-level subterranean garage.

At the Oct. 14 meeting, multiple members of the public spoke in opposition to the ventures. 

“These two developments affect our lifestyle extremely,” said a resident of North Maple Drive. “Right now, as the parking exists, people have to drive four times around the block to find a parking spot to come and visit me or provide me services … [imagine] what life will be after these developments—forget about developing it—but after it’s developed, what will happen to parking and traffic?”

At the meeting, Rand emphasized that the North Maple Drive building will help the city fulfill the requirements of its state-issued Housing Element. 

“This particular project includes a very high percentage of affordable units that will be helpful to the city as you meet your [housing] requirements and demonstrate to the state that the affordable obligations, that are getting only greater and greater imposed on cities, are being met here in Beverly Hills,” he said.

Beverly Hills is required by the state to create capacity for over 3,100 new housing units by 2029. 

Prior to making a motion for the approval of the North Maple Drive project, Commissioner Terri Kaplan encouraged residents to voice their opinions about Builder’s Remedy to state policymakers. 

“For those members of the public who will be directly affected by this project, who have shown up to this meeting today or written to us or who are viewing or listening, thank you for participating,” she said. “As to what else you could do, it’s entirely within your discretion, if you object to the state law that places us in this position, you may write, and probably should, to your elected officials in Sacramento, including the governor.” 

Following the commission’s vote, there is a 14-day appeal period during which anyone can file an appeal to the decision. If an appeal is filed, the issue will go to the City Council. If no appeal is filed, the commission’s ruling is final. 

The post Planning Commission Approves Developments on N. Maple and N. Oakhurst Drives appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The plans include an 8-story mixed-use development at 9467 Olympic Blvd., another 8-story mixed-use development at 333-353 S. Beverly Dr. and a 13-story mixed-use development at 9441 Olympic Blvd. All three properties are owned by Samuel Aflalo of Olympic & Beverly, LLC and Fisch Properties, L.P. 

“We appreciate staff’s diligence and the city attorney’s diligence as well, with respect to the project,” said Ryan Leaderman, an attorney representing the projects, at the Oct. 9 meeting. “As you know, we’re in a housing crisis. The city’s population has actually decreased over the past 50 years, and with that in mind, that’s one of the reasons why we have to strengthen housing laws right now.” 

All three new developments take advantage of California’s Builder’s Remedy law, which allows new developments to bypass certain municipal building and zoning codes in exchange for providing affordable units if a city does not have an approved housing element in place. 

There are currently 14 Builder’s Remedy projects in various stages of development in Beverly Hills. 

Plans for the projects on Olympic Boulevard and South Beverly Drive were submitted in September 2024. The 9467 Olympic Blvd. lot, which is currently being used as a grocery store and parking lot, will house an 85-foot-tall building, 17,085 square feet of which will be designated for commercial and restaurant use. 

Of 105 residential units in the building, 21 will be reserved for low-income households. The remainder, which will be available at market rate, will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The development will feature a rooftop courtyard, private balconies and three levels of subterranean parking with 180 parking spaces.  

The development on the approximately 38,500-square-foot South Beverly Drive lot, which is currently being used as office space and parking, will also feature an 85-foot building, with 16,099 square feet designated for commercial and restaurant use. 

The 135 available residential units will include 27 designated for low-income households and a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units available at market rate. Three levels of subterranean parking will provide 263 parking spaces, and the building will include a gym, community room and rooftop courtyard with a pool.

At just over 143 feet, the development at 9441 Olympic Blvd. will be the tallest of the three. Currently, the site houses a two-story office building. When its new development is complete, it will feature over 4,000 square feet for commercial use, and 15 out of 75 total residential units will be designated for low-income households. 

Echoing the sentiments of many Beverly Hills residents who will be impacted by Builder’s Remedy projects in the city, 24 households from a nearby block of El Camino Drive submitted a signed letter to the Planning Commission expressing their concerns about traffic and privacy. 

The letter focused on the impacts of 333-335 S. Beverly Dr. and 9467 Olympic Blvd. Resident Ari Tuchman, who penned the letter, spoke at the Oct. 9 meeting. He emphasized that residents were not seeking to deny the developers their projects, but rather to place parameters on certain elements. 

“Nobody’s denying anybody’s right to their use and enjoyment of the property, but I think Mr. Aflalo and Mr. Leaderman would agree that that’s a two-way street, and that it also applies to us as it applies to them,” he said. “Our letter is so reasonable and is so understanding, and we’re asking for so little.”

As approved, amplified sound will be prohibited in outdoor open space areas in all three developments. Common outdoor areas will be permitted to be used from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and barbecues on individual balconies will be banned. 

Sound and sight barriers will also be required of all three properties, including a 6-foot sound barrier on rooftop areas facing residential properties and 4-foot opaque or translucent barriers on balconies and common outdoor living spaces. 

There is now a 14-day appeal period during which anyone can file an appeal. 

“If an appeal is filed, the next step would be a City Council hearing,” said Beverly Hills Director of Community Development Michael Forbes in an email to the Courier. “If no appeal is filed, the Planning Commission’s decision is final.”

The developer will then prepare and submit building plans to the city for review.  

The post Olympic Boulevard Builder’s Remedy Projects Move Forward appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

According to the city, the audit will entail a glance into waste containers to check that trash is in the correct bin. Bins may then receive tags reading “Oops” for incorrectly sorted trash and “Good job” for correctly sorted trash.

The audit is underway as a result of Senate Bill 1383, which went into effect in 2022. SB 1383 is a state effort to reduce methane gases at landfills.

“It’s a greenhouse emission reduction that the state is trying to accomplish with this regulation,” Beverly Hills Solid Waste Manager Colonel Burnley told the Courier. “This is not unique to Beverly Hills. Every city in the state of California that falls under SB 1383 is required to do it. So, we’re just doing our part.”

One of the primary objectives of the effort is to separate organic waste — particularly food waste — from other trash. Food waste should be put in green bins, not black or blue bins. Green bins can also hold coffee filters, flowers and herbs, yard waste, bones from meat and 100% plant-fiber based food-soiled paper.

According to Burnley, messages about the effort began going out to the community in December 2021. It was initially rolled out to single-family properties, then multi-family properties. The audit is the next phase of the plan.

All bins will not be audited; rather, the city will audit random samples from each of its approximately 35 trash routes.

“We’re not being invasive —opening up their trash, going through bags—we just flip the lid, look at that was at the top of the container,” Burnley said. “This first round is just more of a surface level audit.”

The audit will last for several more weeks, and a second audit will  likely be conducted early next year. Burnley expects to send educational mailers in the intervening months.

The city is not issuing tickets or other penalties at this time.

“Our goal is compliance, not to penalize people,” Burnley said. “A lot of times people just don’t know, or they need the proper tools to help them. So, we’re starting off with education, a nudge and push, so fines and penalties are not part of this process.”

More information can be found on the city’s website.

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“I’m grateful to be alive,” she said. “It took me two years to say that. I’m grateful for my family’s strength, and I’m grateful for the community and for your love and prayer and your unwavering support, and I’m so grateful for a place to come when I’m

feeling like I need to be with victims and other families.”

Sasi’s remarks were among those given at the dedication for Beverly Hills’ Oct. 7 Memorial, which was held at the library on Oct. 5. In addition to Sasi, speakers included Mayor Sharona Nazarian; artist Art Nesterenko, who created the memorial; Rabbi Pini Dunner of the Beverly Hills Synagogue; Israel Bachar, Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest and more.

The hourlong program included prayers for a ceasefire as well as a promise that Beverly Hills will never forget the victims of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by terrorist organization Hamas.

To begin the ceremony, Dunner offered a recitation of Psalm 121 in Hebrew and English.

“It is a psalm that calls for God’s assistance and help, recognizes God’s greatness, and particularly in light of the fact that there are hostages who still remain dozens of feet below Gaza in tunnels,” he said. “We pray for their release [as well as] the other 28 whose remains need to be brought for proper burial in the land of their birth.”

Following Dunner’s remarks, Nazarian delivered a speech centered on hope, unity and a recognition that even as antisemitism is on the rise, Beverly Hills will continue to speak out against it.

“We stand together here in Beverly Hills for a moment that will live in history,” she said. “This is not just another ceremony. This is a sacred ground … we built this memorial to remember, to teach, to educate the next generation, to say with absolute clarity that never again is now.”

Bachar and Rabbi Noah Farkas, the Jewish Federation’s President and Chief Executive Officer, shared recollections about Oct. 7, 2023, and were followed by Sasi, who shared her story of survival.

An Israeli American from the San Fernando Valley, Sasi was visiting Israel at the time of the Oct. 7 attack. She was at the Nova Music Festival when the attack began and hid in a small bomb shelter for eight hours alongside approximately 40 other people. When terrorists entered the shelter, Sasi hid from their grenades and gunfire under bodies.

Before being rescued, Sasi was shot in the leg, and her father was murdered after throwing himself on a grenade to protect others.

“Even in the face of terror, we will not lose our hope,” Sasi said at the Oct. 5 event. “Hope is stronger than fear. Light is stronger than darkness, and life is stronger than death. We remember and we fight, we believe, and we will never stop choosing life.”

The Beverly Hills memorial, Forty Steps to the Sky, will include a sculpture resembling a spiral floating staircase. The sculpture will feature materials sourced from Israel and is intended to represent the connection between earth and sky and between body and soul. The steps represent the number of weeks in the year 2023 before Oct. 7.

Behind the sculpture, a memorial wall will hold the names of the victims.

Speaking at the ceremony, artist Nesterenko, who works as the creative director at Broskin Studio, explained the piece further.

“The entire structure will be made out of forged stainless steel, assembled from hundreds and hundreds of small pieces,” he said. “Each piece represents a family that lost a loved one, and together, they’re joined into one sculpture, forming a lasting bond. Forty Steps to the Sky is  … a promise; a promise that the stories of Oct. 7 will never be forgotten, and together we will always write a story of light.”

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The item, brought for discussion by Board Members Sigalie Sabag and Russell Stuart, included potentially increasing the height of a fence being built at the school from eight feet to 20 feet.  

“If we look at Beverly Vista Middle School, and we see the soccer field, the fence, I believe, is 20 feet … I think that would be very secure,” Sabag said.

Currently, the fence is planned to be eight feet tall and is slated for completion in December. The project is already designed and under contract. According to Amin Salari, the chief Operating Officer/Executive Vice President of Operations at Fonder-Salari, Inc., which is doing the construction, increasing the height of the fence would take an additional four months and cost an additional $2 million to $2.5 million. 

Salari explained that the primary challenge of increasing the height of the fence would be building a foundation. Since the fence will be crafted from wrought iron, night time soil excavation would be required, among other things. 

Suggesting that if the board is interested in adding height to the fence, it should be done after construction is completed on the existing plan, Salari noted that a lighter, taller structure could be placed behind the eight-foot fence. 

“I am sure we can add, if you want to have a fence, add something on the top behind the existing fence later, but let’s just move forward with this project, considering the time and cost impact, because we’d have to go back to the drawing board,” he said. 

In other news, during public comment at the Sept. 30 meeting, multiple parents and community members read proposed resolutions designed to combat anti-Black and anti-Hispanic prejudice which, they said, were submitted for inclusion on the board’s agenda but were not included. 

“We have made multiple requests for this board to address the racism and disparate treatment that Black and Latin children in this district face,” said parent Victoria González-Tate. “But protection and acknowledgment of Black and Latin is always coming in the hereafter … If you have no interest in the equal educational rights of Black and Brown students, then step out of the way for the parents, students, teachers and community members to do so.”

Both resolutions were based on the language of the board’s recently adopted resolution to combat antisemitism.

BHUSD parent Zola Mashariki read a proposed resolution that, she said, would combat “anti-Hispanic and anti-Latino prejudice through education, awareness, remembrance and support.” 

The resolution would include mandates that BHUSD recognize mid-September through mid-October as Hispanic Heritage History Month, commemorate Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, create spaces to celebrate the diversity within the Hispanic and Latino communities and adopt the United Nations (U.N.) International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, a landmark treaty definition that was adopted by the U.N. in 1965.  

“It is time to educate BHUSD staff and students and to reflect, remember and learn … I hope you will take this seriously and adopt it,” Mashariki said. 

Dr. Regulus Allen, also a BHUSD parent, read a proposed resolution to combat anti-Black bigotry and racial prejudice. 

The draft resolution included mandates that BHUSD recognize February as Black History Month, commemorate Juneteenth as a designated day of remembrance marked by such activities as assemblies and trips to the California African American Museum in Exposition Park and designate Feb. 1 as National Freedom Day. 

Speaking about the importance of such resolutions, González-Tate noted that “this board benefits off the backs of Hispanic culture by making its elementary schools dual immersion in an effort to pull BHUSD out of the gutters they put themselves in.” 

The post BHUSD Board Considers Increased Security for BHHS appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The issue was taken under consideration by the city following the recent passage of several state laws that significantly limit the ability of cities to deny or reduce a housing development’s density based on subjective design criteria.

Until now, Beverly Hills has reviewed proposed housing projects on a case-by-case basis, relying on the Architectural and Design Review Commission’s subjective discretion to ensure high-quality design.

That process is no longer permitted under state law. Now, cities must base their approvals of housing projects only on objective standards, which are defined in a city staff report as “definitive, measurable, and consistently applicable across projects without personal judgment or discretion.” 

Since November 2024, the draft ordinance has undergone reviews and revisions from members of the Planning Commission and the Architectural and Design Review Commission. The Planning Commission on Aug. 28 unanimously approved the draft ordinance that went before the City Council on Sept. 30. 

By establishing objective standards for certain design elements, the proposed ordinance aims to maintain the quality of buildings and aesthetics in the city while still adhering to state law. The ordinance suggests measures by which to control building bulk, manage streetscape compatibility, limit noise and maintain a premium exterior quality of buildings, among other things.

The proposal does not change existing density, height or setback standards.  

Some of the proposed standards, which would apply to multifamily housing developments with at least one affordable unit, include mandating that windows less than 8 feet from a property line be offset, angled or obscured; that rooftop decks adjoining housing have a setback from roof edges and a 6-foot clear sound wall; and that balconies near single-family interior lot lines have translucent railings. 

Vinyl windows and siding, mirrored glass and faux-wood plywood would be prohibited. 

Councilmembers noted during their discussion that the new ordinance is required under state law and voiced their appreciation for the work done by city staff to draft the language while taking care to maintain the character of the city. 

“This was a huge undertaking,” said Mayor Sharona Nazarian. “We are in support. We agree with the recommendations that were made, which shows the thorough job that you all did to really preserve our community feel, so we are very grateful for that.”

This ordinance is the first phase of the effort to come into compliance with state law. The second phase will include the engagement of a consultant to expand and broaden objective design standards by the end of 2026. 

In other news, the council voted unanimously to adopt the city’s final offer with the Management and Professional Employees Association, with which it has been in negotiations for several months. 

At issue was how many categories an employee would need to exceed expectations in a performance review in order to earn a bonus. The city proposed four out of eight, and the union, which represents approximately 142 city employees, proposed three out of eight. 

Speaking at the Sept. 30 meeting, Tania Schwartz, the Management and Professional Employees Association President, called the city’s proposal a “clear departure from the historical standard.”

Negotiations for the next Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and the union will start in approximately six months.

At the end of the meeting, Councilmember Craig Corman took over the vice mayorship from Vice Mayor John Mirisch. The exchange reflected a decision made by the council in February to split the position, allowing Corman and Mirisch to serve six months each of the 2025-26 term. 

The post Council Approves Design Standards for Multifamily Housing appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The cease-and-desist, issued by attorney Daniel Lifschitz, who is a parent of a BHUSD student, alleges that in its recent activates during public meetings, the board has violated the Brown Act. 

The Brown Act governs public meetings and conversations about issues affecting the public among elected officials with the goal of ensuring transparency.

In its Oct. 1 response, the board, represented by attorney Joseph R. Sanchez of Best Best & Krieger, LLP, said that it “respectfully disagrees with [Lifschitz’s] characterization of the events in question and [Lifschitz’s] interpretation of applicable law” and that it “has not violated the Brown Act’s public comment requirements.” 

In his cease-and-desist letter, Lifschitz argued that the board violated the Public Comment Obligation (PCO) of the Brown Act by “substantially chang[ing]” agenda items after public comment had been closed. 

Lifschitz specifically identified recent discussions about standards-based instruction, a resolution to combat antisemitism and a mandate to display the Israeli flag at BHUSD facilities that was quickly reversed due to safety concerns. Noting that the PCO limits the board’s ability to act on agenda items without sufficient input from the public, he argued that the community has been “robb[ed] … of any opportunity to address what the board actually votes on.” 

Citing California Government Code Sections 54960 and 54960.2, Lifschitz invoked his right to take legal action to stop the board from violating the PCO going forward. 

In its response, the board argued that the Brown Act doesn’t require public comment to be reopened after agenda items are modified during board discussions, and that the items referenced by Lifschitz in his letter were sufficiently described in agendas as to allow the public to be adequately informed.

“Legislative bodies retain the fundamental right to deliberate, debate, and modify proposals during properly noticed meetings … agenda descriptions need not include every detail of potential action, provided the description reasonably informs the public of the subject matter under consideration,” the board’s response states. 

Replying to the board’s response in a statement to the Courier, Lifschitz addressed applicable case law, specifically Preven v. City of L.A., which was decided in 2019. The board in its letter said that “The Preven decision does not establish a general rule requiring renewed public comment whenever agenda items are modified during the same meeting.”

“The response from the board’s counsel is disappointing, as it both misapprehends the relevance of the Preven decision and effectively writes out the ‘substantially changed’ clause from Section 54954.3,” Lifschitz said in his comment to the Courier. “I will liaise with counsel on the matter to see if escalation can be avoided and take next steps as appropriate.”

Tensions have run high between the board and the public in recent years. In March, Board Members Sigalie Sabag and Russell Stuart were served with notifications of an intent to circulate recall petitions against them. Prior to that, members of the community flooded board meetings to protest decisions to place longtime Media Director Romeo Carey on administrative leave and to reassign El Rodeo Elementary School Principal Sarah Kaber and Vice Principal Kevin Painter, and following the resignation of former Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy.

In its response to the cease-and-desist letter, members of the board said that they would carry on with their conduct as it stands. 

“The board will continue to conduct its business in full compliance with the Brown Act,” the response reads, “while preserving its ability to engage in meaningful deliberation and consideration of the matters properly before it.” 

The post BHUSD Board Responds to Cease and Desist Letter appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In Beverly Hills, a similar effort was recently undertaken on a smaller scale. A property owner on the 700 block of Hillcrest Road, who prefers to remain anonymous, installed underground power lines for a new home. 

A byproduct of the project, said Jason Somers, the president of Crest Real Estate who coordinated the work, is that the design and engineering teams created a rough roadmap for burying power lines in other locations in Beverly Hills. 

“There is a path now, and we know what that path is,” Somers told the Courier.

The development of a plan to underground the power lines on Hillcrest Road began approximately five years ago. Working alongside Southern California Electrical Firm, Mabante Development, Inc. and Southern California Edison, Crest Real Estate oversaw the creation of the technical design and installation plans. From there, legal teams created easements. 

Since private companies cannot work on power lines owned by Edison, the physical process of moving the lines underground involved multiple companies, said David Kanowsky, the owner of Southern California Electrical Firm. 

Kanowsky noted that the power lines are joint pulls, meaning that all utilities are joint owners of the poles. 

“[Southern California Electrical Firm] installs all the conduits, all the structure that’s required by the utilities,” he said. “Once everything’s signed off and ready for Edison and the other companies to come out and install their cable, they install the cable underground and start removing all the wires and poles.” 

Work on the undergrounding project was paid for by the property owner on Hillcrest Road. 

“The client spent an awful lot of money building a brand new home, and thought this was an important part of their investment,” Somers said. 

Other homes in Beverly Hills have undertaken similar projects; however Frank Mabante, the president of Mabante Development, Inc., said it was nevertheless a daunting process. 

“It was a huge learning curve going through it,” he said. “It heavily involved Southern California Edison and their design committee, multiple contractors … it was incredibly involved from start to finish.”

Mabante added that it’s important for local homeowners who may be interested in undergrounding their own power lines to understand that each project will likely be different, and that the process will take anywhere between nine and 16 months at a minimum. 

“Every home is unique,” he said. “These are not tract home properties, where every single point of service is landing at exactly the same location on every single home. These are custom residences in Beverly Hills that all have unique conditions.” 

With that said, Somers envisions a future in which multiple homeowners on a given block in the city would join forces to bury the power lines on their street. 

“They’re quite the blight in such incredible neighborhoods,” Somers said. “Backyards have these big power poles, and people have been complaining about them for years … I think that if people realized this was an opportunity for them, they would communicate and collaborate with their neighbors [to place them underground].” 

Mabante noted that the team that worked on the Hillcrest Road home now has the experience and information to work on similar projects. 

“What would be interesting to do … is take plot plans and surveys and understand the [power line] footage on a block-by-block basis, and actually put budgets together so people could understand the costs,” he said. 

Construction on Hillcrest Road is expected to be complete within the next month.   

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The commission voted unanimously to approve the design for the building, which will be developed at the former site of The Stinking Rose restaurant.

The project will include 140 residential units, 22 of which will be earmarked for very low-income and moderate-income households. Reaching a height of approximately 86 feet, the new building will feature a rooftop deck with a bar, pool and lounge, as well as three levels of subterranean parking.

Developer 55 Del Norte, LLC initially proposed a five-story mixed-use building with 105 residential units, which was approved in June 2023. That design was modified following changes made to California’s State Density Bonus Law in 2024, which allows developers to construct additional units than would otherwise be permitted if they include a certain number of affordable housing units in a proposed new development.

The law was put in place to encourage the creation of more affordable housing in the state.

At its March 13 meeting, the Beverly Hills Planning Commission approved the updated design for 55 N. La Cienega Blvd. in a 3-2 vote, with conditions. On July 1, the Beverly Hills City Council held an additional review of the project at the request of then-Mayor Lester Friedman and then-Councilmember John Mirisch. The council approved the development in a 4-1 vote. 

Members of the Architectural and Design Review Commission at their Sept. 17 meeting were tasked with considering the building’s façade elements, including signs, walls, fences and landscaping.

According to a staff report, the building will be designed in a modern, contemporary architectural style and will use a variety of exterior materials, including mostly monochromatic white marble tiles and white stucco. The center of the building and its private balconies will be recessed. 

On the rooftop and in common balcony areas, drought-tolerant landscaping will feature flowering plants and trees. Along the rear property line, which overlooks Le Doux Road, a 20-foot hedge will serve as a privacy buffer. 

Most commissioners expressed their appreciation for the development’s aesthetics. 

“I think this is a really attractive project,” said Commissioner Evan Meyer. “With any of these projects at this scale and size, it’s tricky to get that feeling of, sort of, reducing mass. So, I think what you’ve done here with the modulation, recessing that centerpiece, bringing up the landscape to the second floor and higher levels … [is] very nice.”

Commissioner Jeffrey Daniels, FAIA, said that the development will bring much-needed housing stock to the city. 

“I want to applaud the whole team for bringing a project like this,” he said. “I think the city desperately needs additional housing, and … the addition of a large-scale residential component [in that area] can only be a good thing.” 

Noting that she would like to see more color and more trees in the project, Vice Chair Terri Smooke nevertheless called the project “lovely.”  

“Since the materials you’ve selected are all very calm, very pale, if you could figure out ways to just bring in some [color], maybe through greenery,” she said. “I don’t know how you’re going to do it, but just to animate the building more than it is right now.”

According to Michael Forbes, the city’s Director of Community Development, all city approvals required for the project are complete, with the exception of building permits. Construction drawings have been submitted to the city and are under review. 

“Once plan review is complete and approved, building permits for the project can be issued,” Forbes said in an emailed message. “However … it is the developer’s decision based on economic and other factors to determine when they want to pull permits and begin construction, and we do not have any indication of when that will be for this project.” 

The post Development at 55 North La Cienega Moves Forward appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

All members of the commission voiced their enthusiasm about the project.

“I think it’s a beautiful project,” said Commissioner Gary Ross. “It’s within the scope and scale of our zoning laws, and it will activate that part of our city.”

Commissioner Demeter added that the project will represent an improvement to the head of the Golden Triangle. 

“I want to thank everybody for all the different points of view and all the different ideas, because you’ve come up with a very creative concept, very different … I love it, “she said. “I think it’s great.”

The Louis Vuitton Rodeo Drive Experiential Flagship store will encompass 105,214 square feet. It will include rooftop open-air dining, subterranean parking, two pedestrian bridges and a pedestrian tunnel, and will reach a maximum height of 60 feet. 

The project is separated into two components, one with an entrance on Rodeo Drive (the “Rodeo portion”) and the other with an entrance on Beverly Drive (the “Beverly portion”). 

At 45,433 square feet, the Rodeo portion is designated for retail use and will include over 6,000 square feet carved out for important clients. Special events will be hosted on the rooftop of the Rodeo portion. 

The Beverly portion, at 54,723 square feet, will feature the exhibition space, a gift shop, a café, a fine dining restaurant and operational space. The first of its kind in the U.S., the exhibition space will spotlight Louis Vuitton’s history as a leader of culture, art and design.

Access to the exhibition space will be by reservation only, with a maximum of 1,500 admissions per day Monday through Saturday and 1,169 on Sundays. The fine dining restaurant is also planned to be reservation only. 

LVMH has owned the project site since 2018. The site, which is comprised of four separate legal parcels and is currently comprised of four existing commercial buildings, was originally proposed to house the Cheval Blanc Beverly Hills. 

During the Sept. 25 meeting, the Planning Commission requested that the developer create a designated drop-off spot for individuals with disabilities, to which the developer agreed. The commission also requested that employees of the new development be discouraged from parking on residential streets, acknowledging that it may be difficult to enforce. 

Discussing the private loading drive located on North Beverly Drive, commissioners added a requirement that passenger vehicles may only exit southbound, and that a warning system will be installed to ensure pedestrian safety. 

Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2026 and conclude in the second quarter of 2029. 

The post Planning Department Votes to Approve Louis Vuitton Flagship appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Mayor Sharona Nazarian, who serves as a liaison to the Recreation and Parks Commission along with Councilmember Mary Wells, expressed her enthusiasm for the completion of the design. 

“Since we budgeted this three and a half years ago, it’s great to see it coming to fruition,” Nazarian said. 

The effort to redesign the park began in earnest in August 2024 when city staff drafted and sent out a survey to residents. Based on the results of the survey, a proposed design for the playground area was developed and presented to the Recreation and Parks Commission on March 25. Input on the design was received from Nazarian and Wells, who requested improvements on lighting and shade.

New drawings were approved by the Recreation and Parks Commission on Aug. 26 and presented to City Council on Sept. 16. 

Designed by Mark Tessier Landscape Architecture,  the proposed new ADA-compliant playground will be divided into two zones, one with play structures for children ages 2-5 and the other for children ages 5-12. The two spaces will be demarcated by oversized concrete pebbles, which are intended to resemble a riverbed. The pebbles also serve to deter skateboarders. 

Other elements of the new playground will include a stage for story time and other performances, nature-themed springers, a slide, swings and swivel play platforms.

A number of shade structures will be installed, including spherical shades above the stage, canopies incorporated into the play equipment, sail shades at seating areas and trees throughout the park. 

Equipment for play structures is proposed to be supplied by Kompan, which manufactured similar items for the playground at Roxbury Park. 

All councilmembers expressed their support for the project. 

“I think it’s very thoughtful and long overdue … it won’t just be [for people] in that neighborhood, it’s going to be for all the families and they’re going to really appreciate it,” said Wells. 

“The design looks great,” added Councilmember Craig Corman. “I know people put a lot of time and effort into it and it shows …  I’m very much in support and I look forward to getting this thing done.” 

Echoing comments made by others on the council, Nazarian voiced her hope that construction will be completed by summer 2026. 

“It’s a long time waiting for our entire community and we want to see this coming together … the designs you have are adorable,” she said. “They really do look fantastic.” 

The project will now be sent out for bids.

In other business, the council approved a purchase order not to exceed $685,014 to J. Ben Bourgeois Productions, Inc. for holiday décor, lighting materials and services related to the 2025 Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration, which will take place on Nov. 13. The company has been providing this service to the city since 2019. 

The council also heard from multiple members of the public who expressed their concern over the city’s recent approval to issue up to $550 million in bonds to assist with the financing of One Beverly Hills, a private luxury development. 

Bonds will not be issued until construction of One Beverly Hills is closer to completion. 

The post Design for La Cienega Park Playground Is Approved appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Present at the celebration were Mayor Sharona Nazarian and City Councilmembers Craig Corman, Mary Wells and Lester Friedman, along with several members of the Beverly Hills Unified School District board. 

Hosted by actor Jay Flats, the sold-out event was attended by 350 people. 

The event began with a reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by 10-year-old Isabella D’Amore Alt, who comes from a lineage of police officers. Beverly Hills Police Officers Association (BHPOA) President Christian Bond then held a moment of silence for the late Charlie Kirk, the right-wing political activist and media personality.

Speaking to the crowd after Bond, Nazarian, who has made safety a central premise of her mayorship, thanked the BHPD for its work and dedication. 

“When others are running away from danger, the brave men and women of our amazing Beverly Hills Police Department are courageously running towards it,” she said. “It takes courage, professionalism and the extraordinary love for community, for duty and for protecting lives that are not their own … [even if we have a] challenge or slight disagreement, one thing never changes. We deeply value, respect and support the men and women who support and protect this community.”

The BHPOA is currently in contract negotiations with the city. 

Attendees mingled and enjoyed selections of Espelette fare such as sushi, arancini, Wagyu beef sliders and lobster sliders before the awards presentation began. The awards were presided over by BHPD Captains Renato Moreno and Max Subin. Police chiefs normally hand out the awards but this year, BHPD Police Chief Mark Stainbrook was unable to attend due to illness. 

The Clinton H. Anderson Award, given in honor of the former BHPD chief, was presented to Officer Ara Mani. 

