By SUE PASCOE
Editor
The Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association held its 70th annual meeting and board election on May 10 in the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center gymnasium.
Representatives from the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness (PPTFH) and City Councilman Mike Bonin were in attendance.
Sixty residents were on hand as PPTFH Chair Maryam Zar received a $2,000 donation from the SMCCA and a $1,000 check from BOCA to help the task force’s campaign.
Two social workers, paid for by PPTFH donations to the Ocean Park Community Center, have been doing field work in the Palisades since January. According to statistics presented by OPCC, the women have made contact with 106 homeless individuals and 10 of them are now off the streets. An additional 48 homeless are classified as “Engaged Level 1,” which means the social workers have had multiple contacts with them.
Zar said that the number of homeless in this area has stayed constant from last year and will for the foreseeable future.
“According to LAHSA’s data release, there is an influx of homelessness to SPA 5 (Service Planning Area), County District 3 and City Council District 11—all of which we are a part,” Zar said in a May 11 email to the News. “Until and unless there’s a workable, substantial solution to homelessness at a level far higher than our local community response, there will be a steady stream of new homeless (whether transient or sedentary) into coastal towns like ours.”
Reigning Citizen of the Year Sharon Kilbride, a member of the PPTFH, asked Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore if a beach sweep of the homeless could be done before Memorial Day.
Moore said the LAPD could do so, and added that six officers are now concentrating on dealing with the criminally homeless.
Bonin told SMCCA residents that the homeless can sleep on sidewalks from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., but the City needs to provide places for the homeless to store their belongings. “I’m proposing one in Venice,” he said, noting that there was a need for additional homeless storage on the Westside.
Bonin, asked about the proliferation of Airbnb rentals in Los Angeles, said that a draft ordinance is in the works that would only allow people to rent out a primary residence, which would be registered with the City, and for a maximum of 90 days a day. Feedback is welcome. Visit: planning.lacity. org/Ordinances/ProposedOrdinances.htm.
Bonin said he was following up with Congressman Ted Lieu and the FAA about citizen complaints of increased airplane noise over Pacific Palisades.
Residents asked about enforcement of illegal gas-powered leaf blowers and Bonin told them to call (877) ASK-LAPD.
Several people expressed dismay about the eucalyptus trees that tower over Sunset Boulevard between Chautauqua and Brooktree in Rustic Canyon. The trees, which are known to shed limbs during droughts and high winds, pose a danger on that stretch of road.
Bonin said he is seeking the use of discretionary funds to have the trees trimmed. Additionally, since many residents are trying to drive less and walk more, Bonin was told there is no continuous sidewalk from Brooktree to the Alphabet Streets.
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