briefs  Bosse and Gold

briefs Land to not seek re-election;

briefs Cole to serve seven

file re-election papers Page 4

Prang has yet to resign

years in a Missouri prison Page 6

Issue

Page 5

November 13, 2014 - November 19, 2014

Where a Man Stands

Beverly High Principal Carter Paysinger and former
Board of Education member Steven Fenton on their
recently released memoir

coverstory

WHERE A MAN STANDS

By Nancy Yeang
The subhead of the book, the true story
of an unlikely leader and an unlikely
friendship, what does that mean?
&$57(5,FDPHIURP6RXWK/RV$QJHOHV
At the time that I was in Los Angeles it was
just called Los Angeles. Since I was a kid, it
EHFDPH6RXWK&HQWUDO/$DQGQRZLWV6RXWK
Los Angeles.
As a student, coming from my neighborhood into Beverly Hills was unlikely, but it
happened. Being a leader, not just attending
the school or coming to work at the school,
but being a leader at Beverly High is considered to be unlikely.
67(9(1&DUWHUDQG,FRPHIURPGLIIHUHQW
races, different religions, different economic
EDFNJURXQGVEXWZHDUHWKHVDPHSHUVRQ:H
share the same set of values, morals and ethLFV:HUHWHDPPDWHVZKRKDYHDOZD\VEHHQ
stronger together than apart.
&$57(57KURXJKRXWWKH\HDUV,YHGHYHOoped great relationships with many families in
the city. Steven and the Fentons were one of
the first families that Ive established a great
relationship with.
But that friendship [and] the fact that it was
unlikely for me to attend school at Beverly
Hills, or even work here in Beverly Hills,
lends to that subtitle.
Why did you want to write the book,
and why did you want to write the book
together?
STEVEN: The idea for the book came
from our agent, Lacy Lynch [who is a senior
literary agent and TV/Film representative at
Dupree/Miller & Associates.] They represent
a lot of people in the inspirational space [like
Tony Robbins, Maria Shriver, Joel Osteen,
'U 3KLO DQG WKH ODWH 6WHSKHQ &RYH\@ DQG ,
think thats why they responded so favorably
to our story.
[Lynch] asked me if I would be interested
LQZULWLQJDERRNZLWK&DUWHU7KLVZDVVRPHthing they asked us if we would write this
together.
&$57(5 0\ LQLWLDO WKRXJKWV ZHUH ,
really dont have the time to do that. I really
wasnt interested in it at first but then thought
about it and agreed to do it.
Carter, when you first went to Beverly
High you said you had one foot in the
door and one foot in the hood. Was there
ever a moment in Beverly High when you
felt like you could be who you are?
&$57(5 ,YH DOZD\V KDG D VWURQJ VHQVH

Page 8 Beverly Hills Weekly

of who I am.
In Beverly Hills, I had great friendships
when I was a student here. I didnt try to preWHQGWREHZHDOWK\RUDQ\WKLQJOLNHWKDW:KHQ
I was in the neighborhood that I grew up in,
I felt that I had great relationships there and I
was being me there as well.
The only thing was that I just kept my two
worlds separate. I very rarely had my friends
from my neighborhood join me and come with
me to any functions in Beverly Hills and vice
versa.
Tell us about how the both of you met.
67(9(1 , PHW &DUWHU ZKHQ , WULHG RXW
IRUWKHIUHVKPDQEDVHEDOOWHDPLQ,KDG
heard quite a bit about him from my brother
Gary who was a junior at the time. My brother
used to film all the football games and was a
member of the baseball team. He spoke very
KLJKO\RI&DUWHU
&$57(5 , NQHZ 6WHYHQV GDG )UDQN
[Fenton]. He was a School Board member and
I was a young teacher and coach. Frank and I
had a good, pleasant relationship
:KHQ6WHYHQZDVWU\LQJRXWIRUWKHEDVHEDOO
team and we had a number of kids that were
trying out. I noticed right away that he was the
smallest kid out there trying out.
STEVEN: I think I was about 5 1, barely
100 pounds. I had just finished playing junior
varsity soccer and before that freshman football.
&$57(5 %XW >6WHYHQ ZDV@ SUREDEO\ WKH
most intense and determined kid out there
and he reminded me of myself, because when
I came to Beverly I was one of the smallest

