Cloobeck, 64, a real estate magnate who dropped his bid for governor late last year and threw his support behind now-disgraced candidate Eric Swalwell, was arrested on May 12 and freed on $300,000 bond, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department online inmate records.

Cloobeck was charged on April 28 with two felony counts of attempting to prevent or dissuade a witness/victim from attending a proceeding by force or threat, and one felony count of preventing or dissuading a witness or victim from attending or testifying at a trial or proceeding. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of annoying telephone calls, allegedly directed at the attorney of one of the alleged victims in his fiancée’s case.

The victims named in the criminal complaint against Cloobeck are all alleged victims in his fiancée’s case. She is due back in court May 18 for a pretrial conference.

Cloobeck had been closely tied with Swalwell, Democratic U.S. representative from Northern California who suspended his gubernatorial campaign and resigned from Congress after a woman alleged he drugged her and sexually assaulted her in a West Hollywood hotel in 2018. Swalwell has denied her account and other allegations of sexual misconduct.

Swalwell had been a house guest of Cloobeck in Beverly Hills until the latest allegation surfaced, when Cloobeck withdrew his financial backing of the disgraced politician, according to published reports.  

The post Former Gubernatorial Hopeful Stephen Cloobeck Arrested appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

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

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

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

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This crime is particularly devastating because victims, expecting a large withdrawal for legitimate tax purposes, often do not scrutinize their bank statements when the transaction occurs. Victims often do not discover the crime until several months later, when they receive notice from the IRS that their tax payment was never received. By that time, the altered check has already cleared, the funds have been withdrawn in cash, and the suspect account has been closed. Due to delays in discovery, bank surveillance footage and other investigative leads are often no longer available, making the prosecution of these crimes unlikely. It is vital to understand that once these funds are withdrawn, the loss is usually permanent. If you fall victim to this scam, law enforcement and financial institutions are typically unable to recover the stolen funds.

Therefore, prevention is critical. BHPD strongly encourages residents and businesses to submit IRS tax payments electronically whenever possible by visiting the official IRS website at irs.gov. Electronic payment is the most secure way to ensure tax payments are received by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

If a physical check must be mailed, residents should regularly review their bank statements and examine the deposited check image in their banking portal to confirm it was processed by the intended recipient, the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Reviewing the cleared check image in a timely manner may be the only opportunity to detect suspicious activity before funds are withdrawn.

BHPD urges residents and businesses to take immediate precautions and report any suspected mail theft or check fraud.  Police reports can be filed with BHPD at the station or by calling the non-emergency line at 310-550-4951 to request an officer to respond to you. For concerns related to mail theft within the postal system, reports may also be submitted to the USPS Office of Inspector General at hotlineform.uspsoig.gov. 

The post BHPD Warns of Check Scam Ahead of Tax Season 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.

There is no specific threat against the event or Los Angeles, but federal officials have issued warnings about the transmission of a sequence of numbers in Farsi, the language spoken in Iran, that could be a signal to operatives, according to published reports. 

Reports also emerged this week that the FBI recently warned police departments in California that Iran could retaliate for the American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast.

A source with knowledge of the memo said the warning was issued based on intelligence received by the U.S. Coast Guard, but that it has not been deemed credible “at this time,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said on March 11 at a news conference that he’s aware of the apparent threat of Iranian drone strikes on California. He said when the war started, he activated the state emergency operations center.

In a March 12 statement to the Courier, Beverly Hills Police Department Chief Mark G. Stainbrook said, “The Beverly Hills Police Department is closely monitoring developments nationally and internationally and remains in constant communication with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. We will use every available resource and partnership to protect our community. Anyone who attempts to carry out a crime in Beverly Hills will be swiftly identified, apprehended, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

This week, the  Los Angeles Police Department also indicated that it is monitoring all developments.

“We want to reassure every Angeleno that we continue to coordinate with all of our federal, state, and local partners for intelligence and information sharing during the ongoing Middle East conflict,” the LAPD told City News Service. 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it also remains on heightened alert as authorities monitor developments related to the conflict in the Middle East.

The department said public safety remains its top priority and officials are watching for a range of potential threats, including lone-actor attacks, sleeper cells and cyber-related risks.

“Out of an abundance of caution, and in recognition of current religious observances, the department has continued increased patrols around places of worship, cultural institutions, and other prominent locations throughout the county,” the department said.

At the Academy Awards, enhanced security measures will include vehicle screenings, the deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs, pre-deployed SWAT teams, undercover local officers and federal agents and snipers on rooftops.

A one-mile security perimeter will be in place around the theater.

“The FBI routinely works with our local law enforcement partners responsible for security at special events in and around Los Angeles, including the Academy Awards, in order to share intelligence and provide resources where needed,” Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman at the bureau’s Los Angeles field office, told City News Service on March 11. 

City News Service  

The post Southland Security Enhanced Due to Middle East War 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hilton said his focus would be on enforcement. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clinton released the following statement with her announcement.

“I know what it takes for someone to succeed as a legislator: it requires a deep knowledge of policy, a passion for collaboration, and a sincere commitment to serving their constituents. I’m proud to endorse Brian Goldsmith for the California State Senate because he offers a rare combination of skills, relationships, and experience. 

I’ve known Brian since he worked on my 2000 Senate race, and since then, he has made a positive impact as a journalist, entrepreneur, and adviser to Democrats around the country. Brian will be an extraordinary State Senator, and I am excited to see the difference he will make for California.”

Goldsmith, who delayed the start of college to work on Clinton’s 2000 U.S. Senate campaign, expressed his appreciation for her support:

“I am incredibly honored to have earned the endorsement of one of my heroes, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Secretary Clinton has broken barriers her entire career and served our country with distinction for decades. As first lady, she fought to pass the Children’s Health Insurance Program—which to this day covers more than 7 million kids nationwide. As a senator, she brought Democrats and Republicans together to pass important legislation and helped to rebuild New York after 9/11. As secretary of state, she built alliances and negotiated ceasefires. 

And of course, she won millions more votes than Donald Trump in 2016—and our country, and California, would have been far better off had she won the election. I am truly humbled to have her support.”  

The post Former U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Endorses Goldsmith 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.

The post Brad Sherman Seeks Reelection to 16th Congressional Term appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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. 

The post Beverly Hills Played a Role in Shaping the Legacy of Rob Reiner appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“’Unpacking Israeli History’ is amazing,” said Rabbi Erez Sherman, a senior rabbi at Sinai Temple who oversees the Sinai Temple Israel Center. “Noam Weissman is doing a beautiful job in explaining … difficult subjects in a very nuanced way.” 

Weissman’s podcast debuted in the fall of 2020 and is produced by OpenDor Media, which develops content related to Judaism and Israel. Since its launch, “Unpacking Israeli History” has featured guests ranging from hostages held by Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks to Palestinian activists to historians and experts on the Middle East. 

Bergman’s most recent book is “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations,” and he is a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine and Israel’s daily newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth. He is known for his expertise on Israel’s Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, also known as Mossad. 

Weissman and Bergman began their conversation by discussing how Bergman convinces individuals who are unauthorized to speak publicly, such as those involved with classified intelligence operations, to open up about their work. 

Bergman explained that while each has their own individual motivations, something that ties them all together is that as Israeli intelligence officials, they are on the front lines. 

“In Israel, these people are … the final frontier,” he said. “They take the first front in order to defend Israel. And at the end, they want people to know, and leave their footprint in the history of Israel … there is no country in the world where intelligence and special operations have a more decisive, consequential impact on the history of the country.”

Moving on to discuss the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Weissman asked Bergman whether he considered the assault a failure of Israeli intelligence. 

“Were things ignored?” Weissman asked. “Were things miscommunicated? Why was there such a blind side for a country with such amazing military, amazing intelligence?”

Bergman responded that a number of mistakes aligned on the part of Mossad that ended in the attack. Calling it a “perfect storm,” Bergman said that “everything was working against” the Israeli intelligence community. 

“Nothing worked, from the political level to the National Security Council to the military to the intelligence,” he said. 

Bergman asserted that Mossad and the Israeli government were spending most of their energy and efforts preparing for a war against Hezbollah, not Hamas. Between 2006 and 2023, he said, 70% of the overall resources of the Israeli intelligence community were invested in preparing for a war with Hezbollah. 

“The wisdom was that there will never be anything more than limited runoffs of hostilities from time to time against Hamas, that this is the marginal issue, where someday, earlier or later, there will be a war with Hezbollah,” he said, adding that “only something like 5% to 7% of everything was to prepare for the war with Hamas.”

Bergman also attributed the failure to “vanity.” 

“[Mossad was] speaking about intelligence supremacy, of superiority, before the October 7 War,” he said. “When you are intelligence officer and you say, ‘I have intelligence superiority,’ even if you have, once you said that, you lost. Because you’re no longer questioning the fact that maybe someone is totally deceiving you.”

Weissman and Bergman took written questions from the audience at the end of the event, including inquiries about which Israeli stories should be more widely known, whether the Saudis will normalize relations with Israel and what is still misunderstood about Israel. 

Speaking to the Courier after the event, Sherman said he was struck by the revelation of how little the Jewish community at large truly knows what goes on behind the scenes of Israeli intelligence operations. 

“That evening made me realize that what we do know is that we don’t know,” he said. “I don’t want to say it’s out of our control, but there’s a lot of pretty amazing people out there that are doing heroic things that we will never know.”

He added that he was struck by a comment Bergman made about intelligence officials doing what they do not for the thrill, but to save lives. 

“That was a really selfless answer,” Sherman said. “It made me think about how each of us has the ability to save lives in different ways. Noam does it through podcasting and having these conversations. Ronen does it by being deep into the Mossad and what that looks like. So, it really makes you think of, what job am I doing, and you’re doing, and each of us to make sure that the world’s a safer place.” 

The post Ronen Bergman Describes ‘Perfect Storm’ That Led to Oct. 7 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

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 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.” 

The post Thousands Protest at Roxbury Park As Part of Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Rallies appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Trump, who owned a home on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills from 2007 to 2019, claimed that some of his friends leave their vehicles unlocked, in anticipation of vandalism. 

“Beverly Hills is a great place,” said the president. “I have friends, they leave their trunk open for their car … because they know they’re going to be vandalized. They don’t want the trunk ripped off in order for them to steal what’s in their back. They leave their doors open so when they go in to steal the radio or whatever they take, that they don’t rip off the door … that’s at a level that nobody’s ever seen before. Nobody lives like that.”

Therese Kosterman, interim public information manager for Beverly Hills, told the Courier that the city is “not aware of residents deliberately leaving their cars unlocked in order to prevent vandalism.”

Trump also said that another one of his friends leaves his garage open so that the door is not destroyed. 

“So many cars, I’ve been told this by many people — stars, big people — they leave their doors open so the doors aren’t destroyed by these criminals. All over Los Angeles this is taking place,” Trump noted.

Trump’s claims of crime in Beverly Hills are in line with his administration’s latest law enforcement efforts in cities such as Los Angeles and most recently, Washington, D.C. In June, the president deployed 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles In an effort to protect federal propertyduring massive demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the city, which California Gov. Gavin Newsom challenged in court. He alleged the president of making an “unnecessary power grab.”

This month, Trump deployed the National Guard to the nation’s capital after claiming violent crime was out of control, yet D.C.’s mayor has called these statements “hyperbolic and false.” 

The president has since threatened to replicate these efforts in other American cities, such as Chicago and Baltimore. 

According to data from the Beverly Hills Police Department presented this week to the Health and Safety Commission, certain categories of crime are on the decline.

Beverly Hills over the past few years has bolstered its number of closed-circuit television cameras which city officials have said serve as a tool for police trying to solve crime. Combating crime and investing in public safety technology, such as police-controlled drones, CCTV cameras and the Real Time Watch Center have become focal points for city officials. 

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The order, which was released on July 7, hinges on new evidence that lawyers for the Menendez brothers argue could have changed the outcome of their convictions. 

The evidence includes two documents that support the brothers’ claim that they murdered their parents out of self-defense after suffering years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father, Jose Menendez. One document is a letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin, Andy Cano, in which the former describes the abuse he endured. The other is a declaration from Roy Rossello, a former member of the boy band Menudo, that he was raped by Jose Menendez in the 1980s. 

The July 7 order came as a response to a May 2023 habeas corpus petition filed by attorneys for the brothers. The order was issued by L.A. County Superior Court Judge William Ryan. 

Lyle and Erik Menendez were tried and convicted of killing their parents in Beverly Hills in 1989. Their first trial resulted in a hung verdict, and their second trial resulted in a sentencing of life without the possibility of parole after they were found guilty of first-degree murder with special circumstances.

Former L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón filed a motion for resentencing in 2024, which was granted. 

At the resentencing hearing, which was held in May, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic removed the special circumstance allegation from the brothers’ original conviction and reduced their sentences to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole. 

Jesic cited the rehabilitation efforts the brothers have made in prison.

During the resentencing hearing, Erik issued an apology to the Beverly Hills community, saying that the murders instilled a sense of fear among residents. 

Appearing virtually, Erik also apologized for taking his parents’ lives. “My actions were criminal,” he said. “They were also selfish, cruel and cowardly.”

Lyle, also appearing virtually, said that he takes “full responsibility for my choices.” 

“I believed I was a 21-year-old who could fix what could not be fixed,” he said. 

The brothers largely have the support of their family members, many of whom spoke on their behalf at the resentencing hearing. 

L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed resentencing for the brothers, arguing that they repeatedly lied about the murders being committed in self-defense and have not yet acknowledged their statements as such.  

In a statement following the resentencing, Hochman said that Jesic’s decision was “a monumental one that has significant implications for the families involved, the community, and the principles of justice. Our office’s motions to withdraw the resentencing motion filed by the previous administration ensured that the court was presented with all the facts before making such a consequential decision.” 

Hochman has also argued that the Cano and Rosello documents are not admissible in court. 

Attorneys for the Menendez brothers, meanwhile, said that the documents counter the prosecution’s claim that Jose was “not a violent and brutal man” and “not the kind of man” that would abuse his children. 

In a statement to the Courier, Hochman’s office said that “the Andy Cano letter and Roy Rossello allegations were not known to the District Attorney’s Office until the habeas petition was filed on May 3, 2023.”

The brothers will have a parole hearing on Aug. 21 and 22. If the board recommends parole, the decision will be sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom will have 90 days to review the decision and has the power to overrule it. 

The post Favorable Habeus Corpus Ruling for Menendez Brothers appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A curfew is currently in effect for the area bounded by the Golden State (5) and Harbor (110) freeways, and from the Santa Monica (10) Freeway to where the Arroyo Seco (110) Parkway and Golden State Freeway merge. The area includes the Arts and Fashion Districts, Chinatown and Skid Row.

“If you do not live or work in downtown L.A., avoid the area,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. “Law enforcement will arrest individuals who break the curfew, and you will be prosecuted.”  

Protests have been ongoing since June 6, when ICE agents carried out a series of immigration enforcement raids, detaining dozens of people. In response, President Donald Trump federalized 2,000 California National Guard troops and ordered them to be deployed to Los Angeles, despite protests by Bass, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other local officials who said such a move would further exacerbate tensions and lead to more intense protests. 

On June 9, Trump ordered 2,000 additional Guard troops into the city and directed 700 U.S. Marines to move into the area. Newsom condemned the move, stating that Marines “shouldn’t be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president. This is un-American.”

The state of California has sued Trump to overturn the federalization of National Guard troops. Pentagon officials said on June 10 that the deployment is expected to cost about $134 million. 

On June 14, “No Kings” counterprotests to Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C., are scheduled throughout the country, including Beverly Gardens Park in Beverly Hills. This is a developing story.

With City News Service  

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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.

Law enforcement authorities have arrested a suspect, Elias Rodriguez, 30, who reportedly has a history of activism against the war in Gaza. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies were reviewing his social media accounts and other past activities as of press time. Rodriguez was charged on May 22 in federal court with two counts of first-degree murder.

In the wake of the shooting, security at Israeli embassies and diplomatic missions has been heightened worldwide. Reports across the U.S. indicate similar measures are taking place around synagogues and other sensitive locations.

In Beverly Hills, Mayor Nazarian issued the following statement:

“We are absolutely devastated to learn of the news out of Washington D.C. this evening. Just as we held a powerful event in Beverly Hills tonight celebrating the diversity of the Jewish experience, hatred and antisemitism were on full display in our nation’s capital.  

Two innocent lives were lost at the hands of pure evil. The victims, who were employees of the Israeli embassy and about to be engaged, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when they were senselessly gunned down by a man who later yelled ‘Free Palestine.’

This is the reason we need to stand up, speak out and say Never Again is Now. On behalf of the City Council and the entire Beverly Hills community, we send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.  May their memory be a blessing. 

The safety and security of the community remains our top priority.  The Beverly Hills Police Department continues to actively monitor the latest information.”  

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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.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on April 22. McKillen, who is a citizen of Ireland and the United Kingdom, is seeking $20 million in damages. 

In the suit, attorneys for McKillen outline what they call a “lawless plot” constructed by the defendants to deliberately withhold payment from McKillen while continuing to make use of his services. 

“This complaint alleges in detail how Qatar’s former Emir (HBK) and Prime Minister (HBJ), along with other senior members of the Royal family and their executives, have defrauded their business partners around the world and used the assets they control, like the Quintet Bank, to retaliate against and intimidate those who fight back,” said Michael Gottlieb, an attorney for McKillen, in a statement. “Mr. McKillen will pursue this suit until the Qatari Royals pay him what his company rightfully earned.”

Over the past seven years, the suit alleges, various members of the Qatari royal family “orchestrated, directed, and participated in a global scheme to defraud their former business partner, Patrick McKillen, and his company, [Hume Street Management Consultants Limited (HSMC)].”

The Qatari royals named as defendants in the suit include Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, known as Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa or HBK; Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Bin Mohammed Bin Thani Al Thani, known as Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim or HBJ; and Sheikha Lulwah Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, HBK’s daughter, known as Sheikha Lulwah. 

Business associates of the Qatari royals named in the suit include Michele Faissola and Marc Socker, both of whom are described in the complaint as “agent[s] of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa [and] Sheikha Lulwah.” 

McKillen became involved with what would become the Maybourne Hotel Group in 2004, when he joined a group of investors to acquire shares in the Savoy Group. Following the sale of the Savoy Hotel, the group became known as the Maybourne Hotel Group, according to the suit. 

McKillen sold his shares in 2015 to a company owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, however McKillen continued to work in a developmental capacity on the hotels. 

According to the complaint, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa became interested in purchasing the hotel then called the Montage Beverly Hills in the summer of 2019 in order to turn it into a Maybourne. 

Socker and Sheikha Lulwah reached out to McKillen to ascertain his interest in participating in the Beverly Hills project, and to gain his opinion as to whether the hotel would be a good investment. 

In October 2019, McKillen traveled to Qatar to discuss the opportunity in person with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa aboard the latter’s yacht, the lawsuit states. McKillen described his ideas for the hotel and “gave his commitment to manage and strategically redevelop the hotel.” Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa proceeded with the purchase in December 2019. 

From there, the suit outlines a series of work performed by McKillen on the hotel, including transitioning the hotel to the Maybourne brand, redesigning guest suites, budgeting capital expenditures, planning for the hotel’s shops and parking and “navigating local Beverly planning and permitting requirements related to the redevelopment,” including attending City Council meetings and working with the City Manager and then-mayor. 

This work took place, according to the complaint, between January 2020 and January 2022. 

According to the lawsuit, McKillen began seeking compensation in June 2021. He allegedly directed his requests to Fassiola, who “refused to pay Mr. McKillen for the work performed.” When McKillen brought this information to Sheikha Lulwah, she reiterated Fassiola’s message.  

McKillen’s lawsuit claims that this refusal to pay continued until the present day, with the defendants seeming to indicate that they would pay him at various times and then failing to do so. 

The complaint alleges that the defendants decided at some point during their work with McKillen not to pay him, kept that decision a “secret” and continued to utilize McKillen’s services knowing that they did not plan to compensate him. 

In addition to the Maybourne Beverly Hills, McKillen’s complaint alleges that the defendants failed to compensate him for similar work on The Maybourne Riviera and Îlot Saint-Germain in France and a personal home of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim’s in Manhattan.

McKillen has filed additional claims in the U.K. and France, as well as a California state case. 

The post Hotelier Patrick McKillen Files Suit Against Qatari Royals appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

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. 

The post BHPD Makes One Arrest at Beverly Hills Rally appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

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. 

The post Former Beverly High Student Charged for UCLA Encampment Attack appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, the annual rally marked an observation of Genocide Remembrance Day, enacted by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022. LAUSD schools also had the day off, allowing for a children’s chorus to lead the crowd in Armenia’s national anthem, “Mer Hayrenik” (Our Fatherland). 

More than 200,000 Armenians live in Los Angeles, the largest such community outside of the nation itself.

“We are still experiencing genocide today in Artsakh,” said Haig Minasian, a fourth-generation Armenian American and chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation “Shant” Student Association, alluding to an Azerbaijani military offensive that forcefully displaced ethnic Armenians. “Without that justice from 100 years ago, this genocide has continued unsolved.”

Minasian, who also addressed the crowd, told the Courier that although the United States has recognized the atrocities, economic and military alliances with genocide-denying countries create obstacles to change. All speakers stood under a “110 Years of Armenian Resilience” sign, a reference to the Ottoman Empire’s estimated 1.5 million killings during the early stages of World War I.

Prior to the speeches, some attendees gathered on the sidewalks, chanting “open your eyes to Turkey’s lies,” and waving red, blue and orange flags. Others displayed hats, pins and bracelets. A plane circling overhead carried a banner reading “GENOCIDE IGNORED IS GENOCIDE REPEATED.”

“It’s a first step, a step that goes along with hundreds of other initiatives and community work,” Minasian said.  

The post Rally Marking Armenian Genocide Held in Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The new maps—which label regions in the state as moderate, high or very high fire hazard severity zones—designate approximately 260 additional acres of Beverly Hills as very high, according to Jim McDougald, Assistant Deputy Director, Cal Fire Community Wildfire Planning and Risk Reduction. 

Those new areas, said Trevor Richmond, Beverly Hills Assistant Fire Chief – Fire Marshal, are predominantly south of Sunset Boulevard. 

“Prior to the new map coming out, the very high zone was north of Sunset,” Richmond said. “So, you’ll look at the new map and you’ll see that the [very high area] is actually extended.” 

In most of Beverly Hills, the new border of very high fire hazard severity zones runs, roughly, east to west between Lomitas and Elevado Avenues. On the old map, that border ran roughly along Sunset Boulevard. 

To determine what zone their home falls in, if any, residents are advised to type their address into the official map on the Cal Fire website.

Richmond notes that the city has been working to get granular with the borders as some Beverly Hills lots appeared to be “cut in half,” he said, by the boundaries between very high and high zones issued by the state. 

Richmond is also collaborating with a city staff member who works with geographic information systems to examine lots one at a time and determine each property’s correct zone. 

“We’ve gone through all the lots that are half in, half out, and we’ve typed in those addresses [and] readjusted the maps to reflect more accurately what zone each lot is in,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of work to make it really clear.”

The city plans to distribute a flyer within the next several weeks that shows those designations, as well as post the information on their website. 

The new maps were created by Cal Fire using updated systems. Those systems allow experts to more accurately account for wind patterns, including speed and direction, that are likely to blow embers from high vegetation areas into urban or non-wildland areas. The new borders in Beverly Hills reflect that increased predicting ability.

“What the model does now that it didn’t do before is mapping, basically, where the embers from that adjacent vegetation are going to land,” McDougald said. 

Work on the new maps has been ongoing since 2022. It came on the heels of a state bill that required Cal Fire to create fire hazard severity zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas (LRA), where the local government is responsible for wildfire protection, in addition to State Responsibility Areas (SRA), where the state is financially responsible for wildland fire protection and prevention.

“We did the SRA adoption first,” McDougald said. “The SRA was finally adopted and went into effect April 1, 2024, and then we started on the Local Responsibility Area.”

Individuals whose home or property is located in very high severity zones are required to comply with laws that govern so-called defensible space, which refers to maintenance regulations for the area around the structure. 

Those regulations include reducing intense fuel within 5 feet of the structure and managing vegetation that exists up to 100 feet from the structure. 

Richmond said the Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) plans to conduct an ongoing public education campaign to help residents understand the new maps and requirements, particularly homeowners who are newly affected by the very high fire hazard severity zone. That might mean a lighter touch with code enforcement as more information is provided to residents. 

“Over the next couple years, it’ll be a public education, probably, versus a code enforcement issue,” he said. “After a couple years … we’ll apply the code and begin the code enforcement.”

Beverly Hills also recently released an updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The plan will allow residents to be more prepared to face natural disasters, including wildfires. 

According to a statement from the city, members of the community are invited to respond to the plan between April 21 and May 5. In order to qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the plan must be adopted as a prerequisite. 

Residents interested in looking up their home to see where it falls on the new Cal Fire maps can use this link: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones.

Residents interested in viewing and responding to the LHMP may visit: https://www.beverlyhills.org/1447/Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-Update or email comments to hazardmitigation@beverlyhills.org. 

The post State Modifies Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

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. 

The post Resentencing Hearing Postponed in Menendez Case appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The 24th State Senatorial District stretches westward from West Hollywood to Agoura Hills and Malibu, and then down the coast to Rancho Palos Verdes. It includes Beverly Hills, where Goldsmith, his wife and two children have resided for the past nine years. Goldsmith, 42, was raised in Brentwood, but his family’s deep ties to Beverly Hills extend back for generations.

Goldsmith himself is an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur and Democratic consultant. Through his firm, Kona Media, he has advised candidates, nonprofits, and companies, and helped elect several Democratic members of Congress. He also founded Scriber, a text-based subscription service in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School and was a member of the inaugural class of Presidential Leadership Scholars, a program co-founded by former Presidents Clinton and Bush.

In describing his motivation to enter politics, Goldsmith told the Courier, “I was born and raised in this district, and my family and I have called Beverly Hills home since 2016. This community is in our blood—my grandparents moved to Beverly Hills in 1952 and thought they arrived in heaven. I never expected to run for office but we’re at a critical moment: too many people believe California’s future won’t be as bright as our past. Politics as usual can’t get us out of this; we need new voices and fresh perspectives in Sacramento. My mission will be to listen to my neighbors, here and across the district, and work for better results from our state government.” 

In addition to Goldsmith, announced candidates for Allen’s seat include Dr. Sion Roy, the vice-chair of the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees; West Hollywood City Councilman John Erickson; Ellen Evans, one of the founders of the Doheny Sunset Plaza Neighborhood Association; former Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Eric Alegria; Vice President of the Los Angeles Planning Commission Mike Newhouse; Brittany McKinley, a Los Angeles City Commissioner; and Kristina Irwin, a Republican real estate agent and activist. 

The two candidates with the most votes in the primary will then face each other in the November 2026 general election. 

The post Brian Goldsmith Enters State Senate Race appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Attorneys Mark Geragos and Cliff Gardner submitted a reply on behalf of the brothers on April 1, asserting that the DA’s motion to withdraw should be denied. The DA, in turn, filed a “reply to the reply,” restating the argument that sufficient grounds exist to withdraw the original motion for resentencing. 

Hochman took the unusual step of sending a press release on April 9 in which he reiterated the reasons why the court should grant the request to withdraw the original motion. 

“The decision to resentence is profound since the Court is asked to change a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, received almost 30 years ago following first-degree murder convictions with special circumstances for the brutal slaying of their parents—a sentence that has been repeatedly upheld by five different appellate courts that have reviewed it—to a sentence of life with the possibility of parole,” said Hochman.

Gascón’s office filed the motion to resentence on Oct. 24, 2024. It made the argument that, among other factors, the brothers had been rehabilitated during their 35 years behind bars and had demonstrated “exemplary” behavior while in prison. Gascón noted that Erik had “proven himself to be an incredible asset to his prison community” and that Lyle had “established an overwhelming record of rehabilitation.”

Hochman, who defeated Gascón’s reelection bid last November, pledged to study the entire record of the case before deciding how to proceed in the matter. He eventually determined that Gascón’s filing failed to meet two essential requirements for a resentencing. Namely, it failed to provide evidence that the brothers demonstrated sufficient insight into their crime, and it improperly accounted for rules violations committed by the brothers while in custody. 

After investigating these omissions Hochman argued that the brothers still pose a danger to the community.

In their April 1 reply, Gardner and Geragos argue that Hochman’s motion to withdraw should be denied because those reasons listed are either “patently meritless or were properly considered and rejected by the prior district attorney, or both.” 

On the question of whether the Menendez brothers possess sufficient insight into their crime, their attorneys point to their early admission of guilt and ongoing remorse. 

“Erik and Lyle … have continued to admit their role in the shooting, express remorse for the harm they caused and make extraordinary strides in education, programming and rehabilitation while in prison,” write the defense attorneys. 

As to the alleged in-custody rules violations that have gone unaccounted for, Gardner and Geragos describe them as “misconduct that does not amount to a serious rule violation.” 

In the recently filed “reply to the reply,” the DA argues that the defense attorneys are evading the key fact that the brothers lied in their self-defense argument and have continued to reiterate the same untruth. 

Both Erik and Lyle Menendez have repeatedly stated that they feared for their lives when they killed their parents. Hochman maintains that this is a fabrication, and that their ongoing reiteration of it demonstrates an unwillingness to change and, therefore, a continued threat. 

“They still falsely maintain that, on August 20, 1989, their parents were going to rush out of the family den with firearms and murder them,” the DA argues. “They still falsely claim that, due to their fear of imminent death, they had no choice but to rush in first and execute their parents with shotguns …. They continue to perpetuate the same self-defense lies that they first uttered almost 35 years ago. To recognize this fact would be to recognize that, at their core, Erik and Lyle have not changed.”

The office of the District Attorney is currently facing a lawsuit alleging that Hochman retaliated against the individuals who authored the initial motion for resentencing. In a complaint filed on April 1, Assistant District Attorneys Nancy Theberge and Brock Lunsford allege that they were demoted in response to their connection to the case. 

Theberge also claims that she faced discrimination based on her age and gender. 

The post DA Redoubles Arguments Against Menendez Resentencing appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The suit names UCLA, the University of California Regents, officials working for UCLA’s Police Department (UCPD), the California Highway Patrol, the Los Angeles Police Department and more than 20 individual defendants. It was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit’s 12 causes of action include civil rights violations, assault, battery and false arrest. It seeks compensatory damages, statutory damages of $25,000 for each claim, trebling of compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs of litigation and attorneys’ fees.

According to the lawsuit, the encampment erected on the UCLA campus was a protest against “Israeli state actions in Gaza.” On April 30, a large group of masked counter-protesters launched fireworks into the camp, hurled racial epithets, beat protesters with large sticks and sprayed chemical irritants, resulting in multiple injuries. 

In a press release, the plaintiffs announced that they had filed the civil rights lawsuit against “numerous mob attackers, three police agencies, and the university—because those three nights deprived the plaintiffs of their rights to assemble, speak, learn, and organize freely and safely and left many with life-altering injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Dina Chehata, the Civil Rights Managing Attorney for the Greater Los Angeles area office of CAIR, said the over 30 plaintiffs were each “injured in a different way.” She added, “A lot of our plaintiffs were directly injured by these thugs that came onto campus and beat them viciously.”

Chehata also said that “UCLA holds some of the liability for letting that attack go on. People have to remember this attack that went on for at least four hours, with UCPD standing right there and witnessing calls and pleas of help to UCLA.”

Two of the defendants named in the suit are described as Beverly Hills residents. Defendant Edan On was a student at Beverly Hills High School at the time of the attack. The lawsuit also names Isaac Bokhoor, who plaintiffs claim is a Beverly Hills resident and owner of Angel City Jewelers. He is accused in the suit of “repeatedly smashing” plaintiff Thistle Boosinger’s hand, “breaking it and severing a nerve in her finger.” 

The Courier reached out to several of the individual defendants named in the suit, but none returned requests for comment.

Rachel Zaentz, Senior Director of Strategic and Critical Communications for the University of California’s Office of the President, emailed a statement to the Courier that said, “We were recently notified of the suit, and we are currently gathering additional information. We want to be clear: the University of California unequivocally rejects all forms of hate, harassment, and discrimination. Violence of any kind has no place at UC.   

We have instituted systemwide reforms to promote safety and combat harassment and discrimination on our campuses. Our focus remains to maintain a UC that is safe and welcoming to all.”

Another lawsuit, filed by a group of Jewish students and a Jewish professor at UCLA, alleges that the university knowingly acted in concert with or allowed members of the protest encampment to prevent the Jewish students from accessing a central campus space. The newly created Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced on March 17 that the Justice Department has filed a statement of interest in the case. 

The post New Lawsuit Filed Regarding UCLA Protests appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A motion in support of resentencing the brothers was filed last fall by former District Attorney George Gascón. The decision by Gascón was a contentious one during his 2024 reelection bid, in which he was ultimately unseated by Hochman. 

Hochman said during the press conference that the brothers have not addressed false statements made during the murder investigation and following trials. “As a full examination of the record reveals, the Menendez brothers have never come clean and admitted that they lied about their self-defense as well as suborned perjury and attempted to suborn perjury by their friends for the lies, among others, of their father violently raping Lyle’s girlfriend, their mother poisoning the family, and their attempt to get a handgun the day before the murders.”

In papers filed with the court the same day as the press conference, the DA’s office stated, “While the People are prepared to go forward with a hearing on the Court’s initiation of resentencing if the Court deems it appropriate to do so, the People request to withdraw their motion for resentencing based on multiple ‘legitimate reasons’ after a thorough and extensive review of the record.”

In an interview with “Today,” Mark Geragos, attorney for the Menendez brothers, questioned Hochman’s legal standing to rescind the previous motion. “He can say he wants to withdraw. It isn’t his decision. All that was grandstanding,” said Geragos, referring to the Hochman press conference. He added, “There’s a case that says you can’t withdraw unless you show certain factors. And [the District Attorney’s Office] hasn’t talked about any of those factors.”

Geragos also said that Hochman is mischaracterizing the brothers’ legal arguments. “He keeps saying they were claiming self-defense. They were not claiming self-defense. They were claiming what was called ‘imperfect self-defense.'” He added, “The first jury did not convict. That was a hung jury. Then the judge took away imperfect self-defense. He basically directed a verdict the second time around.”

