Naomi Yasui and Janice Moon, both juniors at BHHS, spent 12 weeks taking part in the work of facilitating community programs, improving public facilities and beautifying the city. Yasui worked with the Arts and Culture Commission, while Moon worked with the Recreation and Parks Commission.

“Our Community Services Department provides exceptional cultural, educational, recreational and social services that enhance and maintain a high quality of life for everyone. For their part, Janice and Naomi each spent 12 weeks supporting their commission’s work plan and performing the duties of recording secretary,” Mayor Craig Corman said during the recognition. “So, on behalf of a grateful City Council, I want to thank you and officially recognize you, Janice and Naomi, for all your hard work and service to the city of Beverly Hills.”

The program was open to students participating in the BHHS Career Academy and College and Career Center. Yasui said she was drawn to working with the Arts and Culture Commission through her love of playing piano and music. While working with the commission, she took part in discussions of programming for the Beverly Hills Art Walk, Festival Beverly Hills and the city’s celebrations for the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Yasui said she learned firsthand all the preparation that goes into a commission meeting.

“We had to work with a lot of agenda preparation,” she said. “I [prepared] the room, I learned what a dais is, a motion, a second, all those words, where to put the gavel, how to line up everything, where to set up the commissioner nameplates. You want to make sure you never get those wrong.”

Yasui said she gained a deeper appreciation for the level of detail that goes into staff reports and commissioner decisions when it comes to public art in Beverly Hills. She added that she had a better understanding of all the work that went into the art she’s seen her entire life, including “The Unconscious” sculpture by Franz West at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Drive.

“It’s a meeting from about 9 a.m. to 12. It’s quite long,” she said. “You sit there for a long time. It’s hard work to be able to make all these decisions about such valuable art pieces that the city has. I’ve lived in this city all my life. I walk past many of the statues and the sculptures, especially the big orange one by the bank by Beverly Drive. I have very specific memories of it and it’s this commission that really put that through.”

Yasui expressed gratitude for the support of each commissioner and her supervisor, Lori Tanner. She added that it was inspiring when Commissioner Karla Gordy Bristol came to BHHS during Career Day to talk about her entertainment company, a field Yasui said she is interested in pursuing.

Yasui and Moon are the two leaders of the BHHS Paper Arts Club, a student organization focused on origami. The pair was able to put their newfound skills into practice by drafting a proposal to both commissions for the club to appear at the Beverly Hills Art Show. The proposal was approved, and the club will host the first booth for a high school club at the show on May 16 and 17.

“This recognition reflects what makes Beverly Hills exceptional,” said Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education President Judy Manouchehri. “When our city and school district come together, we create opportunities beyond the classroom. Seeing our students recognized on a City Council stage is incredibly meaningful and highlights both our strong partnership and their limitless potential.” 

The post BHHS Students Recognized for Inaugural City Government Internship appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The kitchen of The Roof Garden at the Peninsula Beverly Hills was shut down on April 18 for a violation of Health and Safety Code Section 114259.1. According to details from the Health Department Environmental Health Facility Closure List reviewed by the Courier, inspectors found violations regarding the availability of hot and cold water, as well as the  presence of insects. Health Department records indicate the facility reopened on April 21.

Peninsula Managing Director Offer Nissenbaum told the Courier that circulating media reports regarding the closure were “completely false and incorrect.”

“The true story is that we had a health department visit. They were here for six hours and inspected the entire hotel, all the kitchens, the bar, everywhere in the hotel. Everything passed with an A,” Nissenbaum said. “When they went up to the outdoor kitchen on the roof, in an electrical panel, they found two insects. And by law, if you find insects, even if they’re not alive, you have to close for 48 hours, do the fumigation and reopen. And we’re completely reopened. Everything is fine, and that’s what we did. No rodents or vermin or anything of that nature, and it’s just the original story, and we’re probably going to take legal action.”

Nissenbaum said that the dead insects were not found near the main dining area, and the hotel acted quickly to fumigate the area in addition to their regular maintenance and fumigation.

“It’s an outdoor area on the roof. It’s not our main kitchen, it’s not our bar, it’s not at our laundry, in the entire hotel,” he said. “It’s a small blip. We took care of it, and everything is fine.”

In a written statement to the Courier, Nissenbaum added, “We want to reassure our guests and the community that our approach to hygiene and food safety is uncompromising and rigorous. … We apologize for any inconvenience this causes and can reassure guests there will be no pause in service. Health, safety and hygiene standards remain our highest priority.”

Two additional establishments popular with Beverly Hills patrons also received recent closure notices. Dan Tana’s, the iconic West Hollywood Italian eatery, was closed on April 15 before reopening three days later. Health Department records indicate “Vermin Infestation-California Health and Safety Code Section 114259.1” as the reason for the closure, as well as violations regarding food contact surfaces. 

In an interview with the Courier, General Manager Daniel Miller did not refute the health department’s findings and said the restaurant completed the required maintenance before reopening.

“We had an older building, so it was mostly structural to prevent anything from coming inside,” Miller said. “The Department of Health has been great. We are working with them 100% to meet what the Department of Health requires. We are on board with them completely. We want everyone who comes here to feel like we are doing all the right things.”

The San Vicente Bungalows on San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood closed on April 14 for two days due to the same reasons as the Dan Tana’s closure. San Vicente Bungalows declined the Courier’s request for a comment.  

The post Health Department Temporarily Closes Local Restaurants appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Phase one is underway and involves outreach to local schools, businesses and residents on trespassing protocols and finalizing response protocols. City staff will develop data tracking and reporting systems that will follow outreach activity, calls for service and emerging trends in real time.

Once the station opens, the city will transition to phase two of the plan, which will focus on collecting and analyzing the number of riders offloading each night, service calls and sanitation trends before stabilizing protocols and establishing regular operations.

Enisha Clark, human services administrator, said that while the city has robust homelessness response services, it will take a collaborative approach once Metro opens, and it can often take multiple efforts to assist homeless individuals.

“It’s not illegal to be unhoused, and people refuse help,” she said. “We have so many documented cases of offers of help response, but just refusal. And sometimes it can take up to 100-plus contacts before someone accepts help.”

Vice Mayor Mary Wells said that response time will be critical for the Beverly Hills Outreach Team during the opening after hearing feedback about long wait times, and suggested the council could look into increasing the five-person staff. Wells added that while she appreciates the city’s “compassionate approach,” it is important for the city to enforce local laws that prohibit people from blocking access to sidewalks and other public spaces.

Clark added that Metro ambassadors and security personnel, along with Los Angeles Police Department officers, will be stationed throughout the platform and will be in constant communication with members of the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) to monitor any potential security risks or disruptions.

Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) Chief Gregory Barton said the department, along with the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, has reached out to nearly every business in the city with information on how to establish trespass enforcement authorizations, which will authorize after-hour BHPD responses on private property. Councilmember Lester Friedman asked BHFD to continue its outreach in an effort to get responses from each business.

Councilmember John Mirisch assured the community that the city is prepared for all possibilities once the Metro station opens.

“It’s important for us, if something is happening underground, not to have to wait until people come above ground to be able to deal with it,” he said. “Hopefully, once the subway is up and running, people will feel more comforted. But more than anything, it sounds like people are afraid of what they consider to be an unknown, major change in the neighborhood, and I think we want to ensure that this is going to be something that is a good experience for them. … We’ve been prepared for a long time. That being said, as prepared as someone can be, there’s always stuff that can happen. So, we really need to continue to be alert, on our watch, and I know we will be.”

In other business, the council heard details on the community’s support for lowering pickleball and tennis court fees to a residential rate of $12 per court per hour and nonresidents paying $17 per court per hour. The change comes after community pushback to proposed tennis court rates in September of $20 and $40 per court per hour for residents and nonresidents, respectively, and pickleball fees moving from a per-court to per-player fee in response to concerns about court availability for residents.

The new rates were determined after staff received community feedback and evaluated that average fees across the region are $13 per court per hour for residents and $16 per court per hour for non-residents.

With the addition of the new Playbypoint software for court reservations, the total expenditures for the tennis and pickleball facilities at both La Cienega Tennis Center and Roxbury Park Tennis Courts are projected to increase from $784,372 in fiscal year 2024-25 to $1,091,084 in fiscal year 2025-26. In 2024-25, the costs included maintenance, staffing, the replacement of tennis and pickleball equipment and cost of resurfacing spread over five years.

The total revenue of the tennis and pickleball program was $999,549 for fiscal year 2024-25 and has generated $584,338 so far for fiscal year 2025-26.

The council approved the amended fees at the April 21 regular City Council meeting.  

The post Homelessness Response Plan Underway Ahead of Metro Opening appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The discussions follow community outrage from a guest speaker appearance by influencer Ben Azoulay at the Beverly Hills High School (BHHS) Jewish club on Feb. 17. In 2008, Azoulay, then 18, faced allegations of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

According to a civil lawsuit filed by the alleged victim in 2011 and public records reviewed by the Courier, Azoulay “admitted his guilt in open court and was convicted on the charge of violating Penal Code Section 288a(b)(1), oral copulation with a minor.” 

Azoulay has been highly controversial due to his posts that degrade women, encourage young people to do poorly in school and, in at least one post, appear to make light of the allegations leveled against him.

According to a district spokesperson, the visit was coordinated by a student-run club and approved at the BHHS site level, a protocol in accordance with the California Education Code. Superintendent Alex Cherniss later decried Azoulay’s talk, calling his views “abhorrent,” and said he would not have been allowed to appear if the district or principal knew of the talk ahead of time.

Board Member Amanda Stern apologized to the community for Azoulay’s appearance on April 14.

“I personally offer apologies to anyone in the community who was triggered by the visit from Ben Azoulay,” she said. “To students, parents and staff who have been victims of assault, I understand how upsetting this was … We cannot underestimate how damaging it is when someone comes to our campus and says, ‘I can’t lie. I was an F student.’ And then you have a student who happened to film it with everyone clapping.”

Board President Judy Manouchehri also apologized for Azoulay’s appearance.

“I really do want to acknowledge that we had a speaker that came through one of our student clubs not too long ago, and it was triggering and disappointing for a lot of our community members and I want to acknowledge that,” she said.

Assistant Superintendent Dustin Seemann proposed changes to district Policy 6145.8, the district’s visitor and assembly policy, that would require a vetting process and a final approval for each guest by the respective school’s principal, and prohibit guests from distributing any food that does not comply with board policy.

“The Superintendent or designee shall develop a comprehensive vetting process for all non-staff speakers/presenters, which must include a background check for criminal convictions, restraining orders, and any public record of conduct inconsistent with district values or missions. It is scheduled at minimum 15 school days in advance to allow for adjustment of academic schedule and provide families with information on assembly,” the proposed amendment read.

Seemann clarified that club events fall under the definition of an assembly. 

“What we’re trying to say as a group is, at minimum, we are getting names submitted to us 15 days in advance. Within that, we are ensuring that all of this has been followed through. Someone isn’t just invited off the street. They have gone through Raptor [Technologies school safety software],” he added.

Manouchehri said it was important to provide school principals with an objective standard that aligns with federal standards, which regulate limitations that school boards can impose on student organizations.

“I looked at some of the policy and I’m worried that the subjectiveness could get us into trouble with students’ rights,” she said. “This would inhibit the clubs. Dr. Seemann is categorizing a club as a special event. I just want to put this out here for everybody, this is not my opinion, but it appears to be federal law. Let’s look into it as a group so we can make sure we’re not overreaching.”

Board Member Rachelle Marcus argued that guest speakers should be scheduled outside of normal school hours to minimize instructional disruption, while Stern added it is important to enforce a policy that students don’t record guest speakers, as fallout from Azoulay’s appearance affected the district’s reputation.

Stern also claimed that district administrators should be able to make judgment calls about whether speakers are fit to speak to students.

“It took 20 seconds if you Google the person’s name to see absolutely abhorrent media,” Stern said. “This particular guy was legally okay to be on the campus, but that doesn’t matter because he wasn’t a good fit.”

Board Member Russell Stuart challenged the phrase “public record” in the proposed amendment, arguing that a guest’s social media posts should not be considered when deciding if they are fit to appear on campus and criticized Stern’s proposed policy changes.

“Dr. Stern, according to you, I’m not a good fit either, which you made a public statement that I should never have been allowed on campus, I should never have been allowed to speak to kids and that I was a dangerous person,” he said. “According to [the amended policy], I would be blocked from coming on campus. We cannot include opinion.”

Stern previously criticized Stuart for speaking about mental health at a BHHS boys’ mental health club, claiming he was not qualified, and also criticized his social media posts, including one that read, “Cheers to my haters! Be patient. So much more is coming.”

The last amendment would mandate all cellphones and recording devices to be powered off during assemblies and students and guests would be prohibited from recording or taking photographs.

The board will review an official proposal of an amended guest and assembly policy at a later date.  

The post Heated Guest Policy Discussion at BHUSD Board Meeting appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The school, located on the northeast corner of South Linden Drive and Charleville Boulevard, was built in 1930 by architect M. L. Barker. Originally the Beverly Hills Catholic School, the site now serves as the parochial school for the Church of the Good Shepherd. As the only Catholic school in Beverly Hills, the property has had continuous educational use since its founding.

The school building is in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The two-story, stucco-clad building houses eight classrooms, an auditorium, offices, cafeteria, music room and library.

“The education at the school is magnificent, ongoing all these years. We take all faith types of students. It doesn’t have to be Catholic, and we have a good, diverse group right now, but they like to come for the history and the great curriculum that is offered,” said Christine Redlin, a member of the parish and a 39-year Beverly Hills resident. “We felt that it would be important to include the school as part of our designation on the list of historic properties in the city. It would be so exciting.”

The property met necessary criteria to be considered a cultural landmark, including being 45 years of age, having high aesthetic value, retaining substantial integrity from when it was built, and having continued historic value to the community. However, one key criterion the school did not meet is that it was not built by a master architect.

“It’s been here so long, and we had a landmark for the parish in 2023 with our centennial. So, we thought it would be nice to have both of them, because they’ve been such a big part of the city for so long,” said the Rev. Ed Benioff, priest of the Church of the Good Shepherd and the project applicant.

Members of the commission lauded the school for its architectural significance and history in the city.

“It’s a beautiful school. I love having it there. I can’t imagine the city without it,” said Commissioner Andy Licht, a Beverly Hills City Council candidate. “Of course, I support this and thank you for being there and bringing it forward.”

“I really appreciate you bringing it forward, because that is, to me, such a wonderful thing. We don’t have to pull teeth to get people to do something,” said Commission Chair Lori Greene Gordon. “You really want to do this, and for that reason alone, and not just that reason, but the fact that you meet all the important criteria, and it is really a lovely facility. I have absolutely no problem with moving this forward to the next step.”

At a later meeting, the Commission will formally consider nominating the property as a landmark and if approved, the Beverly Hills City Council will make the final decision on adding it to the city’s Register of Historic Properties.

In other business, the Commission nominated the former Friar’s Club building, the former Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 33 clubhouse, the former William Morris Agency and the First Commercial Building for future consideration to receive Golden Shield Awards, which recognize buildings that have cultural significance in the city.

The Commission could only nominate four of the six selections from the Landmark Nominations Subcommittee and left off the Beverly Hills Bowling Green Association clubhouse and green located at Roxbury Park and the former Beverly Hills Buick dealership at 9231 West Olympic Boulevard.

Gordon said it didn’t make sense to award a section of Roxbury Park instead of a building and the former Beverly Hills Buick dealership was already being honored. She added that the First Commercial Building had a key role in shaping the city.

“I think there’s something wonderful about the First Commercial Building in the city of Beverly Hills,” she said. “To me, the entire business triangle began with the First Commercial Building. What if they put a house there? What if there never was a commercial building? Then, we wouldn’t have the business triangle.”

Commissioner Sandy Pressman said that the former Scout House played an important role in the community.

“Not only was it used as a Scout House, but it was also used as a polling place for years, and years, and years in Beverly Hills,” she said. “I used to work at the Scout House so many years ago, and if you’re talking about celebrities, I would sit there until Gene Kelly came in to vote. As a former tap dancer, I was not about to leave without seeing him.”  

The post Good Shepherd Catholic School to be Reviewed for Register of Historic Properties appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

As reported in the Jan. 16 edition of the Courier, the lawsuit alleges that the board violated its own bylaws by installing Sabag as vice president at its Dec. 16 organizational meeting, despite her having received fewer votes than Board Member Amanda Stern in the most recent election. The board’s bylaws stated that when multiple board members have the same term of service, “they shall serve as vice president in descending order of the number of votes received in their most recent election.”

The board voted to rewrite Bylaw 9100 before repeating the election of president and vice president on Jan. 27 to give the board complete control over electing its officers without regard to the number of votes in the most recent election. 

In his lawsuit, Lifschitz alleges causes of action for traditional mandamus, declaratory relief, and injunctive relief. He claims in pertinent part that the board has a “ministerial obligation under former BHUSD Board Bylaw 9100 to elect … Amanda Stern as the board’s vice president.” 

The defendants filed a demurrer to the complaint on Feb. 26, challenging its legal sufficiency on grounds that Lifschitz lacked standing and that the action was moot, among others. Chalfant overruled the demurrer as to all but the claim for declaratory relief, which he found redundant. The court ordered defendants to file an answer to the complaint within 20 days. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June.

Lifschitz told the Courier he plans to proceed with a vigorous course of discovery. 

“I am grateful for the court’s thoughtful opinion repudiating the district’s positions and clearing the way for me to depose the board trustees in connection with this matter,” Lifschitz told the Courier. “I look forward to the seven hours I will have with each of them under oath. In the meantime, they can reconsider whether their Jan. 27 press release calling my case frivolous should be updated for accuracy.”

A spokesperson for BHUSD declined to comment. 

The post Ruling Allows Lawsuit Against BHUSD to Proceed appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

With one month until the May 8 opening, city officials provided updates on safety, maintenance and business opportunities at the station. The Metro D Line will run from Union Station to La Cienega/Wilshire in approximately 21 minutes. The Wilshire/La Cienega station will temporarily serve as the end-of-the-line station until future stations open at Beverly Drive, Century City and Westwood.

The Wilshire/La Cienega station will feature the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) Public Safety Center, the only aboveground police station at any Metro station. While the Public Safety Center will not fully open until fall, a temporary public safety center will be located at the station upon opening on the north side of Wilshire Boulevard.

BHPD Captain Renato Moreno detailed the increased police presence above and below ground in the station and in the surrounding area.

“We are finalizing details with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to provide policing service for everything below ground,” he said. “So, whenever the station is open and open to ridership, you’re going to have at least two [LAPD] officers down on the platform and on the upper levels. And everything that is above ground is going to be the Beverly Hills Police Department.”

Additionally, there will be two Metro security officers at the station at all times, and Metro fare enforcement staff during peak-hour ridership.

Moreno stressed that the department is increasing its patrol around La Cienega Park in anticipation of the station’s opening, in addition to the Covered 6 private security officers who already monitor the area.

Moreno added that Metro officials told him riders under the influence tend to use longer routes than the D Line, and public safety issues on the line are limited.

Beverly Hills Fire Department Chief Gregory Barton detailed how property owners can submit trespass authorization forms by emailing pd-mhet@beverlyhills.org to address any overnight loitering. Barton added that the city’s homeless services personnel and licensed clinical social workers will focus on the station once it opens.

“What we’re doing is, with regards to Metro, we are redeploying one of the licensed clinical social workers to just go work at the Metro station, at the opening of it, to deal with it for the first few months,” he said. “We’re also redirecting our Beverly Hills Outreach Team to really focus on the Metro station to make sure we’re providing the needed services.”

Robert Welch, the Utilities General Manager for the Department of Public Works, said the city will be working closely with Metro to maintain the new station and surrounding areas. City staff will continuously power wash and scrub the station, utilize trash cans in and around the station, maintain vegetation and weed control in the surrounding area, and remove graffiti. Residents can reach out to askbh@beverlyhills.org or call 310-285-1000 to report any maintenance that needs to be addressed.

Nick Fox Robbins, Station Operations Program Manager for Metro, detailed how Metro will strive to “deter negative activity with positive activity” by activating the station with activities and events, including night markets, performances, vendors, farmers’ markets and classes.

“I think about a 39-year-old woman going to a Metro station at 7 p.m. by herself,” he said. “Maybe, there’s some other person there, maybe she doesn’t feel safe, but if she goes there and there’s a coffee cart vendor there, or there’s a night market pop-up happening, or there’s a musician playing music, then all of a sudden, that people presence makes us feel safer, and this is the philosophical approach for station activation.”

Robbins said that there has been a total of 110 station activations at the Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Brea stations so far, with events ranging from salsa classes to community markets. He stressed that Metro station activations strive to support local businesses, not compete with them.

“We are not trying to create competition for your businesses. We are trying to support your businesses,” he said. “We want to make sure that the businesses that we’re featuring, the artists that we’re featuring, are from Beverly Hills, so that we’re not turning our station into this competitive thing for your local businesses. We want to be part of your community, not on top of the community.”  

The post Stakeholders Meet One Month Before Metro Opens appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Protesters in Beverly Hills held signs related to Trump’s involvement in the recent war against Iran, the Epstein files, political corruption and the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Some signs simply said, “There are too many to name.” The gathered crowd at Beverly Gardens Park lined up along Santa Monica Boulevard. Banners along the street proclaimed, “We love America,” while passing cars honked their approval to the cheering masses.

Organizer Andrea Grossman told the Courier, “This is to put all of our representatives, Democrats and Republicans, on notice that we’re paying attention to everything they’re saying and they’re not saying. This represents a community of like-minded people, and we need to be part of a community right now, and we need to feel like we’re part of something bigger.”

Gay Abrams, another organizer, told the Courier she began holding anti-Trump protests in Beverly Hills in response to rallies held in the city that supported Trump and the Make America Great Again movement. The protests have only grown in numbers, she said, since holding the first “Hands Off!” rally in April 2025 to demonstrate against the administration’s actions against reproductive rights.

Abrams added that she struggled to name all the reasons to protest the current administration, but abuse of power was top of mind.

“We are not moving towards authoritarianism. We are in authoritarianism.” she said.

At least one Beverly Hills elected official, and several City Council candidates were seen at the rally, observing the proceedings. 

Many attendees were eager to share with the Courier the reasons why they were there. Beverly Hills resident Patrick Gardnar, a former speechwriter for Vice President Dan Quayle, said he came out to express his disapproval of the administration’s corruption.

“We’re in a war that nobody wants. The economy is going down the toilet. He’s lining his own pockets all over the place, and nobody who has a constitutional role seems to be willing to fulfill their role right now. Congress is not taking their responsibility to stand up to him, so the people have to come out and show their disapproval,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a moment before where our democracy was more at risk.”

Standing up for democracy motivated Steven Ross, a local resident and author, to attend the protest.

“Let’s start with ICE; the whole idea is ripples of 1930s Germany, when you have secret police, and when you wear masks over your face and you have no ID on you, you are a member of the secret police,” he said. “They’re not following the rule of law. When a nation no longer follows the rule of law, its leaders are no longer legitimate. When leaders no longer protect the citizens of a country, they no longer represent a legitimate government, and that’s where we’re moving now, to an illegitimate government that doesn’t listen to the courts, doesn’t listen to the Constitution, and lies under oath with impunity.”

“I think we reached the limit when the two protesters were killed,” said Beverly Hills resident Eric Ericson, in reference to the ICE killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. “It’s kind of like Kent State if you go back that far.”

The crowd cheered as cars and cement trucks honked in support of the protest. Hecklers also made their voices heard from their vehicles as they passed along Santa Monica Boulevard, but there was no substantial conflict or any violence during the protest.

Resident Bruce Cohen said he attended the protest to demand a better future for his grandchildren.

“I’m 76 years old. I did this in college. We shouldn’t have to do it again,” he said. “I have grandkids. They shouldn’t be growing up in a world with this kind of corruption.”

“It makes me teary-eyed to see there are people out here, actually fighting back,” said resident Mary Louise Cohen.

Resident Katherine Katz said that each protest held in Beverly Hills rejuvenated her during the hardest times of Trump’s presidency, and she also struggled when naming just one issue that motivated her to protest.

“There are honestly just so many, but the one that always motivates me is women’s rights and reproductive rights,” she said. “It’s everything. It’s the environment. It’s the Constitution. It’s democracy.”

Billy Riback said he felt a personal duty to his country to take action against the sitting president.

“The man who’s in Washington is evil,” he said. “If I didn’t come here, I would feel remiss in my duties as a human being, as a United States citizen .… I think it’s incumbent upon anybody who can make a difference to do whatever they can. And so, we showed up because it’s the beginning of making a difference.”

Longtime resident Bonnie Fleming said the large turnout made her hopeful for both the country and the city of Beverly Hills.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “We have to keep doing it and fighting. And it’s our right, and I think we’re blessed. I live in Beverly Hills, and we’re blessed that we have a police force that supports us, and we support it. This was nonviolent.”  

The post Thousands Gather at Beverly Gardens Park for ‘No Kings’ Rally appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Harris first joined the city in 2014 as a Management Analyst in the Community Services Department, going on to work as the Community Outreach Manager before being named Interim Director of Community Services in 2023 and later becoming the permanent director. Previously, she worked for the city of Rosemead’s Parks and Recreation Department.

In an interview with the Courier, Harris said she is looking forward to the new role. 

“I’m very excited to bring a different perspective to the community,” she said. “From the Community Services Department to the City Manager’s office, I’ve had the privilege of working with each of our departments over the last 12 years in a variety of capacities, and also working really closely with the community that we serve. So, I look forward to supporting Ryan and the City Council as we move forward.”

During her time in the Community Services Department, Harris said she is most proud of her staff members that work day in and day out to meet the community’s needs and carry out council initiatives.

“We’re getting ready to welcome a brand-new playground at La Cienega Park, which the community is thrilled for,” she said. “We’re also looking at Arnaz playground being replaced … The implementation of the pickleball program was a huge success, and something that the community was eagerly awaiting.”

Harris said that constant community input was essential when planning the La Cienega Park renovation, and that she hopes to bring the same spirit of collaboration into the City Manager’s office. Bringing in a swing set as well as moving from sand to poured-in-place rubber surfacing to increase accessibility were results from the outreach process, she added.

“We had a survey open for just a little over a month, where we were soliciting input from the community members that utilize that park facility,” she said. “As well as presenting it to the Recreation and Parks Commission, we also sent the survey out to everyone who was registered to use our classes that had children in that age range. So, I thought it was extremely important to ensure that we heard from the community on what they wanted at the park, or what they felt was most important at a playground that they were going to bring their children to.”

Having overseen the Beverly Hills Public Library and the city’s parks and recreation facilities in the Community Services Department, Harris said the city offers robust opportunities for community engagement.