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was open. I decided to walk through.
&$57(5&ORVHWR\HDUVDIWHU>6WHYHQ@
graduated, [the football team and I] we were
out in the football field [and] we were coming
into the locker room.
STEVEN: All of a sudden I started to hear
the clicking and clacking of cleats. I lifted
my head up and there
were two kids in a football uniform walking
towards me. The kids
suddenly turned to the
right to go into the team
locker room.
&$57(5 7KHQ WKDW
hallway that leads into
the locker room I was
just kind of standing
there, and I saw this
Steven, did you make
guy walking toward
a point to introduce
me. [He] looked like
yourself so directly to
he could have been a
Carter since youve
parent, but the closer
heard about him
he got to me I recogbefore?
nized immediately who
STEVEN: I did. I
he was.
went up and introduced
67(9(1 &DUWHU
myself to him right
appeared from behind
away at the beginning
[the kids]. There he was
of tryouts.
right in front of me. It
I had the great forturns out it was halfWXQH DV KDYLQJ &DUWHU
time of a football game.
as my coach all four
, ORRNHG DW &DUWHU DQG
years that I was a base&DUWHU ORRNHG DW PH
ball player at Beverly.
I put my arms around
him and gave him what
What about when the
felt like the hug of a
both of you reunited?
lifetime.
STEVEN: Right out
&$57(5 , ZDV MXVW
of college, I started my
FDUHHULQWKHPDLOURRPRIWKH:LOOLDP0RUULV excited to see [Steven]. He was one of my
Agency. I led a very fast life in the entertain- favorite. It was like we hadnt lost touch at all,
ment industry. The faster I ran the further like nothing had ever changed.
DZD\&DUWHUEHFDPH,GLGQWUHDOL]HEDFNWKHQ
Carter, in the book you wrote, There
how destabilizing that was for me.
For many years in my 20s and into my 30s, I would be times I would be judged by my
would go over to Beverly [High]. That was my appearance and not the content of my
VDIH KDYHQ WKDW EDVHEDOO ILHOG :KHQ QR RQH character. Sometimes it would be subtle
was around, I would lie down at my position and easy to forget like hearing the click
at second base. Looking for a sign, looking of a car door locking as I walk by and
for strength, trying to reconnect again to my sometimes it would be more difficult to
shrug off. Do you still feel the same way?
former life.
&$57(51RWDVPXFKEXWLWVWLOOKDSSHQV
I was in a very bad place in my life during
my mid 30s. Like so many nights in the past and not just in Beverly Hills. I was raised
I drove to Beverly [High]. I got out of my car to feel that these types of issues are not my
issues, not my problem. I just happen to be
who I am.
kids trying out for the baseball team. I knew
I had to impress the coaches and everyone
around, and I wanted everyone to know that I
belonged on the baseball team. Thats exactly
what I saw in Steven. He just stood out to me
right away.
:HERWKSOD\HGWKHVDPHSRVLWLRQ+HZDVD
second baseman and I was a second baseman.
He could play and I felt
like I could play, but
because of our size and
not knowing anyone, I
thought it was important for me to really
show what I could do
and I got that same
feeling form watching
Steven.

Steven Fenton, Carter and Karen Paysinger, and Leeza Gibbons

My parents really
followed Martin Luther
King Jr. and that was
one of the things that
they would preach:
Be the best that you
could possibly be. My
mom and dad instilled
that philosophy into
our entire family. Its
not good enough to be
good. You have to be
better than the person
that youre competing
against, regardless of
what its for
Beverly High
Principal Carter
Paysinger

You refer to what your mom told you,

Its not enough for you to be as good as
everybody else, you have to be better than
them, several times throughout the book.
&$57(5 0\ SDUHQWV UHDOO\ IROORZHG
0DUWLQ/XWKHU.LQJ-UDQGWKDWZDVRQHRIWKH
WKLQJV WKDW WKH\ ZRXOG SUHDFK %H WKH EHVW
that you could possibly be. My mom and dad
instilled that philosophy into our entire family.
,WVQRWJRRGHQRXJKWREHJRRG<RXKDYHWR
be better than the person that youre competing against, regardless of what its for.
,QIDFW,FDQKHDUKHUVWLOOVD\LQJ:KDWHYHU
it is you choose to do, you be the absolute best
at it.
<RX MXVW VWULYH WR EH WKH EHVW DW LW , VSHQW
most of my younger life growing up in athlet-

ics, and it just fed right into that culture.