The same day as the press conference, family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez released a statement that criticized Hochman’s comments during the press conference, saying, “Let’s be clear: Erik and Lyle are not the same young boys they were more than 30 years ago. They have apologized for their actions, which were the results of Jose’s sexual abuse and Kitty’s enablement. They have apologized for the horrific actions they took. They have apologized to us. And, they have demonstrated their atonement through actions that have helped improve countless lives. Yet, DA Hochman is effectively asking for them to publicly apologize for a checklist of actions they took in a state of shock and fear. “

On March 12, Governor Gavin Newsom spoke about the case in his recently launched podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom.” “The DA now, the new DA, is pulling back recommending from the Menendez brothers to be resentenced …” He continued, “It doesn’t impact the processes underway, that review for clemency in my office or the independent risk assessment that will be concluded on June 13 by the Board of Parole Hearings. And I’ll repeat that, on June 13, both Lyle and Eric Menendez independently will have their final hearing.”

Last week, Newsom announced that both brothers will first undergo an independent risk assessment designed to determine if the two would be “an unreasonable risk to the public” if released. Newsom said Hochman’s announcement was “very significant,” but that “it doesn’t fundamentally change the facts as it relates to the independent investigation in my office or the Board of Parole hearings.” 

The post Hochman Withdraws Menendez Resentencing Motion appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The brothers’ current attempts to gain a new trial, resentencing or release hinge in part on new evidence that may corroborate claims their parents sexually abused the brothers. A letter from Erik Menendez to a cousin implies the abuse continued up until months before the killings. Roy Rosselló, a pop singer, also made a statement that he was abused by the brothers’ father.

At the press conference, Hochman questioned the credibility of the new evidence. He also noted that “Sexual abuse in this situation may have been a motivation for Erik and Lyle to do what they did, but it does not constitute self-defense.”

In response to Hochman’s decision, a coalition led by family members of the brothers released a statement that the DA “effectively tore up new evidence and discredited the trauma they experienced. To suggest that the years of abuse couldn’t have led to the tragedy in 1989 is not only outrageous, but also dangerous. Abuse does not exist in a vacuum.”

The same day as the conference, the DA’s office filed papers urging the court to reject the habeas corpus petition, which effectively killed chances for a retrial. A video also released that day by the office outlined the brothers’ legal attempts at release “from a procedural perspective.” A statement accompanying the video said that it was produced because “transparency and public education are essential to ensuring confidence” in the justice system.

The March 20 resentencing hearing has the potential to change the brothers’ sentences from life in prison without parole to life in prison with parole. If resentenced, they’d likely be released. Relatives of the two brothers released a statement expressing hope that the judge in that case “will examine the evidence in their case without prejudice, carefully adhering to California law with modern understanding of trauma.”

Resentencing would also examine if the brothers have been rehabilitated while incarcerated. Attorneys and relatives have claimed that Erik and Lyle have, among other things, mentored other prisoners and attended college classes while incarcerated. 

The fate of the Menendez brothers took a political turn during the last election, in which Hochman handily unseated his predecessor, George Gascón. Hochman accused Gascón of being politically motivated when publicly weighing the decision to file the motion for resentencing. 

Sacramento politicians are also involved in the case, as Gov. Newsom contemplates the clemency application. Newsom’s office announced on Feb. 26 that he has directed the state parole board to make a “risk assessment investigation” before he rules on the brothers’ application for clemency. In videotaped remarks, Newsom said, “The question for the board is a simple one—do Erik and Lyle Menendez pose what we call unreasonable risk to public safety,’’ and said the assessment would be shared with the DA’s office, defense attorney and court ruling on the case.

Previously, Newsom said he would defer to Hochman’s review and analysis of the Menendez case prior to making any clemency decisions.

If Newsom approves the application for clemency, the parole board has up to six months to review the case. If clemency is approved, the decision would go to Newsom, who then could reverse or modify that recommendation.

On Feb. 27, a cousin of the Menendez brothers praised Newsom’s announcement.

“This is a pretty exciting time for us as the family of Erik and Lyle Menendez,’’ Anamaria Baralt said. She described it as “a positive step toward Erik and Lyle’s release.’’

She added, “We are incredibly grateful that Governor Newsom is paying attention to this case … For us, it is a huge sigh of relief that someone in a seat of power is paying attention to what we have seen up close since Erik and Lyle have been incarcerated. We have seen their rehabilitation. Erik and Lyle have changed countless lives since their conviction in 1996. Inmates have seen it, corrections officers have seen it and now we need the entire criminal justice system to see it.’’ 

The post Hochman and Newsom Weigh In on Menendez Case appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

On Feb 3, Nancy Theberge and Brock Lunsford both filed notices that they intend to sue for discrimination and harassment, retaliation, Labor Code violations and emotional distress, among other theories. Theberge and Lunsford named L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman, the County of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and Deputy District Attorney John Lewin in their complaints.

Under California law, plaintiffs must file a claim 45 days before a lawsuit when the defendant is a public entity. Theberge and Lunsford seek more than $250,000 in economic damages and over $5 million in non-economic damages.

Erik and Lyle Menendez both were sentenced in 1996 to life sentences without parole for the 1989 murders of their parents José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez in Beverly Hills. Both are now in their 50s and have served more than 35 years in jail. After new evidence which corroborates that their father had been sexually abusing the brothers since childhood surfaced, former L.A. District Attorney George Gascón reviewed a habeas petition and recommended a resentencing via a memo last October.

Theberge and Lunsford were both authors of the memo. Theberge was in charge of L.A. County’s resentencing unit at this time. Lunsford was Assistant Head Deputy Post-Conviction and Litigation. Lunsford has now been moved to a calendaring clerk position in Norwalk. Theberge is back at the alternate public defender’s office, an office she held several years ago.

Justin Shegerian, one of the attorneys for Theberge and Lunsford, told the Courier, “They were applying the law to the Menendez brothers case, and they recommended the resentencing of them based on a variety of factors that the law provides.” He added that the incoming DA “retaliated against them for that. They harassed them for that, and they demoted them and sent them off to Siberia to positions where they had worked previously with far less experience as well as to non-supervisory positions in the bottom of the organizational chart.”

Hochman has not publicly stated whether his office will continue to support resentencing for the brothers. He criticized Gascón’s handling of the case during his campaign, calling the handling politically motivated. In a move many consider as a possible indication of his position, Hochman hired Kathy Cady to oversee the DA’s victims services bureau. Cady formerly represented one of the only Menendez relatives who have called for the brothers to remain in prison. 

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin is also listed as a defendant in the tort claims. The claim states that Lewin defamed Theberge by making public statements that Theberge was incompetent and violated courtroom ethics. The claim also states that Lewin accused Theberge of violating her duty of candor to the court.

The claim alleges that even though Lewin made social media statements that defamed the two, Lewin was promoted. Lewin was also a vocal critic of Gascón. He too sued the office for political retaliation in Feb 2023 when Gascón was at the helm. Lewin had been transferred from the Major Crimes Division to the role of calendar attorney at the Inglewood Courthouse. Once Hochman entered the office, Lewin was transferred back to Major Crimes. 

Pam Johnson, a spokesperson for the L.A. District Attorney’s Office, said via email, “Our office does not comment on litigation or personnel matters.”

A hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez is planned for March 20 and 21.  

The post Hochman Sued Over Alleged Menendez Retaliation appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The hostages released were Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31 and Emily Damari, 28. This release is the first of several planned to take place over the next six weeks, until a total of 33 of the 97 hostages still in Gaza have been freed.  City officials and organizations in Beverly Hills have reacted to the news.

“We are grateful to see hostages released thus far from Hamas after spending an unimaginable amount of time as prisoners. We look forward to seeing every hostage safely return home and keep them in our thoughts and prayers,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman.

The Museum of Tolerance, which is located on the border of Beverly Hills at S. Roxbury Drive, honored the return of the hostages by lighting up in blue on Jan. 19. The blue light represents hope, healing and solidarity, and the museum will continue with this tribute each time additional hostages are released. 

The museum told the Courier, “We join the global community in praying for the safe return and recovery of all the hostages, for those who perished to receive a proper burial in the land of Israel, and for an end to the suffering of civilians throughout this war. This light is our message: we welcome them home, and we will never forget.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which oversees the Museum of Tolerance, said in a statement, “We shed tears of joy for those freed, while our hearts remain heavy with anguish for those still held who continue to endure unimaginable suffering and those who did not live to see this day. We remain resolute in our pursuit of justice and our unyielding demand for the safe return of every hostage. May their freedom come swiftly, and may peace and security be restored to all.”

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who represents the 51st Assembly District which includes Beverly Hills, expressed cautious optimism and relief at the cease-fire and hostage deal. He said, “After 15 months of unimaginable pain and devastation, there is finally a glimmer of hope. The hostages who have endured unbearable and unspeakable cruelties may soon be reunited with their families. While this moment offers relief, it also serves as a stark reminder of the suffering endured by both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.”

Zbur continued, “The horrors we witnessed on Oct. 7, 2023, will never be forgotten, nor will the consequences, including the displacement, suffering, and deaths of so many innocent Palestinians. This war has been a tragedy for so many, and while today brings hope, it also reminds us how much work remains to be done. We all want this to end. The world must come together to support a lasting and just peace; one that ensures safety, security, and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians.”

As part of this first phase of the cease-fire, Israel also released 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The cease-fire is expected to last for six weeks.   

The post Officials React to Israel-Hamas Hostage Release and Cease-Fire Deal appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” the family wrote on Facebook. “We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”

No cause of death was released. Last year, Lynch told a British magazine that he would have to retire from filmmaking due to health reasons, saying he had “gotten emphysema from smoking for so long” and he did not want to leave his home and possibly be exposed to COVID-19. 

Lynch was nominated for writing and directing Oscars for 1980’s “The Elephant Man.” He received two more Best Director nominations for “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive.”  He received an honorary Oscar in 2020.

Born in Montana, Lynch gained attention in the 1970s with his noir classic “Eraserhead,” which led to his breakthrough work on “The Elephant Man.” His follow-up to that film was 1984’s ambitious yet poorly received adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune,” which starred a then-unknown actor named Kyle MacLachlan.

Lynch rebounded in 1986 with “Blue Velvet,” also starring MacLachlan along with Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern.

He made a major splash with the 1989 cable murder-mystery series “Twin Peaks,” again enlisting MacLachlan as an odd FBI agent investigating the killing of a teenage girl in a fictitious small town.  He went on to direct films including “Lost Highway,”  “Mulholland Drive,”  “The Straight Story” and “Inland Empire.”

Actor/director Ron Howard responded to Lynch’s death Thursday, writing on X that Lynch was “a gracious man and fearless artist who followed his heart and soul proved that radical experimentation could yield unforgettable cinema.”

City News Service 

The post Director David Lynch Dies at 78 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Entertainment Industry

The California State Assembly passed several laws focusing on protecting actors from having their likenesses used without their consent using artificial intelligence. Additionally, several laws will make it so that child actors’ protections in the film and television industry will also now be expanded into social media.

AB 2602 and AB 1836 make it illegal to use artificial intelligence to replicate an actor’s voice or likeness without consent of the actor or their estate. The California Labor Federation wrote in a statement in support of the legislation, “It is critical that workers and their unions have a voice in the development and use of AI and other technologies in the workplace. Otherwise, technology will rapidly worsen the exploitation of workers and the elimination of jobs.” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher was present at the bills’ signing.

Retail Theft

New laws in 2025 will increase charges against those committing retail theft. 

In a statement examining new legislation in 2024, the Public Policy Institute of California said, “Reported [shoplifting] incidents are 28% higher than in 2019. Commercial burglaries dropped by 9% in 2023 but remain about 6% above their pre-pandemic level.” While data for 2024 has not been completed, the Institute noted that Los Angeles County was one of four counties responsible for more than 90% of the statewide rise in 2023, along with Alameda, Sacramento and San Mateo.

AB 3209 will allow retail stores to apply for restraining orders against people sentenced for stealing, vandalizing or assaulting an employee. 

AB 1779 provides that California district attorneys can coordinate with other DAs to consolidate charges for suspects in retail theft crimes which occur across county lines.

AB 1960 creates sentencing enhancements for taking, damaging or destroying property while committing a felony if the property value exceeds $50,000.

SB 1242 increases sentencing for those convicted of organized retail theft if they set a fire within a merchant’s premises and considers it an aggravating factor.

Social Media

SB 764 provides that social media posts using children will require their parents to set aside some of the earnings for them in a trust. AB 1880 also expands the Coogan Law to include minor content creators on online platforms. Parents must keep records of how much time their children appear in monetized social media posts and how much money they earn.

Food Delivery

AB 375 requires food delivery services to provide the first name and photo of delivery drivers beginning on March 1. While several food delivery companies already require this, it could provide an extra layer of safety.

SB 1490 requires food delivery applications to provide an itemized receipt of a transaction including purchase price and fees/commissions charged to both the restaurant and the customer. It also bans applications from limiting the number or value of transactions disputed by restaurants and provides a way for restaurants to remove themselves from a food delivery application.

Cannabis

AB 1775 allows for local jurisdictions to license cannabis cafes or lounges by allowing cannabis retailers to make and sell food and nonalcoholic beverages. Previously, dispensaries could only sell prepackaged food and drinks. The bill also allows for live events such as comedy shows and music on the site of the cafes. The bill also requires several employee protections, and a similar bill without the protections was vetoed last year. California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement, “I commend the author for incorporating additional safeguards, such as expressly protecting employees’ discretion to wear a mask for respiration, paid for at the expense of the employer, and requiring employees to receive additional guidance on the risks of secondhand cannabis smoke.”

Firearms

California is often one of the first states in the nation to create laws restricting the use or carrying of firearms, and 2025 will continue that trend. New firearm purchasers will now see a requirement to confirm possession of every firearm they possess, and a new safety pamphlet will have to be provided by licensed firearms dealers. Additionally, a new law allows courts to weigh a person’s threats towards groups when deciding whether to bar them from purchasing guns. 

AB 574 requires all purchases or transfers of firearms to include an acknowledgment by the purchaser or transferee that they have, within the last 30 days, confirmed possession of every firearm that they own or possess.

AB 1483 eliminates an existing private party transaction exemption from a prohibition on more than one firearm purchase in 30 days.

AB 1598 requires safety pamphlets to be provided by licensed firearm dealers for purchasers and transferees, as well as those being loaned a firearm.

AB 2917 threats directed towards a group or location will be permissible in court when deciding whether to prohibit a person from purchasing or possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Education

New legislation in the state expands protections for transgender students and adds to the public school curriculum the impact of European settlement and the Gold Rush on Native Americans in the state.

Several years after the college admissions scandal, a new law now bars preferential treatment for “legacy” students as well as the children of large donors. 

AB 1955 prohibits school districts in the state from policies forcing educators to notify parents if students identify as transgender or if they request to use a different name. The last several years have seen pushes from various groups to force teachers to inform parents in Los Angeles County, and a new law will largely make that impossible.

AB 1821 requires California public schools to teach the impact of the Mission Period and Gold Rush on California Native Americans.

AB 1780 prohibits legacy and donor preferences in the admissions process for private, nonprofit higher learning institutions. Both have been officially excluded from the state’s public university admissions process. The University of California system eliminated legacy preferences in 1998. 

Several states have enacted similar bans on legacy and donor admissions in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling in June 2023 banning affirmative action in college admissions.

Of the bill, Governor Gavin Newsom said “Everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work. The California dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone, fairly.”

Healthcare

New laws in 2025 will increase coverage of IVF, require pharmacies to provide accessible labels for those with vision issues and ban a potentially toxic substance from feminine hygiene products in the state.

SB 729 requires insurance companies to cover IVF and expand access to LGBTQ families.

AB 2515 bans the sale of menstrual products that contain potentially toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

AB 1902 provides that pharmacies must provide to any customers (or authorized representative thereof) who are blind, have low vision or are otherwise print disabled, at no additional cost, an accessible prescription label affixed to the container accessible to that person.

SB 639 requires continuing education in geriatrics and dementia care for health care professionals providing care to people 65 and older. 

Employment

In addition to minimum wage increases,  a number of new laws will affect the workplace. Areas affected include the classification of sick days and family leave, payment schedules for independent contractors and rules regarding  employee meetings. 

The state minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $16.50 per hour in 2025. (A ballot measure was rejected in November which would have increased it to $18 per hour in 2026.) Countywide, the minimum wage rose to $17.27 per hour, which will apply to Beverly Hills. The minimum wage in West Hollywood will increase to $19.65 per hour in the new year.

SB 988 requires independent contractors to be paid on or before the date specified in their contract, or no later than 30 days after completion of services if no date is specified.

AB 2123 allows employees to use paid family leave without using vacation hours first. 

SB 1105 allows agricultural workers to use paid sick days when they are working outdoors in dangerous conditions such as smoke or extreme heat.

AB 2499 expands the definition of paid sick leave to include situations when an employee’s family member is a victim of violence or the threat of violence. It allows employees to use sick leave to help family members obtain a restraining order or seek out services related to domestic violence or assault.

AB 399 bars California employers from discriminating or retaliating against employees who refuse to attend any employer-sponsored meeting related to matters that are religious, political or related to the decision to support or not support a labor organization/union.

Housing 

The topic of housing continues to loom large in Beverly Hills and across the state. While the rate of homelessness in L.A. County decreased by .27%, housing costs in the state continue to be well above the national average. One bill could make it easier for homeowners to divide their homes to rent. Another will make cities planning to build “tiny homes” for unhoused residents experience less red tape.

SB 450 requires local governments to drop certain zoning requirements, making it easier for homeowners to divide their homes into as many as four separate units. 

SB 1395 makes it easier for cities to build “tiny homes” for unhoused residents.

AB 2347 raises the amount of time tenants have to respond to eviction notices from 10 business days up from five.

Miscellaneous

AB 1825 prohibits public libraries from banning books due to race, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or socioeconomic status as well as the political affiliation of a book’s subject, author or intended audience. 

AB 413 allows cities to fine drivers parking any vehicle within 20 feet of any unmarked or marked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. The law will allow cities to fine drivers starting Jan. 1. It was designed to increase the visibility of bicyclists. 

The post New 2025 Laws Will Impact Residents appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Attorneys for the brothers are currently pursuing several avenues as they hope to secure their release and contend that new evidence backs the brothers’ claims they were sexually abused by their father.

The January hearing dates will allow newly elected District Attorney Nathan Hochman more time to review the case. Current District Attorney George Gascón announced last month that he supports the resentencing of the brothers. Hochman has not publicly stated how his office will handle the case. He released a statement on Nov. 25, saying that the delay will provide him with “sufficient time to review the extensive prison records, transcripts of two lengthy trials and voluminous exhibits, as well as consult with prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel and victim family members.” Hochman added, “I look forward to thoroughly reviewing all the facts and the law to reach a fair and just decision, and then defend it in court.”

Erik Menendez, 53, and Lyle Menendez, 56, both attended Monday’s hearing in Van Nuys via an audio link from their prison in San Diego. They were expected to appear via video, but the video link would not function. Other than a brief acknowledgment they were able to hear the proceeding, the brothers did not speak at the hearing. The matter attracted a sizable contingent of media outlets, and an overflow room was set up to accommodate those who could not be seated in the courtroom. 

During the hearing, witness Joan VanderMolen, Kitty Menendez’s 93-year-old sister, spoke for the release of the two brothers. “I would like to be able to hug them and see them…” she began to tell the judge. Later, she’d say that “I know they’re not kids anymore; to me they are.”

Menendez defense attorney Mark Geragos noted that it was “quite the moving experience” to hear two of the brothers’ aunts make “impassioned pleas with the judge to send the brothers home.”

Geragos hopes to have the brothers resentenced on a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter based on the new evidence. The pair were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the chance of parole. The defense filed a petition last year arguing that newly uncovered evidence bolsters defense allegations that the brothers were victims of sexual abuse.

The Menendez brothers’ defense team also submitted a request for clemency to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting clemency. The governor said last week he would not make any decision on the request until Hochman has a chance to review the case. “The governor respects the role of the district attorney in ensuring justice is served and recognizes that voters have entrusted District Attorney-elect Hochman to carry out this responsibility,” a statement from the governor’s office said. 

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Those who have already filled in their ballot at home can drop their sealed and signed envelopes in either one of two drop boxes in Beverly Hills. These are open now until election night:

• City Hall (next to Kelly’s Coffee and Fudge)

455 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills

• Roxbury Park Community Center

471 S. Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills

Those who prefer the traditional method of voting can visit one of four in-person voting centers in Beverly Hills. They are open 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Beverly Hills City Hall is open now until Nov. 5.

The Roxbury Park Clubhouse is open from Nov. 2-5.

The Rodeo Room at La Cienega Tennis Center is open from Nov. 2-5.

The Horace Mann Elementary School Auditorium (Charleville Entrance) is open from Nov. 2- 5.

The results will begin to be posted after the polls close on election night, but the official results won’t be in until every single vote is counted. With vote-by-mail ballots being postmarked up until Election Day, this means that some votes won’t be counted until up to a week later. For the most accurate and up-to-date results, voters can view the live feed from the ballot processing center at https://www.lavote.gov/home/voting-elections/current-elections/live-feed.

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In 2020, about two-thirds of the voting-
eligible population turned out for the election across the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. This was the highest rate for a national election since 1900. Yet the same year, many voters believed the election was a fraud. This may be due to the spread of misinformation on social media, but it also has to do with a lack of education regarding the complex ballot-counting process. To combat concerns that the ongoing presidential election can be rigged, the L.A. County Registrar of Voters hosted tours of the new processing center before voting began and walked invitees through the entire process using a sample ballot.

In mid-September, the Courier attended a facility tour led by L.A. County Clerk Staff Development Specialist Jeff Klein and Public Information Specialist Daylyn Presley. Their voices echoed through the massive 144,000-square-foot building as they explained the process each ballot goes through from beginning to end. “We do have a small staff that’s here year-round, but during our busiest period, we can get up to 900 or more people working out of this facility,” said Presley.

The election staff expects Nov. 5 to be chaotic as helicopters deliver ballots from poll centers in cities like Avalon and Long Beach, but thanks to voting by mail, around half of the ballots arrive at the facility before then. 

Upon delivery to the facility, each ballot is checked by a machine to make sure it’s legitimate. Those not approved by the machines are then double-checked by election workers so that no legitimate ballots are mistakenly left out. This first step also filters out voters who have listed multiple residences in their voter registration and have received and mailed in multiple ballots to ensure that every voter only counts once. Then, the identification process begins. Machines scan each signature to match it with the one that the voter has on file. Those that aren’t approved by the machine are also checked with real election workers on site. They analyze each signature and compare it to others that the voter has on file, such as those that appeared on previous ballots. This also ensures that voters who accidentally signed a previous name such as a maiden name can still be counted, if the signature is verified by the election staff.

Once ballots are approved for the next step of processing, they move on to the tally room with glass walls in the middle of the warehouse. “The reason why the glass windows [are] all the way around the tally room is [because] now people can be here and they can watch the activities,” said Klein. “They can’t go inside the tally room, of course. It’s restricted to people who have a purpose of being in the tally room. But they can at least watch and see what’s going on and so forth. So, transparency and security are both main features that we have here, and we want to embrace both at the same time.”

This room is where the official votes are counted. Brian Ikenaga, election system division manager, used a sample ballot to explain how tally machines scan each page. Very quickly, each machine scans the penned-in bubbles line-by-line. It automatically catches any lines with too many bubbles filled in, an incompletely filled bubble, or anything voters may have written on the ballot, such as arrows. The processor resembles a copy machine in size and design, and it spits out pages into two pockets: one for the approved pages and one for those that need to be double-checked. Workers like Ikenaga are responsible for sorting through the latter and determining which candidate the voter intended to vote for. If it’s still unclear, they may contact the voter or provide a new ballot. In this case, the official count would not be complete until that voter receives their new ballot, votes and sends it back to the facility.

Though media outlets will announce a predicted winner of the presidential election on Nov. 5, no one will know the official number of votes each candidate has received until each state completes this process. In extremely close elections, this can make it difficult to predict a winner on night one. Presley urged voters to be aware of unofficial election results that are published before the final votes are tallied. The facility will remain open to members of the public who are interested in viewing the tallying process throughout election season and upcoming viewing events will be posted at https://www.lavote.gov/home/voting-elections/current-elections/election-results/public-observation. 

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BHFD arrived in Israel on Sept. 2 and returned home on Sept. 10. Over a seven-day period, they fostered new relationships with the Israeli Fire Service, visited Beverly Hills’ sister city, Herzliya, attended a meeting with the Fire Department Command Team and watched a presentation on the Emergency Command Center. After learning about the responsibilities of firefighters in Israel, BHFD shared information about their efficiency practices and their responsibility to be medically trained as well. The main goal was to exchange ideas so that both fire departments can learn from each other. “We went to Israel, and we shared with them the idea of a dual function firefighter,” Deputy Fire Chief Alfred Poirier told the Courier. “The idea that not only is it more economically feasible, but from an operational perspective, having a fire department that provides medical services and has medical training as well is probably a better option.”

Poirier also mentioned that the Israeli Fire Service uses technology that BHFD could potentially adopt in the distant future, such as different variations of aerial platform ladders and a self-contained breathing apparatus, which are safer and more effective than the equipment used in the United States.

During the trip, BHFD toured multiple sites to learn about Israel’s long history of religious conflict, including Apollonia National Park (Tel Arshaf) in Herzliya, the Israel Museum, 9/11 Living Memorial, the Old City, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mount of Olives, Masada, the Dead Sea and Yad Vashem (the World Holocaust Remembrance Center) in Jerusalem. They explored Tel Aviv, Netanya and Caesarea, and spent a full day exploring the Gaza Envelope area. It was in this region, at the memorial site for the Nova Music Festival victims, that really struck them. “You could hear the explosions very, very close,” said Poirier. “For us, it was alarming. We were very unnerved by it, but one of our observations was that the vast majority of people who were there visiting were locals, and they didn’t react at all. The four of us firefighters—we jumped every time there was an explosion. There were several of them that were on the Gaza side of the border.”

Understanding the stark contrast in everyday life from one fire department to another was a key takeaway of the trip. BHFD’s time in Israel reminded them of the importance of empathy, said Poirier.

“It’s incredibly important for us to have emotional intelligence as firefighters and as medical service providers in the community,” said Poirier. “Empathy is a key component of emotional intelligence, and empathy involves trying your best to walk in somebody else’s shoes. And traveling to this part of the world and immersing yourself in that culture and at least trying to have some better understanding of the conflicts that have been going on there for hundreds of years allows for our empathy to evolve and allows us to hopefully better serve the community where we’re firefighters.”

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During their visit, the teens met Beverly Hills Police Department officers including Police Dog NAMI, toured a Beverly Hills Fire Department station and attended Shabbat services at Young Israel of North Beverly Hills.

YINBH Rabbi Aryeh Pearlstein said a member of the synagogue sponsored lunch for the group, which sang songs, danced and ate with members of the local community.

It was overall a very moving and powerful experience,” Pearlstein said.

Nazarian said it was important to remind the teens that the Beverly Hills community loves and supports them, and she said they were deeply moved by the city’s solidarity.

“It’s important that those directly affected by the war, and the world at large, know that Beverly Hills stands for justice, peace and unity,” Nazarian said.

The visit followed an Aug. 20 decision by the Beverly Hills City Council to reinstall a flag display memorializing Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. The installation, which will stand from Sept. 30 to Oct. 14, coinciding with the High Holy Days, will provide the community a special place to mourn and reflect.

The council also agreed to continue discussions on establishing a permanent Oct. 7 memorial.

The post Siblings of Fallen Soldiers Visit Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The event was hosted at filmmaker Rob Reiner’s home and billed as a pride-themed garden party celebrating the anniversary of the end of Prop 8, which had previously banned same-sex marriage. But for all the rainbow colors and A-lister fanfare, an uneasy undertone cut through the festivities.

Harris addressed the “elephant in the room” at the beginning of her 22-minute speech, acknowledging that “Our president said it wasn’t his finest hour, we all know it wasn’t.”

However, she said that “style points” aside, the debate showcased the clear contrast in candidates, and she called former President Donald Trump “a threat to our democracy.”

While Harris was full of confidence at the event, not all Democrats felt the same way following Biden’s halting, mumbled and at times, hard to understand, remarks.

Several Democratic politicians, such as Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett and former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, have called for Biden to step down from the race, as have the editorial boards of The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Both Harris and Governor Gavin Newsom have been floated as potential replacements for the president. Biden campaign officials, however, said there is no plan to change the ticket.

Reiner, the host of the fundraiser, said in a statement on X that the debate was “a disaster” for Biden, but that the choice for president remains “crystal clear.”

“We either can choose a good decent man who cares about his fellow citizens and knows how to govern, or a convicted felon who will destroy our democracy,” he stated.

Harris employed a similar logic during her speech, saying the debate did not alter the high stakes of the election.

“You have someone in the former President of the United States who openly talks about his admiration for dictators, someone who has said openly how he will weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies,” she said. “None of that has changed, because of one day in June.”

She said that Trump poses a threat to LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights and voting rights. She also touted the Biden administration’s achievements such as lowering the cost of prescription drugs and forgiving millions of dollars’ worth of student debt.

The invitation-only fundraiser gathered around 100 attendees including U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler and California Rep. Brad Sherman.

Also present were Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, plaintiffs in the case that overturned Prop 8. Harris married the couple back in 2013 while serving as California Attorney General. Harris’s remarks were followed by a special performance by Broadway star Idina Menzel.

Biden and Trump paid visits to Los Angeles for campaign events in June. Trump attended a fundraiser at the home of Lee Samson in Beverly Hills, while Biden joined forces with Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts for a Downtown L.A. fundraiser.

Recent polling shows Trump holding a narrow lead over Biden nationally and in all five key swing states.

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The demonstrations began when supporters of Palestine gathered at the synagogue to protest a real estate event being held at the facility that included “representatives of housing projects in all the best Anglo neighborhoods in Israel,” according to an advertisement for the event. Pro-Palestine groups slammed the event on social media before showing up to the event and blocking the entrance. “Racist settler expansionists are not welcome in Los Angeles,” the Palestinian Youth Movement posted on Instagram. Supporters of both Israel and Palestine marched through surrounding neighborhoods and made their way into Beverly Hills via Almont Drive and Olympic Boulevard before heading to Doheny Drive. A video posted on the social media platform X shows Beverly Hills Police officers arresting a man with a face covering in support of Palestine.

Beverly Hills Police Captain Giovanni Trejo explained that nearly 100 demonstrators walked through the city disrupting traffic on busy streets, before quickly returning to LAPD’s jurisdiction. “There was one arrest, and the arrest was made for the person delaying and obstructing a police investigation,” Trejo told the Courier.

Government leaders were quick to condemn the violence. After hearing helicopters and chanting from his home only a few blocks away from the synagogue, Beverly Hills Councilmember John Mirisch approached the scene by foot to see what was going on. 

By the time he arrived, LAPD had already blocked off the synagogue and Magen Am, a volunteer Jewish safety organization, was working to protect the neighborhood, but demonstrators still surrounded the area. Though the epicenter of the incident was outside of Beverly Hills, Mirisch emphasized the fact that it was only a block away. 

“Beverly Hills is one of the few Jewish majority cities outside of Israel, and I’ll be damned if we’re going to tolerate any kind of Jew-hating racists who come to our town to make mischief and to intimidate our residents,” he said. “It’s not going to happen. And it’s sad that we’re just experiencing this unprecedented explosion of anti-Jewish racism. Our community needs to stick together more than ever.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed similar concerns. 

“Today’s violence in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood was abhorrent, and blocking access to a place of worship is unacceptable,” she said in a statement. 

Governor Gavin Newsom responded to the demonstrations on social media on June 24. “The violent clashes outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles are appalling,” he wrote. “There is no excuse for targeting a house of worship. Such antisemitic hatred has no place in California.”

The California Legislative Jewish Caucus released a statement of support for victims of Jewish hatred. “We are grateful that our state budget agreement includes a record $160 million for nonprofit security grants,” it said. “This funding is vital to protecting the Jewish community and others targeted by hate. We remain committed to doing everything in our power to protect the Jewish community and to ensuring that Californians of all faiths and backgrounds can live without fear of violence and harassment.”

LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi and Bass spoke at the Museum of Tolerance on June 24 about threats to safety throughout some of Los Angeles’ most prominent Jewish neighborhoods as a result of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

The meeting was convened by Jewish Federation Los Angeles (JFEDLA), which continues to search for a solution to ending antisemitic violence while acknowledging the constitutional right to protest. “Our Community Security Initiative is in constant communication with our local law enforcement partners and Jewish institutions to protect our community and bring the perpetrators of yesterday’s violence to justice,” said Aram Goldberg, senior vice president of public relations and media strategy at JFEDLA, in a press release. “We are conducting security briefings and coordinating with our federal, state and local elected officials to create an action plan to further safeguard our Jewish community.”

During the meeting at the Museum of Tolerance, Bass announced that she will be taking immediate action to convene leaders of houses of worship and cultural centers to discuss how to protect sacred spaces, sharing ideas, practices and strategies to keep congregants safe. She will also work with state representatives like Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel to secure funding to protect houses of worship in Los Angeles.

Though the city of L.A. and the state already provide security funding, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who represents the Pico-Robertson district, will be introducing an urgent motion to work to secure additional funding to prevent a similar situation from taking place. Additionally, the LAPD will work with Jewish public safety organizations to continually review evolving tactics and threats to the community and take proactive action to prevent these instances from happening again.

“This violence was designed to stoke fear. It was designed to divide,” said Mayor Bass. “But hear me loud and clear—it will fail. In less than 24 hours of yesterday’s incident, we’ve worked to convene faith leaders, community groups and law enforcement to have constructive conversations working on ensuring this does not happen again. Los Angeles will not stand or tolerate violence.” 

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The delegation included remarks from Micha Koubi, a former IDF Special Forces officer who has interrogated the mastermind of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and explained how Hamas spreads its violent ideology and is supported by its Middle Eastern allies. 

Coming days after pro-Palestinian protestors demonstrated in front of a Pico-Robertson synagogue, the visit was the latest example of how Beverly Hills has reaffirmed its bond with Israel as a bulwark against rising antisemitism in the United States, Mayor Lester Friedman said. 

“We do have a united city, that always will support the right of Israel to exist,” Friedman said. 

Vice Mayor Sharona Nazarian, a former national vice president of Beit Halochem, said that organizers initially wanted to host the delegation at her home, but she felt it was important to include her fellow councilmembers, Beverly Hills Police and Fire Department officers, state representatives and wider public in the conversation.  

“We’re gathered to bear witness, and we want to see the testimonies of survivors from the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel,” Nazarian said. “We must ensure that our community not only hears these stories, but also stands united in support and solidarity against hate.”  

The soldiers and police officer who visited Beverly Hills all recounted stories of heroism and narrow escapes from death, though many of their friends were not as lucky. They also described how, through their rehabilitation at Beit Halochem facilities, they not only survived, but are beginning to thrive, reuniting with their families, regaining their independence, and in the case of Orr Sheizaf, relearning how to run.  

