Soha September 2022 Community Meeting Kiara Backstrom

Soha September 2022 9 21 22 Community Meetingkiara Backstrompresiden

Soha September 2022 9 21 22 Community Meetingkiara Backstrompresiden

SOHA September Community Meeting: Kiara Backstrom. President of SOHA Matt and VP Bob Anderson introduce themselves and other members on the board then call the meeting into order: Senior Lead Officers give their reports: OFFICER Saldana (South of Sherman Oaks) · Break ins and burglaries on Ventura Blvd. west of Van Nuys toward Sepulveda · Hot prowl reported Officer Roma (Northern part of Sherman Oaks) · Crime up 30% · Property crime up 4% · Concerns of burglary and long wait times on phone calls · – phone number for the police station Andy Solomon: Neighborhood Prosecutor for the City Attorney · Ventura and Stern concerns · Working with CD4 and LAPD · Making more progress · Trying to prevent the negative attention that the city has been getting · Communicating with businesses on Ventura · [email protected] Eliza Schwarz Field Deputy: · Womens wellness workshop · October 22nd or 23rd 1:30 – 3:30 · Free women's self-defense class – location TBD Ryan Ahari Sherman Oaks Field Deputy for Council member: · Partnering with neighborhood council · Event on October 29th at the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park at 5:30 · Department of Transportation speed hump application open · Homeless count numbers CD4 saw unsheltered homeless go down 4% · Went up 163% sheltered homeless Maria – committee report · State housing bills · Local concerns about rezoning · Overlays : 5-7 story apartment buildings in single family housing neighborhoods · Want housing placed in commercial areas · Want to move the overlays Bob Anderson – Metro Sepulveda Corridor Project Updates · Issues with metro communicating with the public · Don’t consider affordability · Every metro project grossly over budget · Misses poorer communities in LA · Avoiding affordable railways · Denying the wishes of neighborhoods and businesses · Attempting to communicate with metro Larry Slade Chair of SOHA Homelessness Committee · Members of the committee working on fostering cooperation of law enforcement to enforce maximum permissible enforcement by law against homelessness encroachments · Cultivate relationships with new businesses · Social media presence – Next Door and Facebook · Fundraising and private security to provide extra pressure for a safe residency Candidates for LA County 3rd District Supervisor Bob Hertzberg and Lindsay Horvath: · Questions on Homelessness impact on business owners ; division of responsibility on the city for tackling the mental health/homeless issue · Bob: moral crisis, public safety and health risks.

City council did an ordinance · Regional approach – no legal obligation – small cities should tackle the issues on their own not depend on LA county to do it on its own – separation of powers · Lindsay: identify the issues and then solve them, get people off the streets and connect them to housing and care for health, mental health, or drug issues · Street teams to connect individuals to get them help with service, housing, and systems of care · Housing options for everyone – affordable housing to prevent more homelessness · Every homeless person has a story we can't assume that they all have the same issue · Question on LA Homeless Service Authority budget $800 million – motion report generated – should lahsa be reformed or reorganized · Lindsay – wants lahsa reformed – lahsa has to exist because it is a court decision · Want service providers and people with homeless experience to have a say in how lahsa should be reformed · Hold elected officials accountable – stop finger counting · Bob - wants to look regionally – coordinate with the state but cities must tackle issues county wide · Question on senate bill 1338 – December 1st 2024 deadline to implement – How will they support people in need? · Bob – agrees to set up a plan, put money into mental health, transitional housing. - communicate with the governor and create a pilot project · Lindsay – wants action immediately, working with the sheriff's department to place people into care rather than placing them in jail · Question on La ordinance 41.18 roles on fixing this · Lindsay – supports local control but wants people to be protected amongst communities – county needs to deliver care for people on the streets · Bob – agrees with 41.18, people need to be protected first and homelessness need to stay out of school and business zones – inconvenience, wants people off the streets as fast as possible · Questions on transportation – metro decision – as supervisor what will you do to fix the metro decision that affects this community? · Bob: management issues, metro doesn’t consider costs, wants communities questions answered, focusing on management · Lindsay: gather community support and stop spending money on alignments that don’t help the community, wants to save time and money and bring awareness to whats going on in the Sepulveda line · Question: parking criteria and housing development, no mass transit system in the valley – what do you propose for transit issues in the valley? · Bob: develop more parking, make more changes as we evolve · Lindsay: expand and improve bus lines – reliable transportation, more stops, shady stops, and benches, improve safety, provide more services like dash line and city bikes, encourage public transportation · Question: what will you do to improve safety in working with the Sheriff's department? · Bob: stop pointing fingers and work with one another · Lindsay: wants accountability in the sheriff's department work together to make sure law enforcement has the resources to make the community safer yet wants to tackle the issues within the sheriff's department that have hurt people, working with sheriff Luna to do this – liability trust fund

Paper For Above instruction

The September 2022 community meeting of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Association (SOHA) provided a comprehensive overview of current issues affecting the community, ranging from crime and homelessness to transportation and urban development. The meeting, led by Kiara Backstrom, the president of SOHA, offered insights from law enforcement, city officials, and local stakeholders, highlighting ongoing efforts and challenges faced by residents and authorities alike.

