Los Feliz LedgerRead by 100,000+ Residents and Business Owners in Los Feliz, Silver Lake,

Atwater Village, Echo Park & Hollywood HillsJune 2020Vol 15. No. 12

REAL ESTATE: Prices, demand both up despite pandemic, page 7

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stories you may have missed, page 2

EDITORIAL: Coronavirus and the crazies on Nextdoor, losfelizledger.com

EASTSIDE EYE: L.A.’s art institutionshave gone virtual, losfelizledger.com

COMMUNITY NEWS: Local postman gets viral recogni-tion, page 6

Re-Opened Trails Worry Beachwood ResidentsBy Sorina SzakacsLedger Contributing Writer

Things seemed to be calming down in Beachwood Canyon—once a quiet neigh-borhood nestled beneath the Hollywood Sign in Griffith Park, until the advent of GPS-enabled phones  brought a crush of tourists to the area—thanks to hiking trail closures in March and April due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

According to local resi-dents,  the closures brought a temporary reprieve, restoring the area to its pre-smartphone calm—but  that peace was

see BEACHWOOD page 15 see TRAILERS page 14

see SUMMER CAMP page 12

see BRONSON page 4see GRADUATION page 12

Immaculate Heart President Maureen Diekmann (left) and IHHS Principal Naemah Morris greeted members of the class of 2020 on May 12th for a campus drive-on “Senior Sundae Party,” the seniors’ first visit to campus since March 16th.

Schools Seek to Boost Seniors’ Graduation Spirits

By Erin Hickey Pinheiro, Ledger Contributing Writer

With the coronavirus crisis putting the kibosh on in-per-son graduation ceremonies, lo-cal school officials have found creative ways to honor their upperclassmen and provide a small amount of normalcy dur-

ing unprecedented times. Franklin Avenue girls’

school Immaculate Heart has held their graduation ceremo-ny at the Hollywood Bowl since 1957, according to the

Summer Camp Still on for Some, Others Opt to CloseBy Sorina Szakacs, Ledger Contributing Writer

With a COVID-19 vac-cine at least a year and a half away, if scientists are able to make one at all, and several recent incidents of youth Mul-

Griffith Park Gets More LandBy Erin Hickey PinheiroLedger Contributing Writer

GRIFFITH PARK—Friends of Griffith Park and the Moun-tains Recreation and Conser-vation Authority closed escrow in May on just over an acre of land near the Bronson Caves, also known as the “Batcave,” expanding public space in the popular hiking area just in time for summer.

The land, which was fea-tured in the 1960s Batman tele-vision series, will serve as a de-facto extension of Griffith Park, according to Friends of Griffith Park President Gerry Hans.

According to Hans, the land was on the non-profit’s ra-dar for a long time, but when

Silverlake Beach Camp is still hap-pening this summer, but it won’t look like this. Photo courtesy Kari Druyen.

By Allison B. Cohen

LOS FELIZ—The COVID-19 epidemic has afforded the city of Los Angeles an opportunity to house some of its 36,000 homeless residents, either in empty hotel rooms or in trail-ers, through a program offi-cials are calling “Project Room Key.”

Forty such trailers, pro-cured in March by Gov. Gavin Newsom, are now housing as-ymptomatic homeless people in the parking lot at Friend-ship Auditorium, in an effort to keep them free from coro-navirus.

The temporary solution has been welcomed by some as the right thing to do and scorned by others who say the temporary trailers were the last-straw, becoming the third homeless housing proj-ect along a half-mile stretch of Riverside Drive.

“It really does sound like they are making an effort to create another skid row in a re-ally nice neighborhood,” said one poster on Nextdoor.

No one is sure when the city will be able to re-open such high-risk places for coronavi-rus spread as senior centers and large event halls, both of which are located at the site. But one thing is certain: the relocation of those living in the trailers must occur before either the se-nior center or Friendship Audi-torium can reopen.

“Shame on all of us collec-tively from the federal level all the way down to the local [level] if we let people just return to the streets when this is done,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti during an April 29th COVID-19 press briefing.

Finding permanent solu-tions for the city’s stubborn homeless problem has been

@lo

sfeliz

ledger

#coronaviru

s

Garcetti: “Shame on Us,” If We Let People Return to the Streets Post COVID-19

Forty trailers moved into the Friendship Auditorium and Griffith Park Adult Community Center parking lot the first week of May to shelter COVID-19 asymptomatic homeless persons to help them avoid contracting and spreading the disease. Locals are mixed about Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti’s choice of the Los Feliz parking lot as a homeless shelter is opening soon across the street and another is planned a short distance away on Riverside Drive at Hyperion Avenue. Garcetti and homeless officials are promising to find the 40 or so individuals living temporary in the trailers permanent homes or shelter when the pandemic has passed. Photo: Allison B. Cohen

Los Feliz Ledger

Page 2 losfelizledger.com June 2020

FOUNDED 20 05

Delivered the last Thursday of

each month to 34,500 homes and

businesses in the Los Feliz,

Silver Lake, Atwater Village,

Echo Park and Hollywood Hills

communities.

1933 Hillhurst Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90027

(323) 741-0019

PUBLISHER /EDITOR

Allison B. Cohen

SENIOR EDITOR

Erin Hickey Pinheiro

GR APHIC DESIGN & L AYOUT

Tiffany Sims

For more stories and updates:

LosFelizLedger.com

Available at these locations

Atwater Library3379 Glendale Blvd.

Casita del Campo1920 Hyperion Ave

Alcove & Big Bar 1929 Hillhurst Avenue

Courtney + Kurt Real Estate 3167 Glendale Blvd.

Dresden Restaurant1760 N. Vermont Avenue

House of Pies 1869 N. Vermont

Los Feliz Public Library 1874 Hillhurst Avenue

Los Feliz 3 Theaters 1822 N. Vermont

George & Eileen Moreno, Realtors 2150 N. Hillhurst Ave.

Muddy Paws Coffee 3320 Sunset Blvd.

Palermo 1858 N. Vermont

Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce 1724 W. Silver Lake Drive

Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont

The Village Bakery and Café 3119 Los Feliz Blvd.

Newly released documents show he knew all along that there was no proof of Russia-Trump collusion.

Americans expect that politicians will lie, but sometimes the examples are so brazen that they deserve special notice. Newly released Congressional testimony shows that Adam Schi� spread falsehoods shamelessly about Russia and Donald Trump for three years even as his own committee gathered contrary evidence.

The House Intelligence Committee last week released 57 transcripts of interviews it conducted in its investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. The committee probe started in January 2017 under then-Chair Devin Nunes and concluded in March 2018 with a report �nding no evidence that the Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin. Most of the transcripts were ready for release long ago, but Mr. Schi� oddly refused to release them after he became chairman in 2019. He only released them last week when the White House threatened to do it �rst.

Now we know why. From the earliest days of the collusion narrative, Mr. Schi� insisted that he had evidence proving the plot. In March 2017 on MSNBC, Mr. Schi� teased that he couldn’t “go into particulars, but there is more than circumstantial evidence now.”

In December 2017 he told CNN that collusion was a fact: “The Russians o�ered help, the campaign accepted help. The Russians gave help and the President made full use of that help.” In April 2018, Mr. Schi� released his response to Mr. Nunes’s report, stating that its �nding of no collusion “was unsupported by the facts and the investigative record.”

None of this was true, and Mr. Schi� knew it. In July 2017, here’s what former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told Mr. Schi� and his colleagues: “I never saw any direct empirical evidence that the Trump campaign or someone in it was plotting/conspiring with the Russians to meddle with the election.” Three months later, former Obama Attorney General Loretta Lynch agreed that while she’d seen “concerning”

information, “I don’t recall anything being briefed up to me.” Former Deputy AG Sally Yates concurred several weeks later: “We were at the fact-gathering stage here, not the conclusion stage.”

The same goes for the FBI agents who started the collusion probe in 2016. Most remarkable, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe admitted the bureau’s reason for opening the case was nonsense. Asked in December 2017 why the FBI obtained a secret surveillance warrant on former Trump aide Carter Page, rather than on George Papadopoulos (whose casual conversation with a foreign diplomat was the catalyst for the probe), Mr. McCabe responded: “Papadopoulos’ comment didn’t particularly indicate that he was the person that had had—that was interacting with the Russians.” No one else was either.

