HOLMBY NEWS
September 9, 2016
From the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, serving the Holmby Westwood community since 1960.
1. HWPOA Board Meeting
2. Bike Lane Update
3. UCLA Move-In Weekend
4. LACC Fireworks Notice
5. LAPD Crime Alert – “Apple Picking”
6. V.A. Campus Update
7. Movie Premiere – Street Closures
8. HWPOA Communication and Ad Policy
9. Resident Ads
10. HWPOA Contact Information
1. HWPOA BOARD MEETING
On Tuesday, September 13 at 8:00 PM, the HWPOA Board of Directors will hold its monthly meeting at Belmont Village, 10475 Wilshire Blvd. Members of the community are welcome to attend, though space is limited. Please let us know if you plan to attend. Email Dana at hwpoa@aol.com
2. BIKE LANE UPDATE
Thank you, Councilman Paul Koretz!
Los Angeles City Council Removes Central & Westwood Bike Lanes
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-2 to pass amendments to remove Central Ave. and Westwood Blvd. from the Bicycle Enhanced Network (BEN). This vote makes the changes official on the Mobility Plan and finalizes the long disputed transportation plan for the city.
Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, the three other Westwood HOAs, the Westwood Neighborhood Council, and the Westwood Community Council have been working closely with Councilman Paul Koretz over several years to find an alternative to a bike lane originally proposed for Westwood Blvd. between Wellworth and Le Conte. Such a lane was deemed dangerous for bikers, pedestrians, cars, and buses because of heavy traffic, particularly during rush hours. There are 940 buses traversing Westwood Blvd. between Wilshire and Le Conte and 35,000 car trips daily. Width of lanes would have to be reduced in order to accommodate a bike lane, car doors opening into the bike lane is a probability, and buses would have to cross the bike lane in order to pick-up and drop off passengers. In other words, huge congestion would result on a street that is already heavily congested, thus compromising public safety. The community’s alternative was Gayley Ave. only one block to the west. The bikers, UCLA students and faculty, and some councilmembers were strongly opposed because of the direct route to UCLA from the Expo line. Councilman Koretz led the fight through multiple city hearings and emerged victorious through great odds.
The Board of Directors is very supportive of alternative modes of transportation, particularly if traffic can be reduced by the change. However, we do not want to compromise public safety in the process.
A big thanks to Councilman Koretz, his staff, and the Planning Dept. for their assistance in getting this passed at City Council.
Sandy Brown
3. UCLA MOVE-IN WEEKEND
Please be aware that UCLA student “Move-In Weekend” begins this Thursday, Sept. 15 and continues through Sunday, Sept. 18. The first day of classes is on Thursday, Sept. 22.
4. LACC FIREWORKS NOTICE
To Neighbors of The Los Angeles Country Club:
Please be informed that on the evening of September 10, 2016 at roughly 9:40 p.m., the Los Angeles Country Club will be conducting a fireworks show lasting approximately 9 minutes to celebrate the reopening of our renovated Clubhouse. We want to ensure that you have proper notice so as not to startle anybody. We also hope that you are able to enjoy the fireworks show from your own homes. We appreciate your understanding and hope this will not be an inconvenience for you.
Thank you,
The Los Angeles Country Club Management
5. LAPD CRIME ALERT – “APPLE PICKING”
From Officer Maria Gray:
The following crime occurred on Avondale in Brentwood:
On 08/25/16, at 1530 hours, the victim was walking and texting when a blue, 4-door vehicle (no further information) pulled up alongside her. The passenger, a Female, Hispanic, brown hair and eyes, 25 to 30 years old, 150 lbs, punched the victim in the face repeatedly and stole the victim’s phone, MP3 player, purse/wallet. The suspect returned to the car and fled. The driver was not described. Victim refused medical treatment.
As you can see from the above robbery, the brazen thieves targeted the victim in broad daylight (at 3:30 pm) as she walked on a side street off of San Vicente Blvd. They likely were cruising the area looking for an easy mark. And then this poor, petite, young lady became their victim. The Female suspect punched her hard in the face several times and dazed her so that she was easily separated from all her property.
