"One Officer-One Beat" Parking Enforcement Program

so perhaps this photograph is a bit silly - but having gotten a $75 parking ticket in front of the

Bel~Air Association offices the other day, I think I am entitled to some payback. . .

 

LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCES:  "One Officer-One Beat" Parking Enforcement Program Initiative

 

LOS ANGELES (Jan 29, 2009)-The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation   (LADOT) will begin on Monday, February 2nd, an initiative that will assign Traffic Officers to every area of the City based on a 'geographical beat' instead of basing deployment of personnel on where 'posted regulations' are.  This will benefit all neighborhoods by ensuring they receive appropriate enforcement of parking regulations and ordinances. "We want to improve the quality of life for all City stakeholders by having Traffic Officers assigned to every geographical area in the City limits, instead of just in the 'high traffic' areas where the majority of parking violations occur" said Rita L. Robinson, General Manager, LADOT.   Previously, LADOT concentrated its limited resources on areas with high violation occurrences.  Now, in addition to those locations, Traffic Officers will be dedicated to other geographical areas so that neighborhood issues such as abandoned vehicles, time limit infractions and oversize vehicle parking violators, etc., will be cited on a regular basis.   Beginning Monday, residents or businesses may call the LADOT 24/7 communications center at 213 485-4184, pressing 'option 2' or 818 752-5100, pressing 'option 2' also, to speak with an operator who will assist with dispatching a traffic officer to respond to the location.   "Service delivery will be improved by responding to radio calls on a faster basis.  Our professional Traffic Officers stand ready to enforce parking restrictions and safety violations in all City of Los Angeles neighborhoods" said Jimmy Price, Chief of Parking Enforcement. Area commuters can visit http://trafficinfo.lacity.org/ for real-time traffic information.   Real-time traffic reports are a product of LADOT, innovators of Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control System (ATSAC) technology. LADOT is dedicated to moving Los Angeles forward as quickly and safely as possible. Drivers, bus riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians are encouraged to visit LADOT's web site at: http://www.lacity.org/LADOT/index.htm for information about DASH, Commuter Express, bicycling in the city, and an array of transportation services.   # # #

Mail delivery may be cut to five days

By Randolph E. Schmid, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Snow, rain, gloom of night - no matter what, the mail will get through. But maybe not quite as often.

Massive deficits could force the Postal Service to cut out one day of mail delivery, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday, asking lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.

If the change happens, that doesn't necessarily mean an end to Saturday mail delivery. Previous post office studies have looked at the possibility of skipping some other day when mail flow is light, such as Tuesday.

Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year. "If current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year," Postmaster General John E. Potter said in testimony for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee.

Total mail volume was 202 billion items last year, more than 9 billion less than the year before, the largest single volume drop in history.

And, despite annual rate increases, Potter said 2009 could be the first year since 1946 that the actual amount of money collected by the post office declines.

"It is possible that the cost of six-day delivery may simply prove to be unaffordable," Potter said. "I reluctantly request that Congress remove the annual appropriation bill rider, first added in 1983, that requires the Postal Service to deliver mail six days each week."

If it did become necessary to go to five-day delivery, Potter said, "We would do this by suspending delivery on the lightest-volume days."

The next postal-rate increase is scheduled for May, with the amount to be announced next month.

DWP going Door to Door

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH NEWS WLA Division Sergeant David Podesta January 29,2008 All Concerned: The DWP has employed a contractor to deliver bags to ratepayers door to door. Each weekday beginning Wednesday at 7 am six teams under contract with the DWP will deliver a bag containing two 20 Watt CFL Bulbs,a CFL shaped magnet, a "water wheel" and informational brochures. 20,000 bags will be delivered each weekday until April for a total distribution of 2.4 million. The first deliveries will occur in South Bureau. The DWP is responsible for the public information on this campaign, but I wanted to pass it to you in case you think it might generate calls for suspicious devices or suspicious people.... etc. Contract personnel conducting the distribution will be dressed uniformly in green shirts and will carry picture identification (sample attached for your information) containing a telephone number (888-823-8636) for customers to call should they have any questions or concerns regarding the deliveries or employees performing the distribution services. All customer calls pertaining to missed deliveries, claims of bulb damage, etc., should be referred to 888-823-8636 (contractor number). Customers calling this line designated for the CFL distribution who wish to contact LADWP regarding other issues/programs, will be provided with the 1-800-DIAL DWP telephone number and will be promptly transferred to LADWP. JOHN ROMERO, Lieutenant Officer in Charge Media Relations Section 213-485-3586

Flipping Out in Bel~Air

FLASH - in the late afternoon today we had an auto flip on Bel~Air & Nimes Road.  Traffic was blocked while the car was righted and removed.  We hope whoever was in that car had their seat belts on and is OK.  