starting new. I dont think anyone wanted to

even start by trying to connect the old with the
In the book you wrote, Were working
new. For me, that was like trying to reinvent
our butts off because our work is
WKHZKHHO:HKDGEHHQVRJRRGIRUVRORQJ
important. But what if Beverly isnt the
and to just severe ties with the old and to start
same school anymore? What if its turning brand new was probably not the best way to
into something else altogether? In what
go. I was a witness to all of it.
ways did Beverly High change?
STEVEN: The school district was going
STEVEN: During those days it was very through an identity crisis for a very long time.
difficult for people to get promoted from
To put it in baseball terms, if youre a hitter
within. I dont think they put a premium on and experiencing a slump, youre probably
continuity, hard work or loyalty.
going to change your stance, your swing,
&$57(52YHUD\HDUSHULRGZHKDGD HYHQ WKH EDW \RXUH XVLQJ :KDWHYHU LW WDNHV
huge turnover in leadership. Superintendents to end that slump. I think the school district
were coming and going, district office person- had tired so many different ways to end their
nel coming and going, and then some of my slump that the district didnt know who it was
mentors were leaving and that was really con- anymore. There was very little institutional
FHUQLQJ WR PH %HQ %XVKPDQ &KXFN .ORHV knowledge left.
Dick Douglas they were all retiring or seeking other employment.
Given the recent Program Improvement
These were guys that I looked up to when developments, do you feel its on the right
I was a student here, and they were teachers. track?
Then [I came] back to work with them and
&$57(5%HYHUO\+LJKLVRQHRIWKHEHVW
they became my mentors. After a while, Im high schools, not only in our state, but in the
seeing these guys leave one at a time. Leaving county.
because of the change in the direction, the
STEVEN: This is the responsibility of the
change in leadership. I wasnt sure what Board of Education. As [Board member]
the districts goals were anymore. I thought, %ULDQ *ROGEHUJ OLNHV WR VD\ WKH EXFN VWRSV
:HOOKRZPXFKORQJHUVKRXOG,VWD\EHIRUH with the Board of Education. Maybe there
QHHGVWREHD3URJUDP,PSURYHPHQWGHVLJI leave?
Thats when I paid more attention to what nation for the school boards.
was going on and I needed to look at all of my
Steven, you originally wanted to run form
options at the time.
STEVEN: There was very little continu- the City Council, and then changed your
ity left in the school district. Experienced mind to run for the Board of Education
people were not longer rewarded for sticking 2007. Why?
STEVEN: My original goal was to run for
DURXQG 3HRSOH ZHUHQW UHZDUGHG IRU EOHHGmy dads seat on the city council. After doing
ing Beverly.
research on the district, I felt I could be more
impactful as a member of the school board. I
Why do you think that this was
had a vision for how to get the district back
happening?
&$57(5$WWKHWLPH,ZDVWROGWKHUHZDV on track.
a philosophy of doing away with the old and

Belk and Snowden release joint

video statement on internal
investigation results

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SURGXFHU &KDUOHV %HON UHOHDVHG D MRLQW YLGHR
statement on November 4 on internal investigation results after the producer was mistakenly
arrested in August.
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review of the events surrounding Mr. Belks
arrest and identified areas that could and should
have been handled differently, Snowden said.
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DWWKH&LWEDQNRQ:LOVKLUHRQ$XJXVW6KH
was wanted by the FBI and LAPD for a series
of bank robberies that took place in the course
of over two years.
Belk was in the area of the bank robbery and
was misidentified by a witness.
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that the second subject in the bank was not
involved in the robbery, according to a statePHQW UHOHDVHG E\ 6QRZGHQ 7KLV VXEMHFW ZDV
an irate customer whose actions were misinterpreted by the witness.
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all foundational principles of good basic police
work both at the field officer level and the
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officer must follow up on all leads, verify facts,

