Despite Redistricting Conflict Tied To Toluca Lake, It's Business as Usual at Tuesday's GTLNC Meeting

Tuesday night's Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council meeting was lightly attended by stakeholders, and even several of its board member's were absent, most noticeably GTLNC's Andrew Westall, who is serving as L.A. City Council Redistricting Commission's executive director.

Ryan Altoon, GTLNC's Vice-President, filled in for Westall, and ran the meeting with confidence and efficiency, although the meeting was rather abbreviated due to all the absences.

Altoon did comment on behalf of the board regarding L.A.City Council redistricting and Toluca Lake's activism in it. Altoon reported how over "85 Tolucans" attended a redistricting hearing held at Walter Reed Middle School, "with over 50 wearing green Toluca Lake t-shirts."

Altoon said those Tolucans were "demonstrating their public voice and their need to be heard... and why they felt it was appropriate to stay in Council District 4."

Altoon informed the board and the attendees that there will be a final Redistricting Commission hearing Wednesday at City Hall in Downtown L.A. Altoon then said, because of the Tolucans that voiced their opinions, "they (the Redistricting Commission) placed Toluca Lake back in Council District 4!" The board and the audience clapped in approval.

Then Altoon gushed to the audience, "I want to praise those who let their voice be heard."

Moving on to other agenda items, the board introduced David Levin, who will be a part-time administrative assistant for GTLNC. Levin stood in front of the board and the attendees, and briefly provided some details about his experience with other L.A. area neighborhood councils, and he told the audience that he will also be the secretary of GTLNC's "By-Laws Task Force."

Gene Klow, of the Planning and Land Use Committee Chair, addressed the attendees about their work on a "Streetscape Plan," which would govern the "things you see and touch" in the community. Klow said that with a Streetscape Plan in place, they can have something to directly reference when they talk with developers about future projects. Klow said this would be a way for GTLNC to require developers "to invest in the community is some way."

Jay Goldberg, the Public Safety Commitee Chair, recapped the annual gathering of the area's Neighborhood Watch captains,  and spoke about the gathering's full attendance and the event's highlights, like the numerous security camera vendors, patrol services, and even a martial arts demonstration.

Goldberg then spoke about some crime events that have happened lately, like an assault on Riverside Drive and "possible bad behavior" at a large Lankershim Boulevard housing complex. Goldberg said that car burglary crime occurrences at the L.A. Fitness on Cahuenga Boulevard have gone down, due to police warnings, better public awareness, and drivers taking action to secure their belongings.

Goldberg managed to work in a New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin reference, as he prefaced, "I don't want to create a 'Linsanity' issue here," then sincerely asked the board and stakeholders if they could refer any residents in "Asian-Pacific" communities to participate in an LAPD forum focusing on crime and other issues concerning Asian-Pacific Islanders living here in the Valley; especially in Toluca Lake and North Hollywood.

Goldberg said that LAPD Community Relations Officer Albert Valdez was seeking eight to twelve representatives of the several Asian-Pacific Islander communities, persons such as church leaders and business leaders, for a meeting to be held on March 22 at 6 to 8 p.m. (a place is yet to be announced). Goldberg asked that people contact him with their referrals.

The President of the Burbank Film Festival (www.burbankfilmfestival.org) addressed the board for a possible donation from the GTLNC to help them with  operating costs. The board will discuss the matter and decide at a later date.

Alice Roth, Deputy District Director for Tom LaBonge's office (L.A. City Council District 4) informed the board of upcoming matters that would impact Toluca Lake, namely the "Headworks Project," a huge underground reservoir tank to be constructed at a Forest Lawn Drive site, that when finished, will supply drinking water to L.A. residents. LaBonge and LADWP will have a press conference about "Headworks" that will take place March 8th, Roth said.

Roth also bought along a poster for "Get Involved L.A.," and briefly detailed that it is a series of public forums asking for possible solutions to L.A.'s "transportation challenges."

Stephanie Gillette, Neighborhood Council Liaison for State Assemblyman Mike Feuer, addressed the board and stakeholders in ways that they can better communicate with his office about their community needs. Gillette handed out pamphlets and business cards from the Assemblyman's office.

At the closing of the meeting, Altoon thanked Chipotle for providing the complimentary burritos, chips and salsa for the night.