WeHo's The Abbey Food & Bar and The Chapel are up for sale

Feb 21, 2024

Since its opening in 1991, the restaurant and bar has steadily built a global reputation as the premier nightlife destination

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – David Cooley, the founder and owner of The Abbey Food and Bar and The Chapel at the Abbey, has listed both West Hollywood businesses for sale. Less than a week after Lisa Vanderpump’s PUMP Restaurant left West Hollywood, an source directed the WeHo Times to the listing of The Abbey WeHo and The Chapel in Marcus & Millichap of Brandon Michaels Group, a real estate agency based in Encino.

The listing of both spaces is described as “a generational purchase opportunity to acquire one of the world’s most iconic nightclubs and restaurants, The Abbey and The Chapel at the Abbey, including its tangible and intangible assets with all branding and branding rights to the businesses, and trophy West Hollywood real estate. ‘The Abbey’ business, a fee simple interest of 686 N Robertson Blvd, and ‘The Chapel at The Abbey’ business with its interest in the lease at 694 N Robertson Blvd.”

The Abbey is known as a world-renowned bar, restaurant, and event venue located in the heart of West Hollywood. It is listed as “one of the most popular and iconic gay bars, both in the United States and globally, known for its diverse clientele, lively atmosphere, and regular events and theme nights.

The Abbey has built a loyal customer base over the years and is a staple in the LGBTQ+ community. Since its opening in 1991, the restaurant and bar has steadily built a global reputation as the premier nightlife destination and has amassed the awards to support: “Best Gay Bar in the World” from Logo and MTV, “Best Gay Bar in Los Angeles” from LA Weekly, LA Weekly Reader’s Choice, and Time Out Los Angeles, “Best Nightlife in Los Angeles” from USA Today, among so many others.

In 2016, The Abbey expanded to occupy its neighboring parcel to the north, rebranding the property as The Chapel At The Abbey. Both businesses are included in the sale, financials are available upon request.”

Cooley sold a majority of his stake of The Abbey to hospitality and entertainment company SBE Group in 2006. According to reports SBE paid close to $10 million for a 75 percent stake. Cooley stayed on as President. SBE Group planned to open additional Abbey bars in popular gay destinations across the country, but those plans never panned out.

Cooley bought the Abbey back in 2015, a year shy of the Abbey’s 25-year-anniversary. The Abbey recently celebrated 33 years.

Cooley also listed his home for sale in L.A.’s historic Hancock Park neighborhood back in March. Cooley purchased the brick structure designed by architect Henry F Withey for $1.9 million in 2001. The home is widely known for hosting several fundraisers throughout the past four decades.

Attempts to reach David Cooley for comment were unsuccessful as of time of publication.

To view the full Brandon Michaels Group real estate listing of the Abbey and The Chapel at the Abbey, click on the link below:

https://www.brandonmichaelsgroup.com/686nrobertsonblvd

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

LA County Sheriff details crimes in West Hollywood for June

WeHo Arts seeking feedback on WeHo Pride Arts Festival

Man collapses in West Hollywood from Fentanyl overdose

Mobile phone thieves caught at Heart Club in WeHo… again

West Hollywood in brief- City government in action this week

Accidental overdose deaths caused by fentanyl can be prevented by fentanyl test strips and a life-saving medication called Naloxone

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – A man had a medical emergency in West Hollywood on Santa Monica Boulevard Thursday afternoon. First responders were on the scene after reports that a man had collapsed near a bus stop on the intersection of Santa Monica and La Cienega Boulevards. He was unconscious and foaming at the mouth when paramedics arrived.

The incident occurred at roughly 4:45 p.m. A West Hollywood sheriff deputy confirmed that the man was high on fentanyl and unresponsive. The man was revived and transported to a nearby hospital.

Emergency vehicles blocked the right lane on Santa Monica Boulevard to tend to the person, creating a traffic jam during 5pm rush hour. The traffic conjestion lasted a little over a half-hour.

The City of West Hollywood recently announced that it is joining the recovery community in recognizing Thursday, August 31, 2023, as Overdose Awareness Day, a global event held annually to remember and memorialize the lives lost to drug overdoses and to promote awareness about the importance of overdose prevention. West Hollywood City Hall will be lit in purple, the color of recognition for Overdose Awareness Day. The City will also participate by sharing #OverdoseAwarenessDay messaging in @wehocity social media.

Originating in 2001, Overdose Awareness Day has become the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdoses and stimulate action and discussion about evidence-based treatment and harm reduction. Numbering nearly 110,000 overdose deaths, 2022 saw the highest recorded deaths in a calendar year in the United States, compared with 109,179 in 2021, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid, has been a significant factor in the rise of deadly overdoses and accidental drug poisonings.

Fentanyl overdoses continue to be a significant and growing public health problem that impacts people across race, ethnicity, and the socioeconomic spectrum. The City of West Hollywood contracts with many agencies to provide programming and services for people with substance use disorders and has taken steps to educate and raise awareness about the harms of fentanyl.

