Holmby News 4-10-20

HOLMBY NEWS
April 10, 2020

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

1.  Property Taxes are Due
2.  All Parks Closed on Easter Sunday
3.  Grocery Shopping – Assistance Available
4.  Support UCLA Frontline Workers
5.  Westwood Restaurants – Delivery & Takeout
6.  Wilshire Blvd. Lane Closures
7.  Stan’s Donuts – Permanently Closed
8.  Covered California Health Insurance
9.  LADWP Update Regarding Disconnections
10.  SoCalGas CAREs Program
11.  Activites & Things to Do
12.  HWPOA Contact Information

1.  PROPERTY TAXES ARE DUE

Today,  April 10 is the property tax payment deadline. Unfortunately, the County does not have the authority under State law to extend or postpone the second installment property tax deadline.

However, beginning on April 11, the day after property taxes are due, people unable to pay on time for reasons related to COVID-19 may submit a request for penalty cancellation online.  The department has set up a special team to process these requests for those who demonstrate they were affected by the outbreak.

We encourage all property owners who can pay their taxes on time to do so. This revenue helps keep the government running and providing vital services that the public relies on, especially in times like these.

Also, since County buildings are closed, in-person payments are not currently available.  To learn more about how taxpayers can pay online, via telephone or by mail visit their website at https://ttc.lacounty.gov/.

For more information, visit the LA County Treasure and Tax Collector’s Office’s Frequently Asked Questions: What COVID-19 can mean for your taxes or call 213-974-2111.

2.  ALL PARKS CLOSED ON EASTER SUNDAY

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that all City of Los Angeles parks will be closed to the public for more than 24 hours beginning Saturday evening. The move comes ahead of Easter Sunday, to help encourage Angelenos to remain in their homes at a critical moment in the fight against COVID-19.

“I know this is a time of the year when many of our families and friends celebrate Easter by getting together outdoors –– and we just can’t take any chances right now,” said Mayor Garcetti. “The holidays are special moments in our lives, but we’re all safer at home. Let’s create new memories and traditions this year, so that we can flatten the curve, save lives, and look forward to seeing each other again when it’s safe.”

Currently, trailheads, recreation centers and all City park amenities are closed –– with parks open only for walking or jogging. Earlier this week, the Mayor has directed the Department of Recreation and Parks to fully close all parks beginning the evening of Saturday, April 11 through the morning of Monday, April 13. Restrooms in parks will remain open during normal hours.

3.  GROCERY SHOPPING – ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

We now have a core of neighborhood residents who enthusiastically and immediately volunteered to go to the market for those who cannot go. We are so grateful to this neighborhood volunteer group.

VOLUNTEER NOTE:  If you would like to volunteer to be a shopper and help your neighbors, please contact Jackie at (310) 948-3630.

Subject to modifications, these are the ways we will navigate the Grocery Shopping Assistance program:

  1. To be eligible for assistance, you must be (a) a paid member of HWPOA; (b) a senior citizen, disabled, and/or other have underlying health concerns; and (c) have no family or friends that can assist with grocery shopping.
  2. Each person should call Jackie Freedman at (310) 948-3630, between 10:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m., to get the name and phone number of the volunteer who will go to the market and deliver the food.
  3. Call the volunteer assigned to you and give him/her your name, phone number and address.
  4. Do not order more than 12 items at the outset. We don’t want to overburden the volunteers with huge orders. So please figure out what you need.
  5. Once the volunteer has purchased the items, that person will call you with the total amount for reimbursement. The receipt will be included in the bag/s. Have a check made out to “Cash” or provide the actual cash in an envelope. Put that envelope under the front door mat or some other designated place you have discussed with the volunteer.
  6. When you need more items, contact the same person for your order.
  7. Volunteers may not go to the market every day, so please call them a few days before you need the items.The volunteers will try to get what you want. Just note that sometimes the markets may run out of the exact item you may want.

Call Jackie with questions or concerns.

Thanks,
Jackie Freedman and the HWPOA Food Volunteer Brigade

4.  SUPPORT UCLA FRONTLINE WORKERS

DONATE FUNDS FOR FOOD
The Westwood Village Improvement Association (WVIA) has launched a GoFundMe effort to collect donations to purchase 500 lunches from Westwood Village restaurants at a discounted price. These lunches will be distributed to UCLA frontline workers over a five-day period.

This effort will not only feed our UCLA Health friends and neighbors who are fighting for our community, this effort will also support local Westwood restaurants struggling during this unprecedented public health crisis.

Contributions to the WVIA are tax-deductible.

