Block by Block’s Erica Leon delivered the monthly report of the security ambassadors’ activities in December for the Public Safety Commission on Monday night.
The ambassadors’ 5,037 business contacts across the city was highlighted, underscoring the ambassadors’ commitment to maintaining a vigilant and consistent presence, particularly along the bustling promenades of the Boulevard. This effort was part of a broader strategy to ensure business safety and community engagement.
An equally notable aspect of the report was the 1,260 contacts made with unhoused individuals, averaging around 40 contacts per day or roughly two per hour.
The calls for service stood at 426 for the month, averaging about 13 per day.
December also saw heightened vigilance in residential areas, especially concerning suspicious activities and individuals lingering unusually long in these areas. This increase in surveillance was particularly significant during the holiday season. The ambassadors also provided two weeks of round-the-clock service at the Sierra Bonita kiosk, a proactive measure to prevent trespassing while the property owner arranged for private security.
A critical incident highlighted in the report occurred on December 22nd, involving a potential overdose at the corner of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights, near the abandoned Bank of America building. An ambassador, during a proactive patrol, discovered an unresponsive, well-known individual from the unhoused community. Quick action led to the administration of four doses of Narcan and CPR chest compressions, saving the individual’s life before the arrival of EMS. This incident underscored the importance of Narcan training, which the Block by Block team plans to expand and reinforce.
In addition to lifesaving interventions, the ambassadors are focusing on enhancing their de-escalation training. This training aims to improve interactions on the streets, emphasizing safety and effectiveness. The expanded resources in this area are designed to make the training more meaningful and digestible for the team.
The sensitivity training, particularly around LGBTQ+ issues, was another focal point of the report. The team has engaged a consulting company to finalize in-depth training for the ambassadors. This training will cover various aspects, including understanding and relating to gender terminology and concepts, reflecting on personal relationships with gender identity, and developing practices that honor diverse identities to build community trust. A critical component of this training is recovery skills, enabling ambassadors to positively move forward in interactions, especially in instances of unintended disrespect or misgendering.
One of the initial points of discussion revolved around the training provided to the Block by Block ambassadors for social services in the city. Leon confirmed that they do indeed train these individuals, ensuring they are well-informed about the available services and appropriate referral processes. She elaborated on the use of pamphlets from the city and the importance of pre-shift briefings for ambassadors. These briefings include updates on social service providers’ activities, such as medical services at Plummer Park on specific days, and the emphasis on directing community members to these services.
The conversation then shifted to the remarkable increase in hospitality assistance provided by the city. The numbers had risen to 2,732 instances, prompting questions about the factors contributing to this significant increase. In response, Erica discussed the emphasis on hospitality in their recruitment and training processes, ensuring ambassadors are friendly, approachable, and equipped with current information about city events and recommendations. She attributed this focus on hospitality to the increase in assistance provided and assured that such efforts would continue.
Another topic of interest was the outreach to senior buildings in the city. Commissioner Joy Freiberg inquired about this initiative, noting its previous mention and importance. Leon admitted that she hadn’t yet had the opportunity to conduct such outreach but expressed openness to doing so. She welcomed any contacts or information that could facilitate this engagement, with commissioners Danny and Jessica identified as potential sources for a list of senior buildings in the city.
A notable aspect of the meeting was the discussion around the spikes observed in some data points, presumed to be related to the commencement of a contract from 2022. Leon clarified this by noting the contract’s impact on the Westside residential area, which began in October of the previous year. This contract led to the addition of 30 more ambassadors, naturally resulting in increased contacts and interactions within the community.
The session turned to the increasing number of contacts with unhoused individuals along Santa Monica Boulevard, totaling 641 encounters. This figure marked a significant rise from the previous year’s statistics. The report shed light on the complexity of these interactions, noting that many of these encounters involved the same individuals multiple times a day. The primary action in these situations often involved relocating these individuals from one area to another within the city. This movement does not resolve the issue but shifts it to different parts of the city.
Commissioner Adam Eramian delved deeper into the details of the unhoused contacts, questioning the nature and initiation of these encounters. He pondered whether these contacts were driven by businesses, initiated by the ambassadors, or resulted from unhoused individuals seeking assistance. The substantial increase in contacts along Santa Monica Boulevard, from the previous year, sparked his curiosity about the dynamics and the reasons behind these rising numbers.
Another topic Eramian broached was the safety escorts, particularly the 33 instances recorded in the Santa Monica Boulevard District. He sought clarity on the initiation process of these escort requests, considering the limited operational hours of the kiosks at night. His inquiry extended to the nature of the assistance provided during these escorts, like accompanying individuals to their apartments, and the protocols in place to avoid potential accusations or misunderstandings during these escorts.
