Thousands gathered on Hollywood Boulevard near Highland Avenue in June for the All Black Lives Matter march. (photo courtesy of the 13th Council District office)

The past year was a period unlike any other in recent history, dominated by the coronavirus, which brought tremendous hardships to communities worldwide for a majority of 2020.

The local area was not spared, with efforts to address COVID-19 making headlines nearly every week since mid-March. From relief for people who suddenly became unemployed, tenants unable to pay rent and small businesses struggling to keep their doors open, to the creation of programs to protect homeless individuals, increase hospital surge capacity, boost testing and implement vaccination protocols, the coronavirus had an omnipresent effect on the local community.

The past year was also a period of tremendous change in other ways, with the social unrest occurring in cities nationwide in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others spilling onto local streets. The Fairfax District, Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills were at the epicenter of demonstrations in a movement against what many called systemic racism and violence at the hands of police. The protests led to policy changes at many levels of government, including the embrace of an approach in Los Angeles that dispatches mental health professionals instead of police in certain situations, as well as funding cuts to the police force. Officials in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood also continue to consider the future of policing and how crime will be addressed in the years to come.

The Fairfax District came together to clean up after the unrest of late May left graffiti and damaged storefronts. (photo by Edwin Folven)

And, 2020 will go down in history for having one of the most tempestuous presidential elections of all time, characterized by much division. In local elections, Councilmembers Julian Gold and Lili Bosse were reelected in March, and U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Ted Lieu and Karen Bass were reelected by large margins in November. But similar to the outcome of the presidential election, some local incumbents did not fare well in fall races. City Councilman David Ryu lost his bid for reelection in the 4th District to newly sworn-in Councilwoman Nithya Raman, and longtime West Hollywood Councilmen John Duran and John Heilman were succeeded by new Councilmembers John Erickson and Sepi Shyne.

With so much hardship and change in 2020, many are looking optimistically toward the new year with a sense of hope. Hospitals in the local area including Cedars-Sinai, Olympia and Kaiser Permanente medical centers have begun vaccinating frontline health care workers and Los Angeles’ first firefighters received inoculations this week. More doses of two vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are expected to be more widely distributed in the near future. While cases continue to surge and much uncertainty remains, the many stories that made headlines during the past year illustrate the resiliency of the local community in responding to challenges, and show promise for a brighter future in 2021.

Beverly Hills

At the beginning of last year, headlines from the city of Beverly Hills were dominated by changes to cultural landmarks, including a move by the Paley Center from its home at 465 N. Beverly Drive and consideration of a new mixed use development at 9908 S. Santa Monica Blvd., the site of the former Friars Club building. The Paley Center later found a new home for its digital archives at the Beverly Hills Public Library, and a mixed-use project was approved at the former Friars Club property.

The Beverly Hills municipal election also dominated the news in early 2020, with the city grappling with implementing new electronic and mail-in voting systems. Candidates for two seats on the Beverly Hills City Council competed in multiple forums in January and February, with Gold and Bosse ultimately emerging victorious during the March election.

Around the same time, the first warnings about a mysterious and dangerous virus originating in Wuhan, China, began making news. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a warning about COVID-19 after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on March 4. At the time, a study by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center estimated that there may have already been 9,000 cases in the United States. The following week, the city of Beverly Hills started issuing daily coronavirus updates and by the end of the month, residents were ordered by county officials to shelter at home as the virus spread at an alarming rate. Neighbors were encouraged to look in after one another to ensure they were OK.

In early April, Councilman Lester Friedman was sworn in as the new mayor of Beverly Hills, and Robert Wunderlich was installed as vice mayor. They joined the entire City Council in committing to the health and safety of residents and community members during the pandemic. The city joined communities around the state in enacting moratoriums on rent increases, and looked for ways to provide more relief for tenants, property owners and others negatively affected by COVID-19.

When the pandemic created lighter traffic conditions because people were sheltered at home, the city of Beverly Hills and Metro took advantage of the situation in April, approving a full closure of Wilshire Boulevard to expedite construction on the Purple Line Extension subway project. Crews completed piling and decking seven months ahead of schedule, allowing excavation to begin early for the future Wilshire/Rodeo station. Wilshire Boulevard reopened in June and excavation is currently nearing completion. Work will begin soon on station construction at the site.

Beverly Hills also said goodbye in 2020 to controversial former Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli, who abruptly announced her retirement at the end of April and left in mid-May. Spagnoli had been at the center of multiple lawsuits filed against her and the city alleging racism, retaliation, discrimination. Former BHPD Chief Dominick Rivetti was later selected in May to lead the department on an interim basis, and remains in charge of the department today.

The end of May signaled the first period of hope for retailers in the city of Beverly Hills and other parts of the region. COVID-19 cases declined and businesses began to reopen. Then, at the end of May, protests in response to the death of Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minnesota prompted widespread demonstrations, and many businesses closed again.