“If we’re going to talk hidden gems, Greystone Mansion is something that’s really unique to this community,” she said. “There’s the Beverly Hills Public Library and all of our online resources that also offer just a variety of things to our community … There is the avenue too for you to experience different things like Earth Day that’s coming up, working with public works at the Farmers’ Market. I think we really do a lot for the community. Our park sites are beautiful. Whether you want an active park like La Cienega or Roxbury, or you want a passive park like Will Rogers Park. I think we have a lot of gems in the city.”

Looking forward to tackling projects like housing and development, Harris said she sees upcoming issues as opportunities and hopes to bring in as many community voices as possible along the way.

“We have a lot of opportunity facing us,” she said. “With Metro coming, it provides us with new opportunities. There’s also a lot of the big development projects that are coming forward that allow us to bring new families into the community to build upon the programs and offerings that we do here, continuing to support our residents. I think a lot of this is new opportunity.”  

The post Stephanie Harris Brings Community Perspective to Assistant City Manager Role appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Currently operating on one floor and serving 11 families, the nonprofit aims to raise $35 million to renovate its location at the former Hilgard House Hotel and triple its operation. There is currently a waitlist of 38 families wanting to be housed.

Before opening in 2025, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital was the only children’s hospital in California that did not have a Ronald McDonald House. Hosting families from around the country and the world who face barriers to finding a residence while their children receive long-term clinical care, Ronald McDonald House Westside Los Angeles offers one hot meal every day, laundry services, a kitchen and community spaces to families in addition to free housing. 

“There’s a huge impact based on being open for one year,” Emily Juarez, development manager of Ronald McDonald House Westside Los Angeles, told the Courier. “You see families in the house, and you can see the stress on their faces the minute they walk into the house go down.”

Families receiving clinical medical care for a child at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Saint John’s Health Center are eligible to be housed at the Ronald McDonald House Westside Los Angeles for the duration of their child’s care.

The March 18 panel included Cedars-Sinai senior vice president and chief advancement officer Arthur Ochoa, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management managing director Tracey Gluck, California Landmark Group founder and president Ken Kahan and UniHealth Foundation president and chief operating officer Jennifer Vanore on topics ranging from the lack of housing aid for medically affected families to the value of philanthropy.

“We’re in an environment where resources for health care and reimbursement for health care providers continue to shrink and get squeezed in every way possible,” Ochoa said. “We are lucky to be in this part of town served by two extraordinary world-class academic medical centers, and at the same time, there is absolutely no reimbursement for the health care provider, for patients or their families for housing when people have to travel all the distance to receive care, and so the insurance companies aren’t paying for that, government isn’t paying for that, nobody’s paying for that. So, the idea that a group of committed philanthropists can help support the mission of Ronald McDonald House in providing that kind of support for people in the toughest times of their lives is pretty extraordinary.”

Proximate housing services are key in reducing a family’s stress while going through one of the most difficult experiences imaginable, Vanore said.

“When you look at stressors and stress being a satellite killer, the number two causes are a loss of a loved one or dealing with a catastrophic event related to health, and then the second is financial insecurity,” she said. “Nowadays, more and more parents are actually two-income families, and they’re very reliant on those incomes. So, if you have a family or a parent that has to be in that home for a year, they’re not able to work, that is a massive impact on their income for their family. It’s a sacrifice, and so being able to have a free place to stay really helps alleviate those stressors and those long-term mental health impacts on both the parents and the child.”

Gluck emphasized the lasting impact of philanthropy for both the receiver and the donor.

“Philanthropy as part of a wealth strategy,” she said. “I’m at J.P. Morgan, and we deal with high-net-worth individuals. Everybody can afford philanthropy, so making it a part of the strategy, along with involving the children and their children in the giving process, is very important because there’s a legacy, and they need to know what their family is focused on.”

Dr. Theodore Moore, a pediatric oncologist at UCLA, spoke after the panel and said that Ronald McDonald Houses not only provide urgent housing services to families, but can be essential for a patient’s care.

“We have a lot of therapy where you need to come for that therapy, but then you need to stay in the area for a minimum of 30 days of follow-up. Where do the families find a place to stay in Westwood or Beverly Hills or an area where they can afford and be with their whole family?” he said. “When you take care of a patient, you take care of the entire family, and Ronald McDonald Houses do this so well, the counseling, the play therapy, everything that’s there. You’re not going to get this with the family staying in a hotel somewhere. The whole family needs to be treated to be whole.”

The services provided by Ronald McDonald House are so impactful that families often have a difficult time leaving the community they’ve built with other families experiencing similar challenges when they are discharged from the house, said Kelly Herman, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Westside Los Angeles. Wheeler Hadden, director of operations of Ronald McDonald House Westside Los Angeles, remembered one moment between a family from Mexico and a family from China living in the house at the same time.

“Both families had a 7-year-old daughter who was receiving treatment and was inpatient when they first came, and now is outpatient. And they have both been there about the same amount of time, 10 or 11 months,” he said. “And you saw them in the kitchen, and the parents were cooking food respectively, in their own spaces. And the two girls started interacting. One girl asked her mom if she could share some of her food; her mom was cooking classic Chinese food, and the other girl shared home-cooked Mexican food. And they started sharing their food, the two girls. So just seeing that, it was beautiful.”  

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The six-story project is designed in a contemporary architectural style consisting of asymmetrical design, a facade featuring white concrete and smooth stucco, floor-to-ceiling windows with glass and curved balconies with aluminum railings. The project also includes an 8-foot non-illuminated sign facing the street and will have three units designated for low-income residents.

Pynoos said she dissented because the project was “out of context architecturally” with the street it’s on, despite commending the project’s designers on the development.

“The responsibility to maintain neighborhood character has shifted to this commission,” she said. “Durant is a street that still has a strong sense of place, even if there are some new, modern buildings on it. It feels cohesive. It feels residential. In Beverly Hills, that’s increasingly rare.”

The Beverly Hills Planning Commission approved a development plan review and density bonus permit to allow construction of the development in October 2025. The project is also located within a half mile of a major transit stop, located at Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards.

Kevin Murray, an associate with the project’s designer, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, argued that the development fits within the pattern of surrounding large-scale buildings in Century City and future Beverly Hills developments. He added that designers incorporated aspects of other buildings on Durant Drive, including street-facing courtyards and a central bifurcation.

“It should be noted too that in our immediate context, right at the end of the block here, we see Century City and just beyond our property will soon rise One Beverly Hills,” he said. “So when we approached the site, we wanted to make sure that we were finding rhythms that existed on the site that can keep us in scale while still providing innovative architecture here.”

The approval came after numerous residents in the surrounding neighborhood spoke out against the development, decrying state-mandated housing laws and arguing the project strips away the neighborhood’s charm.

“That is an ugly building design. It’s straight out of Huxley’s dystopic “Brave New World,” and is just another step in degrading the family character of this old neighborhood,” Robbins Drive resident Daniel Ditzhazy wrote. “Finally, this is just an implementation of the humiliating attack on local sovereignty conducted by the state of California…It forces us to put high-density residential structures in suburban communities such as Beverly Hills, where the residents oppose such things.”

Terrence Rodsky, who owns the adjacent property on Durant Drive, also questioned the development’s place in the neighborhood.

“This project, as currently designed, is not in good taste. Were it proposed for Miami Beach, it would be welcomed,” he said. “My other point in general is that if the commission is to approve this project as designed, you will jeopardize the right to object to future projects, as builders will cite 9945 Durant as carte blanche for anything they wish to construct.”

Commissioner Jeffrey Daniels voted to approve the project, citing the city’s need to build more housing to meet mandated housing goals from the state. He also commended the project’s design, saying it will bring something “new and innovative to the community.”

“Beverly Hills in particular, but Los Angeles as an entire region, needs to come up with more housing. And this is not like a personal preference, it’s a matter of existential survival,” he said. “So while I appreciate the concern among neighbors, who understandably have a very strong association with the quaintness of the neighborhood, that may not be a sustainable requirement going forward into the future.”

Commission Vice Chair Terri Smooke expressed concerns about whether the project’s design fits with the rest of the street, but commended the developers for incorporating elements from other buildings on Durant Drive. She added that the commission ultimately had to approve the project in order for the city to meet state-mandated housing requirements.

“So for the neighbors who are very concerned about this project, please understand that this commission does not have the ability to deny,” she said. “I am concerned, as I said, we don’t have the right to deny and I think it’s going to be problematic for many people on the street, because it is so different in mass and scale and design, frankly. But I do believe you’ve created something that’s really exceptional.”

Commissioner Evan Meyer said he voted to approve due to the city’s need to build more housing and commended the planners on the design and landscaping of the property.

In other business, the commission heard details about a proposal for a new three-story building with a restaurant and rooftop use for the new Tiffany & Co. flagship store, located at 360 North Rodeo Drive.  

The post Commission Approves Modern, Multifamily Development on Durant Drive appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The new guidelines provide daily and weekly time limits for students based on grade level, reduce the use of digital devices for students in early education through second grade, encourage the use of pen and paper assignments and provide recommendations for students to safely utilize digital tools.

The district provides Chromebooks and iPads for students to access online programs, individualized interventions, word processing tools and assessments.

Stern and Marcus both dissented because they needed more time to review and amend the policy. Stern said she was concerned by recent parent remarks that suggested the board often rushed through discussion, while Marcus said that she could not support the proposal without condensing the language to add clarity.

BHUSD School Board President Judy Manouchehri, who proposed the guidelines, said she brought the proposal forward after hearing parental feedback about their children’s frequent use of technology and after learning that a fourth-grade student had to take a laptop home every day to complete homework.

“In particular, placing iPads in the hands of our youngest learners, our 4, 5, and 6-year-olds, was not the right approach. It has raised valid concerns among families and in some cases, has even been a deterrent for parents considering enrollment in our TK program,” she said. “At the same time, I think it is important to clarify what this resolution does not do. … This resolution does not mean that we are stepping back from technology, modernization, nor progress.”

The proposal cited a statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that from July 2021 through December 2023, half of teenagers aged 12 to 17 had four hours or more of daily screen time.

“Excessive screen time can be associated with vision problems, increased anxiety and depression, addictive behavior, reduced attention span, difficulty managing emotions, lower academic achievement and weaker cognition, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics,” the proposal read.

Parent Dorsa Carrick, a founding member of Parents Against Unhealthy Screen Exposure, lauded the proposal and encouraged the board to strengthen its firewall on district devices to limit student internet use to only teacher-approved websites.

Student Board Member Charlotte Kaveh expressed support for the proposal but questioned the specifics of how much time students would be allowed on devices. Manouchehri responded that district staff will return with more specific guidelines after receiving direction from the board.

Board Member Sigalie Sabag said the resolution was “long overdue” and emphasized the need to minimize screen usage for students in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to limiting screen time, BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss is in the process of creating an AI task force to determine best implementation practices and the district passed a new cellphone policy in 2023 that limited cellphone usage during instructional time.

“This is an exciting moment for our district. We are taking a thoughtful, forward-looking step to ensure technology supports our students in the right way, with balance, intention and purpose,” Manouchehri told the Courier. “It provides for both a limitation of screen time in the younger years, while maintaining BHUSD’s commitment to innovation, technical education and career-readiness for our older students.”

The board will specify the screen time policy during future study sessions. 

The post BHUSD Approves Student Screen Time Guidelines appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Neighborhood residents voiced concerns related to public safety, recent neighborhood power outages, and advocated for district representation in the City Council. The Beverly Hills City Council attended the meeting, along with outgoing City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey, incoming City Manager Ryan Gohlich, Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) Chief Mark Stainbrook and Beverly Hills Fire Department Chief Gregory Barton.

A separate South Beverly Hills Residents forum took place on March 22 to discuss neighborhood issues.

The city is building a Public Safety Center on the platform at the Wilshire/La Cienega station, but it will not be complete for the May 8 opening of the station. Resident Gabe Leamy said the City Council failed in delivering on its promise to have the station built at the time of the opening and expressed concern with Metro riders disembarking from the end-of-the-line station who “don’t look like they should be roaming around the streets of Beverly Hills.”

Hunt-Coffey detailed extensive safety measures for the station, including a police presence underground, security cameras and full-height metal doors instead of turnstiles to deter fare-evading riders. Stainbrook added that the planned Public Safety Center is the first of its kind at any Metro platform and will be sufficient for police officers to keep the area safe.

“It’s the only one on any Metro platform or any Metro plaza. We are groundbreakers in this, and we had to fight and convince Metro we need this place that’s going to give us 24/7 visibility and have someone out there looking at who is coming off and what they’re doing and where they’re going,” he said. “I also want to point out that we constitutionally police. So, when people are in public and they’re not breaking the law, we don’t stop them or detain them, harass them based on the fact that they look different than somebody else. That’s very important for us.”

Resident Debbie Novell said that repeated power outages in the area have drastically impacted her ability to take care of her four children, including having to charge her breast pump in her car for her five-month-old child, and called for an increased police presence when power outages occur.

“During that first outage, I had to send my kids to school for three days without being able to give them a warm breakfast,” she said. “I’m asking for generators if this continues because I cannot live like this.”

Gohlich clarified that the city contracts with Southern California Edison to provide power and has no direct oversight over the company. Damage to an electrical substation on Doheny Drive, along with extremely high temperatures, contributed to recent outages.

“I do want you to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Edison right now is undertaking a project that will update the service in the area. … It’s actually going to eliminate the need for that Doheny substation, so we will no longer be reliant on that. And the other great thing that they’re doing is all the new wiring that they’re installing is insulated wire, and what that does is it prevents outages that sometimes result from mylar balloons or palm fronds that fall on lines.”

Former Beverly Hills Unified School District School Board President Isabel Hacker called for initiatives to support businesses in the southern part of the city, saying, “The experience here has been one of being ignored.”

“There were suggestions that upon the start of the Metro station that we should look at the Grove and emulate that down the Wilshire quarter to promote business, to promote vitality, to promote street destination, and none of that has happened,” she said. “We had a study session and we had a task force. It’s been undone. … So, my question is for the policymakers and perhaps management, who take direction from policymakers, whose job is it to follow through?”

The meeting transitioned to a discussion about housing and development in the area, with several residents expressing their opposition to the affordable housing development planned for Gale Drive and Wilshire Boulevard.

Hunt-Coffey said that the city’s state-mandated housing element requires it to allow the construction of more than 3,000 additional units, and the city committed to building 557 units on its own properties. If the city does not meet its housing development, then the state can force the city to build larger and more substantial buildings. The development at Gale Drive and Wilshire Boulevard will feature 125 units.

“It’s affordable housing. It’s not homeless housing,” she said. “It is generally working people that are maybe not at the highest income level.”

Hunt-Coffey added that the city has robust homeless services to prevent people from sleeping on the street or encamping overnight.

Gohlich also addressed the 34-story mixed-use development, located at 8300 Wilshire Boulevard, and clarified that it is not a Builder’s Remedy project but rather that Assembly Bill 2011, a 2023 state law that allows housing to be built along certain commercial corridors without lengthy discretionary approvals, strips away the city’s control over the project, including allowing public hearings.

In response to resident concerns over excessive noise from vehicle exhausts, Stainbrook said that BHPD recently purchased two devices that will allow officers to legally cite drivers who exceed the city’s noise ordinance and make them change their exhaust.

John, a resident who did not provide his last name, was met with applause throughout the room after calling for district representation in the City Council.

“What I want to have, and I think a lot of people in the room agree with this, we want district representation,” he said. “We’ve had it with all the decisions being made about our area and then we don’t have the correct representation. While you do actually listen to us and give us time, a lot of the decisions are not going our way.”  

The post Southeast Area Residents Express Grievances at City Council Special Meeting appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The approval comes in the wake of a contentious candidate forum during the 2022 election cycle in which Councilmember Lester Friedman said he was unfairly singled out and subjected to biased questioning. During the forum in question, the late former Mayor Bob Tanenbaum, then head of the Beverly Hills North Homeowners Association, grilled Friedman on campaign flyers that featured photos of him with the fire chief and police chief, which Tanenbaum said violated election law. Friedman defended the photos at the time, arguing they were taken prior to his campaign and did not violate election law as they were not originally intended for political use.

Tanenbaum’s questions were criticized by city officials and community members.

“I think that each candidate should be asked the same question or a variation of the same question. If that’s what the Municipal League is planning on doing, fine,” Friedman said at the March 24 meeting. “But if they plan on interrogating, and I don’t care if they do that to me again, that’s fine, I’ll handle it. I’m not worried about myself, sir. I’m worried about other candidates who would be subjected to something like that.”

Municipal League of Beverly Hills Chairman Thomas White defended the organization’s questions and called Friedman’s claim of being treated unfairly “nonsense.”

“Most candidates would not have been in the position that Mr. Friedman was in because Mr. Friedman was on notice from a letter to the editor in the [Beverly Hills] Weekly two weeks before our candidates’ forum that he was in violation and his campaign was in violation of the elections code,” he said. “You were not prepared, you handled it badly and that was that. Get over it.”

Mayor Sharona Nazarian defended Friedman, saying, “I don’t believe most candidates would be able to handle what Councilmember Friedman went through.”

Friedman emphasized a bias against him, noting that he was not asked to speak to the Municipal League of Beverly Hills during his tenure as mayor. Vice Mayor Craig Corman and Councilmembers Mary Wells and John Mirisch expressed support for Friedman but agreed not to select the next forum moderators.

The council approved the use of the council chamber for the forums and fee waivers for city facilities, staff costs and televising the proposed events. Friedman recused himself from the final vote.

The Municipal League of Beverly Hills and the Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners Association will host candidate forums in late April or May with dates to be announced at a later time.  

The post City Council Adds Civility Requirement to Candidate Forums appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Hunt-Coffey, the city’s first woman city manager, will be succeeded by Gohlich in July.

Hunt-Coffey began her career as a library page in Glendale before working her way up to become the director of Glendale’s public library and later at Beverly Hills. Her proudest accomplishments, she said, were working with her staff to implement community feedback in renovating and improving public facilities throughout Beverly Hills, including the Roxbury Community Center, Beverly Gardens Park and planning the Oct. 7 Memorial.

“I had the great pleasure of being involved with renovating the children’s library at our library and creating a magical, beautiful, exciting place where kids can come to learn, and read, and grow, and think, and study, and play,” she said. “I had the great pleasure of working with a lot of the team members here to build the Roxbury Community Center, listening to the community, again that was a huge listening experience and incorporating feedback from the community and yes, finding a way to build a project.”

Nazarian commended Hunt-Coffey on her organizational work as city manager, including placing homeless services under the Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) and combining city commissions to improve efficiency.

“You mentioned something that’s absolutely 100% true: we serve at the will of the people,” Nazarian said. “All of us, whether it’s city council members, our staff, city manager, our job is to serve the residents of the community that has elected us and has hired us.”

In assessing the city’s biggest challenges in the future, Hunt-Coffey noted that the Builder’s Remedy provision of California housing law will change the landscape of cities like Beverly Hills by allowing developers to bypass local zoning to build taller buildings. She also stressed the importance of maintaining the city’s thriving business community and having an open dialogue during an increasingly polarized environment.

“During the next 10 years, every city in California is going to be forced to really change its look, and its feel, and its dynamic, so I think one of the challenges is going to be how do you retain that feeling of community and collectiveness in a city that’s growing leaps and bounds,” Hunt-Coffey said.

Gohlich, who joined the city in 2007 as an assistant planner, served as the director of community development before becoming an assistant city manager in 2023. Giving his first public remarks as incoming city manager, Gohlich said his main priority in his first 90 days in office will be to provide continuity for the newly elected city council after the June election.

“We spend a lot of time with new council members going through all the departments, taking them on tours, getting to see all the property that we own and lease out, the water treatment plant, our fire department, the whole nine yards of what is the city operation,” he said. “What is amazing about our council is that when they disagree, they do it in a professional way. They always are unified in that they are representing the city, so my goal is to make sure that we continue down that path in the first 90 days.”

Gohlich also decried recent statewide legislation that will mandate the city to build more housing and allow taller developments in the city.

“I actually find it frustrating because of my background in land-use planning,” he said. “The whole point of land use planning is creating a cohesive plan that provides all the appropriate things within a city based on densities, how buildings are configured, what type of infrastructure exists, and planning, frankly, has been taken away by the state with a lot of this legislation.”

In response to an audience question, Gohlich detailed the city’s extensive safety preparations in advance of the upcoming Metro D Line opening at Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards on May 8. Safety precautions include a police kiosk above the station, the first of its kind in the region, a police presence underground in the station, security cameras and full-height metal doors instead of turnstiles to deter fare evading riders.

“Statistically, most of the crimes that happen on the subway and right around the subway are from non-paying customers that are hopping the gates, so we think that this will provide an added layer of security,” he said.

In wishing her successor well, Hunt-Coffey said the city could not be in better hands and advised Gohlich to balance his personal and professional life so he can lead the city for a long time.

“Ryan’s going to be great,” she said. “We talked just a little bit ago about all the development that will likely be happening in the city. Ryan is an expert in that area. I can’t think of anyone better suited to lead the city into this next phase.”  

The post Hunt-Coffey and Gohlich Take Stage at ‘Straight Talk with Sharona’ appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The seat is currently held by Sen. Ben Allen, who cannot run again due to term limits. The 24th State Senatorial District stretches west from Beverly Hills to Agoura Hills and Malibu and then down the coast to Rancho Palos Verdes.

Erickson previously served as vice president of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles before serving on the West Hollywood City Council beginning in 2021. As a city councilmember and former mayor, Erickson has advocated for affordable housing, health care and transportation.

Erickson has been endorsed by Los Angeles County Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn, Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis, California Treasurer Fiona Ma and LA County Assessor Jeffrey Prang. Erickson has also been endorsed by former Beverly Hills Mayor Julian Gold, Beverly Hills Parking and Traffic Commissioner Michael Karric and former Beverly Hills Rotary Club President Lillian Raphael. 

Other candidates in the race include journalist, small business owner and Democratic consultant Brian Goldsmith, Los Angeles Planning Commissioner Mike Newhouse, Palos Verdes Peninsula School Board member Eric Alegria, attorney Amaris Dordar, Palisades Charter High School Trustee Kristina Irwin, Los Angeles Human Relations Commissioner Brittany McKinley,  civil rights advocate Ellen Evans and Santa Monica College Trustee Sion Roy. 

Goldsmith has gained the prominent endorsements of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

In an exclusive interview, the Courier spoke with Erickson about key issues facing the constituents of District 24 and how he plans to address them.

BHC: Can you share your connection to Beverly Hills?

Erickson: My connections to Beverly Hills are multiple, going from not only working with the city council and different groups to advocate for public safety, responsible development and other things that matter to our communities, but also being involved in making sure we’re all good neighbors to each other in my work as an elected official. That’s why I’ve been able to garner support from some elected officials in Beverly Hills and community members and commissioners and I’m really proud of the campaign that we’re building.

BHC: What do you see as the biggest issues affecting Beverly Hills and District 24, and how do you plan to address them if elected to the State Senate?

Erickson: My priority, first and foremost, is public safety. Public safety needs are different from today than they were 10 years ago. We look at the work that Beverly Hills has done, not only with drones, the Real Time Watch Center and other innovative uses of technology for public safety, stuff that we’ve mirrored in my city, as well as across the district, whether that was through my advocacy as the vice president of the California Contract Cities Association where Beverly Hills is a member, or through the work that we have to do statewide, with a lot of different reforms. I look at other priorities being, antisemitism and hate crimes are on the rise, so we must invest more in 21st-century tools like I mentioned, and first responders who are trying to stop these crimes in the first place.

Second to none is balancing the state budget. I know Beverly Hills residents really care about making sure we’re eliminating waste to fund essential programs that build up our surplus and create a real economic development model so that we bolster job creation and retention, because we must not only stop the brain and talent drain to other states and we must be proactive, like we’re doing with the TV and film industry in my own city, and bring that to Beverly Hills. Movies are an important piece to our community thriving and our region thriving. We look at Senate District 24 and when you think about it, you see Hollywood, you have Hollywood and Highland, you have the beaches, you have the peninsula, you have these iconic places that are seen all throughout television, and we need to make sure that we’re doing all that we can to promote that.

BHC: It’s been reported that you spoke out publicly against AB 715 in an endorsement interview recently. Can you clarify your position on this law designed to curb antisemitism in schools?

Erickson: We must ensure that students are safe in our schools. The rise in antisemitic targeting and violence must be actively combatted, as must racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, classism and oppression of any kind. As a former educator and President of the ACLU of Southern California, I believe schools must remain places where students can learn, ask difficult questions, and engage with ideas openly and respectfully. We must build the kind of educational communities where our children are nurtured and loved, with part of that being a deep commitment to ethnic studies and thinking critically about the world around them. I reject the Trumpian notion that seeks to stifle free speech. Instead, we must invest in schools that build courageous and kind changemakers. We can protect both student safety and the integrity of our classrooms by working closely with families, educators, and community leaders. I’m proud of my long record standing up against antisemitism and all forms of hate, and I remain committed to partnering with the community to ensure our schools and our state are places of respect, understanding, and safety for everyone. Sadly, my competitors in this race would rather further enflame these issues than sit down and have a real conversation about how to fight antisemitism both here in SD24 and across the United States and the world.

BHC: Beverly Hills is directly impacted by state laws such as Builder’s Remedy and SB 79 that are changing the height of buildings allowed through local zoning codes. What are your views on how these laws affect housing in District 24?

Erickson: Housing and land use development are the number one thing that elected officials get to deal with when it comes to how we’re responsibly planning for our cities and our communities. I’m the only person running that has direct experience with both Builder’s Remedy as well as housing laws that impact and take away local control. I come at the housing issue from an economic standpoint. So, when we’re not building enough housing, we’re not investing in our communities, and that’s why we’re seeing budget deficits as well as a lack of investment in our own cities, because people are staying stagnant. Housing stock is not moving, and we are not doing the job building housing, and so that is why the state is coming in and taking away our local control.

At the end of the day, my own streamlining items that I have passed in West Hollywood are not about removing any type of input. It was about removing bureaucratic bloat. I actually found that the processes in place can be streamlined, but when applications are sitting on desks for six months to a year, that’s hundreds of thousands of dollars not being directly invested back into our cities, or essentially having vacant properties stand still and projects do not move because they can’t get financing, because the market is so volatile right now. When it comes to directly addressing Builder’s Remedy, I’m the only person that is running that has that direct knowledge because when we had Builder’s Remedy projects in West Hollywood, we went back and worked with those developers and got them to not only increase the amount of affordable housing that they would build, but make their projects fit better into our communities and still be able to be built at the same time.

Having someone that has that direct knowledge on who to call, how to invest and how to build are important first steps. As a senator, we have to deal with saying to local cities, ‘Here’s what you need to do in order to meet these goals.’ And that’s where [California Department of Housing and Community Development] and RHNA numbers are top of mind for Beverly Hills residents, because people sit there and say, ‘How are we going to build all this housing?’ Well, we need to work with local cities to not only build housing, but making sure we’re exposing and showing how the state gets to these goals and these numbers, and by providing transparency, I think it will help remove some of the frustration people see when they’re saying, ‘Where did you get 3,500?’