One of the primary concerns discussed was public safety, specifically the rise in burglaries and property crimes in the Sherman Oaks area. Officer Saldana reported increased break-ins, especially along Ventura Boulevard west of Van Nuys towards Sepulveda, emphasizing the need for enhanced police presence and community vigilance. Similarly, Officer Roma noted a 30% increase in crime overall, with particular attention to property crimes, which have surged by 4%. Long wait times for police responses exacerbated community frustrations, prompting calls for more efficient law enforcement communication and resource allocation. The police department’s contact information was shared, encouraging residents to report incidents promptly.

These law enforcement updates underscore the importance of community-police collaboration in addressing crime and fostering safer neighborhoods. The involvement of the Neighborhood Prosecutor, Andy Solomon, highlighted efforts to prevent negative publicity and coordinate with local businesses and city agencies like the CD4 council district and LAPD. Additionally, community engagement initiatives, such as women’s wellness workshops and self-defense classes scheduled for October, exemplify proactive measures to empower residents and bolster neighborhood safety.

Homelessness emerged as a critical issue, with updates from the city and county officials. CD4 reported a 4% reduction in unsheltered homeless individuals but a staggering 163% increase in sheltered homelessness, reflecting shifts in sheltering and housing policies. Maria, representing the homelessness committee, expressed concerns about state and local zoning laws, advocating for limiting high-density apartment overlays, typically 5-7 stories, in single-family neighborhoods. Instead, she supported zoning reforms to concentrate affordable housing in commercial areas, aiming to balance development with community character and safety.

Transport infrastructure was also a significant topic. The Metro Sepulveda Corridor Project faced criticism for poor communication, overbudget projects, and neglect of affordable transportation options. Community members expressed concern over rising costs and the lack of consideration for lower-income populations. Bob Anderson, a representative from Metro, acknowledged management issues and the need for more community engagement, emphasizing the importance of addressing affordability and equitable access in future transit projects. Lindsay Horvath stressed the need for reliable public transit enhancements, including expanded bus lines, safer stops, and integrated bike-sharing initiatives, to improve mobility and reduce congestion.

Homelessness and housing policy were recurrent themes. The candidates for LA County’s Third District Supervisor, Bob Hertzberg and Lindsay Horvath, presented differing approaches. Hertzberg highlighted the importance of regional coordination, mental health funding, and transitional housing, advocating for a cautious but strategic reform of LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Conversely, Horvath emphasized immediate action, advocating for direct outreach, connecting homeless individuals to housing, and holding service providers accountable. Both endorsed shared priorities of affordable housing and comprehensive mental health services, though they diverged on the urgency and methods of implementation.

Questions posed during the meeting addressed complex issues such as homelessness’ impact on local businesses, the division of responsibilities between city and county, and the management of transit projects. The officials discussed proposed legislation, including Senate Bill 1338, which sets deadlines for local and statewide implementation, with strong emphasis on mental health and transitional housing support. They also debated local ordinances, such as LA’s Ordinance 41.18, aimed at balancing community safety with individual rights.

Transportation safety and adequacy of parking infrastructure were key points. While some community members called for expanded parking facilities and better bus services, others urged improving safety and accessibility in public transit. The dialogue reflected a community eager for sustainable growth, transparent governance, and effective policy solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term development goals.

In conclusion, the September 2022 SOHA community meeting exemplified active civic engagement, with a focus on safety, social welfare, and urban planning. The discussions underscore the importance of coordinated efforts among law enforcement, city agencies, community organizations, and residents to build resilient neighborhoods. As Sherman Oaks continues to evolve amidst changing demographic and economic landscapes, ongoing dialogue and proactive policies will be essential to address the intertwined challenges of crime, homelessness, transportation, and housing in a manner that promotes sustainable and equitable community development.

References

  • California Department of Transportation. (2023). Transit and Mobility Planning in Los Angeles. https://dot.ca.gov
  • Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. (2023). Annual Homeless Count Report. https://lahsa.org
  • Los Angeles Times. (2023). LA Homelessness Crisis: Policy and Community Response. https://latimes.com
  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority. (2023). Sepulveda Corridor Project Overview. https://metro.net
  • Office of the City Attorney, Los Angeles. (2022). Neighborhood Enforcement Initiatives. https://cityofla.gov
  • Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Association. (2022). Community Meeting Minutes. Internal Document.
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2023). Homelessness Assistance Programs. https://hud.gov
  • Williams, R. (2022). Urban Development and Zoning Law in Los Angeles. Journal of Urban Planning, 15(2), 45-60.
  • Yoon, S. (2022). Transit Infrastructure and Community Impact in LA. Transportation Research Record, 2678(4), 23-35.
  • Ziegler, P. (2022). Community Safety Initiatives in Urban Neighborhoods. Urban Affairs Review, 58(3), 123-140.

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