Walk Pico! Streetscape Project
Groundbreaking Today, May 31, 2022!
Many of you may remember the streetscape grant the WNC won from the "Call for Projects Program" through Metro. The total grant was 1.8M to improve the safety and walkability of Pico from Patricia to the 405. After years of paperwork and emails and delays and unexpected issues...the project is set to begin today! We have attached the scope of the project so you can see all that it entails as well as the work order from DOT.
The first part of the project to break ground will be the median at Pico and Overland. There is also a bump out on the gas station side. This will be planted with drought tolerant plantings and 2 palm trees. See slide 25 on powerpoint. There will be some restrictions for left hand turns on southbound Overland to Pico for the next few weeks.
The purpose of this median and bump out is to create a safer crossing for pedestrians at Overland and Pico and to cue drivers of the transition from Big Overland to Little Overland. We will send more updates as the project moves along.
LIVE EVENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THIS SUNDAY FROM 11 AM TO 2!
The Westside Neighborhood Council is excited to invite you to this Sunday's WNC Community Business W
· When/Where: Sunday, June 13, 2021 from 11am - 2pm at the corner of Westwood Blvd and Pico Blvd.
· What: During the Community Business Walk, businesses along Westwood Blvd and Pico Blvd may welcome you with free coffee--WNC will provide the mugs--or a great conversation, or just good karma!
· Why: It is a critical mission of the Westside Neighborhood Council to connect the community to our local businesses. This event is funded by the City—all businesses are welcome to participate at no cost to them.
· All important information, including a list of participating businesses, digital map, and details on giveaways, will be made available here: Westside Neighborhood Council | Facebook
WNC JUNE ZOOM Meeting TONIGHT
Thursday June 10th at 6pm WNC will hold their monthly meeting via ZOOM. Please see attachment for th
RECAP FROM WNC MEETING 3/10
Additional Information
- Thanks to all who logged on to our meeting last night to hear a representative from CD5 talk about traffic issues in our area.
You should know these things:
- Speed Signs will be going up near the intersection of Overland and Olympic. Expect this in the near future.
- The posted speed for Olympic will be increasing to 40mph. There is a state law that says a speed survey must be taken at certain intervals to determine the average speed on a street.. If the average exceeds the posted limit, then there must be an increase. BUT, if the speed survey is out of date, which is the case for Olympic, then police are unable to cite anyone traveling over the posted speed and tickets are thrown out. This has been the case for many years now. The increase of 5mph will bring Olympic back into compliance with state law and will allow police to use radar and cite those who are driving over the limit. This enforcement should help with speeding on Olympic.
- Councilman Koretz is looking at the statutes for street racing and pushing to increase the penalties.
- Councilman Koretz and his office have pushed through DOT and City red tape to place new safety features at Overland and Olympic. New PROTECTED left turn arrows are being installed. These protected left arrows will be for westbound Olympic to southbound Overland and eastbound Olympic to northbound Overland. These will be a green arrow, then yellow then RED, so there will no longer be a "turn at your own risk" as opposing traffic receives a yellow. These arrows will be in place within 4 weeks. This will certainly make this intersection more safe and I encourage all of you to please email Councilman Koretz and his staff for making this happen at lightning speed. Remember how your Mom always told you how important a thank you note was?...well she was right...and it is very important that our council office hear from the OAC..not just from me..but from all of you.
Please take a moment to write to one of the emails below.
PLANNED Justice for monica munoz PROTEST this weekend
It is scheduled for 2:00pm Saturday, March 13th
Please be aware there is another planned protest for the victim of the fatal car crash that occurred in February.
Below are pictures from the first event on February 20th.
COMMUNITY ALERT FROM CAPTAIN JONATHAN TOM
Planning for Protests
Please see the attached letter from Capt Tom to the West Los Angeles community regarding our preparations for potential protests and other activity as a result of Minneapolis Police Department Officer Chauvin’s trial. Freedom of speech and its exercise at peaceful protests are a cornerstone of democracy. The Department looks to protect that fundamental right while safeguarding the lives and property of the community. Whatever the outcome of the trial, we wish for everyone’s voice to be heard and their opinions respected. This can be done without violence or property damage.
HELICOPTER CHASE THIS MORNING - March 3, 2021
I am sure all of you heard the helicopters overhead early this morning. There was a chase of a stolen vehicle from Koreatown that ended at the intersection of Manning and Tennessee. The driver made a run for it and thankfully the police were able to capture him before he broke into any homes or caused any damage in our neighborhood. Fellow OAC-er Lan had a front row seat to it all...not the best way to start the day for sure...glad our officers could control the situation.
Community Cleanup – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The WNC is launching a SHOP LOCAL effort to help our businesses.
One of the ideas is a Community Clean Up to help make our streets look better as we slowly start to repen. I am hoping many OAC-ers can jump in and help. We are asking folks to "adopt" a 2 block section of our commercial streets to clean them once a week for the next 6 weeks starting on March 21st. You can clean up your section at any time. If you need trash bags or gloves please email me and I will leave them out for you in my front yard.
Please see attached flyer for more information and here is the link to sign up. I will be sending you all another email this weekend with more information about this...and to clean up my funky flyer..just wanted to get this out now...
Make a difference!
This is a great activity for you and your family and will greatly impact how our community looks and will signal to all the businesses that we care about them and look forward to their reopenings. Thank you in advance for helping me with this project.
WNC ZOOM MEETING TONIGHT AT 6pm
Join the Westside Neighborhood Council Zoom Meeting Tonight
Please review the agenda and join if you are interested on zoom or call in.
First up will be a discussion of potentially restriping Beverly Glen to reduce a lane northbound to create a center turn lane.
SHOW LOVE TO OUR BUSINESS!
Our businesses are in a critical state. I will be sending out a longer email regarding this issue and will be asking the WNC for funding to help our businesses tonight, but I need your help now.
Since the OAC did not win the mega million lottery and could then pass out money to all those in need on Pico and Westwood and Santa Monica and Sepulveda, I am asking all of you to bring something to your favorite business that is equally as important.... love.
Now is the time to not only shop local, but to SHOW our local stores you care about them. That you understand how hard it has been for them and that you want them to survive and stay with us in our community.
Please print out the valentine attachment. Take it to your favorite store or restaurant in the next few days. Sign with your first name..write a little note if you feel like it...let our businesses know you care. Maybe they will hang it up in the window or behind the cash register, but the most important message is this connection, between you and your business. Let's have a Love Affair with our Community...Happy Valentines Day!