In 2019, the City began partnering with its contracted and collaborative agency partners to distribute fentanyl test strips to the community. In 2022, more than 10,000 fentanyl strips were distributed during WeHo Pride weekend and more than 5,000 were distributed during the 2022 December holidays leading up to New Year’s Eve. In 2023, freefentanyl test strips and Naloxone/Narcan were available throughout the 2023 WeHo Pride Street Fair.

Accidental fentanyl overdose deaths in Los Angeles County increased 1,280% from 109 deaths in 2016 to 1,504 deaths in 2021. Fentanyl is an addictive and deadly synthetic opioid that has been found in counterfeit pharmaceuticals and illicit substances such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy. It is especially dangerous because people are often unaware of Fentanyl contamination within the substances they are using. The potency of fentanyl (as high as 50 to 100 times the potency of morphine) greatly increases the risk of overdose.

Accidental overdose deaths caused by fentanyl can be prevented by fentanyl test strips and a life-saving medication called Naloxone (or by the brand name Narcan). The fentanyl test strip is a harm reduction tool used to test substances for trace amounts of fentanyl and it provides an indicator of how lethal the substance might be prior to consuming it. Naloxone/Narcan quickly reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids and it can restore normal breathing within minutes in a person whose breath has slowed or stopped due to an overdose. The most common form of Naloxone/Narcan comes in an east-to-use nasal spray that allows bystanders to help stop a fatal overdose from occurring prior to the arrival of emergency services personnel.

The City of West Hollywood is working on next steps in the renovation of the historic Log Cabin building, which houses the West Hollywood Recovery Center (WHRC) on N. Robertson Boulevard.

In late June 2023, the California State Legislature approved AB 102 Budget Act of 2023, which contains $1.15 million in appropriated funding to support the Log Cabin renovation project; in July 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 102 into law.

More information about the Log Cabin history and renovation project, visit the City of West Hollywood: https://www.weho.org/Home/Components/News/News/10917/23.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

Deputies also arrested two females– in a separate incident of phone thefts at Rocco’s WeHo located across the street from Heart WeHo

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – A video shared with with WeHo Times at early Sunday morning, alleges that pickpocket thieves were caught stealing cell phones and the phones were recovered and returned to their rightful owners, who were customers at Heart WeHo.

As depicted in the video a man is detained and women are heard screaming, one woman calling him a “broke ass bitch.”

“We enforce the law here,” read the story about the incident posted in Heart WeHo’s official Instagram account. “If you steal, we will catch you.”

According to a person familiar speaking with the WeHo Times, “They have been caught before. Keep coming back. They don’t arrest them unless they have more than 8 phones on one person. So we catch and release. Return the phones to the owners. They always work in teams, 2-3.”

A video shared with @weho times at 1:53 am, Sunday morning, alleges that pickpockets were caught stealing cell phones at Heart WeHo. The phones were recovered and returned to their rightful owners. It is not yet clear if arrests were made.https://t.co/wCnFStPW9h pic.twitter.com/HQJ1OMiSg3

This isn’t the first time pickpockets have been caught at the WeHo hotspot. Two individuals were arrested for stealing phones inside Heart on Friday, February 17, 2023. “More pickpockets arrested last night,” read a social media post. “If you come to and try to steal from our guests, we will catch you and you will be arrested!”

The video shows a male and female in custody at the venue located at 8911 Santa Monica Boulevard. According to the short footage, a man who was visiting from New York had his phone stolen by one of the individuals. We also see a group of people standing outside waiting to have their phones returned to them.

“He was here visiting from New York and his phone was stolen from his back pocket by the same people who steal cell phones every single time,” says the person behind the video.

“The duo right here was once again detained by our security. Hopefully we won’t be seeing them back in two weeks. Thank you to the sheriff’s department and code compliance who are always first to show up. All these people are waiting for their stolen phones. I’m sure they did it in multiple venues across the city. They are stealing from our community–our queer community who come here for a safe space and have their phone stolen. We will catch you and you will be arrested.”

Deputies from the LA County Sheriff’s Department’s WeHo Substation arrested two individuals–both female–in a separate incident of phone thefts at Rocco’s WeHo located across the street from Heart WeHo.

That incident occurred at roughly 1:30am on Sunday morning. A LASD spokesperson was not able to provide more information citing an ongoing investigation.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

Special Meeting of City Council & Public Safety Commission, August 14; Book Signing: ‘Zev’s LA; Women’s Equality Day – WeHo Takeover + more

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WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood’s Neighborhood and Business Safety Division’s Code Enforcement team works to maintain neighborhood livability by being responsive to complaints and concerns received from the community. The team is responsible for enforcing all provisions of the City’s laws and ordinances, as governed by the West Hollywood Municipal Code, and it actively addresses community concerns about a variety of regulated issues.