On it went, a parade of former Obama o�cials who declared under oath they’d seen no evidence of collusion or conspiracy—Susan Rice, Ben Rhodes, Samantha Power. Interviews with Trump campaign or Administration o�cials also yielded no collusion evidence. Mr. Schi� had access to these transcripts even as he claimed he had “ample” proof of collusion and wrote his false report.

He’s still making it up. Last week he said the transcripts contain “evidence of the Trump campaign’s e�orts to invite, make use of, and cover up Russia’s help in the 2016 presidential election.”

The question we’d ask our friends in the media is when are they going to stop playing the fool by putting him on the air? Mr. Schi� is a powerful �gure with access to secrets that the rest of us don’t have and can’t check. He misled the country repeatedly on an issue that consumed American politics.

President Trump often spreads falsehoods and invents facts, but at least he’s paid a price for it in media criticism and public mistrust. An industry of media fact checkers is dedicated to parsing his every word. As for Mr. Schi�, no one should ever believe another word he says.

In Case You Missed It:Coronavirus Updates

We’ve been posting daily coronavirus updates online since March. Here are a few recent highlights:

• Los Angeles may find itself in a worse financial situation than envisioned in the mayor’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, city officials said on May 22nd.

• Saying current restrictions unfairly hurt small businesses, while allowing big-box stores such as Target, Costco and Walmart to welcome customers inside, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn asked California Gov. Gavin New-som to allow all retailers in the state open their doors to cus-tomers with limited capacity, mandatory face coverings and social distancing.

• Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the city would reassess previously denied applications for the city’s $11 mil-lion small business micro program, following a Los Feliz Led-ger story indicating only 3% of such loans had been approved as of May 13th.

• Even though traffic collisions in the city have gone down almost 40% during the coronavirus pandemic, automobile-related fatalities have gone up during the pandemic, which LAPD officials say is due to increased speeding.

• While the coronavirus pandemic has dominated headlines, November’s City Council District 4 election still looms. In-cumbent David Ryu has introduced a barrage of new legisla-tion aimed at helping renters, seniors and other vulnerable Angelenos, and challenger Nithya Raman recently released a policy proposal for rent forgiveness.

• The Hollywood Bowl cancelled its 2020 summer season. • Local Angeles City Councilmembers reallocated some of

their funding to areas of higher need during the coronavirus crisis. Council District 4 Councilmember David Ryu real-located $1.2 million in developer fees typically used to fund art festivals and other events to instead provide cash grants to struggling artists, while Council District 13 Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell moved $1 million of his discretionary funds to assist small businesses.

• While some local restaurants have begun planning to reopen for dine-in service at a reduced capacity as coronavirus re-strictions start to loosen, others say they are firmly against it, citing financial and safety concerns. Among those with reopening plans, outdoor space seems to be key. Both Rock-well and Alcove said they planned to offer patio dine-in once it was allowed, while Palermo and Masa of Echo Park said they wouldn’t reopen until they could do so at full capacity.

Read more at losfelizledger.com, and check back daily for up-dates, charts and data.

Nothing is more important than your children’s health. That was true before COVID -19 and it’s still true now. Don’t

wait to get your kids the care they need, including vaccinations, well-child visits and more.

With in-office appointments and virtual visits, we are here for your family. Visit CHLA.org.

YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL.

Los Feliz Ledger

Page 4 losfelizledger.com June 2020SENIOR MOMENTS

[SENIOR MOMENTS]

Features of a PandemicBy Stephanie Vendig, Ledger Columnist

Containing the spread of this corona-

virus throughout our country is not so simple, as we are all finding out. Even if the ulti-mate solution is a vaccine, we have no idea how long it will take to develop one, not to speak of making sure that ev-erybody has access to it.

All of us have been im-pacted in one way or another. And for most of us, we were not prepared, nor did we have a sense of how our lives would be turned upside down eco-nomically and medically.

On March 4th, a Griffith Park Adult Community Cen-ter (GPACC) Club Committee met to plan for our Spring Faire in May. It was to be our usual annual community event.

Because we had heard about a virus that could be contagious, we postponed the event out of concern. At that time, we thought we would just wait until it passed. Little did we realize that the situa-tion was far more serious.

On March 13th, we were told to close our doors—as were all other recreational fa-

cilities—and that we could expect to reopen on April 4th. That did not seem so bad.

When the closing was lat-er extended without a set end date, that is when the sense of loss really started to be felt.

Since the older adult is identified as most vulnerable in this crisis, the city has to be incredibly careful when decid-ing to open facilities promot-ing socialization—which, of course, is our basic mission.

In spite of this uncertainty, our members began to come up with ideas to keep us all connected. From newsletters and email blasts to telephone trees and teleconferencing, GPACC did not disappear.

Then at the end of April we were introduced to a new feature of the pandemic crisis. With an overwhelming num-

ber of homeless people on our streets not being able to “shel-ter at home,” 43 trailers were brought to the Friendship Au-ditorium parking lot in front of GPACC.

The Cheviot Hills and Westwood Recreation centers were also set up with trailers. If a homeless person has health conditions or is 65 or older, the

goal is to provide them with housing in individual trail-ers before eventually moving them into permanent housing. This project is considered tem-porary, although an end date for the trailers is not set yet.

Since GPACC and Friend-ship Auditorium are not open at this time, the project is not interfering with our operation. But when senior centers reopen, we look forward to GPACC once again being there for us, having in the meantime offered people who needed it temporary shelter on their way to some-thing more permanent.

Since the older adult is identified as most vulnerable in this crisis, the city has to be incredibly careful when deciding to open

facilities promoting socialization—which, of course, is our basic mission.

[OBITUARY]

Psychologist and Longtime Silver Lake Resident Larry Brooks, PhD By Kathy McDonald, Ledger Contributing Writer

Psychologist Larry Brooks, 68, died on May 4th when he was hit by a speeding driver while walking on San-ta Fe Avenue in Los Angeles’ Arts District.

Brooks practiced as a clin-ical psychologist for more than 25 years, serving the commu-nities of Northeast Los Ange-les. He was a longtime Silver Lake resident before moving to downtown in 2014 as an empty nester along with his wife Anna Marie Piersimoni.

Brooks was a true fam-ily man who coached his son’s little league basketball team at the Silver Recreation Center and actively participated in community activities as a for-

mer Silver Lake Jewish Com-munity Center, Ivanhoe El-ementary, Immaculate Heart, Thomas Starr King, John Marshall High School and Flintridge Preparatory School parent.

Brooks grew up in River-dale, New York and was a 1969 graduate of Horace Mann School in the Bronx.

He studied initially at SUNY-Binghamton and Uni-versity of Colorado Boulder, then trained, received his doc-torate degree at the California School of Professional Psy-chology, Berkeley (now Alliant International University, San Francisco) and did post-doc-torate work at the Reiss-Davis Child Development Center in Los Angeles.

In 1996, he co-founded the Glendale Area Mental Health Professionals Associa-tion (GAMPHA) serving on the board until 2010; he was

also the chairman of the Edu-cation Committee for the San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association.

Brooks was a winning and generous host, an avid barbe-cue pit master, known for his

savory ribs, and a lifelong bas-ketball and tennis fan.

His friends recall his quirky, barbed and often sar-castic sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Anna Marie Pier-simoni, an instructor in digital entertainment media at Cal State University, Northridge; daughter Nina, a PhD Can-didate at Stanford University, and son Marc, a graduate stu-dent at Duke University.

His family asks that dona-tions be made in his name to the ACLU or Amnesty inter-national.

Read a longer version of this story at losfelizledger.com

it finally went on the market—with an asking price of over $1 million—a housing developer quickly made an offer.

Eventually, however, the deal fell through.

“It’s hard to imagine hous-es all along there, but that’s what may have happened,” said Hans.

Once the developer dropped out, the Friends group partnered with the Conservation Authority, a government entity that pur-chases and preserves parkland and wildlife habitats in South-ern California, to buy it for a reduced price of $500,000.

According to Hans, while the conservation group is tasked with purchasing park-land, “they don’t have a lot of funding themselves for paying for it,” so the Friends group, along with local Oaks resident Jason Greenwald, started a fundraising campaign.

