Next Chandler Park Community Meeting: July 10 @ 7pm

The next Chandler Park community meeting will be held on Wed. July 10 @ 7pm at the Cahuenga General Store, 5510 Cahuenga Blvd.

With the kind assistance of LAPD Senior Lead Officer John Catalano, we will be rolling out the Neighborhood Watch program for our community, as well as introducing the volunteers who will be its representatives. 

Neighborhood Watch has a proven record of helping make local communities safer and more secure through the friendly cooperation of neighbors and residents. Please come and welcome your new Neighborhood Watch reps.

We will also be introducing our new City council field representative, Maral Habeshian, from the CD2 office of Councilmember Paul Krekorian. Maral can answer any questions you might have regarding City issues that affect our community.

The Cahuenga General Store will be open before the meeting to serve food, beverages and their great coffee. Please show your support for Anita and her fine local business, who have generously hosted our community efforts for many years.

Hope to see you there!

Hand-Made Christmas Stockings Sale on Cumpston, Dec. 9

Greetings:

Chandler Park neighbor Josie on Cumpston is offering a selection of beautiful hand-made Christmas Stockings for sale this Sunday, December 9, along with complimentary cookies and hot chocolate!

Invitation: Toluca Lake Holiday Open House - Dec. 7, 2012

Council District 4 Field Deputy Alice Roth forwarded this kind invitation to our community:

Councilmember Tom LaBonge 
invites You to the 4th Council District
Holiday Reception & Toluca Lake Merchant Open House

Friday Evening, December 7, 2012
5:00 - 8:00 pm

Council District 4 Office
10116 Riverside Drive, Suite #200
Toluca Lake, CA 91602

Refreshments will be served

Off street parking available

North Hollywood Crime Statistics & Map for October

LAPD Senior Lead Officer John Catalano has provided the latest crime statistics and incident map for October, 2012, along with some important advice and tips about securing your home and property.

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Dear Neighbors,

Attached is the crime map for the month of October. As you can see crime is increasing. All year we held on to a reduction in crime comparing it to last years crime statistics. That has now changed as a result of the recent spike in crime.

In looking at the October map for your area, it is clear where there are a few crime clusters.

Eighteen (18) cars were stolen within the area for the month. Some vehicles were left unlocked and some were recovered with forced entry.

Thefts (27) and Burglary from motor vehicles (26) continue to be the highest reported crime in the basic car area. This type of crime can be reduced with your assistance. DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING OF VALUE INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE. If you do, there is a very good chance it will not be there when you return.

Crime prevention tips for auto theft:

-- Never leave your car running unattended, even to dash into a business, store, etc.;
-- Never leave any keys in the car or ignition, inside a locked garage, or in hide-a-key boxes;
-- Always roll up your windows and lock the car, even if it is parked in front of your home;
-- Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked. Put them in the trunk out of sight;
-- Always park in high-traffic, well-lighted areas, when possible;
-- Install a mechanical device that locks the steering wheel, column, or brakes. These devices will deter some criminals;
-- Investigate the purchase of a vehicle theft tracking/security system, especially if you own one of the frequently stolen model vehicles;
-- Never leave personal identification documents, vehicle ownership title, or credit cards in your vehicle;
-- Copy your license plate and vehicle information (VIN) numbers on a card and keep them with you. If your vehicle is stolen, the police will need this information to take a report; and,
-- If your vehicle is stolen, report it to the police immediately.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. If you see suspicious behavior, use your best judgement if it needs immediate police response. If you do not think it is necessary but it is something I should be aware of, please send me an email with as much detailed information as possible. As always, thank you for your assistance in keeping the neighborhood safe.

Thank you,

John Catalano
Senior Lead Officer- Basic Car 15A39
Los Angeles Police Department
North Hollywood Area

Chandler Park Improvements - Your Help Needed!

Greetings:


The community issues raised at the last Chandler Park meeting have been addressed with the CD2 office of Councilmember Paul Krekorian, our neighborhood's new City Council representative.

Now it's up to our residents and local businesses to follow-up with letters and/or emails documenting those specific concerns.

(Reminder: It was only through the interest and cooperation of many neighbors, expressed in communications with City officials, that we were able to get our alleys paved and streets resurfaced, as well as having concerns about the Chandler Bikeway and other issues successfully addressed).