Remember - let's all drive slow and safe in the hills!  You never know who or what might be around the next corner.

Credit to Paulette DuBey, General Manager of the Bel~Air Association

Home Depot Expo Closing in Westwood (and everywhere else, for that matter)

Home Depot to close Expo stores

Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times

“Even during the recent housing boom, it was not a strong business,” Home Depot said of its Expo stores. The company is shutting down the upscale chain.

The home improvement retailer will cut 7,000 jobs as it shuts dozens of stores.

By Nathan Olivarez-Giles and Roger Vincent 
January 27, 2009

Home Depot Inc. announced Monday that it was closing its 34 upscale Expo and other home specialty centers and laying off 7,000 people as a result of the crumbling U.S. housing market and worldwide economic downturn.

The company said it would close its 34 sprawling Expo Design Center stores by April, including eight in Southern California, and 14 smaller stores.

Some employees were stunned. "Shock. It was shock. It's just 7,000 of us, just gone," said Chris Toliver, who worksin the appliance section at the company's Expo store in Westwood.

"I'm young. I'm 22," he said. "But what hurt the most is the people in their 40s or older, people with families, who are losing their jobs here. Unemployment is nowhere near enough to feed a family."

Toliver transferred to the Westwood store eight months ago but is now looking for work in another industry. "Retail is a tough business," he said. "We have the customer service skills, but there are no customers."

The Expo stores targeted an upscale home remodeling market that never seemed to catch on, the company said. "The Expo business has not performed well financially and is not expected to any time soon. Even during the recent housing boom, it was not a strong business."

People laid off will be offered a severance package of at least 60 days' pay, said Home Depot spokesman Ron DeFeo. Some may find other jobs within the company, DeFeo said, but it's unknown how many jobs will be available.

The decision will result in the loss of about 5,000 retail jobs and 2,000 support jobs at the specialized stores, DeFeo said. Together, the losses will total 2% of the company's workforce, Home Depot said.

Liquidation sales at closing stores begin today with a 10% discount, DeFeo said. The discounts will increase as the stores' merchandise dwindles, he said.

Twelve of the 34 Expo stores are in California, more than in any other state. The smaller stores being closed are its five Yardbirds stores in the San Francisco Bay Area; a bath remodeling business known as HD Bath, with seven locations; and two Design Center stores in Concord in Northern California and Charlotte, N.C.

What will happen to the vacant stores probably depends on their locations, said Mike Jensen, a property broker at Pacific Retail Partners in Long Beach. Since the Expo stores were located in affluent neighborhoods, he said, other businesses may find the soon-to-be-empty retail spaces desirable.

"Fundamentally, they are good real estate properties," said Jensen, who helped Home Depot find Expo's Southern California sites in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Home Depot owns some of Expo's buildings here and rents others, he said. To attract occupants, the large spaces might be split up to accommodate smaller retailers.

The best locations, such as Westwood and Redondo Beach, should soon find suitors thatwant to move in, but it may take awhile for all of the former Expos to be reoccupied, Jensen said. "There aren't a lot of people expanding right now."

The store closures leave Home Depot with no other retail properties except the orange flagship stores, DeFeo said. "None of the actual Home Depot stores are being closed, and none of the employees in the orange box stores are being affected by these decisions," he said.

Delay in Conversion to Digital TV Signal

Most of you have seen all those commercials and other advertisements from the US Government warning of the change from analog to digital TV signal transmission -- well, I guess the government decided they did not do a good enough job getting the word out.

The Senate on Monday voted unanimously to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months, to June 12 - setting the stage for Congress to pass the proposal as early as today.

Monday's Senate vote is a big victory for the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress, who have been pushing for a delay amid growing concerns that too many Americans won't be ready for the currently scheduled Feb. 17 changeover.

The Nielsen Co. estimates that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.

The issue now goes to the House, where Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., has vowed to work to bring Rockefeller's bill up for a floor vote today

