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Hollywood-Gower Neighborhood Association

February 3, 2005

Hollywood-Gower holds first ever annual meeting at the Blue Palm Restaurant on Wednesday, February 2^nd, 2005. This well-attended meeting was hosted by Thaddeus Smith, owner of the Blue Palm and the Music Box Theatre. 

Bill Kysella gave a crime report for Maria that reflected a drop in crime for the area. He stressed the need to pass a ½ cent L.A. specific tax increase to hire more officers. 

Marguerite asked about the people living in their cars on Carlos west of Gower. Bill said that all the information needs to go to the police, not parking enforcement. The term for this is “Lodging in a vehicle”. Mytch said the best number for reporting these things is 877-ASK-LAPD. 

Thaddeus welcomed the group and shared his philosophy for doing business in Hollywood. He stressed healthy relationships between neighbors and businesses. He is on many boards in Hollywood and has successfully influenced the Hollywood Free Clinic to work with him in cleaning up and decorating their building. He believes this part of Hollywood Blvd can be beautiful instead of being an embarrassment. But this takes caring and helping one another. He pointed out the new sign being created at Pep Boys – Thaddeus helped inspire them to clean up the building. He has hopes for the lot on the south/west corner of Hollywood and Gower. Stressing the need for parking in Hollywood, he suggests that there be several levels of parking with neighborhood-friendly businesses on the ground floor. 

The Music Box Theater has had 600 events in 22 months with only one complaint call from Ruth – who was standing across the street complaining about the noise. They donate to charities and have 80 – 100 concerts a year for fundraising. 

The cameras are coming to the neighborhood and Thaddeus is going to help buy one that will protect the neighborhood. He is working with the city to find other suitable locations in this community to mount these cameras. They will be monitored from the Hollywood Police Station on Wilcox. 

Mytch asked about shots fired recently and wanted an explanation. Jordan from Q-Topia explained how Armenian guys had a fraternity party at the Armenian restaurant on Argyle and Hollywood Blvd. When that party was over, they all went over to Q-Topia and started a fight. The shots were fired in the air while the guys were still at the restaurant. 

Fran asked that people come to her after adjournment with any specific goals and concerns that should be addressed in 2005. Priorities for 2005 are homelessness, gang activity, people lodging in vehicles on Carlos and on Yucca just west of Gower, dumping on the streets, crime, and the need for more neighborhood cleanup projects. Several expressed interest in meeting quarterly rather than monthly as an experiment. 

Our thanks to Thaddeus Smith and the staff at the Blue Palm for their generosity and hospitality. 

Next meeting will be the Spring meeting – March 30^th at 7pm at Q-Topia, 6021 Hollywood Blvd. Cards will be sent out as well as e-mail announcements. If you have issues that need to be addressed, please call 323-462-1514.