Councilmember Krekorian's office welcomes and encourages your input and documentation; having them is crucial in their efforts to deal with various City agencies and channel scarce resources where they're needed most.  (contact info below)

These are the issues being followed-up on:

-- Wrong-way Drivers on Chandler
A number of residents have reported witnessing this very dangerous problem, or encountered a vehicle sitting in the wrong lane while trying to turn right on Chandler. ANYONE who has personally witnessed/experienced this issue is strongly encouraged to document and report it - the life you save may well be your own! Even better would be a cellphone image or other photo of any incident(s). We are trying to get signs and/or street markings installed to address the problem.

-- No Street Lighting on Myrna
If you are a resident of Myrna, you're aware of the safety/security issues caused by the complete lack of street lighting there, including several car burglaries last Fall/Winter. Residents of the street are advised to document/forward their concerns.

-- Chandler Bikeway Litter
Refuse and dog poop are multiplying on the bike/pedestrian path, largely due to the complete lack of trash containers between Vineland and the Burbank border. The containers that were originally installed were removed, apparently because of funding issues and the dissolution of the CRA. Suggestions were made about the community possibly donating trash receptacles, but then the issue becomes one of regular collection. Some of our neighbors have voluntarily cleaned the area, but a more permanent solution is obviously needed. Community documentation and complaints about the problem are key to resolving this unfortunate bureaucratic stalemate.

Please forward your documentation, concerns and/or complaints via email or letter to:

Bill Hacket
CD2 Field Representative
bill.hacket@lacity.org

Bill Hacket
CD2 Field Representative
6350 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Ste 201
North Hollywood, CA 91606

Paul Krekorian
Los Angeles City Councilmember CD2
6350 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Ste 201
North Hollywood, CA 91606

Update: CD2 office notified of Chandler Park concerns

Greetings,

Following up on the recent Chandler Park community meeting, volunteer Jerry McCulley called CD2 rep Bill Hacket and sent the following recap (Bill's response follows below):

Hi Bill,


Thanks again for introducing yourself at our recent neighborhood meeting, and all the helpful information you provided.

Following up on our phone conversation, here are the three immediate community concerns we spoke about:

--Street lighting on Myrna St., where a number of car burglaries occurred last Fall/Winter - there are currently NO light fixtures on the street. The nearest lighting fixture is on a "brown pole" at the western T-intersection with Auckland Ave., which has virtually no impact on the residences on Myrna proper. There are other "brown poles" behind some of the homes on the street, but we are uncertain about the logistics of adapting these for street lighting. As discussed, we will be forwarding photographs that illustrate the current situation.

-- Wrong way drivers on Chandler Blvd. continue to be an issue, specifically drivers going westbound in the eastbound lanes between Clybourn Ave. and Cahuenga Blvd. Chandler abruptly changes from a pair of two-lane roadways running on either side of the bike path at that intersection (which is also the Burbank border), into one two-lane roadway on the north side of the bikeway. We’ve personally witnessed at least a dozen wrong way driver incidents, and have heard neighbors describe many more. On several occasions we’ve tried to turn right from Cahuenga (northbound) onto Chandler (eastbound), only to find a car sitting in the wrong lane at a red light, blocking the street. Also complicating matters is the slight "hump" where the bike path crosses Cahuenga; this is a residual of the former rail line there, and has the effect of impairing the sight-line of drivers on Cahuenga, especially in left turn situations. Several of us have also noticed the same wrong way driver problem on Chandler Blvd. at Vineland. The potential for a head-on crash at both of these intersections, as well as the residential streets that intersect Chandler, is a serious concern. Better signage and road markings indicating Chandler is a two-way street in this area seem to be needed.

-- Trash/refuse on the Chandler bikeway can be problematic, especially given the large numbers of pedestrians, cyclists and skaters using this new community resource. There are several benches/rest areas along the path in our area, but the trash cans that were originally installed at those locations were inexplicably removed several years ago. This has had the effect of making litter inevitable.

We look forward to working with you and the CD2 office to better the community.

                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks very much Jerry.


I am in the process of submitting all of these requests to the proper agencies and will keep you all posted. Thanks for the great work you all do for our community. I really enjoyed the meeting by the way.