Orr Sheizaf, a 35-year-old reservist, was called up after Oct. 7, and wounded during a raid in Khan Younis, when a booby trap detonated an explosion. When the smoke cleared, he looked down and “saw holes” in his foot.

Sheizaf escaped to relative safety, and when a soldier came over to treat him, Sheizaf, an avid marathon runner, said, “Take care of my feet. I can handle life without one arm, but I have to go back to running.” 

Since February, Sheizaf has been rehabilitating at a Beit Halochem facility, where he is regaining his strength as a runner. Though Sheizaf still has a long way before his next marathon, he is “very happy” to have been approved for light training. 

He attributed his recovery to “the facilities and guidance and professionals who support me, and also my community of people who understand me. There is something about seeing other wounded veterans around you that … encourages you to carry on.”

For Shalev Best, a squad commander in the Israel Police Special Forces, his story began on Oct. 6, when he was working security at the Nova Music Festival. After rockets began firing towards Israel, Best received reports of terrorists heading for the kibbutz hosting the festival, and he ordered the partygoers to disperse. 

Best and his fellow police officers faced off against eight terrorists. He was shot four times and saved by a bullet that had hit his gun. Though civilians from the kibbutz tried to mend his wounds, Best felt he couldn’t breathe, and he called his wife—with whom he has two kids—to say goodbye. 

Eventually, the civilians who saved him put him in a military vehicle, and Best was driven to a hospital, where he underwent four surgeries, and is now going through the rehabilitation process with Beit Halochem.

On the morning of Oct. 7, Eden Ram, who was born in New Jersey but grew up in Jerusalem, was in charge of 13 soldiers. An hour after being woken by sirens at 6:30 a.m., Ram and her fellow soldiers ran to the shelter in their base’s command room, chased by terrorists who shot her in her leg and killed another soldier. 

After Ram reached the safe room, the terrorists continued their killing spree, taunting Ram by sending photos of the soldier they had just killed, she said. Ram and her soldiers exchanged gunfire with the terrorists, who killed more of her friends, and Ram texted her family goodbye, saying she was going to die. 

Four hours later, after suffering through “a world of pain, two angels, fighters,” rescued Ram and the other surviving soldiers, she said.  

In all, Ram was shot 12 times. She still has a bullet lodged in her hip, though with the help of Beit Halochem, she has made a miraculous recovery. 

“Thanks to Beit Halochem, I went through an amazing recovery, from being in a wheelchair to back to my life,” Ram said. “Beit Halochem is like my second home. 

The post Israeli Wounded Warriors Relay Harrowing Stories appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Over the course of 10 days, the group attended meetings with government officials at the Foreign Ministry and met with the city leaders of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Sederot, Ofakim and Modiin Maccabim-Reut. They traveled under armed guard to visit Kibbutz Be’eri and the site of the Nova Festival and met with survivors and family members of the victims of Oct. 7. 

The mayors received a report from experts on the psyche of Hamas and its infiltration into the population of Gaza. And they also participated in the MuniExpo 2024 conference,  which included a discussion on antisemitism and was attended by hundreds of Israelis. 

Friedman was an invited panelist in one of the six conference sessions, entitled “Long-Distance Hatred.” His fellow panelists included the CEO and Director General of The Jewish Agency for Israel, the ADL’s Senior Vice President for International Affairs and the Hessian State Minister of Finance from Germany, who is also the State Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight against Antisemitism. The session attracted a capacity crowd. 

Perhaps one of the most moving moments of the tour was not on the official schedule, however. On June 8, Israeli forces dramatically rescued four hostages, to the relief of the entire nation. That evening, Friedman’s delegation participated in an emotional celebration rally in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv that was attended by thousands. 

Reflecting on the trip after returning to Beverly Hills, Friedman noted, “It was really amazing to be with all those mayors from different cities. Four mayors came from Florida, others from New York, New Jersey and the mayor of Sandy Springs, Georgia was there. Two of the mayors from New Mexico weren’t Jewish. Not everyone was. But they were very supportive of Israel and are going back,” he said. 

He continued, “The antisemitism conference was quite revealing. I spoke there. But it was the people in Israel who were so warm and welcoming of Americans. All they see are the protests at Columbia University and that kind of thing, which is very concerning to them.”

In other words, the visit will carry long-lasting effects, not only in terms of education, networking and fact-finding, but also in goodwill. 

The post A Mayor’s Mission: Lester Friedman on His Recent Tour of Israel appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A group of loyal supporters, including many Beverly Hills residents, organized a street side rally on Sunset Boulevard to cheer on Trump. As his motorcade passed the crowd around 4 p.m., fans excitedly waved American and Israeli flags, unfurled Trump 2024 banners and cheered “We want Trump!”  

While overall more Beverly Hills residents voted for Biden than Trump in the 2020 election, the city contains some of the only precincts in Los Angeles that voted red. For example, a majority of voters in the Trousdale Estates and surrounding streets north of Sunset Boulevard favored Trump in 2020. 

Beverly Hills resident Kristen Williamson was thrilled by Trump’s visit and brought her five children with her to the rally. 

“We just love him and what he does for the country and his perseverance,” Williamson told the Courier. “Obviously he’s being persecuted right now, most likely illegally, and it’s just a complete two-tiered justice system.”

Trump’s visit to Beverly Hills comes days after he was found guilty of 34 felonies in a New York court. This verdict has been met with strong backlash from many Republicans who feel that the case was politically motivated, and it has led to a historic surge in contributions to Trump’s campaign. 

“In the last two weeks we’ve seen record fundraising numbers and I think there’s a general revulsion of the fact that we’re going to be trying political candidates in this country,” Chairman of the Republican Party of L.A. County Tim O’Reilly told the Courier. “People are coming out in such strong support of President Trump because they realize this is wrong, you don’t do that, that’s not an American thing to do.” 

Another group of Trump supporters gathered outside the Samson residence on Elm Drive, hoping to catch a glimpse of the former president coming in and out of the fundraiser.

Samson is the owner of Windsor Healthcare Management, which operates more than 30 nursing homes across California and Arizona. He has a long history of fundraising for the Republican party and serves on the board of the Republican Jewish Coalition. 

After Trump decided to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, Samson was part of the American delegation at the embassy’s opening. He was also one of very few invited to witness the signing of the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE, at the White House.

Samson previously hosted Trump at his home in 2019 for a campaign fundraiser that raised $5 million. And he hosted Ivanka Trump for a fundraiser in 2020 that raised an additional $2 million for the reelection campaign.

Trump’s recent visit to Beverly Hills comes as part of a three-day fundraising swing through California. 

On June 6, he attended a Bay Area fundraiser hosted by Silicon Valley venture capitalists Chamath Palihapitiya and David Sacks and Sack’s wife Jacqueline. Then on June 8, he headed down to Newport Beach to attend a fundraiser hosted by VR entrepreneur Palmer Lackey. 

“California is certainly a fundraising capital for both the Republicans and the Democrats, there’s no question about that,” said O’Reilly. “So, I would venture to say it’s certainly not the last we’ve seen of the former president. I expect him to return several times.”

President Biden, meanwhile, has already made three fundraising trips to Los Angeles since December 2023. And he’ll be back in town next weekend for a major event in DTLA with speakers including Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts. 

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The delegation spent several days at the museum, which sits on the border of Beverly Hills, where they undertook training on topics like tracking online hate and studied the history of antisemitism through the museum’s exhibitions.  

The Federal Chairman of the German Police Union Jochen Kopelke organized the trip in response to his alarm about the rise of anti-Jewish hate crimes seen on the streets of Germany.

“There is a lot of antisemitic crime because of the protests and the ongoing war in Israel, and we had this thought of we’re a police and have history in the Shoah, or Holocaust, what should we do to protect and serve our Jewish communities?” Kopelke, who represents over 205,000 officers, told the Courier. 

And where better to find expertise in combating antisemitism than in Los Angeles, home to over half a million Jews and multiple organizations dedicated to combating hate?

Kopelke reached out to the “Tools for Tolerance” law enforcement training program at the Museum of Tolerance. This program is designed by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and has provided training to dozens of law enforcement agencies on subjects such as cultural diversity, hate crimes, racial profiling and ethical leadership. 

“We have never left Europe and gone out in the world to see where is the best idea or the best practices to train police officers, so we’re very glad to meet up with the Museum of Tolerance and get a huge toolbox for our law enforcement colleagues,” said Kopelke. “That’s very new for us.”

Charles Evans, associate director of the “Tools for Tolerance” program, was thrilled to host the delegation, which was the first foreign police group the museum has trained.

“My experience with them was really extraordinary, because oftentimes we don’t have the opportunity to interact with our colleagues across the world,” said Evans. “I think that many of the challenges we’re having are similar, so I think they felt a great deal of benefit from this trip.”

A core component of the training officers received was in using internet software to identify and track down leaders of hate groups, composers of hate propaganda and organizers of hateful protests and attacks. They also discussed how to read the different languages of hate, be it literal foreign languages, hand signals or graffiti messages, said Evans. 

“We met up with specialists to learn how to deal with open-source intelligence to figure out how Nazi groups or terrorist groups act on social media platforms,” said Kopelke. “This is not a new concept for us as officers, but some of the software was quite impressive and I look forward to sharing the techniques with my colleagues over in Germany.”

Evans, who is a retired LAPD officer, also arranged a visit to the LAPD Historical Museum and the opportunity for the delegation to meet with leaders of the Los Angeles Police Protective League and the Los Angeles Police Command Officers Association. 

“They were actually collaborating with the top 1% of the decision makers in LAPD,” said Evans. “We had a rich dialogue, and a lot of creative and innovative ideas were shared.”

Before flying back to Germany, the officers attended a Shabbat service and spoke with Jewish Angelenos about their experiences of antisemitism. The members of the synagogue were so touched by the officers’ interest in visiting their community that after the rabbi introduced the delegation everyone rose and gave a standing applause.  

The post German Police Learn Skills to Fight Antisemitism at Museum of Tolerance appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Even before the extent of Hamas’ assault became clear the following day, on Oct. 7, Barak and Indre knew they had to help, and they made “an instantaneous decision” to raise funds to buy an ambulance for Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical services system, Barak said.  

During a May 23 ceremony at Community Shul on West Pico Boulevard, the Raviv family celebrated the fruits of their labor, posing in front of the new ambulance and thanking their supporters and donors for helping keep Israelis safe. 

“When we thought about doing an ambulance, we could not have imagined the outpouring of support that would come from the community,” Barak told the Courier.

“And I think we all know that the ambulance that’s standing outside is really going to be the margin between life and death for the people of Israel today.”        

The ceremony, which included a musical performance and videos highlighting the work of Magen David Adom, drew both laughter and tears from the crowd of over 150. 

Janet Morgan, Director of Philanthropy for American Friends of Magen David Adom, said that supporters like Raviv are the lifeblood of the organization, which plays a critical role in Israeli security. The nonprofit operates Israel’s largest blood bank, flies medivac helicopters and delivers babies, services that are especially important during times of crisis, she said.

On Oct. 7, Magen David Adom “immediately activated all ambulances, mobilized all employees and volunteers,” Morgan said. “They received over 21,000 calls that day.”    

Beverly Hills California Synagogue Rabbi Pini Dunner said at the event that support from abroad has been a source of hope for active-duty soldiers like his son, who recently lost five friends during an operation in the Palestinian city of Jabalia. 

For Don Klein, one of the biggest donors to Raviv’s campaign, the ambulance, which is dedicated to his parents, has personal significance beyond the lives it will help save.  

“My love of Israel was really imbued by the love that my mother and father have for Israel,” Klein said. “And I can just tell you that rather than see my father’s name … and my mother’s name on a tombstone, how much better it is for me to feel that we’ve done something worthy here, something more pragmatic, that would actually maybe save some lives.”   

Barak Raviv said philanthropy is a trait that runs in his family, and his family was at the heart of his campaign. Raising the money would not have been possible without Indre’s support and his children’s love to keep them going, and he dedicated the ambulance to his grandmother—Sara Mostysser—who has both supported and benefited from Magen David Adom’s mission. 

Years ago, after falling and breaking her hip, Mostysser was transported to the hospital in a Magen David Adom ambulance that she had donated and was bearing her name. 

“I’m very happy to have her name today on one more lifesaving vehicle,” Raviv said.  

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Over 200 protesters occupied the encampment to demand that UCLA sever ties with universities in Israel, issue a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and divest from companies that do business with Israel.

The protest drew criticism from Jewish students and community leaders who denounced its chants such as “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free” and “Intifada now” as antisemitic. 

“Today’s protest at UCLA included hateful antisemitic threats, calls for the violent destruction of the State of Israel, and statements praising the leadership of Hamas—a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis and Palestinians alike,” said Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood), whose district includes UCLA. “I am appalled and disgusted by antisemitic and xenophobic chants, protestors telling Jews to go back to Europe and the glorification of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.”

Several Jewish students at UCLA said that they do not currently feel safe on campus.

“It’s important that they (protesters) have the right to freedom of speech and to say their viewpoints, there’s a lot of hateful rhetoric,” said Eli Chavez, a Pro-Israel Jewish student at UCLA. “It’s just sad to me because I know a majority of my Jewish friends feel unsafe. They won’t even leave their dorms.”

The protest began around 4 a.m. with organizers setting up dozens of tents and sealing the area with makeshift fences.

“There are multiple student organizations that are here from all different backgrounds that are agitated and frustrated at the situation in Gaza and the West Bank,” said a protest organizer and Junior at UCLA who did not wish to be named due to fear of retaliation from the university. “We are building a community with each other and staying strong for Palestine.”

The organizer said that the encampment opposes hate in all forms and that there are several Jewish student protestors present including members of the organization Jewish Voice for Peace, who oppose Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Nevertheless, some Jewish Bruins said they felt threatened.

“They say anti-Zionism isn’t antisemitism, but there’s a very thin line and most of the time they cross it in the things they’re shouting or displaying on posters,” said Chavez.

This sentiment was echoed by Rabbi David Gurevich with Chabad at UCLA. 

“If you look at some of the signs it is very clear when they depict Jews with horns, or as they had the regent’s hearing, a pig with a money bag, these are very old medieval antisemitic tropes and stereotypes,” he said. 

An antisemetic caricature was displayed during a pro-Palestine protest that took place at the University of California Board of Regents meeting in mid-March, prompting the university to issue a statement saying it was “appalled, offended and deeply frustrated” by the display. 

While the protest was taking place at UCLA, U.S. Senate candidate Steve Garvey held a press conference at Beverly Gardens Park denouncing recent acts of antisemitism. He was joined by Rabbi Chaim Mentz from Chabad of Bel Air and Aaron Cohen, former member of the IDF.

“I’m concerned about where we are as a country right now,” said Garvey. “I am concerned that college campuses are great institutions that all of a sudden are lacking leadership. It’s time for us to stand up.”  

“There are terrorist attacks on the Jewish students,” he told the Courier. “Let’s try these people who are terrorists hiding behind free speech.”

In the afternoon of April 25, Mary Osako, Vice Chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications, issued a statement saying that the university’s top priority remains the safety and well-being of its entire community. 

“We are actively monitoring this situation to support a peaceful campus environment that respects our community’s right to free expression while minimizing disruption to our teaching and learning mission,” she stated. 

On April 24, student protestors and community activists set up a similar Pro-Palestine encampment at USC’s Alumni Park. The LAPD made 93 arrests for trespassing after protestors refused to obey orders to leave the area. 

USC later sent an email announcing that the university-wide commencement ceremony, which typically draws 65,000 attendees, will be canceled due to safety challenges. Individual schools’ commencement ceremonies will still take place. 

The post Local Pro-Palestinian Protests Elicit Strong Response appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The resolution came days after Iran launched more than hundreds of missiles at Israel, causing light damage to one Israeli military base and wounding a 7-year-old girl, after most of the missiles were shot down and intercepted by the Israeli and American militaries.

“Last weekend’s attack demonstrates the continued threat that the Islamic Republic of Iran presents to the world,” Mayor Lester Friedman said. “This council has always demonstrated its support for Israel and its right to defend itself against all forms of terrorism and aggression. Today, we stand with the people of Iran but in opposition to the Islamic Republic of Iran.” 

The resolution further condemns the “apartheid, racist and genocidal Islamic Republic of Iran for its brutality, anti-democratic oppression of its citizens and documented human rights violations, especially against women, students and minorities,” and calls for increased international and domestic sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.    

Vice Mayor Sharona Nazarian, who is a leader in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement following the death of Mahsa Amini, emphasized the importance of differentiating between the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic, which poses a global threat.  

“We stand against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Nazarian said. “We stand with the people of Iran, the women of Iran, the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.”  

Sherwin Shamoeil, a senior field representative for State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) said that Zbur commended Beverly Hills for its continued advocacy, and Israeli American Civic Action Network CEO Dillon Hosier recommended the city push the state government to enforce sanctions it has previously adopted. 

The council discussed the resolution along with its plans for the Oct. 7 flag memorial at Beverly Gardens Park, ultimately deciding to remove the flags on May 15 to make space for the Beverly Hills Art Show.   

The installation features 1,400 flags representing the nationalities of those killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, when the terror group attacked Israel and took hundreds hostage.

The council considered several options for keeping the flags in place, including refunding 28 vendors who would be impacted. After city officials and Beverly Hills Police Department Chief Mark Stainbrook listed the logistical and safety concerns associated with keeping the installation in place, the council agreed it was always meant to be temporary and resolved to find a permanent commemoration. 

“Two arrests have had to be made and [there have been] other incidents around it, including protests and protesters showing up, because having it there makes it a target,” Stainbrook said. “We have certainly a lot of other uses for our resources, including our security personnel or police personnel, and kind of an inordinate amount of time and effort … is placed in making sure [the installation] stays secure in its current configuration.”  

The flag installation has garnered praise from residents and Israeli allies abroad. 

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Spearheaded by movie producers Matti Leshem and Lynn Harris, the light projection with images of the remaining 134 hostages represented the couple’s latest effort to raise awareness about the hostages still held captive after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. 

Leshem and his wife began organizing to support the hostages’ release almost immediately after Oct. 7, arranging delegations in Los Angeles of freed hostages who shared their stories with allies and donors, and erecting billboards in New York’s Times Square and in New Jersey. 

As the Oscars approached, Leshem and Harris discussed ideas to highlight the plight of the hostages during such a high-profile event. One day last month, while walking their dogs past Beverly Gardens Park, they realized that the building across the street from The Wallis at 499 N. Canon Drive would be a perfect canvas for a large-scale light display. [Ed. Note: The building houses the Courier’s office.] 

They called the building’s owner, who enthusiastically pledged his support. They also secured more than $100,000 to cover costs from global events company INVNT and worked with the Tel Aviv-based Hostages and Missing Families Forum to design the light projection, Leshem said.   

However, the light display “almost didn’t happen,” according to Leshem. 

During a Special City Council Hearing on March 8 to discuss the matter, City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey noted that the special event permit application had not been filed 10 days in advance of the event, as required by ordinance. 

But more than 150 residents from Beverly Hills and beyond urged the city to allow the light demonstration and reinstall the flag display at Beverly Gardens Park. Hunt-Coffey presented the council with three interpretations of the City’s Municipal Code that would allow it to approve the permit. 

“The council does have the opportunity to interpret the code,” Hunt-Coffey said. 

She added that the council could interpret a provision saying applications “shall” be filed at least 10 days in advance as saying applications “may” be filed at least 10 days in advance. The council could also decide that the special event will have “an overriding benefit” for the city. And, since Leshem and Harris contacted Councilmember Lili Bosse in February, who connected them with Deputy City Manager Keith Sterling on Feb. 20, the council could count the email to Sterling as a “pre-application,” Hunt-Coffey said. 

Though the council was unanimously supportive, there was debate about which interpretation to choose. Councilmember Sharona Nazarian favored the “pre-application” interpretation. Bosse said she would “mark every single box.” And Councilmember John Mirisch said the couple’s Feb. 20 contact with Sterling could be considered an application and the projection’s benefit to the city was apparent. 

Vice Mayor Lester Friedman, who also affirmed his support, cautioned that accepting the application because of its benefit could set a difficult precedent going forward.

“What happens when we are confronted with someone who wants to come in here with something that we don’t all agree with, and … we have made an exception that is not defensible?” Friedman queried.  

In response to a question from Friedman, City Attorney Laurence Wiener said, “I’m not sure that I agree with any of these interpretations, but I think the two interpretations that would be the most defensible would be the fact that they sent an email and started the application process,” and that the event would have an overriding benefit.   

Satisfied, the council voted unanimously to approve the permit.    

“It was really an incredible thing to see the City Council respond to … people calling really not just from Beverly Hills but from all over Los Angeles, saying this is really important to the people of Los Angeles,” Leshem said. “The whole thing was pretty admirable.”

On the day of the Oscars ceremony, “Every single person that pulled up to the Vanity Fair party was staring at the faces of those hostages,” Leshem said. “You could see it from all around … I think it was quite impactful in that way.”  

The light projection and an installation of thousands of flags across the street at Beverly Gardens Park drew supporters draped in Israeli flags and honking car horns. It also drew counter-protestors waving Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyehs, underscoring the public debate over Israel’s actions in Gaza. There were no arrests, but Beverly Hills Police Department officers filed a battery crime report after unknown suspects used an “unknown type of chemical irritant” against other demonstrators, according to Lt. Andrew Myers.

Ahead of the Oscars ceremony, a coalition of organizations including Jewish Voice for Peace-Los Angeles (JVP-L.A.) and SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire held demonstrations near the Dolby Theatre.
A group of roughly 1000 protestors blocked traffic during an already busy afternoon and delayed arrivals to the show.  

In an emailed statement, Sarah Jacobus, a JVP-L.A. member who rallied before the Oscars ceremony, wrote, “I hold dear the Jewish value of the sacredness of human life. This is what informs my commitment to oppose the bombing and starving of Palestinian civilians done in my name. I will not be distracted by the Oscars while bombs are falling on Gaza and people in Rafah with no safe place to shelter are threatened with a ground invasion.”      

The debate continued into the ceremony itself. Director Jonathan Glazer, who won the Best International Feature Film award for “The Zone of Interest,” about a Nazi official who lives an idyllic life next to the Auschwitz concentration camp, received widespread backlash after he appeared to criticize Israel in his acceptance speech. Glazer said his film showed “where dehumanization leads at its worst” and he refuted “his Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many innocent people.”

Councilmember Lili Bosse, the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor, was quick to add her own powerful voice to the discussion. In a social media post addressed directly at Glazer, Bosse said, “You ‘refuting your Judaism’ whilst accepting an award in memory of 6 million Jews cremated, shot, gassed and brutally murdered and somehow ‘refute’ Oct. 7 and our second Holocaust that occurred that day. The hostages still not home. Hamas terrorists will not ‘refute’ your Judaism. Jew haters and antisemitism won’t protect you from yourself. You have spat on the graves of your ancestors. I however remain a proud Jew.”

The post garnered almost 282,000 views and more than 4,000 likes, clearly resonating beyond the boundaries of Beverly Hills. 

The post Beverly Hills Affirms Support for Israel on Hollywood’s Biggest Night appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Yasmeen Ohebsion is an alumna of Beverly Hills High School, a full-time student at Tulane University and a proudly practicing Jew. In recent months, however, these titles have been at the center of a major conflict in her life. Ohebsion is also the co-president of the Movement to Address Antisemitism on her college campus, where students are discriminated against, verbally attacked and assaulted for their religion.

In her testimony before Congress on Feb. 29, Ohebsion stated that she witnessed Jewish students being beaten with a belt during a school protest for Palestine, and she described an incident where she was targeted by another student for wearing the Star of David. She also found from data she gathered around campus that over 55% of Jewish students feel “unsafe” or “extremely unsafe” at Tulane.

But the problem isn’t just among her peers. Members of the campus administration have failed to sufficiently address the mistreatment of students, according to Ohebsion.

“In my last meeting with the Chief Diversity Officer, I told her that I was very concerned with the state of antisemitism on campus and expressed that I myself could list 50 incidents of antisemitism that had occurred, and I’m only one student,” she told the Courier. “And she responded to that by saying, ‘If you could list 50 incidents, I could list 150 [incidents] of anti-Black racism, misgendering, transphobia, et cetera.’”

The problem isn’t unique to Tulane. Eden Yadegar, a Brentwood School alumna and student at Columbia University, testified alongside Ohebsion. Yadegar also fights against antisemitism on her campus through her club, Students Supporting Israel, an advocacy group that isn’t exclusively Jewish, but one that supports “Israel’s right to exist,” as she explained.

Students at Columbia have faced many of the same issues as those at other campuses around the United States.

“Jewish students are harassed, we’re intimidated, we’ve been physically assaulted on our campuses and bullied by our professors and by our peers,” Yadegar told the Courier.

While many students fight against antisemitism, the issue lies in administrative failure to step up and take action against it. Yadegar links this to a lack of support for Jews as a minority.

“Jewish people are one of the only minority groups that don’t get to define their own identity and sort of define their own oppression,” she said.

Yadegar’s family is one of many that fled Iran to be able to safely practice their religion in the United States. Today, a new generation of Jews faces the same hatred in the place where they once sought refuge. Much of the antisemitism that’s being displayed on college campuses can be traced back to the current war in Gaza and social media has played a part in shaping the narrative among students and young adults.

Sidechat, a Columbia-exclusive social media platform has been an epicenter for Jewish hatred. Students have made violent threats and even downplayed a swastika that was graffitied on a bathroom stall, saying “It’s f-ing graffiti not at all comparable to anti-Palestinian attacks.”

“If only we could have more people in this age group of 18 to 25 actually being exposed to the truth and actually reading full articles and truly understanding the scope of the issue, rather than seeing these small snippets that make them feel like Israel’s carrying out this genocide and that Israel’s an apartheid state and all of these mistruths and falsehoods about the situation,” said Ohebsion.

Education and spreading correct information on the issue is the biggest battle. Through their activism on their campuses and testimony for Congress, both women hope to increase diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training across the nation while pushing for more support for the Jewish community.

“Jews unfortunately fall into this category of being white, privileged people that are undeserving of DEI services,” Ohebsion told the Courier.

Yadegar explained that she fights against injustices because she knows local governments and universities can do better. Her community back home set a powerful example of what this could look like.

“The way that they empower the Jewish community in Beverly Hills really should be an example to cities and universities across the country,” she said. 

The post Local Women Testify at Congressional Antisemitism Roundtable appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

While much of the local spotlight has been focused on the Beverly Hills City Council race, residents will also have important decisions to make on who they want to represent them in the U.S. Senate, District Attorney’s Office and State Assembly. And there’s also a state ballot measure to fund mental health treatment to keep in mind. 

In-person vote centers are currently open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Beverly Hills Public Library, TreePeople’s conference room in Coldwater Canyon Park and Tom Bradley International Hall. On Saturday, centers will also open at All Saints Episcopal Church, LA Cienega Tennis Center, Horace Mann Elementary School, Sunrise of Beverly Hills and Roxbury Memorial Park Clubhouse. 

Here’s what residents need to know about the key regional and state races on the ballot: 

US Senate: 

Three Democratic members of Congress and the Republican ex-Dodger Steve Garvey lead the race to fill the seat of former Senator Dianne Feinstein, who died in September 2023. The top two-vote getters in the primary election will proceed to a November runoff regardless of party preference. 

Polls have consistently shown Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) as the clear frontrunner with around a quarter of likely voters’ support. The Los Angeles representative rose to national preeminence in 2020 as he led the House effort to impeach former President Donald Trump.

Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) and Garvey are in a battle for second place, but polls have different conclusions over who holds the edge. A mid-February Emerson College poll found that Garvey had a 6% lead over Porter, however a mid-February Public Policy Institute of California poll concluded that the pair were virtually tied.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) is consistently polling in fourth place with 10% or less of the vote. The remaining 24 candidates in the race—including Republican attorney Eric Early, Republican businessman James Bradley and Democratic TV reporter Christina Pascucci—all trail behind with 4% or less of the vote. 

The three leading Democratic candidates share similar campaign priorities like affordable housing, healthcare, the environment, gun safety and immigration reform. Lee is the most progressive candidate and has differentiated herself from her fellow Democrats by backing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a $50 minimum wage.

Garvey embraces many Republican policies and is calling for an audit of all spending on homelessness, a crackdown on the selling of street drugs and tighter border security. However, he also supports reproductive rights and clean energy. 

Schiff is leading the fundraising, having collected more than $31.4 million in campaign contributions, according to FEC filings. He is followed by Porter with $28 million, Lee with $9 million and Garvey with $2.1 million. 

District Attorney Race:

In perhaps the most unpredictable race on the ballot, 10 challengers are seeking to unseat incumbent District Attorney George Gascón. While a candidate can win in the primary if they clinch a majority of the votes, this crowded race is poised to proceed to a November runoff between the top two vote-getters. 

Gascón rose to power in 2020 on a platform of reducing incarceration rates and offering a more humane approach to criminal justice. On his first day in office, he introduced a sweeping series of reforms that ended most sentencing enhancements, the practice of trying juveniles as adults and the use of cash bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.

The challengers say these policies as well as Gascón’s blanket refusal to prosecute many misdemeanors—including trespassing, disturbing the peace, driving with no license, making criminal threats, drug possession, drinking in publi and resisting arrest—are to blame for rising crime rates. 

In late January, the California Elections and Policy Poll found that 15% of likely voters favor Gascón, 21% favor challengers and the majority of voters were undecided. 

Out of the challengers, Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami held 8% of the vote; former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman held 4%; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Chemerinsky, Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell and Deputy District Attorney Maria Ramirez each held 2%. The remaining seven candidates each held less than 1% of the vote. 

Hatami is known for winning convictions against the parents who tortured and murdered Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos. Hochman ran for California Attorney General as a Republican candidate in 2022 and is now running as an independent. 

Jeff Chemerinsky is the most progressive of all the challengers and the son of famous legal scholar and UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

When it comes to fundraising, Hochman is by far in the lead, having collected a whopping $2.8 million. He is followed by Chemerinsky with $1 million, Hatami with $780,000 and Deputy District Attorney Eric Sidall with $470,000. Gascón has raised the fifth most out of the 12 candidates with $435,000.

State Assembly District 51:

Democratic incumbent Rick Chavez Zbur, who was first elected in 2022, faces two Republican challengers in the race to represent Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood and Santa Monica. Zbur is the former Executive Director of Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.

One of his challengers, Shiva Bagheri, is a Beverly Hills resident. Bagheri owns local business Shiva’s Dance & Fitness and started the Beverly Hills Freedom Rally in 2020 to express support for then-President Donald Trump. Entrepreneur Stephan Hohil is also seeking to unseat Zbur.

The top two vote-getters will advance to the November ballot. 

Prop. 1:

Prop 1 is a $6.4 billion bond measure spearheaded by Governor Newsom to fund mental health treatment and supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness. 

If passed, it would direct $4.4 billion to create 10,000 mental health beds and $2 billion for homeless housing projects, half of which would be reserved for veterans with mental illness or substance use issues.

Supporters include National Alliance on Mental Illness California, California Teachers Association and California Chamber of Commerce, who believe it will help address the state’s dire shortage of mental health treatment beds and a root cause of homelessness. 

Detractors include Disability Rights California, ACLU California Action and the League of Women Voters of California, who fear the housing requirements of the bill will result in cuts for existing mental health services and also oppose funding treatment facilities where people with mental illness could be subject to involuntary holds. 

A mid-February Public Policy Institute of California Poll found that 59% of likely voters support Prop. 1. The measure needs a simple majority in the March 5 primary to pass.  

The post Important Senate, State Assembly and DA Races at Stake on March 5 appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The city’s first voting booth will open in the auditorium at the Beverly Hills Library on Feb. 24, and it will be the only one running for the first week of in-person voting. Another three will open March 2, just three days before Election Day, at the Roxbury Park Clubhouse, the Rodeo Room at La Cienega Park and at Horace Mann Elementary School.

Voters who received mail-in ballots also have the option to physically deposit those into ballot boxes. One is at City Hall next to Kelly’s Coffee and Fudge, and another can be found at the Roxbury Park Community Center.

The deadline to either get in line for a voting booth or to drop off at a ballot is 8 p.m. on March 5. 

There are no ballot initiatives to consider for Beverly Hills residents in this year’s municipal election. However, they will decide who will fill two seats on the City Council that will be vacated by outgoing Mayor Dr. Julian Gold and Council Member Lili Bosse.

There are 10 candidates competing for those spots. They include business owners, engineers, philanthropists and attorneys, as well as current and past members of city commissions and the Beverly Hills Unified School Board. More information about them can be found on the city’s website, as well as prior coverage from the Courier. 

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“The motivation behind the trip was both personal and partially became professional, seeking inspiration from Japan’s unique blend of tradition and modernity. The stunning landscapes, historic temples and vibrant cityscapes left a lasting impression on us, providing a valuable perspective on global diversity,” Nazarian told the Courier. 

While not an official trip, Nazarian did take the time to meet with one of Japan’s most distinguished politicians, Masako Mori. The two connected after a mutual contact recognized that they shared much in common, beginning with their leadership styles. Both women clearly have impressive backgrounds. 

Nazarian was long active in public service on city and county levels before winning a seat on the Beverly Hills City Council in 2022. She moves into the post of vice mayor this spring and in 2025, will serve her first term as mayor. 

Mori has served in the House of Councillors, the upper house of the national legislature of Japan (known as the Diet) since 2007. She has also held major posts in the government, including Special Advisory to the Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, Minister in Charge of Women’s Empowerment and Child-Rearing, and Minister of State for Gender Equality. A lawyer by training, Mori completed a fellowship at New York University School of Law. 

It is no surprise that the two hit it off. In fact, their meeting, which took place near the American Embassy in Tokyo, lasted several hours. 

“Ms. Mori and I found common ground in our commitment to advancing the rights and roles of women and women empowerment. We discussed policies and initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality, drawing from our respective experiences. We spoke about the duality of being a mother (she has two daughters) while serving in an elected position,” said Nazarian. 

The two also discussed global issues and challenges. Nazarian has been at the frontlines—both literally and figuratively—in speaking out against the oppression of women throughout the world. In particular, she has led efforts to bring attention to the Mahsa Amini case in Iran, as well as to the victims of the brutal Hamas attacks. It was especially powerful to sit amidst the stately government buildings in Japan and convey the unique perspectives of Beverly Hills. 

“Our conversation primarily focused on sharing insights into effective governance and addressing societal challenges. We spoke about the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, and the role that elected leaders can have on being a voice for women around the world. We also spoke about the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, and how women were used as pawns and the unspeakable atrocities of war,” Nazarian recounted. 

Other topics of common interest included transportation. Now that Beverly Hills finds itself on the Metro Purple (D Line) corridor, it can certainly heed some observations from the world’s leader in mass transit.