To respond to an uptick in community concerns, the City is increasing outreach to residents and property owners to remind them:

The City’s Code Enforcement team actively addresses a range of residential neighborhood concerns, such as noise; property maintenance; vacant properties; construction; zoning (short-term rentals and land use activities); and impediments in the public right-of-way (sidewalk, parkway, alley, or street). Community members who may have concerns are encouraged to reach out to the City’s Code Enforcement team by submitting a Service Request, which is a first step in investigating potential violations of the Municipal Code. The primary goal of Code Enforcement is to gain voluntary compliance so that residents better understand their responsibilities in maintaining their properties and preserving quality of life.

Service requests may be submitted on the City’s website at www.weho.org/servicerequest or by using the City of West Hollywood Official App, which may be downloaded on an Apple device from the iOS App Store or as an Android App on Google Play; search for “West Hollywood Official App.”

Complaints or questions may also be submitted through the Code Enforcement hotline at (323) 848-6516 or email at [email protected]. When reporting a complaint, please include the address, the day of the week, and the approximate time when the use of a gas leaf blower was observed. If you wish to receive a call back, please also leave your contact information. For more information, please contact Vyto Adomaitis, Neighborhood and Business Safety Manager, at (323) 848-6531 or [email protected].

The City of West Hollywood’s Recreation Services Division will host its annual WeHo Rec Expo on Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center, located at 8750 El Tovar Place. The event is free and attendees can learn more about the City’s recreation programs and events for children, adults, and older adults. Those who visit the Expo will enjoy demos, giveaways, and exciting activities sure to be fun for the entire family.

Additionally, there will be a rodeo-themed recreation swim; space is limited, and reservations are required for this activity. To register, please visit www.weho.org/pool or call (323) 848-6308 for additional information.

Limited parking will be available at the West Hollywood Park Five-Story Parking Structure, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, adjacent to the West Hollywood Library.For additional information about the WeHo Rec Expo, please call (323) 848-6497 or email [email protected].

The City of West Hollywood will host the OutLoud Sports Festival Dodgeball Tournament as part of a two-day sports festival over Labor Day Weekend which includes multiple sports at locations throughout Southern California.

The OutLoud Dodgeball Tournament is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center located at 8750 El Tovar Place, adjacent to the West Hollywood Library. The Dodgeball Tournament is free for all spectators; interested participants can register via the League Apps website at OutLoud Sports Festival 2023: Dodgeball Tournament, Recreation Division : OutLoud Sports: Tournaments (leagueapps.com).

Day one of the Dodgeball Tournament, on September 2, 2023, will consist of seven 12-minute matches to determine seeding. Day two, on September 3, 2023, will be a single-elimination tournament concluding with the Championship Match. Teams can consist of a maximum of 13 players with 10 players playing on the court per team. Registration is open to anyone over the age of 21 through August, 21, 2023 by visiting OutLoud’s Los Angeles Sports Festival — OutLoud Sports. Registration is $60 per person through August 10, 2023 and will increase to $70 per person for registrations from August 11, 2023 through August 21, 2023.

OutLoud Sports is the nation’s original Queer recreational sports league, founded in 2007 and proudly representing more than 45,000 Queer and allied athletes across the United States and OutLoud offers inclusive year-round activities, games, and sporting events. The Sports Festival consists of tournaments of the following sports: kickball, dodgeball, tennis, pickleball, soccer, sand volleyball, and bowling at various locations in surrounding cities. More information regarding the Festival, events, and OutLoud Sports can be found at www.outloudsports.com.

The City of West Hollywood will convene a Special Meeting of the City Council and Public Safety Commission on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.

Topics of the Special Meeting will include:

In 2021, the City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department began a partnership with the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) to examine racial disparities, where they may exist, in law enforcement interactions. The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station shared data with CPE in order to receive analyses intended to support community and law enforcement collaboration on data-informed efforts to enhance equity in public safety. CPE has announced its West Hollywood Justice Navigator Assessment, which provides this assessment in an interactive digital platform. CPE’s approach to assessing racial disparities in policing uses population benchmarking in combination with other strategies that allow it to perform standardized analyses across law enforcement agencies. Population benchmarking cannot account for out-of-town visitors – though it is not known whether any disparity observed would appear larger or smaller if the non-resident population were fully accounted for. West Hollywood has approximately 35,000 residents, but its population swells each day with visitors.

In recent years, the West Hollywood City Council has provided direction to expand and upgrade public safety technology, equipment, and security in West Hollywood. With the advent of new and existing technology, the City is working toward new goals to prevent or deter certain crimes before they take place and to enhance security citywide. This Special Meeting will provide an opportunity to review a variety of technology recommendations and to collect feedback.

Details about the Special Meeting of the City Council and Public Safety Commission are available on the City Council Meeting Agenda website area, under the Current Agenda Packet link at www.weho.org/councilagendas. The Agenda contains information about how to attend and/or view the meeting, how to provide written correspondence or an e-comment, and how to provide public comment.