“Just in matter of days we finished up making our goal and actually surpassing it,” said Hans. “So we set up a fund for annual maintenance because there is some brush

clearance that is going to need to happen every year.”

Hans said he was floored by people’s generosity in do-nating to the campaign.

“It was just amazing to me, thinking that people would be hard-pressed to come up with money [during the coronavirus crisis], but we had a total of 100 donors come in,” said Hans. “What shocked me is the do-nations that came from far and wide through our membership,” including from people who did not live near Bronson Canyon.

Even local Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu pitched in—his office donated $15,000 towards the land purchase.

“This purchase is an un-deniable  win for the com-munity - and good news for green space advocates ev-erywhere,” Ryu said. “This land was that close to being sold off to developers, and instead, it’s going to be-come a part of the cherished and timeless open space of Griffith Park. I’m so proud of the Los Feliz community for coming together and saving this piece of land.”

BRONSON from page 1

Brooks was a true family man who coached his son’s little league basketball

team at the Silver Lake Recreation Center.

Los Feliz Ledger

Page 6 losfelizledger.com June 2020POLITICS

[LOS FELIZ IMPROVEMENT ASSOCATION]

This Postman Went ViralBy LFIA Vice President, Lynne T. Jewell

An LFIA Instagram post thanking Los Feliz mail car-rier Oscar Osorio for his dedi-cation received a bundle of “likes” and brought the popu-lar postal worker some nation-al media attention.

The 22-year postal vet-eran serves 450 customers on the east side of 90027. Many of them know him by his first name and for his friendly and thoughtful customer service. “Oscar’s a treasure,” said one of his long-time custom-ers and LFIA member Dora Brockway.

By happenstance, follow-ing the recent LFIA Instagram post (@the_lfia), things took off and Osorio was in demand for media interviews.

On Mother’s Day, this fa-ther of three girls had a cameo appearance on NBC’s Com-edy Festival. Comedian Ce-dric the Entertainer shouted out “Oscar, the mailman,” who was standing next to his signature mail truck on New Hampshire Avenue garbed in COVID-19 protective gear. How good is that?

Osorio, who followed in his father’s postal career footsteps, said his daughters “see their daddy as an essential worker who has a very important job to do.” And, as his seven-year-old nephew wrote in a school report, frontline workers like his uncle are “superheroes.”

LFIA not only appreciates the more than 50 postal car-riers in Los Feliz, but all the other frontline workers who are out there in our commu-nity providing lifelines during the coronavirus crisis.

We especially thank the healthcare workers—doctors, nurses and support staff—sav-ing lives every day.

The First Responders from LAFD’s Fire Stations 35 and 56, LAPD’s Northeast Divi-sion and the 911 operators; the incredibly hardworking grocery store workers at our local markets and the restau-rants and specialty shops with take-out and curbside service, we thank you!

All the delivery person-nel who bring us our online

see RYU page 10

[COUNCIL DISTRICT 4]

Fighting for Our Immigrant CommunitiesBy Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu

We often hear that the United States

is a country of immigrants, and nowhere is this more clear than in Los Angeles. Nearly 3.5 million immigrants live in L.A. County, making up over 35% of the population.

Immigrants make Los Angeles the diverse, engaging, and welcoming place that it is and form an integral part of our culture and society.

As an immigrant who came to this city with my fam-

ily from Korea, growing up was a constant hustle.

My parents worked hard and struggled every day to keep a roof over our head and food on the table. They balanced multiple jobs, working from dawn ‘til dusk to support our family, finally saving up enough to open our own little toy store.

I saw firsthand how hard immigrants work to make it in this country and to give opportunity to their children. I’ve never forgotten the sacri-fice that immigrants make,

and their work that makes the American Dream possible.

It seems that the federal government has forgotten, however. Many hardworking immigrants were completely left out of the Federal CARES Act, passed in April to provide relief during this unprecedent-ed pandemic.

Undocumented immi-grants were denied stimulus support, and are ineligible for programs like unemployment insurance, despite working in

[U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES]

After Coronavirus, We Must Build Back BetterBy Rep. Adam Schiff

At least 85,000 Americans have  died due to the coronavirus. These aren’t just numbers. They are family members, loved ones, and members of our commu-nities, and we cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the toll that grows day by day.

The virus itself does not discriminate, but the data paints a devastating picture about who is bearing the brunt of this deadly disease: Angele-nos from low-income neigh-borhoods are dying of corona-virus at a rate four times higher than the rest of the county.

Disturbingly, it’s clear that this virus has only exacer-bated deeply entrenched racial and economic disparities in our society. And it’s clear that this virus will change the way we live our lives for the fore-seeable future.

At some of the most per-ilous moments in our na-tion’s history, we have found that crises are the crucible in which great change is possible, change that reshapes our soci-ety for the better.

As we battled through the depths of the Great Depres-sion—the only time of com-parable economic suffering to what we are experiencing

now—President Franklin D. Roosevelt fought for the New Deal to put people back to work, provide financial secu-rity to the middle class to help survive the next economic ca-lamity, educate returning sol-diers, and build our national infrastructure.

During the Vietnam War and tumult of the sixties, the changes enacted were also very important, as presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyn-don B. Johnson established the Great Society program, passed landmark civil rights legislation, and enacted the Voting Rights Act.

Our number one job in Congress is to address the cur-rent crisis and ensure support to keep people safe during the pandemic and help our econo-my weather the storm. In the short-term, we need to provide aid to states, local govern-ments, hospitals and doctors and nurses, businesses, and working Americans. 

But in the coming months and years, we must think big-ger and ask, how do we begin to address the systemic in-equality that has persisted for far too long in our communi-ties and across the country?

see SCHIFF page 10

see LFNC page 9see FRIEDMAN page 10 see LFIA page 13

[UPDATE FROM SACRAMENTO]

Ombudsman Helps Nursing Home ConcernsBy Laura Friedman, California Assembly-

member

It is strange to think how much has changed over the last three months, with the COVID-19 crisis having worked its way into every aspect of our daily lives.

Since the onset of the pandemic, I’ve spent every day connecting with advocates, my colleagues at every level of government, healthcare pro-fessionals and my constituents.

A recent conversation I had with a constituent high-lighted one area where this crisis has had a particularly devastating impact—skilled nursing facilities.

Skilled nursing facilities often referred to as “nursing homes,” “rehabilitation centers” or “convalescent hospitals” are the live-in facilities that provide nursing care for the chronically ill or those recovering from a medical condition or surgery. Our state is home to 1,224 of these facilities. 

According to a recent re-port by the California Dept. of

Public Health (CDPH), nearly 6,000 patients in these fa-cilities have contracted COV-ID-19, with a staggering 1,150 dying from the virus or related complications. That is almost a 20% fatality rate and repre-sents just about 40% of all the COVID-19 related deaths in California. 

It’s heartbreaking. Nursing homes are an integral part of our healthcare system, particu-larly for the elderly. Seeing them become a battleground of this pandemic is devastating. 

California has responded aggressively, forcing its health department to be more vigi-lant in terms of monitoring and nimble in how it responds including increasing the fre-quency of inspections, setting up infection control strike teams, providing PPE for workers and increasing fund-ing for such facilities.

The crisis has also accentu-ated that the majority of resi-

[LOS FELIZ NEIGHBORHOOD

COUNCIL]

2020 Census: Get Counted Before It’s Too LateBy Sarah Tressler, LFNC

The handling of the coro-navirus pandemic has created a growing divide among some factions and unified others.

We register our disdain or agreement in comments, in posts, in a digital thumbs-up or thumbs-down. We un-friend people. We share the 140-character musings on politicians or celebrities or sci-entists.

But while these online expressions may be cathartic, there are two things you can do that will actually count: You can vote, and you can fill out the 2020 Census.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla un-derscored the importance of census participation via Zoom at our May Governing Board meeting.

“It’s never been easier.

[CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 13]

Moving Funds Where They’re Most NeededBy Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell

In the past month, I re-prioritized $2

million in funding intended for other uses within my dis-trict to help those struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic instead.

The first $1 million is for renters. The city’s Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy (ERAS) Program is admin-istered by the city’s Housing and Community Investment Department.