“Officer Mani has fully embraced the spirit of police and community together,” said Subin. “From day one, his gratitude and love for the city has been evident in his approach to community-based policing and the care he brings every call for service … his dedication, compassion and integrity are a credit to the badge and to the city of Beverly Hills.” 

The Allen H. Carlin Award was given to Officer Maraya Contreras. 

“Officer Maraya Contreras began her career with the Beverly Hills Police Department as a cadet, and quickly stood out for her calm, confident presence and strong, proactive nature,” said Moreno. “She has since become the department’s first—I’ll say that again, the department’s first — female motorcycle officer. She exemplifies excellence in every role she has taken on … she consistently goes above and beyond in service to others.” 

Vanessa Rivas received the Marvin Iannone Award, named after another former BHPD chief.

“This award is proudly presented to Vanessa Rivas in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Records Bureau,” said Subin. “Vanessa consistently goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional service, ensuring every customer interaction is handled with care, professionalism and attention to detail … her commitment, leadership and work ethic make her a vital part of the department and truly deserving of the recognition.”

Lifesaving awards were presented to nine officers whose actions are credited with saving a life. Those officers were Field Training Officers Billy Blair, Jesse Lyga and Stephen Comp; Officers Ian Frederich, Ara Mani, Joseph Vela and Michael Downs; Detective Francesca Fasullo; and Sergeant Eric Bender. 

In February 2024, Blair, Lyga and Comp responded to a radio call of a four-year-old child who had been found face down in a pool and did not have a recognizable pulse. Officers immediately began CPR, and their actions are credited with saving the child’s life.

In March 2024, Frederich and Mani responded to a call of an unhoused person whom they discovered unresponsive with shoelaces and electric cords tied tightly around his neck. After cutting off the cords and shoelaces, the individual was able to breathe again. 

Also in March 2024, Bender, Downs, Fasullo and Vela attended to a bicyclist who was bleeding severely from a laceration following a collision. Their applied tourniquet was credited with saving the individual’s life. 

The gala raised $52,000 for the department through a silent auction. 

The post Beverly Hills Police Gala Celebrates Officers appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The commission was split in a 3-2 vote on the issue, with Commissioners Myra Demeter and Terri Kaplan and Chair Jeff Wolfe voting to deny the exemption. 

The issue was initially raised for public debate at the City Council’s Aug. 5 meeting, when the council voted to ban short-term rentals in the city. Short-term rentals were defined as leases of less than 12 consecutive months. 

After hearing from the public that some owners of single-family landmark homes used short-term rentals to finance the required maintenance of their homes, councilmembers instructed the Cultural Heritage and Planning Commissions to consider whether to offer an exemption. 

On Sept. 3, the Cultural Heritage Commission discussed the issue. Commissioners were generally in favor of the exemption, however they suggested certain changes to the draft proposed by city staff. Some of those changes were incorporated into the draft presented to the Planning Commission. 

The ordinance under review by the Planning Commission at their Sept. 11 meeting proposed that any short-term rental falling under the exemption must be located in a single-family residential zone; may only be offered in a separate structure such as a guest house, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or junior ADU; and must have a minimum stay of two consecutive nights. The property owner would be required to be present during the renter’s stay and would pay transient occupancy taxes. 

Deborah Blum, a Beverly Hills resident who owns a single-family landmark historic home and has been at the forefront of advocating for the exemption, spoke on Sept. 11 about why the exemption would be important for individuals or families such as herself. 

“While cities can simply mandate that private property owners preserve historic features, they often create programs to make preservation more financially viable, thereby incentivizing people to landmark their properties in the first place … carving out an exemption will create another financial incentive,” she said. 

Demeter expressed her opinion that any short-term rentals at all would decrease the number of  available housing units in the city. 

“I believe that the city should not be encouraging any short-term rentals,” she said. “The carve-out takes units off the market, which is in direct contrast to our promise in our housing element. We can expect that if we were to do that, that we would hear from higher powers, perhaps the state. ADUs are a wonderful vehicle, and we’ve worked very hard to … streamline the process, but it is not for short-term rentals. It is to increase the housing stock.” 

Noting that there are many homes in the city that are expensive to maintain regardless of landmark status, Kaplan said she felt similarly to Demeter. 

“I think this is fundamentally poor policy, to create a carve-out that, on its face, suggests that it’s for the broad range of landmarked residential properties, but we’ve had zero input from any other owners [aside from Blum] … if we’re looking for incentives for people to landmark their properties, there are many other things we should look to,” she said. “This should not be one of them.” 

Commissioner Gary Ross, who voted against the denial of the exemption, expressed his support for individuals and families who willingly shoulder the responsibility of maintaining landmark homes. 

“I do believe that there are burdens and obligations on homeowners of these structures that they take on in a noble and righteous manner to preserve our community, and I’m in favor of encouraging that,” he said. “There are only 18 of them … they purchased their homes with certain rights and expectations.” 

Following the 3-2 vote, the commission’s recommendation to deny the resolution will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at a future meeting. At that time, the council would have the option to adopt an ordinance that is not in alignment with the Planning Commission’s recommendation, however it could only include topics considered by the commission.

In other news, Assistant Director and City Planner Masa Alkire has announced his departure from Beverly Hills after accepting a position with the City of Manhattan Beach. As of Sept. 8, Alkire will serve as Manhattan Beach’s Community Development Director. 

“Masa’s service to the City of Beverly Hills included overseeing the City’s planning programs and handling several major development projects,” said Michael Forbes, Director of Community Development, in a statement. “We thank Masa for his years of dedicated service to Beverly Hills and wish him all the best in his new role.” 

The post Planning Commission Recommends Against Short-Term Rentals for Landmark Homes appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The lawsuit alleges “willful and deliberate indifference” on the part of BHUSD, former principal Sarah Kaber and Director of Student Services Benjamin Wardrop towards a “series of unfettered sexual assaults occurring at [El] Rodeo Elementary” that allegedly occurred between November 2024 and March 2025. 

According to the complaint, a student enrolled at El Rodeo touched multiple other students’ genitals on various occasions, both over their clothes and skin-to-skin, while making sexually suggestive gestures and comments. 

The lawsuit alleges that the same student also targeted classmates by self-exposure, forcing other students to participate in kissing and forcing other students to watch that kissing. The student perpetrating the assaults “repeatedly taunts and mocks” the targeted students in the wake of the assaults, the complaint states. 

All of the alleged incidents occurred on campus.

According to the lawsuit, BHUSD employees, including Kaber and Wardrop, were alerted to the incidents when they occurred. The complaint states that the parents of the targeted students were not immediately told whether an investigation took place and were later denied access to certain documentation regarding the incidents. 

BHUSD employees allegedly told the parents of the targeted students that the incidents had been recorded, and that staff has been “working with the parents of the other students all year and have included other staff members to support [the student and the student’s] family.” 

One of the children targeted by their classmate “has been unable to sleep with the lights off, sleep [alone] … has been withdrawn, and is discouraged from attending and participating” at school since the incidents, according to the complaint. 

The complaint states that the instigating student was given a chaperone, but that the chaperone “frequently fails to adequately supervise” the student. It additionally alleges that BHUSD employees told the parents that the incidents did not meet the criteria for Title IX violations. 

In response, attorneys for the family state in the suit that BHUSD and its employees were “negligent and careless [and] allowed the attacks and subsequent harassment to continue for months,” constituting intentional discrimination.

Christopher Frost, an attorney for the family who filed the complaint, called the lawsuit a “last resort” in a statement to the Courier. 

“Our clients’ lawsuit is a demand for El Rodeo School and the Beverly Hills Unified School District to finally take appropriate action and protect all children harmed from a hostile environment of sexual harassment, assault and bullying that denies our clients access to their education,” he said. “Since the first incident happened in November 2024, our clients have been met with deliberate avoidance, bureaucracy and inaction at every turn … We further understand that there are currently no measures in place to prevent similar incidents from happening to other children at El Rodeo School. The lawsuit is also a demand for accountability.”

BHUSD declined to comment on the litigation. 

The complaint comes after Kaber was reassigned from her role as principal to a classroom position in the spring with no explanation to the community. Parents and teachers flooded BHUSD Board meetings to express their displeasure over the action and their support for Kaber, who was named Elementary Principal of the Year for Region XIV by the Association of California School Administrators in February.

“We had 35, 40 members of our staff, almost every teacher at the board meeting … in support for [Kaber],” an El Rodeo employee told the Courier at the time.

Kaber has since left the district. In June, the Stephen Wise Temple and Schools announced that she had joined their organization as Senior Director of Education, the Aaron Milken Center, effective July 1. 

The post Family Sues BHUSD Over Alleged Sexual Assaults at El Rodeo Elementary appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The street will reopen by March 14, 2026.

The 4-1 vote, in which Vice Mayor John Mirisch dissented, was taken following a request for an extension on the closure from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Metro is doing construction work on the Purple (D) Line Extension at the intersection. 

The temporary closure of North Canon Drive was initially approved by the council in July 2018 to mitigate construction impacts. Following that vote, a temporary sound wall was installed to block the construction area from the public. 

In the ensuing years, the council approved six extensions of the temporary street closure, most recently in November 2024. That extension would have ended on Sept. 30. 

According to a staff report, if the street closure and sound wall were removed prior to March 2026, two rounds of construction would need to occur on North Canon Drive. The first would be for temporary street restoration and early reopening of the road, and the second would be for permanent restoration. 

Alternatively, by approving the extension, the council allowed for permanent restoration work to commence in the beginning of 2026, including the removal of the sound wall and restoring sidewalks. 

During public comment at the Sept. 9 meeting, Dar Mahboubi, a prominent Rodeo Drive real estate developer and business owner, expressed frustration over the requested extension and Metro’s timeline. 

“The Metro, with their construction activities, have caused great pain and inconvenience to all residents of Beverly Hills and have caused irreparable interruption to the businesses located in the Beverly Hills triangle,” he said, adding that the construction has been “grossly mismanaged.” 

Mayor Sharona Nazarian acknowledged the irritation of business owners. 

“I am fully well aware of the pain and the frustration that this has caused, and the inconvenience to our businesses,” she said. “Metro is unfortunately not being managed as well as could be … but we really don’t have much say.”

Other members of the council debated whether the city was giving in to Metro’s demands or doing what is best for local residents and businesses. 

“This council … doesn’t want to help Metro unless it helps the city of Beverly Hills, and we’ve always taken every request with that in mind,” said Councilmember Lester Friedman, adding, “We don’t give in to whatever Metro wants.”

Mirisch equated the council’s actions to “begging.” 

“It sounds like we were just willing to give them whatever they wanted … it just seems that we’re afraid to try and negotiate with them, or even to play hardball,” he said. “So, my feeling is that we can try and rationalize for ourselves why this is good, but ultimately this is much better for MTA.”

Noting that repeated closures and reopenings would impact the area, and that a new business catering to young children is slated to move in, Nazarian emphasized her commitment to safety. 

“You know, it’s not an ideal situation,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s here, and we want to be able to create transportation. My only hope is that we create the safest environment possible, both on the Metro as well as the space outside of the Metro.” 

Under the agreement approved by the council, no further extensions will be considered beyond March 14, 2026. Metro has agreed to pay $20,000 per day if the deadline for reopening is not met.  

Construction on the Metro station is expected to be mostly complete by the summer of 2026, with the station tentatively slated to open late that year.  

The post City Council Approves Extended Closure of North Canon Drive appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The mixed-use development, which is being built by developer Crescent Heights, was originally proposed to be 20 stories and 223 feet tall. The new plans propose a building that reaches 26 stories and just over 309 feet. 

Residential density in the building has not changed from the originally proposed 200 units, ranging in size from studios to three-bedroom apartments. Of those, 22 units will be earmarked for affordable housing, up from 20 in the previous proposal. The affordable units will include 14 reserved for extremely low-income households and eight for moderately low-income households. 

The newly revised plans for the Burton Way development also include 318 parking spaces, 24 bicycle parking spots and 42,226 square feet of open space, including a rooftop deck. The building will occupy 492,029 square feet in total.  

According to the website for LARGE Architecture, the firm designing the project, the development will also include private theaters, yoga studios and clubhouses.

The development is one of 14 Builder’s Remedy projects currently under review by Beverly Hills. Several are involved in lawsuits against the city, while others have received one or more notices that their applications are incomplete. 

Revised plans for 8844 Burton Way were submitted in March of this year, and again in July. 

“We’re excited to bring a world-class project like 8844 Burton to Beverly Hills,” said Elliott Kahn, a partner at Crescent Heights, in a statement to the Courier. “It includes 200 much needed homes at a variety of price points, including severely lacking affordable housing. On one of the most prominent multi-family corridors of Beverly Hills, the wide landscaped medians and bike lanes are uniquely suited to this exact kind of multi-family housing.”

Developer Crescent Heights is not the first builder in Beverly Hills to expand their vision in recent months. In August, a Builder’s Remedy project at 125-129 South Linden Dr. submitted revised plans that brought the development’s height from 19 to 36 stories, with 20 new residential units and seven new hotel rooms. 

That same month, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Curtis A. Kin ordered the city to process the application for the development on South Linden Drive, finding Beverly Hills in violation of the state’s Housing Accountability Act and Permit Streamlining Act. 

Kin’s decision regarding South Linden Drive is expected to set a precedent for other, similar complaints. 

The post Burton Way Builder’s Remedy Project Increases to 26 Stories appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The discussion, which took place at the Commission’s Sept. 3 meeting, came at the request of the City Council, which on July 1 voted to ban all short-term rentals in the city with a potential carve-out for owners of single-family landmark properties. 

At that time, the council heard from Deborah Blum, who owns such a home and said she utilizes income from renting her guest house as a way to keep up with the required maintenance of landmark properties. Blum said that while the exemption would be good for her family, it would also be “beneficial for the city … historic preservation drives tourism and economic growth.” 

The council instructed the Cultural Heritage Commission to take up the issue and provide input to the Planning Commission. 

At their Sept. 3 meeting, the Cultural Heritage Commission heard a staff report with a draft ordinance that would allow for the exemption. 

Under the ordinance, owners of landmark single-family homes would be permitted to rent a guest house, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or “other permitted habitable space” on a short-term basis. Rentals would need need to be a minimum of two consecutive nights, and the property owner would be required to be present in the main residence during the stay. 

Property owners would also be required to apply for a business tax license and pay transient occupancy taxes.

There are currently 18 single-family landmark properties in the city, and according to the staff report, 16 appear to have an ADU or similar structure. 

Blum, whose house was built in 1913, spoke during the public comment period on Sept. 3. 

“I am grateful that this commission recognizes what not everyone appreciates,” she said, “that these landmarks reflect the magic of Hollywood’s Golden Age and represent a heritage that enriches our community and attracts visitors from around the world … the income from our guest house rental has been essential in allowing us to maintain and preserve this historic property in an independent and financially sustainable manner, ensuring its continued contribution to Beverly Hills its architectural and cultural legacy.”

Better Neighbors LA, a coalition of tenants, housing advocates and community members, wrote to the commission to oppose the exemption. 

“The Beverly Hills City Council recently adopted an amended short-term rental ordinance that prohibits [short-term rentals] in all residential units, establishes a one-year minimum lease requirement and creates a penalty schedule that sets fines to the maximum extent allowed under state law,” their message stated. “Introducing a new ordinance that permits [short-term rentals] in historic landmark homes would undermine this progress by creating a loophole that weakens enforcement and compromises the ordinance intended protections.”

The commissioners spoke largely in favor of the exemption, however most wanted stricter regulations.

Commissioner Marc Teren noted that historic landmark properties are “very expensive to maintain,” but expressed concern over the fairness of the exemption. Teren suggested mandating either a higher number of minimum days the property could be rented per stay along with a maximum number of times it could be rented per year, or a mandate that the property could only be rented for 30 days at a time. 

“My recommendation would be a minimum stay of at least five days and a maximum of two stays a month, 24 times a year … if I live next to a landmark property that has an ADU, and I have an ADU and I can’t rent mine, I’m not very happy about that,” he said.

Commissioner Alan Robert Block said that Beverly Hills wants more property owners to designate their homes as landmark properties, and this exemption is a way to encourage them to do so.

“I don’t see anything wrong with adding an additional incentive of … allowing a short-term rental,” he said. 

The Cultural Heritage Commission’s recommendations will be sent to the Planning Commission, which will address the issue at its Sept. 11 meeting. 

The post Short-Term Rental Exemption Moves to Planning Commission appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“When I got here, one of the things I noticed was that we had a lot of kids that weren’t at grade level … we’re going to close those achievement gaps,” he said, “and that’s going to be the primary focus this year.” 

Cherniss’ time at BHUSD began not as superintendent but as a math teacher at Beverly Vista Middle School. He then worked as an administrator in the district before leaving to serve as the superintendent at Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District and, most recently, as superintendent at Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. 

Now, he’s bringing his robust experience to bear in Beverly Hills with an eye towards raising test scores and ensuring that the city’s students are where they need to be. 

According to state testing results, approximately 31% of Beverly Hills students in grades three through eight as well as grade 11 did not meet grade-level standards in English Language Arts in 2024, and approximately 42% fell below grade level in math.

The scores are a holdover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Cherniss said, when many children weren’t writing on a regular basis or receiving the same level of feedback from teachers as they normally would have. 

“All of these kids came back to school with these huge learning gaps, and that’s really impacted the academic achievement,” he said. 

To combat the setback, BHUSD will launch a new program, offering free after-school instruction by district teachers beginning in October. In these nine-week instructional sessions, kindergarten through middle school-aged students who are not performing at or above grade level will receive extra support. 

Teachers who facilitate the sessions will be compensated for their time. 

“This isn’t homework club, and it’s also not like hiring high school or college kids to tutor,” Cherniss said. “This is hiring our professionals to do real instruction.” 

Additionally, BHUSD is providing innovative training to new and veteran teachers. The district has adopted a new mathematics curriculum, Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), which Cherniss describes as “more rigorous.” 

“We’re raising the level of instruction and we’re giving support … and, so what does that do long term? It provides more kids [who are] college ready,” he said. “We start focusing early on getting them up to grade level and above, and then we’ll get more college-ready students by the time they graduate from high school.”

Speaking to the Courier in April, Cherniss said he hoped to increase revenue in the district in order to finance new projects. To that end, he said he may look to naming opportunities as new sports facilities complete construction or renting out Peters Auditorium. But more than that, he’s focused on eliminating spending where possible. 

“The easiest way to add to your bottom line on the revenue side is actually not revenue; it’s cutting expenses,” Cherniss said. “Since I got here, we’ve cut $1.3 million in district office management salaries and expenses … and that’s a lot of money that can be spent on kids.” 

Since stepping into his role, Cherniss has been tasked with leading a Board of Education that is at times at odds with one another. Most recently, the board was divided over a proposal to display the Israeli flag as part of Jewish American Heritage Month (see story on pg. 1). Cherniss stepped in and made the decision not to display the flag on BHUSD property. 

When asked about his thinking on that decision, Cherniss declined to comment, saying only that “my thinking was very much explained in my statement” released at the time of the incident. 

As to his strategy for leading a board that does not always see eye to eye, Cherniss said the board consists of “very strong personalities” who are outspoken in their beliefs. 

“My job is to continue to be, sort of, the middle of the wheel, and the board can be all those spokes around the wheel,” he said. “I make sure the wheel continues to move around and forward in the right direction.” 

In the years ahead, Cherniss said his focus is on long-term gains for the district and its students. 

“In order to change culture, it doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “We’re going to start doing a lot of small wins that will start to add up. I love being here, and I look forward to helping our district achieve success now and into the future.”  

The post BHUSD Superintendent Focuses on Academic Achievement in New School Year appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The unanimous vote, taken at a special board meeting on Aug. 29, came in response to Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss’ overturning of a board resolution adopted on Aug. 26, which stated that in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, all schools and facilities in the district “will display the flag of the State of Israel … throughout the month of May.” 

Cherniss overruled that resolution in less than 24 hours, stating that his decision was made with concern for “the safety and security of our students.”

Speaking at the special meeting on Aug. 29, Cherniss added that his decision was also based in part on “misinformation” about the district’s intent.

“This is a highly charged issue, to the point where we were receiving a lot of inappropriate feedback from people from all over, and so that’s how we got to where we are,” he said. 

The resulting Aug. 29 resolution, which purported to clarify the district’s stance on flying and displaying flags, states that the only flags that may be flown or displayed on district property, including in classrooms, are the United States of America flag, the California flag, the city of Beverly Hills flag and BHUSD or individual school flags. 

The resolution states that it does not restrict students and student activities, college or career activities or PTA events and programs, including multicultural celebrations. 

The board’s Aug. 26 resolution was presented as an initiative to combat antisemitism. In addition to the edict to display the Israeli flag during the month of May, the resolution recognizes May as Jewish American Heritage Month, memorializes events of the Holocaust and Oct. 7 and adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.

Board President Rachelle Marcus and Board Member Amanda Stern voted against the Aug. 26 resolution because of the Israeli flag mandate. It passed in a 3-2 vote.

At the Aug. 29 special meeting, Stern spoke about the backlash generated by the order to display the Israeli flag during the month of May, stating that she received over 480 messages containing “highly negative, vulgar, antisemitic comments” in the course of the three days following the vote. 

“I don’t know if you guys anticipated the amount of undue stress and self-inflicted wounds this did to our standing as a district,” she said. “I’m embarrassed by the media. I am embarrassed that several law enforcement folks and leaders in the city expressed deep concern for the hate mail they got … so while I know you guys never wanted to occasion that, I feel that it was a wild miscalculation of what this would do.”

During public comment on Aug. 29, multiple members of the community brought up a concern that the board used fears about antisemitism to surreptitiously ban the display of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag. 

The concern stems in part from the board’s Aug. 26 discussion. At that meeting, Board Vice President Judy Manouchehri stated that she and Marcus considered whether excluding the display of the Israeli flag was in conflict with mandating the display of the Pride flag, and that both women wanted to broach the subject with the entire board.

Manouchehri was referencing a resolution passed in June 2021, in which the then-sitting board voted to display the Pride flag during the month of June. That board recognized June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month. 

“The only other resolution that we have is the one for the month of June … that included a flag,” Manouchehri said on Aug. 26. “One thing that [Marcus] and I discussed, we believed we had to be even-handed in our approach.”

Speaking during the public comment period, Beverly Hills resident Daniel Lifshitz suggested that the attempt to ban most flags was a means to ban the Pride flag. 

“Today’s measure is a chance to ban indirectly what the board’s right-leaning majority simply doesn’t have the guts or political capital to attempt banning directly,” he said. “There was no public appetite to do away with Pride flags, so you endangered our community with a forced controversy, to make bigoted lemonade out of lemons, to use your bumbling error as a collateral attack on the LGBTQ community.”

Stern and Manouchehri exchanged tense words during the Aug. 29 meeting. Following her comments about the fallout of the attempted Israeli flag mandate, Stern asked all board members about their stance on the Pride flag. 

“I do want to ask you all directly, do you personally, professionally, want to get rid of the Pride flag?” she said. 

Manouchehri was the only board member to reply to the question. She did not offer a direct answer as to her stance on the Pride flag in her response. Manouchehri instead expressed her general support for the LGBTQ+ community. 

“To suggest that our LGBQT [sic] community should think that we are out there for them and we are against them after the three years that I’ve been on the board and I’ve loved, and continue to love, every student and every community member that has ever approached me,” she said, “I am truly offended, and I ask you to stop right there.”  

In a written comment to the Courier, Stern expressed confidence that the board will be able to act in harmony in the future. 

“The unfortunate backlash to the passage of the resolution, which I believe was posed in good faith to combat unprecedented levels of antisemitism and to commemorate important days in May, ultimately had nothing to do with a very different resolution which takes place in June, coincidentally, when school is not in session,” she said. “Moving forward, I am optimistic that board members will find common ground so that students, families, staff and administrators can find meaningful ways to celebrate Pride Month in June.” 

The post BHUSD Reverses Course on Israeli Flag Display appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“Through the swift and professional actions of our officers, the Beverly Hills Police Department successfully apprehended the burglary suspect before additional harm could occur,” Stainbrook said in a message to the Courier. “This arrest reflects our steadfast commitment to safeguarding the community and serves as a clear message that anyone who seeks to victimize our residents will be held accountable without delay.” 

The incident occurred on Aug. 22 just past midnight, according to a representative for the department. Police were called to the 100 block of Copley Place after Richie’s security system was activated. 

Richie was home at the time of the attempted break-in. Officers searched the surrounding area and arrested a suspect, 38-year-old Michael John Bond, for residential burglary near Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Glen. 

BHPD could not confirm whether any items were taken from Richie’s home. 

Representatives for Richie declined to comment on the incident. 

Richie, who is known for his decades-long career in the music industry, began his path to fame with the Motown group Commodores. The four-time Grammy Award winner is known for hit singles including “Endless Love,” “Hello” and “We Are the World.” 

Days after the break-in, Richie confirmed that he will return to the televised singing competition “American Idol” as a judge for its upcoming ninth season. He has served in the role since 2018. 

Richie has long touted the benefits of living in Beverly Hills. Speaking to the Courier in 2021, he reflected on the ways in which the community enriches the lives of residents. 

“In Beverly Hills, we have … just about every imaginable walk of life,” he said. “It’s all religions and all cultures. It’s this incredible community of people. The world is in conflict, but we live in Beverly Hills where everyone is from wherever.”

The investigation into the break-in is ongoing. 

The post BHPD Chief Responds to Lionel Richie Break-In appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The project at 125-129 South Linden Drive was previously proposed as a 19-story structure containing 65 housing units, 73 hotel rooms and a restaurant. On Aug. 27, the developer announced that the contemplated project is now 36 stories tall, with 185 new residences and 80 hotel rooms.  

“This project represents a bold vision for the future of Beverly Hills,” said developer Leo Pustilnikov in a statement. “We are proud to deliver both market-rate and affordable housing, as well as a new luxury hotel that will strengthen the local economy. With the court’s green light, we are prepared to move swiftly toward breaking ground.”

A statement announcing the new scale of the development said the project has been “re-envisioned at a transformative scale,” citing the impact of AB 1893. That statute, signed into law in September 2024, broadens the allowable scope of Builder’s Remedy projects.

“Builder’s Remedy law provides the city extremely limited discretion to deny a project and if the city violates the law in denying or delaying a project, the penalties are potentially very steep,” Dave Rand, an attorney representing Pustilnikov, told the Courier. 

In response to the amended plans for the South Linden Drive project, Michael Forbes, Beverly Hills Director of Community Development, said in a statement to the Courier, “We have not yet received an application for the revised project, and are not in a position to comment on it until we have received an application and had a chance to review it.”

Pustilnikov and 9300 Wilshire, LLC submitted a preliminary application for 125-129 South Linden Drive in October 2022, followed by a Developmental Plan Review (DPR) application in April 2023. The DPR was deemed incomplete by the city on the grounds that it contained changes to the preliminary application, initiating a sequence of communications between the developer and city staff. 

Two lawsuits were filed against the city regarding the development, in June 2024 and September 2024. After consolidating the complaints, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Curtis A. Kin on Aug. 12 ordered Beverly Hills to process the developer’s application. Kin also found the city to be in violation of the state’s Housing Accountability and Permit Streamlining Acts.

The city is currently reviewing 14 Builder’s Remedy applications. Of those, at least six have filed lawsuits against the city. Others received notices that their applications were incomplete, and still more are involved in discussions with the city concerning Environmental Impact Reviews. 

Kin’s decision regarding South Linden Drive is expected to set a precedent for other, similar complaints. 

The post Proposed Builder’s Remedy Project Increases Height to 36 Stories appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“In light of heightened safety concerns around the displaying of flags on our campuses I have made the decision to take immediate action for the safety and security of our students,” Cherniss wrote in a statement sent to the BHUSD community. “Until further notice, no flags will be displayed on our campuses other than the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the state of California.” 

Cherniss went on to note that the directive is in line with a board policy governing administrative discretion over board policy that states, in part, “when immediate action is necessary to avoid any risk to the safety or security of students, staff, or district property or to prevent disruption of school operations, the superintendent or designee shall have the authority to act on behalf of the district in a manner that is consistent with law and policies.”

The vote to display the Israeli flag was taken at the board’s Aug. 26 meeting. In a 3-2 vote, the board approved a resolution which states that the action would “signify support for the Jewish community.”

The resolution also includes language recognizing May as Jewish Heritage Month and emphasizing the importance of combating antisemitism. It memorializes the events of the Holocaust and Oct. 7, and states that the district will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.

Board President Rachelle Marcus and Board Member Amanda Stern voted against the resolution, noting that they would support it if not for the included mandate to display the Israeli flag. 

Stern, who is Jewish, said the language mandating the flag display is in direct opposition to a recently passed policy addressing what the board referred to as partisan materials. 

“Just about two months ago, we spoke about how partisan materials—as an example, a Greek flag—would not be allowed,” she said. “We really need to look at that so there is not preferential treatment for one group over another.”

Stern added that she received emails from residents calling the resolution “wildly inappropriate,” “dangerous,” “a precarious step,” “treacherous” and a “self-inflected wound.”

Marcus, who is also Jewish, spoke about her personal experiences with antisemitism, and stated that her concerns regarding the display of the Israeli flag stemmed from questions of safety for those inside the building. 

“I would pass this resolution tonight, but … I fear for the safety of the students in the school,” Marcus said. “I don’t want to put something on the front of the school that will make us targets of any kind, especially with the students in our school.”

Board Member Russell Stuart, who voted for the resolution, argued that displaying the Israeli flag is not a comment on current international affairs. 

“The display of a flag during Jewish American Heritage Month is not a direct endorsement of the Israeli government,” he said. “It is not a direct endorsement of any geopolitical topic. It is a support for our Jewish students and the Jewish community.”

The resolution was last discussed at the board’s Aug. 5 meeting. Following that conversation, a subcommittee comprised of Marcus and board Vice President Judy Manouchehri convened to revise the resolution. 

During public comment, residents spoke for and against the resolution. City Council Vice President John Mirisch was among those who expressed his support. 

