A Los Angeles Police Department officer told the North Westwood Neighborhood Council during its December meeting that they expect an uptick in package thefts during the holiday season.
The council, which represents UCLA and the Westwood Village, meets on the first Wednesday of every month at UCLA’s Weyburn Terrace. Meetings can be attended in person or virtually by the public using the link posted on the corresponding month’s agenda. The next meeting is set to be held Jan. 7.
Comments by public officials
- Jennifer Hull, a representative for Mayor Karen Bass’s office, discussed outreach efforts and updates from the Mayor’s fund. She encouraged residents to sign up for the Mayor’s office newsletter and offered to connect community members with programs that provide housing support, resources for small business, volunteer opportunities and nonprofit partnerships.
- Paige Hajiloo, a Constituent Advocate for Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, briefed the Council on county efforts related to wildfire recovery, food insecurity and community support programs. She said the Board joined a multi‑state lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2025 homelessness funding rules, approved $310,000 in Business Interruption Fund grants for Malibu and Topanga Canyon-area small businesses affected by wildfire‑related road closures and invested about $200,000 in expanded food distribution and nutrition support in the Third District. Hajiloo also outlined the creation of the new Santa Monica Mountains wildfire disaster recovery financing district – which will support rebuilding in the area – and said that the Board approved a motion to push telecommunications companies to participate in critical undergrounding projects in high fire‑risk areas.
- Janet Turner, the deputy district director of outreach for Congressman Ted Lieu, said Lieu introduced H.R. 6149 which makes constituent services available for detainees in immigration detention centers. Lieu also introduced the Climate Solutions Act which is designed to combat climate change by lowering carbon pollution and investing in renewable energy. Turner encouraged community members to reach out for help in navigating federal agencies and highlighted ongoing constituent engagement efforts.
- Samantha Gallegos, a district representative for State Senator Ben Allen’s office, updated the council on legislative efforts, noting that the state Legislature is not currently in session and encouraged residents to share policy ideas or concerns for future consideration. Gallegos highlighted a recently completed pilot high school internship program that engaged 17 students in civic education through presentations from city leaders and nonprofit organizations and also announced a toy drive at Santa Monica Place Dec. 10 in partnership with Connections for Children and Safe Place for Youth, which supports unhoused youth and families. She encouraged residents to attend the event and said the office remains available to help constituents connect with community resources.
- An officer from LAPD said there has been an overall decline in violent crime in Westwood but that LAPD expects an uptick in property-related incidents such as package theft. The officer said residents should remain aware of their surroundings, secure their vehicles and report suspicious activity.
- Carmen Zambrano, the assistant director of Local Government and Community Relations at UCLA, provided updates on upcoming campus events including the annual Undie Run where students de-stress during finals week. She said campus staff and UCPD do attend the unsanctioned student-led event to ensure the safety of all involved. She said that the holiday closure results in energy cost savings and reduces greenhouse emissions on campus by 1 million pounds. Zambrano encouraged residents to participate in public programs hosted on campus, adding that students who are moving out should call 311 and ask for a bulk item pickup to help remove large items from UCLA properties within Westwood.
- Erica Gatica Doughty, a project coordinator for the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, which supervises LA’s neighborhood councils, said the department is operating at a “bare budget” and expects staffing reductions, noting that staff members are currently supporting multiple neighborhood councils at once due to limited resources. She added that the Mayor’s office published all departmental budget proposals online and encouraged the council to submit a “request for action” letter ahead of the upcoming budget cycle. Gatica Doughty also said Senate Bill 707 extended the city’s ability to hold hybrid meetings through 2030. She added that the department has conducted outreach efforts through tabling at local events, including participation in the Westwood Library concert series, as well as presentations at community organizations and schools, and encouraged council members to invite Department of Neighborhood Empowerment staff to future outreach events.
Comments made by the public
- A member of the public who did not provide their name repeatedly interrupted the meeting to ask council members about health care for undocumented people and policing.
Announcements
- Nicole Wainwright, the chief operations officer for Safe Place for Youth, said the organization serves unhoused and at-risk adults ages 18 to 24 by connecting them with mental health resources, housing support and basic needs services. She added that the organization has a refurbished drop-in center on Lincoln Avenue and Venice Boulevard and said that it operates a transitional housing site in North Westwood that supports up to 15 people for 36 months. Wainwright also said the program aims to help residents achieve permanent housing within 18 months and requested $1,000 in Neighborhood Purpose Grant funding for bedding, cleaning supplies and other essentials.
- Steve Sann, chairman of the Westwood Community Council, thanked the council and invited its members to return to future tabling events at Westwood Library concerts. He announced several Westwood Library programs, which included a large sale of holiday books, a barbershop quartet concert Dec. 13 and a special magician presentation Dec. 20 – which was sponsored by a local donor as part of the branch’s 20th anniversary celebrations. Sann also said the library will be a site for the Jan. 22 homeless count in Westwood, adding that volunteer capacity is 175 and community participation is encouraged.
- Michael Arieh, an architect for Akarstudios, proposed a project for the northwest corner of Westwood Boulevard and Kinross Avenue, which would convert parts of the existing commercial structure into new living units. Joined by consultant Dennis Banks and Akarstudios creative director Sat Garg, Arieh added that the team would present itself before the Westwood Community Design Review Board and asked the council for support as part of the approval process. The project includes the addition of residential units above existing retail, facade modifications, additions of new balconies at the Westwood-facing elevation and preservation of historic exterior features.
Agenda
- The council unanimously approved a motion to create a community impact statement in support of the proposed change of use and façade renovation project at 1088 Westwood Blvd / 10883 Kinross Avenue, presented by Akarstudios, which would convert the building’s second floor from offices into four residential units while retaining ground-floor retail and updating the exterior with new balconies and lighting.
- The council unanimously approved the November consent calendar.
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