WeHo Working to Ensure Safe, Healthy Holiday Season

Seeking to make the holiday season a safe one for residents and visitors of West Hollywood, the city is collaborating on a number of activities aimed to curb alcohol-related problems, including drunk driving enforcement, alternative transportation, awareness-raising and an alcohol-free New Year’s celebration.

“Our greatest wish for the holidays is to have a season free from serious traffic crashes, said Lt. Dave Smith of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. “And that means if you’re drinking, someone else is driving. Period.”

In addition to ongoing enforcement through car and bike patrols, which includes a heightened focus on Driving Under the Influence around the holidays, this Saturday, LASD Traffic Services Detail will conduct a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint in the city of West Hollywood.

“Don’t Drink and Drive,” is the theme of the annual campaign the city of West Hollywood is undertaking with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s station and local bars and restaurants. Through the campaign, officials and officers distribute 200,000 napkins to bars, restaurants and clubs throughout the City that caution patrons to not drive if they are drinking and feature alternative ways to get home.

This year, the city will also offer additional free transportation options to help keep people from mixing alcohol with their driving. The PickUp, the city-supported local shuttle system, which regularly runs on Fridays and Saturday, is available to help residents and visitors get around without putting themselves and others at risk. It travels along Santa Monica Boulevard in a six-mile loop with 15 stops in each direction between Robertson Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.

On New Year’s Eve, from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., The PickUp will offer special holiday service as part of expanded PickUp service for popular nightlife holidays. For additional information, visit The PickUp online at www.wehopickup.com.

A free shuttle service connecting Hollywood to Highland will also be provided on New Year’s Eve, between 7:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. The stop will be located on Highland at the southwest corner, just south of Hollywood Boulevard. The special service will make stops in two West Hollywood locations:

1. La Brea Avenue at Santa Monica Boulevard; and
2. San Vicente Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard, adjacent to #BOOM!, West Hollywood’s premiere alcohol- and drug-free New Year’s Eve event at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium.

For details about special New Year’s Eve Cityline shuttle service please visit www.weho.org/cityline.

In an effort to offer safe, healthy alternatives on New Year’s Eve, the City is also sponsoring #BOOM! – an alcohol- and drug-free event that brings up to 1,000 party-goers under one roof. Now in its third year, #BOOM! will feature a DJ, dancing, food, games and the #BOOM! Royalty Pageant – live entertainment shows headlined by popular West Hollywood performers. #BOOM!’s stated purpose is to create a safe space for the West Hollywood community — LGBT and straight — to celebrate New Year’s Eve, where alcohol and drugs aren’t the focus.

#BOOM! 2016 is organized by the Institute for Public Strategies, the West Hollywood Project and community volunteers in conjunction with the City, Tweakers Project, West Hollywood Recovery Center, and LA LGBT Center. Anyone 18 and up is encouraged to reserve a free spot at #BOOM! by registering at http://boom2016.eventbrite.com.

Limited validated parking will be available. Disabled attendees will be allowed early entry. #BOOM! 2016 will take place from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, located next to the Library, at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood. Doors open at 8 p.m. onDecember 31.

“West Hollywood is a fantastic place to live, work and play,” said Larry Block, owner of West Hollywood’s Block Party WeHo store and member of the West Hollywood Project’s Community Advisory Board. “Kudos to the City for seeking to curb alcohol-related problems and improve health, safety and quality of life here. #BOOM is the best place to spend New Year’s Eve with friends and community and celebrate a happy, healthy New Year!”

Traffic deaths involving alcohol generally spike 25 to 50 percent around the Christmas and New Year holidays according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810870.pdf).

Alcohol-related problems are especially prevalent in West Hollywood because it has so many alcohol outlets within its 1.9 square miles. West Hollywood has more on-sale alcohol outlets (such as bars, clubs and restaurants) per capita than any other city in Los Angeles County.

Research consistently links crime, especially violent crime and other nuisance-related behaviors, to alcohol outlet density and beverage service practices.

--News Release from Institute for Public Strategies

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