The city installed flags in Beverly Gardens Park in January to commemorate lives lost during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The past year was a time of expansive growth and significant change in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Los Angeles, with new leadership at many levels of government, fresh perspectives on community issues and new projects taking form or poised to shape the future.

The 2024 election was among the top stories of the year, with representatives for the local area elected to the U.S. Senate and California Assembly, two council members and three school board members elected in Beverly Hills, and two council members elected in West Hollywood. Voters also approved a measure to expand the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five to nine members. To address the intractable problem of homelessness, voters approved Measure A, a county-wide quarter-cent sales tax increase to create housing, programs and services.

The Olympics were also a major focus in 2024, with delegations from Los Angeles and West Hollywood visiting Paris in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Along with Beverly Hills, the cities are preparing for sporting events including the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the Super Bowl in 2027 and the Olympic Games in 2028 that will bring millions of people to the region and provide a boost to the economy.

The city’s skyline is also changing, as evident with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new David Geffen Galleries spanning Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile. Temporary supports came down in October, offering a glimpse of the sweeping structure set for a 2026 opening.

Also nearing completion is Metro’s D Line subway project, with a late 2025 opening planned for the first leg from Wilshire/Western to La Cienega Boulevard. Two other sections extending through Beverly Hills and ending in West L.A. will follow, opening by 2027, ahead of the Olympics.

Los Angeles 

The supports came down around LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries, showing the building’s sweeping curves. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The city and county of Los Angeles significantly addressed homelessness in 2024. Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe program expanded efforts early in the year to house people at encampments, including sites on Poinsettia Place in the Melrose area, and Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. The annual Homeless Count conducted in January found a decrease in homeless for the first time in many years, including a 2.2% overall drop in Los Angeles and a 10% decrease in unsheltered homelessness.

The election heated up early in 2024 with the race for the 30th Congressional District, left open by Adam Schiff’s bid for U.S. Senate. Following the March 5 primary, Assemblywoman Laura Friedman and physician Alex Balekian entered a run-off election, with Friedman ultimately emerging victorious. She will be sworn in on Jan. 3. Schiff was also victorious in his bid for U.S. Senate, and was sworn in on Dec. 9.

The Access to Hollywood project launched in 2024 and includes a redesigned street layout. Bike lanes were installed from Gower Street to Fountain Avenue, opening ahead of CicLAvia, which welcomed thousands of cyclists to Hollywood Boulevard in August.

In the Fairfax District, the Television City project continued through the planning process and received approval from the City Council’s PLUM Committee on Dec. 3. Television City’s owner Hackman Capital Partners plans to modernize the studio and is seeking approval for an approximately 1.8 million-square-foot redevelopment project. Opponents believe it is too big and will adversely impact the surrounding neighborhood. The Television City Plan is now headed for full council consideration in January.

West Hollywood 

West Hollywood celebrated Pride in June with a parade and festival. (photo by Jon Viscott)

City government made headlines throughout the year in West Hollywood. Mayor John Erickson took the reins in January and guided the city through a sometimes difficult and uncertain period. The fall election was hotly contested, with Erickson and first-time councilman Danny Hang emerging victorious among a nine-candidate field. The new leaders took their seats in December. Another change in leadership is just around the corner, with Chelsea Byers and John Heilman becoming mayor and vice mayor, respectively, in January.

Developments in the city such as the 8550 Sunset project, which includes the Viper Room, received approval from the City Council. Another proposed project became highly controversial as plans to potentially redesign Fountain Avenue came under consideration. The redesign may add bike lanes and reduce traffic lanes and parking. Some residents claim the removal of parking is unfair and the reduction in lanes will force traffic into surrounding neighborhoods. Supporters believe it will provide significant benefits and will increase safety.

West Hollywood also made significant improvements to public safety in 2024, with the council approving the Safer WeHo Plan. West Hollywood plans to use drones, fixed cameras and a real-time watch center at the sheriff’s station to better fight crime in 2025, similar to a system in place in Beverly Hills.

West Hollywood hosted its annual Pride celebration in June, attracting thousands of people from around the world. Pop icon Cindy Lauper was named the first Ally Icon and led the 2024 Pride Parade along Santa Monica Boulevard. Plans are already being formulated for an even bigger celebration in 2025. West Hollywood also celebrated 40 years of cityhood this fall and launched a year-long series of festivities in 2025 to mark the milestone.

Beverly Hills 

In Beverly Hills, the year began with the race for two open seats on the City Council. Ten candidates competed in the election, which was decided on March 5. Attorney Craig Corman and former BHUSD Board member Mary Wells were elected and began serving in April.

The Israel-Hamas War was also a major concern for Beverly Hills and its large Jewish population. Rallies in support of Israel were held in Beverly Gardens Park and the city installed a large memorial with hundreds of flags illustrating lives lost during the attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

The city also faced legal issues that made headlines during 2024, including a lawsuit alleging the city blocked the DuPont reproductive rights clinic from opening. Emails and communications from then-Mayor Julian Gold and other high-ranking city officials were unearthed that DuPont Clinic attorneys and pro-choice advocates said proved the city colluded to block the clinic. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the city’s actions blatantly illegal. After a state investigation, the city entered into an agreement – legally referred to as a stipulated judgement – mandating that the city train its employees on protecting reproductive rights. However, a judge ruled in favor of the city in December by granting an anti-SLAPP motion that strikes certain evidence in the case because the city’s actions were deemed protected activity. Despite the December ruling, the DuPont Clinic lawsuit will move forward in court in 2025.

Beverly Hills also faced hurdles in 2024 with its housing element, a state mandated plan outlining where housing will be built in the city to accommodate growth. The city’s housing element was rejected multiple times over three years before finally gaining state approval in May.

During the period when the housing element was uncertified, developers were allowed to submit plans for buildings with affordable housing much larger and taller than the city generally permits under the state’s builder’s remedy law. Multiple builder’s remedy projects are currently in the planning process in Beverly Hills, although none have been approved. Lawsuits is pending over the city’s rejection of a builder’s remedy project on South Linden Drive, and more lawsuits will likely be filed over other builder’s remedy projects in the coming year.

The Beverly Hills Unified School District made headlines for multiple reasons during the past year. In February, Beverly Vista Middle School came under scrutiny after students created obscene photos of classmates using AI. As a result, the BHUSD expelled five students and established a new “civility” policy.

Election season started a second time in Beverly Hills in August, when the race intensified for three seats on the BHUSD Board of Education. On Nov 5, voters narrowed a field of four candidates, electing incumbent Amanda Stern, construction contractor Sigalie Sabag and firearms dealer and security professional Russell Stuart, who were sworn in on Dec. 17.

The new board members took their seats during a tumultuous period for the BHUSD, which is also facing legal hurdles. Two Black teachers have filed claims against the district – precursors to lawsuits – claiming racism and discrimination. One teacher alleges she and a group of Black students were victims of racism during a demonstration celebrating the victory of President-Elect Donald Trump at Beverly Hills High School on Nov. 6. Another teacher alleges she was wrongfully terminated after commenting about the election and the pro-Trump demonstration at the high school on social media, during personal time and away from the school campus.

In December, Beverly Hills hosted the Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism. The city brought together more than 200 leaders from across the U.S. and Canada from Dec. 11-13 to develop strategies to combat hate and racism. The city also recognized leaders who have taken significant steps to fight antisemitism.