The City of West Hollywood is pleased to announce that it is in the process of expanding its Block by Block program with 30 additional Security Ambassadors. The Block by Block program has hired and trained 20 new Security Ambassadors, one Team Lead, and one Operations Supervisor, as reported at the West Hollywood City Council meeting on Monday, September 19, 2022. The Block by Block program is on-track to be fully staffed by October 1, 2022, with a total of approximately 85 Security Ambassadors.
The City Council of the City of West Hollywood unanimously approved a Block by Block Security Ambassadors program update at its meeting on Monday, September 19, 2022. This follows City Council approval on Monday, June 27, 2022, of the City’s FY 2022-23 & 2023-24 two-year operating budget and capital work plan, which directed an increase to the number of Block by Block Security Ambassadors by 30 positions. Additional direction regarding the expansion was provided by the City Council on Monday, August 1, 2022 when it approved the related amendment to the Block by Block agreement for services.
“The City’s Block by Block Security Ambassadors program will continue to provide bicycle and foot patrols throughout the City’s commercial districts,” said City of West Hollywood City Manager David Wilson. “The program is adding dedicated foot patrols in residential neighborhoods citywide and is staffing new kiosks in selected locations. Block by Block Security Ambassadors work in close alignment with Deputies from our Sheriff’s Station, as well as our City’s Code Enforcement and Homeless Initiative teams, among others. The collaboration positively impacts quality of life in West Hollywood.”
Block by Block Security Ambassadors work in collaboration with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station to provide supplemental safety services and they get to know West Hollywood’s neighborhoods to assist in providing an extra level of hospitality to businesses, residents, and visitors. Expansion of the program aims to provide an additional public presence to proactively reduce crime.
Block by Block Security Ambassadors are highly focused on safety and hospitality in West Hollywood with specific emphasis on:
- Maintaining uniformed foot and bicycle patrols throughout the City’s business districts and residential neighborhoods;
- Providing in-person responses 24/7 to non-violent calls for service;
- Conducting safety escorts for residents, businesses, and visitors; and
- Offering helpful guidance to community members and visitors about City information, directions, parking, and more.
In consultation with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, the City of West Hollywood will implement four new Block by Block Security Ambassador kiosks by October 1, 2022, at or near the following intersections: (1) Santa Monica Boulevard at N. Robertson Boulevard; (2) Santa Monica Boulevard at Westmount Drive; (3) Sunset Boulevard and Sunset Plaza Drive; and (4) Melrose Avenue and Westmount Drive.
During the next several weeks, the City will be sharing additional information about the Block by Block Security Ambassadors program with outreach to residents and businesses.
About | Block by Block Security Ambassadors Program – The City of West Hollywood partners with Block by Block on its Security Ambassadors program, which has a direct positive impact on safety and neighborhood livability.
First established as a City program in 2013, West Hollywood Block by Block Security Ambassadors provide a highly visible uniformed presence at the street level and leverage the effectiveness of local law enforcement by working in collaboration with personnel from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.
In addition to supplemental safety services, Block by Block Security Ambassadors get to know West Hollywood’s neighborhoods and assist in providing an extra level of hospitality to businesses, residents, and visitors and help to address and respond to quality of life concerns in the community.
Security Ambassadors receive trainings on topics such as active shooters, cultural diversity and sensitivity, administration of Narcan to treat narcotic overdose, mental health first aid, sexual harassment, emergency/disaster preparedness, and more.
The Block by Block Security Ambassador Hotline provides access to free, 24/7 support by phone or text at (323) 821-8604; a new toll-free number will be introduced in the coming weeks. For additional information, please visit www.weho.org/bbb.
About | Sheriff’s, Fire, Code, and Emergencies – The City of West Hollywood contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement and the Los Angeles County Fire Department for fire protection. The City’s Neighborhood & Business Safety Division oversees code enforcement.