The mass transit conversation, said Nazarian, “provided valuable insights for addressing similar challenges in our respective constituencies. We discussed safety, efficiency and cleanliness.”

The Nazarian family also gained some hands-on knowledge about the Japanese transportation model by hopping on public transit during the visit.

Perhaps most importantly, the meeting with Mori established a foundation for a warm working relationship. 

“We expressed mutual interest in continuing our dialogue and exploring opportunities for collaboration. We are exploring the possibility of future meetings, both in person and virtually, to strengthen our connection and work toward common goals,” said Nazarian.

With the new year beginning and a new job role in a few months, Nazarian feels the journey to Japan will continue to provide invaluable insights here at home. 

“I am always looking for opportunities to introduce fresh and innovative ideas to our community, particularly from a global view. I firmly believe that embracing possibilities can lead to valuable insights and growth. We live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but there is always room for improvement. I was very impressed with the meticulous urban planning and efficient mass transit in Japan. Of course, the spectacular spirit and beauty of Beverly Hills is like no other city in the world. Both places share a commitment to progress, and I look forward to implementing lessons learned from Japan in our local context.”

She can no doubt also take comfort in a well-known Japanese proverb, which states, “When you have a good government, the grass will grow over your troubles.” 

The post Lessons Learned From Japan appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

And yet, as a rabbi who just took 40 congregants to Israel this past July, I never expected to see such a drastically changed Israel. Over the summer, we experienced a post-COVID Israel. A bustling airport with tourists arriving all over to enjoy an Israeli summer. Restaurants and shops packed with tourists waiting to eat authentic Israeli cuisine. Jews visiting the Kotel to celebrate their b’nai mitzvah and Christians wading through the Sea of Galilee to conduct ritual baptisms. But this week, I witnessed an Israel I had never hoped to meet: an Israel in a state of brokenness. An Israel that will need all of us if she wishes to rise from the ashes.

In my short three-day trip, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles arranged meetings with Israelis from various sectors: conversations with hostage families, heads of IDF bases, displaced evacuees from the north and south, doctors and nurses, mental health clinicians, educators, Israeli rabbis and more. In my free time, I spoke with family members who have sons and grandchildren serving in Gaza and on the border with Lebanon. The emotional weight Israelis are carrying sits heavily in their eyes and eloquently upon their lips. In one way or another, each Israeli expressed to me: we are scared. There is a fear that many of us who live outside of Israel have never heard before. Usually, Israelis will remind us that they live with fear every day. Surrounded by Arab nations, constantly aware of Iran’s control through Hamas and Hezbollah, having lived through thousands of years of demonization, Israelis know fear. But this was different. This is an Israel that turns to all of us and asks us to pray with her, to stand with her as each citizen stays up through the night, quaking with uncertainty, trembling with angst.

A few examples of my conversations:

We met Benzi at Shura IDF Military Base, the site where the civilians and IDF soldiers’ dead bodies of Oct. 7 were identified and prepared for burial. This young IDF soldier began our tour with a confession. Benzi explained that in his years of IDF service, he was never in combat. He dealt with other matters in the IDF. When he was called back to serve on Oct. 8, he could never imagine being in charge of identifying and burying hundreds of people. In fact, he said before this point in time, he had never touched a dead body. Yet, here he was, responsible for laying all these bodies to rest in holy burial. Some so decimated and burned, identification is nearly impossible. He looked at us and asked the rabbis to go back to our congregations to pray for his soul. At one point, he stopped our tour and told us that during the first few days of the war, he questioned his own mental health because he had yet to cry. When he finally saw a young mother identify her murdered son, he felt tears run down his cheeks. He was comforted by his tears but afraid for his future. He doesn’t know how he will return to “life” after the war.

We met Moira and Amos, two evacuees representing the almost 300,000 Israelis displaced from northern and southern Israel. With so many kibbutzim homes virtually destroyed near the Gaza envelope and the north on the verge of attack from Hezbollah, Israeli civilians are in a constant state of uncertainty. Many live in hotels, sometimes 5-7 people packed in one room, trying to maintain some kind of routine within the chaos of their lives. Moira just wants to return to her beautiful home in Netiv HaAsara—the home she and her husband have created memories for 40-plus years. However, there is no indication when Moira can go home. It may be up to two years before she can live comfortably, with real security on the border. The kind of security that will reassure her that events like Oct. 7 will never happen again. She is angry. She is petrified. At one point she looked at all of us and wondered if anything will ever help her situation or if she will continue to live in this state of fury.  Amos, a father of two teenagers knows his children are traumatized. He wants his family to eventually return to his kibbutz, but his children are not ready to have the conversation. Perhaps they’ll never be ready. He explained that the charm of Israel is feeling safe enough to have your children play on the beach and on playgrounds, knowing that the greater Israeli village will help raise and shepherd your children. Since Oct. 7, the idyllic kibbutz life has shattered. For how does a father force his children to return to a home on the Gaza border, once a place of refuge, now a place associated with nightmares and broken trust? And beyond the emotional ramifications, if evacuees cannot muster the resilience to return to their homes, who pays their rents? Mortgages? A changing economy is something we cannot ignore.

I spoke with my Israeli cousin whose home life has vastly changed in the past 60 days. Her husband is stationed in the north, surveying the situation in Lebanon. She has another son stationed somewhere in the south who is unable to share exact details of where he is and what he is doing. Her daughter gave birth on Oct. 10 and her son-in-law, stationed primarily in Gaza, has seen his newborn daughter three times. A woman of exemplary strength, she implored me to take her story home to the States and remind everyone: the fear Israelis are experiencing isn’t localized to the border with Gaza. Israelis are scared all over the country and need to know they are not alone.

The Israel I witnessed this week may never fully return to the Israel I experienced this summer. However, glimmers of hope encouraged me that Israel will take control of the currently bleak narrative. During our trip we traveled down to Kfar Aza, a kibbutz about a mile away from the Gaza Strip. Nine hundred people lived in Kfar Aza, which is known for its famous kite festival. One family organized the festival and asked neighbors to create kites with messages of peace and love. Each year, they would fly these kites towards Gaza to show their intentions of building bonds and partnerships. The festival was planned for Oct. 7. But this year, sadistically, Hamas terrorists stormed through Kfar Aza, flying through the air on paragliders and driving on land on motorcycles. Fifty-eight members of Kfar Aza were murdered,17 taken hostage and six severely injured. She tearfully shared that the exact family that initiated the efforts of the annual kite festival was found murdered in their beds, their kites in the living room still waiting to be flown. And even through her sharing of this hell, she turned to us and wondered aloud how her Kfar Aza will one day transform back to a place of kite flying, a symbol of peace.

I saw glimmers of hope in our visit to the Shamir Medical Center with leading experts in the brain’s response to hyperbolic chambers. The neuroscientists explained that the brain is capable of tissue regeneration and Israel is exploring what brain growth and repair might look like after experiencing traumatic events. This is an Israel that may feel broken, but this is an Israel that is beyond determined to provide a safe haven of Jewish tradition and innovation. 

But Israel won’t adapt alone. As the Talmud says, “Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh BaZeh—all of Israel is responsible for each other.” While the Talmud may be referring to the Jewish people, this war is impacting all people of faith. This is the moment to expand the phrase to understand that we are responsible for all of humanity. Hamas declared war on all peace-seeking people. Israel is a land of varied religions and cultures. It is home to Muslims, Christians and Jews. On Oct. 7, all human life was targeted. The hostages represented major world religions. Nationalities of the hostages include Thai, Chinese, Russian, French, German and Argentinian.  I call on all leaders of faith and the moral majority that I know exists in the United States to stand together as one interwoven, impenetrable heart. Be vocal and resolute. Call out evil. Stand against Hamas. Our descendants will take note of where we stood, where we spoke out and when we were silent. And our brothers and sisters in Israel are listening.  

Rabbi Nicole Guzik is Senior Rabbi at Sinai Temple. Her vision is to create multiple paths for Jewish engagement and avenues to deepen Jewish identity. Rabbi Guzik focuses on creating innovative women’s programming at Sinai, and as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Rabbi Guzik launched the Sinai Temple Mental Health Center in August 2021 to address the mental and emotional health of the Sinai Temple community and beyond. The Sinai Temple Mental Health Center destigmatizes conversations around mental health and provides opportunities for members to address life’s challenges and obstacles together. With her AMFT, Rabbi Guzik also provides premarital counseling to Sinai Temple members.

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On Dec. 8, Biden traveled to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to announce the new White House initiative on Women’s Health Research, which is aimed at overhauling the country’s approach to funding and conducting women’s health research to find solutions to the most pressing and understudied women’s health issues, Biden said. 

“Research on women’s health has been underfunded for decades, and many conditions that mostly or only affect women … have received limited attention,” Biden said.  “Because of these gaps, we understand far too little about these conditions and how to help the millions of women who struggle with them. And these gaps are even greater for communities that have historically been excluded from research … including women of color and women with disabilities.”      

To close these gaps, the White House has instructed federal health agencies to review their women’s health programs and make policy recommendations to the White House by Dec. 28, Biden said. She added that Dr. Carolyn Mazure, a women’s health researcher at the Yale School of Medicine, is leading the initiative.

Biden announced the initiative during a press conference with Shriver and United States Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, following a tour of Cedars-Sinai facilities including the Barbara Streisand Women’s Heart Center and the Center for Research in Women’s Health Sciences.

Shriver said that disproportionately poor health outcomes amongst women, and especially amongst women of color, are a direct result of decades of women’s exclusion from medical research.

“The President and First Lady understand that we cannot treat women medically if we do not have the answers that only research can provide,” Shriver said. “Answers as to why women make up two-thirds of all Alzheimer’s cases, or two-thirds of the cases of MS or 80% of autoimmune diseases. Answers as to why Black and brown women are two to three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women. The bottom line is that we can’t treat women or prevent them from being sick in the first place if we have not invested in funding the necessary research.” 

According to Becerra, the initiative is part of a pivot across the medical profession toward personalized care for each patient. However, he acknowledged that medical care for women, even when it is tailored to a specific patient, is limited by a lack of research.   

“You can ask the question, ‘OK, I’m going to give you my personal information, and that’s going to really help [guide the treatment]. But what was that basic research here that underlines the treatment you’re going to give me,’” Becerra said. “Who was in the clinical trials that helped you determine what that pill should contain, and how do you know you’ve calibrated it … to fit my needs?” 

Various agencies have already begun compiling recommendations for the White House, and Becerra said the initiative will take a fresh look at issues unique to women, like menopause, as well as issues like cardiovascular disease that impact women differently than men.    

“We intend to deliver on the recommendations … that will show concrete actions that we will take to advance women’s health research,” Becerra said.

In an interview with reporters, Becerra said the research will combat unequal health outcomes for Black and brown women by including a diverse pool of participants. Though he acknowledged that some Black and Brown women might be skeptical of new research, given the history of medical malpractice against those populations, he encouraged “Americans of all stripes” to participate.

“If you don’t, then people like you will have to depend on pills and medicines that are based on people that aren’t like you,” Becerra said. 

While the initiative was not a direct response to the fall of Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court ruling that protected access to abortion, the ensuing restrictions on reproductive health have highlighted the importance of protecting women’s health, Becerra added.  

“What you’re seeing is now this confluence of interests to try to get us to where we should have been a long time ago when it comes to women’s health,” Becerra said.  

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On Nov. 20, Dunner led dozens of protesters in a demonstration in front of the Maybourne Beverly Hills, blasting owner Hamad Bin Jassim, often known as HBJ, for his purported ties to Hamas and urging residents to fight antisemitism by boycotting the hotel.  

In an impassioned speech punctuated by bursts of applause, Dunner said that unlike the rulers of neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf, the Qatari royal family, to which HBJ belongs, continues to support violence against Israel, and he accused Qatar of bankrolling terror while laundering its public image. 

“Every dollar of profit here at the Maybourne Hotel could be going to fund Hamas terrorism, so we will not spend our money in this hotel,” he added. 

Although Dunner acknowledged that HBJ hadn’t served as Prime Minister since 2013, he claimed that HBJ’s high rank in the royal family still implicates him in Qatar’s dealings with Hamas.  

“The father of the [current prime minister of Qatar] owns this hotel,” Dunner said. “Don’t you think he could call … and say to him, ‘Make sure the hostages are released.”  

Representatives from the Maybourne Beverly Hills declined to comment, and representatives from the Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Los Angeles, located on Rodeo Drive, did not respond to requests for comment. 

Dunner was joined by Beverly Hills City Councilmember John Mirisch, who called on the council to investigate all Qatari interests in the city and push for the consulate to be removed from its current location. 

“They’re directly responsible for funding Hamas and they’re bad actors and they need to follow the course of [the Bahrani leaders] … and make peace with Israel and become responsible civil actors within the Middle East to try and achieve lasting peace, ” Mirisch said.   

Dunner said that Qatar’s role in negotiating the release of Israeli hostages does not exonerate the royal family from its backing of Hamas. Paraphrasing an article in the Wall Street Journal, Dunner compared Qatar to “an arsonist that starts a fire, and then puts it out and wants a pat on the head and a thank you for putting out the fire.” 

Not all members of the Jewish community support Dunner’s stance against the Maybourne. Yossi Cunin, Rabbi of the Beverly Hills Jewish Community Synagogue, said the Maybourne has always supported Jewish life, including his own congregation.    

When his congregation had overflow attendance for this year’s High Holy Days, the Maybourne hosted the services for free, and he has recently begun leading weekly Shabbats there, Cunin said. He added that at his suggestion, the hotel has recently installed a menorah in front of the property. 

“If you drive by the Maybourne hotel, proudly is displayed … a menorah,” Cunin said. 

Guided by his rabbinical teachings, Cunin does not want to bring negative attention to a place that has done such good for the Jewish community, he added. 

“Everything and every place … in this world has something negative about it,” Cunin said. “As a Chabad rabbi, we’re here to focus and magnify the positive bright spots that … in people and the community.”  

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Heroes, according to a familiar adage, are ordinary people faced with extraordinary circumstances. An apt description—at first glance—for the individuals who addressed a select audience at the Beverly Hills Municipal Gallery on Nov. 13. But as their presentation unfolded, it became clear that none of them was ever ordinary. Each was destined to bear witness to the events of Oct. 7 that changed their life’s trajectory, leaving loved ones killed and taken hostage.

“It’s unimaginable that we could be here tonight at this moment in time,” said Mayor Dr. Julian Gold in his welcoming remarks. We all want to do something. What can we do? And so tonight is very much a part of what we can do because what we can do is hear their stories and we can become the messengers for their stories.”

Those stories are familiar in their broad strokes, as details began to emerge over one month ago of the worst tragedy to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

“We never imagined arriving at day 36 of this tragedy,” said actress and activist Noa Zahavi, a representative of the hostage families in the United States who is working with the group U.S. Forum for Israel. Zahavi helped bring the speakers from Israel to Beverly Hills for the Nov. 13 event, recognizing the inherent power and influence of the city.

In a hushed Municipal Gallery, and later at a private meeting with the Courier, personal stories of unspeakable tragedy unfolded with steely resolve, dignity and remarkable grace. A month of grief had settled on each speaker’s face, etched also by the unspoken undercurrent that time is running out for their family members.

One by one, each presenter relayed the personal anguish that will one day be the stuff of history books.

Soft-spoken and wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a photo of his smiling, lookalike son, Nir Shani described his struggle to keep terrorists from breaking the handle to his saferoom door on Oct. 7. A physical therapist by profession, Nir lived at Kibbutz Be’eri, not quite three miles from Gaza.

“One of the terrorists broke the drywall above my ceiling and used a flashlight inside the room to see who was there. I had to hide close to the door so they wouldn’t see me. Then they set a fire and burned the house. I was thinking, ‘Okay, I’m going to die.’ I was texting goodbye notes,” he recounted.

Nir’s ex-wife was sheltering nearby, along with the couple’s son Amit, 16, and their two daughters. Once the attack started, the family kept in touch for a while on WhatsApp. But then Hamas militants dragged Nir’s ex-wife and their children outside and took Amit away in a vehicle. They have not seen or heard from him since.

“When I saw my family that night they were crying and told me Amit was kidnapped. But I felt a relief because I saw my two daughters and my ex-wife and they’re alive, which is a better situation than many others. And when they said he was kidnapped, I heard ‘alive.’ He’s a quiet boy. He’s a sweet boy. He’s demanding little. So, I believe he’s holding on and he’ll be okay eventually,” he said.

Later that evening, Nir implored Courier readers to “do whatever you can to end this nightmare for us. It is non-human. Children shouldn’t be held underground in captivity no matter what. And they should be released and the world should demand that.”

On Oct. 7, Yoni Asher’s wife Doron and their daughters Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2, were visiting Doron’s mother in Nir Oz, a kibbutz only 2 miles from Gaza. Asher, who is in real estate investments, stayed behind at the family’s home in central Israel to work.

“My entire family was kidnapped Oct. 7, 36 days ago. And that is why I’m here today,” Yoni told the Municipal Gallery audience.

When the attack began, Yoni’s wife texted to say they were locked down in a shelter, but then they lost contact. It wasn’t until Hamas released a video a “few nerve-wracking hours later” that Yoni learned the fate of his family.

“I saw on Saturday afternoon my family getting kidnapped in front of my eyes on a video released by Hamas itself, on TikTok. They were attacking the communities, the kibbutz and had GoPros for the horror films,” he told the Courier.

His wife’s mother was killed during the abduction. In the days that followed, Yoni found himself unable to eat or sleep. But he decided that he owed it to his family to care for himself.

“I’m the father. I’m the only man that can represent my family. I’m the only one that can speak out on their behalf. So, I did the bare minimum of eating, the bare minimum of sleeping. And ever since, all I’m doing all morning until night is work and the activity of making them return back home.”

As the days go by, Yoni cannot bring himself to look at photos or videos of his family. “I miss the smell of their hair. I miss the sound of their voice. I am concerned deeply about their mental position, given the fact that they’ve seen their grandmother die in front of their eyes. And I never did so much work and felt so helpless. And that is why I’m here today,” he added.
Since Oct. 7, Yoni has ventured to Germany, to Brussels to speak at the European Union and now to the U.S.

“I know that America and LA are powerful places. And I think that each one of you, now that you’ve heard us, now that you’ve seen us, no one will be able to argue with you because you can say, ‘I spoke with him, I met him.’”

Yoni told the Courier that his level of hope ebbs and flows.

“After 36 long days and long nights, I can’t be more hopeful. I have no time. I don’t know if I can call it maintaining, increasing or decreasing. The emotional state is unbearable. But as a father, the only representative left from my family, it is my obligation to fight.”

 

Powerful and resolute though the two men were in describing their ordeal, it was the youngest member of the contingent, Ela Shani, whose observations were perhaps the most profound.

Introduced by Zahavi as “little sunshine,” Ela was the first to address the audience and the last to speak privately with the Courier. Ebullient, articulate and self-possessed beyond her years, she was captivating in her descriptions of an idyllic life, innocence lost and the moral imperative to help.

Ela is 14 years old, with long brown tresses and emotive big blue eyes.

She began her remarks in the Municipal Gallery with a description of Kibbutz Be’eri as “a wonderful community that is one big family.”

She continued, “We had 1,200 people, but we knew each and every one of them. Our kibbutz is surrounded with beautiful fields and so many beautiful views. It’s a peaceful place where we all live together. We didn’t need anything else and it was perfect.”

Before Oct. 7, Ela said her biggest problems were “math homework or perhaps an argument with a friend.”

Then, she calmly and vividly described the horrors of that day.

“We woke up with shouting of Arabic and sounds of gunshots. I ran into the safe room with my mother, my little brother and a friend of his. We stayed there. But it wasn’t long before someone tried to break into our house. We turned all the lights off and stayed silent,” she recounted.

As the situation worsened and militants overran the kibbutz, teens began to use a group chat to call for help.

“They were begging for help and we couldn’t help. I’m a 14-year-old girl. I was in the same position, locked in the safe room with my family, with terrorists walking around our yard,” Ela relayed.

More anxious moments came when the family got word that their grandparents had been injured but were still alive. In the early evening, an army unit came to move them out. Ela found herself shielding the eyes of her 8-year-old brother so he wouldn’t see “blood and inner body parts” as they left the kibbutz.

“There was obviously no one to cover my eyes, so I saw it,” she said.

Upon leaving the house, shots began to fire in their direction. They ran over pools of blood and bodies on sidewalks.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off the kibbutz,” said Ela. “I saw houses of my close friends on fire knowing they’re still in there and I have nothing to do but keep running.”

Eventually, she and her family made their way to a bus to join others who had been rescued.

“We started hugging each other even if we don’t like each other very much. We were just happy to see who was alive. And then they started telling us who we lost. And I remember one of my brother’s friends, an 8-year-old boy. He ran to us with blood all over his face. He came to my little brother and said, ‘They killed Dad and my little sister.’ And just let me give you this detail. His sister is 10 months old, she’s a baby. And she was shot while her mother was holding her.”

Ela’s trauma didn’t end after she, her mom and brother were taken to safety in Tel Aviv. A few days later, they received word that a cousin had been asked to identify the body of Ela’s father.

“We buried him one day after they identified him because we just couldn’t keep his body unburied. It was in no condition to stay in the fridge. They didn’t tell me exactly what happened to them. They told me that he was shot and he was burned,” she said.

Ela now realizes she is entering a new phase of her life, although she is but a teenager.

“I miss these little things like going to my grandparents to visit them in the house, just drinking lemonade in the yard or going to my Dad’s to drink coffee with him and talk. And now our life will just be taken from us. Nothing is going to come back to how it was.”

When asked by the Courier if she sees herself destined perhaps for a career where she can help others, she sheepishly whispered.

“My teacher said I could be Prime Minister one day.”

For now, she is using her skills to deliver an eloquent plea for the hostages.

“I’m begging you as someone who went through all of this. I can barely cry. I can barely mourn because people still need us to stay strong. People like my cousin and people like little kids who are still there, kids, elderly, babies, everyone…I opened my speech by saying we’re like a big family and we lost 90 people of our family and one of them is my beloved cousin. And we need them back because my dad can’t come back and my friends can’t come back. But they can. And we need them back because they’re holding us together. And each and every one of them is a whole family. Each one of these 241 people is a whole family that can be destroyed if they won’t come back quickly.”

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Survivors of Israel’s Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and family members of those currently held hostage by the militant group, took center stage Nov. 7 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Residents from all parts of the Los Angeles area joined with public officials and community leaders in a show of support one month after the country’s deadliest attack since its founding in 1948.

Hosted by the Israeli American Council (IAC) of Los Angeles, the sold-out event drew a crowd of over 1,800 people. The program, entitled “Stronger Together,” was one of many the IAC and its partners have held nationwide in the wake of the attack.

Though the energy inside the theater was high, it also felt somber. Many attendees wore black. Dozens of tall white candles lined the front of the stage. Blue lights illuminated the lectern. A tall screen played videos and displayed photos of victims and those currently held hostage. As Sigal Erez, a 54-year-old Marina Del Rey resident sat in the packed theater waiting for the event to begin, she said she had been feeling increasingly more helpless. She wished she was in Israel. “The Oct. 7 attacks shocked every part of me. It changed the landscape for Jewish people all over the world,” she told the Courier. “We have to remember though that this isn’t the end. We will bring the hostages home.” 

The event kicked off at around 8 p.m. with a slew of special remarks from speakers who encouraged attendees to remain strong and continue speaking out against a cease-fire until all the hostages are released. “We must never stay silent. We must defeat Hamas and bring our hostages home. It is either us or them,” Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Eran,  told the crowd. “We must fight for the legitimacy of our soldiers and show them support.” 

The event also featured a musical performance by Israeli singer Harel Skaat. Other notable speakers included Elan Carr, the Israeli American Council’s CEO; Andrea Sasse, Germany’s Consul General to Los Angeles and Noa Tishby, an Israeli actress who previously served as Israel’s envoy for combating antisemitism, among others. Later, attendees heard moving testimony from several survivors and family members of those currently held hostage.

The two-hour program was earnest and showed resilience, which largely matched the mood of the crowd. Some attendees said they felt compelled to come to the event to demonstrate unity and resolve amid rising tensions on college campuses and growing antisemitic incidents in neighborhoods across the nation. Other attendees came out because they were eager to show support for Israel in a safe space rather than at local rallies where they feared it could devolve into violence or chaos. They pointed to the death of an elderly Jewish man this week who was killed at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Thousand Oaks after he had fallen backward and struck his head on the ground. 

The crowd inside the theater fell silent when Oct. 7 attack survivors Danielle Sasi and her husband took the stage to detail their harrowing experience. Sasi told attendees that she was at a music festival with family when they heard gunfire. They squeezed themselves into a shelter with a group of 40 other people. One of the bullets struck Sasi’s leg. She called out to her father for help, but there was no answer. He had been killed. Sasi told the crowd she survived because her husband covered her with blood from the bodies around them so that she could remain hidden. 

After the event, Sasi told the Courier this was only the second time she had shared her story with a large crowd. She felt motivated to do so as a way to honor her father. “I find strength by thinking of my dad,” she told the Courier. “I want people who came here tonight to know that together we are one.”  

Ariel Ein-Gal, a 26-year-old Israeli citizen who also survived the Oct. 7 attack, flew to Los Angeles to share his story at the event. Ein-Gal told the audience that what started out as a fun day with friends at a beach near the Gaza border soon turned into a nightmare with gunfire erupting around them. When he spotted a boat heading toward him near the shore, he thought it was a rescue crew. He soon realized they were Hamas militants. Ein-Gal and his friends ran to their cars and started driving. Later, he learned that his best friend was shot and killed while trying to escape. “I didn’t even realize what was happening until they started firing at us,” he told the crowd. “We must turn our grief into action and educate people. We need to stop anti-Jewish hate.” 

Later, families with loved ones currently being held hostage by Hamas shared their stories and pain of being separated from relatives. Eitan Gonen, a father whose 23-year-old daughter, Romi Gonen, has been missing, said it is agonizing not knowing whether his daughter is safe or alive.   

As the evening drew to a close, 35-year-old Farnaz Cohen, an attendee, took some time to reflect on the event. As she waited for her parents to exit the theater, she said she drew inspiration from survivors. She also expressed admiration for the resiliency of loved ones who have family held hostage in Gaza.  “The event was beautiful,” Cohen told the Courier. “It felt melancholy at times, but I’m leaving feeling hopeful.” 

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In response to terrorist group Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel, Wilshire Boulevard Temple (WBT) has provided support to purchase Magen David Adom ambulances for use in Israel.

American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA), which raises funds and awareness for Israel’s nonprofit emergency medical service, expressed gratitude for the gift.

“I am deeply touched by the way Wilshire Boulevard Temple mobilized so quickly and completely to save lives in Israel,” AFMDA CEO Cathy Reed said. “The entire community came together in an astounding show of solidarity and support. Many wounds will be healed, and many lives saved due to this community’s giving spirit.”

WBT is a local and historic synagogue. Over the past several weeks, its congregants have donated amounts large and small to send life-support ambulances to Israel, according to Erinn Alcabes, director of institutional advancement at WBT. The congregation sponsored seven MDA ambulances, along with providing additional funding for ambulance maintenance and medical supplies, she said.

“The funds keep coming in, and we are continuing to send the money to MDA,” Alcabes told the Courier.

As of Nov. 1, the congregation had raised $830,000 for AFMDA—funds “earmarked for seven life-support ambulances,” Rob Rosenthal, chief marketing officer at AFMDA, said.

The organization recently announced it received a record-breaking $44 million matching gift from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Part of the funds provided by WBT will be matched by Bloomberg’s gift, paying for equipment including ballistic vests, blood bags, helmets, defibrillators and tourniquets as well as exam gloves, incubation tubes and hemostatic bandages.

“The needs are great,” said Rosenthal.

“Wilshire Boulevard Temple mobilized its entire congregation,” Dorin Esfahani, AFMDA’s director of major gifts for Greater Los Angeles, told the Courier. “We’ve really seen the community come together. We are truly grateful for the incredible leadership of Wilshire Boulevard Temple and the generosity of its congregants, especially during this difficult time.”

According to AFMDA, which raises funds and awareness for Magen David Adom, more than 435 WBT families and individuals donated over just one week. An initial goal of raising funds for the purchase of two ambulances soon doubled and multiplied further because of matching grant opportunities from Jaime and Andrew Schwartzberg, as well as the Karen and Russell Goldsmith Family Charitable Trust.

As soon as the severity of the crisis in Israel became apparent, synagogue leadership began appealing for contributions.

“There is no greater imperative than saving a life. We, as leaders in the Jewish community, cannot stand idly by. It is incumbent upon all of us to act, however we can,” WBT Senior Rabbi Steve Leder said in a statement. “We are proud of and grateful to our members for funding these lifesaving ambulances and to American Friends of Magen David Adom for delivering them to the skilled paramedics, EMTs, and innocent victims that need them.”

Magen David Adom is Israel’s official representative to the International Red Cross. Each MDA ambulance costs $115,000. The ambulances are manufactured at General Motors facilities in Michigan and outfitted in Indiana. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, authorities have been airlifting the ambulances to Israel.

In the first hours of the war, which was prompted by Hamas’ attack on Israel, MDA EMTs and paramedics responded to nearly 2,400 incidents directly related to the violence. More than 8,000 calls came into MDA’s 101 emergency call centers across Israel.

According to Esfahani, a dozen MDA ambulances have been destroyed or hijacked by Hamas. As a result, Esfahani told the Courier, “Ambulance sponsorships are urgently needed.”

Every day, MDA paramedics are facing rocket attacks from Gaza, Esfahani said.

“They’re still out there, needing supplies and protective equipment,” she said.

Israel is experiencing some of the direst circumstances in its 75-year history. More than 1,400 civilians and soldiers in Israel were killed—and more than 200 kidnapped— after Hamas militants broke through a border wall separating Israel from the Gaza Strip, on Oct. 7. The attack led Israel to declare war on Hamas.

Many synagogues have since stepped up to support Israel. Sinai Temple, a large and influential congregation, is hanging a large banner outside its Westwood campus, visible to those driving east on Wilshire Boulevard toward Beverly Hills. It reads, “Sinai Temple Stands with Israel.” The display has a large QR code that passersby can scan on their phones for more information.

Additionally, in commemoration of the hostages being held by Hamas, the congregation recently sectioned off 17 rows of more than 220 seats in its sanctuary.

In Beverly Hills, meanwhile, there have been at least two recent instances of antisemitic graffiti, with authorities believing they’re connected. Graffiti was discovered on the outside of an apartment building housing Jewish tenants as well as a Holocaust survivor. On the same day, antisemitic graffiti was found in a local alleyway. Beverly Hills police are investigating the incidents as a hate crime.

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When Meir Dunner hung up his Israeli Defense Forces uniform after finishing service a few months ago, he had no clue just how soon he would be putting it back on. But then came Oct. 7 and overnight everything changed.

Now Meir, son of prominent Beverly Hills Rabbi Pini Dunner, is back in active duty and preparing to fight on the front lines.

For his dad, this recent turn of events has evoked a rollercoaster of emotions—stress, fear, heartbreak, horror and pride.

“We knew he was certainly going to be called up because he’s only recently been trained as a combat soldier, so that added a whole new layer of anxiety and distress to an already stressful situation,” said Pini. “I’m very fearful for his safety, but at the same time, we as parents are extremely proud of him for having made this choice.

“We feel that it’s a testament to his incredible character.”

For Meir, who is currently in training for a possible ground invasion, there is one overpowering emotion: anger.

“They (Hamas) murdered so many people, murdered in cold blood. The attack wasn’t against any military, it was against civilians,” he said. “I’m very angry. How could this happen?”

Fear, however, doesn’t factor into the equation. 

“I’ve got too much pride for that,” he said. “I would run head-on to the frontlines. That’s how I feel about this place. It’s worth fighting for.”

Meir originally hails from London but moved to Beverly Hills with his family in 2011 when his father became Rabbi of Beverly Hills Synagogue. After graduating from high school, he decided to forgo the traditional path of spending a year in a yeshiva in Israel and instead enlisted in the IDF. 

During his time in the military Meir developed a fierce love for the country of Israel and its people.

“Words don’t really do this place justice,” he said. “All I can say is if you haven’t been, definitely come and experience it for yourself.”

Though well aware of the dangers of entering combat, Meir jumped at the opportunity to defend the Israeli state and support the IDF. He has also worked with his father to organize a supply drive that has sent droves of warm socks, jackets and other supplies from Beverly Hills to soldiers in Israel.

Pini said he was blown away by the community response to his call for donations noting that Jews, church leaders and gentile residents alike came together to gather supplies.

“What started off as a sort of very local, very parochial drive for a few duffle bags to send to my son’s unit suddenly mushroomed into this huge drive that resulted in hundreds and hundreds of boxes and cases and duffle bags being sent on a cargo plane to Israel,” said Pini. “That’s been very heartwarming.”

Meir said the supplies have been sincerely appreciated in the field, especially by soldiers in colder northern outposts where temperatures drop precipitously at night. 

“It’s freezing in the north at night and these people were asking me ‘Do you have any jackets?’ and the smiles on their faces when we said yes really warmed my heart and made me know I’m making a difference,” said Meir. 

Seeing the enthusiastic local response to the call for donations made Meir feel proud to be part of the Beverly Hills community, he said. 

But while the local community has been a source of solace, both Pini and Meir said they have been frustrated by the broader national response to the war and fearful for the safety of Jews across the world. 

“People are entitled to their views as to what they feel towards there being a Jewish state and there not being a Palestinian state, but the fact that this somehow creates a cause for justification for brutality and terrorism, seems to me completely and utterly inexplicable,” said Pini. “It makes you feel very unsafe.”

In these dark times, the Dunners are turning to family, community and prayer for support.  

Meir said he speaks to his family often and seeks to reassure them with jokes and a positive attitude. Still, nothing can hide the fact that he is in a near-constant state of danger.

“Everyone here is in danger. One second to the next something can just break out,” he said. “I’ve had bullets fly past my head before. It’s not the first thing that really worries me.

“What worries me is how my family will suffer if something happens to me.” 

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It was the Sabbath evening in Beverly Hills and a crowd of observers gathered around a long table with 201 chairs. They sang, they prayed, they lit candles, but nobody sat down.

This is because last Friday, Oct. 20, was a Shabbat unlike any other. It was marked by the heartbreaking knowledge that over 200 Israeli hostages could not celebrate with their families—a tragedy that Chabad in the Hills chose to represent by setting up a Shabbat table with an empty seat for every hostage.

“You can only imagine what horrors they’ve already experienced and what is yet to come for them before they see the daylight,” Chabad in the Hills Rabbi Yossi Cunin told the Courier on Shabbat evening. “Yet we stand here in Beverly Hills and have the privilege to be able to take mind of all those poor souls that are suffering today,” 

“Their loss is felt with the empty chairs.”

