HOLMBY NEWS
June 8, 2018

From the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, serving the Holmby Westwood community since 1960.

1.  HWPOA Board Meeting
2.  LAPD Crime Report
3.  Traffic Accident Scams
4.  Metro Update – Construction in Westwood
5.  Metro Purple Line Community Meeting
6.  UCLA Commencement
7.  Metro Day Passes to be Discontinued
8.  Upcoming Community Events
9.  HWPOA Communication and Ad Policy
10.  Resident Ads
11.  HWPOA Contact Information

1.  HWPOA BOARD MEETING

On Tuesday, June 12 at 8:00 PM, the HWPOA Board of Directors will hold its monthly meeting at Belmont Village, 10475 Wilshire Blvd.  Please click here to see the agenda.

Members of the community are welcome to attend, though space is limited. Please let us know if you plan to attend.  Email Dana at hwpoa@aol.com.

2.  LAPD CRIME REPORT

THEFT FROM VEHICLE – PETTY ($950 & under)
Incident #: 180811215
1000 BLOCK MANNING AV  |  5/31/2018 @ 8:00 PM

THEFT FROM PERSON
Incident #: 180811205
WILSHIRE & WESTHOLME  |  5/31/2018 @ 6:15 PM

THEFT – PETTY (plain theft-petty) ($950 & under)
Incident #: 180811306
400 BLOCK HILGARD AV  |  6/1/2018 @ 12:00 PM

BURGLARY FROM VEHICLE
Incident #: 180811323
10400 BLOCK LINDBROOK DR  |  6/3/2018 @ 10:00 PM

3.  TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SCAMS

During our weekly Crime Control Meeting at LAPD, it was revealed that detectives believe there may a crew of scam artists targeting drivers throughout the entire West LA area, if not the entire City.

It happens like this… an unsuspecting driver leaves a parking lot after shopping at a commercial establishment (most recently, a shopper leaving the Ralph’s market at Bundy and Wilshire was targeted but thankfully, she did not fall for the scam).  After a minute or so, the suspect’s car will drive up behind them or pull alongside them and begin honking frantically and yelling for the victim to pull over.  When the victim does, the suspect then approaches the victim usually while the bewildered victim is still sitting in their parked car.  The suspect then insists that the victim just hit their car in and claims that the victim is now trying to leave the site of the traffic accident, essentially, accusing the victim of a Hit & Run.

The suspect typically will use flailing arms and loud accusations intimidating the victim and claiming that he’s going to call the police.  This intimidation serves to get the victim to ultimately comply with his demand for money to ‘cover the deductible’.  There may even be a bit of paint transfer as part of the scam to further convince the victim that they unwittingly hit the suspect’s car.  Or, while the victim is dealing with the suspect’s accusations, a second suspect will come up alongside the passenger side of the victim’s car and remove their purse from the front seat.  This is actually an old modus operandi in which they often, but not always, target elderly or lone drivers.

At the time of this note, there is no suspect/vehicle description to share.  A couple of the incidents involved lone Males, either of White or Hispanic or Middle Eastern decent.  The car descriptions have been variable.

If you suspect that you are being followed or if you find yourself being directed to pull over by a total stranger, please take a deep breath and continue to drive to a well-lit location: ideally, a police station, or a gas station, populated strip mall, or any well-lit, busy, location where there will be many eyes. Do not drive to your home.  If or when you do decide to stop make sure your doors are locked (you should always drive with your doors locked anyways) and have your phone in your hand ready to push 911.  And don’t worry about their accusation of ‘Hit & Run’… If you can articulate that you were seeking to find a safe place to pull over, it will likely be considered as reasonable and understandable to police.  In fact, if you believe that you’re dealing with one of these scammers, calmly tell the suspect that you are calling police, and then do so. This may make them scadaddle and leave you alone.  Let them go, but try to be a good witness while you wait for police to arrive: physical description, license plate, vehicle description, etc.  Thank you.

All the best,
Maria

OFFICER Maria Gray
Senior Lead Officer for Basic Car 8A13, Brentwood Area
Los Angeles Police Department West Los Angeles Division
(310) 444-0744
30469@LAPD.ONLINE
www.crimemapping.com

4.  METRO UPDATE – CONSTRUCTION IN WESTWOOD

Metro contractors are continuing excavation work to relocate underground water, power and telecommunications equipment in Westwood. AUR is expected to be completed in 2020.

Weekend work will occur at the intersection of Wilshire Blvd./Westwood Blvd. from 9pm on Friday, June 8 continuously through 6am on Monday, June 11. Weeknight work on Westwood Blvd. will occur Monday, June 11 to Thursday, June 14 from 9pm to 6am each night. Turn restrictions will be in place.