“Please pass tonight’s resolution and policy to honor Jewish American Heritage Month … this should be a no brainer for a school district that represents one of the only Jewish majority communities outside of Israel,” he said. “Education about Jewish history, including Yom HaShoah, Yom Ha’atzmaut and October 7 is critical in combating anti-Jewish racism and in allowing Jewish students to feel pride in their Jewish identity.”

Andrea Grossman, a graduate of BHUSD whose three children also attended school in the district, said that the Israeli flag does not belong on a public school. 

“I believe that the State of Israel has a right to exist; of course I do,” she said. “Israel, though, is not my country. I am a Jew, but Israel is not, nor will it ever be, my country … display the flag at a synagogue, such as the one flying at my synagogue here in Beverly Hills, or fly it at a private day school, but not at a public school facility.”

In other business, the board unanimously approved the expansion of the City Greens Community Farm program, which currently operates in the district’s high school and middle school, into the elementary schools as part of a two-year pilot program. 

The program utilizes hydroponic farming to teach STEM concepts as well as sustainability and health. 

The board additionally approved a contract with Integrated Demolition and Remediation, Inc. not to exceed $190,000 for demolition and hazardous materials abatement at Beverly Hills High School’s KBEV studio. The studio was found to have asbestos and lead containing materials, and work will begin immediately within the studio and in adjacent offices, work spaces and storage areas. 

Also at their Aug. 26 meeting, the board discussed the possibility of prohibiting teachers from tutoring students who are enrolled in their classes and significantly restricting teachers from tutoring other students in the district. Considering a possible amendment to an existing board policy, the board approved a first reading of the changes. 

Under the changes, teachers could tutor students who are outside the district, as long as “no district resources, facilities, or instructional materials are used, and provided further that such tutoring does not conflict with the employee’s duties or responsibilities to the district.” 

The board will consider the amendment again at its Sept. 9 meeting. 

The post BHUSD Reconsiders Israeli Flag Display On Campuses appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The council unanimously approved the request of developer Cain International (“Cain”) to establish a Community Facilities District (CFD) including two improvement areas within One Beverly Hills, to issue the requested bonds and to levy special taxes on entities within the CFD to repay those bonds.

The bond authorization is broken down into two parts. Cain has requested approximately $315 million in net proceeds to reimburse the cost of constructing the approved public improvements. The city has determined that a gross bond authorization of $390 million is necessary to generate this amount. The remaining $160 million will facilitate a future City Council’s ability to finance major repairs, replacements or enhancements to public infrastructure in proximity to the One Beverly Hills project site.

Councilmember Craig Corman recused himself from the discussion and vote because he is a member of a nearby country club.

Cain will cover all costs related to the creation of the CFD and bonds. In addition, the city will receive a $15 million contribution from the developer to be used at the city’s discretion, with certain limitations, as well as an Environmental Mitigation and Sustainability fee between 2% and 4%.

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian negotiated the contribution up from $10 million during the Aug. 19 meeting. According to Jeff Muir, the city’s director of finance, the contribution will be paid when the first series of CFD bonds are issued.

Nazarian reflected on the significance of the council’s actions in a statement to the Courier.

“In Beverly Hills, we must lead with vision as we plan for the future of our city,” she said. “I’m delighted that we were able to reach a unanimous vote that not only ensures the completion of this unique and important anchor project, but also delivers meaningful public benefit to our community. The additional upfront funding and EMS fees will provide critical resources to continue strengthening public safety, investing in infrastructure upgrades, and enhancing the quality of life for our residents for generations to come. We are grateful for this partnership.”

Cain’s Managing Director Larry Green told the Courier in a statement, “We are pleased the city has taken this important step toward establishing a Community Facilities District, a key part of the public improvements for the One Beverly Hills project. This unanimous vote reflects not only the strong partnership between Cain and the city of Beverly Hills, but also the incredible support of the community that made this milestone possible. With the CFD in place, we will be building best-in-class infrastructure that delivers meaningful benefits to the community, including enhanced safety and security, improved streets, and upgraded public spaces. The council’s action demonstrates a shared commitment to the city’s future and ensures continued progress on this transformative development. We thank the Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Councilmembers for their partnership, and we are grateful to the community for their support as we work together to advance One Beverly Hills.”

One Beverly Hills is a mixed-use project on a 17.5-acre parcel that encompasses the Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. Once complete, the development will include a new Aman Hotel, two residential towers, boutiques, casual dining, a conference center and approximately 10 acres of botanical gardens and open space.

The development broke ground in February 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2028.

Cain petitioned the city in the fall of 2024 to form a CFD to assist with financing certain elements of the project, including public infrastructure improvements and ongoing maintenance services. According to representatives for the project who spoke at the Aug. 19 meeting, the amount requested through bonds accounts for 3% of the project’s total financing.

Beverly Hills residents who live outside of the CFD will not incur any taxes related to the bonds, and no money will come out of the city’s general fund. If the developer defaults or goes into bankruptcy, the city will not be liable for the bonds.

The proposal falls under the state’s Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act, which allows local agencies to finance public improvements and services through the establishment of CFDs and special taxes levied only on properties that will benefit from the improvements.

In a letter to the city, former Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Roos, who co-authored the act with then-Senator Henry Mello, said that the city’s bonds plan is in accordance with the intent of the legislation.

“I commend your City Council for considering this prudent and effective financial tool,” Roos wrote. “Your approach is entirely consistent with the intent and protective nature of Mello-Roos and it reflects a commitment to smart growth and fiscal responsibility that will benefit your community for generations to come.”

Infrastructure improvements covered by the bonds will include work on such facilities as roadways, tunnels, parks, bike trails and traffic signals. Services and incidental expenses would include the maintenance, design, landscaping and repair of certain facilities.

During public comment, residents spoke both in favor and against the issuance of bonds. Those in favor emphasized the fact that the city will not incur any debt, and that the financing will support a development of which many in the city are in favor.

Those opposed argued that the developer appeared to be asking for a large sum of money and it was unclear what the city would receive in return.

The City Council will hold a second reading and adoption of the special tax ordinance on Sept. 9. Bonds will not be issued until the project is nearer to completion.

The post City Council Approves Up to $550 Million in Bonds for One Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The complaint, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 7, stems from an accident that occurred when a carjacking suspect jumped a curb during the event, striking Stuart and several other people. Stuart was taken away in an ambulance and sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs and arms. 

Stuart is seeking damages including medical expenses, damaged and destroyed property and general damages, arguing in the complaint that the city “negligently, wantonly, recklessly … and unlawfully proximately caused injury and damages” by not providing sufficient pedestrian safety measures. 

In the lawsuit, Stuart alleges that the city had erected K-rails and other barriers near the location of the accident and could have used them as crowd safety measures closer to where the accident occurred. 

The suit states that barriers would have served to “protect pedestrians from the reasonable foreseeability of a vehicle jumping the curb, which is a well-known hazard (e.g., due to impaired drivers, distracted drivers, or accidents). These barriers could have been placed in the street at that location to alert drivers that the roadway was closed to through traffic, or on the edge of the sidewalk to protect pedestrians.”

In an email to the Courier, Stuart’s attorney Barry Novack noted that the complaint was filed “only after the city denied our claim for damages for the significant injuries sustained.” 

“The city failed to place available K-rails on the sidewalk in a position to protect against vehicles colliding with pedestrians,” Novack wrote, “thereby creating a foreseeable and preventable dangerous condition.” 

Beverly Hills City Attorney Larry Wiener expressed his condolences for the incident but stopped short of agreeing to Stuart’s demands. 

“We are very sorry about the accident that Mr. Stuart was involved in last November,” Wiener said in a statement to the Courier. “It was an unfortunate incident where a suspect involved in a nearby carjacking jumped the curb and struck Mr. Stuart with his vehicle. However, Mr. Stuart’s allegation that the city should have K-rail at every intersection to prevent this type of accident is unreasonable. The city will defend the case vigorously.”

The accident occurred in the evening of Nov. 14, 2024. Stuart was purchasing a balloon for his daughter on the street when, according to a statement he gave to the Courier at the time, he heard tires screeching, then woke up in an ambulance. 

He was released the following week and told the Courier at the time that he thanked “the good Lord, who not only protected me in that moment, but has shielded my soul.”

Stuart received an outpouring of support on social media following the accident. 

Stuart’s wife, Lisa, posted words of gratitude to the community.  

“I’m so grateful to the unbelievable number of people that have reached out to me,” she wrote. “The community of Beverly Hills; people don’t understand how tight knit it can be.” 

The driver of the vehicle that hit Stuart, 22-year-old James Portul of Pittsburgh, pled guilty shortly after the incident to charges of carjacking and hit-and-run with injury. Portul stole the car by force on the 400 block of North Bedford Drive, then drove it into a building on Wilshire Boulevard after hitting the victims. 

He fled on foot but was detained on the 200 block of North Beverly Drive.

Stuart was sworn in as a member of the BHUSD Board in December 2024.  

The post BHUSD Board Member Russell Stuart Sues City appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

At issue is a 19-story development that will include 165 residential units, 33 of which will be designated as affordable for lower-income households. It will also include a hotel with 73 rooms and a hotel restaurant. A spokesperson for 9300 Wilshire and Pustilnikov characterized the ruling as a “vindication” that will “bring much needed housing, at various income levels, to the city.” 

In contrast, Beverly Hills City Attorney Laurence Wiener said that the city is “very disappointed” with the ruling. 

“We believe that we had legitimate, good faith arguments that this development lost its privileges under the ‘builders remedy’ law and needed to conform to our general plan and zoning laws,” he told the Courier in a statement. “It is unfortunate that the state has seen fit to take a good deal of local zoning out of the hands of cities and mandated higher density in order to promote more affordable housing.”

The application for the 125-129 S. Linden Drive project was first submitted to the city in a preliminary application in October 2022. A developmental plan review (DPR) application was submitted by the developer in April 2023, which contained some changes to the initial plan. 

The DPR was deemed incomplete by the city, setting off a series of communications between the developer and city staff. According to the Aug. 12 ruling, at least six letters of incompleteness were sent to the applicant by the city. 

Many, if not all, of those letters stated that the project no longer qualified for Builder’s Remedy protections, alleging that the preliminary application had lapsed. 

In June 2024, the state’s Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) sent a letter to the city refuting its claim that the preliminary application had lapsed and directing the city to process the project. HCD then sent a notice of violation to the city in August 2024, stating that Beverly Hills’ “failure to accept the application for processing is in violation of state housing law,” according to Kin’s ruling. 

In December 2024, HCD sent a second notice of violation regarding the city’s overall practice of processing Builder’s Remedy projects. The department wrote that a “preliminary application remains vested unless the number of residential units or square footage of construction changes by 20 percent or more.”

Two lawsuits were filed against the city regarding the Linden Drive project, both requesting a writ of mandate to compel the city to approve the project. The first was filed in June 2024 by Californians for Homeownership, Inc., and the second was filed in September 2024 by 9300 Wilshire. The complaints were consolidated in Kin’s ruling. 

Builder’s Remedy projects have proven contentious in Beverly Hills. Because the projects are often out of compliance with the city’s size, height and density regulations, some residents and elected officials have argued that they do not conform to the rest of the city. 

The city has received applications for 14 Builder’s Remedy projects. At least six developers of those projects have filed lawsuits against the city, including the Linden Drive developers, challenging determinations made against them by the city. 

Other projects have received incomplete notifications, and still more are engaged in back-and-forth communication with city staff regarding the necessity of Environmental Impact Reviews. 

The decision in the Linden Drive lawsuit is expected to set a precedent for other complaints regarding Builder’s Remedy projects in Beverly Hills.  

The post City Responds to Ruling in Linden Drive Case appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Fabian has authored 26 books. On Aug. 4, she shared her story with the Rotary Club of Beverly Hills. 

“I’m truly honored to be invited to be your speaker today,” she told members of the club. “The story I want to tell you is not easy, but it has obviously a very positive ending.”

Fabian’s story begins at dawn when she was four years old. Jolted awake by banging on the door, she and her mother and sister stalled as others in their building were led outside by the Nazis. When the banging stopped, a neighbor informed Fabian’s family that he told the Nazis Fabian’s family had already left their apartment. 

“He said, ‘I’m the one who told the Nazi that you had left already. That’s why they stopped banging on your door,’” Fabian said. “So, he saved our lives.” 

From there, the family went to a safe house, and within days, they fled to a friend’s house who worked as a doctor. He was able to secure spaces for Fabian and her sister in a hospital, pretending to be sick children, while their mother went to get false papers. Those papers would identify them as Christians. 

At first, the plan worked; Fabian and her sister stayed in hospital beds entertaining one another with stories. But by the third day, the Nazis came for all the children in the hospital. 

“We put our shoes on, went downstairs, all of us, sick, young, older, didn’t matter,” said Fabian. “We were lined up against the wall of the building outside the building with Nazi officers in there. We knew they were Nazis because they wore their black uniforms and boots … when all the kids were out of the building, they were told to start walking. 

“And as we started to walk, it was pitch dark. It also started to rain. So, we walked and walked through the city and getting more and more wet. And finally, I said to my sister, ‘I can’t carry my briefcase anymore. I’m too tired. I’m just going to sit down over here and rest.’ She said, ‘Don’t you dare.’ She picked up my briefcase and said, ‘I’ll carry it for a while.’ We also knew that the kids who sat down—we heard what sounded like bangs—and we figured it must have been gunshots. And we figured the kids who sat down were shot.”

The children were herded into another building, but once again, Fabian and her sister were rescued at the last minute. The following morning, a man dressed in a Nazi uniform came to the door calling their names. 

At first, Fabian said, she didn’t want to go. 

“I said to my sister, ‘He’s wearing a Nazi uniform, he’s going to kill us. Let’s not go. He doesn’t know where we are,’” she said. “And my sister said, ‘Don’t be stupid. We’re the only ones he’s calling. Get up and let’s go.’” 

The choice was the right one. The man in the Nazi uniform was an actor, commissioned by the same friend who set the children up in the hospital. After leading them through the streets of Budapest, he took them into a building where they reunited with their mother. 

“My mother was there, and this always makes me feel like crying,” Fabian said. “My mother looked, hugged us, and then she went outside and notified this young Nazi that we were with her, and he left.” 

Fabian and her sister were given new birth certificates with Christian names. Her mother made them memorize them as well as the Christian version of the Lord’s Prayer. 

Fabian stayed in Hungary with her family until 1956, when they moved to America. She had a prodigious career as a photojournalist and has shared her story widely.  

The post Holocaust Survivor Shares Story With Rotary Club appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“This is really important,” Nazarian said. “When you plan events and when you’re together in a business setting, you need to do the recap part and see how we can learn and do even better for next time.”

Members of the group tossed out ideas, including a longer event time, changing the setup of the event and creating a sign-up sheet for tasks such as setup and cleanup, as the mayor encouraged them along. 

“All of the things that you said are pretty much the things I had on my list,” Nazarian said. “I’m very happy that you’re all so in tune and in touch.”

The group, Sharona’s Innovation Circle, was created for residents of Beverly Hills between the ages of 18 and 28. One of Nazarian’s mayoral initiatives, she said the idea for the program came from one of her sons, a young professional himself. 

“He said, ‘You need to find ways to include [young people],” Nazarian told the Courier. “It’s so important to listen to the next generation. They are the future of our city, and we want to ensure that they are included in decisions that we make, and [we address] issues that are of concern to them.” 

Sharona’s Innovation Circle held its first meeting on May 5. To date, 63 people have joined the group. 

Members join the group for a variety of reasons, but many cite professional development, socializing and community building as part of their inspiration for getting involved. 

Manuel Alejandro Polanco, 28, joined after hearing about it from a friend. Now, through the Innovation Circle, he’s launching a running club that he hopes will motivate others in his age group to exercise together. 

“Young people right now are always on their phones,” he said. “People don’t go outside. It’s a great way to get the community together … running is a great experience. It’s hard, but when you start doing it, your life changes.”

Isabella Nassir, 22, researched community engagement as an undergraduate at UCLA and wanted to put those skills into practice. As a native of Beverly Hills, Nassir also wanted to support the events she loved growing up. 

“I’ve always gone to the events in Beverly Hills and really enjoyed them, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of the leadership in the city,” she said. “Helping out really meant a lot to me. It’s such an amazing city, and I’m hoping to inspire individuals to step up and become leaders and get the community engaged.”

Some members of the group are already seeing the benefits of its networking opportunities. Mandy Larian, 18, plans to go into entertainment law and found a summer job at CMG Entertainment through a new Innovation Circle connection. She also emphasized her desire to learn about other cultures and share hers with new friends. 

“As a Persian Jew, I have been around many other people like me growing up,” Larian said. “I wanted to be able to meet others who are not from the same cultural background, share my values and learn from theirs, and create a new identity for what I see Beverly Hills as.” 

Nazarian said that Beverly Blends, the Innovation Circle’s first event, was subsidized by local businesses and came at no cost to the city. 

She added that people of all ages attended the event and found ways to participate.  

“We had seniors in the background sitting and watching,” she said. “We had young people, young kids, and also our young professionals. And I had so many people come up to me and say they really enjoyed it … For me, it’s important for everyone in our community to be heard. Regardless of your age, your gender, your nationality, we are a united community.”

Sharona’s Innovation Circle will continue to plan events throughout the year and is welcoming new members. 

The post Mayor’s Young Adult Program Has Big Plans appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The brothers have been in prison for over three decades for the murder of their parents in 1989. At their second trial following a hung verdict, a jury found them guilty of first-degree murder with special circumstances. They were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. 

Hochman’s response was filed on Aug. 7. In it, he and Deputy District Attorney Seth Carmack argue that the brothers’ most recent attempt to introduce new evidence should not have any bearing on their existing sentences. 

“There are few murder cases in which the evidence of planning and premeditation is as stark as that presented in this case,” the filing states. “Petitioners confessed on tape to murdering their parents, revealing the extent of their forethought and deliberation.”

The district attorney’s filing is a response to a 2023 habeas corpus petition filed by attorneys for the brothers. In the petition, the brothers presented a letter penned by Erik to their cousin Andy Cano, detailing sexual abuse committed by their father, Jose Menendez, against Erik, and a declaration from Menudo boy band member Roy Rossello stating that Jose sexually abused him as well. 

Attorneys for the Menendez brothers have argued that they acted in self-defense after enduring years of abuse at the hands of their father. Hochman has steadfastly argued that the alleged abuse is not relevant to the case. 

In a statement, Hochman reiterated this belief, calling the brothers’ attempt to gain a new trial a “Hail Mary” effort. 

“The central defense of the Menendez brothers at trial has always been self-defense, not sexual abuse,” he said. “The jury rejected this self-defense defense in finding them guilty of the horrific murders they perpetrated; five different appellate state and federal courts have affirmed those convictions, and nothing in the so-called ‘new’ evidence challenges any of those determinations.”

Mark Geragos, the brothers’ attorney, said in a statement to the Courier that, in response to Hochman’s filing, “The fact that it took the District Attorney 132 pages to avoid dealing with the two new pieces of evidence speaks for itself.”

In 2024, former L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón filed a motion for resentencing, which was granted. At the resentencing hearing in May, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge reduced the brothers’ sentences to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole, citing, in part, rehabilitation efforts made by the brothers in prison.

Hochman opposed the resentencing, calling the decision a “monumental one that has significant implications for the families involved, the community, and the principles of justice.”

In July, a different Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Hochman’s office to demonstrate why the brothers should not have their convictions reconsidered based on the new information submitted with the habeas corpus petition. 

In their Aug. 7 filing, Hochman and Carmack write, “The ‘new evidence’ submitted by Petitioners … provides no additional information at all concerning the key issue at trial; namely, Petitioners’ mental state on the night of August 20, 1989, when they executed their parents by fatally shooting them over 12 times with shotguns.”

Hochman and Carmack also write that in recorded conversations, the brothers “consistently framed their planning of the murders as a ‘decision’ that they had arrived at over a period of time.”

The brothers will go before the parole board on Aug. 21 and 22. If the board recommends parole, the decision will be sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will have 90 days to review the decision and has the power to overrule it. 

The post DA Files Response to Menendez Habeas Corpus Petition appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The BHPMA represents police lieutenants and captains in the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD), a total of 12 positions.

The council also authorized an $82,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2025-26 to cover the difference between what was adopted in the 2025-26 budget and what was approved in the new agreement. 

All members of the council expressed their appreciation for the negotiating process and the work of the department. 

“This is something that we’ve all been working towards, and I’m very happy that we were able to come to a resolution with our fantastic police department,” said Mayor Sharona Nazarian. “We appreciate their hard  work and dedication to our community. So, thank you very much.” 

The previous collective bargaining agreement between the city and the BHPMA expired on June 30, and the parties began negotiations for the new contract in February. A tentative agreement was reached on June 17. 

Speaking to the council, labor negotiator Peter Brown commended the discussions held between representatives for the BHPMA and representatives for the city. 

“These were collaborative, respectful negotiations that we had with the police association,” he said. “They were strong advocates for their positions, but they were professional and respectful at all times.”

Among the terms of the new agreement are a 20% salary increase, spread out in 5% increments over four years; the addition of a new holiday of Juneteenth, the first of which will occur on June 19, 2026; an increase of $170 per month in deferred compensation; and an additional 24 hours of administrative leave, increasing by 12 hours each in 2026 and 2027. 

Salary increases and deferred compensation will be applied retroactively as of July 1. 

The agreement will also require all employees in the BHPMA to live within 150 miles of the BHPD headquarters. Employees who do not meet that requirement as of July 1 are exempt. 

“That’s to ensure that if there’s an emergency, that people who live farther away, they can get back and provide public safety to this community as quickly as possible,” said Brown. 

The new agreement went into effect on July 1 and will expire on June 30, 2029.

In other business, the council approved a ban on short-term rentals in the city, which will go into effect on Sept. 5. 

The ordinance amends the Beverly Hills Municipal Code (BHMC) to prohibit single-family properties and multifamily residences in the city from being leased for fewer than 12 consecutive months. 

Councilmembers have stated in the past that the intent of the new regulation is to deter the use of short-term rentals for loud parties, increase available housing in the area, and encourage residents who would commit to living in the city for the long term to move in. 

The ordinance applies to all residential zones, including accessory dwelling units as well as features on the property such as tennis courts and swimming pools. A penalty fee structure was also added to the BHMC to provide the city with a mechanism for enforcement. 

During discussion of this topic at the council’s July 1 meeting, several residents expressed their support for an exemption for single-family homes that are designated as historic landmarks, noting that income generated by short-term rentals in those cases is often used to cover costs related to required property maintenance. 

According to Chloe Chen, a principal planner in the city’s Community Development Department, the city’s Planning Commission will review a potential carve-out for such properties at its Sept. 11 meeting, and the Cultural Heritage Commission will conduct a Study Session on the issue at its Sept. 3 meeting. 

The post Council Approves Agreement with Police Management Association appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In a back-and-forth that began with a message from the president of the Beverly Hills Police Officers Association (BHPOA) and most recently featured a formal response from City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey, both sides lobbed conflicting numbers and accounts of the current state of the city’s police department. 

The BHPOA is the official union representing the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD). All sworn officers, except the Chief of Police, are members.

The primary issues being debated are BHPD salaries, recruitment and department staffing.

On Aug. 2, BHPOA President Christian Bond sent a message to registered voters in Beverly Hills saying that the city’s safety is threatened due to low police staffing numbers. He additionally stated that officers are leaving the BHPD because of low pay. 

“Experienced officers are leaving for other local departments for $30k, $50k, and even $90k raises, pay bumps, and recruitment signing bonuses,” he wrote. 

Speaking to the Courier, Bond reiterated that sentiment. 

“We’re losing officers at an unprecedented amount,” he said. “I’ve been in Beverly Hills over 18 years. Never have I seen officers laterally … going back to LAPD, going to Santa Monica, Inglewood, Torrance … I’ve talked to City Council. They’re like, ‘What could we do to get officers to stay?’ I said, ‘The only thing you can is pay. You need to pay us.'”

On a website set up by the BHPOA, the association identified the Inglewood Police Department, the Santa Monica Police Department and the Irvine Police Department as entities that pay more than the BHPD. 

Speaking at the City Council meeting on Aug. 5, Hunt-Coffey disputed claims that BHPD officers make less than those in nearby cities. 

Comparing base pay as well as benefits and bonuses to other local municipalities, Hunt-Coffey said that while BHPD may not pay the most, it is providing a salary that is on par with other cities. 

“We’re very competitive,” she said. “We’re not the very top, but we’re certainly not the very bottom.” 

With regards to staffing, the BHPOA and the city present conflicting numbers. BHPOA claims that the department is staffed at 131 deployable officers out of a potential 154, leaving 23 vacant positions. In her remarks, however, Hunt-Coffey said that the city has 13 vacant positions out of 154. 

The back-and-forth comes as tensions have risen between the two negotiating parties and within the department. In June, the BHPOA issued a vote of no confidence in Police Chief Mark Stainbrook, citing concerns including an alleged lack of investment in the growth and retention of sworn personnel, a “misrepresentation of current staffing levels to City Council” and the “retention of personnel who do not meet required training standards.” 

In July, an attorney representing the BHPOA issued a cease-and-desist letter to Stainbrook, alleging that he “engaged in a course of conduct intended to intimidate, discredit, and retaliate against President Bond” following the vote of no confidence. 

Hunt-Coffey did not address the vote of no confidence or the cease-and-desist letter in her remarks at the Aug. 5 meeting; however, Stainbrook was present to deliver remarks about the need for a signing bonus to attract more officers. 

“Recruitment remains a challenge,” he said. “It’s challenging times … we have future challenges for getting more personnel, needing more personnel, including two Metro station openings in the next two years, the 2026 FIFA games and the 2028 Olympics. So, this proposal [for a signing bonus] strengthens our recruitment efforts for hiring.” 

The council approved the signing bonus, which will offer $35,000 to officers who do not have previous experience and $45,000 to those who do. 

Speaking to the Courier, Bond said he is not in favor of the bonuses and would prefer to see that money go towards longevity pay or increases in cost-of-living compensation. 

“I’m completely against signing bonuses,” he said. “It’s going to bring people in, they’re going to collect this bonus, and then they’re going to the next city that has a signing bonus … you’re taking away money from officers that could be paid here, now.”

Following the vote on signing bonuses, Mayor Sharona Nazarian emphasized the city’s commitment to safety. 

“I want to assure the community that our number one priority is the safety and security of our residents, businesses and visitors … our police officers are the backbone of the community, and we value and appreciate them tremendously,” she said.  

The post Tension Builds Between Police Officers and City Representatives appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The new program will be rolled out at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year at Horace Mann and El Rodeo Elementary Schools.  

The idea for what will be called the Dual Language Academy (DLA) was brought to the BHUSD Board by Board Member Sigalie Sabag in May. The board supported the idea, and administrators, including Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Dr. Dustin Seemann, worked quickly to bring the idea to fruition. 

“What began as a vision I had for implementing a foreign language opportunity for our youngest learners has now become a transformative program that will benefit generations of BHUSD students,” Sabag said in a statement to the Courier. 

Over the summer, district personnel vetted curriculum and recruited teachers while simultaneously enrolling students to ensure there was enough interest to justify onboarding those new educators. 

According to Seemann, many families were eager to sign up. 

“We didn’t want to hire if there wasn’t a lot of interest, and so in June, we opened up registration for the program,” he said. “We were able to then recruit enough students … in total, we have over 80 students that are enrolled in the Dual Language Academy through this 25-26 school year.” 

The program will launch with one kindergarten class and two first grade classes at El Rodeo, and one kindergarten class and one first-grade class at Horace Mann. 

Students enrolled in the program will be taught the same state-approved curriculum as those in English-only classes. Those in the DLA will receive 90% of their core subject instruction in Spanish and 10% in English. 

“They’re not on a separate track from their grade,” Seemann said. “All kids in kinder [and first] are still held to the same state standards.”

The goal, said Seemann, is to grow the program through high school, adding dual language teachers as the cohort progresses. By the time they graduate, he said, “They’re going to be nearly fluent, if not completely fluent.” 

To train teachers and administrators, BHUSD has partnered with TNTP, a nonprofit whose educational consultants help districts launch programs such as the DLA. 

BHUSD has also hired several educators with backgrounds in dual language programs. Adrienne Kim, a new assistant principal at Horace Mann, coordinated Mandarin and Spanish dual immersion programs in the Montebello Unified School District. 

“It’s been really exciting for all of us to grow,” said Seemann. “Every day, I continually am learning and seeing new things. And our team’s really strong.”

BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss said in a statement to the Courier that the DLA is emblematic of the district’s potential. 

“This moment represents the very best of BHUSD,” he said. “The Dual Language Academy is a shining example of what is possible when vision meets action. Thanks to the incredible work of our teachers, our Board of Education, and our district leadership, we are creating opportunities that will last a lifetime for our students.”

Members of the current Board of Education have repeatedly stated their desire for BHUSD schools to be recognized by the National Blue-Ribbon Schools Program, which identifies schools across the country that have achieved overall academic excellence. 

Sabag believes the DLA is a step toward that goal. 

“As we work toward the National Blue-Ribbon recognition, we’ve focused on the key elements that define exceptional schools; early language access is one of them,” she said in her statement. “The Dual Language Academy is not only aligned with that vision, it’s a powerful example of what we can accomplish when we lead with purpose and put students first.”

Seemann said the idea of a dual language immersion program had been discussed by the district in the past, but it never gained traction. He noted that the current moment lent itself to the creation of the program, as Cherniss has launched similar programming elsewhere, and board members were in support of the effort. 

“It was the perfect timing,” Seemann said. 

Parents who are interested in enrolling their children should contact the district. As of press time, spots are available in some classes; however others are full. 

The post BHUSD Launches Spanish Dual Language Academy in Elementary Schools appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Annenberg was dedicated to expanding access to arts and education and was devoted to animal and environmental rights. Her many contributions to L.A. include the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills (“The Wallis”), the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica and the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center in Exposition Park. 

Through the Annenberg Foundation, she contributed more than $75 million to The Wallis.