It will provide a subsidy

to help 13th District residents cover their rent due to loss of income because of the COV-ID-19 crisis.

The other $1 million was reallocated to the city’s Emer-gency Small Business Grant Program for businesses in the 13th District with 26 or fewer employees.

This program will assist small business owners dur-ing the public health emer-gency orders, and will be administered and developed in partnership with the city’s

Economic and Workforce De-velopment Department.

As emergency orders are relaxed and we ramp up for a new normal of living in Los Angeles, these financial assis-tance programs will help hun-dreds of Angelenos across the 13th District stay housed and employed.

I will announce details regarding the application pro-cess soon on my website and in my e-newsletter. You can sign up for updates online at cd13.lacity.org

Los Feliz Ledger

June 2020 losfelizledger.com Page 7Su Casa REAL ESTATE

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is

intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made

without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.

ROB KALLICK • MARY REGAL • LAURA MARCHETTI • JUSTIN FREELING 323.775.6305 | takesunset.com/sell | hello@takesunset.com | @takesunset | DRE 01871966

2239 Elsinore Street, Echo Park

4 Bd • 3 Ba • $1,985,000

1820 Jacinto Street, Silver Lake

2 Bd • 3 Ba • $1,750,000

2111 Lemoyne Street, Echo Park

4 Bd • 4 Ba • $2,750,000

[REAL ESTATE]

Prices, Demand Both Up Despite Pandemic

Home prices were up in April, locally and countywide, despite the coronavirus crisis, according to data provided by CoreLogic, a data analysis firm based in La Jolla, CA.

Fourteen homes sold in Silver Lake/Echo Park’s 90026 ZIP code, for a median price of 1.308 million, nearly 40% higher than the previous year’s median. No condos sold in the area.

The Beachwood/Holly-wood Hills’ 90068 ZIP saw nine home sales, for a median of $1.589 million, about 12% above the previous year’s price. Six condos sold in the area, for a median of $741,000—about 6% below the April 2019 me-dian.

In Los Feliz’s 90027 ZIP code, seven homes sold for a median price of $1.775 mil-

lion—the only local median to go down from last year, by about a quarter. Two condos sold in 90027 for a median of $678,000, 19% higher than in April 2019.

Atwater and Silver Lake’s 90039, meanwhile had five home sales, at a $1.7 million median, up about 8% from the year prior. Only one condo sold in the area for $740,000, 13% above the previous April’s median.

According to data from Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, housing demand went up nationally in May, while supply has continued to go down, resulting in an up-tick in bidding wars for the few homes that are still on the market.

“Demand for homes has picked back up after hitting

rock bottom in April, and that uptick paired with a lack of sup-ply is a recipe for bidding wars,” said Redfin lead economist Tay-lor Marr. “Homebuyers are get-ting back out there, searching for more space as they realize us-ing their home as an office and school may become the norm. But sellers are still holding off

on listing their homes, partially due to economic uncertainty and concerns of health risks. In some hot neighborhoods, there may only be one or two homes for sale, with multiple home-buyers vying for them.” 

In a May 21st report, Redfin Chief Growth Officer Adam Wiener speculated on

the surge in demand, despite record unemployment lev-els caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With job losses dispro-portionately affecting people with lower incomes, unem-ployment hasn’t had much ef-fect on home-buying demand, yet,” he wrote.

1307 Maltman Ave., a 6-bedroom, 6-bath, 3,584-square-foot home in 90026 sold on April 19th for $1.45 million. Compass agent Josh Brenner represented both the buyer and the seller.

Deeply Rooted

I n robust times, industry newcomers often attract clients and agents

with the novelty of their brashness and buzz. Today, the flash and

growth-at-all-cost philosophy of such companies is putting their

very existence to the test. Many real estate firms, in Los Angeles and

throughout the country, have had to take drastic measures to keep afloat

in the Covid reality. Offices have been closed and staff and salaries

drastically cut, leaving agents without the resources to effectively market

and sell their properties. These restrictions may appease investor boards

and Wall Street, but homebuyers and sellers feel the pinch.

As the legacy company in Los Angeles, with over 40 years of success,

Nourmand & Associates has developed a deep taproot, allowing us

to withstand unsettling times with the steadiness born of experience.

Covid-19 has, of course, affected sales and interrupted aspects of our

approach—our virtual home tours are especially popular now—but it hasn’t

impacted our commitment to our agents, management and support staff.

By standing by them, we stand by our clients, assuring that they continue

to receive the personalized and robust service that is our trademark. As

a private and debt-free company with no investors to placate, Nourmand

& Associates has always optimized market realities with a view to long-

term stability. This strategy continues to serve us and our clients well,

especially in times like this one.

If you’re interested in buying or selling a home, I promise that the expertise

of our outstanding team will exceed your expectations.

Expect Greatness.

Four Decades. Three Offices.

Two Generations.One Respected Name.

Michael NourmandPresident | Nourmand & Associateswww.nourmand.com

Sincerely,

Los Feliz Ledger

June 2020 losfelizledger.com Page 9Su Casa REAL ESTATE

Chris Laib323.854.1820 | ChrisLaibLA.comChris@ChrisLaib.com

North of the Blvd, rare mid century modern. Pool. Views. 3 Bedroom, 3 bathroom + family room. Offered at $2,195,000 | Visit : 3740Effingham.com

3740 Effingham Place | L O S F E L I Z H I L L S

Michael Remacle310.902.1564 | RemacleGroup.com

Michael.Remacle@SothebysHomes.com L o s Fe l i z B ro ke r a ge | 1 8 0 1 No r t h Hi l l h u r s t Ave n u e, L o s A n ge l e s , CA 9 0 02 7 © Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material is based upon information which we consider reliable but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or com-

plete and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and

cooperate fully. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates

and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal housing opportunity. Chris Laib Dre#1202400, Michael Remacle Dre#01383766

In Escrow

5160 Linwood Drive$4,820,175

Historic Monterey Colonial estate in Laughlin Park. 5 BR; 4.5 BA; views.

www.5160linwood.com

5724 Green Oak Drive$3,600,000

Open-plan; triple-lot, canyon views; immaculate. 4 BR; 3.5 BA; den.

www.5724greenoak.com

5432 Red Oak Drive$3,450,000

Authentic Spanish Colonial; Los Feliz Oaks; double lot. 3 BR; 3.5 BA; den.

www.5432redoak.com

3500 Griffith Park Boulevard$2,400,000

Classic Mediterranean; 2-story, guest house or ADU? 3 BR; 3.5 BA; den.

www.3500griffi thpark.com

2511 Mount Beacon Terrace$1,600,000

Los Feliz Oaks 1940s California Colonial fi xer; 4 BR; 3.5 BA; family room; pool.

1413 Edgecliffe Drive$6,000 / month

Sunset Junction Craftsman bungalow; 3 BR; 2.5 BA; deck; 2-car parking; offi ce.

4168 Brunswick Avenue; #B$2,350 / month

Atwater Village Mid-Century 2 BR + 1 BA; fi rst fl oor; parking; squeaky-clean!

Richard Stanley#1 Agent - Coldwell Banker, Los Feliz

Estates Director Architectural and Historic Properties

rstanley@richardstanleyrealtor.com213 300-4567 cell / voice mail©2020 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and operated by NRT LLC. All rights reserved. If your property is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation. DRE# 00971211

Is Real Estate Dead?

Not at all! Coldwell Banker began by helping San Franciscans survive the 1906 earthquake and fire by facilitating forward-moving changes in their lives. Today we have a new crisis, but our need to

embrace constructive change remains. For this reason, California considers real estate to be an essential business. Now more than ever, the skill of a seasoned real estate professional is paramount. Choose the help of a survivor to survive. The pandemic will pass. With every adversity comes opportunity. Will you be ready for opportunity?

5160 Linwood Drive$4,820,175

Historic Monterey Colonial estate in Laughlin Park. 5 BR; 4.5 BA; views.

2511 Mount Beacon Terrace

Los Feliz Oaks 1940s California Colonial fi xer; 4 BR; 3.5 BA; family room; pool.

[HOUSE AND HOLMES]

Electric Umbrella By Rob Loos, Ledger Columnist

Our dog thinks this is the greatest

moment ever—nobody leaves home for work or goes on any non-essential trip, which means that “the pack” is to-gether nearly all the time.

