fromthehillsofbeverly

Will they run?

Other notes on the village
By Rudy Cole
This may be too much to expect, but try to keep your emotions under control: Just six days after America elects the next president of the United States, filing will begin for Beverly Hills City Council! Exact date for likely council candidates to take out nomination papers is November 12 for the March 2013 municipal elections. The city will also vote for City Treasurer, and so far no official announcement from incumbent Eliot Finkel on whether he will seek another term. In the event he doesnt run, Planning Commissioner Daniel Yukelson has indicated he might be a candidate. However, we will have a contested council race and no matter the intensity of the campaign efforts, fewer than 30 percent of eligible voters are likely to participate. Three incumbents are all expected to seek re-election: Mayor Dr. Willie Brien and Vice Mayor John Mirisch for a second term, and Councilmember Barry Brucker for a third. The most serious and announced challenger will be Planning Commission Vice Chair, Brian Rosenstein. Former Mayor Nancy Krasne, who barely lost a bid for a second term two years ago, has indicated she may run again. Both she and Rosenstein would have well-funded campaigns. The one name missing from the likely list is former school board president Steven Fenton. The son of the prominent political familyfather Frank had a record for holding the most public offices in city history: School board president and member, councilmember, mayor, city treasurer and commission chair; mother Judie has managed dozens of city elections and is head of a well-known event planning firmSteven will not run. Fenton, now married to a popular and successful media personality, Leeza Gibbons, has moved to a Valley home with his new family. There was some interest, or, at least speculation, on what had been an apparent split between Fenton and Brucker and how that might play out in an election. For reasons that now seem vague, the two had some testy public disputes when Fenton was board president and Brucker mayor, Fenton even making an unprecedented demand for Brucker to remove himself as school board liaisonsomething that received no traction. With three incumbents and at least one and possibly two strong challengers, who is most vulnerable? Of the two, Commissioner Rosenstein is least likely to do any kind of negative campaigning, running on his own record of service and his fourth-generation roots in Beverly Hills. Krasne is far more likely to raise both personal and political differences with one or more of the incumbent contenders. What will be lacking are high-voltage issues that have impacted recent elections. No hotel referenda and no major development problem is likely to create strong voter interest. There is hardly a fraction of differences on how to oppose the subway route and even here only a question of methodology and not the basic question of fighting tunneling under our high school. Despite some distractions on budget questions, Beverly Hills is in very strong fiscal shape and has achieved historic agreements with the city staff, including very workable contracts with both fire and police unions. Compromises on Roxbury Park improvements will probably remove that issue from the campaign. Will any of the five school board members run for city council? Very unlikely, not only because of some clearly unresolved internal, school-related controversies, but none have expressed much interest. Vice President Jacob Manaster would have been the most formidable, but he has reportedly told friends his one term on the board is likely to be his last in elective office. He does have a solid base and would be a tough candidate if he decides to seek office in some future city race. Noah Margo, who set some records, matched only by a similar successful campaign by Barry Brucker, in a 2011 write-in election, which is always difficult, will only have been on the board for two years as has Lewis Hall. Neither they or board president Brian Goldberg nor past president Lisa Korbatov are expected to run. So, of the three incumbents seeking reelection, are any more vulnerable than the others? (In some past elections, all three had the endorsement of the Weekly) Dr. Briens real challenge will be in convincing his base to actually vote. Few people who have ever served our city are as much admired as Dr. Brien. His intellectual and professional talents, his strong sense of moral values and wanting to do what is right, are big pluses but that could also lead to an assumption by his base that he should have no problems in winning a second term. What could help? Recent personal attacks on his voting record just might galvanize his more laidback supporters and actually assure his re-election. Brucker is probably one of the best campaigners in our citys history. He does extremely well in person to person retail electioneering, especially when he walks the city. Wife Sue is a wizard on campaign tools, including first-rate mailers. Anti-development zealots will find it hard to attack his voting recordshe strongly opposed the Hilton development plan. (However, the voters gave the concept their approval.) Mirisch is by far the most volatile of the three, and depending on the size of the vote, could be the most vulnerable. A light vote could benefit Mirisch and Krasne, a heavier vote Brien, Brucker and Rosenstein. Although similar on some issues, dont expect Mirisch and Krasne to run as a team. There are considerable residual past differences that could surface in the campaign. Mirisch does well in forums and his family name resonates in the entertainment industry. Krasnes outspoken candor, often leading to conflicts with both staff and city leaders, is both a strength and a weakness. Yes, there have been some differences on a few issues by the five councilmembers, but few of these are likely to impact the election. Mostly, the candidates will win or lose on personal popularity and effectiveness of their campaigns. Strong leaders who are not likely run this year? Noah Furie and Planning Commission Chair Craig Corman. As for this writer, as in the past I will run from not for public office. *** One side impact of Univisions decision not to go forward with plans to develop the former Friars Club site again raises a big aesthetic problem for the city. How can we assure that developments will go forward before we permit demolition of existing structures? Gone forever is the Friars club building and what we will see is an empty lot. Fortunately, the owners have provided some landscaping that blocks a view of a surface blight, but there has to be some method that prevents tearing down without a guarantee that a building plan will actually happen. For many years the city has considered, but not adopted, rules that would require bonds assuring development prior to issuance of demolition permits. The most troubling possibility is a proposed construction that would include major excavation and then not be completed. Just imagine what our Wilshire gateway would be like if Robinsons-May had been demolished? There is one possibility for the Friars property that has been rumored but not close to being confirmed: Purchase by the owners of the Peninsula for a possible

