Hi Neighbor - Victoria Van Zandt

Our very FIRST "Hi Neighbor" spotlight is Victoria Van Zandt. We selected Victoria as the first spotlight for her amazing passion to create Art Break West LA. Read more about Victoria below and if you see her in West LA say "Hi"!

My name is Victoria Van Zandt and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Art Therapist in private practice in West LA. I also lead bimonthly Women's Creativity Workshops here in WLA.

How long I've lived here:
I have lived in my current apartment, in WLA for over 23  years. I moved here in 1994 after I lost my home in Tarzana due to the '94 earthquake. At the time, I was working at UCLA.

About me:
Along with my professional work as a therapist, where I work with adults and children, I am an artist, mother of an amazing beagle-mix rescue dog, and a survivor and thriver kidney transplant recipient. Now on my third transplant of 27 years, which I received at UCLA in 1990! I fill my time with friends, writing and currently working on a Women's Creativity Workbook. I recently hosted the first Art Break Day at Stoner Park and love introducing the art of creative expression to young and everyone else! 

What I like about West LA:
WLA has got it all. It is close to everything, dining, entertainment, great weather, the beach nearby, and transportation. It is the center of it all! That is definitely what I love about WLA. 

Neighborhood Improvements:
What needs improvement for starters, is the traffic has become a nightmare and developers have taken over and pushed many out of their homes. As an older resident, I'm fearful that could happen to me one day. Lets find a way to create incentives to get residents involved in their neighborhoods, attracting more uninvolved residents to participate. Let's initiate permit parking on some streets so nearby businesses don't take up resident parking. Of course, homelessness issues continue all over LA and coming up with solutions would be grand. Speed bumps on some streets could slow some traffic down especially on my street Saltair. What about  having local artists create positive message murals around WLA for children, teens and adults. Maybe get UNI high students involved. These are just a few of my ideas for improvements.

Ordinance Info Session: PSH & Interim Motel Conversion (WEST LA)

Attend an information session to learn about the Department's proposed efforts to provide housing solutions for homeless individuals through Permanent Supportive Housing and Interim Motel Conversions.

09/11/17: CENTRAL - City Hall East, Room 351
09/12/17: WEST LA - VCH Gateway Apartments (RSVP Required)
09/13/17: HARBOR - San Pedro Municipal Building, Room 452
09/14/17: SOUTH LA - Constituent Service Center
09/23/17: VALLEY - Palo Verde Apartments (RSVP Required)

If required, please RSVP to Cally Hardy at cally.hardy@lacity.org.

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Ordinance

Last Thursday, the Department released its draft Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Ordinance as part of the City's Comprehensive Homeless Strategy. Public hearings for this ordinance will be held on 9/25 (Van Nuys) and 9/28 (LA City Hall). To view the proposed ordinance, hearing notice and FAQ, visit planning.lacity.org.#Planning4LA #PSH #HHH

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-psh-ordinance-20170831-story.html

Flex Alert

With temperatures soaring and demand for energy to surpass record levels, the California Independent System Operator has called a Flex Alert asking consumers statewide to conserve electricity. To assist the California grid operator in maintaining adequate energy supplies, we are encouraging consumers to conserve energy on Friday, September 1, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Consumers are encouraged to follow these conservation tips:
• Set thermostat at 78° or higher and turn off, if away
• Cool with fans and draw drapes
• Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances
• Use major appliances in morning or late evening

For more information, visit: http://www.flexalert.org/

LAPD Weekly Crime Report

THEFT / BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
1400 Barry Ave. 8-12- 17 7:30 P.M &; 8-13- 17 1:00 P.M
Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s vehicle by unknown means and removed property.

1300 Amherst Ave. 8-11- 17 8:00 P.M &; 8-12- 17 10:30 A.M
Suspects entered the victim’s unsecured vehicle and removed property.

1700 Barry Ave. 8-12- 17 7:00 P.M &; 8-13- 17 11:30 A.M
Unknown suspect used a tool and smashed the victim’s vehicle window and removed property.

11600 Rochester Ave. 8-12- 17 8:00 P.M &; 8-13- 17 8:00 A.M
Suspect smashed the passenger window to victim’s vehicle and removed property.

4700 Texas Ave. 8-12- 17 3:30 P.M &; 8-14- 17 4:00 A.M
Suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and remove property.

1300 Amherst Ave. 8-12- 17 3:15 A.M
Suspect(s) entered the victim’s garage, unlocked the vehicle and removed property.

1400 Wellesley Ave. 8-17- 17 9:30 P.M &; 8-18- 17 8:30 A.M
Suspect opened the victim’s unlocked vehicle and removed property.

Olympic Bl. & Purdue Ave. 8-22- 17 7:55 P.M &; 7:15 P.M
Suspect(s) removed property from the victim’s unsecured vehicle.

1600 Westgate Ave. 8-20- 17 8:30 P.M &; 8-21- 17 10:45 A.M
Suspect(s) removed the wheels and tires from the victim’s vehicle.

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BICYCLE THEFT
1700 Beloit Ave. 8-14- 17 6:00 P.M 8-18- 17 11:00 A.M
Suspect removed the victim’s property and fled the location.

1700 Beloit Ave. 8-17- 17 4:00 A.M
Suspect removed an unsecured bicycle and fled the location with property.

12200 Santa Monica Bl. 8-18- 17 11:00 P.M
Unknown suspect cut the lock to the victim’s bicycle, and fled the location with above property.

11500 Iowa. Ave. 8-15- 17 12:30 A.M
Suspect removed bicycle from the victim’s front yard.

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ARRESTS
We have had numerous arrests during the past couple of weeks in our area, ranging from
narcotics, narcotics for sale, Grand Theft Auto, and battery on a Police Officer.