Beverly Hills Considers Rodeo Closures For 'Unruly' Behavior

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Beverly Hills City Council grappled with how to handle "loud and unruly" cars and bicyclists driving around on Rodeo Drive at their Nov. 16 meeting, and ultimately sent the issue to the police department for further research.

Councilmember Julian Gold brought the issue to the council's agenda suggesting weekend closures on Rodeo Drive from Wilshire Boulevard to South Santa Monica Boulevard from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night.

Over the past year, the police department has received six reports of "loud and unruly groups of cars and bicyclists" on Rodeo Drive, acting captain for the Beverly Hills Police Department Renato Moreno said. Most recently, a Halloween fight between two individuals and a slew of bikers on Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive drew attention to the issue.

The key issue the council took with the proposed closures was the cost; given the personnel and resources needed, a weekend of closures would cost the city around $16,300 per week, according to a city report.

Vice Mayor Lili Bosse and Mayor Bob Wunderlich both took issue with this cost, worrying the expense doesn't reflect the priorities of the city. Many council members wondered if there was a less expensive way to address the issue, like increasing the visible presence of police without blocking off streets.

Two members of the public spoke in support of the council addressing the bikers and drivers on Rodeo Drive.

A key concern on the public and council's mind is a seeming recent increase in burglaries in the Beverly Hills Business District. On Sunday, the area saw two attempted burglaries that resulted in two stores' windows being smashed. In October, one person was injured by gunfire in an attempted robbery in the Business District.