Eastwood Coalition

Neighborhood Meeting Report 1-6-04

Called to order at 6:15PM

There was a full house at this meeting with many new faces and positive participation from all. Michelle Fleenor from LaBonge’s office and Bea Hsu from Garcetti’s officer attended. After self introductions, K.C. shared some of the accomplishments from last year including the streetscape project on Franklin/Van Ness and the crossing guards and cross walk (soon to have a light) at St. Andrews and Hollywood as well as the needle exchange and fire station 82 challenges. “For a small group, we have done amazing things!”

Fire Station 82 relocating to the MacDonald’s property:

Rumor has it that the city is turning its gaze from Florentine Gardens (which would require no residential relocations) to the empty lot at Van Ness & Hollywood Blvd. The Prop F requirements and limitations were explained with emphasis on their need for 2-acres and on the unacceptable conditions that the fire fighters endure at their current location. Clearly, they need more space. The MacDonalds property is not 2-acres and would require the Prop F Bond committee to acquire several residential lots to comply with the bond requirements.

It was announced that the Prop F people will have more details on reasons why Florentine Gardens is no longer their choice and what their plans are for the MacDonalds property. They plan to provide a public meeting on Thursday the 22^nd of January with location to be announced. Organizers of Franklin-Hollywood Hills Community Council will hand-deliver flyers to the impacted residents prior to the meeting. Ann-Marie (Eastwood Coalition organizer) will be calling everyone who is on our membership list.

Fran emphasized that the organization takes no position until the impacted neighbors instruct them as to their wishes and encouraged all neighbors to attend the Prop F meeting on the 22^nd to get a clear picture of what is involved.

Michelle Fleenor (Councilman LaBonge’s office) says that a letter will be sent out to the people announcing the meeting.

MTA Safety Report

The Team Leader from L.A. County Sheriff’s Department came to share what was being done to make MTA safer. Undercover patrol ride inside the buses and on the streets around the MTA stations. He gave 323-563-5000 as his contact number. Also, if you have a complaint or issue with the MTA, call 800-COMMUTE.

Carl (Woobiepictures@yahoo.com) 323-461-9741 mentioned that there are MTA buses that drive faster than they should on Garfield (a residential street). Carl is working with Ana Munsell to get proper speed signage put up. He doesn’t want to push for speed humps as the buses would then need to stop and accelerate many times and that would create a pollution problem as well as a noise problem for the street. The MTA rep said that a meeting should be arranged between the people on the street and the MTA to find a solution or request a route change. Carl is working with Jody Livak, MTA Customer Relations. (LitvakJ@MTA.net)

Crime Report: Senior Lead Officer Armen Sevdahlian

During the strike the crime rate went down. The crime rate is low with only one robbery recently. A band of three Hispanics were doing street robberies – they were responsible for 40 robberies – targeting elderly and single people walking. They were recently arrested in the Rampart area.

Officer Sevdahlian says that businesses can put up webcams to monitor their locations via the internet. Contact the police for more information. It costs appx $2500.

Senior Lead Officer Sevdahlian’s new number is 213-793-0712. Senior Lead Officer Bill Sollie’s number is 213-793-0703.

Major crime in Hollywood is auto break-ins and auto thefts. Through triple A you can get a sticker CAT Combat Auto Theft so that between midnight and 5am, if the cops see your car on the street, they can stop the vehicle for no reason at all.

CPAB wants to expand – they meet the last Tuesday of the month in the evening. CPAB brings together business, social service and neighbors. The meet on Fountain and Wilcox just south of the Police Station.

Currently there’s a hiring freeze within the LAPD (they will hire 200 officers to replace retirees) and they are being challenged to reduce crime by 20%.

Thai Community Council Report: Chancee

Chancee - The streetscaping project within the CRA area is going forward. They are asking for residents/citizens participation for creating designs for the streetscape. Deadline is February – by March they will meet with other stakeholders for the design. Boundaries of streetscape will be from Western and easterly. Chancee will bring meeting information to the next Eastwood Coalition meeting.

February: The Thai Lunar parade – Festival/parade.

Forth Sunday in April: Thai Festival.

Parking on Hollywood Blvd: Ann-Marie Harrington

Parking on Hollywood Blvd. has prevented street cleaning from doing their job. Michele doesn’t know why the parking exists the way it does on Hollywood Blvd and the city has a 500 request backlog. Jered says there are independent crews that come out and vacuum the street. He will find out who they are and relay that information to Ann-Marie.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:15PM