Beverly Hills closed Rodeo Drive after reports of looting and thefts this summer. (photo by Edwin Folven)

On May 30, a large protest that began in the Fairfax District resulted in clashes with police and looting in surrounding neighborhoods. Thousands of demonstrators marched into West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, some damaging property. Storefronts in the Rodeo Drive business district were boarded and the area remained closed for several days. A countywide curfew was also implemented in response to the demonstrations. Some businesses in Beverly Hills and elsewhere remained closed and boarded for months, while others never reopened.

In the following days, the protests became more peaceful and Beverly Hills city officials began considering ways to better protect residents in the wake of the social unrest. Resulting measures included prohibiting demonstrations in residential areas, although sporadic demonstrations continued in the city through much of the summer and fall.

As the pandemic continued to affect the city of Beverly Hills, organizations pitched in to help. The Rotary Club of Beverly Hills supported the Meal to Heal program, which purchased food from local restaurants to feed health care workers.

As summer break ended, the Beverly Hills Unified School District considered the reality of new ways to provide instruction during the pandemic. The board adopted a hybrid model combining virtual and in-person instruction when it is allowed again under public health orders. Also last summer, the Beverly Hills City Council approved a ballot measure for a 0.75% sales tax increase that was later approved by voters. The sales tax will only go into effect if the county or state attempts to pass a similar increase. In August, the Beverly Hills City Council extended eviction protections for commercial tenants and the following month, approved $715,000 in additional subsidies for renters.

The Nov. 3 election also brought change in Beverly Hills when incumbent Noah Margo and newcomers Mary Wells and Amanda Stern were elected to the BHUSD Board of Education. The Beverly Hills City Council also approved a major change in mid-November to regulations regarding mixed-use developments, allowing them in an overlay zone that includes most major thoroughfares in the city’s commercial neighborhoods. As the year draws to a close, the city also finalized trash rate increases set to take effect in 2022, and continues to examine more ways to help struggling businesses as stay-at-home orders remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Capt. Edward Ramirez comforted the family of Detective Amber Leist after she was struck and killed by a car. (photo by Edwin Folven)

West Hollywood

The beginning of 2020 was a period of significant loss in the city of West Hollywood, when off-duty sheriff’s department Detective Amber Leist was struck and killed while assisting an older lady crossing the street in Valley Village. Leist, known for helping victims of domestic violence, was well-known and liked by colleagues, city officials and community members, who gathered for a memorial in late January at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station attended by hundreds of people.

The year also began with uncertainty over the venerable Log Cabin, a building at 621 N.  Robertson Blvd. that had hosted meetings for people in 12-step recovery programs for years. The city of Beverly Hills determined it owned the property on which the building was located, but the land had been controlled by the city of West Hollywood since it incorporated in 1984. Leaders in both cities later brokered an agreement in which the city of West Hollywood leases the building and West Hollywood Recovery Center continues holding meetings, although those meetings have been moved online and to an outdoor location due to public health-related closures.

In early spring, the West Hollywood City Council also approved a plan for new gateways to the Sunset Strip, and moved ahead with considerations of routes for a future Metro rail project that will pass through the city and connect to existing subway and light rail lines. As was the situation with other municipalities, attention soon turned swiftly to COVID-19, with West Hollywood city leaders seeking to protect the community. By the end of March, the city had closed public buildings and facilities per county health directives and approved urgency ordinances prohibiting the eviction of people who couldn’t pay rent because of the pandemic. The City Council also approved emergency funding for supportive services for seniors, members of the LGBT community and people in vulnerable communities. Then-West Hollywood Mayor John D’Amico became one of the first public officials to announce he contracted COVID-19, from which he fully recovered. West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Lindsey Horvath led efforts to inform the community about the virus and after taking the position of mayor in April, spearheaded programs to provide help for people in need. The city later allocated $1.1 million for relief programs.

In May, the coronavirus prompted the cancelation of the 50th annual Christopher Street West L.A. Pride festival, which had been held in West Hollywood for decades. In July, CSW decided to move future Pride events to a different location outside the city, still to be determined. West Hollywood is currently in the process of considering what its own Pride event will consist of in the future.

The race for two seats on the West Hollywood City Council also heated up last summer, with incumbents Duran and Heilman facing Erickson, Shyne and seven other challengers. Numerous lively debates were held leading up to the Nov. 3 election, in which Erickson and Shyne emerged victorious and Duran and Heilman bid farewell to the council.

Other news that made headlines in West Hollywood in 2020 included the passage of an ordinance prohibiting smoking in multi-unit housing, although marijuana smoking was exempted. The city also approved amendments to its cannabis ordinance that allowed four of the original dispensaries which hadn’t received licenses for recreational sales to remain in business. The agreement ended campaigns for competing ballot initiatives – one by backers of the original dispensaries and another by the businesses that received permits for recreational sales. As the year came to a close, West Hollywood continued efforts to help people negatively affected by COVID-19 and plans to reconvene in early January to consider further options.