annexeither for banquets, suites or both. Events are among the most profitable for hotels and the Peninsula had tough restrictions on public assembly uses, and heights, when it won city approval. Another idea being floated is for the Peninsula to obtain property on the north side of Little Santa Monica, in what has been dubbed part of the Gateway overlay plan, and actually connect with a pedestrian bridge across the street. Hotel economic news? All good. Very high occupancy reported at the Beverly Hilton, Peninsula, Beverly Hills Montage, Beverly Wilshire and the Beverly Hills. The Hilton continues to score with major, prestigious events filling their ballrooms every day and night. Speaking of hotels, of course my deepest appreciation to all those who pointed out my error in the spelling of the founders of the San Francisco Fairmonts name. It is the Swig family, not Zwig. Not the first reader to call was Sam Freshman, and he should know. The author of many important books on real estate, Freshman has been involved in numerous hotel deals with the Swig family. *** Fortunately, Beverly Hills did not fall into the same trap as Newport Beach and try to bill the presidents campaign for costs of security during visits to the city. I assume Newport Beach, as Beverly Hills, spends considerable tax dollars promoting tourism. I can think of fewer more visible exposures than a visit by President Barack Obama, or any other president. *** Very good turnout for the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerces Membership appreciation night held in the city park adjoining the Montage. We spotted two former mayors and their spouses: Drs. Charles and Sandra Aronberg Sandy is just completing her fine service as a member of the Health and Safety Commission, and the Joe Tilems. I would never have noticed without Josettes alerting me to the number of mini-skirted young women making visits to the various refreshment venues. We were joined by Tara Sakraida and Los Angeles Business Journal realestate reporter, Jacqui Ryan. Good job by Chamber staffers, including Michael Rasch. Maybe we should trade one of our cats, just kidding Golda and Asa, for a 14-yearcirca computer wiz, but my apologies to Ellyn Snowden, Patti Tanenbaum, Marty Geimer and others for not including notices of good events they emailed, but the monster crashed again. Hopefully, we will restore next week.

Rudy Cole served for eight years as a member and chair of the citys Recreation & Parks Commission. He was also President of the Greystone Foundation and served on three other city committees. Rudy can be reached at: Rudy@bhweekly.com.

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