Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

Neighborhood Watch Zoom Meeting Notes, 7/21/2021

We hosted 26 attendees in and out!
?? Sunland Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Cesar Contreras said his area has 20% fewer "Part 1" (serious) crimes, a huge drop. Although summer is usually busiest for police, Sunland is still on track for lower stats.
?? Tujunga SLO Gloria Caloca says her area is 14% lower in Part 1, but porch-pirating is up. Let's keep our eyes sharp and alert neighbors! Visible cameras deter some thieves, but place cams at eye level. "We can't ID someone by the top of their head or their baseball cap."
?? Neighborhood Prosecutor Mark Ross said he gets constant complaints about Patrick, the homeless person polluting bushes and sidewalks around Von's and Fire Station 74. Ross is restricted by the same problem LAPD has: Laws passed by our current lawmakers, City Council, and voters protect the unhoused unless actual crime is seen and proven.
? Patrick, Patrick, Patrick!  Mark Ross, SLOs and CD7 are trying to get help for Patrick, our unhoused problem person polluting sidewalks near Von's and Fire Station 74. He recently slightly relocated his huge mess and was seen sleeping next to Vons' main door. He moved his possessions from the sidewalk corner—discovered to be black with his months of filth, but now cleaned. His stuff now rests in or near bushes a few yards west.
Ross reached out to agencies and mental health units to get more teams in more-frequent touch with Patrick—who has been reported urinating in public. That's indecent exposure.
Yet officers report Patrick is not a crime center, which would give them a lever to act. He complies with ADA's 36" sidewalk access mandate. He's just a mess.
During one officer's 45-minute visit, enablers gave him money, food, water, and free attorney advice. An officer witnessed an older lady giving Patrick a $100 bill. Thank the nice lady for extending Patrick's exposure to traffic risk, exhaust, disease, and crime.
? LA's Laws on camping/overnight sleeping are in flux. City Council introduced a motion to amend LAMC 41.18, which governs sleeping in vehicles or on sidewalks. (A federal "Boise Law" requires housing be made available before it's legal to roust overnight sleepers.)
? On 28 or 29 July, Council should return from summer hiatus and consider amendments that make A FEW areas (doorways, fire hydrants) off-limits. Also being CONSIDERED is a ban on sleeping within 500' from "sensitive geographic areas." BUT that would require a specific resolution for each area, and then applying its prohibitions to customary "sensitive areas" like churches, day care, schools, etc., inside that area. NOW is when you should make your thoughts knows to our Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. SEE CONTACT DATA BELOW FOR Rodriguez and Sinclair.
? RVs once on Woodward have relocated to Irma St. behind Vons. CD7 has arranged a "safe area" in the NE Valley for homeless overnighting in vehicles, but such areas are often in flux. They're located outside of residential areas, and offer parking, hygiene facilities, and security.
This solution is welcome and should be expanded. One resident reports some local encampments are enlarging into "small towns" with semi-permanent structures.
The rights of unhoused to camp where/when they like trumps laws of fair parking, noise, pollution, fire safety, public hygiene, etc. Not all such factors are addressed in the upcoming motion. Communicate directly to your elected representative how you feel she should vote: [email protected]
? YOU  LIVE  IN  A "VERY HIGH FIRE SEVERITY ZONE" (VHFSZ)! S-T and much of Los Angeles are in a formally outlined VHFSZ now mapped into the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC). It explains what laws apply to this zone regarding trespassing, etc., yet MANY questions just aren't covered. One resident says Park Rangers were threatened with knives and axes when they tried to clean up Hansen Dam. See attached map.
? Can City, County Health Depts regulate unhygienic homeless? They should, but probably won't, since there are hundreds of camps. Only if it were large enough to drain into watershed.
In normal times, DOT also enforces parking laws and can cite or tow. BUT—playing the COVID-19 card—the current moratorium trumps all laws on towing for illegal parking, expired plates; only if blocking a driveway or the entire passage of a street. They can still cite, but some windshields are papered with tickets.
An officer said he was unable to park his own car at a park due to unhoused RVs occupying 20 parking spots for weeks. Yet he received a citation for being 4 minutes overdue in a regulated zone.
A resident who often picks up roadside trash asked whether there would be any action on the pot-growers' illegal dumping that he'd seen. He also sees gallons of oil leaking into our soils, yet no government help protecting our watershed. He said, "If we can't even manage our public trash, aren't we a failed state?"
Even when a dumping location is chronic, prosecution is hard as there's usually no evidence of the perp. Ross's office has a team that works on hazardous dumps like oil, paint. Oro Vista has a problem location.
Know that Paid and Volunteer Forces Pushing sloth and lawlessness storm City Council meetings to lobby for homeless impunity, in-&-out sentencing, eternal residential camping, skeleton police coverage, and freedom to shoplift.
SO WE MUST MAKE NOISE! CALL your City officials and agencies. Use MyLA311. Call Street Services for illegal dumping. If you feel sloughed off, push through to their manager. Leave clear messages. Complainers get attention! If any agency says to call LAPD, question WHY? LAPD handles crimes, not the homeless, trash pick-up, or painting over graffiti.
Report crimes when they happen. Foothill Station is now open for public to walk in! Residents could even talk with the station's brass immediately, or make an appointment to.
Facebook & Nextdoor will not send anyone to take your police reports or make Homeless Sue put on pants. And LAPD repeatedly tell us how frustrating it is to hear about a crime through a procrastinated email, or receive a Facebook screenshot of another's complaint. Officers need fast, accurate reports from victims and witnesses. You vastly increase your percentages of getting a crime solved by reporting it ASAP and ACCURATELY.
LAPD's online report form is 100% reliable for minor crimes, but if the crime involves a firearm, injury or large theft, call or visit LAPD. But you probably will not receive an immediate visit because crimes involving danger to human life get first "redline" priority.
Knock-knock. LAPD!  Even if a crime isn't prosecutable—e.g., your clear video of a flagrant speeder—LAPD is very happy to door-knock and have a chat when there's proof.
Valley Traffic now has a weekly meeting. It's a great forum to Zoom in your questions and problems.
Contacts:
- TUJUNGA LAPD Senior Lead Officer Gloria Caloca:
Cell: 818-634-0754 | Off.: 818-756-8866 | [email protected]  
-  SUNLAND LAPD Senior Lead Officer Cesar Contreras:
Cell: 818-634-0705 | Off.: 818-756-8866 | [email protected]
-  EMAILS are the best way to contact them. Send photos if possible. Or come into Foothill Station: 12760 Osborne St., Pacoima, 818-756-8861.
- Eve Sinclair, your Deputy to Monica Rodriguez: 818-352-3287,
[email protected]