BHC: How do you hope to bolster public safety throughout the district if elected?

Erickson: I want to take a lot of the models that we’ve worked on together here in West Hollywood. Not every city has the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Other places have their own police department, and so we need to make sure that those police departments are funded in the ways that they don’t have to scrimp and ask voters for more money. How are we fully funding recruiting classes, as well as other recruitment so people can work in these jobs and live in the communities in which they serve? The number one way in which we can do this is by allowing technological expansion to work throughout the district. Most importantly, the state has taken away a lot of local control when it comes down to technological aspects such as speed cameras, red light cameras, these are things that we can take the burden that is causing different cost analyses to not work and give them directly back to the departments themselves.  

The post John Erickson Emphasizes Beverly Hills Priorities in State Senate Platform appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The BHFA represents the firefighter trainees, firefighters, fire engineers, fire captains, fire battalion chiefs and assistant fire chiefs in the Beverly Hills Fire Department.

The new MOU lasts until May 2029 and includes an initial 9.78% salary increase in the first year, followed by subsequent 5% increases each year thereafter. The number of employees required to be on duty each shift was reduced from 27 to 25. Additionally, the new MOU limits compensatory time off for employees to 348 hours per year and the amount that can be carried over to another year to 144 hours.

The MOU will result in an ongoing cost increase of $6.4 million over the next four years.

Councilmember Lester Friedman lauded a new battalion chief job description in the MOU, which better facilitates promotion from within the fire department through high scores on the battalion chief examination. He also emphasized how the city’s financial savings will allow for a new rescue ambulance to operate daily.

Mayor Sharona Nazarian celebrated the new agreement. “The agreement strengthens our fire department in several important ways,” she said. “It provides the fire chief with greater operational flexibility to ensure constant staffing and maintains rapid response times for emergencies.” 

Councilmember John Mirisch expressed his support for the BHFA but said he voted against the MOU out of fiscal concern.

“The fire department is after all a paramilitary organization, and it should be run by people who are competent, and the chief should have the ability to deploy forces in the way in which he feels is the most effective for our city,” Mirisch said. “This agreement does allow for him to do that in a better fashion than what was available in the past.”

In other business, the City Council approved the design, locations and duration of street-pole banners celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which will take place on March 20. The design features artwork from the Farhang Foundation, displaying a phoenix with a rising sun in the background and the words “light always prevails.”

The Council approved an expense of $23,908.50 for the city’s banner vendor, A3 Visuals. The banners will be placed on 83 street poles throughout the Business Triangle, Wilshire Boulevard, La Cienega Boulevard, N. Santa Monica Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, and a street-span banner at the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards. The banners will be displayed until April 1.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Nazarian shared a message of unity and hope for the community in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East.

“This is a very emotional time as we watch the events unfold in Iran,” she said. “Many in our community have deep family ties, personal memories and strong emotional connections to what is happening and really, they’ve waited for this moment for 47 years. Out of an abundance of caution, we have heightened security throughout our community, including around houses of worship and gathering spaces. The safety of our residents is always our top priority. To our Iranian community, you are an important part of the fabric of Beverly Hills and you, and all of our residents will be safe in our city.”  

The post City Council Approves MOU With Firefighters’ Union appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Bailey’s championship pedigree is nearly unmatched in California football in his more than 30-year career. As the founding coach at Yorba Linda High School, he led the team to two California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section championships. In his career that also included stints at Esperanza High School and El Dorado High School, he amassed 179 wins, 18 playoff appearances, 11 league titles and four CIF championships.

Beverly Hills went 0-9 last fall and has not had a winning season since 2010, a span that includes five winless seasons.

The Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board of Education approved Bailey’s appointment on Feb. 24 with a starting salary of $205,656. As a former UCLA offensive lineman, Bailey told the Courier he was excited about the prospect of transforming a program.

“I love a challenge,” Bailey said. “I went to college in this area at UCLA and that kind of stuff is pretty, pretty awesome about the school. It’s well known, it’s a great community, and I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

Bailey said he hopes to start a lower-level junior varsity team as part of his plans to revitalize the district’s football program. He emphasized that establishing a culture that the whole school can take part in will be key to bringing winning football back to Beverly.

“Football is a game of hard work, and that kind of stuff is going to be a big part of what our program is going to be about,” Bailey said. “We’re going to prepare the kids physically and mentally with technique and all those kinds of things to help prepare them for a season. … I’m big on discipline. And I’ll be honest, my philosophy has always been that I want to create a good human, a disciplined human and the byproduct of that is we win a lot of football games.”

Bailey previously worked with BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss, who formerly served as the superintendent at Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. He also has a past connection with Athletic Director Steve Lawson from their time together at El Dorado.

“This is a defining moment for our athletic program and for our community,” Cherniss said. “Coach Bailey’s track record speaks for itself. He builds cultures rooted in discipline, preparation and integrity. His leadership will elevate our football program and strengthen every athletic team on our campus. This reflects our commitment to educational excellence in every arena.”

Bailey emphasized that the best coaches adapt to the players and system they have. As a former offensive lineman, he wants to build the team’s strategy on physicality, discipline and consistency.

“My philosophy has always been stance alignment, get off,” Bailey said. “So, if you can get a good stance, you can get lined correctly and come off the ball correctly, you’re in a position to win. You won’t always win, but you’re in that position at least. If we have some good structure with our team, and they’re where they’re supposed to be, and make it hard for the other team, usually good things happen.”

As the district’s Director of Strength and Conditioning, Bailey will tailor programs for students districtwide to safely train with weights, utilizing the district’s facilities to develop a program that benefits physical and mental strength for every student in the district. Building on school pride and tradition, Bailey also said he wants to take the atmosphere of BHHS football games to the next level.

“When you have a strong football team, it sets the tempo for the whole year,” he said. “I’ve always been a school-first guy with cheer and other programs and the bands, and things like that to make it fun. I would love to make high school games more like a college game, where everybody’s into it with cheers and traditions. Obviously, I’m going to have to embrace some of the original traditions and then maybe make some of our own.”

Bailey’s appointment comes at an exciting time for BHHS’s facilities as the new Konheim Athletic Building is set to be completed in early 2027, complete with three full-size combination basketball and volleyball courts, a wrestling room, fitness center, bleachers, weight training facilities, locker rooms and offices. Following the building’s completion, the district will gear up to start construction on a new south side athletic field, complete with stadium seating and a track.  

The post BHHS Shakes Up Football Program With Jeff Bailey Hire appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes against Israel and allied military bases across the Gulf, including in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Israel has expanded the campaign into Lebanon. Six U.S. servicemembers have been killed thus far and as of press time, the conflict is escalating.

After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles and the greater Los Angeles became home to the largest concentration of people of Iranian descent outside of Iran. The Courier reached out to several prominent members of that community residing in Beverly Hills. They shared their thoughts on the death of Khamenei and the dream of returning to a democratic Iran.

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian provided this statement:

“This is an emotional time as we watch the events unfolding in Iran,” she wrote. “Many in our community have deep family ties, personal memories and strong emotions connected to what is happening. Information is still developing, and reports continue to evolve. Please check in on your neighbors. If you see something concerning, report it. And most importantly, let us remain united. We are strongest when we stand together. We pray for peace.”

Former Beverly Hills Planning Commissioner Joe Shooshani said that when he learned about Khamenei’s death, he allowed himself to dream of returning to Iran for the first time in 50 years.

“We found out he was dead early in the morning after the first day,” he said. “There was happiness, shock, sadness, all sorts of feelings when your biggest enemy dies. Happiness is a part of it, some sadness, some reservation, what’s going to happen, is it going to succeed, not going to succeed. You feel like now you can go, maybe go back to the old country and see it. I haven’t been there in 50 years. One of my dreams is to go back and see where I was born, and my childhood.”

Shooshani’s family, including his two older brothers and sister, came to Beverly Hills from the western city of Hamadan fifty years ago, fleeing Jewish persecution. He added that he was grateful to the U.S. for acting to end the Iranian regime.

“After forty, fifty years, things are turning and we can hopefully get back the country,” he said. “We are very thankful to Trump for what he’s doing, and I think he will succeed.”

While it is impossible to predict what the future holds for the governance of the country, Shooshani believes the best possible outcome is for exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to lead Iran’s transition to a democracy.

Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Board Member David Mirharooni said his parents came to Beverly Hills in 1978 for their honeymoon and never returned. His parents were born in Tehran and his father’s family was from Kermanshah. 

After the U.S. struck Iran and Khamenei died, Mirharooni said that he was filled with joy and the hope that his family could one day return.

“My culture, how I speak, the languages that I speak, the mannerisms that I have, are very identifiably Persian,” he said. “And to be able to one day say to my wife and kids that I’m able to now travel freely to that country because we’re no longer being persecuted is very hopeful. That’s where I have that joy, to be able to potentially, without persecution, without looking at me down because I’m Jewish, to be able to go to a country and teach my kids and, God willing, my grandkids one day, what our culture is all about and how I was raised is a very exciting time.”

Mirharooni added that he hopes the result of the war is to bring back democratic ideals to the Iranian people.

“I think that the war is necessary to root out the regime, and to the extent that the regime is there, I think that the war is going to continue,” Mirharooni said. “Ideally, the regime gets changed immediately. And I don’t know who that leader is but ultimately, it’s a leader that represents the values that are not religious based; the Western values that were there in the 1970s, the Western values that Israel has, the Western values that the United States has.”

Former Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board President Nooshin Meshkaty said she immediately jumped and hugged her husband when she learned about the death of Khamenei. She later participated in the celebrations at the Westwood Federal Building along with her community.

“I have three children, and you know the joy that you feel when your children are born. This was even a bigger pleasure,” she told the Courier. “Just imagine that you have given birth to 90 million free people. You feel like there is a path forward for them to be able to reach that light at the end of the tunnel.”

Meshkaty immigrated from Iran along with her five siblings in 1977 to pursue an education in the U.S. She went on to become heavily involved in the Beverly Hills community while working as an Instrument Electronics Engineering Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

As someone who has spent her life advocating for democracy in Iran, Meshkaty said she hopes the military action will lead to the Iranian people being able to choose their own government.

“I am so sad to hear the six lives that we’ve already lost within our troops from the U.S.,” she said. “But I’m hoping for minimal casualties throughout as this mission gets completed, and as it was stated by our president, this is a mission to hopefully change the regime in Iran, to remove all the obstacles for people to be able to rise up and choose their next government.”

Meshkaty added that she also hopes Pahlavi will become the leader of Iran and help transition the country to democracy. She added that Americans can urge their representatives not to advocate against the war.

“I want to encourage everyone to not be involved with your party-line activities. Focus on the humanitarian act and remember how evil this regime is and what they have been doing to 93 million people in Iran,” she said. “Look at this as a rescue mission, more than you would look at it as a war.” 

The post Beverly Hills Iranian Community Responds to Conflict appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The conversation focused on navigating leadership roles, supporting other women, setting and breaking boundaries, risk-taking and balancing a variety of personal and professional roles. The panel was moderated by Brooke Thomas, morning anchor for Good Day LA and featured business owners, tech and media entrepreneurs.

The conversation began with each guest speaking on what “owning their future” meant to them. Anastasia Soare, the founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills, spoke about how her definition of success changed over many years after immigrating to the U.S. from Romania and later building a worldwide business.

“Success, to me, was to have a job, to be able to speak the language, to be able to have some money to pay my rent, and have a decent life,” she said. “That was the success in 1990, and 10 years later, I launched my line, opened a store in Beverly Hills and launched a product line. Success at that time was to be able to put the products in so many hands. In 2018, the big success was the company was valued at $3 billion, and that was success that I couldn’t even dream of when I came here. Today’s success, to me, is to be able to give back.”

The conversation shifted to unexpected career pivots, and Liz Hernandez, a podcast host and creator of the brand WORDAFUL, spoke on how her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis inspired her to pivot from entertainment news to creating her own podcast.

“So, when the moment came where my mother was losing her words, I thought my personal legacy can’t be what Britney Spears had for breakfast,” she said. “That’s where WORDAFUL was created. That’s where the intention of this podcast, which is called ‘No Room for Small Talk,’ started. It’s really wanting to be of service. I want to be able to pour into my community, because they were there for me through all my transitions, through all the pivots, which just felt like natural growth. And when your community watches you grow and watches you go through grief, all you want to do is pour back into them. And so, this podcast, to me, feels very much like a classroom.”

Alexa Mateen-Abdi, co-founder of Tinder and CEO and creative director of lifestyle brand LALA LEXA and a Beverly Hills native, spoke on how she pivoted from working for a large company like Tinder to doing what she always wanted, having her own handbag line. She added that in running her own business, she was able to take ownership of her life by controlling how much her business grew, which allowed her to invest in her roles as a mother, wife, sister and daughter as much as she wanted.

Durana Elmi, the co-founder, education and outreach officer and chief experience officer of supplement company Cymbiotika, spoke about getting her strength from a community of women and her parents, who immigrated from Afghanistan.

“The most important thing for me has been to have a strong network of women,” she said. “Many of us are moms up here, and you always have that mom guilt. I did today, just coming here and balancing it all, whether you have a significant other, or a company, and then just being present for your loved ones. So, the women in my life, and there’s many of them that are here today, have really just helped me, guided me. … And I think that supporting yourself with women, like-minded women, women that you look up to, I was telling Anastasia when I was at UCLA, I used to drive by her little shop and say that one day I hope I can afford to get my brows done.”

Nazarian, the daughter of Iranian immigrants and the first Iranian American woman to be elected mayor of Beverly Hills, spoke on the impact of her immigrant parents and how her vision of leadership changed throughout her life.

“One thing that my mom always told me is she didn’t have an opportunity to go to university, and that wasn’t common for a lot of women in Iran at that time, and she always said that the one thing that no one can ever take away from you is what’s up here,” she said. “So, make sure to educate yourself, and that doesn’t have to be formal education. If you are interested in something, if you care about something, be the best at your craft. Really train yourself, encourage yourself, trust yourself and work hard at it. I believe in hard work, just like all of these ladies up here, they’ve all worked extremely hard to be where they are today. And the other thing is to refuse a victim mentality.”

The night ended with each guest sharing how setting specific boundaries helped their businesses grow and allowed them to invest in their personal lives. Hernandez told the audience that the most important boundaries she established were around her own behavior.

“I always say ‘no’ is a complete sentence,” she said. “The most important boundaries I’m learning in this season are the boundaries I have for myself. It’s about, what am I consuming? It’s about making sure I’m getting enough sleep. It’s about boundaries with my inner dialogue, that I’m not allowed to beat myself up. I have to be kind to myself.”

“Self-love is the greatest form of self-discipline,” Elmi added.

The panel resonated with the audience, who gave a standing ovation to close out the night.  

The post “Women Owning Their Futures Event” Draws Positive Response appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Gohlich, who has served as assistant city manager since 2023, was appointed in August to succeed outgoing City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey, who will retire in July. The Council approved a $425,000 annual base salary agreement with Gohlich that will last until June 30, 2031.

In addition to his salary, Gohlich is eligible for monthly incentive pay of up to $700. He will also receive medical and life insurance benefits and retirement savings. Gohlich will also be granted $100,000 to make improvements to the designated city manager residence “given the lack of improvements to the property over the last several years,” according to the agenda report.

Councilmember John Mirisch criticized the expenses of the agreement, although he voted to approve it, and said he wished the city conducted a broader search for the position.

“It’s certainly well over half a million per year with all the other benefits,” he said. “When we’re talking about taxpayer dollars, we need to provide the absolute best value for money. It has nothing to do specifically with Ryan, but this is why each year I vote against our budgets because I think we simply let them get out of control and salaries and benefits are among the top costs for any city.”

Vice Mayor Craig Corman also said he wished the city conducted a broader search but added that Gohlich was the best candidate for the job and that his compensation is in line with market rates.

Gohlich thanked the Council for the agreement.

“I want to give my sincere thanks and gratitude to all of you,” he said. “I’m very excited in taking on the role as city manager and committed to doing my best for the city and its residents.”

In other business, the City Council approved a General Plan amendment to update the city’s Open Space Element in response to state law requirements.

Senate Bill 1425 mandates that every city update its Open Space Element by 2026 to include equitable access to open space, rewilding opportunities, strategies to combat climate change, and support for the state’s biodiversity and climate goals.

In her report, Principal Planner Chloe Chen identified 25 existing open spaces and recreational facilities in the city, as well as one planned for the future, adding that green spaces south of Santa Monica Boulevard demonstrated greater needs of improving park access. The amendment for city parks and open spaces includes increasing safe and equitable access, especially where the city’s aging population is located, increasing urban forestry, water management, public education and engagement, and regional coordination.

Corman argued for changing the language in the amendment to not mandate continuous metrics to be reported from parks and open spaces.

“It’s all well and good to want to do certain things but when you specifically commit to developing metrics or doing studies every so years, I get a little concerned that we’re going to be adding a lot of work to the Public Works staff that not necessarily is going to take us to where we want to go,” he said.

Mirisch and Corman both encouraged language in the amendment that promotes the city acquiring more land and green spaces whenever possible. The Council approved the amendment with Corman’s changes.

The Council also approved an agreement with Western State Builders, Inc. for the La Cienega Park Playground Renovation project in the amount of $1,498,598. The playground was built in the 1980s and last updated in 2007.

The renovations will feature two distinct play areas, new swings, rotating swivel play platforms and a performance stage for outdoor youth programming. The renovations are scheduled to be completed in summer 2026.

The post Council Approves Contract With New City Manager and General Plan Amendment appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Ahmed cited the city’s interpretation of Measure TL, the term limits ordinance adopted in 2022.

The ordinance states, “The City Clerk … shall not accept or verify the signatures on any nomination paper for any person [that] will result in a City Council term that exceeds … three (3) total terms of office as a City Councilmember.”

Mirisch, who served three terms before the passage of Measure TL and is currently serving a fourth term that began the same year the measure was adopted, argued that the city is unlawfully applying the ordinance by counting terms served before Measure TL was adopted.

As previously reported by the Courier, Mirisch is challenging the city’s actions in a Petition for Writ of Mandate.

In a statement to the Courier this week, Beverly Hills City Attorney Laurence Wiener indicated that the city stands by the 2022 initiative.

“The term limits initiative was passed in 2022 by more than 81% of the voters in the city of Beverly Hills,” Wiener said. “That initiative provided that councilmembers had a lifetime limit of three terms, including terms served before the initiative was adopted. After the initiative was adopted, a court of appeal held that it was appropriate to count past terms. Furthermore, the city of Indian Wells recently adopted a term limits ordinance that counts the past terms and that was upheld in 2024 by a trial court. The city recognizes that Councilmember Mirisch does not agree with the city’s interpretation of the court of appeal opinion and has brought a lawsuit to challenge that. However, the city is obligated to enforce an initiative that has been adopted by the voters of the city of Beverly Hills.”

A court hearing on the matter is set for Feb. 23. A favorable ruling will give Mirisch two weeks to submit the required signatures on his nomination papers. Mirisch noted that if his petition is denied, he would consider filing an appeal to run in a future election.

“If I am allowed to run again, I would be allowed to serve two more terms because the city instituted term limits. Three [terms] are the maximum. Term limits passed at the same time I got reelected, so that counts as one term,” he said. “Let’s say I were fortunate enough to get reelected, I would automatically run for another term? No, I think it very much depends on who else is running, the situation our city is in, and where I’m at in my own life, but at this juncture, I feel I still have a lot to give, and want to make the case to the residents about why having me on the council is a plus for the city.”

Mirisch emphasized his record of defending the city against housing laws implemented at the state level, and his support for an amendment to the California Constitution that would restore control of urban planning and zoning solely to cities.

“Community-based decision making is always best because it’s closest to home,” he said. “I believe Sacramento’s goal is to eliminate single-family neighborhoods. … We need to allow families and people who have not had the ability to own homes in the past to become homeowners, to expand the middle class. To me, that’s extremely important. I think the American Dream is still to own.”

Mirisch, as the only City Councilmember who lives south of Santa Monica Boulevard, also said he hopes to continue putting residents first if reelected and wants to bring a diversity of voices to City Hall.

“We have had in the past councilmembers who sometimes put developers first, or staff first or businesses first,” he said. “They’re all very important, but the heart and soul of the city is the residents. … We are at a crossroads now where you see what’s happening with the city, with Builder’s Remedy, with trying to ensure the safety of the city, where surrounding us, there are not models of good government, and we need to protect our quality of life and our residents.”

The post Mirisch Blocked From Pulling Election Papers appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Anderson’s family roots ran deep in the city of Beverly Hills, as he was the great-grandson of Margaret Anderson and the grandson of Stanley Anderson, the original owners of the Beverly Hills Hotel, the first commercial structure in the city.

A commercial real estate broker by trade, Robbie would go on to devote his life to sharing the history of Beverly Hills and supporting the city. Drawing from his vast historical archives and memorabilia of the city, Robbie authored “The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows: The First 100 Years” in 2012 and “Beverly Hills: The First 100 Years” in 2014 as the city’s official centennial historian.

“Robbie embodied everything that we love about our city,” former Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse told the Courier. “He was a force and a visionary. He really helped shape Beverly Hills, both through his DNA and his history and his ancestry to how he lived every single day of his life. He loved Beverly Hills with every ounce of his being and only really wanted the best for our community. It was his passion. He was the ChatGPT, Google, the encyclopedia of Beverly Hills before any of that even existed. He would be the go-to for any questions about Beverly Hills.”

Robbie, along with Bosse, also designed and funded the rebuild of the world-famous Beverly Hills sign at Beverly Gardens Park and later the Lily Pond, eventually becoming one of the most photographed locations in the world.

Along with his wife Jeanne, Robbie philanthropically supported the Virginia Robinson Gardens, helping expand the garden’s programming for children and restoration funding the orchid greenhouse.

Robbie served as president of the Beverly Hills Rotary Club, a board member of the Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Commission, director of the Beverly Hills Tournament of Roses Committee, co-chair of the Beverly Hills Community Charitable Foundation and consulted with the city of Beverly Hills on its Master Plan.

As part of his work with the Beverly Hills Historical Society, Robbie made his centennial history of the city completely free and accessible on the society’s website.

“No one was more devoted to preserving and sharing Beverly Hills’ rich history and legacy than Robbie,” Todd Johnson, president and CEO of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, told the Courier. “His remarkable collection of Beverly Hills memorabilia, paired with an extraordinary memory for detail, made him a true steward of our community’s present and past.”

Rooted in his family’s history, Robbie strove to share where Beverly Hills came from, particularly the women who built the city, including his great-grandmother and Mary Pickford, said Kevin Miller, executive director of the Beverly Hills Historical Society, in an interview with the Courier. The city would go on to have 10 different female mayors in its history.

“One of Robbie’s other favorite phrases was ‘Every time he drinks from the well, he thanks the woman who dug it,’ and that’s how he saw his great-grandmother, Margaret,” Miller said.

Beyond his contributions to the city, Bosse said that Robbie’s character always stood out.

“He was a gentleman,” she said. “He had true integrity, and his word was his word. He was kind, he was funny, he was loyal, passionate and a real friend to not only anyone lucky enough to be close to him, but he was a real friend to our community. He made Beverly Hills a family and he was the best of the best.”

At the Feb. 12 Beverly Hills City Council meeting, Mayor Sharona Nazarian closed the meeting with a tribute to Robbie.

“Robbie and his wife Jeanne devoted decades of service to the city and we are grateful for the mark they have made on Beverly Hills,” she said. “I hope that we can honor his legacy in the future with the naming of a city street, perhaps. We are honored and blessed to have known such a wonderful human being, whose generosity and spirit and care touched many lives. Since Tuesday, we have lowered the city flag here in City Hall in his honor.”

Robbie is survived by his wife, Jeanne, son, Jack, daughter-in-law, Amanda, grandchild, Emmett, and step-grandchildren, Lila and Nova.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Beverly Hills Rotary Club, Clare Foundation or Virginia Robinson Gardens.

The post Historian and Philanthropist Robbie Anderson Dies at 75 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The two-story, 55,000-square-foot athletic facility will feature three full-size combination basketball and volleyball courts, a wrestling room, fitness center, bleachers, weight training facilities, locker rooms and offices. The new facility will replace the current Konheim Athletic Building, which will be demolished following the facility’s completion. Construction by Swinerton Builders began in fall 2024 and is scheduled to be completed in early 2027 with an estimated cost of under $60 million.

“Sports builds character. It builds skills that the classroom can’t teach,” said Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Public Information Officer Colby Gilardian. “It’s important that we have athletics and education go hand in hand. So having a dedicated space, brand new facilities to support our student-athletes is so important.”

The new building is currently visible while driving along Moreno Drive, between the Grand Lawn and the Swim Gym.

“The contractor on the project, Swinerton, is doing quick work of all the masonry that needs to be done first, so you can see that most of the shell of the building is almost there,” said Executive Director of Maintenance, Operations and Construction Will Karrat. “All the path is slate, and we’re going to start pouring some concrete flatwork to help move things along and start putting up some walls on the first floor of the building pretty soon.”

As part of the athletic facility renovations, the district is building an outdoor eight-lane, 25-yard swimming pool that will allow BHHS to host swim meets and water polo matches. The pool will also serve as a community pool, accessible to the public. The existing Swim Gym, as featured in “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), will also remain.

“Currently, the plan is to have both pools available, for use by our students and by the community,” Karrat said. “It’s a high demand thing to have, because the community loves to use the pool, and of course, our athletes need to use the pool, so the second one is going to be very beneficial, wonderful.”

The new Konheim Athletic Building will also include a designated room for the BHHS Athletic Alumni Hall of Fame, featuring Beverly Hills’ most renowned student-athletes in its history, including tennis legend Louise Brough Clapp. Clapp, who grew up playing tennis at Roxbury Park and went on to become a Wimbledon and United States Tennis champion, donated one of her Wimbledon trophies to the Hall of Fame.

Following the completion of the new Konheim Athletic Building, the district will gear up to start construction on a new south side athletic field, which can begin once the old Konheim Athletic Building is torn down. The new field will be complete with stadium seating and a track. The BHUSD Board of Education also awarded a bid to the Nazerian Group and tBP/Architecture on Jan. 27 for a new 110-space parking lot along Olympic Boulevard for $4,429,600 to help support the school’s new facilities.

“The new Konheim Athletic Building marks more than the start of a new facility; it symbolizes a renewal of hope, opportunity and pride for our entire BHUSD community,” BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss told the Courier. “This state-of-the-art home for athletics will empower our students to push beyond boundaries, build lifelong bonds and experience the joy of excellence every time they step into the gym. What we are building here honors our past, elevates our present and inspires every learner to reach higher, dream bigger and stand taller, together in a community that believes deeply in their potential.”