This idea for a symbolic empty Shabbat table began in Tel Aviv and has been replicated by several Jewish communities around the world: in Bondi Beach, in Rome, and now in Beverly Hills, where it had a profound impact on the community members who visited. 

The speed with which the table was set up is also a touching testament to the unity of Beverly Hills’ Jewish community in this deeply troubling time. 

“We all (members of the shul) sat around after the morning prayers at 9:30 and pulled it together: who had chairs, who had tables, who had dishes and glasses. By 12:30 in the afternoon it was all set up,” Cunin told the Courier in a phone interview. 

The owner of the Beverly Hills Tower, located at 499 N. Canon Drive, offered a long grassy strip to host the tables and chairs, which were lent free of charge by a rental company that the shul often uses for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. One chabad member offered to print out fliers with a photo of each hostage, while another member volunteered to print out a banner bearing their names. 

The result was a stunning table set, at once heart-rending and warming, that brought tears and solace to the many community members who came by.

“By the time it was done it looked like a piece of artwork that was out there on display,” said Cunin. “It was something that gave honor and dignity to all those who are in pain and suffering.”  

The ceremonial lighting of the Shabbat candles was a particularly poignant moment, which took on a deeper meaning in light of horrifying recent events. 

“We want to be able to bring light on this very holy day of the Sabbath by lighting candles because terrorism brings darkness and our religion teaches us that to overcome darkness, we have to bring in the light,” Councilmember Sharona Nazarian told the Courier on Shabbat. 

“We stand united, we stand together as a community, and we pray that all of the hostages will be returned swiftly back to their homes and their families so that they can sit around the Shabbat table together.”

Cunin echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of bringing in light, love and prayer to fight the forces of terror.

“This is what we need to do to keep our freedoms and show that we will not succumb to the darkness,” he said. “Last week they (Hamas) wanted us to hide as Jews. We’re not hiding.”

While Cunin has attended countless Shabbats over his lifetime, the singing and candle lighting in last week’s ceremony stood alone in its significance and power.

“Singing that tune of welcoming in Shabbat brings us an idea of solace and peace and comfort that goes beyond words, and there was everybody holding the candle singing along and knowing that there is going to be a better and brighter day,” 

“One glimmer of light dispels miles of darkness,” he continued. “The darker it is, the brighter the light shines and that’s where it really counts for us right now.” 

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Mayor Dr. Julian Gold and members of the Beverly Hills City Council joined a massive crowd of demonstrators at Beverly Gardens Park on Oct. 9 in denouncing the deadly surprise offensive in Israel led by the militant group Hamas. The group launched the attack early on Oct. 7 by firing rockets into Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip as well as sending in ground forces.

Soon after the attacks, the city issued a statement of condemnation.

“We are appalled by this act of terrorism by Hamas against the citizens and civilian communities in Israel,” said Gold. “We call on President Biden and Congress to act swiftly in support of Israel. Additionally, we hope all peace-loving nations of the world and the United Nations, will condemn this senseless violence. Our hearts are with the people of Israel as we stand together and support Israel defending itself and condemn this heinous act.”

The statement also noted that the Beverly Hills Police Department has increased security and patrols around Jewish institutions in the city and continues to work closely with law enforcement partners in the region to ensure public safety.

The public was out in full force at the rally. Hundreds lined Santa Monica Boulevard waving the white and blue flag of Israel as they cheered and solicited honks from passing motorists. Among them was Israeli citizen Devorah Lahiany. She was visiting family in the U.S. when she learned her friends were among those who fled from bullets and rockets that rained down on a dance party near the Gaza border over the weekend.

“My friends were killed at the party,” she said before breaking into tears.

The event was the third organized by the Israeli American Council in the wake of the attacks. It drew residents from Beverly Hills and throughout the greater Los Angeles area and was intended as a show of solidarity to promote international support for Israel.

As densely packed demonstrators chanted, sang songs in Hebrew and occasionally stopped traffic, Rabbis from Chabad of Beverly Hills gathered at the edge of the crowds and encouraged men to bind tefillin to their arms and head. Those who agreed closed their eyes in quiet reflection amidst the community’s outcry in response to this weekend’s attacks.

“Israelis will always prevail,” Beverly Hills resident Daniel Aminpour said. “We’ll always stand together, no matter what, no matter where we are in the world. You can never end the Jewish nation. The Holocaust happened once and we’ll never let it happen again.”

Although tragic events were at the center of the gathering, Chabad of Beverly Hills Rabbi Mendel Shusterman said he was encouraged to see such a strong show of support for Israel locally.

“It is beautiful to see such a big turnout from all over Los Angeles county,” Shusterman said. “I’m proud that Beverly Hills hosts every time developments in Israel call for unity with the Jewish people.”

As the demonstration continued well past sundown, blue lights were strung around the palm trees in front of Beverly Hills City Hall in a show of solidarity with Israeli people.

Similar gestures were performed at Los Angeles City Hall and the state Capitol in Sacramento.

“Jews around the world, we are in a state of shock,” Beverly Hills resident and U.S. correspondent for Israeli broadcast services Yigal Ravid told the Courier. “We’ve been in a state of shock for the past three days since this began. It is so important to see the solidarity, the support, the moral help we can get from anywhere, especially the United States.”

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When Felix Lotan, head of Magen David Adom’s disaster preparedness department and a senior paramedic, was leading an Israeli search-and-rescue effort following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Turkey in February—the catastrophic event left more than 50,000 people dead and millions homeless—the mission was clear: save as many people as possible.

In Turkey, “we had pretzels and we had Nature Valley [bars],” Lotan said. “This was our food for the next 48 hours. And we went to look for survivors.”

Lotan was speaking to an intimate crowd of approximately 30 Magen David Adom donors at the Beverly Hills home of Indre and Barak Raviv. Held May 16, the event was organized by American Friends of Magen David Adom, the U.S.-based fundraising arm of the Israel-based organization. The goal was to increase awareness about the work of MDA, Israel’s national emergency medical service and representative to the International Red Cross.

Founded in 1930, 18 years before Israel declared official statehood, Magen David Adom—literally “Red Star of David”—has played a critical, lifesaving role throughout Israel’s history. During the country’s War of Independence, Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulances and blood collection vans provided treatment for soldiers and civilians injured in attacks. In 1950, the Israeli government mandated MDA provide all emergency medical, ambulance and blood services. It is an apolitical group and is not funded by the Israeli government.

The organization, instead, relies on donor support. Historically, American supporters have sponsored the majority of MDA’s emergency vehicle fleet.

“Without philanthropists like you,” Lotan told the crowd gathered in the backyard in Beverly Hills, “MDA could not exist.”

Because there’s nationalized health insurance in Israel, when MDA evacuates someone to a hospital, the organization bills the insurance company. During a normal shift, MDA operates between 350-500 ambulances around Israel.

During the recent Operation Shield and Arrow, a recent exchange of attacks between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip—after several days of rocket attacks, a cease-fire was declared May 13—MDA operated approximately 1,000 ambulances. As rockets rained on Israel, the group continued providing routine emergency response services to the country’s civilian population.

“We needed to continue to provide services to people who had heart attacks, to people who had strokes, to deliver babies,” Lotan said. “In Israel, we deliver a lot of babies. Most of our paramedics are half-midwives, especially those working in the religious areas—they are experts at delivering babies.”

Because the organization is a member of the Red Cross, Lotan said, “we’re not only doing EMS [emergency medical services] things; we’re doing humanitarian things as well.”

Lotan has been involved in several of MDA’s international relief missions, including in Haiti and Nepal, following devastating earthquakes in those regions. Additionally, he was among the Israeli delegation of aid workers dispatched to Texas after Hurricane Harvey. He was also one of the MDA paramedics sent to Moldova, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to support Ukrainian refugees.

A paramedic with MDA for more than 23 years, he characterized the work of MDA as vital to Israel’s existence.

“Magen David Adom is not the second line. It’s the first line,” Lotan said. “IDF will fight outside borders, but our enemies today are aiming inside the borders of Israel.”

Discussing his recent time in Turkey, he said the first rescue mission involved an 11-year-old boy, Arda, who was trapped in his bedroom. The relief workers had to drill small holes in the ceiling and called out to the boy asking if he saw any light from their holes. Eventually they realized he was on his bed. They drilled a hole large enough for him to fall through. He fell right into relief workers’ arms.

Ultimately, the Israeli rescue team extracted 19 people from under the rubble, an unprecedented amount for a foreign delegation. It happened, Lotan said, because of the team’s motivation and willingness to work in conditions that were sub-ideal.

The MDA organization has approximately 30,000 volunteers, contributing more than 1 million combined man-hours per year. Each volunteer is trained in a variety of specialties.

It is not only Jewish people who are volunteering for MDA, Lotan said.

“When you want to see coexistence,” he said, “you see coexistence at MDA.”

Lotan’s appearance at the Beverly Hills home was one of several engagements he had in town. On May 19, he delivered an introduction at an AFMDA emergency response training at the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles offices. He also addressed the Beverly Hills-based synagogue, Nessah, on May 20, and he spoke with Beverly Hills City Council members in a closed session.

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Social turmoil roiling Israel because of controversial judicial reform is causing angst among Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles leadership.

“I think the thing most American Jews do not realize is the depth of this separation, the depth of this discord, how torn apart Israel is over this issue really is more than political in that it is deeply existential about what it means to be a Jew, about what it means to be an Israeli, about what it means to be a Zionist,” Rabbi Noah Farkas, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, said in an interview after returning home from a two-day trip to Israel with other Federation leadership. “It really has uncovered some fault lines in the Israeli community that need to be addressed.”

Those on the Federation mission, held in Jerusalem from March 14-16, included Farkas; Orna Wolens, chair of the board at the LA Federation; and approximately 20 Jewish Federation leaders from Boston, Chicago, Southern Florida, Denver, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. 

“There was a lot of questioning about what it means to be an Israeli, a Zionist, a Jew–what it means to be a democracy. There were a lot of questions,” Wolens shared. “With that being said, as American Jews, we always tread lightly, but this is a moment where we felt we had to go and express our concerns.”

Jewish Federations of North America, an umbrella organization for 150 federations, organized the mission, during which Farkas, Wolens and others met with protestors, business leaders, civic leaders and scholars to discuss the highly polarizing judicial reform being proposed in Israel, one which has prompted protests across the country. 

“We are part of a global Jewish community and what’s happening in Israel is really challenging and troubling, no matter what your political views are,” Farkas told the Courier. 

Mass street protests in Tel Aviv and other cities have been taking place since early-2023, galvanizing hundreds of thousands of people from all sectors of Israeli society, including the religious, Modern Orthodox, women, Arabs and the LGBT community. The unprecedented display of opposition is calling out the government of recently elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Netanyahu’s far-right ministers have proposed plans to reform Israel’s judiciary. The effect would, essentially, limit the power of the country’s Supreme Court while giving members of the Israeli Knesset–Israel’s version of parliament–the power to appoint judges and overturn court decisions, thereby eliminating checks and balances between the legislative and judicial branches of the government. 

With emotions running high, Farkas characterized the demonstrations as evidence of a healthy and vibrant democracy. Protestors, he said, have been waving Israeli flags instead of burning them, even selling flags to pay for their organizing efforts. 

Critics of the plan have said the current reform proposal goes too far. Many have embraced a compromise proposal put forth by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, but events inside of Israel are evolving rapidly.

Farkas declined to share what version of compromise the Federation supports, likening the role the Federation plays to a bridge-builder. 

“We went to advocate for compromise,” he said. “What happens in Israel matters to the American-Jewish community.”

His visit to Israel was a whirlwind of activity. 

“I was literally there on the ground for a day,” Farkas said, describing meetings with top-level Israeli officials, the country’s president and civil society activists. 

“The purpose of the mission was to show that Diaspora Jewry cares about Israel, express our concerns about the ramifications of the judicial reform process and to advocate for compromise,” Wolens said.

Asked if they tried meeting with Netanyahu during their brief visit, “I’m not going to speak to that,” Farkas said. “We tried meeting with as many people as we could.”

Having returned from the trip, the Federation leadership is now attempting to inform the community about events in Israel. This effort includes organizing a three-part webinar series. The first discussion was held March 22, featuring two of Israel’s leading tech titans and social activists.

“The whole purpose of these webinars is to teach people, connect them to what’s happening in Israel on all sides of the issue,” Farkas said. “We just think LA Jews, the LA Jewish community, and I suppose the Angeleno community writ large, before they make assumptions about what’s happening, they should hear from people directly.”

Rabbi Michal Morris Camille is a “sabra”–a Jewish person born in Israel–and she’s distraught over what’s happening there.

“This isn’t about partisanship,” she said. “This is about the future of Israel’s
democracy.” 

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LAPD said, “the facts of the case led to this crime being investigated as a hate crime.” According to the Los Angeles Times, the suspect “has a history of animus toward the Jewish community.”

Los Angeles police, working collaboratively with federal and regional partners, arrested the suspect without incident in Riverside County. He was taken into custody around 5:45 p.m. Officers discovered several items of evidence, including a rifle and a handgun.

LAPD described the investigation as ongoing.

Several Jewish groups praised law enforcement for their work identifying and apprehending the suspect.

“The arrest of the person accused of shooting two Jewish men in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood in 24 hours gives a sigh of relief to L.A.’s Jewish community,” Anti-Defamation League Regional Director Jeffrey Abrams said. “We are aware that the case is being investigated as a hate crime and look forward to learning more about a possibly hate-driven motive.”

This is a developing story which will be updated as the facts unfold.

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The new infections increased the county’s overall total from throughout the pandemic to 3,677,849. The daily case numbers released by the county’s Department of Public Health on Feb. 2 are undercounts of actual virus activity, due to people who use at-home tests and don’t report the results, and others who don’t test at all.County health officials also reported 13 new COVID-related deaths, raising the death toll to 35,294. According to state figures, there were 747 COVID-positive patients hospitalized in the county as of Feb. 1, up from 705 a day earlier. Of those patients, 80 were being treated in intensive care units, up from 72 on Jan. 31.

The seven-day average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus in the county was 5.9% as of Feb. 1, up slightly from a revised 5.5% the previous day.

With the county now in the “low” virus-activity level, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wearing masks indoors is now a matter of personal preference. Masks are still required indoors at health-care and congregate-care facilities in the county, and for anyone exposed to the virus in the past 10 days, and at businesses where they are required by the owner. Masks are strongly recommended for high-risk individuals, and for people riding public transit.

City News Service 

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In a unanimous vote, Bosse was selected as the sole recipient of the organization’s 2023 Woman of the Year “Shamsi Hekmat Award.” The voting committee described her as a “passionate advocate for public safety and a strong supporter of women’s rights, human rights, inclusivity and abolishing antisemitism and hatred of any kind.”

Bosse will be honored at a gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on March 5 .

“It really takes my breath away and it’s very overwhelming and, in many ways, very hard to describe in words,” Bosse told the Courier, describing her reaction to the award. “This organization and these women are the pioneers and are the trailblazers that have carved the path for women like me to be where I am today.”

The Iranian Jewish Women’s organization has a 75-year history fighting for women’s rights and against antisemitism. It was founded in Tehran in 1947 and resumed activities in Los Angeles in 1976, where many Iranian Jews fled due to persecution and political instability.  

Bosse, while not being Iranian herself, sees many similarities between the women of the organization and her own family, who survived the Holocaust and fled to America.

“I see a lot of my mother in these women because my mother was an immigrant as well and was a wonderful role model to me,” said Bosse. 

Bosse attributes her passion for fighting antisemitism and injustice to her family history. 

“My mother was a survivor of Auschwitz and every day of her life, literally until her last breath, told me to never give up,” said Bosse. 

When news broke of the killing of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Iranian government Bosse did not wait to take action. 

She, alongside the City Council, immediately adopted a resolution calling on the federal government to increase sanctions against the Iranian regime and for the United Nations to expel Iran from its Women’s Rights Commission.

Bosse has insisted that City Hall remain lit up with the worlds “Justice for Mahsa Amini” to this day. 

“To me justice for Mahsa Amini is more than that,” said Bosse. “It’s justice for human rights, it’s justice for women’s rights, it’s justice for everybody whose freedom is being taken away.”

Bosse also participated in multiple marches alongside prominent Iranian and Women’s Rights activists, including a rally in Beverly Hills. 

“Taking part in these rallies and these marches have been very powerful to me, because there’s a sense of connection and of community and a shared feeling that we can together create change,” she said.

The organization is also recognizing Bosse for her efforts to fight antisemitism in Beverly Hills and beyond. Recently she traveled all the way to Athens, Greece to speak at the Antisemitism Summit and has also appeared on Dr. Phil to talk about the importance of fighting antisemitic bigotry. 

Her award will be granted at a luncheon in celebration of International Women’s Month, Nowruz and Purim. Three 2020 award recipients will also be honored. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit IJWO.org. 

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According to a report by the BBC, Sands has spoken of his love of hiking and mountain climbing. “When asked in 2020 what made him happy, he replied: ‘Close to a mountain summit on a glorious cold morning,’ said the report.

This is a developing story.  

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Earlier in the day, Priscilla Presley confirmed on her Facebook page that her daughter had been rushed to a hospital. Within two hours, more than 12,000 comments from around the globe and prayers for Lisa Marie’s recovery had been logged on the page.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department told City News Service that crews responded at 10:37 a.m. to a home in the 5000 block of Normandy Drive on a report of a woman in her mid-50s suffering a cardiac arrest. The patient was taken to a hospital at 11:17 a.m. in unknown condition.

The news site TMZ, which broke the story, reported that paramedics were able to regain a pulse while working on Presley at her home, prior to taking her to a hospital. Citing sources close to the family, TMZ reported that a housekeeper found Lisa Marie Presley in her bedroom at the home she was sharing with her ex- husband, Danny Keough. According to TMZ, Keough returned home at about the same time and administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

Presley is survived by three children, including actress Riley Keough. Her son, Benjamin Keough, took his own life at the age of 27 in 2020.

With City News Service

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Earlier in the week, Public Health officials estimated that roughly 40% of patients with the virus were admitted to the hospital for COVID-related conditions, with many only learning they were infected when testing upon admission. After a spike in November, COVID-related hospital admission rates declined enough this month for the county to move out of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “high” COVID activity category to “medium.”

Last week, county health officials warned that “death rates…continue to climb in Los Angeles County, especially among older people.” On Dec. 29, the county reported 25 new virus-related deaths, up from 21 the previous day. Those numbers raise the overall death toll to 34,643. As of Dec. 29, the seven-day average daily rate of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 15.6%, up from 11.7% the previous week.

Health officials have urged residents to be cautious during the holiday season and “layer” protections like wearing a mask indoors to reduce the risk of transmission. While there is no mask mandate, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer advised the public to start wearing them given the high rate of transmission. Face coverings are still required indoors at healthcare and congregate-care facilities, at businesses where they are required by the owner, and for anyone exposed to the virus in the past 10 days.  

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Amini died in police custody in Iran on Sept. 16 after the Iranian morality police allegedly arrested her for wearing her headscarf too loosely, violating the country’s strict Islamic laws. Iranian authorities said Amini died of heart failure, which her family has denied. 

Over 200 people have died and hundreds more have been injured in protests in Iran which have drawn tens of thousands of people and lasted for several weeks, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Here at home, a protest in downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 1 attended by Mayor Lili Bosse drew several thousand people. Bosse and the entire City Council also came to support the Nov. 3 rally. 

“In a true republic, the power rests with the people,” Councilmember John Mirisch told the crowd. “Iran is not a true democracy, and it isn’t a republic either, in any meaningful sense of the word. Iran is a brutal dictatorship.”

The protest march began on the steps of City Hall, where several speakers energized the crowd before they marched from Santa Monica Boulevard to the heart of Rodeo Drive. The 400 block of Crescent Drive was closed for several hours during the rally with the help of BHPD. 

“We just stand with the people of Iran, and the women of Iran” actress Yasmine Aker said to the crowd. “Just as women in Iran are fighting for their lives to choose, women in America are fighting for the freedom to choose.”

The Beverly Hills event was organized by a patchwork contingency of activists, families, and young Iranians who share a common goal: to inform the Western world of their country’s struggle and encourage people to get involved.  At the helm of the organizers were Camyar Meshkaty and his mother Nooshin, who immigrated to Beverly Hills from Iran with her husband in high school. Nooshin is the former president of the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education and former chair of the Traffic and Parking Commission.

Nearly 70 people, including college students and community members from all over Los Angeles, volunteered at the rally.

Camyar believes that the rallies are a way to send a message and build a local community.

“There needs to be unity,” Camyar said. “We as Iranians know what’s happening. Without support from people who aren’t Iranians, nothing will change.”

Nooshin was enormously proud of her son’s work and optimistic that it would help raise awareness.

“Just because something is happening on the other side of the world, that doesn’t mean it’s too far away from us,” Nooshin said. “As we marched through the streets, we had visitors and tourists that were stopping us and asking us questions.”

The Beverly Hills City Council has expressed unwavering support for the protests in Iran.

On Oct. 11, the Council passed a resolution condemning the actions of the Iranian government and imploring the United Nations and Iran’s allies to act. The City Hall building has been illuminated with the words “Justice for Mahsa Amini” since Sept. 29.

When the march was over, the crowd returned to City Hall, where members of the City Council as well as Iranian entertainers and leaders such as Max Amini and Tara Grammy gave passionate speeches and implored higher levels of government to intervene.

“43 years of terror, torture, and lies,” Emmy Award winner and Academy Award-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo told the crowd. “43 years living under a religious tyranny that was forced onto us in 1978.”

“There was such a sense of emotion I felt as we were marching through the streets of Beverly Hills,” Bosse told the crowd. “We are with you. We are united. We need everyone across the world to learn from what we did here today.”

The Los Angeles and West Hollywood City Hall buildings were also illuminated in red, green, and white – the colors of the Iranian flag – in October. Hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil in West Hollywood hosted by the Iranian American Women Foundation.

Councilmember Sharona Nazarian, the first woman of Iranian descent to be elected to the Council, told the Courier that the event was an extraordinary reminder of the power community holds in difficult moments.

“It was amazing to see so many different people from around the community coming together,” Councilmember Nazarian said. “We are all made of the same cloth.”

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Tragically, our sympathetic nervous systems, responsible for our “fight or flight” responses, are once again in overdrive. We are consuming extremely alarming news, and our bodies are secreting high levels of cortisol. Cortisol causes us to hyper-focus and makes it harder to look away. It seems that wherever you go, people are talking about the crisis in the Ukraine. It is hard to think about much else and for some it is even hard to sleep. 

Our “fight or flight” response has a third biologically determined option, and that is to freeze. And that is exactly what we were told to do two years ago, and we did it remarkably well.  It is only now that we are returning to our usual movement patterns, and this is a particularly tough time to be sent back into crisis mode. We call this compounded crisis, and it requires extra care to manage. Today we are watching as millions of Ukrainians and their neighbors are having to decide between fighting or fleeing. 

But what do we do here in Beverly Hills? Fight, flight or freeze are the primitive solutions that don’t fit our current highly complex reality to this crisis unfolding thousands of miles away. Our brains and bodies are distressed. It is natural to be agitated, anxious, preoccupied, angry and depressed. But try not to get stuck in these emotions. Use the skills you have learned and practiced the last two years and be resilient. Activate your frontal lobe and think about how you can be part of the solution. Two years ago, I said we need to learn to stay calm even in the face of danger, and I urge you to once again follow this advice.

Don’t neglect self-care. This is a crisis like the last one that will drag on in time. We must be strong to continue to think logically and to aid those suffering in ways that are meaningful. Remember that many of us wield considerable power each in our own way. It is important to step up to the plate in this moment of history. Try not give in to compassion fatigue. Many of us have been raised on the words “Never Again.” Now is a defining moment and each of us must carefully choose how to respond. 

I urge you to reflect on the list below and take actions that help you feel empowered and not hopeless in the face of continued adversity. 

1. Donate. The list of organizations providing aid is long. Do your research using CharityNavigator or GuidesStar and select one or several non-profits to support. Consider making a recurring donation. It is a good time to reflect on your priorities and make sure your donations coincide with them. (For a list of reputable charities, see pg. 13).

2. Write to your elected representatives. Express your thoughts in a clear and coherent way. We are so fortunate to live in a democracy where our voices do matter. 

3. Attend peaceful protests. People around the world and even inside Russia are taking to the streets to show their support of people in Ukraine and democracy in general. It is reassuring to see our county and the world so united especially following the last two years of escalated divisiveness. 

4. Support local Ukrainian journalism by sending money and reading and listening to their reports. 

5. Find a local organization and volunteer your services in person. Helping others activates our parasympathetic nervous system and combats stress. It is called “tend and befriend” and we see it activated after any trauma, especially natural disasters.  

6. Stay informed. Get your news from reliable sources and make sure to vary them. During the pandemic, I decided to stop listening to or reading news after dark, and I am continuing to implement this practice. The images are quite disturbing, and you must find the right balance to stay informed but not overwhelm your nervous system.

7. Learn about the region and its history. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

8. Consult your financial planner and make sure you and your family are protected in times of global uncertainty.  

9. Decrease your consumption of fossil fuel. We all did this in 2020, and we can do it again. Consider driving an electric car if you don’t already do so.

10. Support Ukrainian people in your neighborhood. They are under particular stress. Neighboring countries such as Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia are also under extreme pressure. Reach out to friends in Beverly Hills who are from these regions and ask how you can help. 

11. Avoid attacking Russians in the US. They are not at fault and should not be blamed for atrocities in their home country. We witnessed Asian hate crime increase in the US during the pandemic, and we must avoid this type of paranoia. As a recent post on Instagram stated, “The Russian grandmother who runs the restaurant in your neighborhood did not invade Ukraine.”

12. Support all your friends, family and our community. We are all feeling the pain of this crisis and again facing uncertainty about our future. Lend a helping hand to anyone in need.  Remember you are helping yourself in the process.  

13. Last and not least, put the oxygen mask on yourself.  Work on getting enough sleep, eating properly, exercising and engaging in activities that help you decrease stress such as yoga and meditation and avoiding toxins like junk food, marijuana and alcohol.

This is a time to be strong, resilient and compassionate.  Once again, we must strive to learn and grow from trauma.  

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Beverly Hills Courier columnist Dr. Eva Ritvo is a psychiatrist with 30 years of experience who practices in Miami Beach. She is the author of “Bekindr-The Transformative Power of Kindness” and the Co-Founder of the Bold Beauty Project. Dr. Ritvo received her undergraduate and medical degrees from UCLA and psychiatry residency training at Weill Cornell Medicine. 

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Members of the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and the FBI attended, alongside faith leaders from Jewish, Muslim, Christian and other faith communities. 

BHPD Chief of Police Mark Stainbrook spoke during the conference, saying that partnerships with the faith communities and the community at large is a key tool in the department’s efforts to combat hate crime. 

“This week we had our community relations sergeant really get out and go to the different synagogues to meet with people and make sure they were just mentally ok,” Stainbrook told the Courier during the conference. 

Leadership from LAPD and FBI also spoke in favor of increasing security by building bridges between police and the community. 

Now considered an act of terror by authorities, a man with a gun held four people hostage at Congregation Beth Israel near Fort Worth for more than 10 hours last week before an FBI SWAT team entered the building. All hostages got out safely. The attacker, British-national Malik Faisal Akram, was shot and killed by law enforcement. 

For their part, the BHPD responded when news of the Texas attack reached them. Stainbrook told the courier they put extra patrol units at Jewish religious sites in the city, and detectives were monitoring intelligence from the FBI and elsewhere as the standoff ensued, looking for any potential local connections.  

“I was pretty comfortable with our response, and it was rapid,” Stainbrook said. 

Related Story: Flyers Highlight Growing Antisemitism in Modern Conspiracies

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Poitier died Jan. 6 at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy that transcended his achievements. News of his death sparked tributes from around the world, praising a life lived with elegance, humility and kindness. 

 An icon to the world, Poitier was a revered member of the Beverly Hills community. 

Vice Mayor Lili Bosse spoke to the Courier about her long friendship with Poitier, who installed her as Mayor and Vice Mayor of the city. “I was so blessed he installed me as Mayor in a very important time in our city’s history. It was our centennial year, 2014, and the inaugural year for The Wallis. So, it was especially incredible to have this amazing trailblazer there. He was a resident of Beverly Hills. He would go himself to the market. He would walk the streets. He was so humble and approachable and so many people have said to me that when they met him, they felt embraced by his kindness. When we would go out together as families, not a moment would go by that someone wouldn’t stop him, apologizing for interrupting. He never once said no to a photo or an autograph. He would say it was his pleasure,” Bosse told the Courier.

Born in Miami and raised in the Bahamas, Poitier won the best actor Academy Award for “Lilies of the Field” in 1963. He was the first Black man to earn that honor, leading the way for the generations succeeding him.

It was a trio of roles in 1967 that firmly established him as a legend: Mark Thackeray in “To Sir With Love,” Detective Virgil Tibbs in “In the Heat of the Night” and as John Prentice, a man engaged to a white woman, in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

In a statement, President Biden said Poitier’s performances “held a mirror up to America’s racial attitudes in the 1950s and 1960s. With unflinching grandeur and poise – his singular warmth, depth and stature on
screen – Sidney helped open the hearts of millions and changed the way America
saw itself.

“The son of tomato farmers in the Bahamas, Sidney became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for best actor – but the trail he blazed extended leaps and bounds beyond his background or profession. He blazed a path for our nation to follow, and a legacy that touches every part of our society
today,” Biden said.

 Poitier’s films included “No Way Out,” “The Defiant Ones,” “Blackboard Jungle,” “Porgy and Bess,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “A Patch of Blue,” “Edge of the City,” and “Sneakers.”

Poitier made history as a director, as well. “Stir Crazy” starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder in 1980 made him the first Black man behind a film with box office earnings of $100 million dollars. Poitier directed eight other films including “Buck and the Preacher,” “Uptown Saturday Night” and “A Piece of the Action.”

He also received acclaim for his work in television. Poitier portrayed Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in the miniseries “Separate But Equal” and Nelson Mandela in the TV film “Mandela and de Klerk.”

Actor/director Ron Howard called Poitier “one of cinema’s greatest leading men ever.” “Riveting to watch,” he wrote.  “Also, an excellent director and from the couple of times I had the honor of meeting him, an extraordinarily intelligent and gracious man. Watch a Poitier movie or two this week.”

A lifelong civil rights activist, Poitier participated in the 1963 March on Washington. In 2009, he was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

“Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together,” Obama said in a statement. “He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion of fans.” 

Poitier’s family issued a statement after his death, which said:

“To us, Sidney Poitier was not only a brilliant actor, activist and a man of incredible grace and moral fortitude, he was also a devoted and loving husband, a supportive and adoring father and a man who always put family first.

“He is our guiding light who lit up our lives with infinite love and wonder. His smile was healing, his hugs the warmest refuge and his laughter was infectious. We could always turn to him for wisdom and solace and his absence feels like a giant hole in our family and our hearts. Although he is no longer here with us in this realm, his beautiful soul will continue to guide and inspire us. He will live on in us, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren – in every belly laugh, every curious inquiry, every act of compassion and
kindness. His legacy will live on in the world, continuing to inspire not only with his incredible body of work, but even more so with his humanity.”

Poitier had dual citizenship in the United States and the Bahamas. From 1997 to 2007 he served as the Bahamian ambassador to Japan. 

Next week, Beverly Hills will honor Poitier as one of its own. 

“I have to tell you I’ve never met a human being like him. The way he was as a person gave me faith in humanity, in humility, in kindness. He was a true gentleman and he had so much integrity,” said Bosse.

“I just hope now as the world is facing challenging times, we think of Sidney Poitier and how he lived,” she added. 

Poitier is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joanna, five daughters, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A sixth daughter, Gina, died in 2018.

Bosse is arranging for the proclamation and key to the city to be personally delivered to Poitier’s family. 

City News Service reporting contributed to this story. 

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Tributes from around the world have filled social media in the last 24 hours, praising a life lived with elegance, humility and kindness.

Vice Mayor Lili Bosse knew Poitier as a close family friend who installed her as Mayor and Vice Mayor of Beverly Hills.

“I have to tell you I’ve never met a human being like him. The way he was as a person gave me faith in humanity, in humility, in kindness. He was a true gentleman and he had so much integrity. When we would go out together as families, not a moment would go by that someone wouldn’t stop him, apologizing for interrupting. He never once said no to a photo or an autograph, he would say it was his pleasure,” Bosse told the Courier.

In a statement issued late Friday, Poitier’s family said:

“There are no words to convey the deep sense of loss and sadness we are feeling right now. We are so grateful he was able to spend his last day surrounded by his family and friends. To us, Sidney Poitier was not only a brilliant actor, activist and a man of incredible grace and moral fortitude, he was also a devoted and loving?husband, a supportive and adoring father and a man who always put family first.

“He is our guiding light who lit up our lives with infinite love and wonder. His smile was healing, his hugs the warmest refuge and his laughter was infectious. We could always turn to him for wisdom and solace and his absence feels like a giant hole in our family and our hearts. Although he is no longer here with us in this realm, his beautiful soul will continue to guide and inspire us. He will live on in us, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren –  in every belly laugh, every curious inquiry, every act of compassion and?kindness. His legacy will live on in the world, continuing to inspire not only with his incredible body of work, but even more so with his humanity.”

No information was released on the cause of death, but Poitier had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993.

Born in Miami and raised in the Bahamas, Poitier won the best actor Academy Award for “Lilies of the Field” in 1963. He was the first Black man to earn that honor, leading the way for the generations succeeding him.

It was a trio of roles in 1967 that firmly established him as a legend: Mark Thackeray in “To Sir With Love,” Detective Virgil Tibbs in “In the Heat of the Night” and as John Prentice, a man engaged to a white woman, in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

In a statement, President Biden said Poitier’s performances “held a mirror up to America’s racial attitudes in the 1950s and 1960s. With unflinching grandeur and poise – his singular warmth, depth and stature on
screen – Sidney helped open the hearts of millions and changed the way America
saw itself.

“The son of tomato farmers in the Bahamas, Sidney became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for best actor – but the trail he blazed extended leaps and bounds beyond his background or profession. He blazed a path for our nation to follow, and a legacy that touches every part of our society
today,” Biden said.

 Poitier’s films included “No Way Out,” “The Defiant Ones,” “Blackboard Jungle,” “Porgy and Bess,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “A Patch of Blue,” “Edge of the City,” and “Sneakers.”

Poitier made history as a director, as well. “Stir Crazy” starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder in 1980 made him the first Black behind a film with box office earnings of $100 million dollars. Poitier directed eight other films including “Buck and the Preacher,” “Uptown Saturday Night” and  “A Piece of the Action.”