LAPD Community Alert

COMMUNITY ALERT NOTIFICATION LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF WEST LOS ANGELES AREA

Please remain vigilant to activity and people in our neighborhood. If you see what you believe may be a crime in progress, call 911! If you see other suspicious activity, notify the Los Angeles Police Non-Emergency number at 1-877-275-5273. Forward any suspect information to me via e-mail or phone, so I can verify appropriate follow-up was conducted. Please record the date, time, type of activity, suspect(s) descriptions, and the description of any involved vehicles with accurate license plate information. Video cameras are great for capturing much of this information! Senior Lead Officer Christopher Ragsdale West Los Angeles Community Police Station Office: 310-444-0741 Cell: 213-305-5895 Email: 26690@lapd.lacity.org Bank Robbery: 10900 Wilshire Blvd. 1/21/09, afternoon. The suspect was seen leaving the area in a vehicle and the license plate was observed. The reports are still pending and the case is being handled by RHD Detectives. STREET ROBBERY: 1/13/09, 2050 hours. Beverly Glen & Eastborne (RD 829). The victim walked southbound on the east side of Beverly Glen at Eastborne when the suspect approached him and brandished a handgun. The suspect demanded the victim's property. The victim was frightened and gave his property to the suspect. The suspect fled on foot. Suspect: Male Black Bald 5-10/5-11 170 20-30 years. Weapon: Handgun Property Taken: Cash Burglary: 15500 block Collina Strada, RD 0805. MO: On 01/24/09, at 1845, the suspect entered an upstairs bathroom window, activating the alarm. Suspect entered, allowed alarm to reset, and removed safes, jewelry, cash and firearms. Suspect has been identified. 1600 block Beverly Glen, RD 0806. MO: On 01/24/09, between 055515 and 1500, suspect(s) opened the SFR rear window, removed a TV. 3000 block Benedict Canyon Dr, RD 0807. MO: Between 01/24/09 at 1400 and 01/25/09 at 1300, suspect(s) door kicked the SFR side door, removed a lamp and hand drill. 1700 block Benedict Canyon, RD 0808. MO: On 01/23/09, at 0900, suspect(s) were observed by occupant in rear yard, fled when confronted. The victim found the unlocked rear studio sliding door ajar. No property loss. Suspects 2 Male Hisps blk bro 511 180 20 years. Suspect vehicle: 90/95 Ford/Chev 4 door, white 11100 block Ophir, RD 0815. MO: On 01/14/09, between 1440 and 1600, suspect(s) entered the via a door, removed property. 9400 block Portola, RD 0808. MO: Between 01/17/09 at 1730 and 01/19/09 at 0730, suspect(s) entered the construction site, removed property. 1100 block Gayley, RD 0817. MO: On 01/14/09, between 1630 and 1700, suspect(s) pried the door, removed cash. 1700 block Kelton, RD 0855. MO: Between 01/14/09 at 2000 and 01/15/09 at 1030, suspect(s) door-kicked the door, removed cash. 11100 block Ophir Dr. RD 815. Suspect(s) entered single family residence through possible unlocked door, removed property. 1100 block Gayley Ave., RD 817. Suspect(s) pried open door of business during business hours, removed property. 1700 block Kelton Ave., RD 855. Suspect(s) kicked door, entered business and removed currency. 10300 block Wilshire, RD 0819. MO: Between 09/06/08 at 0830 and 09/21/09 at 2100, suspect(s) entered the apartment by unknown means, removed property. 700 block Sarbonne, RD 0806. MO: Construction site. Between 01/02/09 at 1530 and 01/05/09 at 0635, suspect(s) pried the garage door, likely warded off by audible alarm. No entry. 400 block Denslow, RD 0815. MO: Between 01/03/09 at 2350 and 01/06/09 at 1200, suspect(s) entered via an unlocked door, removed property. 2000 block Stradella, RD 0806. MO: Construction site. Between 01/05/09, at 1545 and 01/06/09 at 0545, suspect(s) cut door lock, removed property. 10700 block Lindbrook, RD 0828. MO: On 01/04/08, between 1130 and 1825, suspect(s) smashed door glass, unlocked the door and removed property. 10600 block Holman, RD 0834. MO: Between 12/30/08 at 2135 and 12/31/08 at 0930, suspect(s) cut the apartment window screen. Entry was not gained. 