can stay neutral

Carter, you wrote
by not saying
that you dad said,
anything. I think
But in California
that that was the
some people will
case. I think that
smile at you and
pretend they like
it was safeter for
you, and all along
people to supthey have a white
port me silently
sheet in their
than to declare
closet. How did
one way or the
you feel when the
other.
people you thought
would support
The book ends
you in becoming a
with Stevens
principal didnt?
marriage to
&$57(5 , ZDV
Leeza Gibbons,
disappointed during
and Carters
WKH SURFHVV :KHQ
achievements
Steven and I first
as Beverly
talked about this,
High Principal
I told Steven that I
and his daily
didnt think it would
routine.
be easy. I thought
Whats next
that there would be
for the both of
some opposition to
you?
me becoming the
STEVEN:
principal. I didnt
Im looking forthink Steven really
ward to serving
understood that, but
my community
it turned out that The book is available on amazon.com and
again in the
the both of us didnt barnesandnoble.com. Heaven is for Real producer future.
understand the depth T.D. Jakes recently acquired film rights to the
& $ 5 7 ( 5 
memoir.
of the opposition.
Im driven to
I think the major- Steven and Carter will hold a book signing at Porta continue to work
ity of the people that Via on Wednesday, November 19 from 5:30 pm to as hard as I can
didnt speak on my 7:30 pm
to make sure that
Beverly [High]
behalf were quietly
supportive. I hav some great relationships in is one of the best high schools in the country.
Also, and I talk about it in the book, my
the city of Beverly Hills with many families
and I think that the support had been there all faith is what helps keep me going. Family,
friends and faith is what I live by.
along.
Its much easier, especially with issues that
are controversial, to stay neutral, and you

and seek to apprehend the guilty while attempt- Foundation to honor Bendetson respected and cared for while healing.
Sharf is active with Beit Tshuva Design
ing to exonerate the innocent.
and Sharf
Project and Volunteers of America-Blue
The BHPD acknowledged that they did not
The Neuromuscular Disease Foundation
Butterfly Village. Both organizations renoprovide a phone call for Belk while he was
1')LVKROGLQJWKHLU%ODFNDQG:KLWHEDOO
vate and decorate housing units for homedetained, and the five-hour period that Belk
honoring Heidi
less female veterans and their children and
was held in custody could have been shortened
Bendetson
for people in recovery.
if the police department had reviewed video
and
Stacy
Bendetson and Sharf founded the LA
evidence earlier.
Sharf with the
Jewish Genetic Disease Prevention Project
, WUXO\ XQGHUVWDQG WKDW ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW
Advocates
to screen for specific genetic diseases.
officers have a really tough job to do and I get
Award tonight
Over 300 people have been screened so far.
the basis for why I was initially stopped, Belk
at The Beverly
The goal of LA Jewish Genetic Disease
VDLG,ORRNIRUZDUGWRZRUNLQJZLWKWKHFLW\
Hills Hotel.
Prevention Project is to provide low cost
to address the issues that followed though from
Bendetson
screenings to all Jews of child-bearing age
that stop.
is a board
to inform them on their carrier status.
Belk will produce a training video based on
member
at
The nonprofit organization, NDF, was
lessons learned from his experience and make
Beit Tshuvah,
founded in 2006 to raise HIBM awareness
it available for free to any law enforcement
which
is
a
and help fund for neuromuscular disease,
agency. He will make himself available for Heidi Bendetson
residential
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including HIBM, research and treatment.
treatment
describe the perspectives of an innocent man
HIBM is a rare genetic disorder that causes
center
and
to help further sensitize law enforcement to the
the muscle to waste and get .weaker.
synagogue.
impacts that their actions can have.
The black and white formal attire event
There,
she
Belk has also raise more awareness for the
will begin at 7:00 p.m. with cocktails and
brought volDXWRHUDVH FDPSDLJQ WR KHOS HUDVH DUUHVW
the dinner and program will begin at 8:00
unteer designrecords for innocent people, and seek adminpm.
ers together
istrative and legislative changes. He has also
Visit www.ndf-hbm.org/gala to purchase
to change the
ODXQFKHGDQHZQRQSURILWRUJDQL]DWLRQ)LWWLQJ
tickets.
residents dorthe Description which will build awareness
mitories into
and assistance to individuals who are wrong--Briefs compiled by Nancy Yeang
inviting living
fully detained or arrested.
spaces where
Stacy Sharf
Neuromuscular Disease
they can feel
arrests on page 18
November 13-November 19, 2014 Page 9