“Wallis Annenberg was a force for good whose generosity and vision helped shape our city and beyond,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian in a statement. “Her commitment to the arts brought us The Wallis, a vibrant cultural landmark that has become a cornerstone of our community … Her legacy lives on in the countless lives and communities she touched.”

“It is with a profound sense of loss that we express our condolences on the passing of Wallis Annenberg,” said Robert van Leer, The Wallis’ executive director and CEO in a statement. “Wallis believed wholeheartedly in the capacity of the arts to unite people from all walks of life and believed that those connections could bring about meaningful change. In honoring her memory, we commit to continuing her work by championing diverse voices and nurturing the next generation of artists and audiences.”

In 2026, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills will become the world’s largest wildlife crossing, spanning 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway. Annenberg and her family’s Annenberg Foundation donated $26 million to the National Wildlife Federation to support the project’s construction. 

The crossing will allow animals such as mountain lions to pass over the freeway safely. In recent years, a number of animals have been killed attempting to traverse the busy thoroughfare from the adjacent Santa Monica Mountains. 

“Wallis Annenberg’s vision for wildlife conservation inspired millions of people across California and around the world,” said Collin O’Mara, the president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation in a statement. “Her generosity and the work of the Annenberg Foundation is helping build the world’s largest wildlife crossing, reigniting interest in what she called ‘environmental rejuvenation,’ and showing how people and wildlife can thrive together.”

Wallis Annenberg was born in Philadelphia in 1939, then moved to Washington, D.C., at age 10 following her parents’ divorce. She married neurosurgeon Seth Weingarten after attending Pine Manor College and, briefly, Columbia University. The couple divorced in 1975 after moving together to L.A. with their children. 

Annenberg’s father, Walter H. Annenberg, built a media empire, publishing such titles as TV Guide and Seventeen magazine. He sold the company to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation in 1988 and went on to establish the Annenberg Foundation. 

Wallis Annenberg served on the foundation’s board and as its vice president beginning in 2002 following the death of her father. She became chairwoman and president of the foundation in 2009 after the death of her stepmother, Leonore Annenberg.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement that Wallis Annenberg “deeply believed in supporting the American right to the pursuit of happiness.” 

“She was always determined to find new ways to help people achieve a better, more joyful quality of life, and above all else, to help people connect with each other,” he said. “Wallis believed in community—in supporting innovators who could create and scale environments that helped all in it … California is better for all that she did, and for her enormous heart and unbelievable generosity.”

In addition to her work in the arts, education and the environment, Annenberg created Wallis Annenberg PetSpace in Playa Vista, which opened in 2017 and provides animal adoption and veterinary services as well as education. She also founded Wallis Annenberg GenSpace, a low-cost, high-quality community space for active older adults that opened in 2022. 

Annenberg donated millions to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and in 2022, she was awarded the National Humanities Medal by the White House. 

“Los Angeles has lost one of its most generous, curious and determined civic leaders, and we join our city in remembering Wallis Annenberg for her philanthropic spirit and tenacious commitment to improving lives,” said Edythe Broad, co-founder of The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation in a statement. “May her memory be a blessing.”

Annenberg was known for changing and evolving, and for holding herself to the highest possible standards. Speaking to the Courier in 2019, she said that she was constantly working on being the best version of herself. 

“To paraphrase FDR, my biggest fear is not conquering my fears,” she said. “I see life as a journey toward being completely comfortable with who you are, and what you do. A journey toward oneself, really. And if you can truly be yourself, then what is there to fear?”

Annenberg is survived by four children and five grandchildren. 

The post Remembering Wallis Annenberg appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The commission’s discussion, which was continued from its May 1 and June 10 meetings, focused primarily on issues that have slowed progress on the project since its inception. Those issues include how much traffic the project will generate in the neighborhood and how much additional noise it will cause, both during construction and upon completion. 

Following more than three hours of discussion, Commissioners Terri Kaplan and Gary Ross said they could support the project based on the information they had, and Chair Jeff Wolfe and Vice Chair Lou Milkowski said they needed more information before they could cast a vote. 

Milkowski stated that he would like more updated data about how the project will impact traffic in the area, taking into account how rideshare services such as Uber and Waymo would affect the situation. 

“I would be hesitant to vote at this point in time,” said Milkowski. “I would like to see more data … I would like to delay a vote.” 

Wolfe requested additional information about how the project’s commercial space will be distributed between retail, restaurants and office space; how noise from construction might be better mitigated; and assurance that regulations around amplified noise in neighborhood districts will be made clear to future residents of the new buildings. 

“This is a very complicated and large project … there’s some additional things that I want to make sure are incorporated into this and then we’ll want one more bite of the apple at another meeting,” he said. 

Plans for the 9600 Wilshire Blvd. project were initially submitted to the city in 2022. If approved, it will include the construction of two six-story mixed-use residential structures and two commercial buildings, one six stories and the other seven stories. The commercial buildings would feature a spa, retail space, boutique hotel, membership club and office space. 

As part of the project, the existing Saks Fifth Avenue Women’s building would be redeveloped through a rehabilitation and adaptive reuse plan. 

Some residents have spoken out against the project at previous public hearings, particularly those who live in the southwest neighborhood of Beverly Hills, which would be heavily impacted by the development. 

Their concerns have primarily focused on the height of the buildings, traffic implications and noise related to construction, which is expected to take approximately five years. 

At the July 24 meeting, southwest Beverly Hills resident Ken Goldman reiterated concerns regarding traffic, density and street closures that he has voiced in the past.

“You’ve heard from dozens of southwest residents opposed to this project, which will have a long-lasting effect on the quality of our residential life,” he said. “You have our written comments … I hope you will take our concerns into account.” 

Representatives from four local trade unions also restated their ongoing opposition to the project, including IBEW Local 11, which represents electrical workers; United Association (UA) Local 250, which represents steamfitters; UA Plumbers Local 78; and Ironworkers Local 433. 

“We are here to show continued opposition to this project as we represent the hardworking men and women in the construction industry,” said Mike Costagin of IBEW Local Union 11. “I am disappointed that the applicant has failed to reach out and make a strong commitment to the practice of sound development practices. This applicant should make commitments to the skilled and trained workforce.” 

In response, Douglas Adams, senior vice president of development for Saks Global, said that it is “premature” to begin discussions with construction-related trade unions as they have not hired a general contractor and do not yet have a final project approved. 

“We believe a project of this scale and this quality will require lots of union participation on the project, and at the right time, when we have a contractor on board and a project approved, we will sit down with them and work things out,” he said. 

Commissioners will continue their consideration of the issue at their August 15 meeting. 

The post Saks Fifth Avenue Development Moves Closer to Approval appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The event was the most recent installment of Spotlight with Sharona, Nazarian’s mayoral initiative to highlight the work of small businesses in the city. 

At the event, Nazarian emphasized the ways in which bringing people together at locations such as Gravitas underscores the work she hopes to do during her year-long mayoral term. 

“My theme for this year is unity,” she said. “It’s bringing our community together, and that’s from all walks of life. It doesn’t just mean for the residents, it means for the businesses, it means for our cultures, it means for all aspects. And so, I’m so excited to be able to celebrate tonight by bringing our businesses together.”

Guests enjoyed charcuterie, drinks and hors d’oeuvres in the club’s front room, which features a full bar as well as 375 temperature-controlled wine lockers. The lockers are located in the Vault, which was converted from the former Wells Fargo vaults in the same location. 

The club occupies two floors on North Camden Drive. In addition to the front room, private conference rooms, a podcast studio and a members-only lounge, it features a large open-air garden dining area with a retractable roof and heated floor. 

As a nod to the city, the floor’s tiles in the garden area map out Beverly Hills. 

The club also offers perks such as chauffeur services, a private elevator entrance, private dining booths with individualized service and more. 

Seth Glassman, a managing partner at Gravitas, said that he and founding owner Brandon Steven have had a very good experience setting up shop in Beverly Hills and were thrilled to host the event. 

“This is really special,” said Glassman. “The mayor has been so good to us, and the city itself and everyone that we’ve dealt with has been really, really great to us … we’ve had a tremendous first year, and that couldn’t have been possible without the city’s help and getting through all the processes that it takes to get here.” 

Glassman noted that he and Steven saw the members-only club sector surging elsewhere and were surprised to discover that Beverly Hills did not have any such businesses. 

“You’re talking about a half-mile radius with some of the best retail, some of the best hotels, the best everything,” he said. “So, we felt like if we did it right in the middle of the Golden Triangle, people would be very receptive to it. It’s been great so far, and we’re at the greatest part now because we see the members coming in and enjoying the space, utilizing the space and all our amenities and offerings.” 

During her remarks, Nazarian highlighted several other upcoming events. National Night Out, an annual event promoting community and safety, will take place on Aug. 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Coffee and Beats, hosted by the city’s young adult group, will be held on Aug. 10 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature music by DJ Anton Khabbaz and coffee from Alfred’s Coffee.  

Nazarian also spoke about the importance of sustaining and nurturing local businesses as the fabric of a successful city. 

“We recognize the importance of the business community, because we also recognize that it’s a cycle—when our businesses succeed, we succeed, and we are able to support our quality of life,” she said. “That’s what our goal is. We want to make sure to support you in every way that we can.”

The next Spotlight with Sharona will take place on Sept. 10 on South Beverly Drive and will feature businesses along several blocks.   

The post Gravitas in the ‘Spotlight with Sharona’ appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

During public comment, several individuals spoke about their concerns regarding a newly implemented Standards-Based Educational Instruction policy, which was passed unanimously at the board’s July 16 meeting. 

Board Member Amanda Stern excused herself shortly after the meeting began because she was not feeling well. Stern later sent a message to Board President Rachelle Marcus, which Marcus read aloud, indicating that “all tests indicate [Stern is] okay.”

The newly drafted BHUSD social media policy was first presented to the board at its April 15 meeting. BHUSD does not currently have a policy governing its official social media accounts. 

The draft presented on July 22 included oversight rules, prohibited content, staff expectations and more. 

Under the policy, prohibited content would include political endorsements or partisan messaging; the unapproved promotion of commercial products and/or services; confidential student information; graphic, violent or sensitive material; personal opinions or commentary; and explicit AI content or other misuse. 

Board members agreed that students’ social media accounts should not be tagged, which they defined as mentioning the student’s social media handle. 

However, the board agreed that naming students—not tagging them—was acceptable as long as their guardians signed the media release form. 

Colby Gilardian, BHUSD’s public information officer, noted that posts spotlighting student accomplishments often get a lot of traction.  

“The ones that do the most well are the ones where we highlight our students,” he said. “The college decision series was a big one, excellence in action, sports games recaps, stuff like that where it’s really student-centered.” 

The policy will come back before the board for another reading at a future meeting. 

In other business, the board agreed to continue the development and implementation of a new committee, called the BHUSD BRIDGE Committee (Building Relationships to Inspire Development & Growth for Everyone). 

The idea for the committee was brought by Board Member Russell Stuart and was first discussed at the board’s May 13 meeting. On July 22, Stuart said that some changes had been made to the proposal since their last discussion. 

Primarily, those changes involve narrowing the BRIDGE committee’s focus to collaboration between local businesses and students, in which students would be given the opportunity to intern at local businesses and those businesses in turn could potentially work in some capacity with BHUSD. 

“The BRIDGE concept that I brought several months ago [proposed] a very vast, large, all-encompassing community involvement … I wanted to kind of change it into an idea where it is really, truly focusing on finding opportunities for our students,” he said. 

“A lot more businesses are going to want to do business with us if we open up that door and let them know that we’re more positive to those kinds of opportunities,” Stuart added. 

Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss will discuss the proposal with BHUSD Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Dr. Dustin Seeman and the Chamber of Commerce. 

During public comment, three individuals spoke against a new policy related to Standards-Based Instructional Education. 

The policy, which was brought by Board Member Sigalie Sabag, imposes limits on how teachers handle controversial issues in the classroom and tightens expectations that they do not deviate from their curriculum. 

Among those who spoke was Judith Chan, the Vocal Music teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School. Chan has taught in the district for nearly 25 years. 

Upon bringing the policy for review by the board, Sabag cited an incident that took place in Chan’s class as an example of why the policy needed to be implemented. 

Without naming Chan, Sabag stated at the June 24 board meeting that a music teacher “wasn’t teaching music; she was only teaching about protesting. That’s all she was teaching.”

At the July 22 meeting, Chan said she was there to address Sabag’s “reference to me in particular, her false allegations against me.” 

According to Chan, the incident Sabag referenced occurred in 2022 around the time of Black History Month and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Chan taught the song “We Shall Overcome,” which she said is “a standard,” and her class watched a short cartoon video about King. 

A student then asked what civil rights movements are. Chan said she asked the class for their responses. One student mentioned the story of Rosa Parks, and another mentioned the Black Lives Matter movement. They briefly discussed what civil rights are, Chan said, then “moved on to other music activities.” 

Chan said that following that routine incident, Sabag, who was not yet a member of the board, stated during the public comment period of a board meeting that Chan “took it upon herself to teach her kids about Black Lives Matter and racism during her whole class.” In a written complaint, according to Chan, Sabag wrote that Chan “put teaching music aside in order to indoctrinate the students with [Chan’s] beliefs.” 

Sabag refused to meet with Chan in person, Chan said, despite a human resources request that she do so. 

Chan said that the district investigated the incident and “found all the claims [Sabag] had against me were unsubstantiated.” 

“So, Mr. Stuart, when you asked her in the meeting what happened to the music teacher,” Chan said, “I was surprised that she did not volunteer to give you the information that I was cleared from any wrongdoing.” 

The policy went into effect on July 16 following the board’s vote.   

The post New Policies Shake Up BHUSD appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A medical furlough for an incarcerated person involves a temporary, supervised leave for treatment. 

Geragos first shared the news of his request to Newsom on TMZ on July 22. 

“Erik is having a serious medical issue right now,” Geragos told the entertainment news outlet. “I think if there was ever anybody who should be furloughed, especially right now, a month before the [parole] hearing, it’s Erik.” 

In the interview, Geragos noted that Newsom has furloughed imprisoned people in the past, especially during the COVID and post-COVID era. 

“I would ask that he furlough Erik in advance of the hearing, and he can do that with one stroke of the pen,” he said. “I think it’s called for …  so that [Erik] can work with the parole attorney and get up to speed and be ready and do it and give it his best shot. I think that it’s the only fair and equitable thing to do.” 

Representatives from Geragos’ office declined to provide any more information about the situation as of press time. 

Lyle Menendez, 57, and Erik Menendez, 54, were convicted of murdering their parents in Beverly Hills in 1989. After their first trial resulted in a hung jury, they were found guilty at a second trial of first-degree murder with special circumstances and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In 2024, a motion for resentencing was filed by former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. The motion was granted, and at a hearing held in May, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduced the brothers’ sentences to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole. 

Jesic cited the rehabilitation efforts the brothers have made in prison, including their work with other inmates. 

Family members of the Menendez brothers largely support their efforts to be released from prison. Many spoke on their behalf at the resentencing hearing. 

Because the brothers were younger than 26 at the time of the murder, they are eligible for immediate parole.

L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has opposed resentencing for the Menendez brothers, arguing that they have not been truthful about the motive for the crime. The brothers have consistently alleged that the murders stemmed, in part, from years of abuse, including sexual abuse, suffered at the hands of their father, Jose Menendez. 

Hochman has argued that the evidence does not support that claim. 

Earlier this month, L.A. County Superior Court Judge William Ryan ordered Hochman to demonstrate why the brothers’ convictions should not be reexamined. Ryan’s order was a response to new evidence brought forth in a 2023 petition, which the brothers’ attorneys say could have changed their convictions. 

That evidence includes a letter sent by Erik to a cousin detailing the abuse he endured, as well as a declaration from former Menudo band member Roy Rossello stating that Jose Menendez, who worked in the music industry, sexually assaulted him in the 1980s. 

The Menendez brothers’ attorneys argue that the documents disprove prior claims by the prosecution that Jose was “not a violent and brutal man” and “not the kind of man” that would abuse his children. 

The brothers’ parole hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21 and 22. If board recommends parole, the case will be sent to Newsom. He will have 90 days to review the decision and can overrule it.

Newsom asked the Board of Parole Hearings for a clemency assessment of the Menendez brothers’ case in February. 

As of press time, it is not clear whether Newsom will grant Erik’s request for a medical furlough. 

The post Erik Menendez Seeks Medical Furlough appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The letter, obtained by the Courier follows a vote of no confidence in Stainbrook that was issued by members of the POA in June. The cease and desist letter alleges that Stainbrook retaliated against POA President Christian Bond in the wake of the vote.

POA members include all BHPD sworn personnel, including officers, sergeants, lieutenants and captains. The chief of police is not a member.

According to the letter, sent on July 18 by the attorney for the POA Stuart D. Adams of the Adams Legal Group, Stainbrook “engaged in a course of conduct intended to intimidate, discredit, and retaliate against President Bond for fulfilling his protected duties as an elected union representative.”

The letter states that Stainbrook’s actions include “circulating false rumors and defamatory statements” within the police department alleging that Bond “orchestrated” the no confidence vote and that he engaged in communications with Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Dr. Alex Cherniss to “disseminate false and damaging information, in what appears to be a tortious interference with a prospective economic advantage with a post-retirement employment opportunity.” (Bond’s wife is an employee of BHUSD.)

The letter further accuses Stainbrook of “engaging in retaliatory conduct that has created a hostile work environment and has had a chilling effect on the willingness of POA members to engage in protected labor activity”. 

These actions, the letter goes on to allege, are violative of both state and federal law. Should the behavior persist, the letter states that the POA is prepared to pursue all available legal remedies, “including injunctive relief and civil damages.” 

In addition to demanding that Stainbrook cease and desist for the above conduct, the letter directs him to preserve all communications related to the vote of no confidence and any communications related to Bond and POA activity. 

In a statement, Keith Sterling, Beverly Hills’ deputy city manager, confirmed that the city has received the letter. He noted that “some of the items that the POA has raised through their vote of no confidence have been part of the negotiations between the city and the POA. Others address the relationship between Chief Stainbrook and Association members.”

Sterling added, “Chief Stainbrook and the City Manager have developed a plan to address the concerns raised by the POA Board not specific to the negotiations. These include improving communication within the department and enhancing hiring efforts. The Chief has been meeting with individual police officers to keep lines of communication open and solicit feedback and will be presenting additional recruitment strategies to the City Council in the coming weeks. As the City remains in active negotiations with the POA, the remaining items will be addressed through that process.” 

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The decision was made by the Beverly Hills Planning Commission at its July 10 meeting following a discussion about what is required of the organization given its status as owners of the building. 

Chabad of North Beverly Hills purchased the property at 9145 Wilshire Blvd. in 2017. It was designated as a historic landmark building in 2014. 

The designation was given because the building was designed by Millard Sheets, an architect described in a city staff report as “one of the most prominent figures in the Southern California art and design community.” Sheets is included on the city of Beverly Hills List of Master Architects.  

The building was constructed for the Ahmanson Bank & Trust Company in 1959. Among its character-defining features are two monumental mosaics along the Wilshire facade, Italian marble cladding, ceramic-fired gold tiles and stained glass. 

Upon purchasing the property, Chabad was required by Beverly Hills Municipal Code to provide 174 parking spaces. 

According to Menachem Mendel Shusterman, a rabbi for the congregation who spoke at the July 10 meeting, that number of parking spaces would not be possible for the organization to create at the Wilshire location. Shusterman said Chabad was advised that the best way to bypass the parking requirement was to obtain a Historic Incentive Permit, (HIP), which they did in 2019. 

Under the HIP, the organization became responsible for engaging in restoration and rehabilitation of the building.

Shusterman said at the Planning Commission meeting that the organization has since come to understand how expensive the rehabilitation and restoration would be under the HIP. As such, he came before the commission to ask if there is another way for Chabad to be relieved of the requirement to provide 174 parking spaces, and to effectively revoke the HIP. 

Among his arguments were that many churches and temples in the city do not provide as many parking spaces, and that because the congregation is Orthodox, they do not typically drive to synagogue because of religious tenets. 

City staff wrote in a report and stated at the July 10 meeting that Chabad has not provided the city with materials required by the HIP, including a timeline of work, a detailed scope of work and an updated set of project plans outlining the proposed work.

Referring to the report, Commissioner Myra Demeter said that the organization did not fulfill its obligation to provide a plan for rehabilitation and restoration as outlined in the HIP, despite having understood the obligation since 2019. 

“You had an obligation, you did not fulfill your obligation,” Demeter said. “You were told repeatedly; you had interaction with the staff, and then you were given a chance to come now and present something, and you presented the same exact thing with no deviation.”

In response, Shusterman reiterated that he and other leaders of his organization did not realize how costly the rehabilitation and restoration process would be.  

“I understand that we obligated ourselves,” he said. “We didn’t realize it was going to get to that point where a tile of one foot by one-and-a-half feet is going to cost $3,300.” 

Commission Chair Jeff Wolfe said that he believes the issue boils down to a misunderstanding. 

“Somehow, because of the path this took, there is this linkage between the requirement to do the [restoration and rehabilitation] work and the parking as it relates to the permit,” he said. “The miscommunication is that the link doesn’t actually exist.” 

The commission voted to maintain the existing requirement for Chabad to provide a detailed rehabilitation and restoration plan. 

The issue will be brought back to the commission at its November meeting with the understanding that Shusterman will convey the decision to his congregation and return with a plan that includes the missing pieces of information.  

The post Chabad Must Submit Additional Plans for Ahmanson Bank Building appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Prior to Hochman’s remarks, three-time former Beverly Hills Mayor Julian Gold, M.D., was sworn in as Rotary President before a crowd that included Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. 

Addressing Rotary members, Gold expressed his enthusiasm to begin his new role. 

“This club has a great reputation, and it’s because of everything that you guys do,” he said. “I’m very excited to be the president.”

The First Seven Months 

Hochman began his remarks by discussing actions he’s taken since being sworn into office. Among his first steps, he said, was working to reestablish trust with prosecutors, law enforcement and victims.

“I came into office on December third, and there were a lot of dysfunctional problems that were in the criminal justice system that needed to be fixed as quickly as possible,” he said. 

Hochman said that among his prosecutors, 98% voted to support the recall of George Gascón, the previous district attorney. 

“This was not a happy group,” said Hochman. “And basically, part of the reason they weren’t happy was that on [Gascón’s] first day in office, he went ahead and passed nine special directives that said that certain crimes and certain criminals would no longer be prosecuted.”

Those special directives, said Hochman, applied to sentencing for certain juveniles, gang enhancements and some gun enhancements. 

Hochman told members of the Rotary Club that he rescinded all nine special directives with the intent that prosecutors would understand that he wanted to rebuild trust. 

“[These prosecutors] bring, collectively, thousands of years of prosecutorial experience to the job,” he said. “And what I said is, look, I’m going to go ahead and allow you to now use the tools that you would always use. Use them smartly, use them with common sense, use them better than you’ve ever used them before. But I will start with trusting your discretion.”

The Hard Middle 

Gascón was known as a progressive prosecutor whose political philosophy aligned with decarceration, or putting fewer people in prison. Hochman noted that in rescinding Gascón’s directives, he was not moving towards the other end of the spectrum—which, he said, would be “mass incarceration”—but rather to what he described as “the hard middle.” 

“What we’re going to do is go back to an approach that had been used for prosecutors and law enforcement for decades,” he said. “I call it the hard work middle or just the hard middle approach. And what that approach is, it said we’re going to look at each case individually. No more blanket policies. 

“We’re going to look at the individual defendant and their background, the crime committed and the impact on the victim to determine who the true threats are to our public safety.”

Six Priority Areas 

Since taking office, Hochman has identified six priority areas. Those include fentanyl poisoning, homeless crime, human trafficking, hate crimes, residential burglary and organized retail theft. 

Fentanyl poisoning, Hochman said, was identified because of its sheer scope. 

“There will be more people between the ages of 18 and 45 killed by fentanyl than anything else,” he said.

Organized retail theft includes smash and grabs, as well as ongoing operations that target particular shops. 

To that end, Hochman has implemented Proposition 36, which allows repeat offenders to be charged with a felony rather than a misdemeanor. 

“You won’t be caught and released,” he said of those offenders. “You’ll actually have to go and be booked through the system and held on bail … to date—I checked the numbers—we have 1,200 felony prosecutions that have been brought under Proposition 36.”

ICE Update

During the Q&A following his remarks, Hochman was asked about his office’s response to recent federal deportation efforts. 

“The DA’s office and local law enforcement are not part of federal civil immigration enforcement,” Hochman responded. “They don’t call us up ahead of time and tell us what they’re doing, nor do we reach out to them. They go ahead and pick and choose how and where they’re going to engage in this immigration enforcement and don’t engage us at all.”

Hochman added that local law enforcement was still being affected by federal actions. Citing the protests that took place recently in downtown L.A. in response to ICE raids, Hochman said that L.A. officers ended up being responsible for “prevent[ing] a riot.” 

“[Local] law enforcement was then in charge of dealing with legitimate protests involving not just hundreds of people or thousands of people or tens of thousands of people, but literally hundreds of thousands of people who wanted to legitimately protest,” he said, adding that among those protesters was a small minority who used the moment as an opportunity to commit crimes. 

“Local law enforcement is still in a bit of a bind because they’re not coordinating with the federal government, the federal government’s not coordinating with them,” he said. 

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The policy, which was introduced by Board Member Sigalie Sabag, imposes limits on how teachers handle controversial issues in the classroom and tightens expectations that they do not deviate from their curriculum. 

Board President Rachelle Marcus and Board Member Amanda Stern opposed the policy at the beginning of the discussion period. Stern said she could not approve a policy that includes, as the original draft did, language stating that “Staff members with firsthand knowledge of potential violations are encouraged to report concerns promptly.” 

Saying the language was a “nonstarter” for her, Stern had strong words about its implications. 

“Please, guys, we are better than that, and we need to evolve,” she said. “That is going backwards, and there’s just no way to sugarcoat that … we have seen from the letters we’ve gotten, from the educators we’ve heard from, that is actually insulting.”

Marcus, who attended the meeting virtually, said the district already has a policy addressing the handling of controversial topics in the classroom. That policy was reviewed two-and-a-half years ago, Marcus said, calling the newly proposed policy “unwarranted and dangerous.” 

“Mrs. Sabag wants to limit all instruction in the classroom to curriculum only, leaving no room for discussion on any and all discussable topics which might be controversial, or even more,” said Marcus. “We are tying the hands of our teachers by limiting them to what the curriculum mandates they teach and teach only … before we adopt this, we should take a step back and see if it is really necessary.”

During public comment, several BHUSD teachers spoke against the policy. Other educators were present in the audience wearing shirts bearing the name of the Beverly Hills Education Association, the union that represents teachers in the district. 

Hannah Croft, a seventh grade English teacher at Beverly Vista Middle School, echoed some of the concerns expressed by Marcus and Stern. 

“The language of this supposed standards-based instruction policy does not actually reflect standards-based instruction, which I know well,” Croft said. “Instead, this proposed change demands teachers limit their scope of instruction, and by extension, limit student skills and ability to learn. The meticulously chosen and intentionally vague language of this proposed instructional change does not have student success at its heart. Instead, this proposed change actively inhibits the learning, growth and success of every child in this district.”

Over the course of a two-and-a-half-hour discussion, the board reviewed the policy sentence by sentence. Among the changes made was the deletion of the language Stern flagged regarding staff reporting one another. 

The board also added language stating that, “Educators are encouraged to have meaningful dialogue among students to foster educational objectives.” 

The new policy will go into effect immediately. 

In other news, the board approved the hiring of a new principal at Beverly Hills High School. Loan Sriruksa previously served as the principal of Esperanza High School in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District and has also held multiple administrative roles in the Garden Grove Unified School District.  

At the July 16 meeting, Sriruksa expressed her enthusiasm to start her new position. 

“I’m fully committed to continuing the legacy of high expectations for all students, while also fostering an environment where every person feels cared for, seen and supported,” she said. “I believe every student deserves not just a premium education, but a school experience that nurtures their whole self … Our school’s motto, ‘Today Well Lived,’ is one I hold close. It reflects the kind of school community I hope to lead.”

In a statement, BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss voiced his confidence in Sriruksa.

“Loan Sriruksa brings a focused, experienced, and results-oriented leadership style to BHHS,” he said. “Her track record reflects exactly what we expect in Beverly Hills; strategic thinking, high expectations, and a clear drive for academic excellence.”  

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The order, which was released on July 7, hinges on new evidence that lawyers for the Menendez brothers argue could have changed the outcome of their convictions. 

The evidence includes two documents that support the brothers’ claim that they murdered their parents out of self-defense after suffering years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father, Jose Menendez. One document is a letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin, Andy Cano, in which the former describes the abuse he endured. The other is a declaration from Roy Rossello, a former member of the boy band Menudo, that he was raped by Jose Menendez in the 1980s. 

The July 7 order came as a response to a May 2023 habeas corpus petition filed by attorneys for the brothers. The order was issued by L.A. County Superior Court Judge William Ryan. 

Lyle and Erik Menendez were tried and convicted of killing their parents in Beverly Hills in 1989. Their first trial resulted in a hung verdict, and their second trial resulted in a sentencing of life without the possibility of parole after they were found guilty of first-degree murder with special circumstances.

Former L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón filed a motion for resentencing in 2024, which was granted. 

At the resentencing hearing, which was held in May, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic removed the special circumstance allegation from the brothers’ original conviction and reduced their sentences to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole. 

Jesic cited the rehabilitation efforts the brothers have made in prison.

During the resentencing hearing, Erik issued an apology to the Beverly Hills community, saying that the murders instilled a sense of fear among residents. 

Appearing virtually, Erik also apologized for taking his parents’ lives. “My actions were criminal,” he said. “They were also selfish, cruel and cowardly.”

Lyle, also appearing virtually, said that he takes “full responsibility for my choices.” 

“I believed I was a 21-year-old who could fix what could not be fixed,” he said. 

The brothers largely have the support of their family members, many of whom spoke on their behalf at the resentencing hearing. 

L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed resentencing for the brothers, arguing that they repeatedly lied about the murders being committed in self-defense and have not yet acknowledged their statements as such.  