The district has recently completed several major construction projects at BHHS, including the new 1,200-seat Peters Auditorium, the Salter Family Theatre, six new tennis courts, a new softball field and the renovated Grand Lawn is expected to open in the coming months.

The post Progress Continues on Konheim Athletic Building at BHHS appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

District 32 includes parts of the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles and the area directly north of Beverly Hills.

Sherman was first elected to Congress in 1997 and has played a significant role in key legislation protecting consumers and promoting fiscal responsibility. He was among the leaders to form the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2010, protecting consumers from hidden and exorbitant fees. He went on to limit companies that reward corporate CEOs multimillion- dollar bonuses for poor performances and protect families’ retirement funds and college savings. Sherman has served on the Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees in the House since his election in 1997, and intermittently on the Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Sherman was the first member of Congress to introduce articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in 2017. Recently, Sherman has been a staunch and vocal critic of the president, focusing on his immigration enforcement throughout the U.S., including Los Angeles, and his response to the Palisades Fire. Sherman has voted against every bill funding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) under the Trump administration, including a Feb. 3 bill that ended a partial government shutdown.

If reelected, Sherman hopes to continue advocating for climate solutions in the wake of the Palisades Fire, supporting higher housing loans for homebuyers, limiting the power of artificial intelligence and bolstering middle-class families.

Sherman faces nine challengers in the June election, including former White House policy analyst Jake Levine and film producer Larry Thompson. Candidates looking to unseat Sherman claim it is time for a new generation in Congress and that long-term incumbents should step aside. The two candidates with the most votes in the June primary will face each other in the November 2026 general election.

A Southern California native, Sherman lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife and three daughters.

In an exclusive interview, the Courier spoke with Sherman about his career in Congress, key issues facing the constituents of District 32 and how he plans to address them.

BHC: You have a long history in Congress, working to support legislation including the Affordable Care Act, the Consumer Protection Act and safeguarding Social Security and Medicare. What specific accomplishments prove that you deserve another term in Congress?

Sherman: Co-sponsoring the bill that created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and all of the protections of Dodd-Frank for a financial system that was near collapse in 2008 and the Affordable Care Act, those have got to be very high on the list.

I’m taking the lead in Congress on trying to make sure that artificial intelligence does not become more than it is now. Now it’s a very powerful tool, but AI could also become its own creature, and we are spending trillions of dollars to make AI more powerful. We are spending, as far as I can tell, nothing to try to make sure that AI is not ambitious and self-aware and capable of determining its own objectives.

BHC: What do you view as the most important issues affecting the constituents of Congressional District 32? How do you plan to continue to advocate for these issues?

Sherman: On housing, I’m taking the lead in making sure that Fannie and Freddie conforming loans can now go up above a million dollars. Without having these two government agencies accept mortgages, in most of my district, if you couldn’t get a qualifying loan that Fannie and Freddie will guarantee, most people wouldn’t qualify for a loan.

BHC: Your recent speeches and actions in Congress have centered on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Why is this a unique moment in American history and why is it important to demonstrate opposition?

Sherman: [Trump] got elected saying that he was going to go after the worst of the worst and drug kingpins. You know where you don’t find drug kingpins? In the parking lot at Home Depot. Michael Corleone does not want 200 bucks to spend a day cleaning out your garage.

I’m an old tax guy, so this is particularly important to me. If you file your income tax return, you put your Social Security number on it. If you’re undocumented, you can’t get a Social Security number, so instead, you put on the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). [Trump] is pushing the [Internal Revenue Service] to give him a list of everyone who filed using a TIN and without a Social Security number. So, is he going after the worst of the worst? No, he’s going after taxpayers by definition. So, nobody in this country, or very few people in this country elected him to go after people who have lived in the San Fernando Valley for 10, 20 and 30 years, and that’s why I haven’t just joined the demonstrations. I’ve led congressional delegations to detention facilities, and I’ve testified before immigration judges, which is an unusual thing for a congressman to do. And of course, I voted against every bill that has funded ICE under this administration, and I’ll be voting against another one tomorrow.

BHC: What do you view as the most important measures to take going forward to prevent the destruction from future disasters such as the Palisades Fire?

Sherman: We have to build back better. State law already requires the 2008 Building Code for our fire prone areas to be used, so we will build back better. We clearly need to prepare to move huge amounts of water up that hill.

A year ago in January, we had 100 mph winds, but with global warming, we may see that again. We had 100 fires. They put out 98 of them, but we certainly remember the two they didn’t put out quickly. So, we have to build back better. I’ve been able to secure funds for brush clearance in the Santa Monica Mountains, and over the years, have gotten funds for the Los Angeles Police Department.

BHC: Can you tell me about your support for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project, especially as we’re seeing residents in Bel Air and Beverly Hills reluctant to support a project that is set to be so expensive and disruptive?

Sherman: They went with the most expensive option, which is the $24 billion option, and we’ve got to get half of that money from Washington. This will be one of the most expensive transit developments in the country. Certainly, the need is obvious. Every one of your readers has been on the 405 freeway. We don’t have that many UCLA students living in the Valley, but I think once this is built, we will get a lot more than we have currently. Though, there are an awful lot of people who work at [Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center], who live in the Valley. The station at UCLA will be halfway between the hospital and Bruin Walk and serve both the hospital and the rest of the university, and it will get you from Ventura Boulevard to Bruin Walk in under seven minutes. And that’s incredible. I’ve been on the 405 and it’s taken seven minutes to go seven car lengths.

BHC: Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles are home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran. How do you hope to support people currently protesting for freedom in Iran and the community here in LA?

Sherman: I have been a strong advocate for democracy in Iran for decades. I have crafted legislation that has imposed sanctions on some of those in the regime with blood on their hands.

Everybody in the Iranian American community wants an end to this regime and wants democracy. There is considerable dispute as to exactly who they would support, but what Trump has done is he stopped broadcasting in Farsi into Iran, and that’s insane. What we need now is every kind of communication. People in Shiraz need to know what’s happening in Isfahan and they need to know that democracy is available, and that a non-nuclear, democratic Iran would be getting a lot of trade and aid from the United States.

BHC: Discussion around the race for District 32 and other districts around the country is centered on young candidates with big ideas and little experience believing it’s time to unseat incumbents who have been in Congress for generations. Why should Southern Californians on the West Side, the Valley and Ventura County elect you for your 16th Congressional term?

Sherman: Think of everything that Nancy Pelosi has accomplished over the last 15, 16 years, including the Affordable Care Act. Think of everything that Bernie Sanders has accomplished over the last 15, 16 years. They did all that when they were longer in the tooth than I am now, both in terms of years on the planet and years in Congress. While I cannot promise that I can, in the next two years, do what Nancy Pelosi did in the first years of her speakership, I can say that she demonstrated that experience is valuable in Congress, and we need a mix of younger and older members. We have members in their 20s and members quite a bit older than I am. I served in Congress when I was in my 40s. I’m doing a better job now than I did then. And I was filled with all the passions of middle-aged youth back then, and I’m simply more effective now. I’ve been doing it longer. I know what I’m doing.

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Launched in January, the city’s Green Business Program distinguishes establishments that have made strides in addressing water efficiency, energy conservation, waste reduction, recycling and pollution prevention. The program is also part of the statewide California Green Business Network, which offers assistance programs to qualifying small businesses. The benefits of environmental sustainability include product improvement and conservation of resources.

The city’s certified Green Businesses include Alo Yoga, Le Swim, LA Main Physical Therapy, Le Rêve Beauty Lounge, Kartoon Studios, Clark Street Bakery and Selfish.

Sustainability practices range from using recyclable materials for packaging to in-office recycling programs to reducing carbon emissions from travel. Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian celebrated the initiative.

“Beverly Hills has long led by example when it comes to sustainability,” Nazarian said. “Sustainability works best when it is collaborative, not burdensome or punitive. By educating, supporting, and working together, we can make thoughtful choices that protect our environment while building a better future for our children as a united community.”

Kartoon Studios, a global media company specializing in kids and family entertainment, qualified as a certified Green Business due to its sustainable practices.

“We’re really big on trying to reduce our carbon footprint here. It’s something that we take seriously, and it’s something that we wanted to not only try to incorporate within our own business model, but we also wanted to figure out a way to use that business model to inspire our core audience, which is children,” said Michael Riley, head of social and environmental initiatives. “We started to figure out that we can be more sustainable in numerous ways, from the way we produce some of our content to how we run our office here. We started by fixing all of our light fixtures with more sustainable lights; we started recycling programs here at our office and we started electronic recycling programs.”

In addition to internal company incentives to take the bus to work and recycle, Riley added that Kartoon Studios is using its distribution app to make public service announcements to promote messages about reducing waste, picking up litter and turning off the lights as well as exploring ways to minimize emissions through the technology it uses to produce entertainment.

Riley also said that the city’s recognition for its sustainable work is important to promote a more environmentally conscious community.

“We love our community here in Beverly Hills, and we really want to be that light on the hill in order to help inspire other businesses to also become green certified,” he said.

Zack Hall, the founder and CEO of Clark Street Bakery in Beverly Hills, said that sustainability is at the heart of how the bakery operates on a daily basis. Hall said that the bakery sources local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible, uses biodegradable or recyclable packaging for takeout products and employs composting and recycling programs.

“Prioritizing sustainability isn’t just good for the environment; it’s fundamental to our business ethos,” Hall said. “We believe that bakeries should be part of a healthy community. When developing our products, our first thought was that they should not only taste good but also be something we felt comfortable serving to our family and children. And that ethos continues beyond just the food.”

Hall added that the city’s recognition helps encourage businesses to utilize more sustainable measures and encourages customers to shop at environmentally conscious places.

“For us, this recognition is both an honor and a responsibility,” he said. “It acknowledges that Clark Street Bakery meets sustainability benchmarks and signals to our customers that we are committed to leadership in environmental stewardship. It also connects us to a community of like-minded businesses that are collectively advancing a greener local economy, something we’re proud to be a part of.”

Samantha Anahid, the owner of Le Rêve Beauty Lounge, said that her business model focuses on using vegan products for all types of nail care.

“When I opened this location, my purpose was to keep people’s nose, face, everything as healthy as we can and avoid any fungus,” Anahid said. “I’m a nurse too, and that was my goal, to keep here as green and non-toxic as I can.”

Anahid said that her products are water-based instead of oil and hydrate her clients’ nails rather than exposing them to any toxic ingredients.

“I wanted something different for the community,” she said. “And I just want to let everyone know that we are here to protect them and support their health.”

Certified Green Businesses will receive a window decal to display to customers. Any business in Beverly Hills can apply to the Green Business Program by visiting the city’s website.  

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Nazarian led a crowd of community residents and visitors along Rodeo Drive to celebrate the diverse tapestry of Beverly Hills businesses, stopping along the way at Two Rodeo Drive, Westime, Breitling, Maximilian Büsser & Friends, Henry Jacques, Porsche Design, Peter Marco, Stefano Ricci, House of Dior and Sweet Angeles.

“I think that the city is booming, and it shows the strength and the relevance of Rodeo Drive, of Beverly Hills and our partnerships,” Nazarian said. “It’s a great opportunity for our businesses to collaborate with one another. We already see so many people walking by and they have shopping bags because they decided to just stop and buy something on the street as well. It’s really a way to activate our businesses.”

The event highlighted the luxury brands and high-end retailers that make up Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills, offering the highest level of individually tailored customer service.

“I always talk about Beverly Hills being a village, and the community really supports local business, and the mayor’s initiative is wonderful because we’ve gone through on all kinds of different streets through her mayoral term,” said Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Johnson. 

The tour began at Westime, a luxury watch store at the top of Two Rodeo Drive, where Westime President Greg Simonian invited attendees to look at luxury watch items and experience the store’s individually tailored customer service.

The crowd moved on down the road, where jewelry retailer Peter Marco showed off one of the best jewelry collections in the world, and Stefano Ricci, a luxury designer menswear store, invited people in to peruse Italian cashmere and leather.

“It means everything to us, because we are a big community here in Beverly Hills, so we have to support one another,” said Stefano Ricci General Manager Philip Wiseman. “A lot of people get intimidated to actually come into our store because it’s such a grandiose store, and it’s absolutely fantastic, and we want to share that with everybody. We are here to serve, and I want everybody to know that, and I want them to experience a little piece of luxury.”

Bill Wiley, director of the CBRE real estate firm that manages Two Rodeo Drive, highlighted the level of retail experience offered in the city.

“This is a bucket list kind of place for people to come, and we never lose sight of that,” Wiley said. “You have the finest shops, but the people that work in the stores are the top of the retail game. These people are experts at customer service. So, the idea that everything is customized; that’s what makes it so much different than shopping online.”

The crowd then made its way to the recently opened House of Dior boutique. Visitors were able to browse red-carpet-worthy dresses, artwork of all kinds, along with some of the most luxurious fashion items available in the world. On the third floor is where the Monsieur Dior restaurant is located, helmed by the only three-Michelin-starred female chef in America, Dominique Crenn. 

Guests then entered the fourth floor, where the balcony gave way to a stunning panoramic view of the Hollywood Hills. After a day of visiting some of the most celebrated retail stores in the world, attendees soaked in the view, surrounded by the highest art and fashion, a combination that can only be found in one city: Beverly Hills.

“We’re excited to be able to celebrate and to continue to have Beverly Hills be the place that everybody wants to come and shop, dine, stay and ultimately live,” Nazarian said.  

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With nearly 1,200 seats, the newly renovated auditorium features state-of-the-art theatrical technology, including a multistory lighting catwalk, speakers, security cameras and ADA-accessible features. The theater is complete with an orchestra, balcony and a motorized orchestra pit that can be assembled or disassembled for any given performance. The facility also offers new dressing rooms, a green room and an engineering space for students to work on set construction while preserving the theater’s façade.

The renovation was funded over many years through local bond measures and was overseen by Executive Director of Maintenance, Operations and Construction Will Karrat and management firm Fonder-Solari.

Members of the Beverly Hills City Council, BHUSD Board of Education, parents, students, teachers, Parent Teacher Student Association leadership and Beverly Hills Education Foundation Board members came together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by the opening night performance of Dance Company 2026.

“This reopening is the result of years of thoughtful planning and commitment to our students and community and of course, thank you to every community member here tonight,” said BHUSD Board of Education President Judy Manouchehri. “Your presence reflects how deeply this district, and these spaces matter to Beverly Hills. This reopening also represents something larger: it marks yet another accomplishment in BHUSD’s ongoing investment in world-class facilities for our students in our community.”

The reopened theater will not only serve as a performance space for the school’s music, theater and dance programs, but will finally serve as a place for the full school to gather for assemblies. The theater’s technology will help support the school’s theater tech pathway, where students learn lighting design, sound design and stagecraft. The auditorium will also help facilitate a hands-on approach with school shows, where students will build sets for each production.

The auditorium’s stage was named after real estate agent Michael Libow, a BHHS alumnus, who donated the stage through the Beverly Hills Education Foundation.

“If somebody is a new parent coming into the Beverly Hills community, they will now be proud to call this their high school,” Libow said. “This is something that we can all be proud of in this community, and it brings people together.”

Students were at the forefront of every part of the theater’s reopening. A BHHS string quartet serenaded guests while Culinary Arts students prepared and served hors d’oeuvres. The main performance was led by the BHHS Advanced Dance Theatre Group, a group of 20 dancers who marked the theater’s first artistic performance with rousing and inspiring contemporary dance.

“It’ll elevate the quality of what we do. When you have great events like this, great venues like this, amazing kids will want to come here because of our dance, theater and arts, and it’s going to elevate all of our arts programs,” BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss said. “I think what we have here is the best of the best. And any parent that brings their kid here would say, ‘Hey, I want my kid to go here.’”

The auditorium had its soft opening on Jan. 27, when it hosted an assembly of five Holocaust survivors for Holocaust Remembrance Day. The student body gathered for the first time in one space to hear the stories of the survivors.

The Peters Auditorium reopening coincides with other major campus construction projects, including the renovated Salter Family Theatre, six new tennis courts, a new softball field, classroom and performance spaces in the B3 and B4 buildings and the Grand Lawn, which is set to reopen in the coming months.

“Tonight marks more than the reopening of a theater—it marks the fulfillment of a promise,” Manouchehri said. “A promise that every student deserves a space that honors their talent, amplifies their voice and reflects their worth. Through the unwavering commitment of this district, that promise has been kept, creating a comprehensive home for arts education and performance within BHUSD.” 

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The Wilshire/La Cienega station will be an end-of-line station for about a year before the Metro D Line further expands west. Although the station is scheduled to open in early 2026, City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey confirmed during the meeting that the station will not open until after February.

As an end-of-line station, city staff are preparing for the final train arrival at the Wilshire/La Cienega station at around 2 a.m. each night. Potential impacts include increased early-morning loitering, greater demand for behavioral-health interventions, sanitation impacts in and around station areas, and increased calls for service from adjacent businesses. The city is planning to distribute information flyers to nearby businesses and residents to inform them of proactive steps they can take ahead of the station’s opening, said Human Services Administrator Enisha Clark.

In addition to two dedicated police officers always present at the station, Clark said that the Beverly Hills Police Department is working to increase overnight security coverage, and the Beverly Hills Fire Department will hire a human service specialist to provide hands-on social service support at the station. Anyone can call the Beverly Hills Outreach and Assistance Team hotline for support at 310-285-BHOT, which will be staffed 24/7.

City staff will evaluate key metrics during the first phase of the opening, including the number of people who offload the final train, late-night engagements, calls for police support and environmental conditions, and then continue to adjust accordingly, Clark said.

Councilmember John Mirisch encouraged staff to conduct outreach about how residents can best utilize trains coming in and out of the station, including possible senior TAP cards.

Councilmember Lester Friedman said he feels the city is prepared for the station ahead of the opening.

“One of the things that as long as I’ve been on the council is that we knew we had to prepare for this day that is coming,” he said. “I feel very confident that we have done that preparation, and now it’s just a matter of getting that word out to our community, so they know what to expect and who to contact if there are any issues.”

In other business, Beverly Hills City Librarian Karen Buth presented the Beverly Hills Public Library’s annual fiscal report for 2024-25 to the Beverly Hills City Council on Jan. 21.

Library usage remained strong throughout 2024-25, Buth said. About 450,000 people entered the library, a slight decrease from 2023-24, and the library saw more than 300,000 checkouts and renewals, an increase from 2023-24. Additionally, the number of people attending library programs continued to grow in 2024-25, with about 15,000 virtual attendees and more than 10,000 children attending library events.

The library also saw a 57% increase from 2022-23 in digital checkouts with more than 60,000 in 2024-25. Due to the increase in usage, the library expanded the hours of the Roxbury Book Nook, located in Roxbury Park.

In terms of successful library programming in the past year, Buth pointed to events such as Puppy Power Storytimes, Preschool Dance Parties, the BHUSD Elementary Art Show and storytelling during Jewish American Heritage Month. The library also saw 709 participants for the Annual Summer Reading Club, with children totaling 6,129 reading hours over the summer.

Buth updated the council on how the library met its goals for 2024-25. The library was successful in implementing a new online library catalog that patrons can access, while also working with schools to ensure every student has a library card by the third grade, as mandated by Assembly Bill 321. In further improvements, the library moved its integrated library system to the cloud and moved maintenance responsibilities to Innovative Interfaces, Inc. The library also completed the painting and carpeting of the second floor to match the first floor.

Additionally, the library began housing the Paley Archive, a media and broadcast collection that teaches the history of entertainment, sports and news. 

For 2025-26 goals, the library has already established new programming with silent movie screenings with live musical accompaniment. Other goals include increasing storytime for babies and developing programming for school-age children.

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian then presented the Shining in Beverly Hills public recognition to the Beverly Hills Public Library.

“The Beverly Hills Public Library is a robust hub for lifelong learning with a vast collection of reading materials, access to a large selection of electronic resources, library assistance, access to the historical collections for teens, children and adults, passport services and a rich slate of literary and cultural events like author discussions and community book reads,” Nazarian said. “The library’s history reflects the community’s growth and commitment to accessible, high-quality learning spaces. Its ongoing programs and resources foster a love of reading and learning across all ages.” 

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Licht is a film producer and a principal of Beverly Hills–based Licht Entertainment. He previously ran for City Council in 2022.

“I have a good ability to bring all segments together,” Licht said in an interview with the Courier. “I have experience with budgets, from producing movies and dealing with major studios to planning on the Planning Commission. I create a unifying influence in everything I’ve done in my career, including on commissions, and that’s what I want to do on council. I spent the last year speaking with residents and business leaders and listening to what matters to them most, and I think it’s time for fresh thinking on council.”

There are three open positions on the City Council in this year’s municipal elections, currently held by Mayor Sharona Nazarian and Councilmembers Lester Friedman and John Mirisch.

Licht has begun assembling his executive committee, which includes City Councilmember Mary Wells, Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education Member Russell Stuart, former mayors Linda Briskman, Barry Brucker, and Nancy Krasne, as well as Planning Commissioner Gary Ross and former Planning Commissioners Joe Shooshani and Tom Hudnut. 

Recently, the city has faced more than a dozen Builder’s Remedy projects—developments that utilize state law to sidestep certain zoning, density, and height restrictions. Licht said his experience on the Planning Commission makes him uniquely equipped to evaluate these projects in the best interest of the city.

“Maybe we’ve been a little too reactive,” he said. “I do believe we should have clearer communication and maybe stronger planning. It was difficult because the state kept moving the goalposts every time the city came back with new solutions for the housing element, which made things very challenging. I think we need to start earlier in the process and work with the state to avoid these lawsuits, which cost us a lot of money.”

As chair of the Planning Commission, Licht cited his work on reducing the height and making other adjustments to the One Beverly Hills development as part of his efforts to “preserve the charm” of the city.

Licht said his biggest priority if elected would be public safety, especially for Jewish residents.

“There’s a lot of antisemitism out there,” he said. “Maybe we partner law enforcement with Jewish organizations and enhance patrols and visibility around synagogues, community centers, and schools. I think it would be helpful to adopt best practices.”

He also hopes to work with the police and fire departments to prevent future wildfires in the wake of the Palisades Fire. After hearing from firefighters about the potential danger of Franklin Canyon burning—which could significantly damage Beverly Hills—Licht said he plans to work with the City of Los Angeles to proactively clear brush in the canyon.

Licht emphasized that he is building a coalition of residents from across the political spectrum that includes all neighborhoods of the city. If elected, he said he hopes to protect renters as much as property owners and encourage more collaboration among renters, landlords, and City Hall. He also emphasized the city’s need to protect seniors by helping them age in place.

“We should have policies that prevent displacement and unfair treatment,” he said. “A city that protects its vulnerable residents is a stronger city. I believe in rent control, but landlords must ensure their apartments meet Beverly Hills standards.”

Licht pointed to his experience building consensus on commissions and negotiating movie contracts as evidence of his ability to get things done. He said that if elected, he plans to represent the interests of all neighborhoods.

“I consistently push for thoughtful planning and balance legal requirements with Beverly Hills’ long-term interests,” he said. “My guiding light has been to embrace the future while preserving the charm. I’ve lived in Beverly Hills since 1964, and it’s a community that’s incredibly important to me.”

Beverly Hills residents will go to the polls on June 2 to vote on three City Council seats and the City Treasurer. 

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Council members provided feedback and amendments on priorities for the year, ranging from enhancing public safety at the newly opened La Cienega Metro Station to implementing artificial intelligence to respond to traffic violations to strengthening long-term fiscal responsibility and developing city infrastructure.

The first priority item was to prepare public safety at the upcoming Metro stations set to open in Beverly Hills, including the La Cienega/Wilshire Station and the Beverly Drive Station. The council planned to complete the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) Public Safety Center at the La Cienega/Wilshire Station and prepare a policing model for the Beverly Drive Station.

As part of initiatives to increase public safety, the city will continue expanding the number of closed-circuit television cameras and installing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) at prioritized intersections. The funding for the ALPRs will be part of a budget enhancement for fiscal year 2026-27. Councilmember Mary Wells stated her support for increasing police enforcement of speeding and excessive noise within the city.

Another goal for increasing public safety is to “aggressively recruit new and lateral police officers,” which will also require a budget enhancement, according to the staff report.

The council then transitioned to providing direction regarding transparent governance and strengthening long-term fiscal sustainability.

Because the city had to unexpectedly hold a statewide election in November 2025 for Proposition 50, city staff requested a budget enhancement to hold the June 2026 election for City Council and City Treasurer.

The city also plans to conduct citywide tax analyses and a comprehensive citywide fee to implement further cost-saving measures.

In focusing on improving city infrastructure and community quality of life, the council provided direction on various avenues and city facilities.

In regards to the city parking structure located at 440 North Camden Drive, bids will be released in February for seismic renovations. Construction will begin in  April. For the structure at 461 N. Bedford Drive, bidding will occur in April or May, with construction beginning in July. Staff has been focused on waterproofing and seismic renovations but is redirecting to focus on painting in the future. The city is also working to implement Level 2 electric vehicle chargers in city parking structures.

Another priority of the council moving forward is to lobby the state of California and work with other local cities to develop realistic goals for housing development, especially in the wake of Senate Bill 79, which will change local zoning ordinances that are proximate to transit centers.

“The unrealistic expectations of the state of California are really crippling us in moving forward in keeping the character of our city,” Councilmember Lester Friedman said. “At some point in time, there have to be realistic goals.”

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The project would build an underground heavy rail line connecting the Van Nuys Metrolink Station to the Expo/Sepulveda E Line Station. The project will also connect to the G Line on Van Nuys Boulevard and the future Metro D Line at Wilshire and Westwood boulevards, creating a direct transit connection through one of the most congested corridors in the region. The rail line would ease transportation to UCLA, L.A. County’s third-largest employer, and other major job centers in the Westside such as Century City and Beverly Hills, by providing commuters a 20-minute total journey from the Valley to UCLA.

Efforts to put light rail along the Sepulveda transit corridor date back decades. In 2016, L.A. County voters approved Measure M, which included efforts to improve transit between the San Fernando Valley and West L.A. in two phases, with the first connecting the Valley to West L.A. and the second that would add a connection to Los Angeles International Airport. The project then went through years of environmental reviews, feasibility studies and community responses.

Measure M allocated $5.7 billion in funding for the project. Additional funds will be needed for construction, and Metro is considering utilizing a public-private partnership to finance the project.

According to Metro, the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project has the potential to offer public transit to approximately 63,000 to 124,000 daily riders, reduce travel time that is usually about 40 to 80 minutes by car to about 18 to 33 minutes by transit and improve environmental conditions by reducing vehicle emissions.

In July 2025, Metro released a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) of five proposed routes that drew varying reactions. Residents of Bel Air opposed possible plans that involved building tunnels under the residential neighborhood. An on-campus station at UCLA as well as reduced commercial and residential acquisitions were also included as part of the approved Modified Alternative 5.

