Public Safety

Chair: Mary Ann Smiley
Vice Chair: TJ Martens
Members: Art Sims, Steven Robertson, Tess Reyes-Dunn, Annie Palai, Alan Schweizer

Regular Meeting Time: 3rd Tuesday at 6:30
Goals: Our objective is to increase the safety of our stakeholders. The WNC has had a long history linked to the various agencies that keep our neighborhoods safe, including the police department and neighborhood watch.

Some of our members belong to citizen safety groups like CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams). Our belief is that we are a partner with the rest of the city and the community in keeping our community safe.

The Public Safety Committee will deal with safety issues and provide information to our constituents that will help them remain safe.

Agenda

Minutes

2008
April 15, 2008

2006
January 19, 2006
February 21, 2006
March 20, 2006
April 17, 2006
May 18, 2006
July 17, 2006

2005
January 17, 2005
February 20, 2005
March 21, 2005
April 18, 2005
May 16, 2005
June 20, 2005
November 21, 2005

2004
August 16, 2004 Notes
September 20, 2004

LAPD ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING

At the April 15, 2008 meeting Captain Sherman discussed the Topanga station planned for opening January 2009. The response time to calls will most likely be quicker since the station is closer. And PALS, Explorers, Jeopardy and the Reserve Officers will also be on-site.

Senior Lead Officer Maldonado was on hand to hear concerns about graffiti, vagrants, and bars. There was a discussion about possibly installing graffiti watch cameras that not only take pictures of taggers in action, but sound an alert notifying them that they are being watched. This system is hoped to deter graffiti. The committee is working with Officer Maldonado to determine the best places for camera installation.

The committee recommended that the WNC board make a stand in favor of Jamiel's law, which would repeal the LAPD's policy of disregarding the immigration status of persons who are arrested or convicted of committing violent crimes. This law was proposed when Jamiel Andre Shaw, a high school football star was gunned down near his home by a recently released man serving time for assault with a deadly weapon. He may have been here illegally. Read more about Jamiel's Law. Additional commentary about Jamiel's Law.

RUNNYMEDE PARK UPDATE FOR APRIL 06

04/06/06 By JJ Popowich

Over the last year the WNC has been working with stakeholders, the LAPD, Park Rangers, and Recreation & Parks to address problems at Runnymede Park.

LAPD Senior Lead Officer Raigoza has been instrumental in helping the WNC clean the park up. Through her efforts we’ve been able to arrange well over 30 hours of Vice and Bike Patrols. The results have been arrests for gambling and public drunkenness. Stakeholders in the area have noted the improvement as well.

The newest problem to pop up at the park are reports of loitering near the Gifford Street entrance. The Public Safety Committee held a hearing earlier this year and voted to request the entrance be closed. The request has been sent to the Department of Recreation and Parks, but they have expressed some concerns.

The Parks feels that the closure is a drastic measure that should be a last resort. This is an issue the WNC wrestled with in our public hearing. We had hoped that more stakeholders would have attended to express their opinions about the closure. Unfortunately there were only a very few who showed. The problem with this entrance and the loitering is that the LAPD can only do so much. The laws that apply to loitering require the officers to provide a warning first. If the individuals move on, then they can't arrest them. Those that have been observed loitering always disperse willingly. This is the reason the LAPD recommended we close the entrance.

The WNC will continue to work on this issue and negotiate solutions with the LAPD and Recreation & Parks. However, if you still see issues at this park and are truly interested in resolving the problems then we urge you to come to our meetings and work with us to address the communities concerns. The five committee members can not do it alone.

RUNNYMEDE PARK - WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST

The WNC is making progress in regards to cleaning up Runnymede Park. As a result of the WNC's actions over the last few months the City has stepped up to the plate and is starting to address stakeholder concerns at the park.

Late last month several members from various agencies met with Councilmember Zine's Field Deputy to review the park and the WNC's requests. On October 11, 2005, several Board members had a chance to meet with several high level representatives of various agencies regarding the park in an informal get together after the Board meeting was canceled.

As a result of our focus the LAPD Vice and Bike squad has spent a combined 30 hours over the last week and a half at the park. Officer Crosby from the West Valley Division announced that the Vice unit made two arrests for gambling and one for public drunkenness. The Bike squad made another three arrests for gambling. He commented that this is a tremendous effort and focus on this park that is unusual and it's had a positive impact.

Acting Chief Park Ranger, Albert Torres, commented that they are also committed to cleaning up this park. Chief Torres said he has requested the Recreation & Parks to add additional signage at the park with the 24 hour hotline for stakeholders and park goers to call to report problems. The Rangers have committed to responding as soon as possible to the reports. He cautioned there are only 24 Rangers serving all of Los Angeles and a number of support personnel. While they can't guarantee immediate response (it depends on where the Rangers are at the time of the call) they will respond and follow up on complaints.

Chief Torres pointed out that resolving the problems at Runnymede will take a partnership between the residents and the various city agencies. Chief Torres continued by saying his focus is to look at the trends as well as address the immediate concerns. He urged residents and park goers to report problems. The more data he has to see trends the better he can allocate resources and work with other agencies to get the resources that are needed.

Recreation & Parks had two representatives in attendance. Superintendent X and Laura Bauernfeind. Ms. Bauernfeind said the park is increasing the sign postings in both English and Spanish listing restrictions against moon bouncers. They will also be posting new signs with the Park Ranger's number as well. She also announced that they will be adding additional trash cans throughout out the park.

One of the main requests the WNC made in it's motion from earlier in the year was to reduce the number of picnic tables in the park. Ms. Bauernfeind said that Recreation & Parks did consider the request but felt that they number of tables was warranted. She explained that the decision was based on the belief that the families that use the park would have a bigger benefit if they were left. She commented that this should encourage family usage.

WNC President, Mr. Popowich, questioned the logic of leaving the tables. He asked, "What am I supposed to say to the stakeholders when they ask why we can't get the tables removed?" He went on to ask at what point the stake holder's desires matter to the City. He pointed out that the WNC has held meetings where we had over 30 stakeholders asking for the benches to be removed. He also spoke about his own observance of gambling and how they use the tables, describing in detail the gambling operation. He stressed that we have to present results to these stakeholders.

Superintendent X committed to reviewing the issue again. He asked for an opportunity to have his staff look at the park this week and see if they can present a compromise proposal on the number of tables. He confirmed that they will consider reducing the tables. X will report back to the Board with a compromise by the next regular Board meeting. He also stressed that this was an opportunity to get the community to work to resolve their issues.

Mr. Popowich said, ''the WNC and City have struggled for several months to get this problem addressed." He went on to say that he was thankful the City was able to stay and talk to them and said he feels, "this is a new beginning and the start of what looks like a good working relationship."

The WNC will continue to focus on this problem and is still planning to have a Winnetka Night Out at the park once we can ensure we have enough stakeholders who are willing to assist in arranging the event.