He also received acclaim for his work in television. Poitier portrayed Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in the miniseries “Separate But Equal” and Nelson Mandela in the TV film “Mandela and de Klerk.”

Actor/director Ron Howard called Poitier “one of cinema’s greatest leading men ever.”

“Riveting to watch,” he wrote.  “Also an excellent director and from the couple of times I had the honor of meeting him, an extraordinarily intelligent and gracious man. Watch a Poitier movie or two this week.”

A lifelong civil rights activist, Poitier participated in the 1963 March on Washington. In 2009, he was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

“Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together,” Obama said in a statement Friday. “He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion
of fans.”

From 1997 to 2007, Poitier who had dual citizenship in the United States and the Bahamas served as the Bahamian ambassador to Japan. It was the Bahamian Foreign Ministry that announced his death.

Poitier is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joanna, five daughters, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A sixth daughter, Gina, died in 2018.

Bosse told the Courier that she has requested that a proclamation be issued in Poitier’s honor.

This is a developing story that will be updated. 
City News Service reporting contributed to this story.

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“Hi Lisa!”  I turn to Jeanie Buss, smiling, warm and welcoming.  It’s a personal greeting, not by an assistant, but the owner herself of arguably the greatest franchise in NBA history, today valued at $4.6 billion.  She moves my attention to the nearby commanding golden door, the majestic gateway all Lakers pass through every day.  I begin to imagine the past and future “greats” on their way into the Laker
training sanctuary, as Jeanie leads me up the imposing staircase to the executive offices. 

Just outside her suite, the championship rings are displayed in a glass-encased shrine. Jeanie explains the winning story behind each uniquely designed ring. I can sense her humble pride and the fond memories they elicit. On the wall hangs a painting, by Megan Moore, depicting seven Laker superstars, commissioned by Phil Jackson for the team. Jeanie shares, “These were the guys, the core team that won 2000, 2001, 2002. It’s kind of like basketball paradise.”  

Turning the corner, past sweet Delores, a teacup Maltese in her mini daybed, Jeanie guides me into her office. I gasp at the sight of the royal Laker procession. Eleven exquisite gold Tiffany trophies are perfectly placed on the credenza, the stunning basketball facility, their backdrop beneath. Jeanie offers, “Hear the beat of the balls bouncing? (Of course, I could.) It’s the heartbeat of the center.”

The Los Angeles Lakers had won 16 titles, 10 of which under the leadership of Dr. Jerry Buss. Given the franchise’s championship culture, one may have thought success would come easily in the next era. 

But after her father’s passing, the Lakers’ winning record disappeared. Jeanie knew she had to make tough decisions to win the Lakers’ place back atop the mantle. Courageously, as President, she released her brother, head of basketball operations, and restored the Laker dynasty to its former glory, after a decade of absence.

Earning the most recent trophy, awarded in 2020, Jeanie led the Lakers to their 17th Championship, tying for the most ever won by one team in the NBA. 

Jeanie is more than an owner; she is now the driving force behind this legendary sports franchise, and she is leading in her own style. 

CEO World Magazine lists Jeanie Buss in the “top 10 most powerful women in the business of sports.” Adam Silver, the Commissioner of the NBA, calls Jeanie “NBA royalty” and tells the Courier, “She has been an influential and respected voice in our league for decades.” 

As the first female controlling owner and President to win an NBA championship, Jeanie Buss holds the sceptre as the Queen of the Court.

Jeanie Marie was born September 26, 1961, the third of four children of Dr. Jerry and JoAnn Buss. Challenged as a young girl by the heartbreaking divorce of her parents, Jeanie found sports to be a welcome pastime. As Jerry was building his lucrative real estate business while owning and running the Los Angeles Strings, he didn’t have much time for his eldest daughter. Still, he invited her, beginning at age 14, to attend many World Team Tennis meetings. In high school, Jeanie played girls basketball at Pacific Palisades High School and was the official scorekeeper for the high school boys basketball team.

Bouncing from one home to another, she entered another type of competition, the Miss USA program. Jeanie finished as a finalist in the Miss Beverly Hills Pageant and won the crown in the Miss Palisades Pageant. Upon her acceptance to USC, she decided to move full time into her father’s new home, the renowned Pickfair estate in Beverly Hills. It was 1980, the year after Dr. Buss bought the Lakers and the Great Western Forum.

Within the first months of living with her dad, Magic Johnson appeared at Jeanie’s front door to begin his career as a Laker. He was 19, and Jeanie was 17. In what was Magic’s, Jerry’s, and Jeanie’s rookie year, the Buss family won their first championship, in 1980, thanks in part to fellow teammate veteran Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. With the thrill of this first victory, the absolute desire to win was forever cemented.

Under her father’s tutelage, Jeanie grew more fascinated with sports. At age 19, Jerry offered her a job, while still in college, as General Manager of the Strings. He also introduced Jeanie to a young woman he was impressed with, Linda Zafrani. Forty years later Linda (now) Rambis is the Executive Director of the Lakers and works alongside Jeanie in every aspect of the Lakers’ organization.

After graduating with honors in business, all the while learning by her father’s side, Jeanie was appointed head of the Los Angeles Blades roller hockey team and named “Executive of the Year” by the league. Impressed with her abilities, Dr. Buss increased her role. He named her President of the Forum, while upping her responsibilities in the Laker organization including serving as the Alternate Governor on the NBA Board of Governors. In 1999, she was named Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Lakers, and eventually, Vice President of the Lakers. At the same time David Stern, the Commissioner of the NBA, assumed Jeanie would run the Los Angeles WNBA team. But Dr. Buss corrected him and said Jeanie is going to run the Lakers one day.  

During her meteoric rise, Jeanie was always guided by what felt right to her. A large picture of Jeanie as a little girl hangs on the wall behind her desk. She says that it honors the little girl in her heart and is meant to remind her not to lose that spirit in a world that can be crushing.
“Little Jeanie inspires me to be strong, to remind me of who I am at the core.” Always having a mind of her own, she appeared in Playboy after her only marriage ended in 1995. She began to receive more press attention when she was highlighted in a Sports Illustrated article about the Buss family headlined “She’s Got Balls.” Shortly after, Phil Jackson, of the Chicago Bulls dynasty, arrived to coach the Lakers. Jeanie began dating him, which turned into an engagement. The high-profile Los Angeles relationship ended after 16 celebrated years.

Following her father’s passing in 2013, the Laker’s ownership was placed into a trust with the beneficiaries including Jeanie, her two older brothers, her younger sister, and her two half-brothers. Jeanie became team President and the representative for the Lakers on the NBA Board of Governors while continuing to oversee the business and basketball sides of the Lakers. Her brother, Jim, became Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. 

But after three straight years of the Lakers missing playoffs, when Dr. Buss only missed the playoffs twice in 32 years, Jeanie knew she had to make changes.

“Pressure is a Privilege” says Billie Jean King, Jeanie’s dear friend. In 2017, Jeanie did not fold. Instead, she created a partnership with UCLA Health and led the building of one of the finest training facilities in the NBA. She fired her brother as head of basketball, and a nasty fight ensued in the courts and on the world stage. But Jeanie prevailed, saying she did not attain new power. She exercised the power that she had, and the judge agreed.

Jeanie asked Magic Johnson to come back to steady the ship, and the two welcomed Rob Pelinka, Kobe Bryant’s lifelong basketball manager. Together they enticed “game changer” LeBron James and reshuffled the coaching staff. Quickly it became clear the Lakers were back on their path toward greatness.

But Jeanie could not have predicted what was to come.

In 2019, less than a year after he was greatly responsible for signing LeBron James, Magic resigned, telling the press before he talked to Jeanie. Later he said, “If I talked to her first, I would have never stepped down.” Then Jeanie’s mother passed. David Stern, her close confidant and mentor, suddenly collapsed and later died. And little did she know, she was approaching one of the worst tragedies in NBA history.

One month later, Kobe was killed in a helicopter crash with his daughter, Gianna, devastating all of Laker Nation and the world. As a warrior and leader, Jeanie pushed forward, even in the face of the impending doom of the monolithic pandemic. She remained strong, focused and determined, applying the lessons learned from all the great teachers she had along the way.  

Incredibly, in the most emotionally and physically challenging year in NBA history, especially for the Lakers, Jeanie led the Lakers to win the championship title.

Her story has made history. And not just in basketball.

Jeanie is a leader who endorses female empowerment. As co-founder and investor of WOW, Women of Wrestling, Jeanie helps to provide a path for female athletes. Working toward refining leadership as a woman, and encouraging diversity, she dyes her hair rainbow colors in support of Laker Pride Night, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ history month. And this 2021-22 NBA season, Jeanie proudly welcomes Shay Murphy to the Lakers coaching staff, the second female coaching associate in the team’s history.

Having a soft spot for comedy, Jeanie is joining comedy star Mindy Kaling and comedy writing star Elaine Ko, as Executive Producer along with Linda Rambis, for a 10-episode comedy series for Netflix, based on the back office of a female-led NBA team. While Jeanie has said the show is not based on her life, she believes the nearly 40 years of backstage drama that she and Linda experienced will go a long way. It makes sense as Jeanie has dabbled with stand-up comedy and feels humor has helped her deal with her many losses.

Jeanie is also executive producing a nine-part docuseries to be released in 2022 on Hulu. Teaming up with the renowned film director Antoine Fuqua, the series will examine four decades of Laker history, and, in particular, the “Showtime” era told by the organization itself. 

As a business creator, Jeanie is co-founder and co-owner of Cincoro Tequila, a portmanteau of the Spanish words for five and gold. Originating serendipitously one night in 2016, after an NBA owners meeting, five “golden” participants birthed the business idea. The diners included: Jeanie, Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck and his wife Emilia Fazzalari, Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, and Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens. Today the company proudly displays four different expressions of tequila.

During the pandemic, the fight for racial equity intensified. Guided by Jeanie and her Lakers, the Los Angeles community learned how sports can teach the world about hate and inequality while promoting empathy, understanding, and a path toward healing. The mural entitled “Leave a Legacy” by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. on the wall of the Bixby Coffee building in the Mid-City area exemplifies this message with Kobe on top. “In the Paint” is also a Lakers’ program Jeanie is proud of. Its mission is to “support and uplift” BIPOC artists.

Adam Silver tells the Courier, “Jeanie learned from her father what it takes to run a successful NBA franchise. She has built on that knowledge and established her own identity and leadership style. She’s inquisitive and thoughtful in her approach and has surrounded herself with other talented executives.”

As a leader, Jeanie exhibits kindness with everyone she comes in contact with, emphasizing collaboration and inclusivity. She is comfortable taking chances, first consulting the most talented people who surround her, one of the many lessons from her father. And she never loses sight of the fact that the Laker Nation is the heartbeat of what the Lakers stand for.  Everyone comes together under the purple and gold flag. The platform is bigger than any individual, player or coach. 

Within the NBA, Jeanie encourages and supports other teams to do their very best, believing it only makes the league better and more competitive. Commissioner Silver adds, “Jeanie is very active in league matters and is a key member of our Labor Relations and Advisory/Finance Committees. Her perspective is valued by her fellow team owners as well as the players because of her lifetime of NBA experience. She has strong opinions, but she’s also collaborative and understands how to build a consensus.” 

When asked whether she would have been Governor for the Lakers if her father hadn’t owned the team, she answers, “Probably not.” But after five years of running the franchise and leading the Lakers to its first championship title in 10 years, she knows she’s got what it takes. 
“I deserve to be here,” says Jeanie.

An icon in our community, Jeanie has fond memories of receiving the Beverly Hills Courier on her front doorstep in Beverly Hills. Understanding the importance of community connectivity, she has happily honored the Courier with this exclusive and intimate conversation.  

It’s holiday time. And the city shines with festivities and lights. It’s also a time of reflection. Can you share a special Beverly Hills holiday memory?

Is there anything better than Rodeo Drive with holiday lights sparkling overhead? Beverly Hills is so beautiful at holidays. I remember one season; my dad took me to lunch at The Grill on the Alley. And he said, “I want to buy your Christmas present today. We’re going to walk over to Tiffany’s and I want you to pick out something special.” I think he knew what he wanted me to get, one of the key necklaces. But it was really about the idea that we spend the time together and create a lasting memory. It was really such a special day.

On move-in day to Pickfair, you found a surprise tucked away in a closet upstairs.  What was it? And tell us about the powerful female force looking over you? 

My dad bought the Pickfair estate, which was where Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, the first real movie stars of their generation, lived in Beverly Hills. When they met, they were both married to other people. They got very high-profile divorces, unusual in the 1920s. So, they were kind of shunned by the Hollywood establishment. They moved to the outskirts, to Beverly Hills, to an old hunting lodge. Hollywood was where everybody wanted to be, but they weren’t welcomed in Hollywood. 

What treasure did you find?

That first day at Pickfair, I found an Oscar that was Mary Pickford’s.

An Oscar statue? Just collecting dust in the house, and no one knew about it?

Yes. They gave her the honorary Oscar, for Lifetime Achievement in 1976. One of her last appearances on-screen. She passed away in 1979 and the house went into probate. Dad made an offer of what he felt the land was worth and it was accepted. Soon I was studying everything about Mary, and she’s always been an inspiration for me ever since. She started United Artists with Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, DW Griffith, who was the big director, at the time.  She was a woman that was at the forefront of her industry and had a seat at the table. And you know, she was the highest earning star and a brilliant business woman.

And therein lies how she has been your north star.

Yes.  Beverly Hills is a really great chapter in my life.

Soon thereafter, a tall, skinny, young man with a big smile named Magic Johnson showed up at your Beverly Hills front door. You learned a lesson in that first encounter about the power of the Lakers. What was it?

When the doorbell rang my father was busy with another matter and asked me to bring Magic into the living room, offer him something to drink. So I was making small talk. Magic said, “You know, I’m really happy that I was drafted by the Lakers, but I’m only going to sign a three-year deal because I want to go home and play for my hometown team in Michigan, the Detroit Pistons.” And I went, “What??” I said, “Excuse me for a minute.” And I ran upstairs to my dad and said, “You’re not gonna believe what he said. He’s only going to stay for three years.” I’m like hyperventilating, I’m so worried about this. And my dad just calm, cool and collect, didn’t miss a beat. And says, “Jeanie, the first time he puts on the Laker uniform and walks up out on the floor at the Forum, he’s never going to leave.” And he was exactly right, (giggles) because Magic never left. He could be the mayor of Los Angeles. He is Los Angeles!

When you began working for your father, he connected you with Linda Rambis. Tell us about this relationship. 

When I started working for my dad, I was a student at USC. When he offered me the job, I said, “Oh great. Now I can quit school.” And he said, “No, you have to finish school. Or you can’t have the job. You either have to do both or stay and concentrate on school.” And of course, I wanted the job and he said, “I want you to work with Linda,” who had been working for him for a couple of years. She’s an excellent marketer. My dad was so impressed with her and offered her a job on the spot after he met her. He felt that she had the street savvy, the toughness that I lacked and that we would complement each other in terms of skillset. It’s been a collaboration since. I treasure it.

Title IX was passed when you were a young girl. Almost 50 years later, we are still far away from equality. In what aspects do you think we may get a little closer to equality in the NBA? More female coaches, female governors, back-office employees?  And what about the male and female financial disparity?

Well, it’s kind of two different things.  Title IX was to give equal access to facilities, and opportunities for male and female athletes.  Today you have women who are competing in sports from a young age who train hard and earn a scholarship and have their college tuition paid for. That was the goal of Title IX.

When you start talking about pay, the reason there is a discrepancy is that you get paid based on the revenue that you bring in. And so you can’t say, how can a male basketball player make so much more than a female basketball player? Well, I guarantee you, if the revenues were the same, it would be the same. And if the revenues were more in women’s basketball, it would be more than men’s. It’s about revenue catching up.

As an entrepreneur, I say, there’s all these female athletes who have trained from the time they were 8, 9, 10, 11, who go on and receive a scholarship to college and compete for their school. Now what do they get to do after? These are athletes who have sacrificed a lot to be at the top of their sport. But unless you’re going into the WNBA, or maybe you’re a tennis player, or now there’s a woman soccer league, there just aren’t enough places for women to turn pro to earn money after training and dedicating themselves. So that’s why I’ve invested in WOW, Women of Wrestling. People like me have to make opportunities for female athletes to earn a living, to have a chance to perform to a massive audience, to be given a platform, and rewards for all that dedication from the time they were children with the dream of being an athlete. And so, for me, wrestling made the most sense.

But women have been wrestling.

Only as part of men’s wrestling, the side show, the undercard match. They didn’t ever get to be the center stage. They didn’t get to be the show. And so, WOW is an all-female wrestling league and it’s just like wrestling, good versus evil, women standing up for what they believe in, right or wrong, misguided or not. They will fight with passion and, let them fight it out in the ring. Wrestling has some of the greatest athletes that we’ve ever seen, and it’s given a platform to people like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, and Hulk Hogan. They’ve had a chance to become superstars because of the platform and the personality and the athleticism that they have.  Where is that for women?  This is a small investment I can make. And it’s me personally. It’s not the Lakers doing this. This is from my own funds. This is from my own passion. And I want to see these women have a chance to be the stars they were meant to be.

In the NBA, there are less than a handful of female owners in a pool of 30 NBA teams.  What about referees? What about coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, women who really understand basketball, not just great players? When will we see more opportunities for women in the NBA?

Compared to where it started 30 years ago?  We have so many more female referees in the training system coming up who are gaining the experience to call games in the NBA. It may not be perfect now, but the changes that I’ve seen in my 30 years are amazing. It’s only a matter of time that it’ll be more reflective of the population. And in all aspects of the business, the front office, ticket sales, broadcasting, sponsorship sales. It’s been great to see the evolution.  And, you know, if I can inspire the next… I hope that’s the case.

With over 400K Twitter followers, tell us about your Twitter profile picture.

Sports Illustrated was doing a story on my family. It was 1998. They interviewed both my older brothers, my younger sister, myself and my father about the family, but about my dad really, and what his plans were with the Lakers when he retired. This was before they had even moved to STAPLES Center. My dad told us all to cooperate with the story, which included a photo shoot. So they sent a photographer to my house. He comes in and he explains to me how he wants to do the picture. Well, I snapped and quickly declined because I told him that I thought he was just trying to make me look foolish. And he goes, “I’m really sorry, but I don’t know who you are. I’m a fashion photographer. I’ve never been hired by Sports Illustrated before. They told me to come and take a picture of you. And the only requirement that I had was I had to somehow put basketballs in the picture.  I was trying to find inspiration.”

He said, “I found that how Italian women hold melons, it’s like from your heart.” And I go, kind of like a pin-up shot. I love pin-up stars like Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable. I wasn’t naked for the shoot, I was wearing a bathing suit, but I didn’t realize he could photograph me in a way that you wouldn’t know if I was wearing anything or not. And it ended up being this beautiful picture, like a 1940’s pin-up. Sports Illustrated loved it so much that they changed the entire article to “She’s Got Balls.”

A great name for you today.

It foreshadowed a lot. I’ve had corporate people tell me “I don’t know if we can work with you. You have to change your Twitter picture.” And I’m like, what are you telling me? To censor a picture that was in Sports Illustrated?  It’s like, no.  I’m not changing it.

In 1995 you were featured in Playboy. What inspired you to do it?

I was coming out of a divorce.  I was 32 years old at the time, and I’d always wanted to model in Playboy. My Aunt Susan was a Playboy bunny. My dad owned the Playboy Club in Phoenix, Arizona. Playboy was part of my life. My dad was very good friends with Hugh Hefner, but I auditioned like any other person who wanted to pose for the magazine. They had to send my pictures to Chicago to be approved.  I never mentioned anything to my dad until they approved me as a model.

You were called a model?

Yes. I wasn’t a centerfold. I didn’t qualify.

What a loss for them.

(giggling) No, seriously. It was an experience that I did for me. It was for my own personal growth and coming to terms with who I am and fulfilling a dream. Jimmy Connors, a friend, and member of the L.A. Strings tennis team married a former Playmate of the Year, Patti McGuire.  I always looked up to her, and I remember asking her about it. And she said, “Once you do it, it will always be part of your life. You’ll be somewhere and when you least expect it, somebody will walk up and ask you to sign a copy of the magazine.” Still, to this day, I get people sending me photographs to autograph. And I feel if people take the time to mail them to me and ask me to sign them, then it’s something that you do. But Patti was right; it lives forever.

You have said in the press that Dr. Buss was worried; you were so ambitious that you wouldn’t create a family. You have also said in the press recently that you are mom now to your players.

And when I become grandma, that’s when I have to resign (giggles). No, I mean, now I am the age of the parents of most of our players. When I was in the relationship with Phil Jackson, he was definitely the father figure for many of them. And so, it was a natural fit for me to evolve into that role of mother. That was an important time for me to understand as a role model. 

You’re the mother to all these young players, and the kids keep coming and keep coming.

And it’s hard when they leave the nest. It’s very hard on me.

Tell us about your mom. We hear so much about your dad. How did she influence you?

My mom just was a sweetheart. I have her laugh and anybody that met her would use the words kind and sweet smile. I like to think that’s what I got from her.

Were you close?

Not as close as I was with my dad. I wasn’t interested in cooking and homemaking. When I was a kid, my dad would send me out for donuts or whatever, and then I’d deliver the donuts and then I wouldn’t leave the room. I’d go sit in the corner, and listen to what they were talking about.  I found business fascinating.  

In an effort to support your athletes off the court, you have created an environment that encourages their outside interests, in particular their entrepreneurial pursuits. Why is this important?

There would be some people in my position over the years who would say, “Hey, the players made a lot of money, once they’re gone, I don’t care what happens to them.” And to me, it’s like, once you’ve been a Laker, you reflect on our organization, whether you’re currently playing or 20 years after you retire. You are part of the Laker family, the Laker brand. It’s important that anyone who has been on the Laker team is healthy and thriving and doing well.

Please tell us more about your relationship with Phil Jackson.

He just bowled me over. Like, wait a minute, what’s the deal with this guy? As soon as I heard his voice, there was something about his voice that I just knew. And I said to him, if we’re go

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On Aug. 31, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to create an Afghan Refugee Task Force to provide support for Afghans arriving in L.A. County. Even for those lucky enough to make it onto a plane chartered for America, resettling in the United States requires more than alighting on American soil. Refugees face the tall order of finding housing, a job, and other resources, often while navigating a language and cultural barrier.   

Several organizations in southern California and beyond are working to ease the burdens for thousands of Afghan refugees coming into the U.S. The Courier has compiled a list of organizations providing aid as a resource for those wishing to do the same. 

Visionary Women

Visionary Women, an organization dedicated to “high-impact initiatives” for women and girls, is making a donation of $100,000 of emergency relief and encouraging others to do the same. Donations to the organization will go to Women for Afghan Women, the largest women’s organization in Afghanistan, and Protect Afghan Women, an organization aiming to evacuate at-risk women journalists, activists, politicians and their families.

Miry’s List 

Miry’s List is a Los Angeles-based organization that connects families needing temporary housing and help resettling with the resources other organizations may not be providing them. The organization recently launched an emergency action fund to help Afghanistan refugees. Families arriving in the U.S. are met at their new home by a volunteer, who helps them make a list of supplies they need. You can donate items on a family’s list or volunteer your time to help as a list-maker. Miry’s List is also looking for longer-term volunteers to help families readjust to their new life. 

International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee is a global humanitarian aid organization. The IRC provides tents, clean water, sanitizing stations, and basic needs for struggling families in Afghanistan. The organization also provides specific resources for women and girls. You can donate to the IRC’s national organization or the Los Angeles chapter.

International Institute of Los Angeles

The International Institute of Los Angeles is an organization that provides legal aid, job assistance, housing, and other vital services for refugees as they resettle. The Los Angeles location is helping to coordinate the arrival of refugees in southern California. IILA accepts donations and volunteers and has opened a special Refugee Fund.

Episcopal Migration Ministries 

Episcopal Migration Ministries, a ministry of the Episcopal Church, is an agency that helps resettle refugees in the United States. The agency has resettled over 1,100 refugees from nearly 30 countries. Afghans who need help can turn to Episcopal Migration Ministries for airport rides, housing, English classes, job assistance, and more. The agency also has several other locations throughout the United States.

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society 

The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) is a Jewish-American humanitarian aid organization that works with refugees. HIAS focuses their aid on groups that face persecution or violence in their home countries. HIAS is currently partnering with AirBnB to connect refugees with temporary housing. Donations to HIAS can help provide food, housing, English classes, job training, counseling, and more.  

The post Organizations Helping Afghani Refugees appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The partnership between the Nazarian Foundation and WIZO dates to Israel’s earliest days in the 1950’s, when the Nazarian family matriarch, Goldbahar Aviva Chachami Nazarian–known to everyone as Ima (“mother” in Hebrew) – volunteered at WIZO facilities after making aliya Israel from Iran.

Soraya Nazarian, her daughter Dr. Sharon Nazarian, WIZO President Esther Mor, chairperson Anita Friedman, and dozens of other Nazarian family members and members of the WIZO community attended the day care’s dedication ceremony last week. 

“Research has shown that the investment in children between birth and five years old is critical, and that if you start that young, the rest of their lives will be a path to success,” Dr. Nazarian said at the ceremony. “This facility, and the staff and teachers who are so loving, are the insurance policy of the future of the state of Israel.”

“The Nazarian Family Foundation and WIZO share the belief that education is the most important catalyst for social change,” Mor, said. “By investing in young children, we are investing in Israel’s future as the toddlers in this wonderful center will one day be our nation’s leaders, innovators and defenders.”

Younes and Soraya Nazarian are prominent members of the Iranian Jewish community in Los Angeles, known for their years of philanthropic work, both in America and Israel, in fields such as the arts, health and institutions of higher education.

Soraya became a founding member of WIZO Los Angeles after she and her husband Younes moved to the United States from Iran and remains an active member till this day. At its entrance, the day care center will feature a bronze sculpture created by Soraya of the family matriarch with an inscription telling her story. The sculpture was inspired to give the children a second “Ima.”

“The Nazarian family’s commitment to the advancement of Israeli society is expressed in three main ways – education, art, and medicine,” said Esther Barak Landes, CEO of the Ima Foundation, the Israeli arm of the Nazarian Foundation. Landes added that the fourth goal, which will soon become the foundation’s main focus, is empowering women in society.  

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Hosted by the Israeli American Council, in partnership with local pro-Israel organizations, the event was part of a nationwide slate of IAC-sponsored rallies with the slogan: “United Against Antisemitism. United Against Terror. United For Us.” The rally featured a lineup of speakers that included local politicians, community leaders, and media personalities. 

“This is how we do it in Beverly Hills,” Vice Mayor Lili Bosse proclaimed during her speech. “We stand side by side with Israel… We stand against antisemitism. We stand against Jew hatred. We stand against all hatred.”

The energy remained high throughout the afternoon as attendees danced, cheered, and sang along with Israeli music, passed out stickers, and waved Israeli and American flags.

Many in the crowd  wore shirts declaring “I Stand With Israel” or representing the Israeli Defense Forces, and countless people held signs denouncing terrorism and Hamas. At the edge of the park, a constant stream of cars honked and displayed flags as they passed by.

“It was heartwarming to see all that support,” Jonathan Bar-El, Consul for Public Diplomacy for the LA Consulate General of Israel, told the Courier. “And to see all those organizations and people, Jews and non-Jews alike, joining together to support Israel.”

Throughout the afternoon, speakers and attendees spoke, sang, and chanted in Hebrew, most notably repeating the phrase “Am Yisrael Chai,” a popular Hebrew expression and song that translates as “the people of Israel live.” The national anthems for both the United States and Israel were also played. 

“There has been a lot of Jewish hate in the past few weeks,” rally-goer Jose Danon, 40, told the Courier. “I’m Israeli, so I think it’s important that I’m here to support my country.”

Many of the speeches echoed common themes: the importance of unwavering support for Israel and fighting back against antisemitism and anti-Zionism in Israel and in America. Some speakers bemoaned the “mainstream media,” universities, and Hollywood for their perceived role in the recent rise of antisemitism across the United States. 

Dr. Hillel Newman, Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest, addressed what he sees as a direct connection between the recent violence in Los Angeles and the conflict in Israel.

“There is a special bond that binds Israel and Los Angeles,” Newman told the crowd. “Hate-filled Hamas attack Jews indiscriminately in Israel, and hate-filled rioters attack Jews indiscriminately in Los Angeles. Two sides of the same coin. Anti-Zionism is antisemitism.”

Beverly Hills City Councilmember John Mirisch also spoke, calling antisemitism a “pathological disease.” Unlike COVID-19, Mirisch said, there is no vaccine for such hatred. 

Other speakers at the rally included Elan Carr, former U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combatting Antisemitism; Rabbi David Wolpe, Max Webb senior rabbi at Sinai Temple; and Sarah Idan, former Miss Universe Iraq, among others. 

The rally attracted people of all backgrounds and ages. Some, like Mavit Feigin, drove several hours to attend the event and show their support for Israel.

“People are enthusiastic,” Feigin, 40, told the Courier. “When we say ‘Never Again,’ we mean never again. We’re standing up for our identity. An attack on Israel is an attack on us.”

John Ark, a 25-year-old Angeleno, said the crowd’s passion was uplifting. “It makes me proud to be a Jew, to stand with my brothers and sisters in solidarity,” he told the Courier.

The final speaker, conservative radio host and founder of the media company PragerU, Dennis Prager, was greeted with widespread cheering and excitement. 

Prager did not mince words: “Hamas is scum,” he told the crowd. “If you don’t know that, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.”

For Bosse, supporting Israel is personal. Her mother, Rose Toren, survived the Auschwitz death camp. After the Holocaust, Toren moved to Israel, where she met and married Bosse’s father. Without Israel, Bosse said, she would not be here today.

“The message is loud and clear: Don’t mess with home,” Bosse said. “Don’t mess with family. Because hate will never win. Mom, we will never give up.”

The post Rally in Beverly Gardens Park Sends Clear Message of Support for Israel appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“This is how we do it in Beverly Hills,” Vice Mayor Lili Bosse proclaimed during her speech. “We stand side by side with Israel… We stand against antisemitism. We stand against Jew hatred. We stand against all hatred.”

The energy remained high throughout the afternoon as attendees danced, cheered, and sang along with Israeli music, passed out stickers, and waved Israeli and American flags. Many wore shirts declaring “I Stand With Israel” or representing the Israeli Defense Forces, and countless people held signs denouncing terrorism and Hamas. At the edge of the park, a constant stream of cars honked and displayed flags as they passed by.

“There has been a lot of Jewish hate in the past few weeks,” rally-goer Jose Danon, 40, told the Courier. “I’m Israeli, so I think it’s important that I’m here to support my country.”

Many of the speeches echoed common themes: the importance of unwavering support for Israel and fighting back against antisemitism and anti-Zionism in Israel and in America. Some speakers bemoaned the “mainstream media,” universities, and Hollywood for their perceived role in the recent rise of antisemitism across the United States.

“Jew hatred is a pathological disease,” said Beverly Hills City Councilmember John Mirisch. In his speech, Mirisch compared antisemitism to a virus, one for which there is no vaccine, he said.

The rally attracted people of all backgrounds and ages, Jews and non-Jews alike. Some, like Mavit Feigin, drove several hours to attend the event and show their support for Israel.

“People are enthusiastic,” Feigin, 40, told the Courier. “When we say ‘Never Again,’ we mean never again. We’re standing up for our identity. An attack on Israel is an attack on us.”

John Ark, a 25-year-old Angeleno, said the crowd’s passion was uplifting. “It makes me proud to be a Jew, to stand with my brothers and sisters in solidarity,” he told the Courier.

The final speaker, conservative radio host and founder of the media company PragerU, Dennis Prager, was greeted with widespread cheering and excitement.

Prager did not mince words: “Hamas is scum,” he told the crowd. “If you don’t know that, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.”

For Bosse, supporting Israel is personal –– her mother, Rose Toren, survived the Auschwitz death camp. After the Holocaust, Toren moved to Israel, where she met and married Bosse’s father. Without Israel, Bosse said, she would not be here today.

“The message is loud and clear: Don’t mess with home,” Bosse said. “Don’t mess with family. Because hate will never win. Mom, we will never give up.”

The post Rally in Beverly Gardens Park sends clear message of support for Israel appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Pictured (from left) : Councilmember Mirisch, Vice Mayor Bosse, Mayor Wunderlich, Consul General of Israel Dr. Hillel Newman, Councilmember Gold and Councilmember Friedman.

The post In honor of Israel’s 73rd Independence Day appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“We are celebrating Israel’s strength of democracy by voting today. We hope for a stable government which will continue the positive trend of Israeli innovation and normalizing of relations with the Arab world,” said Dr. Hillel Newman, Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Southwest, as he cast his vote. 

This election is historic, in that Israeli citizens in Morocco, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were able to vote at polling stations in those countries. Official Israeli missions have been established there as part of the “Abraham Accords.” 

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Bisignano and two other Beverly Hills residents, John Strand, 37, and Dr. Simone Gold, 55, were arrested over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend by the FBI, with assistance by the Beverly Hills Police Department, pursuant to federal charges filed in Washington, D.C. They appeared in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 19. Both Gold and Strand were released on bail. Bisignano was granted bail in her initial hearing, but a D.C. judge stayed her release on appeal and ordered her sent to D.C.

On Feb. 4, a grand jury charged Bisignano with Obstruction of an Official Proceeding, Aiding and Abetting, Civil Disorder, Destruction of Government Property, Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds, Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds, Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building. Bisignano has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges.

In a Feb. 26 hearing for Bisignano’s release, defense attorney A. Charles Peruto, Jr., argued that his client had been subjected to “cruel and unusual punishment” as a part of her transfer to D.C. Bisignano had “gone from bus to bus to bus,” Peruto said, transporting her from Los Angeles to county jails in Oklahoma on her way to D.C. “In these County jails, she doesn’t even get a bed because of the overcrowding and for three nights, she was made to sleep on the floor with blankets,” he said. 

Judge Carl J. Nichols pressed the government on why Bisignano could not be released under certain conditions.

“Why does the government believe that there is no set of circumstances that would assure the safety of her community if we were to impose continued GPS monitoring?” he asked. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Louise Paschall pointed to cellphone screenshots submitted in a supplemental filing. In one exchange, someone sent Bisignano a link to a video titled “Watch this NOW! INVASION IMMINENT!!!” 

“That was me,” Bisignano responds. “We invaded yesterday.” 

“What we’re seeing on her cell phone is a full understanding of her participation in the events and asking people to, in the government’s opinion, destroy those events by deleting photographs and deleting messages,” Paschall said. “That’s something that could continue into the future. Ms. Bisignano, if she was released, would have the opportunity to reach out to other people who may have evidence for the government.”

