Greetings,


Here’s a recap of the Sept. 19 Chandler Park community meeting:

First issue addressed was a neighborhood social networking website called NextDoor, which has been marketing/promoting itself in our community via email and post cards. We are advising residents to avoid subscribing, as some of us have already received spam emails which could be related to the site. We are taking steps to address the problem. We currently have a dedicated email address as well as the recently reactivated blog ( http://www.chandler-park.blogspot.com ) to serve you.

Guests for the evening were Bill Hacket, Field Deputy for City Councilmember Paul Krekorian /CD2, and LAPD Senior Lead Officer John Catalano. Outgoing CD4 rep Alice Roth was also in attendance; she and Councilmember Tom LaBonge were given special thanks for their years of help in improving our community, including paving of three alleys and two streets, as well as expediting service to our neighborhood from other City agencies.

 New Field Deputy Bill Hacket introduced himself and explained the once-every-ten-years redistricting process the City undergoes to better represent constituents. Our community is now part of Council District 2 (CD2). Bill also explained that because of difficult economic times for the City and State, his office has created a discretionary fund to deal with such community issues as tree-trimming and street patching.

 Calling 311 is still the best way to deal with issues such as graffiti, small potholes and abandoned furniture/refuse removal.

 Bill also advised residents with questions to feel free to contact the CD2 office: 818-755-7676

LAPD Senior Lead Officer John Catalano reported that a very positive trend continues – crime has declined both in our immediate community and North Hollywood in general. Property crime is down 4% year-to-date; overall crime for the same period is down 5%. Most crimes in the area occur along the Lankershim Blvd. transit corridor, where there is also now a large concentration of multi-story apartment complexes. Better crime reporting and increased community vigilance and communication are largely responsible for the trend, despite a steady increase in population.

 From Jan. 1 to August 31, there were only 9 relatively minor crimes reported in our community, mostly on the Cahuenga and Burbank Blvd. boundaries.

 Bicycle theft is more prevalent than auto theft, but car burglaries are still an issue – mostly because nearby residents continue to leave unsecured valuables inside their vehicles in plain view.

 Two incidents involving intoxicated and/or mentally ill non-residents being arrested in the neighborhood were also discussed. Officer Catalano explained that these types of incidents are generally not reported in the same way as crimes against person or property, but rather as a public health issue (one of the persons arrested was taken to a local facility for the mentally ill). But Officer Catalano also admitted there should have been better follow-up regarding the Auckland Ave. incident, apologized for it and said his officers will try to do better in the future.

 Officer Catalano also advised that if residents don’t feel there has been satisfactory LAPD follow-up to a reported crime or incident, they should contact the North Hollywood station and ask to speak with a supervisor. (818-623-4016).

 Despite the concerns of some area residents, the Chandler Bike Path has not been a magnet for crime. The one significant issue there continues to be graffiti; Officer Catalano advises trying to get a picture/video of any such activity, and reporting it immediately.

 The issue of outsiders rifling through our City-issued recyclable containers was again raised – general rule is that if the container is on your property, it is a crime for anyone to remove items from it, but once the container is on the street, it is essentially “fair game.” But if someone tries to enter a private yard area to remove recyclables, residents should report it to 911.

 Officer Catalano has only recently returned from vacation and is still going through a significant backlog of emails. If you have emailed him in recent weeks and he hasn’t responded, he apologizes and asks that you resend.

Other issues addressed:

 Coyote sightings in the community have become a rarity, thanks largely to better awareness and the concerted efforts of neighbors to “haze” them away from our neighborhood.

 Improving street lighting on Myrna Ave., where there were several car burglaries last Fall/Winter. Follow-up communications on that issue with Officer Catalano, the CD2 office and other City agencies are planned.

 Bill Hacket and Officer Catalano were also advised that wrong-way drivers on Chandler continue to be a serious concern for residents. This problem seems to be caused by a combination of traffic confusion at the Burbank border and insufficient signage/street markings on our side of it. We will be following up on this issue.

 An upcoming meeting will be devoted to the subject of earthquake/disaster preparedness, and putting together a neighborhood plan to secure ourselves and assist those in possible need. Remember: When discussing earthquakes in SoCal, the word is not “IF,” but “WHEN.”

Thanks to Brandie Ilsen for coordinating the meeting, and Tom Colby for managing/reporting our community fund.

Extra Special Thanks are again due Anita and the Cahuenga General Store, who have so generously hosted our neighborhood meetings for over a decade. We urge you to show your appreciation by supporting a business that is one of the cornerstones of our community.

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at:
chandler_park_NoHo@yahoo.com

Thanks to all our neighbors and friends who’ve helped make our community one of the safest and most secure in North Hollywood.











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