If we travel to the post of-fice or pick up some curbside take-out, our dog goes with us. He’s content to sit through days of endless Zoom meet-ings and evenings filled with Turner Classic Movies.

But after three months of “Safer at Home,” my wife in-sists that the dog and I have to go outside for more than a walk around the block a few times a day.

Her plan is to turn our small yard into an outdoor liv-ing space with a table, comfy chairs and a portable Blue-tooth speaker.

She envisions spending evenings outside in the cool night air, eating dinner and sipping wine, while our play-ful pup gnaws on his favorite bone.

This was a great plan until our first al fresco dinner. We

like to eat around 8:00 PM and the sun sets at 7:45 pm. There was a pretty pink af-terglow in the western sky for about five minutes, but then it was just plain dark.

We brought out candles, but the breeze created a waxy ooze that stuck to our wrought iron patio table. I tried to save the day by wearing my headlamp—you know, one of those flash-lights you wear on your fore-head when trekking through the Badlands—but for some reason my wife didn’t like a high-powered beam shining directly in her face every time I looked at her.

I tried to get creative; I strung three extension cords together from the wall socket in the living room, over the couch and out the window, hoping it would reach the pa-tio table and power a small coffee table lamp to brighten our celebration—or at least help us see what we were eat-ing. But it fell short and a table lamp doesn’t look good in the middle of an azalea bush.

I started brainstorming:

maybe a few well-placed Tiki torches? Too smelly. How about a fire pit? Too hot. Or maybe I could use the screen on my smartphone? Isn’t there an app that simu-lates candlelight? There is, but it seems way too cheesy. So I did what I normally do when I’m faced with an insoluble home improvement problem: I called my super-contractor friend, Dave.

I figured he might have faced this issue when he was adding a deck to his house in Sedona.

I explained the situation and Dave laughed, “Dude, you’re working too hard. I have the perfect solution for you—an electric umbrella!”

Dave went on to explain that we should get a patio umbrella that with built-in solar powered LED lights. We bought a nine-foot red So-lar Umbrella with 40 built-in LED lights that gently illu-minate the table from above, which goes goes to prove: “If I can’t figure it out—and I know that I can’t—my friend Dave can.”

You can do it on paper, you can do it online, you can do it by phone. But it’s critical that we do it—that each and every community gets its share of federal dollars for all the things we care about.”

Statewide, only about 51% of Californians have re-sponded to the census.

“We can’t remind each other enough: Do the census, do the census, do the census,” Padilla urged.

Pam Marcello, of Con-gressman Adam Schiff’s office, also noted the importance of the census.

“That’s how states get ap-propriated money and mem-bers of Congress,” she said during the May meeting.

“California could potentially lose a U.S. Representative because our population has shrunk in California in the last 10 years.”

And while you’re at it, regis-ter to vote. November elections are just around the corner—doesn’t it seem like February was just a few weeks ago?

Every county will send every registered voter a ballot in the mail in advance of the election and in-person voting will take place at multiple lo-cations over 11 days.

Register online at vote.ca.gov and fill out your census form at mycensus2020.gov

It shouldn’t take much longer than it takes to write a Facebook post.

LFNC from page 6

Advertise in the

Los Feliz Ledger(323) 741-0019

Los Feliz Ledger

Page 10 losfelizledger.com June 2020Su Casa REAL ESTATE

many of the fields that have been most severely impacted by this pandemic.

Recent tax data from 2015 shows that undocu-mented immigrants paid about $23.6 billion in federal taxes, and about $11 billion in local and state taxes. Even so, they are unable to utilize many of the very programs that they pay into.

It is especially infuriating now to see the Trump admin-istration using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to de-monize immigrants.

In addition to hateful speech, the Trump adminis-tration has taken steps to bar immigrants from entering our country, under the guise of protecting American workers.

This ignores the fact that

immigration helps create jobs—for both naturalized and native-born Americans—especially when immigrants move into economically de-pressed areas.

I will not stop fighting for our immigrant communities. I’ve introduced legislation ask-ing the City of Los Angeles to formally oppose any Federal action that seeks to suspend or freeze immigration to the United States, and I’ve called on the State of California to provide funding for undocu-mented immigrants affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

I’m thrilled to see that California is leading the way by providing financial relief for undocumented immigrants. You can learn more about this relief and how to apply on my website: davidryu.lacity.org/

immigrantsI recently held a virtual

Immigrant Rights Town Hall with top advocates and specialists in the field to ensure that our immigrant neighbors know the rights and resources available to them.

People from across the city called in to ask important and thoughtful questions. Their concerns ran the gamut, from young Angelenos worried about college applications, to parents trying to find resourc-es for their families.

We can’t give up this fight. Our work must continue. Im-migrants represent some of the best among us—they are the dreamers, the optimists, and the fighters—and they need our support now more than ever.

RYU from page 6

We must improve our na-tion’s healthcare system by ensuring that all Americans, no matter where they’re born, their income level, or their work, have reliable access to quality, affordable healthcare.

We must also ensure that each and every American can

go to college if they want to, without being saddled with debt for the rest of their lives.

And we must address wage inequality and make sure every American, every child and family, no matter what their circumstance, has a roof over their head and food on their table.

These are massive changes to undertake. How do we be-gin to make progress? One step at a time, first addressing the crisis in front of us, but always looking ahead to a more pros-perous and more just America.

Now is the time to think big, because after coronavirus, we must build back better.

SCHIFF from page 6

FRIEDMAN from page 6

dents in nursing homes do not have the same access to tech-nology to better cope with stay-at-home orders and main-tain communication with loved ones. As a result, visits that many residents rely on as their only form of connection to the outside world have been halted. 

When I spoke with the constituent with a family member currently in a nursing home, this was their primary concern. I cannot imagine the pain and anxiety both resi-dents and family members are facing because of this issue.

I told her she is not alone. Thousands across the state are dealing with these same chal-lenges.

Please know that there is help. Under the Califor-nia Dept. of Aging, there is a “Long-Term Care Ombuds-man Program,” which assists residents and their families with everything from commu-nication and access to health-care coverage, to ensuring resi-dents’ rights and protections and addressing quality-of-care concerns.

I’m in regular contact with our region’s Ombuds-man who has been especially proactive during this crisis in

addressing issues, including publishing a guide for families and developing inventive ways to maintain contact with resi-dents. In fact, our Ombuds-man’s office sent out 76,000 post cards to residents in SNFs in our region to assure them of their rights and to check in on the care they are receiving.

Given the extraordinary impact of COVID-19 on Cali-fornians in nursing homes, it is likely this is going to be the new normal for a long time. 

Finding sustainable and effective solutions will not be easy to ensure quality care and combat isolation for residents and their families.

Fortunately, there is an army of people working every day to ensure that residents have access to the resources and care they need.

If you or a loved one needs help navigating any circum-stance surrounding long-term care, please know that my office is there to help you. As always, I welcome your thoughts, experi-ence and concerns with this or any other matter.

Please feel free to reach out to me at my District Of-fice by calling (818) 558-3043 or sending me an email at As-semblymember.Friedman@Assembly.ca.gov.

Su Casa REAL ESTATE

Los Feliz Ledger

Page 12 losfelizledger.com June 2020SCHOOL NEWS

school’s communications di-rector Callie Webb.

Until May 14th, when the Bowl announced the can-cellation of its entire summer calendar, the school’s admin-istration held out hope their ceremony could still take place at the outdoor venue, which is large enough to facilitate am-ple social distancing. Now, ac-cording to Webb, those hopes have been dashed. 

Now, she said, school of-ficials are trying to figure out a way to honor the 118-member class of 2020.

“A ceremony in some form is pending as plans develop,” said Webb. Whether that will be a virtual ceremony or a postponed in-person one re-mains to be seen, as the school has not yet finalized plans. 

In the meantime, the school has been keeping stu-dent spirits up with events like a drive-through “Senior Sundae Party” on May 12th, what would traditionally be the school’s senior ditch day.

Seniors lined up in cars on the school’s ballfield, where Immaculate Heart President Maureen Diekmann and Prin-cipal Naemah Morris distribut-ed bags with cups of ice cream and sundae toppings. Other

faculty and staff waved and ap-plauded from a distance, offer-ing shouts of encouragement to the graduating class. 