The project was praised by representatives from numerous climate action groups and public transportation advocates during public comment. Supporters celebrated the possibility of reducing emissions from vehicles traveling on I-405 and reducing the transit time from the Valley to West L.A.

Opponents of the project noted the high cost and disruption that would come from years of construction. Jonathan Brand, the executive director of the Bel Air Association, expressed his opposition.

“The Bel Air Association is categorically against tunneling under Bel Air residences,” he said. “One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is the budget. There’s no money to pay for this. It’s going to cost an excess of $30 to $40 billion and the suggestion is to make your existing infrastructure safe and clean for people to ride prior to embarking on new ventures.”

Mallory Mead, LA Metro communications manager, confirmed that tunneling would occur in the Bel Air neighborhood as part of the project. However, the project would use Tunnel Boring Machines and Sequential Excavation Method that “generally produce no noticeable noise, vibration, or settlement at the ground,” according to Metro. Metro pointed to recent construction for the D Line extension and K Line as examples of tunneling that had minimal disruption to surrounding neighborhoods.

After passing the Planning and Programming Committee, the full Metro Board will vote on the final approval of the project on Jan. 22. 

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On Dec. 16, Board Member Judy Manouchehri was sworn in as the board’s new president and Board Member Sigalie Sabag was sworn in as the board’s new vice president, despite having received fewer votes in the most recent election. The board’s bylaws state that when multiple board members have the same term of service, “they shall serve as vice president in descending order of the number of votes received in their most recent election.”

At the Dec. 16 meeting, Stuart, Manouchehri and Sabag voted against Stern’s installation. Manouchehri criticized Stern’s actions while on the board, stating that she could more closely adhere to the Brown Act and not make “false statements to the public about closed session matters.”

On Jan. 13, following comments from district parents and students in her support, Stern decried her treatment by fellow board members, saying it humiliated her and caused chaos, and demanded to be installed as vice president.

Stern pointed to her accomplishments as a board member, including making a safety plan for graduation and increasing cybersecurity, and said that a record 7,102 voters supported her in the last election. Stern also condemned Board Member Russell Stuart’s social media posts and held up a photo of one that said, “Cheers to my haters! Be patient. So much more is coming,” and asked the room if they would tolerate the same behavior from their teenage children.

Board Member Rachelle Marcus, who nominated Stern for vice president, also criticized Manouchehri’s statements against Stern, calling them a “pre-planned attack for personal goals” and saying she was “appalled.” Marcus’ comments were met with applause from the gathered audience.

During public comment, district parent and attorney Daniel Lifschitz demanded Stern’s installation and threatened a lawsuit against the district if it did not abide.

“At least one person on this dais went to law school and should understand how separation of powers works,” he said. “You may also want to refresh your recollection of how mandamus works because that’s what I’ll be suing you under if you refuse to discharge your sworn ministerial duties under the bylaws and continue to perpetuate this charade that Miss Sabag was lawfully installed as vice president in a shameful December coup. … Do your job or I’ll see you in court.”

Stuart defended the board majority’s actions in voting against Stern and argued that the board has improved the district in the past year in numerous ways. During his comments, audience members shouted their disapproval at Stuart. Stuart then replied to Lifschitz and said, “I can’t believe you’re a freaking lawyer,” before getting up and leaving the meeting.

Manouchehri addressed Stern directly at the end of the meeting.

“While what I said has been described by many, I spoke to you from my heart and I spoke with you softly and not in an aggressive way,” she said. “I was voting my conscience based on not your views, but the interactions that we had had. I think you know that I respect your perspective, and I respect your opinion, and I acknowledge what you bring to this table, and I understand your anger. I hope that we can, like we did tonight, continue to work together.” 

The post BHUSD Faces Litigation Threat in Wake of Stern Controversy appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The intersection is used daily as a pedestrian route to and from campus for students and families of the Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, located about 500 feet north of the intersection at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Doheny Drive. Families with children ranging in age from pre-nursery through middle school cross the intersection after dropping off their students and proceeding westbound on Whitworth Drive. The approval was made after the city conducted a traffic study of the intersection in response to an influx of resident requests in spring 2025.

The all-way stop control is a response to the high volume of vehicles and pedestrians at the intersection, drivers speeding through the nearby Whitworth Drive and Doheny Drive stoplight, limited visibility for north and southbound drivers and recent collisions, said Transportation Planner Jessie Holzer Carpenter. Carpenter said that the intersection did not meet the criteria of traffic volume and collisions for all-way stop control established in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices but noted that both Beverly Hills and Los Angeles do not file reports for non-injury crashes.

“We do hear from residents that there are a lot of property damage-only collisions that they’re observing so if there were more police reports, it’s possible that this would have met the warrants,” Carpenter said in her presentation. “Our analysis is that all-way stop control would help reduce these conflicts, especially during school arrival and departure times.”

The intersection at Whitworth and Oakhurst drives is one of three out of 13 intersections along Whitworth Drive without all-way stop control.

“Residents have reported that this inconsistency is confusing for north-south drivers who are expecting east-west traffic to stop at Oakhurst as it does at many other intersections along Whitworth,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter added that school staff at The Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy expressed support for the increased safety of the project but were wary of the potential to congest traffic. The intersection is shared with the city of Los Angeles and city staff collaborated with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation on the project.

Beverly Hills resident Rick Corcoran urged the commission to address traffic congestion on streets nearby the Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy during drop-off and pick-up during public comment. While he still supported implementing all-way stop control, he expressed concern that the additional stop signs would further clog an already congested area.

On weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., almost 4,000 vehicles cross the intersection, according to the staff report. During one evening in October, city staff counted 1,119 vehicles crossing the intersection from 3 to 5 p.m.

Commissioner Michael Karric said the inconsistency of stop signs along Whitworth Drive proved the need to add stop signs.

“I don’t see how it could impact the school any more than it already is,” he said. “It’s just gridlock around the school at that time, so I don’t know if adding a stop sign is going to make a huge difference.”

Commissioner Negar Kamara said she supported the project for the positives that it would bring to the neighborhood.

“I also support this—number one, for safety reasons, number two, for what you mentioned as far as the sight distance for vehicles driving north and south,” she said. “I support it because there is no fiscal impact to the city and lastly, I support it for the residents’ support. It makes so much sense.”

In other business, Carpenter presented the findings of intersection safety studies conducted by Street Simplified, LLC at three high-priority intersections—Robertson and Wilshire boulevards, Robertson and Charleville boulevards, and Beverly Drive and Carmelita Avenue. At Robertson and Wilshire boulevards, most collisions were caused by drivers violating the right-of-way of other drivers and pedestrians while making left turns. At Robertson and Charleville boulevards, the findings provided details on how drivers come into conflict with pedestrians attempting to cross, especially since the intersection is popular among pedestrians and cyclists. At Beverly Drive and Carmelita Avenue, many collisions are caused by drivers violating posted stop signs and driving at unsafe speeds, making it one of the most dangerous intersections in the city.

Following the report, the Public Works Department will work with the Beverly Hills Police Department to enact safety measures.  

The post Commission Approves Four-Way Stop Signs at Whitworth and Oakhurst appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Jake Levine, who served as a policy analyst in the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change under President Barack Obama and advocated for solutions to climate change on the White House National Security Council under President Joe Biden, is facing off against U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, who is seeking his 16th term. District 32 includes parts of the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles and the area directly north of Beverly Hills.

Levine is centering his campaign around lowering the cost of housing and childcare and making clean energy more accessible.

His plans include establishing a national housing development bank to bring down the cost of lending, bolstering the film economy in Los Angeles and offering immigrants a pathway to citizenship.

After serving in the White House, Levine worked in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and helped launch the California Climate Action Corps, a service program for young people to address climate change. He also represented clean energy advocates in court against the Trump administration to defend clean air protections. In the wake of the Palisades Fire in January 2025, which destroyed his parents’ home, Levine founded the Department of Angels, a nonprofit to help fire victims rebuild.

Other than Levine, nine other challengers will contend for Sherman’s seat. The two candidates with the most votes in the June primary will then face each other in the November 2026 general election.

A native of the Pacific Palisades, Levine lives in Brentwood with his wife and son and is the son of former U.S. Rep. Mel Levine.

In an exclusive interview, the Courier spoke with Levine about key issues facing the constituents of District 32 and how he plans to address them.

BHC: For those who might not know, please tell us about your connection to District 32.

Levine: I grew up in the district. I grew up in Pacific Palisades and in Brentwood. I went to schools in the district. I graduated from Harvard-Westlake. Both of my parents grew up in Beverly Hills. My aunt and uncle on my dad’s side still live in Beverly Hills. My parents both went to Beverly Hills High School. I went to El Rodeo for elementary school. So, my family goes way back in this place, and it’s a place I’m excited to bring the next generation into.

BHC: How did your father, former U.S. Rep. Mel Levine, inspire your political candidacy, and what has he taught you about being an elected official?

Levine: It’s definitely my father, but also my family, starting with my grandparents’ generation. In fact, my grandmother was on the school board in Beverly Hills. My grandfather, Max Greenberg, had a life of service as a lawyer. He served as the national chairman of the Anti-Defamation League in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. I think that my father’s decision to serve in public office, my mom’s decision to become a trial court judge, just stemmed from a feeling of responsibility to give back to the community, particularly when you’re blessed with the kind of values and upbringing and resources that were in my family. It’s been a long time since my dad’s been in office. And what has been so valuable to me about that is having a true friend in this and somebody that I can go to with any concern, free of judgment, and can help me think through it with impeccable judgment, and the kind of values that he lived in his life.

BHC: How did you decide that now was the time to run for Congress against an incumbent who has represented District 32 for 15 terms?

Levine: We’ve reached a moment in this country’s history that is a perilous moment. We’ve got a president that has run roughshod over the Constitution and the separation of powers, and I just think that the leaders who have gotten us to this moment, people like Brad Sherman, who have been well-intentioned and who have served for a long time, they’re no longer equipped to deal with the times that we’re in and to help lead us out of these crises.  

BHC: What do you see as the biggest issues affecting District 32 and how do you plan to address them if elected to Congress?

Levine: I think there’s a range of issues that people are really concerned with, starting with public safety and the basic effectiveness of some of the core fundamental functions of government. I think what is happening on the streets of L.A. every day with ICE and the unlawful detentions—I come from a Jewish family. When you look at what happened in World War II and the Holocaust, it is usually those in our society who are the most marginalized who are the least able to stand up to unlawful discrimination, detention and civil rights violations. It is incumbent on all of us as Americans to stand up and protect our immigrant community in this moment.

BHC: What about issues affecting our readers in Beverly Hills and why are you equipped to handle them?

Levine: Beverly Hills, in a lot of ways, has been an exemplar for effective municipal governance, with a mayor and a City Council that have provided a lot of leadership on issues from antisemitism to policing. I think some of the public safety issues that we see across the district are being tackled in Beverly Hills in a way that can be potentially a model for elsewhere. But I think that also, as we confront our housing crisis across the state, and as we confront the need to lower the cost of living, people in Beverly Hills are worried about housing density being put in places that might not be appropriate for that. I think that the history of the single-family home in Los Angeles is a proud history. It’s part of what makes Los Angeles a special place to raise a family. But also, I know that there are places in Beverly Hills that have been seen as appropriate for building more affordable, more accessible housing that can be a source of stability for young people. So, we can look to Beverly Hills as sort of a model for how to balance the need for bringing more housing into the system and doing that in a way that is appropriate to the character and the history and the legacy of a community.

BHC: A lot of your platform has centered around improving the response to natural disasters in the wake of the Palisades Fire. On the year anniversary of the disaster, how do you hope to address the conditions that led to the fire to ensure that it does not happen again?

Levine: I think there’s a very important role for the federal leadership in this district to play. I would want to see a plan executed to ensure that resources are in place to run drills and make sure that we have all of the assets available to contend with the kinds of fires that we know are going to be more common. 

Right in our district, we have the opportunity to transition from fossil resources to clean solar batteries. In fact, one of the things that’s most exciting about the rebuild in the Palisades is people are looking at the confluence of fire resilience with climate sustainability, homes that are both non-combustible, but also energy efficient, that, in some cases, are using solar power and batteries to be able to disconnect from the grid. We’re working on undergrounding the power lines. It’s a mix of better emergency response and goes back to the resources on public safety. We have the same number of fire stations in L.A. County today that we had in the 1970s.  The population has grown significantly, congestion has been exacerbated, so the time it takes for a fire truck to get to a fire has doubled, which means life and death.  

BHC: What are your specific plans to implement solutions to affordability?

Levine: I think home ownership is a really important tenant of life in America. It’s an opportunity for people to build equity, to generate stability in their own personal economic world and life and stability in their family life, and that is out of reach for too many people in Beverly Hills, in Los Angeles, in California. The average age of a first time home buyer today is older than 40 years old. In 1960, it was 23 years old, and so you could start building equity in a home. You could start laying down roots. You could get married and start a family so much earlier with the stability of a home. The policy that we want to put on the table is a national housing development bank, one that would help bring down the cost of capital for people who are unable to finance the construction of a home, other types of apartment buildings, larger developments, but who otherwise have projects that would be appropriate to work on. And so the idea behind it is to really accelerate our ability to build and to bring home ownership ultimately into view for young people and for people for whom it has been out of touch and out of reach.  

The post Jake Levine Believes He Should Lead CA District 32 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The renovated lawn along the west side of Moreno Drive will feature two distinct grass sections for students to use. The lawn will run across the entire Building B with a pathway leading to the school’s attendance office, ending at the new Konheim Athletic Building, scheduled to open at the end of 2026. The Grand Lawn, once the centerpiece of BHHS’s campus where graduation was held, will be used by teachers to host classes and by students as a place to eat lunch, study and make memories with friends. 

Funded through local bond measures, the Grand Lawn renovation is being overseen by management firm Fonder-Solari and carried out by construction firm Swinerton Inc.

“The students have been without it for so long, and just to have a space that really exemplifies who we are as a community and who we are as students means so much,” said Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Public Information Officer Colby Gilardian.

The renovations involved concrete flatwork, landscaping, irrigation and installing lighting, cameras and Wi-Fi, said Will Karrat, the BHUSD executive director of maintenance, operations and construction. The Grand Lawn renovation will dramatically change BHHS morning drop-off, as a new traffic lane along Moreno Drive will be added, Karrat said. The new lane will allow students to be safely picked up and dropped off in front of the high school, rather than having to drive all the way into the school’s main entrance. The lawn will also be surrounded by a new wrought iron fence, with cameras installed and each gate monitored by security guards.

Karrat added that in planning the renovation, it was important to provide enough green space while also selecting grass that would be easy to maintain.

“So, we wanted to keep the old look of having it being a grand lawn, and not just have it be a brown space,” Karrat said. “We wanted to have a lot of green so that’s what we’re going to incorporate into the lawn area. And then there’s two sections of raised areas, or small little hillsides that will be covered with drought-tolerant plants that we’re hoping it’s not going to require a lot of maintenance. It will hold up through the years, certainly.”

The reopening of the Grand Lawn coincides with other construction projects at BHHS that have been completed or are near completion in the new year. The fall saw the reopening of the Salter Family Theatre in Building 3, a 125-seat theater with modernized equipment for audio-visual technology, lighting systems and a redesigned backstage area. This year will also see the reopening of the Peters Auditorium, a 1,200-seat theater space that will open in conjunction with the BHHS Dance Company’s annual performance. The show is slated to run from Jan. 28-30 and will be the first production at the newly renovated Peters Auditorium in more than 10 years. 

In planning the Grand Lawn reopening, increasing campus safety was as important as providing an open space for students, Gilardian added.

“We obviously want the most modernized campuses and to give our students the tools and resources to succeed as best as possible within the facilities, but we also want to be courteous neighbors,” Gilardian said. “Our current Board of Education is really committed to finishing our facilities construction. We don’t want to be in construction forever, but we also want our facilities to be the best it can be. And so we feel like now is the golden age.”

BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss welcomed the renovation as a new chapter for BHHS.

“The Grand Lawn has always been the heart of our campus,” Cherniss said. “For generations, it welcomed students each morning and served as a place for connection, reflection and celebration. From daily lunches and studying to milestone moments like graduations, it holds deep meaning for our school community. After being closed for many years, we are now in the final stages of restoring this space back to our students, where it belongs. As superintendent, it is incredibly meaningful to help guide this moment, and I look forward to the many ways our students will soon learn, gather and grow here every day.”

The reopening of the lawn is especially significant for longtime BHHS faculty members who remember when students would congregate and make memories on the lawn before and after class.

“I am very excited for the reopening of our front lawn,” said BHHS math teacher Elaina Reilly. “It will be wonderful to again have a beautiful, natural space where students can gather, play and make high school memories.”  

The post Beverly Hills High School Grand Lawn Reopens After 10 Years appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Housing

Senate Bill (SB) 79, known as the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, will limit local zoning laws and allow multistory housing construction in areas proximate to transit centers. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2026, and could reshape housing in many cities across California. Reactions have been contentious and varied throughout the state. The Beverly Hills Planning Commission approved a recommendation to the City Council to adopt an alternative plan to SB 79 that allows the city to exert some local control.

“This is another case of Sacramento taking away local control,” said director of community development Michael Forbes at a Nov. 12 City Council Study Session.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, landlords in California will be required to provide a working stove and refrigerator in every rental unit for new or renewed leases, according to Assembly Bill (AB) 628. The law updates the legal definition of a habitable dwelling unit to include the essential kitchen appliances.

Education

AB 715, authored in part by California State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who represents Beverly Hills, established a new Office of Civil Rights to end antisemitism and discrimination in schools. The law will also mandate the appointment of an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, tasked with tracking and reporting antisemitism in California schools and advising local agencies on addressing antisemitism.

“Every student deserves to be safe, valued and respected—no matter who they are or what they believe,” Zbur said. “At a time when hate is rising and antisemitism is sweeping our communities, AB 715 reaffirms California’s commitment to inclusion and standing up against bigotry in all its forms.”

AB 49 prohibits schools from allowing immigration enforcement officers on campus without a warrant. The law will also prohibit schools from disclosing academic and personal records of students to immigration enforcement officers without direct parental consent or a warrant.

SB 760 will require schools to provide at least one all-gender restroom available to students and staff.

Technology, AI and Consumer Protection

AB 723, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, requires licensed real estate brokers and salespeople to clearly disclose when an image used in real estate marketing has been digitally altered and makes it a criminal offense to fail to make this disclosure.

The bill is part of a larger effort to more closely regulate artificial intelligence in California. SB 942, the California AI Transparency Act, will also take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and requires covered providers to offer AI detection tools and include disclosures that certain content is AI-generated. Senate Bill 243 will require technology companies to clearly and obviously disclose that AI chatbots are not real humans when utilized by users. The new law will also require companies to ensure chatbots do not produce content involving suicide or self-harm for users. Additionally, SB 53 will require large frontier AI developers to publicly publish a framework on their website describing how the company has incorporated national standards, international standards and industry-consensus best practices into their frontier AI framework.

“California has proven that we can establish regulations to protect our communities while also ensuring that the growing AI industry continues to thrive,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “This legislation strikes that balance. AI is the new frontier in innovation, and California is not only here for it—but stands strong as a national leader by enacting the first-in-the-nation frontier AI safety legislation that builds public trust as this emerging technology rapidly evolves.”

Additionally, businesses with 20 or more locations in California will be required to list major food allergens on menus beginning July 1, 2026, under SB 68.

Employment and Labor

The statewide minimum wage will increase to $16.90 per hour for all employees, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

SB 642, effective Jan. 1, 2026, will prohibit employers from asking job applicants about their salary history, but if the information is voluntarily given, it can still be used to decide salary amounts. Employers must also give employees pay scale information for their current roles upon request.

Public Safety and Criminal Justice

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, local and federal law enforcement officers will be prohibited from wearing masks to conceal identities while enforcing the law. The law comes after officers from federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, conducted mass immigration raids and arrests throughout Los Angeles County and California in 2025, often wearing masks and concealing their identities.

SB 303 criminalizes threats of mass violence made against schools, houses of worship and medical facilities.

AB 250 establishes a two-year window, from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2027, during which plaintiffs can revive civil claims for sexual assault even if the statute of limitations has expired. 

The post New Laws in 2026 to Bring Changes appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“I am excited to welcome Chris to his new role,” said Community Services Director Stephanie Harris. “He has successfully managed various divisions over the last year, including the Park Ranger program, Administrative Support, Arts and Culture and most recently the Youth Recreation division. I am confident his leadership will continue to be an asset to the department and our city.”

Paulson joined the city of Beverly Hills in 2021 from the city of Claremont where he served as Assistant City Manager and Community Services Director.  Prior to Claremont, he spent 10 years at the City of Alhambra in various roles.

Paulson will assume his new role on Feb. 7, 2026, allowing for transition with the retirement of current Assistant Director Patty Acuna in March. 

The post Paulson Appointed Assistant Director of Community Services appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The fire was reported by a passerby at 5:46 a.m., Berardinelli said. Firefighters were deployed to the scene and stopped the fire around 6:20 a.m. Porta Via’s roof partially collapsed and experienced significant damage. Adjacent properties also experienced smoke damage, Berardinelli added. The last fire department unit vacated the location at 10 a.m. after ensuring the fire was completely extinguished and any salvageable items were retrieved.

Porta Via is currently closed, and the fire department is investigating the area.

“Early this morning, our Beverly Hills restaurant experienced a fire that resulted in significant damage. We are incredibly grateful that no one was injured and thankful for the quick action of the Beverly Hills Fire Department,” Porta Via owner Peter Garland said in a statement posted on social media.

“Our hearts are very much with our team, our neighbors and the community that has supported us for so many years,” he added. “We will continue to share updates as they become available, but for now we are closed.”

The adjacent Tesoro Beverly Hills / Best Gift Store Ever also experienced “immense damage” from the incident. A social media post by the store’s owner, Recreation and Parks Commissioner Tara Riceberg, stated that firefighters needed to access her store in order to control the blaze.

“It’s toast, despite not burning,” Riceberg wrote in the post. “Today, I’ve been overwhelmed with messages of love, support, offers of help to clean up, restock and GoFundMe.”

Berardinelli commended the passerby for reporting the fire and said that the community support for the affected businesses and the fire department has been overwhelming.

“The fire was called in by somebody walking by and the fact they smelled smoke and went and noticed something and called the fire department, that kept what was a big incident from becoming even bigger,” Berardinelli said.

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian thanked the BHFD in an Instagram post.

“My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the fire early this morning at Porta Via, as well as the neighboring businesses affected,” Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian said in a statement posted on social media. “I want to sincerely thank the Beverly Hills Fire Department for their swift action, professionalism and heroism in addressing the incident quickly and safely. We are grateful that no injuries were reported.”

To support the staff of Porta Via, visit the GoFundMe at:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-porta-via-staff-after-christmas-fire?attribution_id=sl%3A76455f31-9132-4350-a544-862c6dc26b2a&lang=en_US&ts=1766886338&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp17_tb&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link.  

The post Porta Via Restaurant Significantly Damaged by Fire appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Founded by brothers Dr. Rodney Raanan and Dr. Justin Raanan, The Giving A Smile Foundation partners professional dentists with dental students to provide life-changing care to people in need at no cost. The inaugural gala directly supported the creation of a permanent clinic for the foundation.

In their opening speech, the brothers dedicated their work to the inspiration of their parents.

“Can you believe that a dream we had 12 years ago has grown into this beautiful foundation we have today filled with incredible individuals that donate their time, their generosity, to really make a difference in these kids’ lives,” said Dr. Rodney Raanan. “The foundation has already helped over 4,000 people all across L.A. and will continue to grow. This foundation is not only just an organization. It’s really our family story.”

“In addition to building our first standalone year-round dental clinic, The Giving A Smile Foundation is raising funds to launch two fully equipped mobile dental units that will bring free, high-quality care directly into underserved communities,” added Dr. Justin Raanan. “These mobile clinics will allow us to reach children and young adults where they are, removing barriers to treatment and expanding our impact across Los Angeles.”

The event, hosted by actor Kelsey Grammer and featuring a performance by Grammy-winning singer Robin Thicke, brought together the Beverly Hills community and included a live auction to raise funds for the life-changing work of the Raanan brothers.

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian was presented with the Humanitarian Leadership Award. Additionally, talent agent Lorrie Bartlett was given the Guiding Light Award, Boys and Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley CEO JR Dzubak received the Visionary Impact Award, and All Greater Good Foundation President Dr. Katja Van Herle was awarded the Healing Hands Award.

“The Giving A Smile Foundation does something profoundly important. They restore dignity and confidence,” Nazarian said. “They do it quietly, consistently and with a level of professionalism that strengthens the very fabric of our community. In a world where everyone seems to have an opinion, it’s refreshing to be with people who actually take action and make a difference.”

Nazarian also commended the foundation for transforming the lives of children in the city.

“When these kids first walk in, they often hide their smile. You can see how much of their confidence has taken a hit. But after treatment, everything changes,” she said. “Their shoulders lift up; their eyes brighten, and that first real smile feels like sunshine. Fixing teeth is a science. Restoring the confidence is a miracle. They remind us that access, mentorship and compassion aren’t extras. They are essential. And given how many people fear going to the dentist, the fact that so many look forward to walking into your offices might actually qualify as another small miracle.”

The evening represented the best of Beverly Hills and people using their talents to give back to the community, Nazarian said.

“As mayor of Beverly Hills, my theme for this year is unity. And evenings like this illustrate what unity looks like when it’s lived rather than merely spoken. It’s professionals using their skills to serve. It’s organizations creating pathways for people who have been overlooked, and let’s be honest, in Beverly Hills, unity is easy to spot. It’s that magical moment when residents, visitors and even our most opinionated neighbors all agree on one thing in our spectacular city, helping our next generation.” 

The post The Giving A Smile Foundation Sparkles at Beverly Hills Gala appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Sant Ambroeus, an Italian restaurant company that traces its roots back to a 1936 Milanese cafe with multiple locations across New York City, Paris and Florida, will bring its first California location to Beverly Hills in 2026. The historic restaurant will take over the Il Fornaio space at 301 N. Beverly Drive.

“They are taking over the Il Fornaio space at the end of January and are going to do some pretty big remodels there,” said Todd Johnson, president and CEO of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce. “Their goal is to open up in the latter half of the year, probably October. It’s Italian. We don’t have a shortage of Italian restaurants, but they’re really good. It’ll do well.”

The French-Mediterranean restaurant Azur, “a refined yet relaxed destination inspired by the timeless spirit of the French Riviera,” according to the restaurant’s website, will open at the former Tatel space at 453 N. Canon Drive early in 2026.

A new upscale, maximalist Italian restaurant with contemporary design named Bad Roman will be arriving at the former Palm Steakhouse location at 267 N. Canon Drive.

Another Michelin-starred chef will arrive in Beverly Hills in 2026 with the opening of Sushi Nakazawa, where Chef Daisuke Nakazawa will bring his award-winning omakase to 145 N. Robertson Blvd.

