Hollywood-Gower Neighborhood Meeting Report

10-29-03

Crime Report from the Senior Lead Officer - Maria

Crime is down – burglary theft from vehicles is the number one crime for the area – that’s a whole lot better than in most areas – down from double digits to 7 for two weeks. Please report every incident!

John Walsh commented on our area being so much better now. He also mentioned that the gangs were coming in via MTA.

Ruth asked about the homeless problem. We currently have little resources. The homeless problem is not their highest priority. The good news is that we have the law back in place that makes urinating and defecating in public a crime when it occurs where there are bathrooms available.

There is a program that buses transients in to reap the benefits of the social services and then they are supposed to get back on the bus and go home – but they don’t. This is now being changed.

Kysella suggests that the locations of homeless encampments be reported to the SLOs often.

Maria: Targeting Aggressive Beggars (TAB) unit is there to make the beggars stop intimidating people. It’s actually called a robbery if they get into your face. Call 911 and file a report. TAB is responsible for getting the group of homeless people that used to hang out just above Sunset on Gower is now gone. They were there for 15 years but thanks to the work of the TAB unit, they are not allowed to loiter in that area any longer. Ruth mentioned that they are now south of Sunset. Maria said that their group is now broken up – some have been arrested and due to flaws in the system, are out on the street again but won’t be back in that same neighborhood again.

Homeless Outreach Task Force is another way of mitigating the impact that the homeless are having on quality of life in the neighborhood.

Good neighbors make great neighborhoods – Mike Geier

Mike Geier shared about his approach to his neighbors and his neighborhood. He suggests that people talk to their neighbors. “It’s nice to know that someone is there who can watch out for you and vice versa.

“Every once in a while, when I am out doing my yard work or washing the car or getting the mail, I’ll do something to let them know I am there.” For instance he will sweep their porch or drive way when he’s sweeping his own area; taking the trashcans back for them; straightening others trashcans.

He encouraged people to inspire neighborly consciousness taking pride in the neighborhood. When there are beggars or homeless on his block, he calls the police and that’s one reason why they are not on his block any longer. He approaches them first and tells them to move along. If they don’t, he calls 1 800 ASK LAPD and when it comes on, press one right away and follow the menu. He has done this so often that he knows which numbers take you to which services and has been able to maneuver to an officer right away. When he sees a couch placed out on the street, realizing that no one will call the city, he does it right away so the homeless don’t start hanging out on it.

Calling 311 will get you to Sanitation and they will come pick up couches and chairs right away.

There is another neighbor taking the same personal responsibility on the other end of the block. As a result, his street (Harold Way) is starting to look like Beverly Hills and the homeless are not interested in hanging out any longer.

“These are the things that keep away crime and keep away drugs and filth from your neighborhood. Making the place look as though that sort of thing won’t be tolerated.”

Florentine Gardens – Bill Hooey

Bill Hooey introduced himself and his background. He says that Florentine Gardens pays a half-million dollars in taxes to the city. He shared the interest that the city has in placing a fire station on his property.

He says that the congestion in the neighborhood is not from Florentine Gardens. Their security guards do not have police powers to stop people from loitering or making noise.

Shawna expressed how she had attended their hearing in 1999. “According to their Conditional Use Permit, the security guards are supposed to direct people away from the neighborhood.” She acknowledged that patrons from both Florentine Gardens and Q-Topia park on her streets. (Mr. McKenzie said that his patrons do not park on the city streets.) Shawna understands that there is such a high turn over for security guards. She is concerned about not being able to make contact with Kenny or anyone else at Florentine during their open hours on the weekends. Bill Hooey gave her his cell phone number 323-397-1840 and said that he would be there.

There are 470 spaces available to Florentine Gardens.

Maria suggested that Kenny make a copy of the Conditional Use Permit so that the security guards know what they are required to do. Kenny says he will do that.