For additional information, please visit www.weho.org/publicsafety. For anyone with public safety concerns, please reach out to the Sheriff’s Station 24/7 at (310) 855-8850. In an emergency, always call 911.
For more information, please contact City of West Hollywood Director of Community Safety Danny Rivas at (323) 848-6424 or drivas@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.
For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. The City of West Hollywood remains in a declared local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. West Hollywood City Hall is open for walk-in services at public counters or by appointment by visiting www.weho.org/appointments. City Hall services are accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via website at www.weho.org. The City’s coronavirus updates are available at www.weho.org/coronavirus.For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.
who’s getting the kickback at City Hall for this one?
If the experience I recently had coming into connect with these Ambassadors is an indication of what they are like as a whole…get rid of them all! I went to Plummer park to get a MP shot. When I approached the Great Hall to check in, there was an Ambassador checking people in at the table. I approached him..he NEVER looked up from his cell phone. When I said, “hello”, he said, “do you have an appt”? It was said without even looking up at me and with the least amount of interest anyone could muster up! He found my… Read more »
Although a previous comment advocated the skills of Boy Scouts, even Cub Scouts would be knowledgeable about proper social behavior. These “ambassadors” appear to be directionless with no inspiration, ticking boxes and the time click making as little effort as possible.
You’re describing the behavior of about 85% of the dizzy queens who live down there. Nothing new, been that way since the ’70s!
I feel so much safer now that Shyne / Erickson / Horvath have hired additional mall cops. It would be great if citizens knew exactly who was getting rich off of defunding the police. Any ideas of who in West Hollywood stands to make money off Block by Block?
In reverting law enforcement, did Sepi Shyne get the commission or the kick back from Block by Block like woman in Santa Monica? She made over hundred thousand dollars from Block by Block nonsense group in Louisville.
Please call the local Boy Scout Troop who would likely have the skills surpassing the BBB Boys. They would also likely envision this as service to the community which would not require overpaid cyclists and former criminals intervene with “0” authority.
Basically they are nice guys on bikes with a walkie-talkies and nice golf shirts.
Having extra eyes on the street is never a bad thing…BUT…they are absolutely NO replacement/substitution for well trained, armed deputies with the authority to arrest…especially during a surge in crime. A nice sounding title may make the council feel warm and fuzzy, but they are putting us all at greater risk. SHAME ON THEM.
Have you watched the city council meetings during the public input portion? So many people have attested that block by block ambassadors have de-escalated situations and made them feel safe etc.
And they aren’t a replacement or substitution for armed deputies. I don’t anyone on the council ever claimed they were.
lol
I’m sorry, do YOU watch the city council meetings?! They literally took the funds from the sheriffs department and reallocate them to this new “reimagined public safety“. When you cut the number of sheriffs deputies while at the same time hire more Block by Block bike guys- that is a substitution, that is a replacement. If you don’t get that then…well..you deserve this new kind of public safety. Good luck with that.
Yes I do watch and you should go watch the most recent council meeting. It was stressed that they aren’t a replacement and funds were not taken from the LASD sheriff’s contract to fund block by block. Crime has decreased over the past 2 months btw.
And you never seem to answer the question, why during a surge in crime would you ever cut the number of sheriffs deputies and at the same time hire a bunch of guys on bikes with no authority, unarmed and limited training? There is absolutely no logic in that decision.
No sheriffs have been cut as of now and crime has been deceasing over the past couple months. I think we should look at it over 6 months and see how crime trends. But it honestly sounds like this idea had a positive impact. LASD spoke at the meeting and said they have aggressively gone after those phone thieves which made up a HUGE part of Part-One crimes (the big surge people are referring to). From my understanding, the decision to expand block by block was to deal with incidents that really were sucking up LASD’s time and resources from… Read more »
The fact is they defunded the police for this a solution is to add more police so people know the counsol cares for safety and that’s being polite
Most likely council members getting the kickbacks from block by block paid them to be there!
Are you kidding?