North Beverly Drive will see other business openings in the new year. Blue Elephant Café will bring new coffee fare to the city and will be located at 300 N. Beverly Drive in the old Pottery Barn space. Two high-end, outdoor shoe stores will come to the city, Anta and Salomon, and will both be located on N. Beverly Drive. Cinq à Sept, a women’s contemporary fashion store, will also arrive in the city.

Johnson said that the new openings only skim the surface of all that is in store for Beverly Hills in the future. Members of the Chamber of Commerce and city staff regularly meet with business owners in cities across the country and the world to find the best possible fits for Beverly Hills. Another one that is on the horizon of coming to Beverly Hills, Johnson said, is Cote Korean Steakhouse from owner Simon Kim, the first and only Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse.

Beverly Hills’ name recognition, safety and location make it a prime market for new businesses, he added. 

Johnson also highlighted the success of recent openings in the city, including the opening of La La Land Kind Café’s first reserve location, located at 341 N. Canon Drive. The eclectic coffee shop offers an array of specialized pastries, matcha and espresso drinks. Additionally, Pura Vida Miami, a restaurant focused on offering health-conscious and sustainable meals opened to rave reviews at its first California location, at 439 N. Beverly Drive.

The opening of the Metro D line station at Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards by March 2026 will bring even more business to Beverly Hills, said Johnson. He noted that the city is implementing additional safety measures in the area.

“La Cienega and Wilshire, that whole corner will start rejuvenating itself,” he said. “A lot of younger people will just take the subway or an Uber or a Waymo or whatever because you don’t want a car. So, I think we’ll get there. It’s been a long haul, and will continue to have some challenges, but we’ll overcome them.” 

The post A Surge of New Businesses Set to Open in Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The agreement, which will remain in effect through June 2029, includes a 3.5% increase in year one, a 6% increase in year two and 5% increases in both year three and year four. The base pay of employees who have earned a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree will increase by 2.75% and is cumulative if multiple degrees are earned. The amendment also caps the amount of compensated time off officers can accrue and use at no more than 220 hours per year.

The BHPOA includes police officers, trainees and sergeants in the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD). The terms of the contract will be applied retroactively to Nov. 29, the beginning of the pay period following BHPOA member approval.

Councilmember John Mirisch said he voted against the agreement because he does not support collective bargaining agreements due to California’s public pension system. He also thanked the BHPD for its work in keeping the city safe and fostering a positive relationship between residents and police personnel.

The agreement follows contentious negotiations since the BHPOA’s MOU expired on June 30. The union accused the city of failing to compensate members at a rate on par with nearby departments. In several messages to registered voters, BHPOA President Christian Bond said that the city was losing officers and a level of safety to other cities. At an Aug. 5 City Council meeting, Hunt-Coffey refuted several of Bond’s claims. 

In June, the BHPOA also issued a vote of no confidence in Chief Mark Stainbrook, followed by sending a cease-and-desist letter in July, alleging that Stainbrook engaged in retaliatory behavior against Bond.

Peter Brown, who represented the BHPOA in negotiations, said that the agreed MOU offered police personnel some of the highest wages among competing agencies.

“We used a total compensation survey to evaluate a marketplace, and the marketplace is pretty much the surrounding agencies,” he said. “Beverly Hills is fairly high up on that survey. … While I can’t guarantee that you will be number one in this survey throughout the entire four years because I don’t know what all the agencies are going to do, you’re going to be pretty close to that throughout the term of this survey.”

Brown added that the timing of the four-year agreement is key as it will carry the department until after the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, both of which take place in Los Angeles. Bond thanked the Council for the agreement.

“On behalf of myself and the entire Beverly Hills Police Officers’ Association, I want to say how genuinely appreciative we are for your commitment to listening, collaborating and working toward an agreement that reflects both the needs of our officers and the values of this incredible city,” he said.

Mayor Sharona Nazarian, along with every member of the City Council, thanked the BHPOA and the BHPD for their work in helping the city.

“This agreement was a long time coming. It required patience, persistence and good faith negotiations on all sides, and I’m pleased that we were able to reach a conclusion that was fair, responsible and one that our officers feel great about,” she said. “Safety and security of our residents and visitors is our number one priority and we also appreciate our police department immensely. They serve with professionalism, integrity and dedication, and this agreement reflects our appreciation for their service and our investment in a strong and respected police department.”

In other business, the Council approved an amendment to the architectural agreement for the planned Oct. 7 memorial with Broskin LLC for design services for a total not to exceed $216,100. The project is expected to cost a total of $1.5 million with $500,000 funded from the city and the rest from private donations. The city has so far received $28,087.18 in donations for the project. 

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During a court appearance on Dec. 17, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Theresa R. McGonigle continued Nick Reiner’s arraignment to Jan. 7. He is currently being held without bail in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles and appeared at the hearing in a suicide prevention vest. 

The charges against Nick Reiner include the special circumstance of multiple murders along with a special allegation that he used a knife to commit the murders. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

“Prosecuting these cases involving family members are some of the most challenging and most heart-wrenching cases that this office faces because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a Dec. 16 news conference. “Their loss is beyond tragic, and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice.”

Nick Reiner’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, asked the public to respect the judicial process after the arraignment postponement on Dec. 17.

“This is a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family. We all recognize that. Our hearts go out to the entire Reiner family,” he said. “There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case. They need to be thoroughly but very carefully dealt with, and examined, and looked at, and analyzed. We ask that, during this process, you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward, not with a rush to judgment, not with jumping to conclusions but with restraint and with dignity and with the respect that this system and this process deserves, and that the family deserves. So, with that, we are set for Jan. 7 for an arraignment. That’s the next court date and that’s all I have to say at this point.”

Nick Reiner struggled with addiction and was in and out of rehabilitation centers. He was arrested the night of Dec. 14 in Exposition Park near the University of Southern California without incident, Hochman said. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell did not provide any details regarding Nick Reiner’s arrest or how he was identified as the suspect. There is also no information available on a motive for the killings as of press time.

According to media reports, the couple’s 28-year-old daughter Romy Reiner discovered the bodies. Romy, along with her older brother Jake Reiner, asked for privacy in a public statement made on Dec. 17.

“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” they said. “The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”

“We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life,” they added. “We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.”

Rob Reiner came to national prominence in the 1971-79 sitcom “All in the Family,” where he played Archie Bunker’s son-in-law, Michael “Meathead” Stivic. He then went on to direct some of the most celebrated films of all time, including “Stand By Me” (1986), “The Princess Bride” (1987), “When Harry Met Sally …” (1989) and “A Few Good Men” (1992).

Before becoming one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time, Rob Reiner graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1964. He and his family moved to Beverly Hills from the Bronx, New York when he was 12 years old.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rob Reiner, a proud Beverly Hills High School alumnus whose extraordinary life and work left a lasting impact on our community and the world,” Beverly Hills Unified School District Superintendent Alex Cherniss said. “Once a Norman, always a Norman. Our thoughts are with all who are grieving this profound loss.”

While at Beverly, Rob Reiner befriended fellow actors Albert Brooks, Larry Bishop and Richard Dreyfuss. The group went on to form an improvisational comedy troupe called The Session. In a 2023 CBS News interview, Rob Reiner returned with Brooks to Beverly Hills High School, where the two friends reminisced on how the school shaped their lifelong friendship.

“This is the first time both of us have been back since we graduated,” Rob Reiner said during the interview. “It brings back no memories,” he jokingly added.

Michael Schniderman, a 1967 BHHS graduate and a local handyman at Pioneer Hardware, said he remembers when Rob Reiner, Brooks and Dreyfuss organized a rock concert at the high school featuring The Doors and Sam and Dave. Schneiderman also remembered the kindness that Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner’s father, showed him when he performed handyman work at the family’s Beverly Hills residence.

“Rob came from a sweet family,” he said. “They had compassion, they had humanity. And the fact of the matter is that what happened is a tragedy. You could say it’s an American tragedy.”

Longtime Beverly Hills resident and founder of Writers Bloc Presents Andrea Grossman described Reiner as a “creative genius” in a tribute posted to the Writers Bloc website. Rob Reiner was a frequent moderator for Writers Bloc presents forums, appearing in a program as recent as September in Beverly Hills for his own book, “A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap.”

“There’s so much to say and to admire about Rob: his movies, his activism, his willingness to stand for meaningful and just causes both social and political,” she said. “His impact on our cultural and political landscape was profound. We are stricken, shell-shocked, and heartsick by the murders of Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. Our hearts are with their loved ones during this devastating time. We will miss Rob’s art and his voice.”

After briefly studying at UCLA, Rob Reiner went on to create some of the most beloved films of all time. He also devoted himself to political causes by supporting a tobacco tax in 1998 that would pay for early childhood programs and championed a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. He was also an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, calling him a danger to democracy.

Rob Reiner’s memory will forever be enshrined in the city of Beverly Hills, where his portrait hangs as part of the high school’s Hall of Fame. 

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“It’s wonderful to see so many from the community with us here tonight for this special moment in this difficult time in the world,” Deputy City Manager Keith Sterling said in his opening speech. “We’re here to celebrate together as Beverly Hills always does. We’re a resilient community.”

Hundreds of community members, families and visitors gathered as the sun set over Beverly Gardens Park. The night was illuminated by the shining lights of the Menorah and decorations set up throughout the park to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

Mayor Sharona Nazarian began her speech by denouncing the antisemitic terror attack on Dec. 14 that took place at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, Australia, and claimed the lives of 15 people. 

The city lowered its flag to half-staff on Dec. 15 and increased security around houses of worship and public events in the wake of the attack and a shooting at Brown University. Nazarian thanked the Beverly Hills community for standing in unity.

“Just yesterday on what marked the first day of Hanukkah and the celebrations we saw in Australia, once again, the world saw the horrors of terrorism fueled by antisemitism. Our thoughts and prayers are with those victims,” she said. “Hanukkah can teach us that light can endure even the most overwhelming odds of hatred and darkness. When the Maccabees were attacked, a small amount of oil burned for 8 days, a miracle. Today, we are witnessing miracles, and we can see them if we are willing to open our eyes and our hearts. Being able to stand here freely together as a united community celebrating faith and tradition without fear, that’s a miracle.”

Nazarian also stressed the importance of coming together during difficult times.

“In Beverly Hills, unity is not just a word, it’s a choice we make again and again,” Nazarian said. “In Beverly Hills, we will always stand up to hatred, discrimination and antisemitism because never again is exactly right now. Tonight, as we light the menorah, let us also light something within ourselves: hope, compassion and a quiet confidence that even in a most complicated world, even in a world that can feel cold, unsympathetic and even divided, light will win.”

The Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy children’s choir then performed a celebratory rendition of “I Have a Little Dreidel” to raucous applause from the gathered crowd. Nazarian was then joined by the Beverly Hills City Council and Rabbi Cantor Arik Wollheim of Beth Jacob Congregation for the official lighting. Members of the Beverly Hills Police Department, Beverly Hills Unified School District, city staff and hundreds of community members were also in attendance for the lighting.

Wollheim then lit a candle and with the help of Mayor Nazarian, kept the candle burning as he sang the Hanukkah blessings. The children’s choir came back onto the stage. With the help of the entire City Council, the gathered crowd raised their voices together as the menorah was illuminated. 

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Pioneer Hardware, the century-old business that has been in a city-owned building at 333 N. Crescent Drive since 1983, was notified that a 10% rent increase will take effect in 2027, owner Jeff Tilem told the Courier. The rent, which is currently $7,271.08 per month, would increase by $741.12 starting in 2027 and then increase by 3% each year thereafter under the new five-year proposal. The proposal is more than any previous rental increase, and Tilem said it would force the store to close at the end of 2026.

“This is a city resource for the people that live here,” said Tilem. “When it rains, and water is coming in your house and you need [materials], you don’t want to go online and wait for it to be delivered. You want to go get it and have it. Or you’re 75 years old and something’s not working, and you want it to be fixed. You bring it to us, and we fix it. That can’t be replicated.”

Bonnie Fleming, who has shopped at the store for years out of convenience, said the store fulfills a variety of needs for her. If she needs a flashlight after an earthquake, or help assembling toys for her grandkids, or a new cutting board for Thanksgiving and does not want to drive far, Fleming goes to Pioneer Hardware.

“I go in there for anything,” she said. “My daughter, she said, ‘I’ve got to go over to Mercedes to get my round battery for my key.’ And I said, ‘Go over to Pioneer Hardware. Ask for Ryan. You will get your little battery; he will put it in your key, and it’s done.’”

Roberta Magid, who has shopped at Pioneer Hardware since 1968, said the store’s handymen services have been essential for her.

“I have a problem, and they have handymen here—all terrific, really nice,” she said. “I was worried about coyotes, because I live in the hills, so I called up, and they sent somebody and put a gate up. It feels like a little small community again. This is the only store where you feel that way.”

Magid said that Pioneer Hardware is one of the last small, neighborhood-oriented businesses in the city.

“It’s like a small town on this one block, and they’re taking it away,” she said. “They want to take away something that means so much to so many people. For what, a few dollars?”

In addition to the rent increase, Tilem told the Courier that his business has suffered since August, when the city installed a Throne Lab portable bathroom in the adjacent parking structure. Not only has that brought the smell of human waste, but the toilets frequently leak, causing customers to say they will not return while the bathroom is there. Tilem said that the city has also failed to fix stock room walls in the back of his store that continuously leak, and damage merchandise every time it rains.

In a written response to Tilem’s concerns, the city took the position that the rental increase is reasonable. It noted that Pioneer Hardware currently pays less rent per month than it did in 1988, and the increase will “still be well below today’s fair-market value.” The increase will bring their rent to a price-per-square-foot basis of an amount similar to the next-door Beverly Hills Market, approximately $1.90 per square foot, said Lauren Santillana, public information manager of the city of Beverly Hills.

“Today, Pioneer Hardware pays less rent than they did 37 years ago,” Santillana said. “The city has regularly held rent flat and reduced rent several times over their 42 years. All things considered, the city’s proposed increase is modest, and Pioneer has until 2027 to plan for it.”

Santillana also said that the Throne Lab bathroom has decreased incidents of homeless people relieving themselves in a nearby stairwell, and the city plans to further extend ventilation following customer and tenant complaints. The city is also considering more extensive repairs for the store’s stock room walls, Santillana added.

She added, “The city and the community value having a locally owned hardware store that might not be possible at current market rents.” 

The post Pioneer Hardware Signals Proposed Rent Increases Could Force Closure appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The board voted to increase its monthly compensation from $240 to $1,200. The raise comes after the passage of Assembly Bill 1390 in October, which increased maximum monthly stipends for school board members in California. Under the new law, in districts with an average daily attendance between 1,000 and 10,000, school board members can receive a maximum of $1,200 per month. The board unanimously passed the motion on second reading and will review compensation for the student board member later.

“We put in so much time and effort that there’s no way to even compensate what we’re doing,” Board Member Sigalie Sabag said in favor of the proposal.

The board also unanimously approved a district trip to the Consumer Electronics Show— an annual electronics trade show that takes place in Las Vegas in January—at $4,000 per person for an unspecified 2-5 board and administration members.

“Attending CES provides staff with firsthand exposure to cutting-edge technologies and advanced AI tools, allowing them to deepen their understanding of emerging innovations and bring back critical insights that keep BHUSD forward-thinking, future-ready and aligned with best practices in educational technology and AI integration,” the proposal read.

Kimberly Lifschitz, a district parent, raised concerns over the cost of attending the conference, the lack of clarity on who would be attending and the district’s rapid implementation of Artificial Intelligence. She said the expense for a consumer trade show that is not open to the public is unreasonable when her son’s district school is consistently short staffed with classroom aides. Lifschitz also raised the concerns of the mental health impacts of AI.

“Four [thousand] per person but we don’t get names or an accurate head count—could it be because there is zero reason for school board members and district personnel to attend a consumer tech trade show?” Lifschitz said. “This is just plain insulting.”

BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss argued that attending CES was relevant to the school district due to the cybersecurity training, robotics courses and AI training that it offers. He added that command center technologist Ryan Damavandi, robotics teacher John Castle and public information officer Colby Gilardian may attend the conference to bring back lessons on technology.

“There is cybersecurity training as part of this and that will be a great investment for us … We know our parents really care about security,” Cherniss said. “It looks like it’s a worthwhile investment as we continue to talk about AI, we continue to talk about cybersecurity, ways to keep our kids safe, ways to provide the best education.”

Earlier in the meeting, parent Daniel Lifschitz raised concerns about a social media post from Board Member Russell Stuart in which Stuart replied “FAFO” to a post on X about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s daughter condemning President Donald Trump for calling her father “retarded.” Walz has a disabled son. Stuart then posted “feelings activated, facts overruled,” to clarify his comment.

Lifschitz, the parent of a disabled child, noted, “Is this the type of belief we should want someone in charge of overseeing education not only harbor but feel comfortable enough to express to the world without any apparent second thought?” he said. “If this is the example we’re looking to set for our kids, I fear the district’s legal troubles are only beginning.”

Stuart did not respond to the substance of Lifschitz’ comments. 

The board also unanimously approved an agreement with LA High Tech Enterprises to install vape detectors at Beverly Vista Middle School for a total cost of $64,127.11. Vape detectors were previously installed at Beverly Hills High School. The agreement comes after Board Member Russell Stuart said the vape detectors had been effective and revealed how many students were consistently vaping at a Nov. 1 Health and Safety Commission meeting. 

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The Courier observed the operation first-hand, during an exclusive ride-along.

“We get tons of complaints: speeding, illegal U-turns, running stop signs, racing vehicles, all that kind of stuff,” BHPD Chief Mark Stainbrook told the Courier. “We want to send a message, at least on the West Side, that we’re not going to tolerate this kind of driving and behavior with these racing vehicles.”

Beverly Hills City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey personally thanked the officers from participating agencies for taking part in the operation. Those officers spread out around the city, stopping drivers for running red lights, clogging intersections and distracted driving. In total, 31 citations were issued for using a cellphone while driving, 12 for running a red light, seven for illegal u-turns, one for loud exhaust and others for impeding, making an unsafe left turn, having an expired registration and others.

“Anytime we do enforcement, we also talk about education,” Executive Officer Lt. Kevin Orth told the Courier. “So, when we bring other officers from other agencies, it just helps us to put out a bigger presence. If you’re driving down the street and see police stop people, most people check their speed, do that kind of thing. And the long-term goal is safety, of course, because accidents occur when people run stop signs, red lights or are speeding.”

To prevent excessive engine noise, a persistent problem in the city, Orth said the police department is obtaining decibel meters to measure when cars exceed set levels.

“We get quite a few complaints from people about loud cars, motorcycles, racing and exhaust,” he said. “So, if we know there’s a problem in a certain area at a certain time, we’ll put an officer there, like what we’re doing over here in the business district. And then once we have the decibel meter, then we can show that there’s a violation.”

Orth added that the biggest problem he encounters with drivers is distracted driving and community members can protect themselves and others by putting their phone down and not driving aggressively if they are in a rush.

“When you’re in a rush, like you’re running late, or you’re distracted is when a lot of violations start to occur,” he said. “In those moments, you’re trying to get there, you’re trying to beat the light, or you’re trying to make this call, you come around the corner and then there’s a stop sign. Or maybe you’re unfamiliar with the area, you’re coming in for an important meeting, you’re already running late, you’re parking and the next thing you know, you’re in an accident. “So, I would say if you can limit being in a distracted space, the more, the better.”

BHPD Lt. Eugene Kim, the bureau commander of traffic, told the Courier the operation was a success in utilizing all the city’s resources to prevent traffic violations and keep residents safe.

“Overall, it looks like it’s been a very successful event,” Kim said. “It really shows the partnership with not just the community, but also all our allied agencies working on this together. We also brought together multiple divisions and bureaus within our police department, so our Real-Time Watch Center is providing overwatch and safety. We have our own dedicated dispatching system, so we’re really putting it all out for traffic enforcement.” 

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Recreation Services Manager Michael Muse gave an update on the pickleball court renovations at La Cienega Tennis Center and Roxbury Park. Muse said that the resurfacing of the courts at both La Cienega and Roxbury has been completed and that new wind screens have also been installed. The resurfacing included 12 new pickleball courts at La Cienega and four new courts at Roxbury Park. Muse added that the last part of the Pickleball Pilot Program is the rollout of the “Playbypoint” app that will aid in scheduling the different courts and be implemented in January.

Commissioner Tara Riceberg expressed concern over possible injuries that could occur due to the narrow spacing between each court, since they were drawn according to Pickleball USA’s recommended guidelines. She recommended staff communicate to players to take extra caution. 

City staff is currently deciding on a contractor for the La Cienega Park Playground Improvements Project and will update the commission once a selection is made, said Recreation Services Manager Adrine Ovasapyan. The Beverly Hills City Council approved the playground redesign in September, which will feature a natural environment theme with topographic changes, vibrant colors, a rubber pour-in-place safety surface, new trees, benches, fencing and an ADA travel path also serving as an imaginary stream.

Ovasapyan also updated the commission on large park signage. Staff has conducted a full inventory of all signage in city parks to determine the best ways to update signage to be as effective as possible. Staff will return with a thorough plan on the best ways to update signage, she added.

Chair Deborah Termeie emphasized the importance of park signage after witnessing a dog owner violate park rules at Roxbury Park by walking her dog unleashed. Muse said that unleashed dog walking has been an ongoing problem due to owners walking their dogs unleashed before park rangers arrive at 7 a.m. Staff is currently working on solutions, Muse added, which include having park rangers track repeat offenders and also by increasing the visibility of the dog park, where off-leash walking is permitted. Riceberg also suggested the possibility of implementing enclosed batting cages where dogs could run around unleashed safely. Termeie added that owners should be aware of coyotes in the area near Roxbury Park.

Riceberg also commended staff on working with residents to allow the use of personal grills to cook food at parks if they have dietary or religious restrictions and want to avoid the public grills. At Roxbury Park, visitors can call the community center to arrange to use their own grills, which staff evaluates on a case-by-case basis.

Muse also updated the community on the status of digital displays at Roxbury Park and La Cienega Community Centers, which show flyers, slideshows and event photos, and are updated monthly to promote programs and activities to reduce printed materials. Muse said that a digital display was placed in the Roxbury Park Community Center lobby, but he is considering a new location for the display after community members expressed a desire for the display to be more visible to passersby. The La Cienega Community Center digital display was placed in a location in the lobby that is visible from outside the building, he added. 

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Coming off a second-round loss last season against Silverado High School in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 7 playoffs to cap off an 11-12-1 record, the Normans are looking to compete at the top of the table in the 2025-26 campaign.

Coach Emilio Lari, in his third year as head coach of the program, said his current squad of players has been developing together for years.

“This will be my third year as head coach at BHHS, and what makes it meaningful is watching our long-term development model take shape,” Lari said. “Our current senior class was the very first group we began building at Beverly Vista Middle School (BVMS), and seeing their growth from sixth grade to varsity soccer has been incredibly rewarding. With a unified coaching staff across BVMS and BHHS, we’ve built a connected system that focuses not only on technical development, but on character, culture and life lessons. Our mission is to develop talented players, but more importantly, to develop exceptional people.”

Due to CIF realignment last season, Santa Monica, Culver City and Lawndale high schools rejoined Beverly’s division, upping the competition level on a weekly basis.

“We fought our way into the postseason again, meeting expectations in league play. While we’re proud of reaching the second round of CIF for the second straight year, falling short of advancing further was motivating,” Lari said. “Before I took over, the program had never advanced past the first round. Now, we’ve made back-to-back second-round appearances. That progress shows we’re close, and it’s fueled the belief that this year’s group can break through and make a deeper run.”

Lari said he is relying on the returning top players from last season, Noah Mussry and Noam Baruch, as well as this year’s captains to lead the team.

“[Mussry] drives our attack with relentlessness, aggressive pressing and creativity. He’ll continue to be a focal point in leading the front line and setting the tone with his work rate,” Lari said. “Noam Baruch leads through his composure. He draws pressure, yet consistently finds outlets and creates attacks with intelligence and vision. His calmness allows the entire team to play with clarity and confidence in possession.”

“Our captains, Nico Vallejo, Levi Sasson and Jesse Painter, will lead not only through ability but passion,” Lari added. “Each brings a different leadership quality, but together they set the emotional tone of our squad. Their standard of effort, accountability and love for the game is contagious. We believe this team is successful because of its passion. Talent wins games; passion and unity win seasons.”

To make that deeper run into the playoffs, Beverly players take part in a rigorous preseason program designed to help players meet the highest fitness levels while learning to play together cohesively.

“Every athlete must pass program-wide fitness standards, including the mile run, beep test and Man U test,” Lari said. “Once teams are formed, our focus shifts to shape, tactical intelligence, decision-making and culture. We schedule friendlies and scrimmages against teams of varying difficulties. Some matches we expect to win, others push us against top-division competition to build mental toughness. The objective is simple: enter the season cohesive, disciplined, fit and fearless.”

Though the Normans have started 1-2 on the season, with losses to New West Charter High School and Windward School, Lari said he was encouraged by the team’s tactical style in a dominant 7-0 win against Verbum Dei Jesuit High School and during a preseason scrimmage against Crossroads High School. He added that the team was not at full strength during the season-opening loss to New West due to CIF restrictions.

“We play a team-based, possession-oriented style built around movement, involvement and patience,” Lari said. “Instead of relying on one or two individuals, we emphasize collective play and trust in every line of our formation. Our base structure is a 4-3-3, but we’re flexible and adjust based on personnel and opposition.”

Lari emphasized that his team’s fluidity is their strength and relies most on the midfield to set the tempo.

“We build out of the back and look to progress through the midfield, which operates as the engine of our system,” he said. “The goal is to control tempo, stretch the field, and create high-percentage scoring opportunities through combination play, not just direct balls forward.”

Beyond building a cohesive system, Lari said that Beverly’s advantage is investing in players since they were young through a program that begins in middle school and retains the same players until they graduate high school. This sense of cohesion and togetherness, Lari said, is what will allow the team to compete against top programs like Santa Monica and Culver City, and make a deep playoff run.

“Beverly Hills soccer is unique because it’s a true community program. We develop players through a linear pathway, middle school to high school, allowing us to strengthen fundamentals, identity and culture from a young age,” he said. “Our players compete for the school and for the city, but more importantly, they compete for each other. We’ve earned league title contention and reached the second round of CIF in back-to-back seasons, yet we stay humble. We don’t rely on attention or spotlight; our drive comes from the family within the program and the standard we hold ourselves to.” 

The post ‘Sky Is the Limit’ for BHHS Men’s Soccer appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The temple hosted a “Symposium on AI and Public Safety” by the Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles that focused on the use of artificial intelligence in enhancing public safety. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene around 10 a.m., according to media reports, where 40 to 50 protesters were holding signs and chanting “free, free Palestine.” During the event, four registered guests began to protest inside the temple. They were escorted out by security. According to a statement from the temple, one of the protesters broke a vase, and another spat on a security officer. 