Jordon suggests that the neighbors get a special pass to park in the lots of Florentine Gardens and Q-Topia so that they can find a place to park no matter what is going on. Fran asked Kenny if he would work with Jordon to create a pass that would work for both night spots. He was reluctant to discuss participating in that. Jordon says he will create, laminate and distribute a pass to the neighbors himself.

Shawna asked Kenny to speak to the security guards and Kenny agreed to make that effort.

Ruth asked Mr. Hooey about the Fire Station issue. Bill Hooey said that the public meetings are being delayed and that they had not been informed about meetings in the past. He is searching for alternative lots and prepared to submit them to the city.

He cites the wording of proposition F.

Ruth asked about the former request that Fire Station 82 expand on site but that has been removed from the table. Fran went into detail as to the rationale of the Prop F group giving many reasons why they refused to consider that option.

Neighborhood Prosecutor’s Update – Bill Kysella

Bill Kysella commended Mike for his inspiring presentation and encouraged people to really care about their block.

Mr. Kysella’s efforts to get the area cleaned on Carlos and Bronson were ultimately very successful. It’s Clean!!!! Missy mentioned that she and Fran examined the area today and were both remarking on how clean it was. The trees and shrubbery are also trimmed and neat.
PATH was sent to talk to the homeless person that lives in her car on Bronson.
The lighting issue (Tamarind) has been referred to Mr. Chang in Street Lighting. Bill saw the darkness on Tamarind but some of this is because of the church’s tall trees. He asked Chang to think about increasing the wattage without being so bright people can’t sleep. An additional light pole is not applicable.
The alley behind the liquor store is well-lit. They are still looking into the issue of the big bus on the private property.

John Walsh says that people are living inside the Little Country Church of Hollywood on Gower – Nederlander’s property has a homeless encampment. Maria (Senior Lead Officer) says she is well aware of this situation as is working on it.

Bill announced the urination ordinance that is now in place. The police will be providing at least two or three of the self-cleaning toilets in the near future.

Public Comment:

Grant (a neighbor) spoke of his vision to have green streets in Hollywood.

Mike mentioned that a neighbor (Gwen) asked him to ask about neighborhood watch signs. She gave some funds for this. Maria gave this work order to the DOT to take care. Maria will Contact Gwen with the DOT contact so that Gwen can follow up consistently.

John Walsh brought our attention to the articles in the Independent and L.A. Times about the buckling Hollywood Walk of Fame – it’s supposedly due to pedestrian traffic so John is going to produce a motion to eliminate all fat people from that area. (jest)

Baydsar (CD 13) says that it’s because the stars are set in incorrectly.

John Walsh calls this “Voodoo Geology”. He says that studies have been conducted years ago before the MTA got started with the subway and before the Hollywood Highland project.

Fran asked when the official studies on this would be complete. Baydsar says that this would happen in the next few months.

Ruth shared something that she read in the Hollywood Independent about gay senior housing in a local project.

Kysella shared that the housing is open to everyone – encouraged everyone to read the L.A. times article on the subject.

Baydsar Thomasian from CD 13 gave some information:

Holloween night on Hollywood Blvd. will be great. This year teams of task force individuals will be out to mitigate the issues that have caused problems in the past. She encourages all to check it out.

Sunset/Vine project will be opening in November with a Borders Books and Bed Bath and Beyond. The housing component will be opening in early spring in March. The housing over Ralphs is senior housing only (Western and Hollywood). There have been litigation issues and they have just closed escrow and will be open in a couple of months. The housing is based on the lottery system and tenants are already in line to move in.

Sunset and Western will have Walgreens and housing.

Club Blue has been an ongoing problem for the community. The police are asking that their permits not be renewed.

Garcetti has an online newsletter – anyone who wants to be added should contact her.

Jordon mentioned that if anyone wanted something good to do on New Years Eve that Hollywood Partnership Against Drugs will be marching on New Years Eve.