She admittedly was texting while she walked, like many of us absentmindedly do, so she probably didn’t even know what was happening until it was all over. She was left bleeding and crying. I suspect, even though there’s no mention of her wearing ear buds, that she may have had them in her ears, although I could be wrong (they did also steal her MP3 player).
But I mention all this to say that we need to change how we walk. There’s a lot of emphasis on not texting or using social media while driving, but there needs to be a discussion about the ramifications of doing it while walking too. It’s dangerous. People engaged with their phones step off street curbs and are struck by vehicles all the time. They become easy marks for robberies but also, and more importantly, for sexual assaults. You need to have this conversation with your family that to walk and text (or walk and be distracted by your cell phone in any respect) can be seriously dangerous.
If they must make that call or send that text, advise them to do so by stopping, in a well-lit location, preferably with other people around, and to put their back against a wall so no one can come up behind them. Then they should do a quick assessment and see who’s around, who’s sitting in nearby cars, who’s coming down the sidewalk, who is coming around the corner from that alley. They should hold their head upright and keep it on a swivel and make eye contact with people.
And take the darn ear buds out. How can you hear someone running up behind you if your ears are plugged? How about sirens? How about shouts of a warning, or calls for help? Avoid becoming a victim of ‘Apple Picking’. Don’t display your electronic devices for the thieves to key in on and pick your ‘apple’, or something even worse.
6. V.A. CAMPUS UPDATE
From Congressman Ted Lieu:
Dear Friend,
I am excited to share some recent positive developments about the West LA VA, the Master Plan, leases and homeless Veterans.
Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times ran an editorial praising the VA for renegotiating favorable agreements with some of the partners at the VA. It also calls on Congress to pass my crucial legislation to construct and develop permanent supportive housing at the West LA VA. I couldn’t agree more!
To read the editorial, follow this link.
In addition, the Los Angeles Times ran an article describing the terms of the newly negotiated agreements.
To read the article, follow this link.
Finally, this week the VA released a press statement and fact sheet outlining the terms of the newly negotiated agreements.
Thank you for your continued support and advocacy for our Los Angeles County Veterans.
Sincerely,
Ted W. Lieu
Member of Congress
7. MOVIE PREMIERE – STREET CLOSURES
On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, Premier Event Management is planning the “HILLSONG” premiere to be held at the Regency Village Theatre, located at 961 Broxton Ave, at 7:30 PM. There will be various sidewalk and street closures around the area of Broxton Avenue between Weyburn Avenue and Le Conte Avenue.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Erica Jean Pacheco or Marguerite Pellegrin of 4Wall Lighting Entertainment / Entertainment Lighting Services at 818-769-9800.
8. HWPOA COMMUNICATION AND AD POLICY
Please direct all comments, questions or issues regarding the Holmby News to hwpoa@aol.com.
Ads for plumbers, housekeepers, garage sales, etc. will be posted in the weekly News. Emergency situations such as coyote sightings, lost and found pets, traffic alerts and similar situations will continue to be published during the week as received.
When placing an ad, please send to hwpoa@aol.com for the Holmby News moderator to review. Responses to ads should be directed to the ad placer, not to HWPOA.
9. RESIDENT ADS
FOR SALE: THOMAS THE TRAIN ITEMS
I am selling our well-used set of Thomas the Train items. Set includes:
a figure-8 track (with bridge), a few extra track pieces, Sodor Scrub & Shine (car wash), Water Tower, Sodor Cargo Drop, Percy (train), Gordon (train), James (train), Sir Topham Hat, a wooden train whistle, a roadside tree and two signs.
Items are mostly in good condition. A few of the tracks have black Sharpie lines (courtesy of my then toddler). Not sure if the car wash still functions properly.
Asking $40 for all. Please contact Jonathan at aerojg@gmail.com
10. HWPOA CONTACT INFORMATION
HOLMBY WESTWOOD PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. Box 49180
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-470-1785
Email: hwpoa@aol.com
Web site: www.holmbywestwoodpoa.org