“Today we saw a disturbing outbreak of hate outside Wilshire Boulevard Temple that resulted in arrests for battery and the destruction of property,” Rabbi Joel Nickerson of Wilshire Boulevard Temple said in a statement. “These individuals targeted the Jewish community and chose to disrupt a community event on synagogue property that was focused on advancing public safety in Koreatown. We appreciate the strong support we have received from elected leaders and law enforcement and look forward to working with them to ensure that those responsible for this hateful and illegal conduct are held accountable. No one should be targeted in the city of Los Angeles on account of their faith.”

In social media posts leading up to the event, the Palestinian Youth Movement and Koreatown for Palestine focused on keynote speaker Goni Saar of Elbit Systems—an Israeli defense firm that produces military weapons and technology—described by organizers as “war criminals and genociders.”

“We do not believe the lie that Elbit Systems and the genocidal state of Israel, which has attacked five of its neighbors in the last two years, and uses their technology to target humanitarian relief sites, refugee camps and hospitals will be able to make L.A. safer,” the Palestinian Youth Movement said in an Instagram post.

Mayor Karen Bass said that she reached out to Nickerson to offer her support in a post on X.

“Today, I received reports that individuals interrupted a private event at the historic Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, calling attendees antisemitic names and damaging property inside the temple,” she wrote. “This behavior is abhorrent and has no place in Los Angeles. I spoke with Rabbi Nickerson to ensure he and his congregation know that the city of Los Angeles stands with them and fully condemns these attacks.”

Bass added that additional LAPD officers were deployed to patrol nearby areas of worship. Temple officials said in a statement they were working with law enforcement to “ensure that these hateful groups are not able to target our synagogue in the future.”

The Jewish Federation Los Angeles condemned the incident in a statement.

“We are outraged and condemn this antisemitic behavior in the strongest of terms,” they said. “There is no place in our community—or anywhere—for antisemitism and hate disguised as dissent.”

In a statement, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto noted, “I received accounts about disturbances in front of and inside the Wilshire Boulevard Temple complex in Koreatown. The accounts I was provided describe behavior that crosses the line into criminal activity.

Our office will review referrals from law enforcement and prosecute any crimes established to the fullest extent of the law.”   

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Twenty-five mayors from 15 different countries attended the conference, titled “AI: Empowering the Cities of Tomorrow,” which explored how local leaders can use artificial intelligence to address the challenges of city management. Mayors from cities in England, Uganda and other countries in Europe, Africa and Central America attended. Nazarian also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, senior party leaders and several Israeli mayors to better understand the country’s municipal priorities.

“Visiting Israel’s innovation hubs was eye-opening,” Nazarian said. “I saw practical solutions to issues that every city faces, such as easing traffic, improving emergency response and making services more accessible. I also met companies working on new approaches to mental health support, which is an area close to my heart. We heard from the next generation, teenage youth from various religious backgrounds who pitched AI programs and ideas to improve quality of life.” 

Nazarian said she studied the best practices of Israeli security and public safety at the conference in an effort to implement new ideas in Beverly Hills.

“One highlight was visiting the Jerusalem police department, where we compared notes on their citywide safety center and our own Real Time Watch Center,” she said. “Even though the systems have different names, the mission is the same: keep communities safe, stay prepared and make sure residents feel protected. I was proud to share some of the initiatives I have launched during my mayoral term, such as AI Blue Scribe, BH FireWatch, and BHPD Live Link.”

As a result of the conference and continued collaboration with the Beverly Hills Police and Fire departments, Nazarian said that Beverly Hills residents can expect more initiatives centered on public safety and mental health recovery.

“Before leaving for Israel, I met with our fire department to learn about tools that can support first responders dealing with [post-traumatic stress disorder],” she said. “That kind of innovation strengthens the well-being of the people who protect us. … Residents can expect continued improvements in areas like public safety, traffic and mobility, and customer service. The goal is never technology for its own sake. It is about using the right tools to make life easier, safer and more connected for everyone in our city.”

Nazarian added that one of the most compelling aspects of the conference was witnessing how “Israelis turn life occurrences, war and challenges into opportunities.”

“Their innovation grows out of necessity, but it is guided by optimism and determination,” she said. “I saw communities working together to strengthen safety, improve daily life and support one another. It strengthened my belief that when leadership puts people first, meaningful solutions follow. That spirit reflects how we approach our work in Beverly Hills, where we can use AI and technology as a force multiplier toward unity and toward a forward-thinking approach towards every step we take.”

Nazarian said that Israel’s programs can serve as a blueprint for implementing AI in a wide range of public safety programs.

“I’m bringing back an optimistic sense of purpose, solutions and ideas that can strengthen our work here at home. I have always been a strong supporter of utilizing AI and technology. It is the path to the future,” she said. “Israel’s example shows how resilience and creativity can drive meaningful progress. For Beverly Hills, that means exploring programs and technologies that enhance quality of life, improve safety and support mental health. Our city has always been a leader. This trip reinforced that we can continue to partner and lead while staying rooted in unity, compassion and a deep commitment to serving our entire community.”

Beyond exploring the best technology for public safety, Nazarian also said she was deeply moved by being able to visit holy sites throughout Israel.

“Standing at the Kotel, walking through the Al-Aqsa Mosque area and visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was deeply moving,” she said. “These sites remind us of our deep shared history and our shared humanity. It was a powerful reminder that even with our differences, we are all connected, and that unity is always our goal and well worth pursuing.” 

The post Nazarian Attends American Jewish Congress Conference in Israel appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Almog Meir Jan attended the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. When Hamas militants descended onto the festival, Meir Jan saw his best friend get murdered and was then taken as a hostage into the Gaza Strip, where he was held for more than eight months in different apartments. 

Ben Ladany served during the war in the IDF’s Oketz K-9 unit along with his dog, Jack, where during a mission in Gaza, Ladany was shot seven times and Jack was killed. After waking from a two-month coma, Ladany met Meir Jan in the U.S., where they now travel and share their stories at schools and public forums. More than 200 Beverly Hills High School students gathered at an assembly to hear the speakers.

Meir Jan said that positive manifestation helped him remain hopeful while in captivity.

“The time in captivity brought to my head a lot of lessons and a lot on how to deal with struggles in your life,” he said. “The first months of the captivity, I always blamed myself for what happened. I blamed God. I blamed my country. I was angry. … After one month, I realized that I can’t control [anything] that happens outside. … The only thing that I can control is my mentality. It’s on myself. So, I started to look and see the positive things. … And trust me, it was difficult because life was very sad that day, but I started to say, ‘OK, I need to say that I’m lucky. I’m lucky that I’m alive. I’m lucky that I survived this massive massacre on Oct. 7. I’m lucky that I’m not alone in captivity, but I’m with two other hostages. I’m lucky that I’m not in tunnels and I’m in an apartment. I’m lucky that I’m a Jew. I’m lucky that I have my family that will fight for me.’”

Meir Jan said that while being held hostage, Hamas militants tortured him and the other hostages by carrying out mock executions and depriving them of sleep, showers and food. However, Meir Jan said that he kept tethered to the outside world by keeping a calendar of important family birthdays and counting down the days until a rescue he hoped would come.

Meir Jan was rescued, along with four other hostages, on June 8, 2024, in what became known as “Operation Arnon” after Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora—a commander of the rescue team, who was killed during the operation. Meir Jan was 21 years old at the time of his rescue.

“I remember that when the IDF soldiers came up to me and gave me the fist bump, the first thing that I told them was, ‘My mom has a birthday tomorrow, so let’s do it quickly,” he said.

Ladany said that he had no regrets from his experience in the military, and that Meir Jan’s lesson of manifestation has helped him in his own physical recovery, going from using a wheelchair to walking with crutches. The worst feeling he has from his attack, Ladany said, is the death of his dog.

During the event, BHHS students asked questions ranging from how Meir Jan spent his time in captivity to how he kept his faith to what his first meal was after his release.

“The only thing that you have in captivity —they take everything from you—you have just the faith, you just have the trust in God,” Meir Jan said in response to a question about experiencing his faith while in captivity. “A lot of nights I [went] to sleep without knowing if I will wake up in the morning. [I realized] that you need to hold the good things. You need to hold faith, what we have in life and God. When you are the lowest of the low, … you need to hold this, not to think about when it will be finished, when it will be over, when I will die, if I will survive, or if not. It’s a type of question that wastes your energy and your morale. I started to say, ‘OK, I have God, and I trust him.’”

Another student asked Ladany if he had any regrets from his time fighting in the war.

“No regrets, nothing—I don’t think twice,” he said. “The only thing that really upsets me and gets to me is that they shot my dog. That’s the only thing that really got to me.”

While in captivity, Meir Jan said he spent most of his time playing cards, exercising, and writing letters and songs. He added that he also tried to placate his captors by telling jokes and learning Arabic.

The students were moved by the stories of Meir Jan and Ladany, applauding them and going up afterward to express their gratitude. One student asked how both of them were recovering from the experiences, both mentally and physically. In addition to seeing both physical and mental therapists, Meir Jan said that taking control of his life has been the most powerful tool of recovery.

“The best recovery is to take responsibility for your life and to take choice. Eight months without taking one choice and the first thing that you want is independence,” Meir Jan said. “To come, and to educate and to share the story that you have, the testimony that you have, this is also a good tool for recovery. And there [are] a lot of kinds of recovery, … It takes time. It’s a process. It’s a big, big, long process.”

Meir Jan also shared what food he craved most once he was finally free.

“The doctors tried to give me some meatballs and rice,” he said. “I told them, ‘I don’t want this [expletive]. I want a pita shawarma.” 

The post Former Israeli Hostage and Soldier Give Guest Lecture at BHHS appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The board unanimously approved a proposal to provide a comprehensive architectural design of the new KBEV studio from PBWS Architects in the amount of $57,270. The board approved a partial demolition of the studio in August and completed a conceptual design for the new renovated studio. The firm will now conduct a scoping phase to determine code-required improvements, validate stakeholder criteria and establish a project budget. The proposal will include acoustical testing, evaluating the feasibility of the conceptual plan and reviewing existing equipment.

KBEV is BHUSD’s media program that broadcasts news and community programming and provides educational opportunities in broadcasting and filmmaking. Filmmaker and author Kyle Newman recently began his tenure as the district’s new KBEV Director.

BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss noted that the cost of the proposal was lower than other offers and will be offset by construction firm Fonder-Salari providing extra services.

Board President Rachelle Marcus commended the renovation plans.

“I agree with [Board Member Russell] Stuart that this has been a long time coming. I know that our students have been in limbo while working with KBEV. They’ve been doing a great job under the circumstances,” she said. “The only thing that bothers me is that this is still a long way away before it will be finished.”

The board also decided to table a separate measure related to the use of AI in district schools. The policy supported the safe and ethical use of AI by students and staff to aid with education and stressed that it be implemented “as a tool to augment and support, rather than replace, staff in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.”

Board Member Amanda Stern said she brought up the item to build on the “Maintaining Safe Digital Citizenry” policy that was passed in 2024 in the wake of the expulsion of five Beverly Vista Middle School students for using AI to create “deepfake” photos of their classmates. 

“It is my hope that within the next year or five years that we develop a robust AI task force or committee because there are a lot of amazing things that AI can do, but it must exist parallel to guardrails that make sense and protect our learners,” Stern said.

Stern also said that an AI policy can support students checking their work with AI and using it for research, rather than completely producing assignments.

Stuart said the policy fell short in helping students implement AI to bolster their learning.

“Right now, this policy is safe and neutral, but it does not set any clear goals for student learning, for teacher support and real innovation,” he said. “It reads like a document that protects the system, not one that leads change. Yes, we need ethical guardrails, but we also need a plan for how AI can help students learn faster, learn deeper and learn in ways that match how the world works now.”

Board Member Judy Manouchehri also expressed that the proposal did not go far enough in preparing students to effectively use AI for future jobs. Board Member Sigalie Sabag advocated to remove any language that involved disciplining students who use AI on assignments.

“[Students] are going to use AI once you send [assignments] home with them,” Sabag said. “If you don’t want them to use AI, have them do it in the classroom, have them write it out.”

However, Assistant Superintendent Dustin Seeman emphasized the need for an AI policy that prohibits direct copying just as students cannot copy from Google or a published book without properly citing the information. Cherniss agreed that the proposal needed revisions before voting and said the Board will revisit implementing an AI task force for the district.

“I would love to have an AI academy, or an AI program and I want Beverly Hills to be at the forefront of AI in public education,” he said.

Marcus said that the Board will bring back an improved policy on AI before voting.

“I see this as something of a steppingstone that we can improve upon,” Marcus said. “We do have cheating policies in the district, and so on. It’s not about the cheating policy. It’s about making this so that our kids are using it, so they know how to use it to improve, to citate and assist themselves in doing something.” 

The post BHUSD Approves Studio Proposal and Tables AI Policy appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

SB 79 requires cities to allow increased density and height on residential and commercial parcels in proximity to Metro stations. There are three locations in Beverly Hills where the law will apply—within a quarter-mile radius of the Metro stations at La Cienega and Wilshire boulevards, Reeves Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, and the Constellation Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars station in Century City.

Director of community development Michael Forbes requested direction on an alternative plan for Beverly Hills at the City Council Study Session on Nov. 12. The alternative development plan must be approved by the City Council and then by the state; otherwise SB 79 will go into effect as drafted on July 1, 2026.

“This is another case of Sacramento taking away local control,” Forbes said. “But in this rare instance, the legislation actually includes an opportunity for the city to exert a slight bit of local control.”

SB 79 allows cities to reallocate zoning up to one-half of a mile from Metro stations. In applicable zoning areas, the law requires a minimum of 30 dwelling units per acre and a maximum of at least 120 dwelling units per acre. The city will have to allow a minimum height of 75 feet for developments. Projects immediately adjacent to transit stops are eligible for an additional 20 feet in height and 40 dwelling units per acre. Projects greater than 10 units will have low-income affordability requirements, including 7% of units for extremely low income, 10% for very low income and 13% for low income.

Forbes recommended reallocating up to 50% of zoning capacity from single-family residential parcels in the quarter-mile radius to mixed use parcels in a half mile radius to meet the law’s requirements. The proposal will require a General Plan Amendment and a Zone Text Amendment, he added.

“We would do our best to distribute that zoning capacity evenly across the sites as much as possible while complying with SB 79,” Forbes said.

Ken Goldman, president of the Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners Association, urged the City Council to consider different limitations for new developments in areas affected by SB 79 to better accommodate surrounding residential neighborhoods. Goldman proposed enforcing parking restrictions, rooftop noise and time limits, and expanding side yard setbacks to increase the space between new developments and existing residences.

Councilmember John Mirisch proposed restricting parking in the areas covered by SB 79, stating that he believes most residents near transit centers will commute via public transportation rather than cars. Mirisch also decried the new law.

Vice Mayor Craig Corman suggested focusing on higher-density zones along the city’s busiest streets.

“I would suggest we look at that possibility to try to focus the density on high-volume boulevards like Wilshire,” he said. “Rather than letting people build even higher on Wilshire up to 200%, just move the density down Wilshire so that it’s all more uniform at the lower height.”

Councilmember Mary Wells also supported the alternative plan.

“It’s important for us to take advantage of any and all local control that we have,” Councilmember Mary Wells said. “I support doing this and I support doing it in a very expedited way so that we don’t lose this opportunity—that would be the worst case scenario.”

The Planning Commission will consider the alternative plan in December before a City Council vote on Jan. 20, 2026. 

The post City Considers Alternative Plan to SB 79 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

KBEV, Beverly Hills Unified School District’s award-winning media program, is a Career Technical Education class at Beverly Hills High School that gives students the opportunity of hands-on media production at every level—including cinematography, script writing and broadcasting. Founded in 1969, KBEV produces news segments on student life and community happenings and is the longest-running weekly student newscast in the world, according to BHUSD. Newman, a best-selling author and film director whose credits include “Fanboys,” “Barely Lethal” and “1Up,” as well as content for Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Hasbro Studios, brings his unique experience to the role after longtime KBEV executive producer Romeo Carey retired from the district.

In taking the role, Newman said he hopes to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and give students their introduction to the industry in the same way he was while growing up in New Jersey with no tangible gateway to the film industry.

“I feel really strongly about education and also passing the baton and helping mentor a younger generation,” he said. “This is a great coalescing of everything I love—it’s filmmaking and it’s storytelling, but at the same time, I’m learning from the students as much as I’m teaching them.”

Newman said his biggest hope is that students take away applicable life lessons from their work at KBEV and use the skills they learn in any field they choose.

“You may only be doing this as an elective, but you will leave the class with skills that are going to be applicable in all aspects of life,” he said. “Whether it’s how to present an idea or how to speak to yourself or showcase yourself, how to thrive in an interview setting, how to research an idea from scratch and bring it to life. Just writing—how to present an idea in a thesis or any paper you’re working on—what’s the story? What’s the hook? What’s the midpoint? What are the twists, and what’s your ending? You have to think of things in this way.”

KBEV is developing a new programming app for BHUSD’s broadcast platforms, which will include both student-produced content and district features, soon to be available on streaming platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku.

“We want to open it up so if you’ve got grandparents in New York or a cousin in Ohio that wants to watch you in the football game, these people now can have access to it,” he said. “We’re trying to broaden the reach of what students here in the KBEV program can do, and within that, beyond just covering sports and things like that, we would love to get short films, encourage kids to be making stuff that’s related off campus, not just what’s happening on campus. So it has a broader appeal too, and I think it’s going to be hugely instrumental in having more eyeballs on people’s content, and films, and creations, they’re going to be encouraged to make more.”

Living in a world with so much visual content, Newman said he hopes to give students a more technical understanding of what they watch on a daily basis and how to use the same techniques to impact an audience.

“We watch so much content as people,” he said. “Everybody already knows they speak a certain language subconsciously. But they might not know the terms, the vernacular, the way you would do it and the way you would analyze it. So, I’m giving them those analytical tools and those technical tools, so they can then understand what is already going on in their head, what they’re already watching. You go, ‘Oh my God, that’s what that’s called when this happens, or that’s what that technique is called. I know that because I’ve seen it in 100 different TV shows, but now I know what it’s called, and I understand why they’re doing it.’ I think that’s what’s important. It’s activating the subconscious that they already have.”

He is already seeing tangible results with students coming up to him after class after being newly inspired by conducting an interview or realizing the impact of a filmmaking technique, Newman said. He has also encouraged students to take on more individualized documentary-style projects beyond the classroom, hoping to challenge students to go beyond their comfort level.

“[The students] have really been challenged—we brainstormed a lot about what are good subjects, beyond not just what’s easy, not just what you have access to, but what are you interested in?” he said. “Talk to the shop owner. Talk about their business, how they got into their business. It starts from safe and easy to ‘Wow. This is exciting. I’ll push myself a little further.’”

Beyond hands-on practice, Newman said he plans to bring former colleagues into the classroom to give guest lectures for students and also hopes to eventually give students opportunities and internships on the sets where he works.

Student engagement and success under Newman has already been evident, said BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss.

“The success of the KBEV program is a shining example of what happens when student creativity meets professional mentorship,” Cherniss said. “Under Kyle Newman’s leadership, our students are not only learning media, they’re mastering it.”

In taking on his new position, Newman, who studied film at New York University, said he hopes to inspire students in the same way his previous professors did for him. One in particular was Arnold Baskin, who taught film for 40 years before his passing in 2019.

“Baskin was a very encouraging, hands-on professor, but he also gave kids a lot of room to go, create [and] a lot of leeway,” Newman said. “When you have big classes of students, everyone needs the highway to express themselves to travel. And that, I think, is very important. Rather than saying, ‘Everyone do this on this subject,’ let’s get a little more broad. Let’s say ‘These are some parameters, and how do you want to bring it to life? How do you want to tell the story?’ You can take the same footage and cut it 50 different ways. Each person could turn into 50 different projects. And that’s what I’m trying to show them. There’s no one way.” 

The post Kyle Newman Launches KBEV Into the Future appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Coming off a 13-15 campaign in the 2024-2025 season and a loss in the opening round of the California Interscholastic Federation Division 2A championship, Beverly is looking to bounce back under the leadership of Verdi. Prior to becoming head coach, Verdi served as the junior varsity coach for the last 16 seasons and also graduated from BHHS in 1999. Verdi takes over the program from Jarvis Turner, who served as head basketball coach for 15 years.

“I’m excited to get to work with these young men every day. Being a part of this program for the last 16 seasons, now as varsity head coach, means a lot to me personally,” Verdi said. “My biggest focus is culture, how we train, how we treat each other, how we carry ourselves. I want us to compete with effort and discipline, but also grow as teammates and people. We’re going to build something that lasts by focusing on the details and doing things the right way.”

The Normans will be led by captains Sasha Emrani and Max Simantob, seniors who play guard and forward, respectively. Verdi said the number of boys who try out for the program—which fields a varsity, junior varsity and freshman/sophomore team—is one of the strengths of the program.

“This program carries a legacy,” he said. “There’s pride in being part of something with history, and that motivates our players to rise to the moment. We had over 50 boys come out this year, which shows how much it means to be part of this team. That kind of energy is something we don’t take for granted.”

While coming off a solid season, Verdi said he hopes the team will take the next step this year.

“The focus is on improving communication, staying mentally sharp in key moments and developing stronger team chemistry,” he said. “We want to be more consistent, and that comes from trusting the process and doing the little things every day.”

Beyond working together as a team, Verdi is trusting his seniors to lead by example.

“I’m looking at our seniors to lead, not just in points or stats, but in how they show up for practice, how they support younger guys, and how they carry the standard. Leadership is about consistency and being dependable. That’s what I expect from them,” he added.

Athletic Director Steve Lawson said he believes that Verdi is the right person for the job at this moment.

“I’m excited that we have someone who truly understands what it means to be a Norman,” Lawson said. “Adam Verdi grew up in this program, he played here, coached here and he knows our students. He brings heart, consistency and a real love for the school. I think he’s the right person to build something meaningful with relationships and culture. My hope is that the program becomes a place where student-athletes thrive on the court and in their lives beyond high school.”

The basketball season is an opportunity for the school and the community together and the boys will need that support throughout the year, Lawson added.

“I want to encourage everyone, parents, students, alumni, neighbors, to come out and support our Normans,” he said. “When our athletes feel the energy of the community behind them, they rise to the occasion. It’s not just a game, it’s a moment we share.”

The boys will also be featured in new Nike gear after BHUSD approved a five-year agreement with that will provide the district with Nike-branded apparel at a discounted price.

“When our students walk into a gym or onto a field, how they carry themselves matters,” Lawson said. “Looking the part builds confidence. It shows that we take pride in who we are and what we represent. This partnership helps us reflect the excellence we expect from our students. It unites our programs, elevates our presence and reminds every athlete that they belong to something bigger. We are here to compete at the highest level, and we should look like it.”

One game that will rally both the school and the community is the annual rivalry game against Santa Monica High School.

“That game carries weight. There’s history and emotion in a matchup like that,” Verdi said. “As a player, those games meant everything. Now, as a coach, I see it as a chance to measure our toughness and composure. A win would mean more than just a score, it would show that we’re building something strong together.”

But more than growing together as a team, Verdi said he hopes his players will take away lessons they can apply to their lives outside of basketball from playing together.

“I want these guys to learn how to show up, even when it’s hard. I want them to understand what it means to be dependable, to communicate, to support one another,” he said. “Those lessons go way beyond basketball. Whether they win a championship or not, they’ll remember how it felt to be part of a team that held them to a higher standard.”

Beverly Hills will kick off the 2025-26 season with a Nov. 18 home game against Blair High School. 

The post Beverly Hills Basketball Returns with a New Coach and a New Look appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In the case of an emergency, residents can access information on what routes to follow on the city’s website. Community members can follow official updates from the city through Nixle or BHPD Alert. The “6 P’s” is a helpful way to remember what to pack—people and pets, prescriptions, papers, pictures, personal computers and money in the form of plastic or cash, according to fire department officials.

On Nov. 9, sirens sounded in the Trousdale neighborhood at 1:30 p.m. Upon arrival at Will Rogers Park, residents were met by representatives from the city of Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Fire and Police departments, Just in Case BH, L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office and the American Red Cross, which provided resources and information on evacuation best practices. Mayor Sharona Nazarian and Councilmembers Lester Friedman and Mary Wells also attended.

“This all started with the fires in Pacific Palisades. The Fire Chief and I went over there just to look and to learn and to be proactive, so that we could protect our community the best way possible,” Nazarian told the Courier. “Our job is to communicate the best way possible with our residents, and it’s also important for all of our departments to be able to have proper lines of communication, whether it’s police, fire or public works … so that we’re able to move through as smoothly as possible and protect as many lives as possible.”

Beverly Hills Fire Chief Gregory Barton said the drill was successful in training residents for an evacuation and for revealing any gaps within the city’s coordinated response.

“It’s been a great turnout, and we accomplished what we were trying to do. We were trying to exercise the police, fire, public works and city response to an evacuation in order to get the firefighters up and to get the community out safely,” he said. “We also were testing our notifications to the community, such as the sirens and Nixle and other ways that we reach out to let the community know that you might need to evacuate or be prepared.”

The drill allowed residents to practice their specific evacuation route, which were specifically selected to avoid congestion and chaos in the case of an evacuation. He added that the most important thing for residents to know is that they need to follow an evacuation order if they are given one.

“The sooner, the better because the roads are going to get crowded and the sooner you’re able to get out safely—your family out—you’re protecting them,” he said. “It also helps your neighbors get out, and it also allows us to get in as a fire department, to get in there and do what we need to do to protect your home and the other houses in the area.”

Vera Markowitz, head of Just in Case BH, the city’s emergency preparedness program, was also on site to provide residents with resources. One way to best prepare yourself is to post a packing list to your closet door so it’s immediately available in the case of an evacuation.

“Every home is different,” she said. “Some people need medication, some people need things for their kids, some people for their pets. They’re all different. So, what we’re trying to do is have individual people do different kinds of lists for their own home.”

Markowitz said the event was successful after speaking with so many people who learned valuable information because of the drill.

“We learned a lot of lessons from Pacific Palisades, and we’re trying to incorporate all those things. And we’re learning a lot today,” she said.

Jacqueline Hom, a neighborhood resident who participated in the drill, said that the drill was especially comforting because she was in a voluntary evacuation zone during the January wildfires.

“You give [the preparations] a little thought, but something like this is the first time [the city] ever had it, and so I think it’s a good thing,” she said. “You don’t feel left alone. You feel like the city is behind you on that. I thought that it gives residents a bit of confidence.”

Abrienne Hom, Jacqueline’s daughter, said that it was helpful for her family to go through the protocol of an evacuation and that she feels more prepared in knowing what route to take and what she would pack as a result of the drill.

“We thought of packing the essentials as well as family photos and stuffed animals,” Abrienne said.