Meanwhile, Los An-geles Unified School Dis-trict (LAUSD) Supt. Austin Beutner recently announced all LAUSD graduation cer-emonies would be virtual. 

“We’ve explored drive-in, drive-by, drive-around and drive-through ceremonies. We’ve even asked if we could rent the Coliseum or Dodger Stadium and sit every partici-pant far apart,” Beutner said in a virtual districtwide May 4th address. “Health authori-ties tell us those are not pos-sible at this time.” 

Beutner encouraged schools to “be creative and hold the best virtual celebra-tion you can,” saying in-per-son ceremonies could be held later, after schools reopen. 

High schoolers aren’t the only ones missing out on a tra-ditional graduation this year. 

Eighth graders at Vermont Avenue’s Our Mother of Good Counsel (OMGC) will have their graduation moved online as well, according to the school’s principal Allison Essman.

According to Essman, the school is making individual appointments for students and

their parents to be filmed re-ceiving their diploma. Then, she said, the school will edit together the videos for their virtual ceremony in June. 

In mid-May, Essman said she and other staff drove around and hand-delivered eighth graders’ graduation medals, tassels and com-memorative yard signs as a surprise. 

OMGC is additionally highlighting each graduate on the school’s social media pages, posting photos and announc-ing where each student is going to high school, she said. 

According to Essman, she is trying to maintain as many traditions as possible—includ-ing the school’s annual walk-a-thon, scheduled for May 29th. 

“I’ve been videotaping segments, and we’re taking the kids on a virtual walk around los Feliz,” she said. “We are having to be so creative. It’s in-sane. Because you want to give them as similar an experience as possible. You want them to have all that stuff.” 

Essman said she has tried to show her eighth graders the bright side of the situation by reminding them how historical and unique their situation is.

“I tell them, ‘No one will

GRADUATION from page 1

see GRADUATION page 14see SUMMER CAMP page 15

SUMMER CAMP from page 1

tisystem Inflammatory Syn-drome linked to the coronavi-rus, many summer schools and camps have been cancelled, while others will look signifi-cantly different than they did last year.

At a May 22nd briefing, California Gov. Gavin New-som said guidelines for re-opening schools and summer camps were pending, though such had not yet been released at press time.

“My kids ask me as well,” Newsom said, when pressed on whether camps would get the green-light this year.

Meanwhile, some facilities, which have been certified by the state as childcare providers, are considered essential businesses under stay-at-home orders and are allowed to operate before re-strictions are lifted.

Silver Lake’s Camelot Kids, for example, has been open since May 4th, according to owner, Rene Plant.

The preschool currently has 16 children divided into three groups to minimize the risk of exposure to the coro-navirus, said Plant, and the school recently obtained a “school age waiver” from the state, which allows them to take in children up to 10 years

old, rather than just preschool and kindergarteners.

Plant said she has high hopes for the Camelot’s sum-mer camp, which will focus on water play and outdoor explo-ration.

“We plan to spend time outside as much as possible,” she said.

According to Kari Druy-en, who runs Silverlake Beach Camp and operates Pinwheels Preschool in Los Feliz, she also plans to operate both the camp and the school this summer.

“[Children] need a place to go and socialize because their mental health and social skills are important,” Druyen said.

Pinwheels will reopen on June 1st, Druyen said, but there will be no stuffed ani-mals or soft toys allowed and children will bring their own food and won’t share snacks.

Silverlake Beach Camp is scheduled to begin on July 13th, albeit with lower enroll-ment.

“We are doing what is manageable, with a lower number of children. We have three teachers available, and we plan to be outdoors most of the time,” Druyen said.

In addition to reducing

Los Feliz Ledger

June 2020 losfelizledger.com Page 13SCHOOL NEWS

323.663.2064 | holytrinityla.com

• Fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Catholic Education Association

• Transitional Kindergarten – 8th Grade

• Small class sizes for individual attention

• Before and After-school Programs

• Affordable family tuition plans

• 1 to 1 Technology Program

• Hands-on STEM activities

• Providing a welcoming andsafe environment for all

NOW Taking Applications

Sign Up Online: CHLA.org/DonateBlood | Use Code: CMLTEmail: info@camelotkids.org

2800 Rowena Ave., LA

Camelot = Community

[IMMACULATE HEART]

Still Living in Corona TimeBy Stella Lissak ’22

And here it is. We’ve come to a close on the

2019-20 school year—or three quarters of a school year.

Truly, ever since March 13th, it feels a bit like time has stopped. As one of my teach-ers puts it, “We’re not living in measured time; we’re living in corona time.”

This newfangled way of “measuring” time—that feels like eternity—means that our method of learning has had to adapt to off-campus distance learning through virtual class meetings.

In last month’s column, I mentioned how distance learning was going well for me, but this month I asked other sophomores for their opinions on the quarantine, as well as how they dealt with end-of-the-year AP tests and our Cumulative Assessment Period (CAP).

The common consensus was that students were glad AP tests were shortened and remote this year, as well as open note. 

I also asked classmates about their workload as we faced the end of the year. I found it quite calm at the be-ginning of quarantine, but recently it ramped up a bit as we stared down the barrel at school’s end date.

Sophomore Class Presi-dent Daniela Salazar said her workload had been “manage-able but challenging,” largely because distance learning meant greater responsibility fell on each student as a result of fewer group projects.

Sophomore Grace Lorey said her workload felt fairly

minimal at the start of quaran-tine, but “as finals approached, our teachers did their best to help us prepare.”

Most of her time, she said, “was spent studying and work-ing to maintain good grades.”

Teachers, she added, have been extremely helpful, ac-commodating, and under-standing during this time, a nice reprieve during the al-ready challenging adjustment to online learning.

Meanwhile, Immaculate Heart students have found creative ways to feel part of a school community.

Sophomore Ellie Kwon noted that our infamously low “sophomore school spirit” has risen to new extremes during quarantine.

For example, our Sopho-more Board helped to get stu-dents even more excited about trying new activities from home, especially during Spirit Week (when each day has a theme to follow and a partic-ular clothing choice, such as class color Tuesday).

Ultimately, most students said that they were looking for-ward to summer vacation and enjoying the outdoors (while being socially distant and safe), picking up a new instrument, or exercising. And we are all anticipating the start of the 2020-21 school year (whether from home or on campus).

I’d like to say a quick thank you to everyone who has read my column over the past year, even if only once. I’m ex-cited to see what the summer and next year will bring, and I am looking forward to writing again in the fall. Have a great summer!

[IVANHOE]

How COVID-19 Restrictions Affect People Experiencing HomelessnessBy Nahla Bailey, 4th grade

LFIA from page 6

On Mother’s Day, my father was driving to a restaurant to pick up our dinner. On the restaurant door there was a sign that said “all transactions must be placed through our app. No in-person transactions!”

On the way back he saw a man asking for money on the street corner. When my dad told us about the precautions that stores were taking, and the man on the corner, I asked, “What good would the cash do if most stores aren’t accepting cash during the quarantine?”

The choices that store owners are making are affect-ing lots of people who don’t have a credit card or bank ac-count. So most people without a debit or credit card do not have access to most businesses.

Niall McCarthy from forbes.com wrote “California has more than half of all un-sheltered homeless people in the country at 53% or 108,432, nearly nine times as many as the state with the next highest number. That’s Florida.” That means that the state of Califor-nia has the largest population of people experiencing home-lessness in the United States.

On Riverside Drive, in front of the Friendship Au-ditorium there are 40 trailers stationed in the parking lot, housing asymptomatic home-less individuals. Some organi-zations have also been giving

out free masks and free CO-VID-19 tests for anyone who would like to be tested.

“I am worried for the in-creased risks that people ex-pressing homelessness face at this time” said Nithya Raman, an urban planner, community advocate and current candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 4. “I am also hopeful that the public health emergen-cy will mean that the city and county act with the urgency required to make more hous-ing, camping sites, and services available to move people per-manently off of the streets.”

Raman went on to explain that people who used to volun-teer at homeless shelters can-not volunteer anymore.

