City Officials Encourage Public Safety, Walk Against Hate

If the people won’t come to the rally, take the rally to the people.

That was the attitude Friday night when city officials went to Boystown bars talking to people about protecting themselves against crime after the planned failed to attract anyone.

“We want to remind you to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions,” Councilwoman Abbe Land told some patrons on the patio at as she handed them a card with tips for ensuring personal safety.

Among the tips on the card were to avoid walking alone at night, to move away from any situation that feels unsafe and to call 9-1-1 if you feel threatened, not to wait until something happens.

All five City Council members were on hand, along with Public Safety commissioners and Sheriff’s deputies, chatting with patrons about being safe in West Hollywood.

“It’s important to remind people that we live in a city and there’s muggers and robbers and bad people,” Mayor John Duran told Weho Patch. “Just because we’re here in Weho in a plastic bubble, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.”

Councilman John Heilman concurred. “It’s important to call attention to the issues of violence within our community and encourage people to be safe,” Heilman said. “People really appreciate it when you reach out to them in the bars and nightclubs. When you do talk to them, they’re always very appreciative that people are doing it.”

And people did seem to appreciate the efforts. 

“I’ve never heard of Abbe Land before, but it impresses me that she would take a minute to talk to me about safety,” said one patron at Revolver. “I’ll definitely be a little more cautious walking home tonight.”

That was the idea behind "Walk Against Hate," according to Public Safety Commissioner Chris Clarkin.

“Visibility during the holidays, during time periods of community concern is a great way to show the partnership between law enforcement, the community and the city,” said Clarkin. “Crime is down almost 10 percent in the city of West Hollywood, but we can always do better.”

Although Sheriff’s officials are currently investigating several , the walk was scheduled before those crimes took place.

“We are working toward a ‘hate-free city,’” said West Hollywood Sheriff’s . “We all need to be in this together to respect each other and to treat each other with dignity and respect. It’s important for people to hear it directly from us and to have them share their stories with us.”

Resident Josh Garcia, who was mugged in July, was pleased the city was making this effort. Following his mugging, Garcia started a Keep Weho Safe Facebook page, which has turned into a clearing house site for information about recent crimes. Garcia reported the page gets more traffic than he expected, and seems to be making a difference.

“It’s a shame we had to start [the Facebook page],” Garcia told Patch. “But if it helps people to think about their safety, it’s a good thing. I really don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

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