5.  METRO PURPLE LINE COMMUNITY MEETING

Save the Date!
Section 3 Pre-Construction Community Meeting

When
Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 6:30pm – 8pm

Where
Westwood United Methodist Church, 10497 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024

What to Expect
The last section of the Purple Line Extension Transit Project, Section 3, will add 2.59 miles of new rail to Metro’s Rail system, 2 new Metro stations at Westwood/UCLA and Westwood/VA Hospital, and connect downtown Los Angeles to the Westside. Metro wants your input. Join us for the following:

• Project Overview
• Advance Utility Relocation – April 2018 through 2020
• Night and Weekend Work Look-Ahead
• Meet project team members and ask questions

Transportation Info
This location is served by Metro Local Line 20 and Metro Rapid Line 720. For additional public transportation information, use the Trip Planner at metro.net or call 323.Go.Metro.

Validated parking available next door at Belmont Village Senior Living, 10475 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024.

ADA Accommodations
ADA accommodations and translations are available by calling 213.922.6934 and requesting services at least 72-hours in advance.

6.  UCLA COMMENCEMENT

UCLA Commencement will take place next weekend (June 15-17).  Parking and traffic may be heavier than usual.  For additional information, please click here:

https://commencement.ucla.edu/

Congratulations to the Class of 2018!

7.  METRO DAY PASSES TO BE DISCONTINUED

Day Passes will no longer be sold on Metro buses starting Sunday, July 15. Instead, you’ll be able to add  up to $20 in Stored Value to your TAP card.

Board at the front of the bus and tell the operator that you would like to add Stored Value to your TAP card. All transactions will be cash only. Please note, operators will not be able to provide change.

TAP cards can also be purchased on all buses for $2.

With your TAP card, you’ll be able to take advantage of two hours of free transfers to other Metro lines.

Day Passes will remain available for purchase at:

• TAP vending machines
• Online at taptogo.net
• By calling 866.TAPTOGO
• At Metro Customer Centers
• At over 400 TAP vendor locations throughout L.A. County

8.  UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

Thrive! Preparing for Life’s Next Act (Panel Discussion) – Sunday, June 24 at 2:00 PM at Brentwood Library (11820 San Vicente).

Exhibitions at The Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) – Various dates at IIC, located at 1023 Hilgard Ave.  The Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles and IED – Istituto Europeo di Design – present NOT AN ARTIST – Toyboyz Edition an exhibition investigating the artistic phenomenon of Toy Design through the work of four distinguished personalities:

Fidia Falaschetti, Joe Ledbetter/J.Led, Massimo Giacon, and Simone Legno/tokidoki.

Curated by Igor Zanti and Jacopo Manganiello, the show will highlight their own unique artistic expressions, links to different creative disciplines, business models and connections with Design Companies such as ALESSI, IKEA, KARTELL as well as the relationships between Italy and USA.

Website: https://iiclosangeles.esteri.it/iic_losangeles/en/

Hammer Museum – Current programming includes:

• Made in L.A. 2018 is the fourth iteration of the Hammer’s biennial exhibition, highlighting the practices of artists working throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
• L. COHEN, a film by James Benning – On Wednesday, June 13, watch Made in L.A. 2018 artist James Benning’s film, which is a rumination on change and time set to a Leonard Cohen song. Followed by a post-screening discussion with Benning and Made in L.A. cocurator Anne Ellegood.

Click here to see a list of weekly programs and exhibitions:  Hammer Museum

9.  HWPOA COMMUNICATION AND AD POLICY

Please direct all comments, questions or issues regarding the Holmby News to hwpoa@aol.com.

Ads for plumbers, housekeepers, garage sales, etc. will be posted in the weekly News. Emergency situations such as coyote sightings, lost and found pets, traffic alerts and similar situations will continue to be published during the week as received.

When placing an ad, please send to hwpoa@aol.com for the Holmby News moderator to review.  Responses to ads should be directed to the ad placer, not to HWPOA.

10.  RESIDENT ADS

WORTH NEW YORK SALE

50% off Worth Collection women’s clothing!  Samples in all sizes, 0 – 16. Great tops, jackets, dresses, skirts, and scarves!  At a private home in Little Holmby.

Call or text Denise (310-721-2500) for address.  No appointment necessary; credit cards accepted.  Saturday, June 9 (10 am – 6 pm); Sunday June 10 (noon – 5 pm); Monday June 11 (11 am – 6 pm).

——————————————————————

REQUEST FOR WINDOW CLEANERS

I would like a recommendation for reliable window cleaners for my two story house with security screens.

My email is stefanie.simon@gmail.com

Thank  you.

11.  HWPOA CONTACT INFORMATION

HOLMBY WESTWOOD PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. Box 49180
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-470-1785
Email: hwpoa@aol.com
Web site: www.holmbywestwoodpoa.org
Pay Membership Dues: https://squareup.com/store/hwpoa

You Are Invited . . .

• To attend our monthly Board Meetings*
  
• To let us know your concerns about our community and your ideas about how we might work to improve it
• To become involved in our Association.

*Board Meetings are usually held the second Tuesday of each month at 8:00 pm at Belmont Village (10475 Wilshire Blvd.).  Please confirm prior to attending.