If you are wondering exactly what City staff means when they talk about funding “incarceration diversion teams” as part of our future Public Safety plan, perhaps this coming out this Tuesday will be your opportunity to ask City Council and staff members for an answer.
Tuesday is National Night Out, which is basically a series of block parties across the nation where neighbors get together to express appreciation to our first responders and promote community based public safety, such as Neighborhood Watch.
Across the length of West Hollywood, neighbors will be hosting events to bring people together and give us a chance to meet with Sheriff’s deputies, our fire fighters and paramedics as well as our City Council members and City staff. While our leaders are glad handing, it is a perfect opportunity to express your concerns about the State of the City.
Due to horrifying instances of robbery and assault that have racked West Hollywood in the last year, there is a renewed interest in creating a more pro-active, neighborhood approach to law enforcement. Residents want to be empowered and make their neighborhoods safer. This year’s National Night Out events are expected to be well attended.
The Tri-West Neighborhood consisting of Westbourne, West Knoll, Westmount and Huntley will be hosting their first event in years. West Hollywood West always has a great event while Elyse Eisenberg will be hosting the WeHo Heights annual fiesta up at the end of Horn Avenue. Michael Carter’s Ogden Owls are hosting a “pajama party” so bring your drop-drawers. On the Eastside we are throwing an 80’s themed disco roller skate party. Please check out the event near you because they are always fun, and it gives you an opportunity to meet and bond with your neighbors. You might even want to join your local Neighborhood Watch; everybody is welcome to help make WeHo safer.
But fun and food is not the only reason to come out.
This is a chance for you to thank our firefighters and Sheriff’s deputies. This is also a chance to question Sheriff’s deputies about response times or concerns about the homeless or dangerous vacant buildings in your neighborhood. You could be one of those people the Mayor accuses of being “fear mongers” by expressing your concern about the rise in violent robberies by criminals armed with assault weapons.
On the Eastside we decided to hold our event on Gardner at Lexington to show our group’s solidarity with the Gardener neighbors, who stand to lose dozens of parking spaces under the City’s Plan to install protected bike lanes on that street. You may recall that the City “forgot” to tell people that bike lane plan would involve the loss of parking space. Certain City Council members stated that the hapless residents should have been able to figure it out on their own, but what became apparent is that the City’s high paid consultants failed to note that Gardner has traditionally allowed on street tandem parking in front of driveways. The loss of these spaces were not included in the City’s plans. As we have not been able to get Council members out to walk the street with the residents, we figured by holding our event on Gardner, they would be forced to hear directly from the impacted residents.
While the troubles on Gardner obviously don’t impact everyone, you may want to ask Council members about the City’s plans to re-design Fountain Avenue so there is only one lane of traffic in either direction. You could also ask our first responders what response times might be if this plan takes effect. Perhaps if we could create ambulances that could use the proposed protected bike lanes, I might feel safer. While one Council member stated she was not concerned if motorists were “inconvenienced” by the narrowing of Fountain, that “inconvenience” might be fatal if you are awaiting an ambulance.
Although the City Council narrowly approved use of security cameras and a “first response” drone for the Sheriff’s Department, two of our Council members had issues with the proposal, saying that this technology could be invasive and “militarized” local law enforcement. Just because Hamas has weaponized drones does not mean the Sheriff will be doing likewise, but if you do have concerns about this sort of technology, this is a good time to be heard. Not everyone is comfortable with high tech surveillance.
Lastly, Tuesday evening will be a great opportunity to thank the two veteran City Council members who had the common sense not to vote to “de-fund” the Sheriff and who unsuccessfully tried to restore the full contingent of deputies to our local station. They deserve our gratitude and recognition for being willing to put our community’s safety first.
The recent survey done for the possible tax initiative for November ballot seems to indicate safety is an issue for everybody here in West Hollywood. Let’s hope city council does everything they can to improve how we approach safety and the support that we give, The sheriff’s department. Anything we can do to support them is important
The event is always worthwhile. They should do it monthly.
…and when it comes November, don’t vote for Erickson. We know his track record and the disastrous effects of the policies he supported has had on this city. (And the same goes for anyone supported by UNITE HERE and/or is endorsed by Shyne or Byers).
Steve, thank you for your ALWAYS-wise & continued valued insights as related to relevant issues for all living in WEHO.
As far as the ‘forgetful’ neglect by the city as related to the Gardner pking. spaces & MANY other forgotten and/or bypassed critical life-changing decisions such as the the radically failed Builder’s Remedy compliance, perhaps the very City Council Members accusing residents of ‘hapless’ behavior, are indeed the most hapless, complicit, & culpable, as they seemed to forget they are here to serve the people of the city, not vice versa. Transparency is a beautiful virtue. Happy NNO all!