In a statement following the resentencing, Hochman said that Jesic’s decision was “a monumental one that has significant implications for the families involved, the community, and the principles of justice. Our office’s motions to withdraw the resentencing motion filed by the previous administration ensured that the court was presented with all the facts before making such a consequential decision.” 

Hochman has also argued that the Cano and Rosello documents are not admissible in court. 

Attorneys for the Menendez brothers, meanwhile, said that the documents counter the prosecution’s claim that Jose was “not a violent and brutal man” and “not the kind of man” that would abuse his children. 

In a statement to the Courier, Hochman’s office said that “the Andy Cano letter and Roy Rossello allegations were not known to the District Attorney’s Office until the habeas petition was filed on May 3, 2023.”

The brothers will have a parole hearing on Aug. 21 and 22. If the board recommends parole, the decision will be sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom will have 90 days to review the decision and has the power to overrule it. 

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In June, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) released a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) of five proposed routes, known as alternatives, for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project. 

The route chosen will run north and south from Van Nuys to West L.A. alongside the 405 Freeway. Two proposed alternatives are for monorail transit, and three are for heavy rail transit.  

The cost to build the project is currently estimated to be between $15.4 billion and $24.4 billion.

The release of the DEIR drew mixed reactions. 

Steve Sann, a spokesperson for STC4All, a coalition that supports the implementation of the project, expressed his enthusiasm for the latest development. 

“The fact that the draft EIR is now out [is] a major milestone in this project,” he said. “We’ve been waiting three years.” 

Fred Rosen is a resident of Bel Air, a neighborhood under which some of the proposed alternatives would require tunneling. Rosen alleged that Metro’s cost estimates are incorrect and that the department has been “deceitful” in its dealings with the public, particularly Bel Air residents. 

“This project starts to get developed 11 years ago—no one calls us, no one talks to us,” said Rosen, who has been advocating against the project for at least four years. “We wake up one morning and discover that three or four of these routes are under our community … Metro [has] no interest in being transparent with the public.”

According to Metro, the 405 Freeway between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside is one of the most congested corridors in the country, with over 400,000 trips taken by drivers each weekday. That number is expected to grow approximately 24% by 2057.

Metro estimates that the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project, when complete, could attract approximately 63,000 to 124,000 daily riders and reduce the number of miles traveled by automobile by between 342,000 and 775,000 daily. 

Plans for the project began in earnest in 2016 when L.A. voters approved Measure M. 

The ballot initiative funded various transportation improvements throughout the county, including the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project, for which $9.5 billion was identified. 

Metro issued a request for proposals in 2019, and in 2021, six potential alternatives were developed. One was removed from consideration in 2023. 

Alternatives 1 and 3 would utilize driverless monorails traveling largely above ground. Alternative 1 proposes an electric bus connecting the monorail to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Alternative 3 proposes an underground train connecting the Getty Center and Wilshire Boulevard. 

Alternatives 4 and 5 feature driverless heavy rail transit, and the routes are largely underground with some aboveground segments. Alternative 6 proposes driver-operated heavy rail transit with all underground travel. 

In the DEIR, Metro found that while all alternatives would have some significant and unavoidable environmental impacts, Alternative 1 would have the fewest. 

The DEIR also reports that all five alternatives would cause elevated nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide emissions, as well as an increase in noise, during construction. All alternatives would conflict in some ways with local land use plans. 

According to Mallory Mead, a spokesperson for Metro, the city is currently “agnostic” about which version it approves. 

“The environmental impact report … requires that we look deeply into all of these alternatives before we determine any specific project we want to take further,” Mead told the Courier. “We’re putting [all of the alternatives] up against each other to go through and look at the relative merits and benefits of each.”

Sann said STC4All hasn’t identified a single alternative that they support, but that whichever version Metro chooses, the group would like to see one with an on-campus UCLA station and a “direct, seamless connection” to the Wilshire D Line (Purple Line) subway station.

“The only one that completely fails the test is horrible, terrible, worst of all possible options, Alternative 1,” he said. 

Rosen said he and other residents of Bel Air will continue to fight against the project. 

“We’ll do what’s necessary to protect our community,” he said. 

Metro has now entered into a 90-day public comment period, during which residents and stakeholders can submit feedback online, by phone, by mail or in person at a public information session. Those sessions will be held throughout July and August. 

The public comment period will close on Aug. 30. 

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“Our job is to fill the voids that we see,” Nazarian told the Courier. “We’ve never done a Fourth of July celebration, so this was one of my initiatives that I wanted to launch … we did Memorial Day, we’re doing the Fourth of July, we’re going to do Veterans Day. We want to be able to bring the community together in all different ways.” 

In a shaded section of the park behind the library, six booths were set up. Several offered snacks and water; several offered information about parks and city services, and one was set up by the Boys and Girls Club with a sign reading “Kindness is Free.” 

Near the booths, small children played in a grassy area outfitted with oversized Connect Four, Tetris and cornhole games. Niki Dickman, 30, was in attendance with her family, including her 18-month-old son. Dickman said that she heard the event from her backyard and decided to come see what was going on. 

“It’s great,” she said of the occasion. “It’s one of the perks of living in Beverly Hills. [I love] seeing the community come together.”  

Close to a DJ booth playing dance hits that encouraged participants to get up and move, residents Lorraine Ross, 86, and Marvin Taff, 91, enjoyed the event’s sights and sounds. 

“We love coming to Roxbury Park,” said Ross, a 32-year resident of the city. “It’s an environment [where] you feel younger and playful and happy, most importantly. It makes us happy to come here … the music inspires me.” 

Many Beverly Hills police officers and firefighters were in attendance, and Ross noted that she appreciated having the opportunity to thank them for their service. 

“They’re the ones that protect us,” she said. “We all feel gratified for what Beverly Hills offers us, living here as residents.” 

The event was part of the city’s “Parks Make Life Better” initiative, a series of activities taking place throughout July. The initiative kicked off on July 3 with Concerts on Canon, and will feature a Family Bingo Night on July 11, a Senior Luau on July 21, a live performance of Julius Caesar and more. 

In addition to celebrating national holidays, Nazarian’s mayoral initiatives include a focus on seniors and young people, spotlighting small businesses, improving safety measures and uniting the city. 

Resident Cynthia Hajjar, 51, said events like the Fourth of July picnic do just that. 

“It is important to try to find the time for these kinds of community events,” she said. “Our community is our wealth, and we’re very grateful to our City Council and Mayor for organizing gatherings like these … these events unite us.” 

Shahla Bonyadi, 70, who is originally from Iran, became a U.S. citizen just days before the picnic. She said she saw a stark difference between the accessibility of elected officials in Beverly Hills and in Tehran. 

Noting that her favorite part of the day was speaking directly with Nazarian, Bonyadi said that communicating one-on-one with a government representative would not have been possible in her country of origin.

“[Nazarian] is very sweet, she is very kind,” Bonyadi said. “She participated and talked to the people like a normal person. In our country, the mayor — you shouldn’t touch him, always bodyguards, security, and you can’t talk or say your problems about the city. I love this.” 

This kind of togetherness and unity is what Nazarian hopes to promote during her mayorship. 

“Beverly Hills is such a large community, and there’s so many different pockets that many don’t even know about,” she told the Courier. “It warms my heart to see that we are touching all the aspects of Beverly Hills that make our community so fantastic. We are bringing our seniors together; we see little kids waving their flags; we’re in the park enjoying our green space and coming together as a community. I love it. I really love it.”  

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Vice Mayor John Mirisch was the sole “no” vote. 

An initial vote on the issue was postponed in January due to a desire by the city to provide temporary housing to individuals affected by the wildfires. 

The regulations are intended to curb the use of short-term rentals for loud parties, encourage longer-term residents to move into the city and to increase the supply of available housing. 

“It’s really important that we create the stock of availability for people to either get into a home or get into an apartment, and I really see that as part of this,” said Councilmember Lester Friedman. “The state has come down really hard on cities because of lack of availability of rental units, and I really see this as part of that puzzle in making living spaces available.”

Councilmember Craig Corman noted that he sat on the Planning Commission when the original short-term stay ordinance was passed. 

“We were aware of the potential downsides of Airbnbs in the city, but we thought we’d give it a chance,” he said. “Obviously, we were wrong.”

During public comment, several residents expressed their desire for an exemption for single-family homes that are designated as historic landmarks. One owner of such a home, Deborah Blum, said she relies on income generated by renting her guest house to pay for costs related to maintaining her property. 

Blum requested that a historic caretaker exemption be added to the new ordinance. 

“We propose that landmark properties be permitted to rent guest houses for under 30 days, provided the owners maintain primary residence and direct oversight,” she said. “Yes, an exemption would be good for my  family; more importantly, it would be beneficial for the city too. Historic preservation drives tourism and economic growth.” 

The original ordinance brought before the council on July 1 proposed that single-family homes be prohibited from being leased for fewer than 12 months, and that multifamily units be prohibited from being leased for under six months. 

The council directed city staff to draft a new ordinance reflecting a uniform 12-month prohibition and proposed that the Planning Commission work to draft language for historic landmark exemptions. 

The ordinance will be brought back before the council at an upcoming meeting for a final vote. 

In other business, the council held a so-called “de novo” public hearing review of a new development at 55 La Cienega Drive. The Beverly Hills Planning Commission conditionally approved the project at their March 13 meeting. 

City Councilmembers were asked to consider the development as if hearing it for the first time.

The request for the de novo public hearing review was made by then Mayor Friedman and then Councilmember Mirisch on March 27. 

The proposed development is for the former site of The Stinking Rose restaurant. The proposal is for a seven-story mixed-use structure that will feature 140 residential units, including 11 very low-income and 11 moderate-income apartments. 

It will also feature a rooftop deck with an outdoor bar, pool, lounge and sun deck, and three levels of subterranean parking. 

An earlier iteration of the development was approved in 2023; however, in 2024, developer 55 Del Norte, LLC took advantage of new state laws that allow for an additional density bonus and reworked the proposal. 

The reworked proposal was conditionally approved in a 3-2 vote by the Planning Commission on March 13. 

At the July 1 City Council meeting, Mirisch and Friedman noted that they requested the de novo hearing because of the close vote taken by the Planning Commission. 

During discussion, councilmembers reiterated concerns that have previously been voiced by nearby residents, including the new development’s potential effect on parking and noise. However, the council conceded that because the development is in accordance with state law, they cannot deny it. 

“These are the moments that, you know, as a council, our hands are tied,” said Mayor Sharona Nazarian. “There isn’t really all that much that we can do to support the residents except for the conditions that we’ve put into place. This project is by right, which means that, based on state mandates that have been placed on the city of Beverly Hills, we need to approve this project.” 

The development was approved in a 4-1 vote, with Mirisch being the sole “no” vote. 

In other business, the council approved several 2025-26 fiscal year budget items, including funding for the Rodeo Drive Holiday Decor and Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting and the Rodeo Drive Committee’s marketing plan. 

A maximum budget of $497,969 was granted to J. Ben Bourgeois Productions, Inc. for lighting, holiday decor and other services for the Rodeo Drive Holiday Decor and Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting. The company has provided these services to the city since 2019. This year’s proposed theme is “Enchanted Holiday Dreams on Rodeo Drive” and it will incorporate inspiration from the Nutcracker Ballet. 

The Rodeo Drive Committee will receive a maximum of $184,998 for marketing services, social media, website management and banner production intended to promote its retailers, hotels and property owners. 

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The effort, while dramatic, was not an emergency. Rather, it was part of a two-day training held on-site in advance of the building’s demolition, and the Courier was invited to observe. The hotel offered the structure to members of the Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) to practice fire mitigation and rescue operations on June 28 and 29—a rare opportunity for first responders to hone their skills in a real-world controlled environment. 

“Normally, it is very difficult for fire departments to have buildings available to use, especially one as large as The Beverly Hilton,” said BHFD Assistant Fire Chief Dean Zipperman in an email to the Courier. “These partnerships, although not frequent, are highly rewarding.” 

The training came in the final weeks before the destruction of the hotel’s Oasis Building, which began on June 30. The structure is being torn down as part of the construction of One Beverly Hills. 

In a statement to the Courier, David Ecija, the general manager of The Beverly Hilton, said the hotel was thrilled to lend out the building in its final days. 

“We’re proud to offer our space to the Beverly Hills Fire Department for this important training,” Ecija said. “Supporting our city’s first responders reflects The Beverly Hilton’s enduring commitment to service and civic partnership. For over 70 years, the hotel has stood as a community cornerstone, and we’re honored to continue that legacy in meaningful ways.” 

According to Zipperman, 54 fire personnel of all ranks took part in the training over two days. Participants practiced maneuvers they may need to execute during an emergency, such as pulling fire hose lines, putting up aerial and ground ladders, flowing water and utilizing search techniques. 

Firefighters took turns performing the exercises in small groups, with each team running drills for between 20 and 30 minutes at a time. All were dressed in full firefighting gear despite the heat.  

“Our members were able to [work] in various areas as directed by the drill incident commander to allow every firefighter to practice real scenario tasks … as they would be doing on an emergency scene,” said Zipperman. 

He added that the most challenging fire BHFD could face would be a “multi-story habitational occupied building.”

The opportunity was presented to BHFD as construction continues on One Beverly Hills, a 17.5-acre development at the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards. The project, which is being led by Cain International alongside OKO Group, will include two residential towers, a new Aman hotel, boutiques and casual dining, along with 10 acres of open space. The Beverly Hilton is being renovated as part of the development. 

Ground was broken for One Beverly Hills in February 2024, and construction is expected to be completed in 2028. 

Larry Green, the head of development and managing director for Cain International, told the Courier that the training was emblematic of the development’s commitment to the city. 

“This moment marks an important milestone in the evolution of One Beverly Hills,” he said. “It is especially fitting to offer the space for such an invaluable training—this project has always been rooted in a deep respect for Beverly Hills, and we’re proud to support the city’s continued leadership in safety and preparedness as we move into the future together.” 

As the training progressed throughout the day, firefighters were provided lunch, water and snacks by hotel staff, and utilized the building’s indoors to cool off as teams alternated their participation in drills.  

Zipperman noted that the opportunity allowed the department to “become more proficient as a team to accomplish the mission of saving lives and property.”

“No matter how many fires a city may encounter, each one poses a different challenge,” he said, adding, “This truly is what community-based partnerships are.” 

The post BHFD Trains at The Beverly Hilton Before Tower Demolition appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The decision was made by the Beverly Hills City Council Liaison/Traffic & Parking Commission Committee at its June 24 meeting, during which commissioners and councilmembers approved a proposed update to the Beverly Hills Municipal Code. 

The proposal will now go before the entire City Council. 

The update, which was described as “timel[y]” in a staff report, will apply to new developments that provide a reduced number of on-site parking spaces than would otherwise be required by the city’s code because they have availed themselves of parking reductions or exemptions in state law.

Residents of those developments would be prohibited from obtaining preferential and overnight parking permits. 

Additionally, the property managers, owners or other representatives of those projects would be required to notify future residents of the restriction in writing and obtain a signed acknowledgment from the would-be inhabitant. 

Councilmember Lester Friedman, who serves as a liaison on the committee, said at the meeting that the the update was being considered, in part, due to California’s stated premise that residents who live near public transportation do not need as much parking. 

“The reason that this is being considered is to be in concert with what the state has told us is necessary; that is, that people are not going to be needing as much parking since they’re near a high transit zone area,” he said. “Personally, I think that premise is a faulty premise, but that is what the state of California has told us, and, of course, we need to be in concert with what those in Sacramento have said.” 

Friedman added that the update would also serve to prevent a problem for residents in neighborhoods where developers have provided less parking for their buildings’ inhabitants. 

“We don’t want to have the situation in our city where the residents who aren’t building suffer because there is overcrowding of vehicles,” Friedman said. “So … if a landowner or developer decides that they don’t think that they can be in compliance with the requirements that the Beverly Hills code has, it’s not going to be a burden upon the residents who have nothing to do with that project.” 

The prohibition will also apply to developers who use reductions to upgrade or remodel in a way that causes them to become ineligible for the permits. In those scenarios, existing parking permit holders would be allowed to keep the number of permits they already have have; however, they would not be allowed to obtain more.  

A concern was raised by Hadar Geller, vice chairperson of the Traffic and Parking Commission over the possibility of the prohibition being applied to landlords of smaller properties who seek to add an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Under the proposed update, those individuals would be subject to the prohibition on parking permits. 

“It feels very punitive to the owner,” she said. “He’s adding value to his property by adding this ADU, but now he’s losing value on his units.” 

Councilmember Craig Corman, who serves as a liaison on the committee, suggested that there may be room to tweak the regulations for such property owners. 

“I think it’s worth a discussion whether the addition of a single ADU should trigger the prohibition … because I think the projects the council were thinking about the most were not individual units being added to underparked duplexes or single buildings,” he said. “It was the construction of many new units.” 

The committee decided to move forward with the provision with some small changes, and at the same time, requested that staff refine language surrounding how the update would affect ADUs. The latter issue will be brought back for further discussion.  

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The proposal was brought forth by Board Member Sigalie Sabag. 

Sabag sought to make clear, she said, that teachers are not to introduce controversial issues that do not pertain to the subject they are teaching. 

“This is a policy that we don’t have that needs to be implemented,” said Sabag, adding, “If you have a curriculum like, let’s say health, and you are teaching regarding gender or teaching any which way, this policy tells you how to go about it responsibly.”

The draft policy brought forward by Sabag defined controversial issues as including topics such as religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and geopolitical conflicts.

It identified courses such as history, civics, government, geography and economics as classes that may warrant the discussion of such issues. 

The proposed policy further identified mathematics, English, science, physical education, world languages, the arts and technical electives as courses in which “teachers must refrain from introducing political, ideological, or personal commentary unrelated to approved instructional goals.”

Under the proposal, other staff members would be encouraged to report violations of the policy. 

In elaborating on her point, Sabag described an incident in which a BHUSD music teacher showed a film about protesting. 

“In this circumstance … she wasn’t teaching music; she was only teaching about protesting,” Sabag said. “That’s all she was teaching. She is not teaching according to her class. You teach according to your curriculum and class.” 

During public comment, Katherine Warren, the president of the Beverly Hills Education Association (BHEA), the union that represents the city’s public school teachers, requested that the item be tabled. Warren said the collective bargaining agreement already has guidelines for teaching controversial issues, and that document takes precedence over board policies. 

“If the board wishes to revise or clarify language related to controversial issues, the appropriate venue for that discussion is the bargaining table,” she said. “BHEA requests that the agenda item … be tabled and brought to the bargaining team for any changes in language.”

Board Member Amanda Stern spoke at length against the proposed changes. Expressing a conviction that teachers should be able to instruct students in critical thinking, analytical thinking and how to compose an argument, Stern said educators need the freedom to “think out loud and show their reasoning.” 

“We don’t want robots for teachers,” she said. “We want people that we trust … if we want a machine to just give feedback and a binary response, we can move in that direction. Sadly, I feel that the schools in 30 years may well be that way because of the environment and regulations such as these.”

Agreeing with Sabag that violations “must be disciplined and enforced,” Stern went on to note that “I stop short of trying to censor some of the activity that makes classrooms stimulating and fun and speaks to these very standards.”

Stern added that the policy proposed by Sabag seems to contradict itself with respect to its purported disdain for bringing partisan politics into the school setting. 

“When I look at this new policy … it’s talking about not introducing [issues] along partisan lines, but it seems to me that this policy itself, I want to say it’s a playbook from some ideology that is partisan based,” she said. 

Stern and Sabag agreed to collaborate on the policy before further board discussion.

In other district news, Career Technical Education instructor and Media Director Romeo Carey has announced his retirement. 

In a message sent to the KBEV community, district representatives lauded Carey’s achievements during his more than two decades of teaching at BHUSD. 

“Romeo Carey’s dedication to student learning, media excellence, and public service has left a mark that will be felt for generations,” said BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss. “We thank him for his unparalleled contributions and wish him the very best in his next chapter.”

Carey was at the center of a controversy beginning in December 2024, when he was placed on paid administrative leave for reasons that were not disclosed to the community. Stakeholders, including students, parents and former students, expressed their outrage for months during public comment at board meetings. 

Carey was reinstated in March. 

In the same statement released by the district, Carey reiterated his mission and his hope for the future. 

“My duty as a mentor was to instill the idea that the pillar of a free and open society is a free press that acts as a watchdog, holding those in power accountable and informing the community about public affairs,” he said. “To my students who boldly took on their duty as broadcast journalists by holding truth to power, I will forever be indebted to their tenacity and courage.” 

The post BHUSD Board Discusses New Restrictions on Teaching ‘Controversial Topics’ appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome. 

“DuPont was heartened by the court’s ruling on the city’s motion for attorney’s fees,” said Jessica Corpuz, an attorney representing DuPont. “DuPont continues to believe that rationality and common sense will ultimately prevail in this case.”

Keith Sterling, Beverly Hills’ deputy city manager, said the city is happy to receive the partial amount. 

“We are pleased to be reimbursed for a portion of our costs,” he said. 

The legal battle between DuPont and Beverly Hills began in 2023. The clinic, which provides reproductive health care services including abortion up to 32 weeks and six days, was slated to open a location in the city in October 2023. 

DuPont was swiftly met with opposition, however, when the Los Angeles chapter of an anti-abortion group began protesting at the clinic’s future location on Wilshire Boulevard. 

Protesters soon showed up at Beverly Hills City Council meetings, urging officials to deny permits to DuPont. 

The clinic received a letter in June 2023 from landlord Douglas Emmett stating that its lease was being canceled due to DuPont’s failure to disclose that “the primary focus of tenant’s practice would be providing abortions for abnormal and high-risk pregnancies.”

DuPont filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the city of Beverly Hills and various city officials in October 2023, and the city followed with an “anti-SLAPP motion” in February 2024, seeking to strike numerous allegations in DuPont’s complaint. 

That anti-SLAPP motion was granted in December 2024, and this February, the city put forth the request for attorney’s fees, arguing that they are entitled to them as the prevailing party in the anti-SLAPP case. 

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Shultz, who oversaw the request for attorney’s fees, submitted his final decision on June 20. In it, he found that the work performed and reported by the city, which the city claimed was done by three partners and two attorneys at the law firm Tucker Ellis, LLP, was “excessive, inefficient, and duplicative.”

Shultz wrote that “name partners were doing work that could have been done by lower-billing attorneys, and that all the attorneys were doing work that could have been done by paralegals.”

Shultz also found that the hours spent on tasks performed by the attorneys were “unreasonable,” and that some of the hourly rates billed by both partners and attorneys, which ranged from $460 to $825, were unreasonable and unsupported based on standard rates in the region. 

DuPont is still involved in litigation with the city. Following the decision granting the city’s anti-SLAPP motion, the clinic filed an appeal, which is still pending.  

“DuPont maintains that the court’s ruling on the anti-SLAPP was wrongly decided and is currently seeking a reversal of that ruling on appeal,” said Corpuz. 

In May, the clinic filed a second lawsuit against the city alleging, in part, that the city played a role in the cancellation of DuPont’s lease. 

According to that complaint, the city denied the clinic’s building permits and conducted a “hostile pressure campaign … under the guise of public safety leading to the termination of DuPont’s Lease.” 

The post Court Orders DuPont to Pay Attorney’s Fees to City appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Although exact statistics are not available, by most estimates, the Iranian population of Beverly Hills accounts for approximately 20% of residents. The majority of that group is also Jewish, placing their loyalties at the center of the conflict. 

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian is among them. Nazarian has shared her immigrant story widely; as a child, she and her family fled Iran to escape religious persecution brought on by the Iranian Revolution. For a brief period of time, they lived in Israel. 

Speaking with the Courier, Nazarian discussed the effects of the recent conflict on her constituents and herself. 

“It’s a very emotional time,” she said. “There’s a lot of anxiety and concerns, and a lot of hope. It’s like, all parts of me, right? I feel divided, but I also feel the weight of these moments. I’m trying to approach it with compassion and a sense of responsibility to represent all parts of our community.”

The current war began on June 12, when Israel launched an air campaign against Iran that kicked off a series of retaliatory actions by both countries. 

Israel’s actions targeted Iran’s nuclear program, military infrastructure and key leadership, according to the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War. 

The United States entered the conflict on June 21, when President Donald Trump ordered the bombing of three nuclear targets in Iran. 

As of press time, Iran and Israel were adhering to a ceasefire agreement, and the U.S. has indicated that it does not plan to strike again.

Many Iranian Jewish residents of Beverly Hills have family in the region at the center of the conflict, Nazarian said. 

“I’ve heard a lot of concern,” she said. “[Residents] have deep concern for their loved ones who are abroad or in the diaspora. They’re concerned about their safety and the uncertainty that affects them. Many are feeling very vulnerable and heartbroken.”

Nazarian declined to discuss the specifics of the conflict with the Courier, but she briefly addressed the situation at the Beverly Hills City Council’s June 17 meeting.

“The Iranian people have suffered deeply under a regime that has isolated them from the world and placed them in harm’s way,” she said at the meeting. “A nuclear-armed Iranian regime would pose a grave danger not only to Israel and the region but to the entire world. Israel’s action, though difficult, reflects a preemptive effort to prevent a potential catastrophe.”

As a result of the conflict—and an ongoing increase in antisemitism—Beverly Hills is increasing security. Although there have been no reported threats, Nazarian said that the Beverly Hills Police Department has been closely monitoring the situation and has increased patrols in key areas, including houses of worship. 

Officers are making use of the Real Time Watch Center, which employs cameras, license plate readers and drones to monitor activity throughout the city. 

“The Real Time Watch Center gives us the ability to track and respond to activity in real time, which is a gift, and it’s one of the many tools that our police department is utilizing to be proactive,” said Nazarian. “Our officers are highly engaged, and they’re in close contact with regional and federal partners. The goal is to keep our community safe while also reassuring residents that we’re paying attention and ready to act if needed.”

As the conflict’s outcome remains uncertain, Nazarian emphasized the importance of togetherness. 

“My heart is with everyone, all of our brothers and sisters who are in the region, people who are worried, grieving or waiting for clarity,” she said. “I believe there’s strength in our community, and in the importance of staying connected to each other. And as mayor, I want to continue to listen, to lead thoughtfully and to work with our partners to ensure a safer, stronger and more united Beverly Hills.” 

The post Mayor Nazarian Reacts to Conflict in Iran appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The presentation by CBOC member Jasmine Yadgari and CBOC Vice Chair Marc Carrel at the board’s June 10 meeting covered actions taken in fiscal year 2023-24 with regard to Measure E, a $334 million bond initiative passed in 2008, and Measure BH, a $385 million bond initiative passed in 2018. 

The report also summarized the findings of an annual financial audit prepared by Christy White, Inc., and an annual performance audit prepared by Moss Adams, LLP. 

“Overall, the CBOC is very pleased,” said Yadgari. 

The management of the two bond measures was rocky for multiple years. Both were drafted to improve BHUSD facilities, including seismic retrofits, modernization and increased security. In 2017, Team Concept Development Services (TCDS), owned by Don Blake, was brought on to manage the bonds. 

Five years later, however, bond manager Fonder-Salari was hired to replace TCDS after the board and community members lost confidence in TCDS. TCDS had reported a budgetary shortfall estimated to be between $89 and $129 million, and stakeholders expressed concerns about a lack of transparency in the company’s operations. 

In their report to the board on June 10, the CBOC wrote that the new bond management team has made “monumental improvements in transparency, cost savings, and billing controls.” 

The committee noted that the budgetary shortfall has been reduced to approximately $7 million, and that BHUSD and Fonder-Salari have refined reports providing CBOC with line-by-line expenditures. 

“The improvements that have been made by Fonder-Salari in terms of the transparency, what they’ve been doing, how they’re handling things, the cost savings [have been] a dramatic improvement from the former manager,” Carrel told the Courier after the board meeting. “This report from the CBOC highlights that there’s very few issues since Fonder-Salari has taken over.” 

The committee requested that the financial and performance audits be made public. The board agreed; however it is not clear when or how that action will be taken. 

In other business, the board voted 4-1 to amend regulations that govern parental rights and responsibilities in the district.

The amendment will add language stating that administrative personnel should only be present in non-disciplinary parent-teacher meetings under “exceptional circumstances.” 

Board President Rachelle Marcus was the sole no vote. 

The idea for the amendment was first put forth by Board Member Sigalie Sabag in the board’s May 27 meeting. On June 10, Sabag reiterated her belief that parents should be allowed to form a relationship with their child’s teacher independent of an administrative presence. 

“The parent has a right to meet the [teacher] in the classroom like it’s always been for many years,” she said, later adding, “It’s not anything contentious, it’s not anything hostile.”

Sabag did not cite a specific incident that prompted her request for the change. 

The amendment was met with questions and some concern by Katherine Warren, the president of the Beverly Hills Education Association (BHEA)—the union that represents public school teachers in Beverly Hills—and Marcus. 

During public comment, Warren expressed the apprehension felt by some instructional staff. 

“Who has requested this change in policy?” Warren said. “Teachers? Administrators? Where did this come from? … If an administrator is not present, what recourse does a teacher have if a meeting becomes contentious?”

Marcus said that as a former teacher, the language struck her as restrictive and unfriendly. 

“I feel that the tone of this is very unwelcoming,” she said. “As a teacher … when I’m meeting a parent for the first time, if I want an administrator there, I should be allowed to do that … I find it almost offensive.” 

Much of their concern centered on a sentence in the proposed amendment which originally stated, “No administrative personnel shall be present unless warranted by exceptional circumstances.”

Following a discussion, the board agreed to change the sentence to read, “Administrative personnel shall be present only when warranted by exceptional circumstances.”  

The post BHUSD Hears Positive Report on School Construction Bonds appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The car show was attended by nearly 40,000 people and featured more than 100 cars, including vehicles from McLaren, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, Pagani and Bentley.

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian expressed her enthusiasm for the occasion. 

“This is an incredible day,” she told the Courier. “We’re so excited to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Concours d’Elegance. We have generations here celebrating together with their grandparents and their parents and their children. Everybody feels safe and celebrated.” 

