Los Angeles’ West Side neighborhood could see an increase in law enforcement presence through tougher crime prevention and local investment.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Tracy Park, who represents the 11th District, which includes Venice, Mar Vista, Pacific Palisades, Westchester and Playa del Rey, announced Monday that she will use about $200,000 of the district’s own discretionary funds to increase the Los Angeles Police Department’s police force. He said he would like to have additional officers patrol the area. We attended this area as part of her “A Safer 11 for a Better 11” initiative.
“The party is over. The failed social experiment is over,” Park said at a press conference, standing next to new Los Angeles Police Department Commissioner Jim McDonnell and new Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hockman, who advocated abolishing cash bail and improving sentencing. He made this comment while hinting that he was criticizing the policies of former prosecutor George Gascón, such as strengthening the system. .
“For too long, we have witnessed a problematic tolerance of criminal activity, resulting in residents feeling unsafe in their neighborhoods and even in their own homes. But that is over. ” she said.
Park, who is scheduled to introduce a series of public safety proposals to the City Council this week, said he wants to work with the city’s park rangers for the first time to patrol Venice Beach, which has seen a rise in assaults and other crimes in recent years. , once a week starting January 2025.
“Venice Beach is the most visited park in Los Angeles and the most filmed location for film, television and commercials in the city,” Park explained. “It makes perfect sense to invest in keeping public spaces safe.”
Park also said that under a package of proposals, nearly 50 automatic license plate readers would be installed in the West Side neighborhood to deter street racing and hijackings, as well as assist LAPD in recovering stolen vehicles. Ta.
“These advanced cameras capture and process license plate information in real time, allowing us to identify vehicles associated with crimes and quickly locate missing persons,” said Los Angeles Police Department Chief McDonnell. He explained that there are already 110 and 1,500 fixed automatic license plate attackers across the city. Police cars are also equipped with the same equipment.
He also said the district is seeking council approval to spend $100,000 of district discretionary funds on tree removal and visibility improvements as part of crime prevention and public safety efforts. .
Park, who was elected in 2022 after campaigning on a promise to clean up homeless encampments in West Los Angeles, said that before taking office this month, Hochman used a “hard middle” approach to replace George Gascón. He defeated them by a large margin and gained even more supporters.
But with Isabel Jurado’s election, there are now four progressive members on the city council, so it’s unclear whether her proposal will face resistance.
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