With the perception of rising crime in West Hollywood continuing to spread among its residents, City Council will decide tonight whether to increase security presence over the holidays and beyond.
Item 5d on tonight’s agenda, initiated by Mayor Lauren Meister, would add 50 hours’ of overtime to the Block by Block ambassadors’ schedule from Dec. 31 to Jan. 3.
The measure would also reinstate the Entertainment Policing Team sergeant and deputy positions that were slashed last year due to COVID budget reductions. The cost of the two positions is $600,000 per year, and it could take 30 days or longer to staff them.
Comments submitted via correspondence by WeHo residents illustrate the general public’s growing unease about safety and security in the city:
As a current resident in West Hollywood and a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, I have never been more worried or frightened to live where I do. I am urging you to vote yes on the measure to increase security in West Hollywood. It is upsetting to see the direction this city is going in and I am sincerely hoping that you agree and are working on doing something about this. — Chantal Hakim
I support item 5.B and support increasing block by block ambassadors. I also think an added level of security needs to be implemented, perhaps a temporary partnership with the California Army National Guard. What is happening in Weho is alarming but not random. Gangs are targeting particular areas of Los Angeles on purpose, it is part of their “business model” at this point, and they won’t stop unless there are drastic measures taken. Adding a little bit of police force or some security ambassadors won’t solve the problem we have right now. — Dom Ianni
I’ve been a resident of West Hollywood since 1989 and I’ve always felt safe walking my dog at night. These days I don’t feel safe walking in the neighborhood at any time of day. All of West Hollywood is dirty and crime-ridden. I don’t know who is responsible for letting this city deteriorate, but let’s start with more police on the ground and then we can address all of the boarded-up shops with “For Rent” signs in the windows. There’s trash on the ground everywhere, homeless encampments, every other shop is a Marijuana dispensary (how boring!) … I am no longer proud to say that I live in West Hollywood, I’m embarrassed. — Nanci M. Walker
I support having more security in West Hollywood. I’m scared to walk my dog at night, I live across from city all and we have so many homeless people sleeping on our front doors and breaking into the bungalow apartments. My building is more secure and thieves STILL get in. They steal things in our cars in the garage and even have been found walking our halls seeing who’s doors are unlocked. West Hollywood should not be allowing this any more. We need more security. — Kiara McCarthy
This city is too important for us to let it go downhill. We must increase security and continue to put pressure on our representatives to listen to residents. We need more security and we need it now. I just want to feel safe in my community. :-/
Why are you writing ‘security’ instead of ‘police’?
Because our society and media have vilified the police, and everyone’s now seeing what happens when the real bad guys, i.e., the criminal thugs robbing and assaulting innocent people daily, get emboldened. We definitely need a stronger police presence. Security ambassadors are good but can only do so much. Their powers are limited. I don’t even think they carry guns. The gang bangers are casing our neighborhoods daily. I’ve seen several cars and trucks with no license plates and blacked out windows pulling over and idling. That’s because they’re scoping out the area and looking for easy victims. They’re not… Read more »
You should consider running.
[…] Agenda item 5D originally called for the reinstatement of two positions on the Sheriff’s Entertainment Policing Team — a sergeant and a deputy — that were slashed as part of COVID-related budget cuts last year. […]
Check cy husain’s twitter. He is an anti semite.
Cy thinks he is better than everyone and knows more. He is so arrogant in his writings. Democrats are nice people, but those that have gone too far to the left, and hate this country, police, and capitalism are not the tolerant people they claim to be.
Whether or not CH adds nothing to the conversation other than arrogance. On many publications he would be moderated into oblivion.
So would “wehofan”.
Wehofan continues to harass other commenters on articles where they haven’t even commented. It’s not okay and only continues to degrade the comment section on wehoville.
You call everyone racist.
Again, another baseless accusation from you.
Come out from behind your pseudonym.
Who? What does this person have to do with anything related to this article?
They don’t. It’s harassment of another person because they have opposing political beliefs from “Wehofan”.
Are these the same democrats that are behind defunding the police?!?
I am glad Mayor Meister took the lead on this issue. While throwing money at a problem is not always the answer, a greater law enforcement presence on our streets will be money well spent. One of the great things about living in West Hollywood was that you can walk the City late at night and feel safe. Women walking dogs after 11 pm was not uncommon. I hope we can get back to that. But we all need to look out after each other. As our captain Ed Ramirez says: “if you see something, say something”. We are all… Read more »
Finally, the council is hearing the residents! The police are not the enemy..the people that break the law and have total disregard for other human life are. More funding for both the ambassadors and for the sheriffs!
“the people that break the law and have total disregard for other human life are”
So…the police? Got it, thanks!
The times I have visited West Hollywood,I have always felt safe visiting the city.The last few years I have changed my routines where I only go out during the daytime.I prefer daytime hours as the scene at the places I visit are more mellow and quieter.Don’t forget happy hours!
I will leave the nighttime carousing to others unless I am with others who I trust. The bars are more crowded which makes for longer waits for drinks, something I want to avoid.
I’ve lived here for years too and it is not the same West Hollywood! I don’t go out very much in the evenings at all anymore and it’s really sad that it takes enough people to voice their concerns before the council finally is waking up.
Honestly Go elsewhere.
This city council is not willing or able to protect the people of weho.
Who are these block ambassadors? Why can’t the sheriff deputy presence be increased?
Yeah, the ambassadors are kind of useless. I haven’t seen in my neighborhood in years. we should be increasing the sheriffs budget so they can do more hiring. Although why anyone would want that job in today’s environment is beyond me.
Even the sergeants and deputies need to be schooled in recognizing issues in the proper context. In the last several years, two individuals gained entry to a high profile secure building and found refuge in the laundry room, one stark naked washing his jeans in the laundry sink behind the door, drying other items in the dryer with my sheets. Grabbed my stuff and called manager, not immediately available then Sheriff. While the individual left the premises before WHSD arrived they were out of their element, neglected to take a report and just shrugged it off. Next day the individuals… Read more »