The Special Meeting will be available for viewing through the City’s WeHoTV website area at www.weho.org/wehotv. To provide additional access to the City’s public meetings, WeHoTV broadcasts are also available as a courtesy within the City of West Hollywood on Spectrum Cable Channel 10; on the City’s WeHoTV YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/wehotv; and on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku streaming platforms by searching for “WeHoTV” using search functions.

The City of West Hollywood’s Community Safety Department provides oversight of law enforcement and coordinates community programs to reduce crime and increase public safety and the quality of life for citizens, businesses, and visitors to West Hollywood. The City contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement, the Los Angeles County Fire Department for fire protection services, and Block by Block for security ambassador services. The City and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station urge anyone in the community with public safety concerns to reach out to the Sheriff’s Station 24/7 at (310) 855-8850. In an emergency, always call 911.

The City’s Community Safety in the City of West Hollywood information resource provides extensive detail about the City’s proactive approach to Community Safety and related programs. This guide is available on the City’s website at www.weho.org/publicsafety.For more information, please contact Danny Rivas, City of West Hollywood Director of Community Safety, at (323) 848-6424 or at [email protected].

The City of West Hollywood and its Women’s Advisory Board will present the City’s annual celebration of Women’s Equality Day honoring the optimism, tenacity, and unrelenting spirit of the people who worked to secure women’s right to vote, and to illustrate how much can be achieved in a democratic society by the collective efforts of citizens committed to political reform.

Women’s Equality Day – WeHo Takeover is a pop-up experience featuring signage and giveaways celebrating women mobilizing for equal rights and recognizing the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920. The pop-up will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and N. San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood.

The celebration will also highlight the centennial and relevance of the Equal Rights Amendment, which was first introduced in 1923 and ratified in 2020 but remains unpassed to this day. Community members can participate in the event by picking up free sashes, buttons, voter information, and more, as well as by taking photos to share via social media promoting voting rights, pay equity for women, and support for the Equal Rights Amendment.

West Hollywood businesses are invited to participate in the Women’s Equality Day – WeHo Takeover by displaying signage, sharing messaging, and offering themed promotions. Participants are asked to post to social media using the hashtag #WomensEqualityDay. For more information, please visit www.weho.org/19th.

In addition to the Women’s Equality Day – WeHo Takeover, the West Hollywood City Council will issue a proclamation and West Hollywood City Hall and the City’s lanterns over Santa Monica Boulevard will glow in the colors of purple and yellow in recognition of the women’s suffrage movement.

For more than two decades, the City of West Hollywood has commemorated Women’s Equality Day in a variety of ways. The City of West Hollywood was the first city in the nation to declare itself pro-choice and it has continually supported state and federal legislation protecting and advancing women’s reproductive rights and access to healthcare. The City supports the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and has a strong record of supporting initiatives that call for equal pay for equal work. The City’s Women’s Advisory Board and is involved in a myriad of programming and events that recognize and support women in the community.For more information, please contact Larissa Fooks, Community Programs Coordinator at (323) 848-6413 or at [email protected].

The City of West Hollywood and Book Soup present a special evening with former Los Angeles City Councilperson and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky discussing and signing Zev’s Los Angeles: From Boyle Heights to the Halls of Power.

The event will take place on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The discussion is free. Books will be for sale by Book Soup for an after-event signing with Yaroslavsky. To RSVP and for more information, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zev-yaroslavsky-discusses-zevs-los-angeles-tickets-676183642477.

Zev Yaroslavsky, a young social activist, became one of Los Angeles’ most powerful and consequential elected officials, taking on established power brokers and sparking major reforms in policing, transit, land use and fiscal policies. In a Los Angeles political career spanning four decades (LA City Council 1975-1994, LA County Board of Supervisors 1994-2014), Yaroslavsky played a central role in shaping America’s largest metropolitan areas. Health care, transportation, arts and culture, the environment, and fiscal policy were his domain.For more information, please contact Jennifer Del Toro, City of West Hollywood Community and Legislative Affairs Supervisor, at (323) 848-6549 or at [email protected].

For more information, please call the City of West Hollywood’s City Council Offices at (323) 848-6460. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar.

Deputies used force against Black and Latinx people at disproportionate rates compared to their shares of the population

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The Center for Policing Equity (CPE), the City of West Hollywood and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) West Hollywood Station announced the release of the West Hollywood Justice Navigator Assessment report.

The data-driven analysis identifies racial disparities in police interactions with the community. This assessment builds upon recent work to create more equitable policing systems in the City of West Hollywood and was born out of a continued partnership that began in 2021 when the LASD West Hollywood Station proactively joined CPE’s National Justice Database.

The Station shared data with CPE in order to receive analyses intended to support community and law enforcement collaboration on data-informed efforts to enhance equity in public safety.