Click here to donate:
https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/support-ucla-frontline-workers-and-westwood-village

LETTERS OF APPRECIATION
While most of us are trying our best to stay at home and practice social distancing, healthcare workers in our community are putting their own lives at risk to keep us safe. It is not only the doctors and nurses but also the therapists, technologists, those who make sure rooms and equipment are disinfected, and social workers who are doing their best to keep us safe. The UCLA Volunteer Center wanted to showing their immense gratitude and appreciation for their service by starting a letter-writing campaign for them.

For this campaign, we ask that you send us a letter of appreciation via email to volunteer@support.ucla.edu. Feel free to get creative with your messages. You can address them to a general or specific group of healthcare staff. Children are also encouraged to take part in this activity. We will gather all of the messages and send them over to UCLA healthcare employees. Together, we can express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for all their work and sacrifices to help keep us safe during this pandemic.

5.  WESTWOOD RESTAURANTS – DELIVERY & TAKEOUT

We encourage you to remember our many small businesses in Westwood Village, and to continue supporting them.  The link below is a list of the restaurants that are currently offering takeout and delivery.

Westwood Restaurants – Takeout & Delivery

Violet Los Angeles (on Glendon) is offering  French-style Easter and Passover menus for contact-free pick up or DoorDash delivery. If a customer mentions this HWPOA newsletter, they will throw in a free roll of homemade cookie dough! Website – https://violetla.com/

6.  WILSHIRE BLVD. LANE CLOSURES

In the coming weeks you can expect partial and full lane closures of Wilshire Blvd. at Beverly Dr. due to construction activities related to the Wilshire/Rodeo Metro Station.

Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills will be fully closed for construction of the Purple Line Subway Extension between Beverly Dr. and Crescent Dr. For more information on street closures and bus detours visit: https://www.metro.net/projects/notices/notice_purpleline2_103118/

7.  STAN’S DONUTS – PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Dear Friends & Family,

Over the years each of you have touched my life, you have visited me in the early morning hours and the late nights.  Your support and friendship has meant more than you know.

It is with a sad heart that I inform you that I have made the decision to close my doors and we baked our last donut on Thursday, April 9, 2020.

Unfortunately COVID-19 made the decision happen sooner, but I hope that you will remember how our donuts made you smile for many years to come.

Thank you for being by my side for all these years.

With Love,
Stan Berman

8.  COVERED CALIFORNIA HEALTH INSURANCE

Californians who have lost their employment now have a ready path to healthcare coverage during the COVID-19 crisis either through Medi-Cal or the plans offered via Covered California, thanks to a partnership between Covered California and the CA Dept of Health Care Services (DHCS).

Effective Friday, March 20, Covered California opened the health insurance exchange to any eligible uninsured individuals who need health care coverage amid the COVID-19 national emergency.

Anyone who meets Covered California’s eligibility requirements, which are similar to those in place during the annual open-enrollment period, can sign up for coverage through the extended deadline of June 30, 2020.

Learn more and sign up for coverage at:
https://www.coveredca.com/

9.  LADWP UPDATE REGARDING DISCONNECTIONS

Thanks to Mayor Garcetti’s emergency directive to help our customers get through any financial hardships that may occur as a result of the Coronavirus/ COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) has deferred disconnections for non-payment during this crisis.   Customers who receive a disconnect notice should disregard the letter and not panic.  While letters may still be sent out as our systems catch up with this emergency, the City will not shut off water or power to residents of Los Angeles during the local emergency.

LADWP also offers extended and flexible payment plans. Any customer experiencing a financial hardship can request a payment plan online at www.ladwp.com, then click on “My Account”.

If customers are able to pay their utility bill, they should continue to do so.   But our first concern is to make sure that all Angelenos have the essential services they need to get through this crisis.

10.  SO CAL GAS CARES PROGRAM

Earlier this week SoCalGas announced the company will launch a campaign titled, “SoCalGas CAREs” for customers whose income may have recently changed due to COVID-19 or other reasons. The campaign aims to let customers know of their eligibility to qualify for SoCalGas’ assistance program, California Alternate Rates for Energy or CARE, saving them 20 percent on their monthly natural gas bills.

The CARE program aids people in paying their utility bills by providing a 20 percent discount on monthly natural gas bills. Customers who have become recently unemployed or who are currently facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic or for other reasons are encouraged to visit socalgas.com/care, complete the quick online application and find out instantly if they qualify. The CARE online application is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

11. ACTIVITIES & THINGS TO DO

The following suggestions are brought to you by the LA County Library, the Department of Arts & Culture, and creative and resilient artists and organizations who are finding ways of creating and engaging with you (from the comfort of your own home):

For the young:

For the young at heart:

For all ages:

12.  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 7:30 pm at Belmont Village (10475 Wilshire Blvd.).  Please confirm prior to attending.