Nazarian said it was hard to pick a favorite part of the day.

“I love seeing the vintage cars and I also love the supercars,” she said. “But most of all, I love seeing the families coming out and enjoying the day together.” 

The event drew attendees from all over Southern California as well as many Beverly Hills residents. Tracey Hannum, a local residential realtor, said she has attended the Concours several times. 

“I like the Aston Martins; that’s a good fantasy,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I don’t know much about cars—I just like the ones that are pretty and new!”

At a booth hosted by local Scouting Troop 110 of Beverly Hills, Amy Jacobs, whose husband is the troop’s scoutmaster, said the event is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year. 

“We help provide water for everybody here,” she said. “We make money for the troop, and it helps pay for tents and helps pay for kids who can’t pay for summer camp and for everything [that goes with scouting]. We’ve been doing it a lot of years, and I’ve been out here helping.”

In a statement, Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance founder Bruce Meyer said that while 30 years have gone by fast, he’s thrilled that the event has had a lasting impact on so many people of all ages.

“It’s incredible to know that we’ve created special experiences for generations of fathers and their families,” he said.  

Cars for the event are provided by individual owners, car manufacturers and other groups. Dana Williamson, the director of the collection at the Petersen Automotive Museum, has worked with Concours organizers for 12 years. 

For the past several events, Williamson said, he has collaborated closely with Meyer, who was a founding chairman of the Petersen and still serves on the museum’s board, to decide which of the museum’s cars to show.  

“I discuss it with Bruce; I ask him what he would like from our collection,” Williamson told the Courier. “Last year we brought a Bugatti; this year we brought a Delage. It’s great; it also gives the museum exposure.” 

Williamson said he hopes events like the Concours will teach younger generations that cars carry much more significance than a way to get from one place to another. 

“At the museum, we are really heavily into education,” he said. “We are trying to teach the younger people that cars aren’t just transportation. There’s such art and engineering and history involved.” 

At this year’s event, the Best in Show Award was given to Richard and Boni Losee for their 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster. Marcy Hammerstein’s 1957 Ford Thunderbird won the  Mayor’s Award, Most Elegant, and Kip Cyprus’ 1925 Hispano Suiza Boattail open racer won the Chairman’s Award. 

The event also featured the public debut of the Lamborghini Temerario as well as a skills demonstration by the Beverly Hills Police Department Motor Unit.

Proceeds from the Concours were donated to the Beverly Hills Police Foundation and the Beverly Hills Fire Chiefs Fund.

Next year’s Concours d’Elegance will be held on June 21, 2026. 

The post Thousands Attend 30th Annual Concours d’Elegance on Rodeo Drive appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The city began considering the possibility of restriping the road after several residents submitted complaints detailing unsafe driving in the area, including speeding and dangerous passing maneuvers, that have resulted in car crashes and property damage.

City staff issued a report finding that the width of Benedict Canyon Drive may be contributing to the problem. 

The street is approximately 40 feet wide, with two travel lanes on each side that allow space for parking. Citing a 2023 investigation by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the staff report states that research has found “a correlation between wide travel lanes and excessive speed and increased crash risk.”

In response, the Public Works Department, in consultation with the Beverly Hills Police Department, developed a plan to paint edge lines between the travel and parking lanes, resulting in 11 feet for travel and 9 feet for parking on each side of the street. 

At the June 5 meeting, several residents spoke out against the project during the public comment period.

Colleen Rabin, who identified herself as having lived on Benedict Canyon for four decades, said her mailbox was hit by a speeding driver, causing bricks to fly through the air. She said she would prefer to see the city install speed humps, signals, drones or more surveillance. 

“Your plans to stripe Benedict seem simplistic,” she said. “This won’t stop drivers from racing along Benedict. They don’t care about lines. They just want to race; they want to get home quick.”

Brian Rodier, a resident of Summit Drive near Benedict Canyon, said the larger problem facing the street is traffic, which moves slowly during rush hour. Rodier said that striping the street would worsen the issue by eliminating the option of a passing lane to circumvent slow-moving cars. 

“If you do these markings, it is going to be a traffic nightmare,” he said. “You’re going to have bumper-to-bumper traffic that’s going to back up to Sunset, then it’s going to spill further down south. It’s going to be mayhem.”

Another resident of the area, Michael Dubelko, suggested that at the same time restriping is taking place, workers could create a dedicated right-turn lane at the intersection of Tower Road and Benedict Canyon. 

“It would increase safety and speed up traffic through that bottleneck,” he said.  

During discussion, commissioners largely agreed that the restriping was a cost-efficient measure that could be undertaken even as other, more complex solutions were taken under consideration. 

“This is the inexpensive, low-hanging fruit,” said Vice Chairperson Hadar Geller. 

Commissioner Sharon Ignarro pointed out that, based on residents’ comments, there appear to be two opposing problems on Benedict Canyon. 

“I’m hearing from the residents two problems: that it’s too fast and too slow,” she said. “And of course that’s always very difficult to balance.”

Ignarro added that research supports the idea that striping will help to slow drivers who may be inclined to race dangerously along the street. 

“The traffic literature will definitely show that striping a narrower lane, even if it’s just paint, makes people go slower,” she said. “They have the perception that they don’t have a big freeway. So, it may not seem intuitive, but it does make a difference in terms of speed.” 

The commission moved to approve the proposal, and to add an evaluation of Dubelko’s suggestion to install a right-turn lane at Tower Road and Benedict Canyon. 

The post Benedict Canyon Drive Striping Project Moves Forward appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Much of the session’s conversation centered on predicted deficits to the city’s General Fund, which are expected to occur from fiscal year 2026-27 through 2028-29.

According to city staff, the fund will face a deficit of $18.5 million in 2026-27, $20.1 million in 2027-28 and $5.4 million in 2028-29. 

In fiscal year 2025-26, the city expects a surplus of $1.7 million. 

City staff stressed the impact of the current domestic and international economic climate when it comes to financial planning, including inflation, escalating tariffs and local labor negotiations. 

“There is certainly more uncertainty this year than in the past couple of years, due to a number of factors,” said City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey. “We are facing years of some substantial deficit … this current fiscal year, we have begun taking steps to reduce costs. Those will accelerate next year.” 

Among the items on which city staff sought direction from the council was funding for the Next Night Street Festival. Organizers of the event, which is held annually, requested a total of $230,000 from the city to fund the one-night event. Of that funding, $80,000 was already in the budget, and the remaining $150,000 was requested as an enhancement to match the amount that was spent on Next Night in 2024. 

Several members of the public wrote in to express their support for the funding request, including members of the Next Beverly Hills Committee, which organizes the event. 

“Next Night has become a beloved annual tradition that brings together community members of all ages in a joyful, inclusive celebration,” wrote Ellen Labbé, the committee’s chair. “Over the years, we’ve thoughtfully refined and grown this event, and it continues to reflect the spirit and vibrancy of our city … I respectfully urge council to accept this funding request.”

After hearing from staff about the expected budget shortfalls as well as the comparative costs of other events put on by the city, Mayor Sharona Nazarian, Vice Mayor John Mirisch and Councilmember Craig Corman requested that funding for Next Night be potentially allocated elsewhere. 

“I agree that it’s a great community builder, but I do think that it’s been taken out of proportion,” said Nazarian. “We just got a number that’s alarming. We spend only, only, only $51,000 for 12 weeks of summer programming that includes our seniors and our families with children … for us to spend $230,000, plus staff overtime, I just don’t know if that’s enough of a bang for our buck.”

Corman reiterated Nazarian’s sentiment that the event has grown exponentially in recent years.  

“When you look at the budget for [Next Night], historically it started out as a much smaller event,” he said. “It grew, and then it grew pretty significantly a couple of years ago … I like the event, I think a lot of people in the community like the event, but it is expensive. It’s $230,000 that we don’t need to spend.” 

Councilmembers Mary Wells and Lester Friedman expressed support for the event; however Wells noted that it could be scaled back. 

“It is a huge community-building event, and so I don’t think it should go away entirely … perhaps you can combine it or make it smaller,” she said. 

At the Study Session, councilmembers also expressed their support for the addition of six community service officers and related equipment and vehicles for increased security at the upcoming La Cienega Metro Station, as well as funding for a nexus study to establish development impact fees to address community impacts caused by new development.

Nazarian ended the June 5 Study Session by challenging city staff to “think outside of the box.” 

“We need to make sure to move forward with caution in the years ahead … we don’t want to just keep funding the same projects year after year without any questions,” she said. “We want to make sure that every project is justified, it’s necessary, it’s timely and it also aligns with our community’s needs and priorities.” 

The council will review the operating and capital improvement budgets once more on June 17 for final approval. 

The post Next Night Street Festival Put on Hiatus appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“I’m personally sad to see the old Nate ‘n Al’s building go by,” said Commissioner Lou Milkowski, “but I understand this is good progress for our city and for the area.” 

The building that currently houses Nate ‘n Al’s was constructed in the 1920s, and the restaurant’s founders, Al Mendelson and Nate Rimer, first opened the eatery’s doors in 1945. Since then, it’s become a favorite spot among locals and film and television heavy hitters.

The restaurant was sold by the Mendelson family to Shelli and Irving Azoff in 2019, according to a statement released at the time of the sale. The Azoffs were customers of Nate ‘n Al’s for three decades. 

A Historic Resource Assessment of the building was prepared by Historic Resources Group (HRG), a historic preservation consulting firm, and reviewed by Ostashay & Associates Consulting, a consultant group for Beverly Hills. Both parties found that the property doesn’t qualify to be considered a historic resource. 

The HRG report further found that the building doesn’t meet the criteria to qualify for the National Register or California Register. 

The development proposal for 414 North Beverly Drive seeks to build a three-story commercial building with 14,448 net square feet of floor space without a specific tenant or commercial use in mind. According to a report prepared by city staff, the developer has said that a restaurant or retail would be the most likely future tenants. 

At the June 10 meeting, commissioners did not deliberate for long before approving the proposal. Most expressed their support of the project and their appreciation for the design. 

“I think you did a very good job of giving us a project that will fit in the neighborhood and comply with the requirements,” said Commissioner Myra Demeter.

Chair Terri Kaplan said that the development will constitute an upgrade to the block. 

“I’d like to join my colleagues in commending you on an attractive project that, in my opinion, will be an improvement to the streetscape in the area,” she said. “I wish you good luck with it.”

According to the staff report, the developer has said that the owners of Nate ’n Al’s are considering reopening elsewhere in Beverly Hills.

In other business, the commission discussed and heard feedback about a proposed development at 9600 Wilshire Blvd. for over four hours. The site currently houses the Saks Fifth Avenue Women’s Building and surrounding structures. The item was continued from the commission’s May 1 meeting.

The project, which was first submitted to Beverly Hills in 2022, would include two new mixed-use residential structures and two new commercial buildings featuring a boutique hotel, spa, membership club, retail space and office space. 

The existing Saks Fifth Avenue Women’s building would also be redeveloped as part of the project, through a rehabilitation and adaptive reuse plan. 

Thirteen members of the public spoke against the project and several more wrote or called in. Their concerns focused heavily on the impact on traffic in the area and noise related to construction, which is expected to take approximately five years. 

Many residents who spoke against the project live in the southwest neighborhood of Beverly Hills, which would be most heavily impacted, and some have accused representatives from developer Saks Global of not listening to their concerns.  

Douglas Adams, Senior Vice President of Development for Saks Global, said that in addition to the nine meetings referenced by Gottlieb, representatives have held over 250 meetings with residents of the city. 

“We’ve been working on this project for almost 10 years, trying to come up with a mix of uses that generate sufficient returns to support the adaptive reuse, much needed housing, fit in with the adjacent neighborhood and provided catalyst for Wilshire Boulevard,” Adams said. 

Commissioners will continue their consideration of the issue at their July 24 meeting.  

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The event, held on the afternoon of June 4, was the second in her “Spotlight with Sharona” series, one of her mayoral initiatives that showcases the entrepreneurs of Beverly Hills. 

“Beverly Hills has such a diverse tapestry of business locations, and we really want to revitalize and bring to everyone’s attention the different areas that exist,” Nazarian told the Courier. “South Robertson has so many unique shops that are truly gems in our community.”

The first “Spotlight with Sharona” took place on April 23 at Novikov, an Italian-Mediterranean-inspired restaurant on Canon Drive, and had a sold-out crowd of 150 members of the community. 

On June 4, the group visited Monogrammit, Specialty Hardware & Plumbing, Lodge Bread, LaserAway and Toppings Yogurt. 

Eric Walsingham, the general manager of Lodge Bread, a bakery and eatery that specializes in sourdough bread, noted that spotlighting local shops is critical to letting residents know about places they may not be aware of. 

“Sometimes you go to a neighborhood that you haven’t been to before, and there’s a lot of hidden gems that maybe don’t get amplified like they should,” he said. “It’s great for people to know what places are good.”

At Lodge, the group was treated to samples of the restaurant’s sandwiches, bread and cinnamon rolls. 

Monogrammit, a boutique that specializes in high-end custom monogramming, opened on South Robertson in 1984 and has since had three owners, all of whom have been women. 

The current owner, Elisa Nassirzadeh, noted the importance of the mayor’s initiative for business owners such as herself. 

“As we all know, things have changed after COVID-19, and supporting and being there for small businesses speaks loud to me, since I am one of them,” she said. “I am a big advocate for women small business owners, who are my heroes … [Nazarian’s initiative] will help tremendously.”

As the event’s attendees strolled south from Charleville Boulevard toward West Olympic Boulevard, some noted that they were learning about new places to visit in the future. Iman Wims, who lives in Los Angeles, said she heard about the event on social media. 

“Every time I come to Beverly Hills, I usually head to Rodeo Drive,” she said. “I never even knew [Robertson had] this little strip. And I like to explore different places … I’m really liking this street. It’s really cool. A lot of small businesses, and I definitely will be coming back over here.”

Sheryl Spiegel, a resident of Beverly Hills, said she heard about the event from the Courier and that, like Wims, she was learning about new businesses. Spiegel said she’d heard of Lodge but did not know the eatery specializes in sourdough bread. 

“[Lodge] was amazing,” she said. “I always knew that sourdough had the low glycemic index and low gluten, but I didn’t know that their whole place was all sourdough.” 

Spiegel added that small businesses are critical to maintaining the charm and character of Beverly Hills. 

“They keep the flavor of the neighborhood and keep the whole spirit of Beverly Hills, so it does not turn into a big, boring strip mall,” she said. 

Jason Crystal, the owner of Specialty Hardware & Plumbing, which specializes in contemporary plumbing fixtures and door hardware imported from international locations such as Holland, Italy and Switzerland, told the group that while residents of the neighborhood often come into his store, he was thrilled to spread the word even further. 

“Most of the people who live in and around this area have walked past this store,” he said. “Some have popped in, some possibly have no idea that we’re even here. So, I appreciate that Sharona has come by to let a lot of people in the city of Beverly Hills know that we are actually here.”

Nazarian told the Courier that her initiative is intended to uplift all residents of the city, as successful small businesses have a ripple effect.

“I believe that it’s a cycle,” she said. “When our businesses succeed, we succeed, and we’re able to provide the services that are vital to our community … and that, in turn, supports our quality of life.”

The next “Spotlight with Sharona” will be held in July.  

The post Mayor Nazarian Hosts Second ‘Spotlight with Sharona’ appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The awards were presented at the Beverly Hills Hotel and made possible by a donation from Max Factor III. 

“The overwhelming majority of people here are committed … to making our communities better,” Factor said at the ceremony. “It’s inspiring.”

According to Michael Lushing, a former president of the Rotary Club of Beverly Hills and current board member, the event has been held for over a decade.  

“I’ve been in the club for 13 years, and it’s been held [every year] during that time and definitely more,” he told the Courier.  

At the June 2 event, awardees were called up one by one and presented with accolades and a check for $1,500. The checks were drawn from Factor’s donation. 

“Max Factor is one of the most humble, kind individuals who doesn’t like attention being drawn to him,” said Lushing. “He does this quietly, but he makes it possible.”

This year’s honorees were Lisa Karson and Officer Billy Blair, both of the BHPD; firefighter and paramedic Nathan Foster, of the BHFD; and senior management analysts Melissa Gomez and Raminta Ivanilova, who are employed by the city. 

Karson, who serves as BHPD Chief Mark Stainbrook’s executive assistant and won Civilian of the Year, and Blair, who won Officer of the Year, were introduced by Stainbrook. 

Presenting Karson with her award, Stainbrook said that she “runs the department behind the scenes.” 

“She also takes the initiative on things,” he said. “She noticed that our cages down in our basement area where we keep dogs … were really not up to par. So, she showed me this morning, she got them all cleaned up, got a lot of new things for the kennels, and really just, her ability to care for people and animals … she won this award.”

Karson expressed her appreciation for her colleagues as well as residents of the city. 

“It’s been a real privilege to have worked for the city for the past 13 years and for the chief for the past three years,” she said. “I think this is a wonderful city. It’s got a lot of great people behind the scenes … Beverly Hills is top-notch.”

Stainbrook said that Blair, who was introduced next, was recently involved in two high-stakes incidents: the apprehension and arrest of five suspects who allegedly participated in an armed robbery, and a foot chase after two robbery suspects allegedly targeted a jewelry store on South Beverly Drive. 

“It is truly an honor,” said Blair upon accepting the award. “I’ve enjoyed almost every minute working in the Beverly Hills Police Department the last eight years. And it’s really because of all of you as our community members.”

BHFD Chief Greg Barton presented the award to Foster. Reading from some of the tributes given to Foster by the individuals who nominated him, Barton emphasized Foster’s commitment to his work, professionalism and compassion.

“He leads by example on every call, setting the standard of care and conduct that reflects the best of Beverly Hills Fire Department,” Barton said, adding, “Nathan is honest, humble, dedicated, loyal, and a loving and dedicated husband and father. He sets the appropriate example to others and embodies the values of the Beverly Hills Fire Department.”

Accepting his award, Foster noted that he is a fourth-generation firefighter whose great-grandfather served with the Los Angeles County Department of Forestry in 1923.

“This is a recognition from my peers, and that means more to me than anything in this world,” he said, adding, “Serving the community is all I’ve ever wanted to do in my life. And being a paramedic has given me that ability to do so.”

Foster said he will donate the money from his award to Core of Knowledge Literacy and Learning Center, a nonprofit organization that works with students who have dyslexia and other language learning differences. 

Introducing Gomez, Beverly Hills City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey noted that Gomez is tireless in her efforts and often anticipates what will be needed before she is asked. 

“Melissa works diligently on all topics,” Hunt-Coffey said. “She takes tremendous pride in ownership on all of her tasks. We can be in legislative liaison meetings and know she is watching because we get texts to help us respond to questions … She serves as an inspiration to the rest of the organization.” 

When presenting the final award to Ivanilova, Hunt-Coffey highlighted Ivanilova’s “dedication, strong leadership and outstanding job performance.”

“Over this past year, Raminta has taken on a wide variety of complex and sensitive tasks in support of our IT department, routinely exceeding expectations,” she said, adding, “Her ability to overcome a steep learning curve and become an invaluable asset in such a short time has been remarkable.”  

The post Rotary Club Honors City Employees appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The board also approved the implementation of a Spanish dual language program in the city’s elementary schools. 

“I think this is the most exciting, phenomenal, amazing board meeting I have attended in the past two-and-a-half years,” said Board Vice President Judy Manouchehri of the two new initiatives. 

In a presentation about the proposed restructuring of the College and Career Counseling Center, Dr. Dustin Seemann, the district’s assistant superintendent, education services, articulated the need for more counselors at the high school level. 

Currently, the College and Career Center employs five academic counselors, one college counselor and two wellness counselors. Seemann recommended transitioning that structure to four freshman and sophomore transition and academic counselors, four junior and senior academic and college counselors, one wellness counselor and one director of counseling. 

“[Our] recommendation is increasing opportunity, access and exposure for our school counseling program, specifically starting at [Beverly Hills High School],” he said, adding, “We are really coming to you and making a recommendation to redesign the way that we have seen our school counseling program functions at the high school.” 

The counselors focusing on freshmen and sophomores would be responsible for meeting with incoming eighth-grade families, collaborating with teachers and parents, and guiding students through the transition to high school. 

“That team, I kind of jokingly called it our hug,” Seemann said. “It is the team that is welcoming and transitioning all of our families, not just the students but all of our families, parents, all of our stakeholders, into the high school.” 

The counselors focusing on juniors and seniors would meet individually with second-semester sophomores, liaise with college admissions representatives and guide students and parents through the college testing and application process. 

The board approved the request unanimously. 

“When they evaluate you for a Distinguished School or a Blue Ribbon School, and also U.S. News & World Report, one of the metrics is those who not only applied to four-year schools but were accepted and matriculate,” said Board Member Dr. Amanda Stern. “So, it definitely is in our best interest to fortify the supports for that.” 

Seemann also conducted a presentation to inform the board about progress on implementing a Spanish dual language program in the city’s elementary schools. The program, which would be called the Dual Language Academy, would be introduced in one kindergarten classroom and one first-grade classroom at both El Rodeo and Horace Mann Elementary Schools in the fall. 

The program would follow a one-way immersion structure, meaning the majority of students enrolled would be native English speakers learning Spanish. 

The board approved the initiative with enthusiasm. 

“I wholeheartedly support this,” said Manouchehri. “I believe this is another game changer for our district.”

The district will hold a dual enrollment parent meeting on June 11 to answer questions about the program from the community. 

At the board meeting, Board President Rachelle Marcus debuted a new video series called “Mrs. Marcus Meets.” In it, Marcus meets with teachers and staff throughout the district to highlight their work. 

According to a statement from the district, the series aims to showcase BHUSD’s core values of excellence, integrity, wellness, inclusion, safety and community.

The first episode features Marcus in conversation with Beverly Vista Middle School (BVMS) Musical Theatre teacher Dr. Fred Pinto. The two discuss how Pinto knew he wanted to work with kids, the school’s recent performance of “The Addams Family” and what he enjoys about working at BVMS. 

New episodes will continue to air throughout the year. 

In other business, the board approved educational technology tools for the 2025-26 school year, including such products as iReady, BrainPOP and Classtime. The approval followed a discussion in which several board members expressed concern that the district is moving toward more screen time for students rather than less. 

“Is there something we can do, because we’re really trying to get away from screen time for the K, 1 through 2 and 2 through 3,” said Board Member Sigalie Sabag. 

Seemann noted that the tools have been carefully vetted by school administrators and staff.

“My answer would be, I’m making the recommendation to purchase [these tools],” he said, later adding, “I can promise you we are not plugging and playing students.” 

The post BHHS to Expand College and Career Counseling Services appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

At a second-floor room in City Hall, Beverly Hills Fire Chief Gregory Barton and Assistant Fire Chief – Fire Marshal Trevor Richmond presented information to nearly a dozen attendees about how the maps were created and what they will mean for residents.

The new maps, which classify fire hazard severity zones throughout the state, were released by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) on March 24. 

The maps designate regions throughout the state as moderate, high or very high fire hazard severity zones. The new VHFHSZ areas in Beverly Hills are primarily located south of Sunset Boulevard in residential blocks stretching south to Lomitas and Elevado Avenues. 

Residents whose property is located in VHFHSZ must adhere to state laws that govern maintenance in the areas immediately around their homes, such as the reduction of intense fuel within 5 feet of the building and managing vegetation up to 100 feet from the building.

To create the new maps, Cal Fire used updated systems that account more accurately for wind patterns that might blowembers into urban areas. Beverly Hills’ new classifications reflect that increased predicting ability.  

Mayor Sharona Nazarian opened the May 28 information session, emphasizing in a brief speech that the maps were developed by state officials, not city officials. Nazarian said that because of Beverly Hills’ exceptional fire department and emergency response plans, she does not believe that the city should have been subject to a one-size-fits-all mapping process.

“We’ve tried to be an advocate for our residents,” she said. “We’ve gone to Sacramento; I myself have met with various lawmakers to try to be a voice for our community … Our fire department is class one, internationally recognized; they have a less than four-minute response time, which is unheard of in any other city. These are things that, unfortunately, the state doesn’t recognize, and they’ve lumped everybody into the same mapping.”

Nazarian encouraged residents to reach out to their elected officials to “let them know that this is unacceptable.” 

Barton reiterated Nazarian’s stance, stressing that there is little elected officials in Beverly Hills can do to push back against the new classifications. 

“We don’t have a lot of say in what we’re going to do … but I think it’s important to realize that because of the [City] Council, because of the community and what we provide to the city and to the community itself, you’re very well protected,” he said. 

Richmond noted that fire officials’ goal is not to enforce the code in a punitive manner, but to educate and protect the community. 

“It’s an opportunity for us as a city to really look at things that we can do in the community to reduce risk,” he said. 

All properties that are newly located in the VHFHSZ will now require annual brush inspections. Residents who own those properties will receive mailers on how to maintain defensible space and will be visited by fire officials who will help assess “what brush clearance looks like for you,” Richmond said.

“If I walk around your home and I find a woodpile against the side of your house, and I’m afraid that an ember’s going to land in that and then catch that woodpile on fire, and catch your eaves on fire and your attics on fire, and then we’re off to the races,” he said, “I’m going to tell you to pull that wood pile away from the home.” 

Questions were raised by attendees about how the new regulations will affect insurance rates, what to do about neighbors who do not adequately clear brush and whether an increased campaign by residents might influence state lawmakers on this issue.  

The post Fire Officials Hold Education Campaign for Wildfire Zoning Maps appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The suspects included a 45-year-old male arrested for burglary, forgery and use of a false ID; a 39-year-old male arrested for burglary; a 27-year-old male from Northridge arrested for felony and misdemeanor warrants and possession of burglary tools; and a 35-year-old male from Los Angeles arrested for forgery. 

The suspects targeted multiple businesses, and the incidents appear to be related. 

No further details were available at press time. 

The post Four Arrested by BHPD for Burglary on Rodeo Drive appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The ban would prohibit the installation of new synthetic turf and allow existing owners of synthetic turf 15 years to remove it. Residents will still be allowed to have synthetic turf in their side and backyards. 

The commission approved the ordinance in a 3-0 vote, with Vice Chair Jeff Wolfe and Commissioners Lou Milkowski and Gary Ross voting in favor. Chair Terri Kaplan and Commissioner Myra Demeter were not present at the meeting. 

The ordinance will now go to City Council for final approval.

The issue of synthetic turf was brought before the commission at a Jan. 30 Study Session. Commissioners at that meeting instructed the city to prepare a draft ordinance. 

Synthetic turf was banned in Beverly Hills until 2015, when state lawmakers passed a bill requiring cities to allow the landscaping in response to drought conditions. In 2024, a state senate bill restored authority over the matter to local authorities. 

According to the city staff report presented at the May 22 meeting, the current draft ordinance is designed to conserve water, promote sustainability and keep intact the aesthetics of residential areas. 

Synthetic turf permit holders who feel they need more time to remove the landscaping will be allowed to request extensions for removal from the City Council.

At the May 22 meeting, commissioners heard comments from several stakeholders both in favor of the ordinance and against.

Myung-Soo Seok, a representative of the Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36, asked the commission to reconsider the ban, noting that it will affect jobs for members of the organization.

“This proposed ban will have a negative impact on the regional market, as well as our members and their ability to work on these types of projects,” he said. 

Diane Woelke, a board member for Safe Healthy Playing Fields, spoke in favor of the ban, saying that synthetic turf presents health and environmental concerns for communities. She encouraged the commission to implement a full ban on the materials, including in side and backyards. 

“Allowing [synthetic turf] in back and side yards does not prevent it from polluting neighboring yards, surface and groundwater, storm drains and the ocean,” she said. “It does not prevent microplastics created from synthetic turf from lofting into the air, carrying for miles and re-lofting over and over … we urge you to institute a complete ban.”

If the ordinance is approved by City Council, the Planning Division staff and the Sustainability Team from the Public Works Department will conduct outreach efforts to artificial turf permit holders. Those efforts will include mailed letters and emails, as well as periodic reminders. 

City staff recommended that residents affected by the ordinance consider installing alternative landscaping, such as native and water-efficient, non-native plants. 

To encourage such changes, staff directed interested parties to the Beverly Hills Garden Handbook, which offers over 125 plant recommendations, four landscaping styles consistent with Beverly Hills architecture and practical tips. 

The post Synthetic Turf Ban Moves to Council appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“I’m an alum; I’m really excited to give back to the school that gave me so much,” he told the Courier. “A lot of our alumni feel the same way.” 

To meet that goal, Gilardian has focused his work on showcasing the district’s wins and accomplishments. Those have included informing the community about where Beverly Hills High School (BHHS) seniors are heading for college and celebrating successful events on BHUSD campuses. 

Most recently, Gilardian has developed a social media series in which BHUSD alumni are paired with current middle and high school students who share the same career interests for a filmed conversation. 

So far, he said, the conversations have been inspiring. 

“You can see that on-camera chemistry,” he said. “You can feel it.”

The idea for the series came to Gilardian as soon as he started his current position. Noticing that the news coming out of BHUSD tended to focus on the negative rather than the positive, he decided to work to change that. 

“It’s very important to talk about [problems]; that’s critical and needs our attention,” he said. “But our students are winning every single day. That’s been my goal, to showcase their wins. Students are one of our most important constituents.” 

To identify student participants for the social media series, Gilardian said he relies on administrative staff at the schools. 

“Our high school and middle school administrative teams know our kids so well,” he said. “They know their interests … I will say, ‘Hey, I have an alumnus’ [in a certain field], and they will say, ‘I have the perfect student for you.’”

On the alumni side, Gilardian consults the extensive network of the BHHS Alumni Association. The district’s graduates keep in close touch, and many have gone into exciting fields after graduating. 

“For the alumni who stay in touch, the network is very strong,” said Gilardian. 

Many alumni want to give back but don’t know how. For people who fall into that group, teaming up for a conversation with an existing student can provide the perfect opportunity. 

The episodes are filmed at BHHS, and for many former students, it’s a trip down memory lane. 

“We are trying to find an iconic part of campus that represents what [the student and alumni] both went through,” Gilardian said. 

