A recent East Side Neighborhood Watch meeting drew praise from West Hollywood residents during a Public Safety Commission meeting, with speakers highlighting its robust attendance and role in fostering community engagement. The comments underscored the city’s focus on public safety as a priority, reflecting residents’ commitment to collaborative safety initiatives.
Resident Cathy Blaivas commended the meeting’s turnout, noting its significance for community involvement. “It was great to see the community out, and I think Councilmember Meister said it best: there were more community members than there were staff,” she said. Blaivas emphasized the rarity of such attendance, adding that the event signaled a collective concern for safety, as she felt increasingly unsafe in the city after nearly 30 years of residence.
Stephanie Harker echoed the sentiment, focusing on the meeting’s impact on community cohesion. “It was wonderful to see such a turnout,” she stated, reinforcing the event’s success in bringing residents together. Harker, a longtime advocate for safety improvements, also raised concerns about earthquake retrofitting delays during her comments, linking the meeting’s discussions to broader safety challenges.
Resident Victor Omelczenko connected the meeting’s success to the city’s strategic priorities, noting its alignment with resident sentiment. “Supporting community safety and well-being was the highest ranked priority in the citywide residents survey that was part of the city’s strategic plan,” he said. Omelczenko highlighted the meeting as a step toward safer streets and sidewalks, urging continued collaboration with county officials to enhance safety initiatives.
Councilmember Danny Hang also acknowledged the meeting’s significance, praising the community’s engagement. “It was a great turnout, and I think it shows how much our residents care about safety,” he stated. Hang’s comments reflected the city’s broader efforts to support neighborhood watch programs, emphasizing their role in maintaining public safety alongside law enforcement and security partners.
The praise for the East Side Neighborhood Watch meeting, shared during the commission’s public comment period, highlighted the community’s active role in addressing safety concerns. No formal actions were taken, as the commission received the input as part of its regular agenda, but the discussion affirmed West Hollywood’s commitment to fostering resident-driven safety initiatives.