All assessments are housed within CPE’s Justice Navigator, an interactive digital platform that provides streamlined access to public safety analyses, policy insights, and community resources. The analysis is a step in a collaborative process between municipal leaders and community members in an effort to build and support more equitable public safety systems.

“Our partnership with the LASD West Hollywood Station and the City of West Hollywood has been productive,” said Sean Eldridge, Director of CPE Law Enforcement Initiatives. “Captain Bill Moulder and his staff have been transparent with their data, and enthusiastic about the public rollout of their results. They have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that the policies, procedures and culture of the West Hollywood Station help achieve equitable outcomes and centering the West Hollywood community in these developments. We look forward to joining the City of West Hollywood and West Hollywood Station in presenting this assessment to the public and discussing it with the community.”

“We are deeply appreciative of the work that CPE is doing to highlight racial disparities in interactions where they may exist,” said City of West Hollywood City Manager David Wilson. “The effort of examining such disparities builds upon decades of proactive work that the City of West Hollywood has led with the LASD West Hollywood Station to ensure that law enforcement in our community is effective, responsive, and connected to the city’s core value of respect and support for all people. West Hollywood has a small residential population that is outsized by an exceptionally diverse array of visitors. As we analyze this data, it is our hope that the city and the station can leverage this information to make a positive impact and that we can also look at additional ways to help us get a true picture about disparities. Our ultimate aim is to know about issues where they exist and to continue to work to address issues with solutions.”

West Hollywood Station Captain Bill Moulder stated, “Working with the Center for Policing Equity has been a pleasure. The LASD West Hollywood Station is continually seeking to raise awareness and make improvements. The Station has a diverse workforce, and we engage in a range of training programs that help Sheriff’s personnel to gain understanding and connect with community. CPE data will help in our efforts to better serve our West Hollywood community.”

This analysis is the latest effort made by the LASD West Hollywood Station to build more equitable systems of safety and take a community-centered approach to public safety. These efforts include the 2018 launch of the Mental Evaluation Team (MET), an alternative policing response system that includes a specialized deputy and an LA County Department of Mental Health clinician, which diverts clients away from jail in the field and at booking counters countywide.

The city also approved the exploration of ceasing or reducing low-level traffic stops in West Hollywood in the interest of increasing efficiencies in the police force and reducing any and all opportunities for biased policing.

LASD’s West Hollywood assessment is the result of a thorough analysis of the Station’s use of force data from 2017 – 2021, traffic and non-traffic stop data from July 1, 2018 – December 31, 2021, and calls for service and officer-initiated activity data from 2017 – 2021.

A few key findings from this assessment include:

Details on these findings and more information on the numerous existing programs within LASD and related initiatives intended to create better policing outcomes can be found in the Context Assessment section of the Justice Navigator Assessment.

CPE will present key findings from West Hollywood’s assessment and discuss areas for further exploration in a public event on August 14, 2023 at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time at the West Hollywood Public Park Meeting Room’s Council Chambers: 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, California, 90069.

View the presentation event live: West Hollywood Justice Navigator Public Rollout.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

Vanderpump’s husband, Ken Todd, is being sued for nearly $1 million for allegedly breaching his rental contract with the landlords

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Lisa Vanderpump’s husband, Ken Todd, is being sued for nearly $1 million for allegedly breaching his rental contract with the landlords of the former Pump Restaurant located at 8948 Santa Monica Boulevard.

As of August 1, 2023, a legal case was initiated by 8948 Santa Monica Partners LLC, a California Limited Liability Company, against P U M P, LLC, another California Limited Liability Company, along with other parties. The lawsuit, falling under the category of “Other Contract,” was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Courts, specifically at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles. The current status of the case is listed as pending.

Page Six reports that The company 8948 Santa Monica Partners claims that Pump – of which Todd is the guarantor – has failed and refused and continues to fail and refuse to keep and perform” their lease conditions.

The company pursuing the legal action is seeking $750,000 in damages for the alleged breach of contract and an additional $200,000 due to purported failure to transfer a liquor license, which holds an estimated fair market value of $150,000, among other claims.

In a statement provided to Page Six, the owners of 8948 Santa Monica Partners LLC expressed their determined pursuit of damages, emphasizing Todd’s full liability in the matter.

P U M P was expected to transfer the liquor license to the next tenant upon surrendering the property on July 13, 2023. However, it is claimed that Todd, at 77 years old, has retained the liquor license, causing a delay in the opening of a new restaurant on the premises. This delay is said to have incurred monthly losses of around $56,500 in base rent and related charges for the landlords.

The property owners assert that Todd engaged in deliberate and malicious fraudulent activities when entering the lease contract in 2013. They believe that Todd’s actions were carried out with a disregard for ethical and legal standards.

Responding to these allegations Todd stated that when they took over the location, known as Pump, a decade ago, it was a vacant parking area. He maintained that they had planted olive trees and installed antiques like chandeliers, which he claimed to have carefully removed when they vacated the property. Todd also insisted that the liquor license in question had been in use by their business for the past decade and was rightfully theirs, although he expressed a willingness to sell it to the other party at a fair market value.