The first episode of the social media series, which Gilardian expects will air in the next week or two, was filmed on the high school’s second-floor patio. The episode features BHHS student Gunnar Walmsley and alumna Antonia Carlotta. 

Carlotta is a film historian and the great-grandniece of Carl Laemmle, the film producer and co-founder of Universal Studios. She runs a YouTube channel, Universally Me, in which she delves into her family’s history and the history of the film industry in general. 

Walmsley is on the broadcast media pathway at BHHS. When the two spoke, Walmsley was “beyond excited and passionate about the topic,” said Gilardian. 

Going forward, Gilardian hopes the series will serve not only to connect alumni and students and showcase BHHS graduates’ accomplishments, but also to bring the community together. 

“The schools, in my opinion, are the center of the city,” he said. “We want to strengthen that connection, that bond.” 

For now, student participants in the social media series are limited to middle school and high school, but Gilardian hopes to film as many episodes as possible and could see a future in which the opportunity is opened up to younger students who may be interested. 

Episodes will air on BHUSD’s website, YouTube channel, Instagram and Facebook. Alumni who are interested in participating can email alumni@bhusd.org.  

The post BHUSD Social Media Series Pairs Alumni and Students in Conversation appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Much of the discussion, which took place during the council’s Regular Meeting, centered around the fact that the city would not have legal standing to dictate the messaging businesses could put on such signs. 

The question of whether and how to allow local businesses to utilize portable and blade signs came as the city transitioned out of COVID-19 regulations. As part of an effort to aid businesses as they reopened, the city temporarily eased restrictions on municipal codes that do not explicitly permit this type of signage. 

As with other pandemic-era regulations, the city is now considering whether to make those eased restrictions permanent.

Portable signs are defined by the city as freestanding and moveable, often in an A-frame style. They are typically located on sidewalks outside a business. Blade frames are defined as projecting out from a building above the sidewalk. 

A draft ordinance allowing such signs was presented to the council on May 20. 

As written, the ordinance would allow portable signs in front of restaurants, retail, exercise clubs and private training centers in commercial zones. Each business would be allowed one sign in addition to their existing signage. 

Size limitations would be based on sign type and location. 

Blade signs are currently allowed in one commercial zone in Beverly Hills. The draft ordinance would expand permitted blade signs to businesses with frontage on South Beverly Drive, Robertson Boulevard and South Santa Monica Boulevard. 

During the discussion period, several councilmembers asked City Attorney Laurence Wiener whether the city could put restrictions on the content of the signs. 

“I think there’s an issue around trying to control the messaging on the boards,” said City Councilmember Mary Wells. 

“Yes, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution doesn’t really allow us to control the content of the signage,” said Wiener. “We can speak to the shop owner in question about the content of his signs or her signs, but we cannot regulate that.” 

“If the number one goal is to increase visibility from the sidewalk, is it possible that they would be limited to just the store logo or what the business is?” Wells said. 

“That would probably not be appropriate,” said Wiener. 

Vice Mayor John Mirisch expressed concern that signs would be used for political messaging. Mirisch said that if the city could not regulate the content he would not vote in favor of the ordinance. 

Wiener noted that he provided information about content regulation in a confidential memo, and the council moved to table the discussion to allow them time to review that information. 

In other business, the council voted in favor of awarding a contract to E & M Constructors, Inc., for the construction of pedestrian crossing improvements at the intersection of Lomitas Avenue, Cañon Drive and Beverly Drive. 

The project includes the installation of curb ramps, crosswalks and rectangular rapid flashing beacons. 

During discussion, Wells noted that she was in favor of installing a roundabout at the same intersection. 

“The data shows that it’s safer with a roundabout at that intersection … I go through that intersection multiple times a day,” she said. “It’s like a game of chicken. It makes pedestrians and bikes unsafe.” 

Staff confirmed that the proposed pedestrian safety improvements would not preclude the city from building a roundabout at a later date. 

The council also heard a presentation from city staff addressing vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts of city employees. According to the presentation, vacancy rates are at approximately 10.9%, with 91 vacancies out of 834 positions. The presentation was made in accordance with state law AB 2561. 

Two retiring commissioners were acknowledged for their service: Myra Lurie, who served on the Recreation and Parks Commission; and Mark Schwartz, who served on the Community Charitable Foundation. 

The post City Council Discusses Sidewalk Signage, Pedestrian Safety appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The event, “Never Again is Now: Diversity of the Jewish Experience,” was hosted by Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian. Nazarian has made combating antisemitism and encouraging cross-cultural unity critical elements of her mayoral term. 

“Beverly Hills is a leader in standing up to the evils of hate, discrimination and antisemitism,” Nazarian said at the event, adding, “I look forward to promoting ‘Never Again is Now’ as one of my mayoral initiatives in an effort to bring unity to our community and to demonstrate to the world that we will not be silent.”

Addressing the question of why the themes addressed at the event are important in this moment, Nazarian pointed to the fact that “myths and stereotypes still exist, even here in our own backyard.”

“We must challenge them openly, honestly and compassionately,” she said. 

In addition to Mayor Nazarian, panelists at the May 21 event included Dr. Evelyn Markus, co-host of the “Never Again is Now” podcast; Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a plastic surgeon and activist; Matthew Nouriel, the director of community engagement at Jews Indigenous to the Middle East & North Africa; and Elisheva Rishon, the founder of Eli7 Designs and the BJZ Squad. Emmy-nominated journalist Jacki Karsh, a reporter for LA36’s LA County Channel, served as moderator.

The panel discussed topics including finding the courage to speak out against hatred when others are silent, parallels to historical antisemitism and what’s happening in America now and the importance of Jewish joy and pride. 

Markus, who is from the Netherlands, spoke about similarities between the rise in antisemitism in Amsterdam in the early aughts and what has happened recently on American college campuses. 

“It’s gigantic déjà vu,” she said. “[It] is exactly what I saw 25 years ago happening in Amsterdam, in Holland and the rest of Western Europe, in the big cities. It also started in our universities in Europe. And now it starts here in universities.” 

On the topic of intersectionality and showing up in the world as one’s full self, Nouriel discussed his journey of reconciling and finding deep pride in his identity as an Iranian Jewish gay man. 

“What I didn’t realize when I was younger [is that] you can’t run away from any part of who you are,” he said. “I decided … I’m going to start showing up … both feet firmly planted on the ground, chest up.” 

Speaking about the ways in which history repeats itself, Mayor Nazarian noted that similar themes come up in antisemitic cultures across the generations. 

“Unless we all stand up and be a united voice and stand up against all forms of hate, it’s just going to keep happening over and over again,” she said. “And we’ve seen far too often, whatever starts with the Jews doesn’t end with the Jews.”

Rishon, who is an Orthodox Jew and a Black woman, spoke about the responsibility of all members of the community to be vocal about the problems the country is facing. 

“This is something that MLK Jr. always said, but people managed to forget … the biggest problem with the Civil Rights Movement was not the people that were racist, but it was the silence of the indifferent,” she said. “So, we need you to show up … most people in the world are good, but you can’t be silent anymore. We’re beyond that at this point in time. Start speaking.”

At the same time that the panel was taking place in Beverly Hills, two staff members of the Israeli Embassy were killed as they left an event at a Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Mayor Nazarian issued a statement in response to the incident, which is covered on pg. 4 of this issue. 

The post Panelists Discuss Unity, Jewish Pride at Writers Guild Theater Event appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The group, Promoting Alternatives to Unhealthy Screen Exposure (PAUSE), began meeting formally this school year. Dr. Rashelle Hakak, a clinical psychologist and founding member of PAUSE, said the idea to organize came when she and other members recognized the pervasive parental concern about screen time, both in and out of school.

“It was basically a bunch of parents who wanted change, and so we just started meeting,” she said. “We kind of created a checklist of what we wanted to get done.”

The group’s goals include encouraging parents not to provide their children with smartphones before eighth grade, developing a comprehensive understanding of how screens are used in BHUSD classrooms and pushing for change where necessary. 

PAUSE has signed a pledge with Wait Until 8th, a national campaign encouraging school communities to commit to not giving students smartphones until eighth grade. 

In terms of getting a clear picture of how screens—including iPads, tablets and laptops—are used in classrooms, Hakak said that PAUSE hopes to work closely with BHUSD officials.  

“We’re really trying to implement change and work more closely with the school district in a positive way,” she said. 

Dr. Dustin Seemann, the district’s assistant superintendent, education services said BHUSD officials share these goals. 

“My work with PAUSE is really around ensuring that we’re protecting our students’ social-emotional health and making sure that we are allowing them an environment in education to be able to focus on their academics,” he said. 

According to Seemann, Beverly Hills elementary school students spend an approximate average of 30 minutes per week on i-Ready, an online reading and math program that offers personalized instruction and diagnostics. Students receive approximately 1,590 minutes of instruction per week in total. 

“One of the myths when we launched i-Ready as an assessment diagnostic tool for differentiated learning [was that students] were always plugged in,” he said. “It’s actually incorrect … it’s really only 30 minutes in the week.”

Seemann also said that the program provides benefits to students who may be at different levels of reading and math. The technology is able to offer students a chance, for example, to read the same story or passage in class but at different levels. 

“Our kids don’t know that one kid may be reading at a higher level than the other kid,” he said. “They just know that they’re reading the same story … the differentiation piece has really been a game changer for education, period.” 

Some parents with PAUSE disagree about the positive effects of screens. Speaking at the BHUSD Board’s May 13 meeting, Dr. Jane Tavyev Asher, a child neurologist and founding member of PAUSE, said that neurological research has shown a connection between handwriting and reading capabilities that deteriorates if students use laptops or tablets instead. 

“If you type the information, it does not connect the same structures in the brain together as it does if you write it,” she said. “I really urge you … to please not have any iPads in the classroom at all at those young ages … definitely not in pre-K, not in K, not in first grade.”

There has been recent concern as well among parents over what students are able to access on their school-issued computers. Also speaking at the May 13 board meeting, Dr. Pantea Farhadi, a BHUSD parent, said her 8-year-old son was “exposed to sexual content” online. 

“His teacher placed him out of the classroom unattended with an iPad,” she said. 

Seemann said he was aware of the incident, which occurred when the student viewed a Wikipedia page with a graphic illustration, and that officials addressed it immediately. 

“As soon as we realized that was a potential threat, we were able to shut that [page] off and close it off from the student elementary devices,” he said. “We will consistently put student safety at the forefront of the conversation.”

Hakak said this type of incident speaks to a disconnect between the district office and the classrooms. 

“I don’t think they’re fully aware that the children, during any free time, that they’re allowed to be on their computers,” she said. “They’re unsupervised on a screen.” 

The post Parents Seek to Reduce Screen Time at BHUSD Elementary Schools appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“Rather than coming to grips with the fact that petitioner’s project is subject to the HAA’s Builder’s Remedy, the city has engaged in a course of conduct that is riddled with violations of state housing law,” both lawsuits state. 

The lawsuits challenge determinations made against proposed projects at 8800 and 8820 Wilshire Blvd. and seek to compel the city to approve the applications. 

The complaints bring the total number of Builder’s Remedy lawsuits against the city to four.

In response to the two new lawsuits, Beverly Hills City Attorney Laurence Wiener told the Courier, “We are confident that the city has treated the projects appropriately. Unfortunately, these projects increased their building construction area by more than 20 percent which disqualifies the projects from the Builder’s Remedy process.” 

The proposed developments on Wilshire Boulevard would stand side by side between Robertson Boulevard and Clark Drive. At 19 stories tall, each includes retail space and residential units. The 8800 Wilshire project proposes 139 units, 17 of which would be designated for affordable housing. The development at 8820 Wilshire seeks to build 134 units, 16 of which would be designated for affordable housing.

Preliminary applications for the projects were first submitted in December 2023. At that time, Beverly Hills did not have an approved housing element in place, allowing developers to apply for so-called Builder’s Remedy projects that sidestep certain local building and zoning codes in exchange for providing affordable units. 

In September 2024, development applications were submitted. In response, the developer received two back-to-back letters from Beverly Hills stating that the applications were incomplete, and that the project no longer qualified for Builder’s Remedy due to alleged missed deadlines and changes made to each project’s plans. 

In the lawsuits, the developer argues that the changed plans were within their rights under state law and municipal code, and that all paperwork was submitted in a timely manner. 

The developer later resubmitted both applications and appealed the city’s determinations to no avail. 

Ryan Leaderman, an attorney for the developer, said that the city violated state law that dictates the terms under which a Builder’s Remedy application can be denied. 

“The statute … does not say you can’t change your project,” he said. “The city is reading in a requirement that doesn’t exist in the law.”

Builder’s Remedy projects have been a source of contention in Beverly Hills, with some residents and officials arguing that they are out of sync with other buildings in the city.

There are currently 14 Builder’s Remedy projects under review by the city, all of which are in various stages in the application process. Seven have received letters from the city notifying them that their applications are incomplete, and five are engaged in back-and-forth communication regarding the necessity of Environmental Impact Reviews. 

In addition to the lawsuits regarding 8800 and 8820 Wilshire Blvd., the city is facing two complaints regarding its denial of a Builder’s Remedy project at 125-129 S. Linden Drive. Developers for that project are seeking to build a 19-story, mixed-use development with 165 dwelling units and a hotel.

Leaderman, who represents two other Builder’s Remedy projects whose applications have been denied, said that those are also “likely headed towards litigation.”

The city has not filed a response to either of the Wilshire Boulevard complaints. Both cases are set to go to court for trial setting conferences in early July. 

The post City Faces New Lawsuits Over Builder’s Remedy Projects on Wilshire Boulevard appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The administrators, Dr. Steven J. Suttle at Horace Mann and Kim D’Aloisio at El Rodeo, are being brought on after the former principals at both schools were removed from their positions earlier this year. 

Both Suttle’s and D’Aloisio’s appointments were announced by the district on May 9 and formally approved at the BHUSD Board’s May 13 meeting. 

According to a statement from BHUSD, Suttle has served as a principal in multiple California school districts, earning honors for those districts such as the Gold Ribbon Award and the PBIS Platinum and Silver Awards.

In a separate statement, the district said that D’Aloisio most recently served as principal in a Los Angeles middle school which earned recognition as a California Distinguished School under her leadership and was a Magnet Schools of America Merit of Excellence recipient in 2024 and 2025. 

Speaking to the Courier, Dr. Dustin Seemann, the district’s assistant superintendent, education services, said that a nationwide search was conducted for both roles, and that the district received a slew of excellent candidates. 

“It was a very competitive process with a lot of people with a lot of great experience applying for these positions,” he said. 

Both Suttle and D’Aloisio stood out for their expertise, knowledge and training, Seemann said, as well as their past successes. 

“There’s so many things that they bring to the table about moving student data, closing educational gaps for students to ensure that all students can move towards meeting or exceeding state standards,” he said. 

Speaking at the May 13 board meeting, Suttle and D’Aloisio expressed their enthusiasm to join the district. 

“Elementary education is my calling,” said Suttle. “Both my parents were teachers. My brother’s an educator. My sister’s an educator. And I’m so thrilled that my journey as an educator now leads me to the beautiful community of Horace Mann and Beverly Hills.”

D’Aloisio voiced a similar sentiment. 

“El Rodeo is performing really well, I’d love to take it to the next level, and I’m just super excited to join the team here,” said D’Aloisio.

In other business, the board voted 3-0, with Board President Rachelle Marcus and Board Member Amanda Stern abstaining, to approve a five-year agreement with BSN Sports to outfit student athletes in Nike-branded clothing and equipment, beginning on July 1. 

The agreement is the result of an effort spearheaded by Board Member Russell Stuart, who spoke recently about what he perceived as the poor quality of BHUSD sports teams’ apparel. 

Disagreement broke out among board members when the item came up at the May 13 meeting, in large part because of its placement on the agenda. The item was slated for a vote without discussion, to which Marcus and Stern objected. 

“If educational excellence is really what we’re after, we want to unpack this … these are huge corporations,” said Stern. “I don’t know if I want to start a chapter where we have Nike in our world for the rest of our lives.” 

Stuart retorted, “If we started educational excellence while you’ve been on the board for five years, you would have done something like this yourself. For five years you’ve been here, and we have no outfits for anybody, and our kids are wearing pathetic clothing.”

Responding to a suggestion that the agreement was based on Nike’s brand popularity, Board Member Sigalie Sabag noted, without going into detail, that the deal came about because Stuart has “a connection.”

“It’s not for the popularity, it’s because we have the connection,” she said. “If [Russell] Stuart had the connection with Adidas, we’d have Adidas. He has a connection, and I think we should take advantage of it.”

The board also discussed at its May 13 meeting the possibility of establishing a group with members of the community that would serve as a way to increase communication between the board and stakeholders. 

Parents have long criticized the board for a lack of transparency in their decision-making process. 

The proposal, which would form a group called Building Relationships in District Governance and Education (BRIDGE), was brought forth by Stuart, who said the idea came partly as a response to community concerns. 

“We’ve had countless people who have said transparency is an issue for us and that communication is an issue for us,” he said. 

The idea was met with cautious optimism by other board members, and will be brought back for continued discussion at a later meeting.  

The post BHUSD Hires New Principals, Makes Deal with Nike appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The Beverly Hills Planning Commission on May 5 voted unanimously to adopt a draft resolution of a ministerial permit process, and to recommend that the City Council adopt it. 

The ministerial permit process would allow Builder’s Remedy developers to skip a discretionary review, which can take six to 12 months, provided they adhere to building standards set by the city. 

“There are a lot of limitations of what we as the Planning Commission, as a city can do to restrict or constrict [Builder’s remedy projects],” said Commissioner Lou Milkowski. “The ministerial process … only helps us. It’s a tradeoff of a larger project for a smaller project in exchange for expediting the process.”

The ministerial permit process was proposed in response to the 14 Builder’s Remedy projects currently under consideration by the city. Submitted when the city did not have an approved housing element in place, the projects rely on a state law that allows developers to sidestep certain local development codes in exchange for providing affordable housing units. 

Many Builder’s Remedy projects are out of sync with standard zoning regulations in the city and have come under fire by some Beverly Hills residents and officials who believe they do not match the scale or scope of other local buildings. 

To mitigate the effects of Builder’s Remedy projects, the City Council discussed the possibility of the ministerial permit process on Jan. 28. In addition to sidestepping lengthy review processes and fines, the ministerial process also allows developers to skip public hearings and a review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

In exchange, developers are required to meet certain standards that would limit the size, height, density and other facets of their projects. 

On March 27, the Planning Commission heard recommendations for those standards drafted by city staff. They include limiting the height of buildings to 85 feet, restricting visibility for overlooking residential areas and prohibitions on late-night use of outdoor common areas and amplified sound. 

At the May 5 meeting, the commission reviewed a revised set of recommendations that incorporated feedback from the March 27 meeting. 

During discussion, commissioners expressed general support for the ministerial permit process, noting that they have little control over Builder’s Remedy projects otherwise.  

However, the ministerial permit process is not without its detractors. UNITE HERE Local 11, a union representing hospitality workers and other labor groups, opposes the ministerial permit process as it currently stands, claiming that it allows hoteliers to take advantage of an ordinance designed to provide more affordable housing and instead develop hotels. 

“As currently proposed, there is a loophole that allows developers to potentially build a hotel while still receiving this ministerial approval,” Jonah Breslow, a research analyst for the union, said at the May 5 meeting. “Closing this loophole is important to ensure that the ordinance is used to accomplish its purpose, which is to streamline the approval of affordable housing while not undermined the city’s oversight of new hotel developments.”

The union has launched a letter-writing campaign directed at the Planning Commission asking that they ensure developers cannot use the ministerial process to build hotels. 

During discussion on May 5, city staff noted that only two of the 14 Builder’s Remedy projects currently include hotels. 

In the final comment period of the meeting, Commissioner Gary Ross said he believes the ministerial permit process will be mutually beneficial. 

“I think it’s equal parts benefits to us as a city to get these projects streamlined and to add to our [housing] numbers, and an advantage to the applicant to avoid the pitfalls and delays and expenses,” he said. 

The draft resolution will now go to the City Council for consideration.  

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At a Study Session on May 6, councilmembers reviewed draft priorities for 2025-26 that had been previously identified by the Priority Setting Ad Hoc Committee, which consists of Mayor Sharona Nazarian and Councilmember Craig Corman. 

The committee requested that the council evaluate six items that could potentially be placed on a wish list or deferred to a later date as part of the review process. This was in response to expected budget challenges. 

“Given the budget constraints that we anticipate in the coming years, we took a closer look at the full list of priorities and identified a few areas that we believe are worth reevaluating,” said Nazarian. “Our guiding principle throughout all of this has been to distinguish between what is essential in the short term and what could reasonably be deferred.”

The ad hoc committee first met in July 2024, and draft priorities were presented to City Council for discussion on Dec. 10, 2024. City staff incorporated that feedback and brought a revised document to the ad hoc on April 30. 

The council’s draft priorities fall into seven categories, which include enhancing community safety and health, ensuring financial stability and accomplishing the city’s housing goals. 

On May 6, councilmembers discussed whether to proceed with the six items under review for possible deferral. 

“Unlike in past years, this plan … only really discuss[es] things we’re going to do this year as opposed to something that is, like, 10 years out, five years out,” said Corman. 

The items under review for deferral were a complete upgrade of technology in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as well as a survey for potential new locations for the center; a preliminary plan for police station improvements; plans to renovate the first-floor public restrooms in the library; plans to renovate the City Clerk’s office; exploring the use of the City Hall towers; and implementing a means-tested rent subsidy program.

During the discussion period, councilmembers weighed the benefits and potential drawbacks of each. 

In discussing possible upgrades to the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) station, Councilmember Mary Wells noted that the draft priorities already include a number of advancements for BHPD.

“We’re going to be investing a lot in police,” she said. “The kiosk, the added police, the added technology; I don’t think right now would be the time to move forward on [station upgrades].”

Corman said that in considering whether to upgrade EOC technology, the council should consider when and whether the center will move to a new location. 

“The concern I had was if we do put money in the EOC now, make sure we are not buying things that can’t be moved,” he said. “It wasn’t so much whether we should upgrade the actual, physical equipment, just how far do you take that given the fact that you may not be there?” 

City staff will incorporate the council’s feedback and bring it back in front of the council at a later date.

In other business, at the council’s Regular Meeting on the evening of May 6, councilmembers voted unanimously to adopt an interim urgency ordinance to bring the city into compliance with state law regarding updated zoning regulations. 

Senate Bill (SB) 450, which went into effect on Jan. 1, updates an existing state law that allows the development of up to four residential units on single-family lots. That existing law, SB 9, permits either the division of a single-family lot into two lots upon which two units can be built, or the development of four units of a certain type on a single-family lot that isn’t split. 

Under SB 450, local governments are prohibited from applying standards to SB 9 projects that deviate from their existing standards.

Several councilmembers expressed displeasure about having to approve the interim urgency ordinance, noting that they had no choice since it is state law. 

“We have a Sacramento legislature that is intent upon changing the character of our city, and quite frankly, changing the American Dream,” said Councilmember Lester Friedman. “Having said that, we have to be in conformance with state law, and that’s what this urgency ordinance is doing.”  

The post City Council Considers 2025-26 Priorities appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The evening’s discussion centered on a request from developer Saks Global to create a plan to establish size, height and density limits unique to the approximately 4-acre project site, which encapsulates the current Saks Fifth Avenue buildings. 

“These buildings are not just stores to us,” said Douglas Adams, the senior vice president of development for Saks Global. “They are our West Coast flagships.”

The proposal for new developments at 9600 Wilshire Blvd. was first submitted to Beverly Hills in 2022. The project is bordered by Wilshire Boulevard, Bedford Drive and Camden Drive, and extends approximately halfway down the Bedford and Camden blocks toward Charleville Boulevard.

The project includes the construction of four new buildings and renovations to existing buildings. Two of the new buildings will be mixed-use residential structures, and two will be commercial buildings featuring a boutique hotel, spa, membership club, retail space and office space. The project will feature a total of 76 residential units. 

The development also includes the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the existing Saks Fifth Avenue Women’s building, the construction of new public outdoor space and an underground parking structure with 744 spots. 

In November 2024, the proposal was revised to reflect community feedback. If the project is approved on its anticipated timeline, demolition will begin in October 2026 and work will finish in September 2029. 

At the hearing on May 1, commissioners listened to public comment both in support and in opposition to the project for just under three hours. 

Cultural Heritage Commissioner and local realtor Josh Flagg, who spoke in his capacity as a resident of Beverly Hills, said the project fills a need for real estate that is otherwise not being met in the city. 

“Having sold so many homes in Beverly Hills, I can tell you that there is a true lack of luxury product in the apartment and condo space,” he said. “When someone asks me for a condo in the heart of Beverly Hills, I have very little options aside from the Maybourne, where very few condos are even ever available.”

Recreation and Parks Commissioner Tara Riceberg, also speaking in her capacity as a resident, added that 9600 Wilshire has the potential to revive Wilshire Boulevard and beyond, and to bring much-needed rejuvenation to the area as well as funds to the city. 

“We all know Beverly Hills is having a bit of a financial glitch,” she said. “Beverly Hills needs activations and projects that are going to lure tourism. We need those dollars. We need business tax, revenue occupancy tax, the business tax licenses; we need a destination.”

Those who spoke against the project were largely concerned with its impact on traffic, noise and the surrounding environment. Some were members of the Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners Association, who have spoken out against the project since its inception. 

“We have all this development surrounding us, impinging on us,” said resident Fern Seiser. “Our lifestyle simply will not exist. Our southwest Beverly neighborhood is in jeopardy.”

Several representatives for the nonprofit organization Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development Los Angeles spoke about the noise level that would be generated from construction, as well as concerns about diesel particulate matter emissions. 

Planning Commission Vice Chair Jeff Wolfe inquired as to whether further mitigation efforts could be undertaken to reduce noise. 

In response, Adams said that the loudest portion of construction would occur when concrete is being poured, and that the company has agreed to give extra notice to residents, monitor the sound and install a temporary 20-foot sound wall along the south edge of the project. 

Once the meeting hit the six-hour mark, the commission moved to continue the deliberations to their June 10 meeting. The suggestion was made by Planning Commission Chair Terri Kaplan. 

“It’s late, and I think the project and the community are better served in my opinion if we do this deliberation portion of this with fresh, well-rested minds,” she said.  

The post Vote on Saks Fifth Avenue Project Pushed to June appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on April 22. McKillen, who is a citizen of Ireland and the United Kingdom, is seeking $20 million in damages. 

In the suit, attorneys for McKillen outline what they call a “lawless plot” constructed by the defendants to deliberately withhold payment from McKillen while continuing to make use of his services. 

“This complaint alleges in detail how Qatar’s former Emir (HBK) and Prime Minister (HBJ), along with other senior members of the Royal family and their executives, have defrauded their business partners around the world and used the assets they control, like the Quintet Bank, to retaliate against and intimidate those who fight back,” said Michael Gottlieb, an attorney for McKillen, in a statement. “Mr. McKillen will pursue this suit until the Qatari Royals pay him what his company rightfully earned.”

Over the past seven years, the suit alleges, various members of the Qatari royal family “orchestrated, directed, and participated in a global scheme to defraud their former business partner, Patrick McKillen, and his company, [Hume Street Management Consultants Limited (HSMC)].”

The Qatari royals named as defendants in the suit include Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, known as Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa or HBK; Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Bin Mohammed Bin Thani Al Thani, known as Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim or HBJ; and Sheikha Lulwah Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, HBK’s daughter, known as Sheikha Lulwah. 

Business associates of the Qatari royals named in the suit include Michele Faissola and Marc Socker, both of whom are described in the complaint as “agent[s] of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa [and] Sheikha Lulwah.” 

McKillen became involved with what would become the Maybourne Hotel Group in 2004, when he joined a group of investors to acquire shares in the Savoy Group. Following the sale of the Savoy Hotel, the group became known as the Maybourne Hotel Group, according to the suit. 

McKillen sold his shares in 2015 to a company owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, however McKillen continued to work in a developmental capacity on the hotels. 

According to the complaint, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa became interested in purchasing the hotel then called the Montage Beverly Hills in the summer of 2019 in order to turn it into a Maybourne. 

Socker and Sheikha Lulwah reached out to McKillen to ascertain his interest in participating in the Beverly Hills project, and to gain his opinion as to whether the hotel would be a good investment. 

In October 2019, McKillen traveled to Qatar to discuss the opportunity in person with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa aboard the latter’s yacht, the lawsuit states. McKillen described his ideas for the hotel and “gave his commitment to manage and strategically redevelop the hotel.” Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa proceeded with the purchase in December 2019. 

From there, the suit outlines a series of work performed by McKillen on the hotel, including transitioning the hotel to the Maybourne brand, redesigning guest suites, budgeting capital expenditures, planning for the hotel’s shops and parking and “navigating local Beverly planning and permitting requirements related to the redevelopment,” including attending City Council meetings and working with the City Manager and then-mayor. 

This work took place, according to the complaint, between January 2020 and January 2022. 

According to the lawsuit, McKillen began seeking compensation in June 2021. He allegedly directed his requests to Fassiola, who “refused to pay Mr. McKillen for the work performed.” When McKillen brought this information to Sheikha Lulwah, she reiterated Fassiola’s message.  

McKillen’s lawsuit claims that this refusal to pay continued until the present day, with the defendants seeming to indicate that they would pay him at various times and then failing to do so. 

The complaint alleges that the defendants decided at some point during their work with McKillen not to pay him, kept that decision a “secret” and continued to utilize McKillen’s services knowing that they did not plan to compensate him. 

In addition to the Maybourne Beverly Hills, McKillen’s complaint alleges that the defendants failed to compensate him for similar work on The Maybourne Riviera and Îlot Saint-Germain in France and a personal home of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim’s in Manhattan.

McKillen has filed additional claims in the U.K. and France, as well as a California state case. 

The post Hotelier Patrick McKillen Files Suit Against Qatari Royals appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Annette Goldstein, a teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School who has been employed by the district for over 30 years, addressed the board regarding contract negotiations between the district and the Beverly Hills Education Association (BHEA), the union that represents local educators. As part of negotiations, teachers are requesting salary increases and updated benefits. 