“Because of risks from the virus, many of the traditional

sources of food that people experiencing homelessness used to access are not available anymore,” said Raman. “One way you can help: the Los An-geles Coalition to End Youth Homelessness has started a fundraiser to get grocery cards to homeless youth.” Other resources include SELAH Neighborhood Homelessness Coalition, where handwritten notes of encouragement and hygiene kits are made for our unhoused neighbors.

This goes to say that there are other ways than just giving cash or food to help people ex-periencing homelessness dur-ing this pandemic. There are many resources and organiza-tions to support. Even kids can do their part because everyone has their own part to play.

packages and bags of food; the schoolteachers who pro-vide lessons via virtual class-rooms; the volunteers who buy groceries for our shut-in seniors; the City Hall em-ployees; the sanitation crews; and let’s not forget the ani-mal shelter workers and the zookeepers. Our gratitude list is endless.

We also salute the resi-dents of Los Feliz for nightly serenading our heroes. It’s become a ritual in sections of the community to give

thanks to the frontline’s es-sential workers with cheer-ing, clapping and clanking pots and pans.

One high schooler on Waverly Drive entertains his neighbors by playing a musical medley of “Amazing Grace” and “Hector the Brave” on his bagpipes.

Sometimes it’s the small-est of gestures that give the biggest thanks to folks like Oscar Osorio and all the other dedicated workers who take extra-good care of us during these trying times.

Los Feliz Ledger

Page 14 losfelizledger.com June 2020SCHOOL NEWS

smileandwonder.com

Speech. Occupational. Behavior Therapy

in-person & e-learning

323-644-9380

= strengthcommunity

SAFETY. HEALTH. LEARNINGENROLLING

learning never stopstele-therapy

TRAILERS from page 1

forget your class ever,’” she said. 

Indeed, it will be hard to forget a class whose com-mencement speakers include former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama.  

YouTube announced last week the couple would head-line its “Graduate Together”

event, celebrating every class of 2020.  

Other speakers include former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. 

“Graduate Together” will stream online and air on sev-eral TV networks, including ABC CBS, FOX and NBC, June 6th at 3 p.m.

GRADUATION from page 12

elusive for years. And now, ex-perts say things will only get worse.

Analyses released in May by a Columbia University pro-fessor said COVID-19 will throw another 30,000 Cali-fornians into homelessness and consultants McKinsey and Company reported that 40% of jobs in Los Angeles Coun-ty were vulnerable to unpaid leave, furloughs, reduced hours and layoffs due to the virus.

The June release of this year’s homeless point in time count—which occurred in January before COVID-19 struck—has been delayed due to the pandemic. Last year’s numbers revealed over 36,000 homeless persons in the city of Los Angeles and nearly 60,000 in the county.

And by all measures the numbers are going to get worse. Still, officials say they are confident they can get those living in the trailers in Los Feliz, as well as in seven other communities through-out the city—including Woodland Hills, Westwood and Cheviot Hills—into some form of housing.

“We are working . . . to transition everyone given emer-gency shelter during the crisis to a permanent home . . . after the immediate crisis passes,” said Sarah Dusseault, Chair of Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the agency oversee-ing the program.

In fact, officials say the pandemic will make doing so easier than before.

“This is groundbreaking because, thanks to Project Roomkey, we know exactly where these individuals are and we are breaking down ev-ery barrier we can to make our system work faster and more effectively,” said Amy Perkins, director of Housing Central Command, established by the city and county in February to move people into housing faster.

But some members of the senior center—which has a roster of about 400—worry that moving the people out of the trailers might be diffi-cult and create a new barrier to finally reopening their club after COVID-19.

“It’s understandable this is happening,” said Stephanie Vendig, who helped found the senior center 12 years ago, “but at the same time, we are worried about what will hap-pen to the senior center . . . It’s been a second home to a hell of a lot of people.”

Peter Bonerz, 81, the actor from the famed Bob Newhart Show, who has moderated the discussion group Socrates Café at the club for the last 11 years, said he is not concerned and is a proud YIMBY.

“They are welcome to our parking lot,” he said. “I don’t think we’re going to be using it for a while . . . We geezers probably shouldn’t be get-ting together for another six months or so.”

But there are others de-manding the city move the trailers now, saying there was no process for public input on the issue, the trailers will take away a grassy space where chil-dren often play and the area will become inundated with homeless people.

“Why should Riverside Drive be made into Los Feliz Skid Row?” said Christopher Callen, a local resident for 26 years.

Callen wants the trailers moved to a Goodwill parking lot on San Fernando Road, about two miles east from where they are now. She says the location, across the 5 Free-way and L.A. River, is in a more commercial area, where those living in the trailers—which have an 8 p.m. curfew—can find services and food.

According to Callen, over 30 locals have contacted her with concerns.

“It’s like cockroaches,” she said. “For every person that contacts me there is probably a hundred others that feel the same way.”

For his part, Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu didn’t decide to bring the trailers in. Garcetti did.

“We urgently need solu-tions like these trailers to pro-tect public health and bring our un-housed neighbors into safe shelter and I’m proud to support the mayor in bring-ing these trailers to Council District Four,” he said in state-ment April 28th.

Los Feliz Ledger

June 2020 losfelizledger.com Page 15SCHOOL NEWS

Immaculate Heart A Catholic, Independent, College Preparatory School for Girls Grades 6 – 12

5515 Franklin Avenue ♥ Los Angeles, CA 90028 (323) 461-3651 ♥ www.immaculateheart.org

1906EST

MA

RIA

 IM

M ACUL ATA SPES NO

STR

A

IMMACULATE HEART

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!Our graduates have been accepted at universities and colleges across the country, including:

American UniversityAmherst CollegeBard CollegeBishop’s UniversityBoston CollegeBoston UniversityCalifornia State University, All CampusesCal Poly PomonaCal Poly San Luis ObispoChapman UniversityColgate UniversityConnecticut CollegeCornell UniversityDePaul UniversityEmerson UniversityFordham UniversityGonzaga UniversityGoucher CollegeGrinnel College

Howard UniversityLoyola Marymount UniversityLoyola University ChicagoMacalester CollegeMount St. Mary’s UniversityNew York UniversityOberlin CollegeOtis College of Art & DesignPepperdine UniversityPomona CollegePurdue UniversityRhode Island School of DesignReed CollegeRollins CollegeSaint Mary’s College of CaliforniaSanta Clara UniversitySarah Lawrence CollegeSchool of the Art Institute of ChicagoSeattle UniversitySmith CollegeSpelman College

Syracuse UniversityThe Catholic University of AmericaThe George Washington UniversityTufts UniversityUniversity of California, All CampusesUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of MichiganUniversity of OregonUniversity of PortlandUniversity of Puget SoundUniversity of San DiegoUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of St. AndrewsUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Wisconsin Madison Vassar CollegeVirginia TechWellesley CollegeWhitman College

WESTRIDGE SCHOOL

Members of the Westridge Class of 2020 will continue their educational pursuits at the following institutions:

CongratulationsClass of 2020

Barnard CollegeBoston University (2)Brandeis UniversityBrown University California Institute of

TechnologyUniversity of California: Berkeley Santa Cruz (2)University of Chicago (3)Claremont McKenna College (2)Columbia University &

Trinity College Dublin Cornell UniversityGeorge Washington

University (2)

Hamilton CollegeHaverford CollegeHigh Point UniversityIndiana UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityLehigh UniversityLoyola Marymount

University (2)University of MichiganUniversity of Minnesota-

Twin CitiesNew York University (3)Northeastern University (3)Oberlin CollegePasadena City College

University of Pennsylvania (2)Princeton University (3)Scripps CollegeUniversity of Southern

California (7)St. Olaf CollegeThe New School Tufts University (3)Tulane University (2)Vassar College (2)Washington State

UniversityUniversity of

WashingtonWellesley CollegeWesleyan University

An independent, forward-thinking girls’ school committed to educating intellectually adventurous thinkers, and courageous, compassionate leaders.

324 MADELINE DRIVE, PASADNA, CA 91105

626.799.1053 EXT. 256 WESTRIDGE.ORG

short lived, as the city’s May 9th reopening of public hiking trails brought visitors flooding back, creating new safety con-cerns and rekindling old ones.