The coronavirus pandemic impacted tourism, creating a relatively empty Hollywood Walk of Fame. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles was also heavily impacted by the coronavirus, social unrest and the elections that shaped 2020. Many steps were taken to provide relief to residents, keep people housed and maintain quality of life for millions of people. As the largest city in the county, Los Angeles took on the lion’s share of COVID-19 relief programs, setting up shelters and other programs to protect homeless individuals; establishing testing sites throughout the city; approving policies to protect renters, seniors and other vulnerable populations; and furthering efforts to ensure the health care system was not overwhelmed.

At the end of March as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, the Pan Pacific Park Recreation Center was converted into an emergency shelter for homeless individuals. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the city’s first safer-at home orders and in April, required that masks be worn in stores and public buildings. Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, led an effort to convert the vacant St. Vincent Medical for the treatment of coronavirus patients. The state of California later opened the medical center as a COVID-19 surge hospital but closed it again in June when cases diminished. City officials are currently considering whether the facility can be used again as cases continue to rise.

O’Farrell also supported an effort in April by the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council that delivered groceries to hundreds of homebound seniors during the pandemic. That program, also supported by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, led to the creation of a network in which the chamber coordinates food distributions from local restaurants to agencies serving people in need.

In June, O’Farrell and Council President Nury Martinez, 6th District, spearheaded a $100-million renter relief program using funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to help keep people housed. The program assisted approximately 55,000 people.

Councilman Paul Koretz, 5th District, who announced a 2022 bid for City Controller at the beginning of the year, remained a strong proponent of mask wearing during the pandemic. He introduced motions in April to require masks in public – a rule later enacted by the mayor and still in place today.

However, Koretz was criticized later in the year by some when he decided not to support the Uplift Melrose initiative, which sought to bring bike lanes, more pedestrian space and other public amenities to the Melrose Avenue shopping district. The councilman did not support the initiative because of the traffic congestion he said it would have caused on surrounding streets and potential disruptions to adjacent neighborhoods.

Then-Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, also championed many assistance programs during the pandemic, including a moratorium on evictions and rent increases in rent-controlled buildings, funding for grocery purchases for seniors, and the creation of a relief fund for local artists. Ryu also supported the First-In Fire Foundation in launching its “Firehouse Dinners” program, which purchases food from local merchants at the Original Farmers Market and facilitates its delivery to local fire stations.

Additionally, Ryu spearheaded City Council motions to create a special office to investigate City Hall corruption in land-use decisions and developer fraud. That legislation came at the same time a federal investigation into former 14th District Councilman Jose Huizar resulted in numerous charges being filed against Huizar and associates in an alleged widespread bribery and public corruption scheme.

As the protests began in late May, city officials sprang into action to activate change in the way local government addresses policing. The local community also responded, turning out in droves the day after demonstrations occurred in the Fairfax District and elsewhere to help remove graffiti and restore normalcy. Ryu later led the charge to investigate claims of aggressive police conduct during the May protests, and the City Council enacted measures such as the program for mental health first responders in situations where an armed police response may not be appropriate.

The All Black Lives Matter march was commemorated with a permanent installment on Hollywood Boulevard. (photo by Edwin Folven)

O’Farrell also highlighted a major moment of importance for the LGBT community and the Black Lives Matter movement that occurred on June 14, when hundreds of thousands of people assembled on Hollywood Boulevard for the All Black Lives Matter march. The protest and march to West Hollywood was held in direct response to racial injustice and was led by Black LGBTQ+ Activists for Change, or BLAC, made up of all black LGBTQ+ leaders. O’Farrell later introduced a motion to make permanent the enormous stenciled letters reading All Black Lives Matter that were painted in the center of Hollywood Boulevard east of Highland Avenue for the march.

Demolition began at LACMA in preparation for a new building. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The landscape also changed in 2020, particularly in the Miracle Mile as buildings at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art were razed to make way for a new singular structure. Construction of that building is expected to move ahead in 2021. Next door, the new Academy Museum moved closer to its debut, although the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently postponed the opening until September 2021.

The election also made news in Los Angeles, with Ryu being defeated on Nov. 3 by challenger Nithya Raman, an urban planner with a background in helping the homeless population. Raman took office in mid-December along with new Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who succeeded Councilman Herb Wesson to represent the 10th District.

While the future of the local area remains in flux due to the pandemic and other factors, many people see hope on the horizon with the new vaccines for COVID-19 becoming more widely available and a new federal aid package. City officials in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Los Angeles have vowed to continue efforts to provide relief until the numbers of cases come down, and there is hope that the economy may improve in the coming months. Until then, the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 signal an important time to reflect on what has occurred during the past 12 months. Regardless of what may happen next, it remains certain that the local area will be at the center of dynamic change in 2021.