Goldstein said she has three extra jobs and will teach summer school to “make ends meet.” 

“I canceled a doctor’s appointment that I had scheduled for last Friday because I was told it would be a $1,300 copay,” she said. “Our benefits are abysmal. Plus, I will have two kids in college in the fall, and even with merit scholarships, tuition for my son’s top choice is more than I can afford. I will have to tell him, ‘too bad.'” 

After Goldstein concluded her comment, many members of the audience stood and applauded. 

“Thank you very much,” Marcus, who taught in the district for several decades prior to being elected to the board, said over the noise. “Can I call for a motion for the consent calendar?” 

As the board attempted to continue the meeting, the applause was sustained. It concluded after approximately one and a half minutes. 

Goldstein’s remarks followed public comment from Katherine Warren, the president of BHEA. Warren stated that on April 16, a designated negotiation day, no one from the district showed up at the bargaining table, leaving representatives for BHEA sitting there for three hours. 

Finally, according to Warren, they received an email from a district representative stating that the district could not make a counteroffer until June 1 because of the ongoing leadership transition and an upcoming budget review. 

BHEA representatives have expressed their desire to finish contract negotiations before the summer begins. “This is deeply disappointing,” said Warren of the action by the district. “These delays have not only tested our patience, they have tested the goodwill and trust that are essential to any successful negotiation.”

In a statement, the district said that it is “fully committed to getting this done and are doing everything we can to keep conversations moving forward.”

“After providing our employees with a significant 10.5% raise last year, our Board of Education is eager to bring this year’s negotiations to a close so we can continue focusing on students,” said the statement. “Our goal is to ensure our educators have clarity before the end of the school year …  We are deeply grateful to all of our dedicated staff whose commitment and care make BHUSD a place of Educational Excellence.”

Following public comment, the board heard an update on the construction at Beverly Hills High School (BHHS). According to Amin Salari, the chief Operating Officer/Executive Vice President of Operations at Fonder-Salari, Inc., the company overseeing construction, all projects at the school will be completed by December 2027. 

Various individual projects, such as the swimming pool and performing arts center, will be completed along the way. 

In other business, the board voted unanimously to reassign several members of the Horace Mann and El Rodeo Elementary Schools’ administration teams. 

Sarah Kaber-Pottebaum, the principal at El Rodeo, and Kevin Painter, the assistant principal at Horace Mann, will both be reassigned to elementary school classrooms. 

Molly Hwang, the assistant principal at Horace Mann, will be reassigned to the Horace Mann Learning Lab. Mark Mead, Executive Director, School Safety, will be reassigned to a high school English classroom. 

All reassignments will begin on Aug. 7 and continue until May 29, 2026.  

The post Standing Ovation for Teacher Disrupts BHUSD Board Meeting appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

This is the second lawsuit filed by DuPont Clinic, PC (“DuPont”) against Beverly Hills. 

DuPont, which provides a slate of health care services including abortion up to 32 weeks and six days, was scheduled to open at 8920 Wilshire Blvd. in October 2023. The clinic initially signed a lease with landlord Douglas Emmett in September 2022. 

The arrangement was soon met with opposition. A Los Angeles chapter of an anti-abortion group that calls itself Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust launched protests at the Wilshire Boulevard location and, in April 2023, began attending City Council meetings to urge officials to deny DuPont the permits it needed to operate. 

In June 2023, the clinic received a letter from Douglas Emmett stating that the lease was being canceled. The letter accused DuPont of failing to notify the landlord that “the primary focus of tenant’s practice would be providing abortions for abnormal and high-risk pregnancies including what are commonly referred to as late-term abortions.”

In August 2023, the clinic filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Douglas Emmett alleging that their lease was improperly terminated. That complaint was followed by a Superior Court complaint against the city of Beverly Hills and various city officials in October 2023, alleging that the city bowed to political pressure and colluded with the landlord to ensure that the clinic would not open. 

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office opened an investigation into the matter, held a news conference in October 2024 in which he accused Beverly Hills officials of “delaying the permitting process and then launching a pressure campaign against the landlord until the landlord rescinded its lease with the tenant.”

An agreement was later reached between the Attorney General’s office and the city.  

In December 2024, the Superior Court granted the city’s anti-SLAPP motion, striking most of the city’s conduct from DuPont’s claim with the exception of the allegation of unduly withholding permits. DuPont appealed the motion, and the appeal is pending. 

Beverly Hills is currently seeking approximately $400,000 in attorney’s fees from DuPont in the first Superior Court lawsuit, and a hearing is scheduled for June 5. 

In their new complaint, DuPont alleges, among other things, that the city played a role in its lease cancellation by delaying the clinic’s building permits and conducting a “hostile pressure campaign … under the guise of public safety leading to the termination of DuPont’s Lease.”

In a statement provided to the Courier, DuPont noted, “Just like any other lawful business, DuPont had the right to freedom from government interference in its operations. The city made a deliberate choice and formed a specific plan to prevent DuPont from opening its reproductive health clinic, in violation of DuPont’s constitutional rights.”

Beverly Hills City Attorney Laurence Wiener, in a statement, called the new lawsuit from DuPont “disappointing.” 

“As the city has consistently stated, it vigorously supports a woman’s right to choose,” the statement added. “The city will, once again, respond to the allegations in the lawsuit, which are based on the same set of facts as the previous lawsuit.”

The new lawsuit seeks damages on causes of action that include violations of the Due Process Clause and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

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The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 25 by Natonda “Bella” Ivory and Jarvis Turner. Both plaintiffs are Black. 

“Schools ought to be teaching tolerance and equality,” Bradley Gage, the attorney representing Ivory and Turner, told the Courier, “not tolerating prejudice and inequality.”

According to the complaint, Turner, who worked as a basketball coach and Sports Marketing/Business and Finance teacher beginning in 2010, first alerted district officials to his concern about discrimination when a student made a racist social media post in 2018. 

The following year, he received an email to his school account calling him a “n—–.” After receiving a “nonchalant” response from his supervisor, former BHUSD Executive Director of Athletics Tim Ellis, Turner filed a police report with the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD). 

Turner also claims in the complaint that he received calls from students on his cell phone using “racial epithets” and in-person verbal mistreatment from parents who used “derogatory racial stereotypes,” and that the police were called on him when he was in the gym coaching the basketball team.

Ivory, who worked at the school from 2020 until 2025, alleges in the suit that after starting her tenure at BHHS as an Introduction to Fashion instructor and co-teacher of costume design, she was subject to ongoing discrimination and harassment. 

In February 2022, after a cafeteria employee allegedly cursed at her and refused to serve her, then-Assistant Principal Torray Johnson told Ivory that because of her race, she “needed to be quiet, meek, passive, and compliant with white counterparts,” according to the complaint.

The situation escalated throughout 2023 and 2024 and reached a climax on Nov. 5, 2024. According to the complaint, a group of students celebrating the election of President Trump marched to Ivory’s classroom chanting “f— Kamala” and banged on the door, where Ivory was meeting with members of the Black Student Union. 

According to the suit, teachers, security guards, the principal and the vice principal watched the situation unfold and did not intervene. Ivory was later told by BHHS Principal Drew Stewart that the students’ actions were protected by the First Amendment, which is why they were not asked to disperse. 

The suit further claims that in February 2025, a BHHS student announced to a classroom that she hated Ivory and wanted to stab her, and no action was taken by district officials. 

Ivory resigned this spring. 

Representatives from BHUSD declined to comment on the case.

The district is also facing another, separate lawsuit filed in January 2024 by Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Laura Collins-Williams, who is still employed by the district. The complaint alleges that Collins-Williams, who is Black, was discriminated against for her race, age and gender, and that she faced a hostile work environment as well as retaliation. 

On April 21, attorneys for Collins-Williams were granted a motion to compel the attendance of former BHUSD Superintendent Michael Bregy at his continued deposition, answers to deposition questions and the production of documents. 

“The judge saw what we saw,” Anita Edwards, an attorney for Collins-Williams, told the Courier. “That they didn’t do what they were supposed to do in producing documents. I’m happy we are able to move forward and get the rest of the information we need to pursue our case.” 

An attorney representing BHUSD in the Collins-Williams case did not respond to requests for comment. 

Collins-Williams’ lawsuit was recently given a trial date of May 26, 2026. 

The post Lawsuit Alleges Black Teachers Threatened, Called Racial Slurs at BHHS appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“I believe both sides are making progress,” said Katherine Warren, the president of the BHEA. “I believe there are still open lines of communication … I just wish we were going at a faster pace.”

Negotiations between the two parties were initially set to begin in August 2024; however the district requested a postponement due to the school board election, which took place in November 2024. BHEA agreed, and talks were initiated in January. 

Multiple changes in district and school leadership have caused significant slowdowns in the process. 

On Feb. 21, then-BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy resigned. On March 11, the BHUSD Board announced the closure of nearly a dozen district positions, including the position held by Matt Horvath, the then-assistant superintendent of personnel services. 

According to Interim Superintendent Dr. Jason Hasty, Horvath previously served as the lead negotiator in contract discussions with the teachers’ union. 

Warren says that in past years, representatives for the union and the district were able to conduct more rounds of offers and counters in a single day during contract negotiations. Last year, the two parties often went back and forth twice a day. 

This year, she said, that process has changed to one round per day, once every two weeks. 

Hasty agreed that contract talks have been affected. 

“[O]ne could argue we’ve had to have some delays in negotiations … what happened with the Palisades Fires, with our leadership change, I can see where some might say we’re a little slow to start,” he said. 

In the current round of negotiations, BHEA is asking for an increase in salary, updates to benefits and leave policies, and changes to elementary class sizes. Teachers received a salary increase of 10.5% last year, which Warren said made up for previous years in which increases were approximately 2.5%. 

Laura Collins-Williams, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, and Dr. Dustin Seemann, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, are the main leads representing the district in contract negotiations with the union. Rachelle Marcus, BHUSD Board President, has also been sitting in on discussions. 

Hasty noted that the makeup of the negotiating committee for the district is subject to change. 

BHEA’s bargaining committee is led by Beverly Hills High School math teacher Josh Glass, and each school sends one additional representative to the table.

A primary concern for teachers is the possibility of going into the 2025-2026 school year without knowing what their salaries will be. 

Warren said that continuing negotiations over the summer presents its own set of challenges, as many educators are on schedules that are difficult to align. 

“I’m going to be disappointed and sad [if an agreement isn’t reached], because I think when teachers leave for summer vacation, they should know what their salary is in the fall,” she said.

Hasty said the district shares the same goal. 

“It is 100% the intention of the district and our leadership and the board to get a deal done before they leave for the summer,” he said. “And I’m going personally to be doing everything I can to ensure negotiations continue and that we’re not having any unnecessary pauses moving forward.”

The 2024-2025 school year will conclude on May 30. In order to reach an agreement by that time, Hasty said he would encourage the district to “work together to come to some common agreements … where we can meet in the middle on some of these things.” 

The post Teachers’ Union, BHUSD Hope to Reach Agreement Before Summer appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“It’s an incredible honor to sit here tonight for my very first City Council meeting as mayor, and I want to take a moment to thank my colleagues, our city staff, and our incredible community for the warm welcome and continued support,” she said. “As we begin the next chapter together, I’m filled with hope and determination for a stronger, safer and more united Beverly Hills.”

Her remarks were followed by the inaugural Moment of Unity, a project Nazarian championed as part of her plans for her mayoral term. To kick it off, remarks were delivered by Fr. Edward Benioff, Pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd. 

Speaking about the recent death of Pope Francis, Benioff emphasized the late Roman Catholic Church leader’s emphasis on unity. 

“In a deep way, he said we need to not just listen to each other, but we need to learn from each other … that was his gift to the church and to the world, and that’s really the heart of unity,” Benioff said. 

At the Regular Meeting, the council voted to approve the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). At the Study Session, the council supported a request from the Rodeo Drive Committee regarding the annual Father’s Day Concourse d’Elegance car show and voiced support for a new Traffic and Parking Commissioner.

The CAAP, which was approved by the Beverly Hills City Council Liaison/Public Works Commission Committee on March 26, details proposed actions designed to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and help the community adapt to predicted climate-related changes.

Over the next several decades, the Beverly Hills area is expected to see more frequent extreme heat days, higher temperatures and increased variability in precipitation.

Among the strategies proposed in the CAAP to decrease greenhouse emissions are amplifying the use of renewable energy, expanding electric vehicle infrastructure and decreasing water use. Proposed tactics to adapt to weather variations include upgrades to infrastructure, sharpening emergency preparedness and increasing community participation. 

The plan is an effort to get the city to carbon neutrality by 2045, however in its current iteration, it would not accomplish that goal. 

In their comments, councilmembers stressed that the goal is ambitious. 

“I appreciate the thinking on it and setting these foundational strategies for how we can move closer to having a net zero in 2045,” said Wells, but “they are aspirational in many ways.” 

The council voted 4-1 to adopt the plan, with Vice Mayor John Mirisch voting no. Citing the works of ecological economist Herman Daly and others, Mirisch argued that one of the most pressing issues facing the climate is growthism, and said that the CAAP, while good, is “just not enough.”

In other business, the council unanimously supported the appointment of Negar Kamara to the Traffic and Parking Commission (TPC). Kamara submitted her application for the position in May 2024 to fill the vacancy left by former Commissioner Ron Shalowitz. She was interviewed with four other applicants on Feb. 20 by a panel including Nazarian, Mirisch, TPC Chair Karen Afra-Maghen and Vice Chair Hadar Geller.

According to her application, Kamara is an attorney and realtor who has lived in the city for approximately 26 years. She has worked as a traffic judge pro tem in the Beverly Hills and Santa Monica courts.

The council formally approved Kamara’s appointment to a term that will begin May 1 and conclude on June 30, 2027. She will be eligible for reappointment to a second, four-year term. 

In response to a recommendation made by city staff and City Council liaisons, the council during its Study Session supported a request for funding, street closures, event elements and banner conceptual designs for the annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance Father’s Day Car Show. 

The event will be held on June 15, with the theme “Luxury in Motion.” Last year’s event brought out 44,000 attendees and was featured in both automotive and mainstream media outlets. 

The recommendation to support the requests was initially made on March 17 by the City Council Liaison/Rodeo Drive/Special Events/Holiday Program Committee, which included as liaisons Wells and then-Mayor Lester Friedman.

“It is a great family tradition to come to Rodeo Drive for Father’s Day,” said Kay Monica Rose, the Rodeo Drive Committee president, during a presentation. “It’s a multigenerational, family-oriented event … cars bring people together.” 

Street closures for the event will go into effect on June 14 at 9 p.m. and remain in place until June 15 at 11 p.m. They will include Rodeo Drive from Wilshire Boulevard to S. Santa Monica Boulevard, Dayton Way from Rodeo Drive to the alleyways east and west and Brighton Way from Rodeo Drive to the alleyways east and west. 

Event organizers requested funding in the amount of $312,254, an increase from last year’s city contribution of $298,450. All requests for the event were supported by the council unanimously. 

Other actions taken by the council included a vote to adopt the 2025 Legislative Platform. A draft of the Platform was presented at the March 18 City Council Study Session, and the changes requested by the council at that meeting were incorporated in the final draft. Those changes included language regarding public health, legislative sponsorship and public safety. 

The council also approved a partnership between the city and Paramount Pictures to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the movie “Clueless,” along with a waiver of related permit fees of approximately $4,930. A series of month-long events for the commemoration may include a screening of the movie in La Cienega Park, a mother-daughter movie night at Greystone Mansion and a 90s-themed cover band as part of Concerts on Cañon. 

The council approved July 20 as the date for the third annual Festival Beverly Hills, which will take place at Beverly Gardens Park, and an appropriation vrequest of $18,000. 

The post Council Approves Climate Action Plan appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The new maps—which label regions in the state as moderate, high or very high fire hazard severity zones—designate approximately 260 additional acres of Beverly Hills as very high, according to Jim McDougald, Assistant Deputy Director, Cal Fire Community Wildfire Planning and Risk Reduction. 

Those new areas, said Trevor Richmond, Beverly Hills Assistant Fire Chief – Fire Marshal, are predominantly south of Sunset Boulevard. 

“Prior to the new map coming out, the very high zone was north of Sunset,” Richmond said. “So, you’ll look at the new map and you’ll see that the [very high area] is actually extended.” 

In most of Beverly Hills, the new border of very high fire hazard severity zones runs, roughly, east to west between Lomitas and Elevado Avenues. On the old map, that border ran roughly along Sunset Boulevard. 

To determine what zone their home falls in, if any, residents are advised to type their address into the official map on the Cal Fire website.

Richmond notes that the city has been working to get granular with the borders as some Beverly Hills lots appeared to be “cut in half,” he said, by the boundaries between very high and high zones issued by the state. 

Richmond is also collaborating with a city staff member who works with geographic information systems to examine lots one at a time and determine each property’s correct zone. 

“We’ve gone through all the lots that are half in, half out, and we’ve typed in those addresses [and] readjusted the maps to reflect more accurately what zone each lot is in,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of work to make it really clear.”

The city plans to distribute a flyer within the next several weeks that shows those designations, as well as post the information on their website. 

The new maps were created by Cal Fire using updated systems. Those systems allow experts to more accurately account for wind patterns, including speed and direction, that are likely to blow embers from high vegetation areas into urban or non-wildland areas. The new borders in Beverly Hills reflect that increased predicting ability.

“What the model does now that it didn’t do before is mapping, basically, where the embers from that adjacent vegetation are going to land,” McDougald said. 

Work on the new maps has been ongoing since 2022. It came on the heels of a state bill that required Cal Fire to create fire hazard severity zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas (LRA), where the local government is responsible for wildfire protection, in addition to State Responsibility Areas (SRA), where the state is financially responsible for wildland fire protection and prevention.

“We did the SRA adoption first,” McDougald said. “The SRA was finally adopted and went into effect April 1, 2024, and then we started on the Local Responsibility Area.”

Individuals whose home or property is located in very high severity zones are required to comply with laws that govern so-called defensible space, which refers to maintenance regulations for the area around the structure. 

Those regulations include reducing intense fuel within 5 feet of the structure and managing vegetation that exists up to 100 feet from the structure. 

Richmond said the Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) plans to conduct an ongoing public education campaign to help residents understand the new maps and requirements, particularly homeowners who are newly affected by the very high fire hazard severity zone. That might mean a lighter touch with code enforcement as more information is provided to residents. 

“Over the next couple years, it’ll be a public education, probably, versus a code enforcement issue,” he said. “After a couple years … we’ll apply the code and begin the code enforcement.”

Beverly Hills also recently released an updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The plan will allow residents to be more prepared to face natural disasters, including wildfires. 

According to a statement from the city, members of the community are invited to respond to the plan between April 21 and May 5. In order to qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the plan must be adopted as a prerequisite. 

Residents interested in looking up their home to see where it falls on the new Cal Fire maps can use this link: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones.

Residents interested in viewing and responding to the LHMP may visit: https://www.beverlyhills.org/1447/Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-Update or email comments to hazardmitigation@beverlyhills.org. 

The post State Modifies Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Wynn was a resident of Beverly Hills and the largest individual shareholder of Wynn Resorts, according to a statement from the foundation. She devoted significant time to properties including the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Bellagio and the Wynn and Encore resorts.

“Ms. Wynn wielded significant influence, not just as an investor, but as a steward of a vision that transcended mere entertainment,” the foundation said in its statement. “She understood that Las Vegas was not just a destination; it was an experience—an ever-evolving tapestry woven with threads of art, culture, and the human spirit.”

In a statement posted on Instagram, Wynn Resorts noted her many accomplishments with the company. 

“As co-founder and one of the largest shareholders of Wynn Resorts, she helped to create and grow the company to become the most esteemed luxury resort brand in the world,” the statement reads. “Her many talents and special touches are indelibly imprinted on the company and still evident throughout our resorts … The current and former employees who worked alongside her to create Wynn and Encore Las Vegas cherish the many fond memories they have of her, especially of when they opened Wynn Las Vegas with her 20 years ago this month.”

Wynn was passionate about education and the arts, lending her vision to many endeavors in both fields. In her role as a leader at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), she was deeply involved with highly impactful projects such as the sculpture “Levitated Mass” by Michael Heizer. 

“We owe so much to Elaine, and also to our trustees Bobby Kotick and Carole Bayer Sager, who introduced her to LACMA,” said Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director, in a statement on the museum’s website. “Personally, I feel eternally blessed to have been able to work with Elaine and learn so much from her ambition, leadership, tenacity and love. Our hearts are with Elaine, and her family, especially her daughters Gillian and Kevyn, and her seven grandchildren.”

Wynn had recently announced a collaboration with the Pritzker Prize winning architect Francis Kere to build the Las Vegas Art Museum in partnership with LACMA. She also served as a Trustee of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

In the education sphere, Wynn assisted five Nevada governors with education initiatives, including co-chairing Nevada’s Blue Ribbon Education Reform Task Force in 2011. She served as chair of the UNLV Foundation and sat on the Nevada State Board of Education, where she was elected president twice. 

Through her work with Communities In Schools, a nonprofit organization that offers support to students in schools, Wynn collaborated with the organization’s founder, Bill Milliken, to drastically expand the operation’s reach. 

Wynn is survived by her daughters, Kevyn and Gillian and seven grandchildren, as well as the many friends she has made throughout the years. 

“This world lost an exceptional human being and tireless pioneer this week,” said Jillian Manus, a lifelong friend. “Elaine Wynn redefined Grace, Prowess, Empathy, Integrity, Honor, Commitment, Resolve, Wisdom, Leadership and Light. She bettered everyone she met, simply by believing and championing their potential. She envisioned this world as a painter’s palette, taking her brush to fill all lives with magnificent colors, curiosity and creativity. She made the impossible possible with unwavering determination and deep purpose.”

Wynn’s cause of death has not been announced. 

Contributions in Wynn’s memory can be made to the LACMA to support the construction of the Las Vegas Museum of Art. 

The post Elaine Wynn Passes Away appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Neither Marcus nor Stern addressed the reasons for their changed votes at the April 15 meeting and had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

Speaking to the Courier following the approval of his contract, Cherniss said that one of his primary goals at BHUSD is to “take our district to the next level.” 

“I’d like to bring innovation and creativity to the forefront and prepare our students for future jobs that haven’t been invented yet,” he said. “To do that, we need to really push the envelope.”

Cherniss said that “pushing the envelope” may involve rethinking the classroom experience, including taking under consideration changes made to learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“COVID changed the game, and all of a sudden, we learned very quickly that there are different ways that kids can learn,” he said. “They can learn at home; they can learn online … and so a lot of families don’t want to go back to the old days. You’re seeing explosions in homeschooled kids, you’re seeing a lot of online schools … we as educators, we need to be on the cutting edge as well. And so that’s going to be one of my roles here, is to bring that to our district.”

When pressed on whether he was considering remote learning for students at BHUSD, Cherniss demurred. 

“I’m not sure what our models will look like, but I know that we will create more flexible learning opportunities where, rather than the student conforming to the classroom, the classroom will conform to the students,” he said. 

Cherniss comes to BHUSD from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD), where he served as superintendent for just under two years. During his tenure there, he spearheaded the opening of an intensive sports program, the Universal Sports Institute, as well as a district-run charter school, the Orange County School of Computer Science. 

The endeavors were met with mixed responses from the Placentia-Yorba Linda community, with some parents expressing concern over their cost and a lack of transparency about their implementation. 

Cherniss did not specify whether he would pursue similar endeavors at BHUSD, however when speaking to the Courier, he suggested he would rely on fundraising rather than scaling back costs to finance new projects in the district. 

“One thing that we’ll always be looking at is, are there ways to enhance revenues?” he said. “Whether it’s community partners, whether it’s property, whether it’s different types of partnerships. We’re going to be looking at ways to expand revenues.”

Cherniss parted with PYLUSD on rocky terms with some members of that community. A Change.org petition was initiated on April 15, 2024, demanding his resignation because of what it called “failed vanity projects,” “rushing through a new, multi-million-dollar project” and several other allegations. It garnered 871 signatures. 

On Dec. 19, 2024, Cherniss was placed on paid administrative leave by the PYLUSD board. Representatives for PYLUSD did not respond to requests for details about the circumstances surrounding Cherniss’ leave, however Cherniss told the Courier that newly elected members of the PYLUSD Board, who were seated in November 2024, “wanted to go in a different direction.” 

“I created a new computer science school,” he said. “I created a new Universal Sports Institute. And I did so with three board members basically approving everything … in November, the board switched and no longer had support for those programs and those initiatives.”

At the April 15 BHUSD board meeting, multiple members of the public spoke in support of Cherniss, including two individuals who traveled from Placentia Yorba-Linda to speak on Cherniss’s behalf. 

“Our loss is your gain,” said Leandra Blades, a trustee of the PYLUSD board. “What you guys are going to gain is a leader in innovation, but also an exceptional educator.” 

Beth Fisher, who identified herself as a parent, former employee of PYLUSD and the founding principal of OCSCS, echoed Blades’ sentiments. 

“When it comes to leader credibility, there are five dimensions, and Dr. Cherniss ticks off every box: competence, dynamism, trust, immediacy,” Fisher said. “If you don’t know what that means with him, you will … he’s going to propel you into the future.”

One member of the public spoke in opposition to Cherniss’ appointment. Kimberly Lifschitz, who identified herself as a parent of a BHUSD student with an Individualized Education Program, said that the announcement of Cherniss’ hiring “destroyed [an] already fragile trust” in the board. 

“BHUSD’s announcement highlighted the Universal Sports Institute and OCSCS as examples of the innovation Dr. Cherniss will bring to our district,” she said. “Is the board planning to facilitate similar wildly expensive projects here? From where in the district’s budget will we take that money?” 

Speaking to the Courier following the meeting, Lifshitz said her concern stems from the fact that special education resources are often the first to go when district funding is reallocated. 

“If the number of aides in a class starts to get cut, that’s going to affect my son and his classmates first,” she said. “I don’t see how you could kind of blow the hole in a budget the way it seems like previous districts had without impacting funding for the classroom.”

Prior to his work as a superintendent, Cherniss was employed by BHUSD as a middle school math teacher, K-8 principal, director of human resources and assistant superintendent of business services.

In a statement, BHUSD Board President Rachelle Marcus voiced her eagerness for Cherniss to begin his role. 

“It’s with great pleasure that I welcome Dr. Cherniss back,” she said. “I have nothing but confidence in what he’s going to do.”

Cherniss will step into the position of BHUSD superintendent on June 1, and his appointment will span three years.  

The post Alex Cherniss Wants to ‘Push the Envelope’ at BHUSD appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Speaking to the Courier on April 3, Nazarian noted that her plans stem from a deeply held belief in a well-rounded approach to leadership and community.

“I believe in holistic approaches to everything, whether it’s for mental health, whether it’s for dealing with our unhoused, whether it’s dealing with our governance,” she said. “I believe that Beverly Hills is the most amazing city in the world, and I want us to shine.”

This belief is baked into Nazarian’s professional background. Having earned a Doctor of Psychology from Alliance University with an emphasis on multicultural  psychology, much of her early work involved issues related to wellness and mental health.

From 2004 to 2013, she sat on the board of the Maple Counseling Center, which offers low-cost mental health services to those who need it. Nazarian has also worked at the Mental Health Center at California State University, Northridge. 

Drawing on those experiences and more, she hopes to bring moments of inspiration and unity to the community as well as to the City Council. 

“We live in such a divided world, and it’s really important to find clarity and ground ourselves,” she said. “[It] could be little things that help us to inspire one another, helps us to give, to just start off our days in a positive way and give positive light and energy to community members … to look at areas that we’re close, areas we are able to come together and find solidarity, find common ground.”

As part of that effort, Nazarian envisions possibly inviting some of Beverly Hills’ many faith leaders, or others with an inspiring message, to speak briefly at City Council meetings. 

“About a minute before our meeting starts, right after the flag salute, we’ll ask different people who want to come and … talk about something inspiring,” she said. 

The idea came to her as the Palisades and Eaton Fires were raging through Los Angeles earlier this year and many residents didn’t know where to turn to find comfort. 

“Everybody was so distraught, and I just said, ‘We all need to just take a moment and breathe,'” Nazarian said. “It was shocking how many people that resonated with … we need a reminder to go back to the basics and the simple things in life.”

One such simple pleasure is the uniting of generations. Nazarian hopes to host events in the city at which active seniors and young adults can come together to share knowledge; technology help from the younger cohort, perhaps, and life’s wisdom from the elder. 

“When I was younger, I assisted with our active adults and our elders and really learned from them,” she said. “And I think that’s something that’s really missing in the world today, just respecting and honoring our elders, but also listening to them. They have so much to offer, and we need to be able to give them the space to interact with our kids.”

Some of her other efforts involve public safety. Recalling the fear many locals felt in the wake of crimes committed during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Nazarian felt strongly that Beverly Hills needed another lever to pull to ensure there would be no repeat of those incidents. 

“Our city was being targeted,” she said. “With the previous District Attorney, we had a very hard time holding criminals accountable.”

In response, she began an effort that would allow Beverly Hills to prosecute state law misdemeanors. If permitted, city officials would be granted the authority to prosecute crimes that would otherwise fall under the jurisdiction of the L.A. District Attorney, should he decide not to prosecute them. 

“We’re in the process of finalizing that request,” she said. “District Attorney Hochman is doing a great job of holding criminals accountable, and he’s prosecuting. But if we were in a situation where the L.A. County District Attorney did not want to prosecute, this would give Beverly Hills that leverage … it’s a proactive approach to be able to not be the target of unwarranted attacks.”

For now, however, Nazarian is still getting settled in her new role. The turnout for her installation was so large that lines of hopeful attendees snaked down several city blocks. In the week since, she’s been busy with official duties, including meeting with organizers of LA28, the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles. 

On April 3, still recovering from the celebrations, she was focused on remaining present and deliberate in her work. 

After all, she said, “It’s only day two.”  

The post Mayor Nazarian Seeks Holistic Approach to Leadership appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.