According to Lake Hol-lywood resident Daniel Sav-age, while tourism has mostly stopped due to the pandem-ic, foot traffic in the area does not seem to have gone down, and most of the hikers he has seen are flouting coronavirus safety orders. 

“There is no social dis-tance, no masks,” he said. 

Beachwood Drive resi-dent Sarajane Schwartz said she has seen between 30 to 40 hikers per day along Beach-wod Drive since the trails re-opened, only a small fraction of whom she recognizes as residents—and the majority unmasked.

According to Schwartz, the hikers have persisted, de-spite the city’s court-ordered 2017 closure of the Beachwood Drive trailhead after a judge ruled it was causing hikers to trespass on property owned by Sunset Ranch stables.

Now, she said, hikers walk “bootleg” trails to the sign and ignore safety postings—in some cases going so far as to remove them.

“People should walk the legal, public trails,” said Schwartz. “We are very wor-ried. The signs that were tell-ing people to wear masks were stolen.” 

According to Schwartz, most of the residents in her community are senior citi-zens. She said she is con-cerned  that hikers not wear-ing mandatory face  coverings could spread the coronavi-rus, which disproportionately kills people older than 65.

The city’s decision to re-open some trails and not oth-ers has further complicated matters, according to Lake Hollywood resident and Hol-

lywood United Neighborhood Council Boardmember Sheila Irani.

With Hollywood’s popu-lar Runyon Canyon park closed, for example, Irani said she worries those hikers will be drawn instead to her neigh-borhood, offsetting any reduc-tion in tourism caused by the pandemic.

“With the Runyon Can-yon closure, [the] attractive-ness of the trails, the Hol-lywood sign and lake views make Lake Hollywood a very vulnerable location for far more visitors than recom-mended with social distancing requirements,” said Irani. “We know from past experience that people normally inun-date the Lake Hollywood area on weekends to hike Wisdom Tree trail, and Dirt Mulhol-land and Mt. Lee for exercise.”  

According to Irani, she and her neighbors worry a few careless rulebreakers might ruin things for everyone.

“I would hate for the opening of parks that should be a positive event for so many, to be stopped by the few who feel they are above social distancing and wearing a mask,” she said.

Additionally, Irani said she worries about the ever-present possibility an errant cigarette butt might start a fire—especially since annual brush clearance by the Los Angeles Fire Dept. (LAFD) has not yet occurred.

According to LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart, brush clearance and fire inspec-tions typically scheduled for May were postponed until June due to the pandemic.

In the meantime, Irani said, if hikers start following COVID-19 safety guidelines, it may kill two birds with one stone.

“Thankfully wearing a mask makes it impossible to smoke,” she said.

BEACHWOOD from page 1

SUMMER CAMP from page 12

enrollment from the usual 25 kids per week, Druyen said she also made adjustments to the camp’s activities schedule.

“We will go to the beach three times per week instead of two and we will avoid the big museums [if they reopen], and instead go to smaller ones, like the LAX museum, so that we don’t get in contact with other people,” she said.

Druyen also cancelled the camp’s typical weekly public transportation outing, and will instead use the camp’s van for all transportation.

One mother, Meredith Wick, said she plans to send

all three of her children, a 14-year-old boy and 12-year-old twin girls to Silverlake Beach Camp this year.

“My kids have been going to the camp since they were 5 and even though they are adjusting well to the quaran-tine, … they do want to go to camp,” Wick said.

Meanwhile, many schools have moved their summer classes online.

Franklin Avenue girls’ school Immaculate Heart will offer its summer program virtually this year, with tradi-tional academics, such as math and language classes, as well as enrichment activities, like Sal-

sa dancing, Pilates and bak-ing, according to the school’s communications director Cal-lie Webb.

“The only class that will not be offered is swimming,” Webb said.

Los Feliz’s Wizard of Art and Atwater Village’s MyGym have also moved their summer classes online, with Wizard of Art teaching drawing and

painting and MyGym teaching karate and dance, all via Zoom.

But others have opted to cancel their summer program-ming, such as Ecole du Soleil, LILA International School’s summer camp, according to information on the school’s website.

All city-operated camps have been cancelled as well, ac-cording to Los Angeles Recre-

ation and Parks Dept. spokes-person Rose Watson, including Griffith Park’s Camp Holly-woodland and the Silver Lake Recreation Center day camp.

“We don’t anticipate opening camps this summer, but look forward to reopening them as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Watson said.

(323) 668-7600 • HOME@GEORGEANDEILEEN.COM • GEORGEANDEILEEN.COM • @GEORGEANDEILEENREALESTATE

DRE#’s George Moreno 00560275 | Eileen Moreno 01194455 | Laura Moreno 01950438 | Dunia Handy Gill 01262913

3704 Prestwick Drive • Traditional • $2,395,000

Located in the coveted Los Feliz Hills is this gated 4+5 Traditional view home. Fabulous updated kitchen that leads to scenic view deck. Large dining room. Master suite with seating area, en-suite bath and wonderful views. Spacious family room. Stunning grounds. Patio and possible room for a pool.

FOR LEASE in Los Feliz

LOS FELIZ • SILVER LAKE • FRANKLIN HILLS • ATWATER VILLAGE • ECHO PARK BEACHWOOD CANYON • HOLLYWOOD HILLS • WEST HOLLYWOOD • GLENDALE

FOR SALE in Los Feliz Hills

1312 Occidental Blvd • Cal Bungalow • $949,000

You’ll fall in love with the open floor plan and renovated kitchen in this 1920’s 2+1 bungalow with separate home office retreat on the hill. Beautiful drought tolerant landscaping. New flooring. Low E windows. Great location that’s minutes to the Silver Lake dog Park, reservoir, Lamill L&E, Sawyer and more on Sunset!

FOR SALE in Silver Lake

1935 Mayview Drive • Architectural Gem • $1,515,000

Dramatic 2+2.5 1950’s Architectural Beauty recreated by Barbara Bestor. Each bedroom with private bath. The master leads to one of 2 fabulous decks. “Great room” living space w/floor to ceiling windows, open, center isle w/breakfast bar. Hillside and city views. Great entertainer’s deck & blt-in BBQ. Lovely grounds!

JUST SOLD in Los Feliz Franklin Hills

2333 Janet Lee Drive • Farmhouse • $1,344,706

Sun-filled 4 bed 4 bath Farmhouse-style residence with great curb appeal is situated on a very charming street. The gorgeous living room looks out to the lovely yard with pool, plus a sizable family room! This fantastic home is located in the wonderful Mountain Avenue Elementary & Crescenta Valley High School districts.

2424 Lanterman Terrace • Cape Cod • $1,295,000

Perfectly perched in the hills is this 1930s built, 2+1.5 home has fabulous views and situated in the highly coveted Ivanhoe Elementary! Beautiful living room with fireplace and views. Sweet home office. Charming retro kitchen with built-in breakfast nook. Large formal dining room. Lovely spacious patio. Large storage room.

IN ESCROW in the Silver Lake Hills

4310 Cedarhurst Circle • Traditional • $8,000

Spacious 4+4 on highly coveted Cedarhurst Circle. with sweeping downtown views. Gracious living rm & formal dining rms with hardwood floors that lead out to charming terrace overlooking lovely backyard. Well appointed kitchen. Great home office space. 3-car garage. Franklin Elementary School. Central AC/Heat.

JUST SOLD in La Crescenta

JUST LEASED in Silver Lake

2924 Rowena Avenue #4 • Architectrual • $3,700

Stylish tri-level townhouse style unit walkable Silver Lake location! Living room steps leads patio. 2 beds and 1 spacious bath with double vanity sinks upstairs with great 2nd bath on main level. Both with generous sized showers, Moen fixtures, quartz countertops. Garage with direct access. Ivanhoe Elementary School.

The Moreno TeamKeller Williams Realty Los Feliz

2150 Hillhurst AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90027

323.668.7600moreno@georgeandeileen.com

georgeandeileen.com@GEORGEANDEILEENREALESTATE

...The Moreno’s made the process smooth & manageable. They are total pros and we would use them again in a heartbeat! Ron Huebel ... We are so happy we found the Moreno’s! They are professionals and extremely responsive. Brent and Tiffany Blumstein

... I am so apreciative of your guidance over the years and would happily refer you to anyone looking for a realtor. Chad McQuay