Responding to these inquiries, Leon clarified that contacts with unhoused individuals along Santa Monica Boulevard were predominantly the result of proactive patrols. While some were responses to calls for service, a majority were initiated by ambassadors during patrols, especially given the high activity levels on the boulevard.
Regarding safety escorts, Leon elaborated that these services were requested in various ways. For instance, they could be part of the security arrangements for specific meetings, where escorts for particular individuals are pre-arranged. Businesses, particularly those operating at night, also frequently request escorts for safe passage through potentially unsafe areas like back alleys. The spokesperson also clarified that during the night, all responses, including safety escorts, are conducted in pairs for added security and to mitigate any potential risks or accusations. However, daytime responses usually don’t involve pairs unless the situation is assessed to require additional assistance.
Leon clarified that they could escort individuals to nearby destinations but would not enter private properties.
A sensitive issue addressed was the occupation of bus shelters by unhoused communities. The commission discussed the complex dynamics of ensuring these shelters remain accessible to those needing them while also respecting the needs of the unhoused. The ambassadors’ approach involves seeking compliance and addressing behaviors like open substance use or excessive belongings that impede public access. However, they maintain a non-intrusive stance towards individuals who are not engaging in prohibited activities.
The commission inquired about the status of the 24-hour bathrooms in West Hollywood Park, a significant community concern. Leon indicated that the project was still under discussion and not yet implemented. There was particular interest in how Block by Block would adapt to this change, especially regarding overnight operations, as their current service extends until midnight.
The homeless thieves and predators have ruined the quality of life in West Hollywood for hard-working residents and taxpayers. We should be doing everything possible to remove them from our city, not welcoming them with open arms.
Be grateful that the ambassador program exist, not all of them can be everywhere at the same time. There are more homeless people than ambassadors, and people online only complain and criticize. They talk to more homeless people than you ever will people.
But it is THEIR job
2 Ambassadors an hour? That’s more than the average person makes, if the ambassador program disappears, I guarantee you there will be tents on the Santa Monica sidewalks, I rather take crazy homeless people walking then stationary tents that no one will try to get rid of. The people complain probably are the same people complaining about the sky being blue.
she is paid to put BBB in the best possible light. She really bent herself into a pretzel trying to do that last night.
Block by Block personnel should be instructed not to park their bikes in front of local bars in order to watch television programs from outside while on duty. I have seen so much of this.
Bars don’t start getting full till midnight.
We need BBB patrols and escorts at 2AM when the bars get out, and the hoodlums come to prey on intoxicated people walking back to their homes and cars. It seriously scary when you see in the news people getting robbed at gun point, automatic weapons, near your home and think that could have been you.
They’re out guarding Starbucks, Ramada, Bathrooms in the middle of the day when absolutely nothing happens. Change their hours to when they’re actually needed.
Sadly, they are needed 24 hours a day, on every block. Thank you, Lindsey and Sepi for being the two most responsible for destroying the city. And Lindsey parades around like she is the Pope’s representative here on earth. I can’t think of a single thing Sepi has ever done to better the city in any way.
Lately, I do not understand why there are security people at Pavillions, Trader Joes, Whole Foods and Bristol Farms. You walk into the mens room and there are homeless in there who have literally overtaken it as their own private bathroom. Sometimes its Scary!
Only two per hour?! Seems low.
I seem to have encounters with the homeless in the City, about 10 per hour walking around. Either it’s the mental patient banging his head on the table at Starbucks, or the guy always using the area in front of El Pollo Loco as his personal 24 hour outdoor bathroom. Thanks, Sepi and Lindsey for making the homeless feel welcome here. Can’t wait for the Hollyway Motel Shelter to open, which will sure fix the problem and make all of them become invisible or just go away, or maybe cure their insanity. Some of the people who run the city… Read more »
Right now across from the BBB office there’s 4 people passed out on the sidewalk under blankets. Is this now so normal that it’s ignored? Sad and tragic.
I recently returned from a month in London, Barcelona and Frankfurt, and I don’t recall seeing more than about 10 homeless people in a month, and that includes my walking for 4 to 8 hours per day in each place. Clearly our society is doing something wrong. The solution is not what Sepi and Lindsey have given us. It is sad and tragic that we have leadership that is so sad and tragic.
West Hollywood has become a scary and disgusting place to live due to the explosion of homeless who refuse to work and prey on hard-working taxpayers. The reckless decisions coming out of City Hall are increasing the number of vagrants in our city, and doing nothing to protect residents from this growing threat.
Yup.