HOLMBY NEWS
July 24, 2020
From the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, serving the Holmby Westwood community since 1960.
1. COVID Testing at the VA
2. Housing Bills – Homeowner Alert
3. Scam Alert – COVID Contact Tracing
4. Census Reminder – It’s Not Too Late
5. Congressional App Challenge
6. Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers
7. Westwood Restaurants – Al Fresco Dining
8. HWPOA Contact Information
1. COVID TESTING AT THE VA
The City of Los Angeles is providing free COVID-19 testing to ALL Los Angeles County residents, whether or not you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
https://corona-virus.la/test-center-directory
One homeowner went to the VA this week with her family and reported her experience:
When we attempted to make an appointment, the website only offered scheduling for the next 2 days but no appointments were available anywhere in Los Angeles. I checked the website every few hours until finally another day of scheduling opened up. Each person who registers needs to sign up with a different email address.
Our appointment at the VA was at 10:00 AM (first time slot of the day). We entered the VA from Sepulveda. They were set up for cars to zigzag in lines (like a ride at an amusement park) but we bypassed most of it because the line was short.
The staff were all very courteous and helpful. The test is a mouth swab and is very easy. It is helpful to watch the instructional video before arriving so we knew what to do. We were in-and-out in less than 30 minutes.
We were expecting results in 4-5 days but our results arrived about a day and a half later (we were “negative”!). All-in-all it was a very smooth process.
2. HOUSING BILLS – HOMEOWNER ALERT
There are 9 housing bills moving through the State Legislature that will:
- effectively eliminate single-family zoning
- increase housing density in urban areas without requiring essential supporting infrastructure
- enable developers to build market-rate housing instead of affordable housing
- replace local control over planning with “one size fits all” rules
- eliminate current laws requiring public disclosure of the impact of projects and the opportunity for public input
Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association represents 1100 single-family homes. The Board of Directors has taken a position to oppose SB 1120 that bans single-family zoning (see below). Perhaps you have read about the need in Los Angeles for affordable housing as opposed to housing at market rate. SB 1120 requires NO affordable units. The Board will discuss other relevant housing bills at our next meeting.
Please read about how these bills impact single-family neighborhoods and contact your legislator’s local office directly:
State Senator Ben Allen, District 26
310-318-6994 District Office
To send a message online:
https://sd26.senate.ca.gov/contact/message
State Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager, District 54
310-641-5410 District Office
To send a message online:
https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD54
3. SCAM ALERT – COVID CONTACT TRACING
It may not be a surprise, but scammers are posing as contact tracers to get your personal identifying information during the COVID-19 health crisis. They’re looking for social security numbers or financial information, such as your bank account number. If someone contacts you and asks for this personal information – they’re posing! HANG UP immediately.
Help your friends, parents or grandparents know legitimate contact tracers will contact you if you’ve: 1) tested positive for COVID-19 or 2) if you’ve been identified as a close contact of someone who’s tested positive. And when they ask you for information, they’ll ask for:
- Your name.
- Your date of birth.
- Places you’ve been.
- How you’re feeling.
- The people you’ve been in contact with for more than 15 min., up to 48 hours before you had symptoms – OR – they’ll let you know if you may have been exposed to the virus & what you can do.
4. CENSUS REMINDER – IT’S NOT TOO LATE
Los Angeles has fallen behind, but you can help make sure we get the representation and resources we deserve. As of last week, only slightly more than half of Angelenos have completed the Census 2020 questionnaire – below national, state, and county response rate.
Our lower response rate means that when policymakers decide how to invest in communities, or how many representatives each community should have, the City of Los Angeles will receive less than we should. You can change that by completing the census and making sure your friends and family members have as well.
#BeCounted today by visiting:
https://my2020census.gov/
5. CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE
The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is a public effort to encourage kids to learn how to code, through annual district-wide competitions hosted by Members of Congress for their district.
Congressional App Challenge Flyer
Do you want to create a game? Do you want to create an app to solve a problem? There is no limit to what you can create for the Congressional App Challenge.
Submissions for the Congressional App Challenge are now open. Students are encouraged to submit their app online before Monday, October 19, 2020.
All middle and high school students that either attend or reside in CA-33 and eligible to participate. To register, please go to www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us
Please contact Aurelia Friedman (aurelia.friedman@mail.house.gov) if you have any questions.
6. SARAH LEONARD FINE JEWELERS
HWPOA would like to support our local businesses in Westwood Village. For over seventy years, Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers has provided exceptional service, genuine concern, sound advice, and quality jewelry, which is central to their core values.
Sarah Leonard Jewelers wants to thank our great community by offering new and existing customers the opportunity to be the first to shop at the Annual Vault Sale!
Shop in-store by appointment only, and take advantage of discounts starting at 30% and up to 80% from July 21st through August 8th.
To make an appointment, please call 310-208-3131.
Thank you for supporting local businesses during these challenging times.
7. WESTWOOD RESTAURANTS – AL FRESCO DINING
Restaurants and cafes in Westwood Village now offer safe outdoor dining through the LA Al Fresco program. Grab a cup of coffee or a lovely meal outside at any number of Village eateries.
Westwood Village Restaurant Directory
Please visit our website for an updated list of open businesses: www.thewestwoodvillage.com
8. 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://hwpoa.square.site/
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. Please confirm prior to attending.