Judge Nichols opted to release Bisignano under a High Intensity Supervision Program. Under the conditions of her release, she must submit to supervision and wear a GPS ankle monitor. She is restricted to her residence at all times with exceptions for employment, religious services, medical treatment, and other activities approved in advance. Additionally, she may not access social media, communicate with anyone who attended the events on Jan. 6, or return to D.C. for non-court related matters. 

After some confusion over how she would return to Los Angeles from Oklahoma given her financial situation, Bisignano has now returned to Beverly Hills. Friends of hers who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the Courier that she began moving out of her salon almost immediately. According to an email reviewed by the Courier, Bisignano put out a call on March 5 to former clients for new appointments, which friends say take place in her apartment. “We’re back in business!! I’m so thankful for all my clients, please let me know if you would like to schedule an appointment for lashes, waxing, or a facial!” 

The post Gina Bisignano Returns to Beverly Hills–For Now appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

As of Feb. 4, Public Health has identified 1,129,503 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 17,308 deaths. Additionally, a third case of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the variant discovered in the United Kingdom (U.K.), has been identified. Presence of the B.1.1.7 variant in L.A. County means virus transmission can happen more easily, and residents and businesses must be more diligent at implementing and following all standard public health safety measures, including face coverings, distancing, and handwashing, put in place to prevent additional cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Along with the majority of the state, L A. County is in the most restrictive purple tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. In order to move into the red tier and have additional opportunities for reopenings, L.A. County’s daily case rate must be at or below seven new cases per 100,00 people and the County’s test positivity rate must be at or below eight percent.  As of Jan.  23, L.A. County’s adjusted case rate is 38.7 new cases per 100,000 people and the test positivity rate is 11.3 percent.

Public Health notes that residents have a long way to go before transmission in the county is considered no longer widespread. By following all the rules, progress can be made toward a less restrictive tier.

“We share our deepest condolences to everyone who is mourning the loss of a family member, a loved one or a friend. Our prayers are with you always,” said Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., ME.d., Director of Public Health. “Super Bowl parties have the power to derail our recovery and given the likelihood that there are more infectious variants circulating in our community, let’s not take chances with our own health and the health of others by creating easy opportunities for the virus to spread.  This weekend, we ask that you not share with others your respiratory droplets, which are more easily spread when we raise our voices, cheer, sing, and chant. The serious consequences of gathering indoors with people outside of your household to watch the Super Bowl is just not worth it.”

Public Health also indicates that it is constantly aligning vaccine strategies to reach the most vulnerable. “As a reminder, we are prioritizing vaccinating individuals 65 years and older, while working with our partners and the state to further plan for vaccinating additional workers in the prioritized groups. Given the limited weekly shipments, a limited vaccine supply requires balancing priorities. While the state is updating its distribution plans, the County must also look at how best to protect the most vulnerable with the goal of reducing mortality.  We ask for patience until we receive all the vaccine we need to get to everyone who wants to get vaccinated,” said a statement.

At this time, COVID-19 vaccine remains very limited. Public Health’s www.VaccinateLACounty.com connects residents eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations to appointment registration links and much more. For those without access to a computer or the internet or with disabilities, a call center is open to help schedule appointments at 833-540-0473 daily from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The post Public Health Warns Against Super Bowl Parties ? appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The grand jury charged Bisignano with Obstruction of an Official Proceeding, Aiding and Abetting, Civil Disorder, Destruction of Government Property, Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds, Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds, Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building.

Bisignano and two other Beverly Hills residents, John Strand, 37, and Dr. Simone Gold, 55, were arrested over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend by the FBI, with assistance by the Beverly Hills Police Department, pursuant to federal charges filed in Washington, D.C. They appeared in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 19. Both Gold and Strand were released on bail. Bisignano was granted bail in her initial hearing, but a D.C. judge stayed her release on appeal.

“The magistrate here in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon set bond for Bisignano, which we objected to on behalf of our colleagues in the District of Columbia,” United States Attorney’s Office Director of Media Relations Thom Mrozek previously told the Courier. “Later that evening, prosecutors in D.C. obtained a stay and a detention order from a judge in D.C.”

Bisignano appeared in court on Feb. 4, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Public Affairs Specialist Shelia Miller told the Courier. She could not give more information on the nature of the hearing by press time. Close friends of Bisignano have told the Courier that she has retained the services of a lawyer in D.C. While the court has ordered Bisignano transported to D.C., she currently remains in detention in California, according to U.S. Marshals spokesperson Lynzey Donahue.

Bisignano, Strand and Gold each have close ties to the Beverly Hills Freedom Rally, the weekly pro-Trump demonstration that has taken place since July. Many other regular attendees of the rally also went to the Capitol. While they remain out of custody as of press time, many of them are persons of interest for the FBI and the D.C. Metropolitan Police.

According to the FBI’s Statement of Facts for Bisignano, she originally came under scrutiny after the Bureau received at least six tips identifying her as a participant at the riot. In one video widely circulated online, Bisignano even shares her first and last name, her city of residence, and her Instagram account.

In a story in the Jan. 15 issue of the Courier, “Beverly Hills Salon Owner Recounts Her Actions in D.C. Riots,” Bisignano spoke about her role in the failed insurrection. In fact, the FBI’s Statement of Facts for Bisignano, compiled by a member of the Bureau’s Washington Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, cites reporting by the Courier. The Courier conducted extensive interviews with Bisignano in the week after the attempted insurrection, in which she admitted to entering the Capitol, but claimed that she was escaping the throngs of rioters.

“BISIGNANO told the news outlet [Courier] that she filmed herself at the Capitol building, during the time when rioters had stolen police shields and were deploying pepper spray on the officers,” according to the statement filed in federal court. “BISIGNANO also admitted entering the Capitol building itself through a window, the glass of which had been broken by another rioter.”

“I got caught up. I didn’t do anything to hurt anybody,” Bisignano, owner of Gina’s Eyelashes and Skincare, told the Courier prior to her arrest. She went to the Capitol after President Trump called on his supporters to attend a rally on Jan. 6. “If enough patriots got together to rightfully assemble and put pressure, chant and cheer like we do, they would think, ‘Okay, we the people–we the people are speaking.'”

The post Salon Owner Indicted on Seven Counts for Capitol Riot appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Bisignano and two other Beverly Hills residents, John Strand, 37, and Dr. Simone Gold, 55, were arrested over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend by the FBI, with assistance by the Beverly Hills Police Department, pursuant to federal charges filed in Washington, D.C. They appeared in U. S. District Court for the Central District of California in downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 19. Both Gold and Bisignano were released on bail, although Bisignano’s release has been stayed.

“The magistrate here in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon set bond for Bisignano, which we objected to on behalf of our colleagues in the District of Columbia,” United States Attorney’s Office Director of Media Relations Thom Mrozek told the Courier. “Later that evening, prosecutors in D.C. obtained a stay and a detention order from a judge in D.C.”

Bisignano, Strand and Gold each have close ties to the Beverly Hills Freedom Rally, the weekly pro-Trump demonstration that has taken place since July. In a story in the Jan. 15 issue of the Courier, “Beverly Hills Salon Owner Recounts Her Actions in D.C. Riots,” Bisignano spoke about her role in the failed insurrection. In fact, the FBI’s Statement of Facts for Bisignano, compiled by a member of the Bureau’s Washington Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, cites reporting by the Courier. The Courier conducted extensive interviews with Bisignano in the week after the attempted insurrection, in which she admitted to entering the Capitol, but claimed that she was escaping the throngs of rioters.

“BISIGNANO told the news outlet [Courier] that she filmed herself at the Capitol building, during the time when rioters had stolen police shields and were deploying pepper spray on the officers,” according to the statement filed in federal court. “BISIGNANO also admitted entering the Capitol building itself through a window, the glass of which had been broken by another rioter.”

The investigations into the Jan. 6 violence at the Capitol are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Nearly 90 cases have been filed against defendants residing across the country. Federal rules require that following an arrest, or surrender, defendants must make a first appearance before a district court magistrate/judge where the arrest takes place.

Bisignano faces charges of civil disorder; destruction of government property; aiding and abetting; obstruction of an official proceeding; restricted building or grounds; and violent entry or disorderly conduct. Gold and Strand have been charged with entering a restricted building or grounds, violent entry and disorderly conduct.

“I got caught up. I didn’t do anything to hurt anybody,” Bisignano, owner of Gina’s Eyelashes and Skincare, told the Courier prior to her arrest. She went to the Capitol after President Trump called on his supporters to attend a rally on Jan. 6. “If enough patriots got together to rightfully assemble and put pressure, chant and cheer like we do, they would think, ‘Okay, we the people–we the people are speaking.'”

Bisignano told the Courier that she had not committed any acts of vandalism or violence, decrying the violence that left five people dead, including a member of law enforcement. But in footage reviewed by the Courier, a woman who appears to be Bisignano can be seen throwing a water bottle in the direction of law enforcement as Trump supporters try to push through a blockade of riot police. “We need new people,” she shouts to the crowd as police deploy pepper spray on the rioters.

Like Bisignano, Strand and Gold also heeded Trump’s call, according to federal officials. Strand, the communications director for the Freedom Rally, describes himself on his personal website as a model and actor, with IMDB listing credits for the reality TV show “Vanderpump Rules” and the comedy show “Tosh.0.” Gold, a medical doctor criticized for promoting misinformation about COVID-19 and the Coronavirus vaccine, has also attended and spoken at multiple Freedom Rallies. She confirmed to the Washington Post that she had gone into the Capitol with other rioters but insisted that she did not participate in or witness any violence.

All three appeared for their hearings on Jan. 19 at the Edward R. Roybal federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. The judge hearing the cases, United States Magistrate Judge John E. McDermott, granted bail for Gold and Strand, setting it at $15,000 and $20,000 respectively. While Gold left the courthouse that day, Strand did not find someone to guarantee his bail bond until later. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office still had not seen release paperwork by the morning of Jan. 21.

But in Bisignano’s case, the U.S. government came down hard, recommending that she should not receive bail and should remain in detention. “The defendant participated in a violent riot that was designed to prevent the United States Congress from certifying the valid, true results of the 2020 presidential election. So, to say that her alleged crimes were dangerous, not just to the community, but to American democracy and the rule of law itself, is an understatement,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Rollins.

Rollins even cited Bisignano’s espousal of conspiracy theories as evidence for her “flight risk and dangerousness,” telling the judge, “She’s not likely to obey any pretrial release restrictions, because she doesn’t believe in the legitimacy of the United States government, the rule of the law, or basic democratic process, and her sincere belief in conspiracy theories and the absence of rational evidence-based decision making show that she is extraordinarily unlikely to accept the legitimacy of this Court’s orders, any federal law enforcement–especially those after a new administration takes over tomorrow–or obey any terms of pretrial release.”

“That was a very colorful speech,” rejoined Craig Harbaugh, Bisignano’s attorney. “It is clear that Ms. Bisignano was present at a large-scale protest that was set up, not by anti-government forces, but by the President of the United States,” he said.

“I think both sides have overstated things,” said Judge McDermott. “I think the government is trying to make an example of Ms. Bisignano and trying to make her out to be a traitor. I also don’t like the argument that she did it because of President Trump.”

McDermott imposed $170,000 bail on Bisignano. She left the courthouse later that night but was back in custody on Jan. 20. Gold has a virtual hearing in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. and Strand will appear for a pretrial hearing in L.A. on Feb.1. As of press time, Bisignano’s next appearance is not listed on the court docket.

Many other members of the Beverly Hills Freedom Rally who attended the attempted insurrection remain out of custody as of now. But according to FBI Spokesperson Laura Eimiller, more arrests could be in the pipeline. “We can’t rule out other investigations, but they are being done out of Washington, D.C. We only served the warrants for them,” she told the Courier. She added, “We aren’t interested in peaceful protestors.”

The post Beverly Hills Salon Owner Ordered Back Into Federal Custody appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The arts and the business community of West Hollywood have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many traditional brick-and-mortar stores have already been facing challenges for years, competing against the rise of online shopping. Now, as shoppers nationwide move further online as a safeguard against the spread of COVID-19, some of West Hollywood’s local retail shops have closed for good as property owners face unprecedented vacancies. The WoW exhibition helps partner artists with property owners to reimagine empty storefronts as opportunities to create safe, outdoor community engagement while the City sets its sights on economic recovery for the business community.

With the Windows of WeHo initiative, West Hollywood will maintain a pre-qualified list of artists for the exhibition and property owners will be invited to engage with the artists on the list. Between eight and ten artists are anticipated to be selected through this application, and each selected artist will receive an award of $1,000. However, admittance onto the pre-qualified list does not guarantee selection for an award.

Officials hope that placing art in vacant storefronts will bring increased attention to vacant commercial properties, deter graffiti and vandalism and contribute to the preservation of the business community.

Artists who live in the City of West Hollywood are especially encouraged to apply. However, all interested artists can apply online by Jan. 13 at 5 p.m. To apply, visit www.weho.org/home/showpublisheddocument?id=48693.

For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s Windows of WeHo opportunity, please contact Rebecca Ehemann, the City of West Hollywood’s Acting Arts Manager, at 323-848-6846 or at rehemann@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY 323-848-6496.

The post Windows of WeHo Project Seeks Artists appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“From our perspective at Cedars-Sinai, it’s impossible to adequately express in words the positive contributions that survivors of the Holocaust have made to our lives and our institution,” said Priselac. “Their character and influence are in the fabric of our organization. My own experience with our survivors has been life-changing. Without fail, in every encounter and every conversation, the qualities I’ve mentioned have been present in their words and deeds. I owe each of them a debt of gratitude for the example they’ve set and the inspiration they’ve given me.”

The award was presented to Priselac by Vera Guerin, former chair of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors.

“As a leader and humanitarian, Tom has made certain that quality care was extended to this population with dignity and grace, reflective of our mission and sincere commitment to the most vulnerable in our community,” said Guerin.

Several other speakers also paid tribute to the work of Priselac and Cedars-Sinai, including Barbra Streisand, who is also a Cedars-Sinai trustee.

The post Cedars-Sinai President and CEO Receives Humanitarian Award From Yad Vashem appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

But as hospital and ICU capacity fill up, Christmas has come early to healthcare workers and residents of assisted living facilities in the County. This week saw the arrival of the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to hospitals around the County, fresh from the company’s manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Nine designated sites in Los Angeles County have received an allotment of the vaccine. Each site is equipped with the ultra-cold storage facilities necessary to keep the vaccine viable. Those sites will then send the vaccine to 83 acute-care hospitals across the County, including UCLA, Providence St. John’s, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Cedars-Sinai. Major healthcare providers such as UCLA Health, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Cedars-Sinai have started inoculating frontline medical staff, marking what experts hope is the beginning of the end of this pandemic.

“I am incredibly excited to be among the first group of healthcare workers to be offered the vaccine,” Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair and medical director of the Ruth and Harry Roman Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai, said in a statement. On Dec. 17, Torbati became one of the first in the County to receive the highly anticipated vaccine. “The vaccine gives us an additional, invisible shield and layer of protection.”

Along with Torbati, Cedars-Sinai has offered the vaccine to workers in the ICU and Emergency Department. The hospital notes that the vaccine is voluntary.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 11. The authorization followed extremely positive results from a trial of the vaccine, which showed a 95 percent effectiveness in preventing COVID-19. The vaccine requires two doses, given three weeks apart.

“The FDA’s authorization for emergency use of the first COVID-19 vaccine is a significant milestone in battling this devastating pandemic that has affected so many families in the United States and around the world,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in a statement. “Today’s action follows an open and transparent review process that included input from independent scientific and public health experts and a thorough evaluation by the agency’s career scientists to ensure this vaccine met FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization.”

Even as cases and hospitalizations surge, placing additional stress on an already-taxed healthcare system, Torbati says that the vaccine’s rollout holds promise to blunt the edge of the pandemic.

“This gives me great hope,” Torbati said.

This same sense of hope pervaded the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Dec. 16, where mylar balloons and applause marked the first injections of the two-part vaccine. Emergency physician Dr. Medell Briggs-Malonson, the first at the hospital to receive the dose, described feeling optimistic.

“I had a couple of butterflies, but then actually coming down and really realizing this was going to be the first shot and the first vaccine and then we can hopefully start to return to normalcy, it took all the flutters away,” she said in a statement. The next in line, nurse Nicole Chang, did not share Briggs-Malonson’s initial reservations. “I was like, ‘Please, let me go first! I’m so excited,'” said Chang, who works in the COVID-19 unit at UCLA Health Santa Monica Medical Center. In all her enthusiasm, Chang said she barely felt the vaccination itself. “It felt like nothing. I didn’t even feel a pinch!” But reflecting the trauma experienced by frontline healthcare workers in this pandemic, she noted the relative costs of a pinch against the virus. “A pinch is nothing compared to what these people go through [with COVID-19],” she said. “I’ve seen the devastation it causes.”

St. John’s Hospital, which is managed by the healthcare administrator Providence, has also begun the vaccination process. “This is a major scientific milestone that will help us to curb the spread of a disease that has brought the world to a standstill,” said Dr. Rod Hochman, president and CEO of Providence. “We are working to get the vaccine to the frontlines as quickly as we can, starting with our highest risk caregivers.”

Still more good news greeted healthcare providers as they administered the first doses of the vaccine across the country. On Dec. 16, the FDA acknowledged reports that Pfizer’s five-dose vials seemed to hold even more doses. While vaccines will commonly contain slightly more than the advertised dosage to guard against spillage or error, the reports indicated an even greater excess in Pfizer’s vials. In a discovery worthy of Hanukkah, some vials provided six, even seven doses, potentially expanding the nation’s limited supply by millions of doses.

“At this time, given the public health emergency, FDA is advising that it is acceptable to use every full dose obtainable (the sixth, or possibly even a seventh) from each vial, pending resolution of the issue,” the agency said in a tweet.

On Dec. 17, an FDA advisory panel of outside doctors and immunologists issued an endorsement to the FDA to grant emergency use of the vaccine produced by Moderna. The FDA is expected to grant the emergency authorization as soon as Dec. 18.

The second vaccine will be welcomed news in the Southland. On Dec. 17, intensive care units around Southern California reached a grim milestone of 0 percent capacity.

The post Amid a Staggering Wave, Vaccine Brings a Ray of Hope appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

While the circumstances of the shooting were not immediately clear, Cervantes said it seemed like the victims were standing outside when a man in his 20’s approached them on foot, fired multiple shots, and then fled the scene. The intersection where the shooting occurred is nestled between a Starbucks, Urban Outfitters and several other retail shops. A possible motive for the shooting remains unknown, according to the LAPD.

Davonte W. Clepper, 28-years-old, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s records. A second victim, in his 20’s, was also struck by gun fire. According to police, he was taken to a hospital for treatment and is listed in serious condition, police said. His name was withheld.

LAPD describe the suspect as a male black without further description, last seen fleeing the scene on foot. A spokesperson with the West Bureau Homicide told the Courier that the case is under investigation.

Anyone with information on this shooting is being encouraged to contact the West Bureau Homicide investigators at 213-382-9470. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu. Tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

The post Melrose Gunman Still at Large appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In an inaugural address both personal and data-heavy, Gascón laid out a paradigmatically different vision of law enforcement and the carceral system from that of his predecessor. Making good on the promises of his campaign, he announced a number of immediate and sweeping changes to items like cash bail and the death penalty. Though the City of Beverly Hills cast a majority of ballots for incumbent Jackie Lacey, Gascón offered an olive branch to all stakeholders in improving the system.

“I recognize that for many this is a new path,” Gascón said in his address. “But whether you were born in L.A. or came to this country and to Los Angeles as a young boy like me, and whether you are a protestor, police officer, or prosecutor, I ask that you walk with me.”

Gascón couched his ideology within his experiences as a former police officer. “I still remember to this day the first day that I put a uniform on,” he said. Gascón joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1978, achieving the rank of Assistant Chief by 2003 and eventually serving as the San Francisco Police Department chief from 2009 to 2011. “However, I’m not the same man that I was when I first put on the uniform and one of the many reasons for that is because of situations that I’ve faced as a young police officer–situations and experiences that have stayed with me all my life.”

Gascón used the inaugural address to unveil a number of immediate and large-scale changes, what he described as “a series of policies based on data and science, not fear and emotion.” He announced an end to the use of the death penalty and committed to resentencing those currently on death row.

Lacey faced criticism for what activists described as inaction in prosecuting police misconduct. Gascón made clear that he would take a more active approach. “The murder of George Floyd this summer was a horrific reminder that too often, our profession has failed to hold its own to the same standards we impose on the communities that we are sworn to protect and to serve,” he said.

Gascón added that the D.A.’s office will end the use of sentencing enhancements, a practice that allows (or requires) prosecutors to add additional time to a sentence. Under the new policies, his office will undertake the “unprecedented effort to re-evaluate and resentence thousands of cases,” he said. Those serving sentences with enhancements and those who have served more than 20 years in state prison are eligible for consideration.

The post Gascón Brings Sweeping Changes On Day One appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

According to Public Health, this is the highest number of daily deaths since July 29. At press time, the county has reported 3,433 hospitalized patients.

The surge in cases in the county began around Nov. 2, and then one week later led to an increase in hospitalizations. Beginning around Nov. 9, Public Health began to report an increase in COVID-19 fatalities which remains high. Since Nov. 9, average daily deaths have increased by 258 percent. In a Dec. 9 Public Health press release, officials wrote: “Since these deaths reflect L.A. County case counts from a month ago, as cases have continued to increase the past few weeks, we will bear witness to a significant rise in the number of people who are dying.”

Currently, the State is reporting the ICU bed capacity is at nine percent in the Southern California region. As a reminder, the region (which includes L.A. County) is under Gavin Newsom’s Regional Stay-at-Home order that took effect Dec. 6 after the ICU capacity for the region fell below 15 percent. Right now, the Southern California regional ICU bed capacity is nine percent.

Public Health is urging the public not to gather with others outside of their immediate household, always wear face coverings when around others, and maintain physical distance from others who are not from their household. During the surge, people are advised to stay at home except for essential activities, avoid all travel that is not essential, get tested if they have symptoms.

On Dec. 9, officials announced that Los Angeles County is currently projecting that 1 out of every 140 residents is currently infectious with COVID-19. That figure does not include people who are hospitalized, isolated or quarantined, but reflects people who are in the community, potentially spreading the virus.

As a reminder, the following sectors are closed: cardrooms, wineries, breweries, distilleries, museums, botanical gardens, zoos, aquariums, personal care including hair salons, barbershops, and nail salons and family entertainment centers.

On Dec. 8, Cedars-Sinai announced that it has launched COVID-19 testing at its three urgent care clinics in Playa Vista, Culver City and Beverly Hills. The test uses a nasopharyngeal swab to collect a sample from the patient, and results are available within 48 to 72 hours.

“We have expanded our testing options in an effort to support our patients and the community by giving them access to high-quality testing when they need it,” said Dr. Caroline Goldzweig, Cedars-Sinai Medical Network’s chief medical officer. “We wanted to expand access especially for frontline workers such as grocery store employees, first responders or any essential worker whose job puts them in close contact with others.”

Those getting tested do not need to be a Cedars-Sinai patient prior to booking their testing appointment, and the test costs $150 if a patient does not have insurance.    

For more information, visit www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/urgent-care.html.

Additionally, LA County launched a new COVID-19 home test collection program that allows certain County residents to do free testing from the comfort of home. The runs from Dec. 1, 2020 through Jan. 15, 2021. The program hopes to address the recent surge in demand for testing during the holiday season when people may risk exposure. To learn more, visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/la-county-holiday-home-test-collection/.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles County health officials prepare for the massive undertaking of administering COVID-19 vaccinations to millions of residents.

“Equity is a fundamental principle here,” Dr. Paul Simon, the county’s chief science officer said during a Dec. 10 online media briefing. “We want to make sure all people have access, and that those that are at greatest risk either because of higher risk of exposure, or greater risk of severe illness because of chronic health conditions or other factors have more immediate access to the vaccine.”

Simon stressed that initial doses of the vaccine will be strictly designated for health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities. The county anticipates receiving nearly 83,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine as early as next week, with the allotment then distributed to nine ultra-cold storage sites for subsequent delivery to 83 acute-care hospitals.

Vaccines for long-term care staff and residents will be distributed via a federal contract with CVS and Walgreens. After the initial distribution, Simon said the county expects to receive roughly 250,000 more doses the following week, and another 150,000 the week after that, with weekly deliveries of up to 250,000 doses anticipated beginning in the new year.

After the distribution to health care workers and long-term care staff and residents is completed, under “Phase 1A” of the plan, priority will then move to “essential workers” and then people at highest risk of severe illness from the virus, including seniors or those with underlying health conditions. When the vaccine will become available to the general public remains unclear.

Beginning Dec. 10, Californians will have the option to receive notifications on their smartphones if they’ve been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

The app, called CA Notify, hopes to support the state’s contact tracing efforts using Bluetooth technology. Once activated on a smartphone, users are simply instructed to leave Bluetooth on and then the app will send them alerts if they were in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. The app does not track the user’s location. To learn more, visit https://canotify.uchealth.edu/. If someone who is COVID-19 positive needs additional information, they should call toll-free at 1-833-540-0473. Other residents should continue to call 211 for resources or more information.

The post COVID-19 Update in Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Holiday festivities may be curtailed this year, but holiday lights are shining as brightly as ever in Beverly Hills and the Southland. The Courier has put together a list of illuminated landmarks a driving distance away. New drive-thru experiences have popped up this year, as well.

The holiday brilliance begins here in Beverly Hills. White lights twinkle on palm trees.  And Rodeo Drive has become an imaginary runway, adorned with metallic-hued mannequins in elaborate attire.

“The spirit is shining through on residential streets as well. The Beverly Drive home of “Million Dollar Listing L.A.” star Josh Flagg and his husband, Bobby Boyd is one notable example.

“Our theme is always ‘Home Alone’ meets Hallmark Christmas movie,” Boyd told the Courier.

“This year, I really went crazy, especially with the backyard. I had some help. I always use Holiday Lighting Specialists outside and Dr. Christmas for the interior.”

“I don’t ask questions at this point,” noted Flagg. “I just show up and every year Bobby makes it a winter wonderland.”

Boyd said his memories of annual Christmas celebrations growing up continue to inspire him.

“Every year without fail, I have decorated. Even when I was in college and had a small apartment, I always had a tree.”

Thus far, the Flagg-Boyd residence is garnering rave reviews.

“We’ve had handwritten notes from neighbors thanking us for brightening things up. Kids are ringing the bell. It’s all so rewarding. I put my blood, sweat and tears into it. Every year it changes a little,” said Boyd.

In the middle of a pandemic, nostalgia provides much-needed comfort to all.

“I’ve had friends get teary-eyed when they come in to see all the fireplaces on and all the decorations. It’s not so much about seeing something beautiful. It’s about being transported back to when you were a kid. I think right now we all need to see the world through a childlike lens. It doesn’t matter how old you are.”

Outside the City, numerous light displays can be enjoyed from the safety and comfort of your vehicle or in socially-distanced walking settings. Here are some highlights:

Dodgers Holiday Festival

From now through Dec. 24, the 2020 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers are hosting a nighttime drive-thru Holiday Festival. Cruise through Lot 10 at Chavez Revine for a light show, LED video displays, fake snow and interactive displays honoring the Dodgers’ World Championship and celebrating the holidays. Admission starts at $55 per vehicle/ticket. Closed Dec 7-8.

https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/fans/holiday-festival

Grand Park, Downtown Los Angeles

While Grand Park is not hosting its annual Winter Glow this year, a new public art installation will be coupled with holiday lights. Beginning Dec. 9, Grand Park will present “Ground our Present, Dot our Future,” featuring floor markers with positive messages of hope that encourage social connectivity and cohesion. Large colored decals will “dot” the Park’s walkways with reflections and quotes about 2020 from everyday Angelenos crowdsourced through seven partner organizations including The Chinese American Museum, DUBLAB, Museum of Art and History, Headwraps in the Park, Kayamanan ng Lahi, Solidarity for Sanctuary and dA Center for the Arts. To highlight the public art installation and create a festive ambience, Grand Park will wrap its trees in holiday lights and light up the park’s historic Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain with a rainbow of colors. Additionally, the Holiday Tree on the Jerry Moss Plaza is lit up in the evenings. Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

grandparkla.org

The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Journey

With the holiday spirit at an all-time low, Santa Claus has had to make an emergency landing at the Pomona County Fairgrounds. The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Journey is a drive-thru event at the Fairplex in Pomona that runs through Jan. 3. Guests can  experience elves coming to the aid of Santa Claus as they drive through toy workshops, gingerbread villages and other seasonal scenes. The experience will be narrated and include music that can be heard through smartphones running Android or iOS. Tickets start at $24.95 for adults and $19.99 for children. Fairplex in Pomona, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. 213-267-8786.

elfontheshelfjourney.com

Holiday Road Drive-Thru Holiday Experience

The same team that presented the popular Halloween drive-thru,  Nights of the Jack, has created Holiday Road. The drive-thru  experience takes place at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. Expect larger-than-life holiday installations, thousands of Christmas lights, Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, the North Pole, Gingerbread Lane, Christmas tree forests, countless candy canes and more through Jan. 10.  King Gillette Ranch is located at 26800 Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas. Tickets are priced per vehicle.

https://www.holidayroadusa.com/

Glow

Music and lights are lighting up the grounds of the South Coast Botanic Garden this holiday season with a walk-through art installation called “Glow” that mixes music, lights and an underwater vibe. It will take place nightly from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the garden through Jan. 10. Several spots at the 87-acre venue, including the Bohannon Rose Garden, the Banyan Grove, the Desert Collection and the Living Wall, will be outfitted with light installations meant to make people feel like they’re in rivers and the ocean. The lights will be paired with electropop and surf music created specifically for this exhibition. Tickets are $24.95 per person for members, $34.95 per person for non-members. Additionally, guests can find the Elf in the Garden this Holiday Season.The beloved character from Chanda Bell and Carol V. Aebersold’s “Elf on the Shelf” is breaking free from quarantine and “hiding” in different areas of the Garden. He will move around the Garden each week leading up to Christmas. South Coast Botanic Garden is located at 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula.

southcoastbotanicgarden.org

Christmas Tree Lane, Altadena

Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena is recognized as the oldest large-scale outdoor Christmas display in the world. The one-mile long drive lined with cedars is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated as the California State Landmark No. 990. Through Jan. 7, the cedars will sparkle with the glow of over 10,000 holiday lights as it transforms into Christmas Tree Lane. Christmas Tree lane is located on Santa Rosa Avenue, between Woodbury Avenue in Altadena. Visitors are encouraged to first download the app at the Lane’s official website for additional details about the destination.

https://christmastreelane.net/news-events/

Winterlit Celebration, Santa Monica

Winterlit returns to Downtown Santa Monica to brighten up the holiday season. Third Street Promenade has transformed into an immersive holiday experience. Tens of thousands of festive lights and flowing garland bedeck the Promenade, 2nd and 4th streets, along with the official City of Santa Monica 24-foot-tall holiday tree. Nightly menorah lightings will celebrate the Festival of Lights this Hanukkah season from Dec. 10-18. The lightings will begin at Sundown and take place on the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade (located between Santa Monica Boulevard and Arizona Avenue). Additionally, holiday-inspired art installations have come to life at eleven stops throughout Third Street Promenade featuring window displays in storefronts and murals created by local artists who were asked to interpret what the holiday season means to them during an unprecedented year that has been anything but normal. Guests can enjoy a self-guided art tour throughout the Promenade, and in other areas of Downtown Santa Monica, at their leisure and from a safe distance. Parking is widely available in the downtown structures including the Santa Monica Public Library or Parking Structures 9 and 10 just north of Wilshire Boulevard. Biking, walking and public transit are encouraged.

https://www.downtownsm.com/winterlit

WonderLAnd

For a few weeks this winter, Woodland Hills is turning into the North Pole. From now through Dec. 23 and Dec. 26-28, the team behind  Haunt’Oween is now presenting WonderLAnd. The drive-thru features a half-dozen light tunnels as well as house facades decorated for the holidays, blasts of fake snow, flashing trees, thousands of lights, lawn decorations and other themed displays. WonderLAnd is located at 6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills. For more information, call 805-719-1906

https://www.socalwonderland.com/

Six Flags Magic Mountain Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience

For the first time ever at Six Flags Magic Mountain, guests can experience millions of lights, festive holiday decor, and seasonal music favorites in a drive-thru nighttime spectacular. Through Jan. 3, Magic Mountain will transform into a winter wonderland emblazoned with millions of colorful lights. Holiday in the Park will allow guests to drive their cars along the park’s pathways and past illuminated displays. Expect dancing lights set to holiday tunes, 30-foot-tall ornaments, fake snow, appearances from Santa and Mrs. Claus and a car show from West Coast Customs. Holiday in the Park Drive-thru Experience includes eight distinctly different areas throughout the park, beloved holiday characters decked out for the holidays, a drive-by featuring Santa and his elves and more. Guests can also go for a ride in The Underground featuring several of the famous West Coast Customs show cars on display.

https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/events/holiday-in-the-park

Throughout the season, the Courier encourages readers to submit photos of local homes and businesses displaying the holiday spirit, along with a brief description thereof. Please send an email with “Holiday Lights” on the subject line to: Editorial@bhcourier.com

The post Holiday Lights Shining Brightly in Beverly Hills and Beyond appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“Deep respect, deep empathy for all Californians [in] this very challenging and critical moment,” Newsom said during a press conference. “We have light at the end of the tunnel. This is not a marathon any longer. This is a sprint. We are not asking for any of what we are proposing today to be permanent.”

The order would be triggered when ICU bed availability in a select region falls below 15 percent. Although no region met that criteria as of Thursday, Newsom said the Southern California region could meet it in a matter of days.

Newsom stressed that ICU admissions due to COVID-19 have spiked by 67 percent in recent weeks, in conjunction with a statewide surge in cases that has also seen a disturbing rise in fatalities. He said the state reported just 14 deaths on Nov. 2, but now has had back-to-back days of 113 deaths, with nearly 1,000 fatalities in last four days.

“If we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom said.

When triggered, the stay-at-home order will be in place for three weeks and will bar gatherings of people from different households. It will also force the closure of all bars, wineries, personal service businesses, hair salons and barbershops. Schools with waivers will be allowed to remain open, along with “critical infrastructure” and retail stores, which will be limited to 20 percent of capacity. Restaurants will be restricted to takeout and delivery service only.

“We want to diminish the amount of mixing and we really need to send that message broadly, and we need to create less opportunities for the kind of contact and extended period and extended time of contact that occurs in many of these establishments,” Newsom said.

Newsom said the state will also restrict non-essential travel, restricting hotel and motel use to guests traveling for “essential” purposes.