Kindest regards and have a great weekend,

Bill

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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Next Meeting - Sept. 19, 2012 @ 7pm

The next Chandler Park community meeting has been scheduled for September 19 @ 7pm, at the Cahuenga General Store, 5510 Cahuenga Blvd.

As you may know, as part of its redistricting process L.A. recently redrew the City Council boundaries that include our neighborhood. As of July, our community is now represented by Councilmember Paul Krekorian. We are pleased to announce that Field Rep. Bill Hacket from that office has offered to make a presentation at the meeting and answer any questions you might have.

LAPD Senior Lead Officer John Catalano will also be on hand to update us on crime trends and other issues of safety and security in the community. Please be sure to thank Officer Catalano for his years of dedication to improving the quality of our City.

Many thanks to Councilmember Tom LaBonge and especially Field Rep. Alice Roth for their years of support and help in improving our neighborhood. With input from our neighbors, their office expedited several physical improvements to our community, including paving our long-neglected alleys and resurfacing of streets.

Extra Special Thanks are due Anita at Cahuenga General Store for her many years of staying open late to host our meetings. The General Store will be open before the meeting to serve food and refreshments; please show your thanks and support for a business that has contributed so much to our neighborhood over the years.

If you have any questions or issues of concern you'd like to have addressed at the meeting, please contact us directly at Chandler_Park_NoHo@yahoo.com.

March Meeting Recap

Thanks to all our neighbors who attended, and to Anita at Hallenbeck’s for again being our gracious host.

LAPD Senior Lead Officer John Catalano gave a detailed presentation about crime in the North Hollywood area, and what we can all do to keep our community safe and secure. Officer Catalano emphasized that while we continue to have one of the safest neighborhoods in NoHo, there have been problem areas nearby. In an economic environment where City resources are stretched thin, staying alert and communicative with your neighbors is key to keeping our community secure. Here are some specific suggestions:

- Advise your neighbors if you are going to be away from home for an extended period.

- If you see someone unknown hopping over a neighbor’s fence, peeking into windows or removing items from a home when you know your neighbor is at work or away, call 911 to report a burglary suspect. If you can, get a vehicle description with license number, and/or get a photograph with a cell phone or camera.

- If you see a suspicious vehicle and person(s) parked on your street for an extended period of time, take down the license number and/or photograph the vehicle and occupant(s) with a cell phone or camera. This info may be of great help in potential LAPD investigations, and can be forwarded to Officer Catalano via email: 32740@lapd.lacity.org

- If an unfamiliar vehicle with out-of-state or temporary plates is parked on your street for an extended period, take down the license number and/or photograph it and advise Officer Catalano via email.

- Do not store valuables such as cash, jewelry or credit cards in places where a thief might first look, like a counter or top dresser drawer. The harder you make it for a potential burglar to find your valuables, the more secure they will be.

- Never leave valuables in your car. It takes only seconds for a thief to break a window and steal them.

- If someone unknown knocks on your door, you do not have to open the door, but always verbally respond in some way. Thieves specifically look for unoccupied homes.

- Be wary of scam artists, and/or unknown individuals who try to lure you outside your home temporarily with a pretense. This could be someone in the guise of a sales person, a person asking for donations or accompanying a child to look for a lost pet. These are some of the ways scam artists and burglary teams operate. In general, use discretion when dealing with a stranger at your door.

- Refrain from leaving your garage door open and unattended for an extended period of time, even during daytime.

- Placing outside lights, motion detectors and alarm service signs on your property can also deter crime.

While we have streamlined the neighborhood communication process, there are concerns that some of our neighbors may not have access to the internet and email. If you have a neighbor who may be in that situation, please reach out to them or simply print out these messages for them. It will help bring the community together, keep us all safer and our homes more secure. Other City resources/contact info may be found here.

We also had tentative discussions about holding a community block party, possibly in April or May. If you have any suggestions, or would like to be involved in setting up such an event, please contact us at: Chandler_Park_NoHo@yahoo.com

Also note that email address is now the primary contact point for all questions, comments and suggestions regarding the neighborhood association.

Thanks again for all your support and encouragement!

New Email Contact Info

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the Chandler Park Neighborhood Association, please use this address as the new contact point:

Chandler_Park_NoHo@yahoo.com