Beyond preparing for and following evacuation orders, residents can also take different steps to better protect their homes in the case of a wildfire, such as shutting off gas valves, moving combustible yard furniture away from the house, closing all windows and doors to prevent spread of the fire within the house and attaching garden hoses to faucets so they are ready to dispense water.

The city is planning the next evacuation drill to take place in six months in either the Coldwater Canyon or Benedict Canyon area, Barton said. 

The post Trousdale Residents Take Part in Wildfire Evacuation Drill appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Buttigieg and Goldsmith’s friendship dates to their time at Harvard College in the early 2000s. Both were leaders at the Harvard Institute of Politics. Buttigieg went on to become a naval officer, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, a Democratic Party presidential candidate and the Secretary of Transportation under the Biden administration. Goldsmith, a Beverly Hills resident whose family has generational roots in the city, worked as a journalist, entrepreneur and political consultant before announcing his campaign for the district that spans Malibu, Beverly Hills and Rancho Palos Verdes.

“I am committed to going everywhere and supporting candidates and causes that I believe in—in every part of the country,” Buttigieg said. “That said, I’m not doing a lot of state senate races, especially in blue states. So, let me explain what I’m doing. First of all, I’m here for my friend … Brian is actually a true friend.”

Buttigieg recalled meeting Goldsmith for the first time at Harvard. During their first conversation, Goldsmith cited local policies in Buttigieg’s home state of Indiana—leading him to describe Goldsmith as having “a frighteningly encyclopedic knowledge of public affairs, history and politics.” He added that Goldsmith’s deep sense of concern for his community will make him an effective state senator.

“I’m convinced that our salvation will come from the bottom up, from people who are focused on solving problems,” Buttigieg said. “You can hear it in the way Brian talks. You can see it in the way that he communicates. He is focused on the basics at a time when we need to do more of that as a party and as a country. And he can connect that to the bigger picture issues that are going on and do so in a style that is not trying to drag people into our coalition, but actually welcoming people into a broader coalition.”

In tackling the needs of District 24, Goldsmith said the four focuses of his campaign are increasing affordability, tackling crime and homelessness, preparing for future issues of artificial intelligence and climate change, and fighting hate and division.

“We have to make it easier and more affordable for small businesses to survive here,” he said. “We have to make it easier and more affordable to build the infrastructure that we need in order to actually reach our clean energy goals, in order to make everyday life better for people getting from point A to B.”

Amid unprecedented attacks by the Trump administration on California—including on healthcare access, research universities, immigrant communities and international trade, Goldsmith said the most important actions will come from local leaders and state governments. Goldsmith also said that addressing climate change will help curtail natural disasters like the Palisades Fire—a wildfire that devastated parts of District 24 in January.

“We’ve got to focus less on refighting the battles of the past and more on how we prepare for the big challenges of our future,” he said. “How do we deal with disruptive technologies like AI, and quantum and automation? How do we deal with a world in which our kids are growing up with an epidemic of anxiety and depression because they’re glued to their screens? How do we deal with the costs and consequences of ignoring our climate obligations and facing increasingly disruptive events like the Palisades Fire earlier this year—that are going to come more often, not less often, and so we’ve got to be more ready for them.”

Democrats won major races across the country on Election Day, including gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia and passing Proposition 50—a congressional redesign that favors Democrats in flipping House seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Buttigieg said that having a consistent message that speaks to voters’ most urgent needs is a winning recipe for Democrats.

“The reality is, you had candidates with different styles, different ideas, but one thing in common—which is a clear, disciplined focus on the cost of living, on what people are actually worried about every day,” he said. “These campaigns met people where they were substantively and also literally, in terms of going out and finding people in different spaces—physical, geographic and digital. And I think that points a way forward.”

Goldsmith, who has also been endorsed by developer Rick Caruso, former Senator Barbara Boxer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said his political history makes him most equipped to represent District 24.

“I believe that I am a good fit for the district: our community supported Harris over Trump, but also supported Nathan Hochman and Prop. 36—I was on the side of the majority in each of those cases,” Goldsmith added. “I have lived in this district most of my life, and I am choosing to raise my family here. I believe I’m the right candidate in the right place at the right time.”

He also said that he hopes to meet the needs of the residents of Beverly Hills, a place he is proud to call home.

“I feel so lucky and privileged to live in Beverly Hills and believe it’s a model for effective local government,” he said. “Public services are accountable and responsive, the roads are in great condition, the schools are excellent, and our city’s government works collaboratively to get things done. If elected, of course I will continue to live and raise my family here, and I would always be responsive to the needs of our city.”

Goldsmith faces off against West Hollywood City Councilmember John Erickson and Dr. Sion Roy, the vice-chair of the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees, among other candidates in the June 2026 primary election. The two candidates with the most votes in the primary will then face each other in the November 2026 general election.  

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Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board President Rachelle Marcus and Board Member Russell Stuart addressed the commission on health matters concerning district students. Stuart said that the board received numerous complaints from parents regarding dust and dirt plumes emanating from construction of the One Beverly Hills project across the street onto the campus of El Rodeo Elementary School. In response, property developer Cain International met with board members and installed air quality detectors across the construction site and assured the board that the plumes were not harmful. The developers measure the air quality every five minutes and will notify board members if it reaches a certain threshold, Stuart said, adding that the site will need to be continuously monitored.

Stuart said the district’s new vape and smoke detectors have been effective. He did not give specific details on the number of students detected or the disciplinary consequences involved, but said the results were significant.

Stuart also highlighted technology initiatives, including the implementation of artificial intelligence within the district. BHUSD recently purchased two Apple Vision Pro AI headset devices, which have aided students in different subjects—such as science, media, athletics and robotics.

Commissioner Erica Felsenthal brought up concerns about implementing AI in education without conclusive research on how AI affects brain development and about possibly needing consent from students when it comes to using physical AI headsets. However, Stuart said the importance of getting up to date with the technology outweighed the potential costs.

“Where it can take someone’s mind and say, ‘I’m going to give you the greatest education that you’ll never get unless we put this headset on you,’ I think not exploring it would be a detriment to [what] our kids can learn,” he said.

BHPD Lt. Kevin Orth reported on August and September crime statistics, including previous year comparisons. Every type of crime in Beverly Hills decreased or stayed the same from 2024-25 except for aggravated assaults and major vehicle thefts, which saw a 17% and 2% increase, respectively. Fifty-four robberies were reported in Beverly Hills up until Oct. 19, 2024 while only 30 have been reported so far in 2025. The city also saw a decrease from 738 larceny thefts to 566 during the same time span. Orth attributed the decrease in crime to the BHPD’s Real Time Watch Center, a hub of the city’s surveillance tools established in 2022. He also said that neighboring cities are not experiencing similar decreases in crime. 

“Overall, our crime has been decreasing steadily,” he said. “Our arrest numbers are still increasing, which indicates that we have officers making proactive self-initiated activity … We’re a couple years into our Real Time Watch Center. All of our cameras, [automated license plate reader] systems, drone systems, all those have led to a decrease in crime in the last several years.”

Orth added that police officers, traffic control officers and private security will be on the scene on Walden Drive and Carmelita Avenue and that officers may shut down the streets depending on the amount of foot traffic. Orth also reminded the community that the city prohibits the use of silly string and shaving cream during Halloween hours.

Beverly Hills Fire Department Deputy Chief Alfred Poirier provided an incident comparison from September of 2024 and 2025. Poirier said that incident numbers have generally remained consistent across years, though emergency medical service calls decreased from 461 to 380.

Another important matter on the agenda concerned the Nov. 9 evacuation drill in the Trousdale neighborhood directed at 68 homes in a high fire severity zone. Residents north of Sunset Boulevard are encouraged to evacuate to Will Rogers Park via designated routes and are urged to prepare to-go bags. The drill will take place from 1-4 p.m. and police, city and fire officials will be stationed throughout the area to assist and direct traffic. Participation in the drill is encouraged by the city but not mandatory.

BHFD Fire Marshall Trevor Richmond shared two videos with the commission—from the Oakland Firestorm in 1991 and from the Palisades fire in 2025—which displayed the total chaos and danger during both evacuations and illustrated the urgent need to prepare for potential fire evacuations. Tens of thousands of people in L.A. County were under evacuation orders during the January wildfires.

“The only way to prepare for chaos is to train,” Richmond said. “The purpose of the drill—we want to be disaster ready. We want to increase community awareness through public education. We really want to exercise the operational component between the Beverly Hills Fire Department and Beverly Hills Police Department.”

Richmond added that another main goal of the drill is to improve communication between officials and residents. Residents can receive alerts through the city’s outdoor warning system and digitally through Nixle and BHPD Alert. Evacuation routes and details on what to pack in the case of an evacuation can be found on the city’s website. The “6 P’s” is a helpful way to remember what to pack—people and pets, prescriptions, papers, pictures, personal computers and money in the form of plastic or cash.

Richmond added that he will return to the commission later with a report on the efficacy of the drill. 

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The crowd stretched the length of the park from Roxbury Drive to Spalding Drive along Olympic Boulevard. Attendees from across the greater Los Angeles area came out to demonstrate against President Donald Trump for acting, as they believe, as an authoritarian monarch. Protesters held signs that read “The power of the people is greater than the people in power,” “I love democracy” and “No king but Billie Jean King.” Chants of “Show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like” and “Hey, hey. Ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go” rang out from the crowd. Drummers and other musicians played along to the call and response.

The protest was part of a nationwide movement that saw crowds turn out for around 2,600 rallies over the weekend, including 30 held in L.A. County. The rally was the third mass protest organized in Beverly Hills against the Trump administration since the president retook office, said Gay Abrams, one of the event’s organizers.

“We had over 3,000 people who were so happy to be there,” Abrams said. “They came to voice their concerns about what’s happening in this country, and to stand up to what we see is an authoritarian regime and an attack on our Constitution, on our rights, an attack on our decency and our democracy, an attack on immigrants. … Everyone in this country at some point is related to an immigrant, and I think a lot of the people who were there are just very disheartened by what we see with the ICE attacks and the threatening and people being arrested and pulled from the street by masked men without due process. It’s so indecent. It’s so un-American.”

Beverly Hills Vice Mayor Craig Corman and Councilmember Mary Wells attended the rally.
“I was happy to come out and support so many of our residents as they exercised their constitutional right to peacefully protest. I believe last Saturday’s demonstrations across the country and around the globe drew critical attention to recent actions by the current administration that all of us should find deeply concerning,” Corman told the Courier. 

Around 20 counter protesters, including local students, were present at different points throughout the protest. However, Abrams said that the organizers and officers from the Beverly Hills Police Department deescalated any conflicts that arose.

The protests come in the wake of mass Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids carried out by the Trump administration in L.A. County, the deployment of federal troops in major cities across the U.S., federal funding cuts, government layoffs, the rollback of vaccine requirements, health care cuts, and a plethora of other federal policies.

“If there were one thing that we objected to, that would be a luxury that we don’t have,” said Andrea Grossman, a longtime Beverly Hills resident and co-organizer of the rally. “There are thousands of things—whether it’s the decimation of our public institutions, the decimation of our health regulators. There are a thousand different crises.”

However, Grossman also said it gave her hope to see such a large presence and outpouring of support at the protest.

“It was a really diverse crowd coming together,” she added. “You had people from all sorts of ethnic groups, all sorts of ages. … People showed up to say, ‘This is not the America that I want to see for my future.’”

Abrams said that the administration’s policies echo dark chapters of history.

“The playbook is an old playbook of dictatorship, and it’s frightening,” she said. “For residents in Beverly Hills who share the same values as I do, I think that this rally was very important to them that they feel supported in their concerns, their fear and their anger.”

The “No Kings” protest ultimately gave her the hope that the movement in Beverly Hills is growing, Abrams said, adding that the first rally she organized in April was attended by about 120 people.

“We are building momentum, and we’re not going to stop,” she said. “We’re going to peacefully and nonviolently continue to resist this authoritarian regime, authoritarian administration, and we’re going to continue to do it in Beverly Hills.” 

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If the parole board recommends parole for the brothers, the decision will be sent for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s review. The governor has the power to overrule the decision. 

The resentencing on May 13 came after a day of emotional testimony from members of the Menendez family and others who met Erik and Lyle in prison. The court heard testimony about the brothers’ rehabilitation and positive actions while incarcerated, such as building green spaces, painting murals and facilitating a program for younger prisoners to care for elderly inmates. 

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman had advocated for the brothers to remain in prison, stating that they are not fully rehabilitated because they still claim they committed the murders out of self-defense. 

The family of Erik and Lyle Menendez also said in a statement that the decision was a positive step for the brothers, giving them more time to prepare for the hearing.

“Now that Erik and Lyle’s clemency hearing has been converted to a suitability parole hearing, a few things have changed,” the family said in the statement. “Given the change, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s decision to move the hearing is a recognition of our rights. It’s also a stark and welcome difference from what we experienced during the resentencing process led by District Attorney Nathan Hochman—where we saw our rights consistently undermined.”  

The post Menendez Parole Board Hearings Delayed Until August appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A state parole board hearing will take place on June 13 to consider whether to recommend parole for the brothers, according to a statement on May 15 from a spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The brothers were originally scheduled to appear before state parole officials on that date even before the restentencing hearing took place. Originally, the board was to consider a previously-filed petition for clemency filed on behalf of the brothers, representing an additional possible path for release.

However, Scott Wyckoff, executive officer of the Board of Parole Hearings, wrote in letter to attorneys this week that “Since the [resentencing] ruling makes them immediately eligible for parole consideration as youth offenders, it is the board’s intent to convert the June 13, 2025 clemency hearings to initial parole suitability hearings.”
If the parole board recommends that the Menendez brothers be granted parole, the matter is then forwarded to Newsom, who will have 90 days to review the decision.  

During the May 13 resentencing hearing, Judge Jesic noted the standard for resentencing is whether the defendants pose an unreasonable risk to commit a “super strike”—or any “serious or violent felony punishable in California by life imprisonment or death,” according to the California Penal Code.

During a day of emotional testimony from the brothers’ family members and others who came in contact with them while in prison, Jesic said he believed Erik and Lyle committed an “absolutely horrific crime” but was “almost equally shocked” by the letters that prison guards wrote in support of the brothers’ freedom. Jesic also said he did not want to make the ultimate decision to free the brothers but believed “one day they should get that chance.”

After Jesic announced his ruling, both brothers made statements.

“I take full responsibility for my choices,” said Lyle Menendez, who with his brother appeared virtually from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. “I believed I was a 21-year-old who could fix what could not be fixed.”

During his statement, Lyle also took responsibility for “making a mockery” of the criminal justice system by soliciting perjury during his original trial. He added that he found purpose in prison by building strong relationships with inmates and correctional staff and that if released, he hopes to continue working with survivors of sexual abuse and other inmates. He also said that he is grateful to his family members for their support and forgiveness, adding that he hopes to live a life that “offers amends for the harm I have caused.”

Erik Menendez then spoke and apologized for taking the lives of his parents. “My actions were criminal,” he said. “They were also selfish, cruel and cowardly.”

Erik said he has spent significant time imagining what his parents experienced during their murders and the pain it caused his extended family members, including having their family secrets exposed in the national spotlight. Erik said he spent most of his life believing he would die in prison, but also found purpose in service to other inmates.

Erik also apologized to the community of Beverly Hills, claiming that the murders, in addition to lying that they were tied to organized crime, instilled a sense of fear in the previously peaceful city.

Earlier in the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian argued that the original sentencing for the brothers should remain in place. He said that the two still do not possess sufficient insight into their crimes by claiming they committed the murders in self-defense. The fundamental idea of resentencing comes down to whether the brothers can be trusted not to commit crimes again, Balian added. Due to the severity of the murders and how the brothers pressed the shotgun into their mother’s cheek, the court needed to be certain of the brothers’ rehabilitation before resentencing them.

“Are they still trying to justify why they loaded the shotguns and killed their parents?” Balian asked the court.

The court also heard testimony from family members on behalf of the brothers. 

Anamaria Baralt, a cousin of the brothers who said she grew up best friends with Erik, said that although their actions caused “generational trauma” for her family, she would not hesitate to welcome them back into her home with her children after seeing how they have changed. Baralt wiped away tears during her testimony while talking about how her family has had to endure ceaseless public ridicule due to the murders. Terry Baralt, Anamaria’s mother and Jose Mendez’s older sister, was hospitalized earlier on during the resentencing process. Anamaria added that Erik and Lyle should be freed so they can visit Terry while her health is declining.

During Anamaria’s cross-examination, Erik Menendez leaned forward and held his head in his hands.

“I know Erik and Lyle very well,” she said. “I hope they get a chance to inspire the world.”

Tamara Lucero Goodell, another Menendez family member who was 8 years old at the time of the murders, said she took her son to meet Erik and Lyle in prison and her son later wanted to return to the prison to see them again. Goodell also said members of the Menendez family met with Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman after he was elected to express their discomfort with him naming Kathleen Cady—who previously represented the only Menendez family member who favored the brothers staying incarcerated—to lead his department’s Bureau of Victim Services. However, Hochman was not receptive to their concerns during the meeting, Goodell said.

Jonathan Colby, a retired judge from Florida, also testified on behalf of the brothers and said that meeting them in prison changed his ideas on how criminals can be rehabilitated. Colby told the court how the brothers started programs in prison to improve care for elderly inmates as well as painting murals and maintaining green spaces in their facilities.

Colby, who was tough on crime while a judge, said he had never testified on behalf of a criminal before in his life.

Anerae Brown, a rapper known as “X-Raided” who was incarcerated with the brothers, testified that Erik and Lyle’s positive influence during his time in prison ultimately led to his own freedom.

“If I hadn’t met Lyle and Erik, I might still be sitting there doing stupid things,” said Brown, who became a father since his release and continues to perform publicly as a rapper.

After the hearing, defense attorney Mark Geragos said the resentencing decision proves that “redemption is possible … The fact is the Menendez brothers have done remarkable work, and today is a great day after 35 years,” he said, adding that the family is “one huge step closer to bringing the boys home.”

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement on the evening of May 13, “The decision to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez 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.” 

With City News Service  

The post Menendez Brothers Resentenced, Parole Hearing on June 13 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic is expected to rule on the motion on May 9. 

Defense attorneys argue that Hochman has shown bias by hiring Kathleen Cady to lead his department’s Bureau of Victim Services after she represented the only Menendez family member who wanted the brothers to stay incarcerated. The defense further points out that Cady never reached out to any of the victim’s family members; that Hochman once posed for a photo with a group protesting the brothers’ resentencing; and that his office displayed graphic crime scene photos of Jose Menendez at an April 11 hearing without warning the victims’ family members.

“Erik and Lyle Menendez are entitled to a fair resentencing process. Jose and Kitty Menendez’s family members—regardless of what position they take as to resentencing—are all entitled to a fair sentencing process,” the defense said in the recusal motion. “The public is entitled to a process that appears fair.”

Erik and Lyle Menendez have served over 30 years in prison for murdering their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home in 1989 after years of alleged sexual abuse. 

Hochman’s office filed an opposition to the recusal motion on May 2, claiming that their position on the brothers’ resentencing is not politically motivated and was taken after a thorough examination of the facts of the case. 

“The defense has decided to sidestep the central issue of resentencing and instead take the drastic and desperate step of attempting to recuse the entire Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney,” the opposition states.

The opposition filed by the Attorney General’s office states that Cady’s previous representation of Kitty Menendez’s brother could represent a conflict of interest, but that the DA has “walled her off” from the case. The recusal motion as such has not presented sufficient evidence to establish an officewide conflict of interest for the DA. The opposition further states that violating Marsy’s Law—a statute that protects victims’ privacy, which the defense alleges the DA violated by displaying the graphic crime scene photos—does not warrant the disqualification of the entire DA’s office.

“The defendants here confuse disagreement with a legally cognizable conflict of interest,” the Attorney General’s office states. 

The brothers’ April 17 resentencing hearing came to a halt when Judge Jesic opted to continue it to allow him time to review a psychological assessment report of the brothers that had recently become available. Jesic will rule on May 9 whether the report will be admissible in court. No new date has been set yet for the resentencing hearing, in which the court could change the brothers’ sentencing to life with the possibility of parole and pave the way to their release.

Beyond the resentencing effort, the brothers will also appear in front of a state parole board in June, which will determine whether they pose any risk to the public, in another effort that could free them. 

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More than 100 people had gathered at Beverly Gardens Park on the 27th to celebrate President Donald Trump and encourage voters to leave the Democratic Party. Organized by a group called the #WalkAway Foundation, the rally also featured a speech from former U.S. Attorney General nominee and former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who lauded President Trump’s policies and decried the Democratic Party.

The rally, which was called the “American Restoration Tour,” began in West Hollywood around 1 p.m. The 40 or so Trump supporters were outnumbered by about 80 counter-protesters outside the Pavilions supermarket. Rally participants held signs that said “#WalkAway from the Left” while counter-protesters held signs that said, “No kings, no Nazis, no fascists,” and “Make America gay again.” Rally participants began marching down Santa Monica Boulevard toward Beverly Hills around 1:30 p.m., where counter-protesters followed them, chanting “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA” and “You are Nazis” to the #WalkAway participants. The rally remained mostly peaceful, despite protesters on both sides verbally confronting each other along the march route.

The march was led by Brandon Straka, the founder of #WalkAway, who was pardoned by President Trump after being convicted of a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct during his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The marchers arrived at Beverly Gardens Park around 2 p.m., where a larger crowd gathered to hear speakers while carrying Trump flags, Israeli flags and flags that said, “Don’t tread on me,” as well as “Jesus is King.” During his speech, Gaetz called on people to leave the Democratic Party, which he said had “turned what was paradise over to the homeless and illegal aliens,” in reference to California.

“If you come to our side, we will welcome you with a patriotic embrace,” he said during the speech. “We will give you an opportunity to be prosperous and successful. We want gas and energy to be affordable for people. We want groceries to be attainable.”

After Gaetz spoke, Shiva Bagheri, the president of the Beverly Hills Freedom Rally and a former candidate for both Beverly Hills City Council and the California State Assembly, gave a speech in which she blamed the media, the left and public education for creating a “mass psychosis” in the U.S.

Roman Drake, a Beverly Hills resident who attended the rally and has been active in the Beverly Hills Freedom Rally group, said the turnout made him proud to be a resident of Beverly Hills. Drake added that he likes what President Trump has done in his first 100 days in office and believes the economy will start booming and gas prices will begin to decrease over the summer.

“We all love America. We’re really happy that Trump won, and we love coming together,” he said. 

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Edan On, who was a Beverly Hills High School senior during the May 30, 2024, attack, was charged with alleged assault and battery and brandishing a deadly weapon, LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced in an April 25 press release. On was recorded striking pro-Palestine protesters at UCLA with a long white pole while wearing a white face mask during an attack by counter-protesters on the encampment, which also included setting off fireworks and releasing irritant gases against the protesters gathered in Dickson Plaza. On was initially arrested in May after CNN published an investigation that revealed his involvement in the attack and was later released on bail.

George Gascón, the Los Angeles District Attorney at the time of the encampment, announced in June 2024 that his office would not charge On with a felony, and instead referred On’s case to the City Attorney’s Office for a potential misdemeanor. Gascón said that his office could not determine that On’s actions resulted in an injury against the victim or that he was working in collaboration with others. 

The announcement of On’s charges came in a release stating that the City Attorney had decided not to file criminal charges on most arrests made during the encampment. The office received more than 300 arrest referrals related to protests on both UCLA and USC’s campuses during April and May 2024. The UCLA Police Department referred 245 arrests to her office from protests on campus during May. 

In addition to On, the only other person criminally charged was 31-year-old Matthew Katz. He faces charges of assault and battery, false imprisonment and human trafficking and resisting arrest. Three other individuals will face hearings with the City Attorney for their conduct during protests at both UCLA and USC’s campuses.

“Most of these cases were declined for evidentiary reasons or due to a university’s failure or inability to assist in identification or other information needed for prosecution. Both universities were also the scene of arrests for criminal conduct that compromised the safety of other individuals or the public, for which other filing decisions, including criminal charges, have been made,” Soto’s office said in the press release. 

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The resentencing motion was originally scheduled to take place on April 17 and April 18. But on April 16, the DA filed a motion to delay the hearing so it could obtain and review the risk assessment report—a psychological assessment of the brothers— which the judge and defense had also not reviewed. Mark Geragos, an attorney for the defense, argued for the resentencing hearing to proceed without the report. During a recess in the matter, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office notified all parties that it did not assert privilege on the report—making it available to both the defense and prosecution before May 9 when Jesic will then rule if it is admissible in court.

Many Menendez family members were in the courtroom on April 17, as some had planned to testify on behalf of the brothers. Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were given life sentences with no possibility of parole for murdering their parents in 1989, attended the hearing virtually from their San Diego prison.

Defense attorney Bryan Freedman stated in court that District Attorney Nathan Hochman should be removed from the case for not disclosing that he grew up 1 mile away from the Menendez home in Beverly Hills when the murder took place in 1989. Additionally, Geragos argued that prosecutors violated Marsy’s law—a statute that protects victims’ privacy—by displaying graphic images of José Menendez from the murder scene at an April 11 hearing and “retraumatizing” the family members. Deputy District Attorney Habib A. Balian apologized to the family members at the April 17 hearing for showing the photos without warning, but also said that understanding the “depravity” of the crime was essential in determining whether the brothers had been rehabilitated. He indicated that going forward, the DA will notify the defense of any photos or descriptions of the murders before presenting them in court. 

At the earlier hearing in the case on April 11, the judge denied Hochman’s motion to withdraw the resentencing motion, which was originally filed by his predecessor, George Gascón. During that hearing, Geragos said the brothers exemplified rehabilitation during their time in prison, with Erik starting a rehabilitation program for prisoners and Lyle raising money for a communal space. He noted that one 30-year career correctional officer said he would welcome Erik to his own neighborhood after getting to know him. The brothers’ rehabilitation is also shown through every living relative of José and Kitty Menendez wanting the brothers freed, Geragos added.

“They’re not just ready to be out,” Geragos said. “They’re remarkable human beings.”

Geragos argued that Hochman wanted to stop the brothers’ resentencing for purely political reasons, so he could continue to appear tough on crime. He also said the brothers would have received a more lenient sentence if the trial happened today since societal views on victims of sexual abuse have shifted.

After the proceedings on April 17, Anamaria Baralt, a cousin of the brothers, said they were frustrated that the governor allowed the risk assessment report to be considered in the trial but that her family will continue fighting for the brothers.

“We will continue to show up as a family,” she said.

In a statement released on the evening of April 17, Hochman said he looks forward to addressing allegations of personal bias and conflict of interest in court.

“Our office remains committed to ethical and impartial prosecution. We believe the facts will demonstrate that our conduct has been professional, appropriate, and in the interest of justice,” the press release said.

No date for a resentencing hearing has been set. 

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