Pump Restaurant closed its doors in West Hollywood on Wednesday July 6, 2023.

Roosterfish is coming to West Hollywood. It turns out the rumors are true that the Venice watering hole is opening a new location at 8948 Santa Monica Boulevard, which was formerly home to Lisa Vanderpump’s PUMP restaurant.

ET reports that Roosterfish, which currently has a space located at 1302 Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, will open another location on the corner on Santa Monica Boulevard and Robertson Boulevard made famous by Lisa Vanderpump and her reality TV show Vanderpump Rules. They are hoping to open as soon as next month.

A source tells ET, “Roosterfish has already started construction and if everything goes as planned, it will open next month.”

The new location will be different from the original, which used to mostly be known as a gay watering hole. Roosterfish West Hollywood will serve food. “They’re going to be doing lite casual Italian fair,” reports a source to ET.

The Venice gay bar closed on May of 2017, after being open for 37 years. Owners announce it was re-opened back in September of that same year. They hosted a pop event to raise funds for Venice Pride.

According to its website the original Roosterfish no longer identifies as gay:

When [Roosterfish] first opened, it quickly claimed itself as a gay bar, welcoming only patrons of similar sexual orientation. With this safe haven claimed, patrons were able to drink in peace without judgment from an archaic-minded society…with modern-day Roosterfish, its doors have reopened, welcoming in all walks of life. As one of the original bars along Mr. Kinney’s boulevard, is a part of a rare collective of original restaurants along Abbot Kinney, embracing the openness that makes Venice, CA as unique and special as it is! Roosterfish was one of the first progressive bars for the community and the new owners have kept its namesake in respect to the history Roosterfish has undergone.”

Lisa Vanderpump announced PUMP restaurant was closing on May 4th via a statement, in response to rumors and reports that the space had been listed for lease on LoopNet, the online marketplace for commercial property, which listed the 2,865 SF space as a storefront retail.

The listing has been removed from LoopNet as Roosterfish gets ready to move into the restaurant space known for its courtyard covered with olive trees.

The closure of PUMP restaurant was filmed for season 11 of Vanderpump Rules.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

The mid-city street lanterns are similar to the temporary lights installed during 2019 LA Pride in West Hollywood

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Street lanterns have been installed on Santa Monica Boulevard in the Mid-City area and they are currently lit without any glitches. The string of colorful rainbow lights start on Santa Monica Boulevard where Holloway and Olive Drives meet and stretch towards Crescent Heights Boulevard.

The mid-city street lanterns are similar to the temporary lights installed during 2019 LA Pride in West Hollywood, on Santa Monica Boulevard between Robertson Boulevard and Hancock Avenue.

The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a permanent, commercial-grade system of lanterns. The original permanent colorful globe lanterns were installed on December 2019 and provide a bright atmosphere and welcoming feel to the City’s LGBT “Rainbow District” during nighttime. The cost of installation for the Westside was $289,000.

In May 2021, Council directed staff to move forward with issuing a RFP to establish a similar system of lanterns on the City’s eastside. The new lights were installed on April 2022. They highlight the City’s eastside gateway and make the entrance into West Hollywood more obvious along Santa Monica Boulevard. The eastside lights run along Santa Monica Boulevard from N. Vista Street to La Brea Avenue. The cost of installation for the eastside project was estimated to be $329,000.

On April 2022, Council decided to extend the colorful lanterns to Mid-City and once again, the city issued a RFP for a permanent, commercial-grade system of lanterns on Santa Monica Boulevard.

The City contracted St. Nick’s of T&G Global, LLC. They are same vendor that the city used to install the lanterns in the LGBT Rainbow District and at the West Hollywood Gateway. The bid for the most current project in Mid-City was $298,206.

New Rainbow-colored lanterns are up on Santa Monica Blvd in the mid-city area of West Hollywood from Holloway/Olive Drives to Crescent Heights Blvd. #wehotimes #weho #wehocity @WeHoCity pic.twitter.com/oEXaZT14Pm

The lanterns are programmable either as individual lanterns or entire strands of lights, which allow the City of West Hollywood to recognize national events or celebrations that traditionally use signature colors.

All lanterns have UV protection to prolong the life and ensure clarity of the shield around the light fixtures. In addition, the lanterns feature easily replaceable fixtures and are custom-made in the United States of commercial-grade construction to withstand the elements for successful permanent exterior installation.

The lanterns are engineered to meet the weight and wind-load requirements of existing light poles to which they are attached and are compliant with fire safety regulations.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

Deputies were called and sheriff’s report was filed. Micky’s WeHo also provided the station with video footage of the incident

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – West Hollywood Sheriff’s are investigating a recent break-in at Micky’s WeHo, located at 8857 Santa Monica Blvd. The incident occurred this past weekend on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 5:30 a.m.