Unlike the state’s four-tiered coronavirus monitoring system, which grades every county individually, the new stay-at-home order will apply more broadly to five “regions” in the state: Southern California, the Bay Area, the greater Sacramento area, Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley.

Newsom again said the state has 11 medical “surge” facilities on standby to open and provide hospital bed space. One of them, the ARCO/Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, will open Dec. 9, and another is set to open in Imperial County.

Included among the other nine surge centers that could be opened are the Fairview Development Center in Orange County, the Riverside County Fairgrounds, the vacant Sears building in Riverside and Palomar Medical Center in San Diego, Newsom said.

“We will get to that vaccine and we will get back to not only normalcy, but the resiliency and vibrancy that we have come to expect and what we were enjoying before this pandemic for many many years prior to 2020,” said Newsom.

The post Newsom Issues New Regional Stay-At-Home Order appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The limited Stay at Home Order is the latest restriction in a week that began with Newsom sounding an alarm about the surge in COVID-19 cases. On Nov. 17, L.A. County health officials announced new safeguards and restrictions to help slow the spread. Effective Nov. 20, those measures include: limiting maximum capacity to 25 percent for non-essential indoor businesses such as retail stores, offices and personal care services; limiting maximum capacity to 50 percent for outdoor restaurants, breweries and wineries; limiting maximum capacity to 50 percent at cardrooms, outdoor mini-golf, go-karts and batting cages; requiring appointments-only at personal care establishments; prohibiting services that require customers to remove their face coverings such as facials and shaves and not allowing food and drinks to be served to customers at these establishments.

Outdoor gatherings remain the only gatherings permitted, with a maximum of 15 people and members of no more than three households. A curfew was originally imposed for restaurants, breweries, wineries, bars and all other non-essential retail establishments from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. That curfew has since been expanded into the Limited Stay at Home order for all non-essential gatherings.

In recent weeks, the County’s average daily rate of new cases per 100,000 residents has nearly doubled. Nationwide, more than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the last seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 29 new deaths and 5,031  new cases of COVID-19 as of Nov. 19.  This is the highest number of daily new cases L.A. County has experienced throughout the pandemic. Over the last two days, there have been a total of 8,975 new cases reported; a two-day average of nearly 4,500 daily new cases.

According to Public Health, as of Nov. 19, “The County is experiencing a dangerous acceleration of cases that is increasing at a higher rate than the July surge. From June 20 through July 3, the seven-day average increase in new cases was 47 percent. From Oct. 28 through Nov. 10, the 7-day average increase in new cases is surging at 68 percent.”

To date, the agency has identified 353,232 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County, and a total of 7,363 deaths. In Beverly Hills, there have been 870 cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths.

If the five-day average of cases in the County reaches or exceeds 4,000 or if hospitalizations reach more than 1,750 per day, more restrictions will be implemented. The restrictions include prohibiting outdoor dining and/or a more restrictive Safer at Home order with a three-week curfew.

“California is experiencing the fastest increase in cases we have seen yet–faster than what we experienced at the outset of the pandemic or even this summer,” Newsom said on Nov. 16. “The spread of COVID-19, if left unchecked, could quickly overwhelm our health care system and lead to catastrophic outcomes. That is why we are pulling an emergency brake in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Now is the time to do all we can –government at all levels and Californians across the state–to flatten the curve again as we have done before.”

Earlier this week, Newsom ordered 28 counties moved back into the most serious Purple Tier 1. Nine counties moved back into Red Tier 2 and two counties moved back into Orange Tier 3. Out of California’s 58 counties, 41 are now in the most restrictive tier, accounting for 94.1 percent of the state’s population.

In Beverly Hills, local businesses are feeling the effects of the restrictions.

“We are all in this together,” Dani Faraj, owner of Brighton Salon, told the Courier. “It’s not affecting my salon because we are operating at 25 percent anyway. We welcome the new rules to ensure clients and stylists safety and we continue to support our City in hopes to get COVID-19 behind us soon with promise of new vaccines.”

Faraj added: “I do, however, hear from clients that visit our favorite restaurants such as Il Pastaio, Villa Alloro and E. Baldi. They are going to be affected because they have done so much outdoor improvement to accommodate the clients that eat at their establishments. I guess no more late-night dinners after 10 p.m. But this is much better than a full lockdown which I think nobody can handle anymore. Let’s continue to work together and reopen our City.”

Other business owners feel differently.

“Of course, this decision is outrageous,” a Beverly Hills facialist told the Courier. “Medical spas are open where they do Botox, lip injections and laser treatments, as well as dental hygienists working with their patients’ mouths open.”

The increase in COVID-19 cases comes as millions of families are finalizing Thanksgiving plans. On Nov. 13, California’s Department of Public Health issued a travel advisory, urging all travelers entering the state to observe a 14-day self-quarantine upon arrival. The same day, President-elect Joe Biden urged Americans to be cautious and limit their celebrations as much as possible.

“There should be no group more than 10 people in one room inside the home,” Biden said. “That’s what they’re telling me.” On Nov. 19, the CDC issued a statement recommending that Americans avoid travel, insisting that the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with members of your household.

“We send our deepest condolences to the many people across our County grieving a family member or friend who has passed away due to COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Right now, the kindest thing we can do for our family, friends and neighbors is to protect each other from potentially becoming infected with COVID-19. As cases are surging and hospitalizations are increasing, we need to stay home as much as possible, protect those who are elderly or have underlying health conditions, and stop gathering with people not in our households.”

The Public Health statement of Nov. 19 continued:

“Celebrating the holidays will be very different this year. The safest way is to celebrate only with members of your household, meaning those with whom you currently live with, and to connect virtually with other friends and family who live outside of your household. Other safe options include decorating your home and enjoying a drive around neighborhoods seeing other decorations. Public Health also recommends to shop early for groceries and other needed items to avoid crowds or have groceries delivered to you.”

Health officials continue to stress that it is important if someone thinks they could be positive for COVID-19 and are awaiting testing results, to stay at home and act as if they are positive. This means self-isolating for 10 days and 24 hours after symptoms and fever subside.

If a person has a positive lab result for COVID-19, expect a public health specialist from Public Health to contact them by phone to interview about possible exposures and to identify others who may have also been exposed to the infection. The information is protected and cannot be shared with others except in emergency situations. Public Health has a dedicated call line for confirmed cases of COVID-19.

For more information, call 1-833-
540-0473.

The post Limited Stay at Home Order Takes Effect appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Prop. 20 would have increased the list of felonies ineligible for early parole. On Nov. 3, it suffered a major repudiation, with 62 percent of votes currently tallied against it. The current count in Los Angeles County is even more opposed, with nearly 66 percent of votes against. The final vote has not been certified yet.

Voters also seem to be on the cusp of defeating Prop. 15, or the Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative. The measure would amend the California constitution to tax most large commercial properties based on their market value, as opposed to their purchasing price. The initiative takes aim at Prop. 13, an anti-tax measure passed in 1978 that fixed property taxes to a building’s purchase price.

“Proposition 15 will raise taxes on commercial properties, undoing the protections of Proposition 13 and leading to higher costs for all businesses, including small businesses,” the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce (BHCC) stated in its endorsement. Prop. 15 is currently narrowly losing, with nearly 52 percent of voters casting “no” ballots.

The Chamber also came out against Prop. 21, the latest attempt to pass rent control measures. The initiative would have empowered local governments to set rent control on housing built more than 15 years ago, replacing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act passed in 1995. Prop. 21 failed, with nearly 60 percent of voters opposing it.

“The Chamber has been working hard to advocate for businesses and is pleased to see that Proposition 21, which would have discouraged expansion of housing stock, was defeated, and that Proposition 15 is also currently trailing,” BHCC Vice President of Economic Development and Government Affairs Blair Schlecter said in a statement to the Courier.

The post State Proposition Results Mixed appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

• Eastbound Wilshire Boulevard between Tower Drive and San Vicente Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes.

• Westbound Wilshire Boulevard between about 500 ft. west of La Jolla Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes.

• Northbound San Vicente Boulevard between Warner Drive and Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to a single lane.

• Southbound San Vicente Boulevard between 6th St. and Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to a single lane.

The following detours are currently in place:

• Northbound San Vicente Boulevard to westbound Olympic Boulevard to northbound La Cienega Boulevard

• Southbound San Vicente Boulevard to eastbound 3rd Street. to southbound Fairfax Avenue

• Westbound Wilshire Boulevard to southbound Fairfax Avenue to westbound Olympic Boulevard

• Eastbound Wilshire Boulevard to northbound Robertson Boulevard to eastbound 3rd Street.

Additionally, intermittent single-lane closures will be implemented on Wilshire Boulevard, reducing eastbound and westbound traffic to one lane. These lane reductions are anticipated to be in place during off-peak hours.

The post Metro K-Rail Closures Continue appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In fact, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has recorded the highest number of new cases  since late-August not associated with backlog cases.

On Oct. 29, Public Health confirmed 19 new deaths and 1,745 new cases of COVID-19.

This increase in cases coincides with the reopening of several sectors, as well as increased gatherings associated with watching sport competitions, including celebrating the Lakers and Dodgers victories.

“At many of these gatherings, people were together without distancing or wearing face coverings, often inside, and unfortunately, at times they were transmitting COVID-19 to other people,” said a statement this week from Public Health.

The County’s daily case numbers continue to keep the County in the State’s most restrictive purple tier (Tier 1) in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Currently, the County’s adjusted case rate is 8.0 new cases per 100,000 people. This is an increase from the 7.6 adjusted case rate reported last week. In order to move to the next less restrictive Tier, the County must reduce its daily number of new cases to seven or fewer new cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks.

To date, Public Health has identified 303,369 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 7,040 deaths. The number of confirmed cases in Beverly Hills is 752.

The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has stabilized. The number has remained below 1,000 daily hospitalized patients for most of September and October, and the County continues to average under 800 hospitalized patients per day. This continued stability in hospitalization numbers while the numbers of daily cases increase is likely due to a combination of three factors: First, younger people are primarily driving the increasing numbers of new cases and this is a group that may be less likely to become seriously ill and require hospitalization from COVID-19. Second, for those who do require hospitalization, the ability of health care providers to offer better therapeutic treatments often leads to shortened length of stays; and third, there is often a lag between the time we start to see increases in cases and subsequent increases in hospitalizations.

Public Health notes that those who have been part of celebratory crowds in close contact with others not wearing face coverings may have been exposed to COVID-19. They should take the following precautions over the next 14 days: remain apart from others as much as possible, get tested, and monitor themselves for symptoms of illness. If they know they were in contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, they need to quarantine for the full 14 days, even if they have a negative test.

“Many people, especially our younger residents, are interacting with each other while not adhering to recommended prevention measures, while our older residents continue to experience the results of increased spread with the worst health outcomes, including death. We have learned a lot about how this infection is transmitted since the beginning of the pandemic and it’s useful to reflect on what we know so that we can better understand the risks associated with certain activities. Activities that have been linked to a high number of COVID-19 cases include parties, wedding celebrations, in-person dining at bars and restaurants, and on and off-campus socializing at universities,” said Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of Public Health.

For more information and resources, visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

The post Sports Gatherings Blamed for Spike in COVID-19 Cases appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“To everyone who is mourning people who have passed away from COVID-19, we keep you in our thoughts and in our hearts,” said Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer in a statement. “As more businesses and schools are reopening, let’s remind each other that diligence in slowing the spread of COVID-19 has brought us to a place where these openings are possible.”

As of Oct. 1, the County reported 1, 148 new cases with a total of 271,371. The County also registered 35 deaths, putting it at a total of 6,610 since the beginning of the pandemic. Beverly Hills saw 27 new cases, bringing the City to a total of 700.

Public Health noted that deaths have continued to decline to levels not seen since April. The agency attributed this to declining numbers of cases and hospitalizations, and improvements in treatment for COVID-19 patients. Also, Public Health has observed an increase in the ratio of infections among younger individuals who are less likely to die as a result. This also brings down the daily average of deaths.

Another bright metric, the County has seen a significant decline in the percentage of tests coming back positive. While the County was clocking an average of 8 percent in July, that figure has dropped to about 3 percent in September. This is the lowest test positivity rate seen since the beginning of the pandemic.

Heartened by the numbers, Public Health announced on Sept. 30 that nail salons and indoor shopping malls will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity, although mall food courts and common areas will remain closed. In order to avoid  a potential crush of cases, Public Health is staggering the reopenings. Nail salons can resume business under State guidelines starting Oct. 1. Indoor malls must wait until Oct. 7.  The move comes after multiple lawsuits against the County for the closures, the most recent filed on Sept. 28 by the owner of the Westfield chain of malls.

Public Health also said that cardrooms could reopen for outdoor gaming starting Oct. 5. Outdoor playgrounds may reopen at the approval and discretion of cities and the County Parks and Recreation Department. Parents and children ages 2-years-old and older must wear masks and follow social distancing rules. Indoor playgrounds remained closed.

On Sept. 29, Public Health announced plans to allow for school waiver applications for grades TK-2. The announcement came one day after a vote on the matter by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Public Health will begin accepting applications in early October for 30 schools per week, with priority given to schools that serve underprivileged student bodies.

“We will be reviewing waiver applications meticulously so that we can be assured that the schools have the protocols in place that will minimize COVID-19 spread as much as possible,” Ferrer said in a Sept. 29 statement.

Despite the improvements, LA County remains in the State’s most restrictive category for reopening, Tier 1. Public Health explained in its Sept. 29 statement that its daily case rate of 7.3 is still too high.

“In order to keep businesses and schools open and progress to Tier 2, we need to continue to be extraordinarily cautious and to use all of the tools we have that have been proven to reduce transmission.”

The post No Labor Day COVID-19 Spike appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“We have seen a slight increase in cases recently which we are watching closely, especially since these increases happened after the Labor Day weekend,” Public Health said in a statement. 

As of Sept. 23, Public Health has documented 31 new deaths and 1,265 new cases of COVID-19. This brings the County’s case total to 263,333, with a sobering 6,423 deaths. 

“We are thinking every day of the many people across L.A. County who have lost a loved one or friend to COVID-19. We are so sorry for your loss.,” Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “For so many people, COVID-19 has resulted in serious illness and death. These people are our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues and our loved ones.” 

With 779 individuals currently hospitalized due to the virus, daily hospitalizations have declined and to slightly lower than the numbers seen in early April. For most of September, the number of hospitalizations COVID-19 patients has remained below 1,000–a reflection of a declining transmission rate and improvements in treatment resulting in shorter hospital stays. 

Reassuringly, deaths have charted a consistent decline since the County’s peak two months ago. In late July, Public Health reported an average of 43 deaths a day, and on September 9, that average shrank to 20. Public Health still sounded a note of caution, warning that activities from Labor Day may translate into more hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks. 

Another optimistic marker in the County’s fight against the virus, the percent of tests that return positive results has fallen significantly from about 8 percent in July to about 3 percent in September. 

Los Angeles County remains in Tier 1, or purple, the state’s highest risk level in its color-coded system. If the County maintains a low positivity rate and the numbers remain small for two consecutive weeks, the County will enter into a lower risk level, allowing it to lift restrictions on businesses and schools. 

The California Department of Public Health unveiled new guidelines on Sept. 

22 allowing nail salons to resume indoor services, even in Tier 1 counties. Previously, nail salons were prohibited from reopening until its county fell to Tier 2. Still, counties maintain discretion over the choice, and Public Health has indicated that the County will not rush to any decision. 

“Public Health will be consulting with the Board of Supervisors to determine the timing of adopting changes to the County Health Officer Order that would allow nail salons to resume modified indoor operations,” Public Health said in a statement. 

The data released by Public Health continues to highlight the virus’s disproportionate impact on people of color and residents from disadvantaged areas. Even there, the gap in health outcomes continue to narrow. 

Data continues to expose disproportionality in COVID-19 health outcomes by race, ethnicity and area-poverty. However, Public Health sees signs gaps are starting to close. While Latinx residents continue to die at twice the rate of white residents, the disparity has shrunk from 4 to 2 times the rate. The difference between Black residents and white residents has virtually disappeared. During peak transmission in July, Black Angelenos died at 3 times the rate of white residents. Now, both demographics show similar rates of death. 

At the July peak, the mortality rate for people living in communities with the highest levels of poverty was 6.5 deaths per 100,000 people. This was over 3 times higher than that of people who were living in communities with the lowest levels of poverty. As of Sept. 13, the mortality rate among people living in areas with the highest levels of poverty dropped to 3.2 deaths per 100,000 people, which while much lower than the July rates, remains 3 times that of people living in the lowest levels of poverty. 

“There is still much work to do to close these gaps,” Public Health said, “and we will continue to work with partners who are addressing the inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities that are essential for optimal health and well-being.” 

The post L.A. County Remains at Tier 1 Risk Level appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The data, which is released and updated daily by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), includes the cumulative number of confirmed cases and deaths associated with COVID-19 for both healthcare workers and residents in skilled nursing facilities. The state requires all skilled nursing facilities to report their data. Some 87 percent have done so, while 13 percent have not. The CDPH thus warns that the count is not comprehensive. 

As of May 6, California has reported 2,254 COVID-19 deaths, 763 of them in a nursing home, accounting for 33.85 percent of the state’s death toll. Nursing homes constitute 34.76 percent of the COVID-19 infected populous. 

The grim statistics have made nursing homes a point of contention as the virus continues to claim the lives of the vulnerable senior population, already in the higher risk age group. Los Angeles County reports that 425 residents of institutional settings, such as skilled nursing homes, have died of COVID-19, accounting for roughly 45 percent of the County’s death toll from the pandemic. 

The Courier has reviewed data filed by state and local health departments, which reveals that some 23 deaths have occurred in 16 facilities in the area bordering or close to Beverly Hills.

That area includes West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Culver City, Brentwood as well as the mid-Wilshire district. 

A Closer Look 

Local institutions include Silverado Beverly Place, an assisted living facility specializing in memory care. The upscale, 125-bed facility is located half a mile north of The Grove shopping center. Since late March, it has reported 45 residents and 29 healthcare employees with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Twelve have died. 

The Beverly Hills Carmel South assisted living home on Burton Way features a landscaped courtyard and outdoor patios, fitness classes and daily afternoon tea, among other amenities. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH), 15 residents and eight healthcare employees have confirmed cases of COVID-19. Six have died. 

The Rehabilitation Center, a skilled nursing facility on La Brea Boulevard in West Hollywood, currently houses 136 residents. The CDPH conducted a “COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey” on April 30 and found the facility to be in compliance with infection control. However, the LACDPH reports that 23 residents and 13 healthcare employees there have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Four have died. 

The Rehabilitation Centre Of Beverly Hills located on South San Vicente Boulevard features 150 beds, and offers a restorative nursing program, social services and recreational therapy. According to the LACDPH, the facility has reported 29 residents and 27 healthcare employees with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Two have died. On April 4, the CDPH published a report concluding that the state’s Infection Prevention and Control statute was not being met at the facility. 

Protecting Patients or Facilities 

Both the CDC as well as state and local departments of health have promulated new guidelines and requirements to support the safe and sustained operation of skilled nursing facilities. California Governor Gavin Newsom has indicated that protecting the occupants of nursing homes is a top priority. However, advocates for seniors fear that he may be on the verge of approving a request from the powerful hospital and assisted living lobbying groups to provide sweeping immunity from civil and criminal liability during the pandemic. No official announcement has yet been made on whether Newsom will deem the state’s nursing homes in need of the added protection. Nationwide, at least 15 other states have already passed such laws. 

The post Local Nursing Homes Face Challenges appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

On Feb. 24, roughly 20,000 people from all over the world came together in mourning for the memorial service celebrating the lives of Kobe and Gianna Bryant at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles. In the crowd, men and women from all walks of life–children in strollers, seniors with walkers–locals and non-locals outfitted in Bryant Laker jerseys and graphic t-shirts with the faces of Bryant and Gianna with halos over their heads. The venue was completely sold out. Upon entering, guests were given a bag with a black cotton t-shirt printed with photos of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, a black circular pin with the letters ‘KB’ in yellow, a small pamphlet with pictures, and their ticket for, “A Celebration of Life: Kobe & Gianna Bryant” dated “2.24.20 | 10 a. m.” 

The star-studded memorial began with Beyonce Knowles-Carter, wearing a gold suit and purple nail polish that spelled out the names “Kobe” and “Gigi.” Her live performance included “XO” and “Halo.” Behind Beyonce stood a gospel choir in white suits. 

Very rarely, there is someone so unique who is able to transcend beyond one community because it could be said he or she belongs to all communities. In many ways, Kobe Bryant was that person. 

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Italy, Kobe returned to Philadelphia for high school. At his alma mater, Lower Merion High School, grieving fans brought flowers, jerseys, basketballs, and other memorabilia to a memorial. 

Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers at age 17, Bryant never left for the entirety of his 20-year basketball career. The 18-time NBA All-Star, Bryant led the Lakers to win five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players in history. 

Laker luminaries including Magic Johnson, Phil Jackson, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Elgin Baylor, Michael Cooper, Pau Gasol, Byron Scott, Metta World Peace, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic and former trainer Gary Vitti were also in attendance. In addition, current Lakers LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Kyle Kuzma, JaVale McGee and owner Jeanie Buss were present. 

The crowd saw the likes of Bill Russell, one of the greatest Boston Celtics and long- time rival; Dwayne Wade, retired Miami Heat star; and Russell Westbrook, point guard for the Houston Rockets was named the NBA’s MVP in 2016-17. Players who have been booed at Laker home games were welcomed as part of the Laker family. Players who requested to be traded over feuds within teams were sitting somberly together like family. 

Michael Jordan was among the people eulogizing Bryant. Even a world-famous NBA legend had a waterfall of tears streaming uncontrollably down his face. “When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died,” Jordan said in his speech. “And as I look in this arena and across the globe, a piece of you died, or else you wouldn’t be here.” Bryant idolized Jordan since childhood and the two met on the court when Bryant was 18-years-old, during a 1996 Laker-Bulls game. To see a seemingly invincible figure such as Jordan sobbing live was nothing if not stunning. 

Angeleno’s notoriously spend a great deal of time driving, and it is impossible to traverse the city without seeing Bryant and Gianna’s face, name, or number. Is it not just basketball fans who are mourning, but thousands upon thousands of people who he inspired. Murals of the father-daughter duo decorate the streets of our city. City busses flash the words “RIP KOBE.” Storefronts have signs that read, “We miss you Kobe and Gigi.” Billboards with a photo of Bryant holding a basketball that say, “Mamba Forever,” and Pink Dot on Sunset Boulevard has painted Bryant and Gianna’s jersey with their respective number on the exterior. 

In the same way Bryant belonged to Los Angeles, he belonged to his widow, Vanessa Bryant, and his three daughters left behind: Natalia, 17; Bianka, 3; and Capri, who is less than a year old. On Feb. 24, in her first public appearance since the death of her husband, Vanessa bravely stood before thousands of people at Staples Center and the entire world. Vanessa first eulogized her daughter, Gianna, her baby girl whose life ended at the tender age of 13. She said, “I’ll never get to see my baby girl walk down the aisle, have a father-daughter dance with her daddy, dance on the dance floor with me, or have babies of her own.” Vanessa continued, “Now they [her daughters] won’t have their daddy and sister here to teach them [basketball], and that is truly a loss I do not understand.” 

Vanessa then directed her words straight to her late husband, telling him, “We’re still the best team…We love you both and miss you forever and always. Mommy.” Bryant belonged to Vanessa. Bryant belonged to Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. 

Kobe Bryant belonged to many, including our community. Bryant will forever remain in history as first and foremost, our Los Angeles Laker. 

The post Los Angeles Honors Kobe and Gianna Bryant at Staples Center appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Fresh from a heated debate in Beverly Hills with USC Professor of Political Science Robert Shrum on Feb. 17, the Courier connected with Dershowitz this week for an exclusive interview in which he delves further into his stance that there is no such crime as abuse of power. 

BHC: You were quite vocal in your opposition to the impeachment of President Trump. You even wrote a book about it. Now that it came to pass and he was acquitted, what lessons do you think the country has learned? 

Alan Dershowitz: I don’t think they’ve learned any lessons. I don’t think anybody has changed their minds. We live in an extremely divided atmosphere. I would have hoped that the lesson would be that you don’t impeach a president unless there’s strong bipartisan support and unless there’s overwhelming support in the country. That would be the appropriate lesson. That’s the lesson that Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wanted impeachment to serve. But the democrats have decided to weaponize it for partisan purposes. Just like the republicans weaponized it back when Bill Clinton was impeached. So, I don’t think Americans are in the mood these 

days to learn lessons. They just stick by their entrenched views and everything that happens just reinforces those views. We live in very, very dangerous times. People aren’t open minded. People just don’t want to hear opinions or change their minds or listen to the facts. They just go with their prejudices on all sides. 

Do you feel that his acquittal will be tainted by the fact that there were no witnesses? 

No. Absolutely not. There should have never been witnesses because there was never an impeachable allegation. That is, none of the allegations against him were constitutionally impeachable. There’s no such impeachable offense as abuse of power, obstruction of justice. So no matter how many witnesses were called, it would have still been unconstitutional to impeach him under those grounds. 

During the Clinton impeachment you argued that no underlying statutory crime was required for an impeachment. But you argued the opposite for Trump. What changed your mind in the interim? 

No. I still don’t think there’s an underlying statutory crime that was required. I think criminal type behavior akin to treason or bribery is required. I didn’t think that back in 1998, or whenever it was, because that wasn’t the issue. The issue in those days was whether or not Clinton’s perjury was a high crime. And so I didn’t focus on that then. I did the research. That’s what scholars do, they do more research and they change their views. 

And I changed my mind, the way many scholars did. I don’t change my views according to anything partisan. I change my views because I know more and I learn more and there’s more scholarship and more research. I think now you need criminal type behavior akin to treason and bribery. That doesn’t have to be a statutory crime, but it has to be criminal-like behavior. It can’t be anything like abuse of power or obstruction of Congress, I’m convinced of that. 

Can you expand on what you said at trial, that a president acting in good faith for the good of the country can’t be liable for abuse of power? 

I didn’t say that. If you read what i said, I said, as long as he acts legally. If he does anything unlawful, he can be charged. There’s no such crime or impeachable offense as abuse of power. It’s just not in the Constitution. 

When is a President’s abuse of power an impeachable offense? 

Never. Abuse of power is simply never an impeachable offense. Never. No matter what. You have to charge a crime or a criminal type behavior. So abuse of power is never [that]. Forty of our 45 presidents have been accused of abuse of power and I said that on the floor of the Senate. 

Can you clarify exactly what is you said on the Senate floor and share the precise now infamous quote? 

What I said was, the only thing that would make a quid pro quo unlawful is if the quo were in some way illegal. In other words, if it’s illegal, then a quid pro quo would be unlawful. That if there were corrupt motives, or a kick-back, then that would be impeachable. But abuse of power, that in and of itself is not a constitutionally permissible criteria for impeachment. 

At last night’s debate, Professor Shrum said, “I think what the President did to the Ukrainians was exactly extortion.” Do you agree with that and if so would that be sufficient grounds for impeachment? 

No of course not. They should have charged him with it. If they had charged him with extortion, that would have been an impeachable offense. Then we’d have a very different process. But the democrats in the house did not charge him with extortion. They charged him with abuse of power. You can’t just change it because Bob Shrum thinks it’s extortion. It’s not technically extortion under the law, but the more important thing is they didn’t charge him with extortion. Had they charged him with extortion, the whole debate would have been different. That would be an impeachable offense, extortion. Or bribery. Or perjury or anything of that kind. But you can’t impeach a president because you think he’s abused his power. Every president virtually has been accused of abusing his power. 

President Trump admitted he sent Rudy Giuliani, acting as his personal attorney, to Ukraine to negotiate a deal just days after the Senate voted to acquit him. How do you reconcile this? 

There’s nothing to reconcile. You have to charge a president with an impeachable offense. If they had charged him with an impeachable offense, then the evidence would be relevant. But when you don’t charge him with an impeachable offense… Let’s assume that they charged you with the crime of not being nice. There’d be no evidence. It’s not a crime not to be nice. You are nice. But it’s not a crime not to be nice. You have to charge an impeachable offense, that’s the key. And abuse of power is not an impeachable offense. It’s not in the Constitution. It wasn’t contemplated by the framers and it would be unconstitutional. It was unconstitutional to charge him for abuse of power. The House of Representatives acted unconstitutionally by charging him with abuse of power. That’s not an impeachable offense. That’s like charging him with not being nice. 

Was there anything wrong with him having sent Giuliani to negotiate a deal? 

That’s not the issue. That’s something you should vote on. If you think there’s something wrong, you should vote against him. If you don’t think there’s something wrong, well that’s for voting. That’s not my expertise. My expertise is, was it an impeachable offense? And abuse of power is not an impeachable offense. 

How important is the character of a president to a nation? 

A character of a president is very important in deciding who to vote for. But it’s utterly irrelevant in terms of impeachment. It’s very important to a nation, and that should be a factor in everybody’s decision of who to vote for. But it’s not relevant to the criteria for impeachment. 

Many who have followed your career have seen you change from a civil libertarian to a conservative outside the mainstream. 

Absolutely not. I’m one of the few civil libertarians left. All my positions are civil libertarian positions. What’s changed are many people on the left no longer care about civil liberties. They no longer care about due process or free speech. I haven’t changed one bit. I’ve taken the same position with regard to the impeachment of Richard Nixon, the impeachment of Bill Clinton and the impeachment of Donald Trump. Now you can criticize me for not changing, but I haven’t changed one bit. I’m still a liberal civil libertarian. 

How important is adhering to the Constitution to the continued prosperity of this county? 

I’m not so interested in the continued prosperity of the county, that’s up to the economists and others. I’m interested in the continued liberty of the country and the Constitution is critical to the liberty of the United States and to civil liberties and to due process. As I started my speech in the Senate, I’m here because I love my country and I love the Constitution and I’m not here on behalf of any particular individual. I’d be making exactly the same speech if it were Hillary Clinton or any other liberal democrat. 

How much of a threat to our civil liberties is the divisiveness that we’re now witnessing in the country? 

I think the divisiveness is very dangerous. I think today the people on the left pose at least as great a danger to civil liberties as people on right. People on the left today have neglected free speech, due process and open dialogue and the Constitution. They see the ends as justifying the means and I don’t believe that. 

Is truth an important value? 

Truth is an absolutely important value. Truth and consistency. And I’m appalled at how the democratic leaders lie about my speech. They distorted it and had me saying things the opposite of what I said. I don’t believed a president can do anything to get reelected. I think there were a lot of lies told on the floor of the senate by democrats. Particularly about my speech, they deliberately and willfully distorted what I said for their own partisan act. I heard lies from the democrats and it hurt me because I’m a democrat. 

What kind of damage do you think an impeachment proceeding brings to the country? 

I think it’s terrible damage. I think it weaponizes impeachment. It normalizes impeachment. It turns it into a partisan weapon. I think we will suffer the consequences of this impeachment for a long time. It never should have happened. 

With the people that you’ve represented, and you’ve described some of them in pretty harsh terms, how do you reconcile that within yourself? 

All clients are troubling. The First Amendment says every defendant has the right to a lawyer and I believe in that strongly and I will continue to represent the most controversial, the most despised people. And that’s required by our Constitution, and I support that. 

Who’s been your favorite client of all times or most interesting client? 

Natan Sharansky. Sharansky was a Soviet dissident who I defended when he was in Russia. He’s the one I most closely identified as a human being. Because he was a dissident. We could have easily exchanged places. He could have been the American lawyer and I could have been the Russian dissident, the Soviet dissident. 

Anything else you would like to share with Beverly Hills Courier readers? 

Yes. I hope everyone will ask themselves would they have passed the shoe on the other foot test. Would they be taking the same positions on impeachment, did they take the same positions on impeachment when Bill Clinton was impeached? What I demand is a single standard, a single standard for civil liberties, a single standard for justice, a single standard for impeachment. Today my civil liberties come out in favor of Trump. If Hillary Clinton had been elected, and she was getting impeached, I would be doing everything on her behalf and then people on the left would love me and people on the right would hate me. But that’s what it means to be a civil libertarian, you maintain the same position regardless if the person being impeached is a liberal or conservative or a republican or a democrat. 

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According to published reports, detectives with an Hawaiian Special Enforcement Unit located Redding in the early afternoon of Dec. 18 on Ali’i Drive in downtown Kona by the pier. Concurrently, two detectives and two sergeants from Beverly Hills arrived on O’ahu, believing Redding to be there. But, after they landed, they learned Redding had moved on to Kona. Beverly Hills law enforcement followed suit, arriving at 3 p.m. 

Redding has had prior brushes with the law. In 2013, he was charged with possession of marijuana and underage drinking. Redding is currently in custody in Hawaii and was arraigned on Dec. 19, with bail set at $250,000.

Redding waived extradition and as of press time, was expected to be transfered imminently. 

On Dec. 14, the day of the incident, video surveillance captured a perpetrator entering the Nessah Synagogue through an unlocked door at approximately 2 a.m. The lone male suspect moved through the building, ransacking the interior, overturning furniture and strewing printed material about. Several Jewish relics were damaged. After word of the attack spread across the City, residents gathered outside the “Do Not Cross” police tape that cordoned the Rexford block where the Synagogue is located. 

The Courier spoke with Council members Lili Bosse and Julian Gold after they inspected the damage inside the Synagogue shortly after it occurred. “Visually, when you walk in there, it’s enough to make you sick. It is profoundly emotional, and we’re just thankful no one was injured,” Gold told the Courier. Reflecting on the tragic attack at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, Gold said, “We never thought this would happen to us here.” 

Councilwoman Bosse, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, echoed a similar sentiment. “It is so painful to walk around a Synagogue in our community and see Torahs ripped on the floor and yamakas ripped and thrown on the floor,” Bosse said. 

The vandalism at Nessah Synagogue has attracted national attention in the past week. 

The formal announcement of Redding’s arrest was made by Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch on Dec. 18, at the “Town Hall for Action:Combating Anti-Semitism and Creating Safe Communities” event sponsored by the Israeli-American Civic Action Network. In a statement released by the City, Mayor Mirisch noted: “I said we would catch this guy and we did. The criminal who we believe desecrated a holy place on Shabbat is now in custody thanks to the superb work of the Beverly Hills Police Department.” 

Richard Hirschhaut, director of the American Jewish Committee in Los Angeles, told the Courier, “In some respects, with or without what might be the obvious or universally understood symbols of antisemitism, the fact that a synagogue was desecrated, that religious articles were strewn about, and the severity of the vandalism itself, in our view, clearly suggested antisemitic intent,” Hirschhaut commented. “What this incident reveals, as others have, is that no part of our community is immune to the disease of hate, and we are mindful of the thread that connects anti-Semites and anti-Semitism in America.” 

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