Community Corner
The Glamour of Voting in Beverly Hills
Why did I have to vote with magic marker in a BMW showroom?
As I strolled across the BMW parking lot, admiring the cars for sale and wishing I could afford one, I almost forgot why I was at the dealership: to vote.
Yes, the at 8833 Wilshire Blvd. was one of 10 polling places for residents to vote March 8. The regular election precincts of 18, 20 and 46—the southeast corner of the city—were assigned to that location. These precincts represent about 750 people, one of the pollsters said.
There was a short wait to vote as I stood in the lobby looking at the BMW information on the wall. Who decided to put my polling place here, I wondered, providing free advertising for BMW?
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Most Beverly Hills polling stations are at schools and parks. But there are two commercial locations—the BMW showroom and the .
The Beverly Hills Hotel does not need free advertising, yet it's probably getting some potential business by the mere fact of forcing residents to go there to vote. Why not grab a drink or a meal too?
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The free advertising for BMW is particularly ironic, given that the dealership is in the midst of leaving Beverly Hills for Los Angeles, which has a tax that offers a three-year exemption from gross receipts for businesses opening in or moving to the city.
BMW's sales department has already relocated to the mid-Wilshire section of Los Angeles, and the showroom and service department will move in coming months.
After a few minutes I cast my vote on an old-fashioned paper ballot with the assigned black magic marker. It seemed quite primitive for Beverly Hills, which has received awards for being a "smart city” under Mayor Jimmy Delshad and his technology-focused agenda.
After submitting my ballot, I had to walk back through the BMW parking lot as that was the quickest way to reach the official voter parking on North Swall Drive. Again I swooned over the various BMWs before reality set in, pulling me away from the dealership and toward my dented minivan.
The entire experience left much to be desired. When will our city get modern voting machines? And why did I have to set foot in a BMW showroom to vote?
True, it must be difficult for Beverly Hills to find handicap-accessible locations. But nearby seems like a good option. Not to mention that a stroll through the park would have been much more pleasant than a visit to the BMW dealer.