According to Operations Manager Adam Eramian, surveillance footage shows a man breaking-in through the back alley entrance. He used a crowbar to get inside the popular nightclub located in the heart of West Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ Rainbow District.

The suspect was seen roaming the building, and at one point even entered one of the offices.

“He didn’t steal a single thing or destroy anything,” Eramian told WEHO TIMES, “He was in the office and didn’t take a laptop or anything. He was carrying a crowbar.”

Eramian says it was still a close call that could have endangered one of his employees. “My manager was seen leaving through the front door at 5:28 a.m. and the man entered through the back at 5:30am” he said “They missed each other by minutes. Who knows what would have happened if they had encountered each other.”

Deputies were called and a sheriff’s report was filed. Micky’s WeHo also provided the station with video footage of the incident.

The person is hard to describe in the footage. He appears to be male of average height and build. He was wearing a hoodie over his head, a mask over his nose and mouth and he was also wearing gloves over his hands.

If you see something, say something. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. Anyone with information can also drop a tip at https://www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Your identity is always encrypted and anonymous. No personal information, phone number, e-mail, IP address or location is ever requested, saved, traced, tracked or monitored. Period.

The purpose of Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers is to prevent and reduce crime, by forming a partnership among the community, law enforcement and the media to offer anonymity and cash rewards to anyone providing information leading to an arrest.

Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

Settle was one of the original official West Hollywood photographers spanning decades of work for the City

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Longtime West Hollywood photographer Richard Settle passed away yesterday, July 19, 2023. Details surrounding his passing are not yet known. He battled colon cancer in 2022. He was 76. He died nine days before his 77th birthday on July 28th.

“Family: our beloved Richard Settle passed from this life into life eternal last evening, July 19th,” reads a post from the Hollywood United Methodist Church – Hollywood Campus Facebook page. “He is no longer in pain and is free from suffering.A memorial service will be planned for the fall.”

The Hollywood United Methodist Church launched a GoFundMe account earlier this this month on July 12, 2023.

“Friends — our beloved Richard Settle is nearing his transition from this life into life eternal. He has been an integral part of our Hollywood UMC community for forty years, and in these final days, he needs our help.

As of this week, Richard is requiring 24-hour nursing care in his home. Hospice does provide some hours, as does the VA. However, there are still 18-20 hours a day that he has to cover privately and his funds are running out.

If you can help care for Richard by giving to this GoFundMe, please do so at whatever amount you can. And, please hold him close in your prayers.”

The GoFundMe campaign raised $13,000. It was disabled shortly after his passing.

Richard Settle was a Navy Veteran. He attended the Veteran’s Day Ceremony on November 11, 2022. He one of the original official West Hollywood photographers spanning decades of work for the City. He leaves behind a large collection of photographs that document West Hollywood’s early years. He covered several events for the City, including city council meetings and he was widely known for his knowledge of the City’s history.

His friend James Ward Litz when he and Richard were West Hollywood Public Facilitates Board board members in the early 1984:

“I lost my West Hollywood BFF today,” wrote James Ward Litz. I met Richard way back in the pioneer days of our virginity in 1984, when the initial members of our Commissioners & Board Members were appointed. Dozens of interested residents, none of us had a clue of our duties, wandering around park areas. Richard and I bummed a couple of his non-filtered Camel cigarettes to calm our nerves. Nasty things!

Richard and I served on the Public Facilitates Board. Richard and I entered a Mustang convertible for our Board to ride in the Gay Pride Parade. First Board or Commission to do so.

We were attached at the hip for so, so many events. When my organization needed increased publicity and exposure, I was able to contract with Richard to cover our community involvement. We operated it as a well-rehearsed program. He got some amazingly shots of our leadership team.

Richard Settle became part of our family: always at our dining table for holidays and family events. We always enjoyed a time to enjoy a little cannabis. Lots of laughs and silliness!I don’t know how I’m going to deal with his loss. Neeley Roberts and I moved from WeHo to Cathedral City Cove Neighbors in December, just 8 months ago. Last time I saw Richard was when I drove down for my move (Neeley moved down the next week). Since my arrival, I’ve had some health challenges that have kept me at home.I’ve had a feeling of bliss & serenity since I saw this news. Makes me know that Richard I is at peace.HAPPY TRAILS, PARDNER [sic]!”

Details of a memorial service will be updated when they become available.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

“Drag queens are artists showcasing talent through artistic expressions. The city is proud to celebrate individuality and self-expression”

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Pickle Drag Queen was officially crowned (more like sashed) as the City of West Hollywood’s inaugural Drag Laureate at an installation ceremony on International Drag Day, Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Community members gathered at the main lawn of the West Hollywood Park for speeches, music and treats to welcome the first official drag queen to represent the City of West Hollywood.

