Crime & Safety

Weho Heights Residents Converge at Annual Neighborhood Meeting

Locals living north of Sunset receive updates on the Strip and a crime report from the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station.

Squatters, scavengers and coyotes were just a few of the concerns voiced by West Hollywood residents living above Sunset Boulevard at the annual Weho Heights Neighborhood Association meeting Thursday.

The two-hour gathering saw reports from deputies, Mayor Pro Tempore Jeffrey Prang and Todd Steadman of the Sunset Strip Business Association, along with concerns from a number of residents living on Horn, Sherbourne, Shoreham, Larrabee, Clark and Ozeta Terrace.

"Each year, more people attend, and this was the best turnout we've had yet," said Weho Heights NA Chair Elyse Eisenberg. "We had about 50 people at the meeting, counting the speakers."

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The Weho Heights NA was formed by merging the former Shoreham Heights NA during the first neighborhood meeting held at Horn Plaza on June 11, 2007, according to the association's website.

Deputy Dave Cusiter, who oversees the neighborhood above Sunset, said Part 1 crimes, including aggravated assault, robbery and grand theft, have gone down 40 percent since January despite recent reports of parking garage break-ins on Horn Avenue that have some residents worried. 

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There were a total of 10 aggravated assaults and three burglaries in the area over the five-month period, with 129 calls made to the station, four 911, he noted.

"As a general rule, crime is usually up during recession," Cusiter told residents, "but the sheriffs are doing a great job here."

One resident on Clark Street, up from the , noted insufficient overnight parking for District 4. Weho Heights NA represents 1,003 residences on the only streets north of Sunset in West Hollywood. There are just 38 available street spots, said Eisenberg, a public facilities commissioner with the city.

Kris Zagyva, security director for the Sunset Strip Business Association, which consists of approximately 200 business owners, informed residents of the 10 personnel or "ambassadors" who monitor Sunset from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and also warned of an increase in the homeless population as the weather warms up in Weho. 

Executive Director Todd Steadman shared his idea for a night farmers market on the Strip, which he is hoping to launch in September.

"A farmers market would encourage neighbors to come down and businesses to patronize. It would give Sunset a sense of community," he said. Currently, West Hollywood residents make up just 13 percent of night visitors to the Strip, he said.


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