West Hollywood has functioned as a center of social progress and counterculture for decades,” said council member Lauren Meister, who was the first to speak. “This city has a rich history in the drag scene. As far back as in the 1930s, this area has been a haven for LGBTQ people, and drag queens have marched the streets long before the city was established. When I introduced the idea for drag laureate program in October 2020 with my colleague former council member John Duran, the goal was to raise awareness about drag culture and promote the many contributions made by drag artists to West Hollywood. Drag culture has contributed significantly to the local economy in the City of West Hollywood. Local businesses such as Hamburger Mary’s, Micky’s, The Abbey, Rocco’s and Beaches are popular venues for visitors and locals to enjoy drag culture and drag shows. Through performance and events, drag queens and kings have become ambassadors for LGBTQ community.”

“Drag culture has been under attack,” said West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne. “…drag culture is the foundation of queer culture and drag culture is a dynamic demonstration of the city’s vibrant arts and culture community. Drag queens and kings are artists showcasing their talent through lip synching, dancing, comedy and other artistic expressions. The city is proud to celebrate individuality and self-expression.”

Mayor Shyne presented Pickle with a proclamation and Mayor Pro Tem John Erickson did the honors of pinning the sash on the city’s new Drag Laureate.

On this International Drag Day, I celebrate a personal accomplishment–yes. But more importantly, we celebrate a triumph for the drag community as a whole–I almost said that like the lady from The Crown, ‘As a whole…’ Drag is represented in so many ways across so many means of expression. And more and more, we are getting the privilege of witnessing young people flock to an artistic craft that celebrates individuality, humor, joy, and love. There are many things I’d like to say, and many things I hope to accomplish over the next two years. But if I had to summarize, I would say that my goal is to empower more and more drag artists in the City of West Hollywood to spread their wings. This is the moment that the world is watching drag free itself from the shadows. As drag artists, this is the moment to challenge ourselves, to test the limits of our creativity, to put on a show.”

Pickle performed a song and gave the audience her brand of humor at the event to a live band. Snacks included iced slushies and cookie-shaped pickles.

“I feel really loved right now and a part of something special,” Pickle told WEHO TIMES. “I’m having a lot of fun. I had a hand in putting the event together. We wanted it to be open, in the daylight, we wanted it to be accessible and I’m really happy with the way it came together.”

Pickle has been performing in drag professionally for eight years and has collaborated with many people and organizations to bring drag into people’s lives. Pickle is dedicated to expanding drag as a medium both for herself and for the community.

For more information about Pickle, visit www.pickledragqueen.com.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

“He always pulls stunts like this to get himself arrested, so he gets a warm meal and a place to sleep a witness noted”

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By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Block by Block Ambassadors were called to the West Hollywood Recovery Center at 626 Robertson at around 11:30pm on Friday, regarding a disturbance by a man who has been banned from entering the premises due to ongoing problems with the individual who is known for disrupting 12-step meetings at the center.

A video posted on TikTok by @PJ1560, shows the ambassadors blocking the man from entering the premises and telling him that he was not allowed in the establishment (his photo is posted at the door along with other banned individuals). The ambassadors waived at the West Hollywood sheriffs for assistance. Three sheriff vehicles pulled up in front of the center.

In a shocking twist, the man cursed at the deputies and threatens to shoot them, “F*ck you b*tches!” he said. “Shoot me motherf*ckers right now. Want me to pull a gun out and kill you?”

He then made a motion like he was reaching into his shirt and drew their both hands as if he was holding a gun and aiming at the deputies.

A man threatens to shoot West Hollywood Sheriff deputies after trying to trespass at The West Hollywood Recovery Center in this video posted via TikTok by PJ1560 pic.twitter.com/7UXnarAfE2

According to a witness, the sheriffs drew their guns and screamed at everyone to get out of the way. They told the man to put his hands up in the air and the man was non-compliant.

“The sheriffs know who this guy is,” said one witness. “They deal with him all the time. The guy’s name is Kenny and he always pulls stunts like this to get himself arrested, so he gets a warm meal and a place to sleep. He’s lucky he didn’t get killed this time. That was beyond insane.”

Deputies made the determination the man was unarmed and after deescalating the situation let him go.

The Block-by-Block Ambassadors are stationed at the West Hollywood Park near the West Hollywood Recovery Center and continually assist the center with people who loiter, or in this case, trespass at the center.

Your identity is always encrypted and anonymous. No personal information, phone number, e-mail, IP address or location is ever requested, saved, traced, tracked or monitored. Period.

The purpose of Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers is to prevent and reduce crime, by forming a partnership among the community, law enforcement and the media to offer anonymity and cash rewards to anyone providing information leading to an arrest.

Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy.

West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station polices the City of West Hollywood and the unincorporated communities of Franklin Canyon, Universal City (which includes Universal Theme Park, Studios, and Citywalk), and the Federal Enclave in West Los Angeles.

If you see something, say something. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. If you see something, say something. Anyone with information can also drop a tip at https://www.lacrimestoppers.org.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

******************************

The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

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