10800 block Wilshire, RD 0833. MO: Between 12/31/08 at 1430 and 01/02/09 at 0740, suspect(s) entered the office by unknown means and removed property. Grand Theft Auto: 01-16-09, 2000-1200. RD 0838 11000 block Strathmore Ave. 98 Honda-Civic 2DR 01-10-09, 2230/0740 RD 0837 600 block Midvale Ave. Street 07 Yamaha M/C 01-12-09, 0000/0930 RD 0829 1200 block Holmby Ave. Street 70 VW Karmin 01-06-09, 2200/0800 RD 0829 1300 block Beverly Glen Bl. 07 BMW 325i 01-07-09, 1530/1700 RD 0855 Sepulveda/Ohio. 02 Chev Montecarlo Burglary Theft from Motor Vehicle: 01-23-09, 0750/1830 RD 0833 10900 block Wilshire Blvd. Pkg lot Pried Purse 01-22-09, 2130/0010 RD 0834 1500 block Manning Ave. Street Susp removed Ipod 01-21-09, 0001/0800 RD 0828 300 block Hilgard Ave. Driveway 01-21-09,0001/0800 RD 0828 300 block Hilgard Ave. Driveway Susp removed watch/veh reg 01-16-09, 2300-0730 RD 0815 200 block Bronwood. street smash 01-16-09, 2200-1030 RD 0815 200 block Bronwood street smash 01-16-09, 2100-0900 RD 0815 200 block Tavistock. street smash 01-15-09, 1300-0830 RD 0829 10400 block Kinnard. street pried 01-15-09, 1800-0750 RD 0834 10600 block Ohio Ave. street smash 01-16-09, 1800-2350 RD 0816 Kelton-Levering street pried 01-13-09, 2400-0630 RD 0805 1000 block Casiano driveway smash 01-16-09, 2245-0720 RD 0815 200 block Tavistock. street smash 01-19-09, 1645/1655 RD 0807 2800 block Bottlebrush Street Smash 01-12-09, 1800-0730 RD 0834 10500 block Wellworth Ave. street 01-11-09, 1700/0915 RD 0834 1600 block Manning Ave. Carport Smash GPS 01-07-09, 0945/1045 RD 0829 10300 block Santa Monica Blvd. Garage Smash 01-07-09, 2359/0530 RD 0833 10900 block Wellworth Ave. Sub Gar Smash 01-08-09, 1100/2200 RD 0816 600 block Veteran Ave. Pkg Gar Smash 01-08-09, 1715/0900 RD 0833 1300 block Midvale Ave. Sub Gar Smash 01-09-09, 2000/0845 RD 0816 500 block Kelton Ave. Sub Gar Smash 01-09-09, 1330/1000 RD 0855 1500 block Greenfield Ave. Sub Gar Unk 01-11-09, 1430/1500 RD 0833 Midvale/Santa Monica Bl. Street Unzip 01-08-09, 1800/1900 RD 0855 1600 block Bentley Ave. Street 01-04-09, 0830/1045 RD 0808 13900 block Mulholland Dr. Pkg Lot Smash Cash 01-06-09, 2200/0800 RD 0829 1300 block Beverly Glen Bl. Sub Gar Smash Laptop 01-03-09, 2100/1200 RD 0834 10600 block Rochester Ave. Street Smash 01-03-09, 1500/1230 RD 0834 10500 block Wellworth Ave. Street Smash GRAND THEFT PERSON: 1/10/09, 1645-1710 hours. 1700 block Westwood Bl (RD 855). The victim reported that as she shopped an unknown suspect reached into her purse and removed her wallet. The victim stated a female black with short black hair appeared to be following her while in the store. Store security advised the victim that they may have footage of the incident. Suspect: Unknown. Weapon: Bodily Force. Property Taken: Wallet with $40 in cash, credit cards, and ID. Grand Theft: Business-10900 Roebling Ave. RD 0838 Copper Modules $3000 Residential-garage. 11000 Strathmore Ave RD 0838 Residential-garage. 1400 Veteran Ave RD 0833 Residential-garage. 600 Veteran Ave RD 0817 Bike $500 Business 10900 block Kinross Ave. 0817 Camera Residential 1700 Glendon Ave. 0855 Unk Petty Theft: Business-Gym. 10900 Wilshire Blvd. RD 0817 Digital Recorder $50

Some Monday Evening Irony

 
GORE HEARING ON WARMING MAY BE PUT ON ICE
Mon Jan 26 2009 17:59:26 ET

Al Gore is scheduled before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday morning to once again testify on the 'urgent need' to combat global warming. 

But Mother Nature seems ready to freeze the proceedings. 

A 'Winter Storm Watch' has been posted for the nation's capitol and there is a potential for significant snow... sleet... or ice accumulations. 

"I can't imagine the Democrats would want to showcase Mr. Gore and his new findings on global warming as a winter storm rages outside," a Republican lawmaker emailed the DRUDGE REPORT. "And if the ice really piles up, it will not be safe to travel." 

A spokesman for Sen. John Kerry, who chairs the committee, was not immediately available to comment on contingency plans. 

Global warming advocates have suggested this year's wild winter spells are proof of climate change. 

From the Drudge Report

Rare Good News on the Homefront - Home Sales Up

Existing Home Sales Posts Surprise 6.5% Gain

A real estate group says sales of existing homes rose 6.5 percent from November to December, closing out the worst year for the U.S. real estate market in more than a decade.

AP

The National Association of Realtors said Monday that sales of existing homes rose to an annual rate of 4.74 million in December, from a downwardly revised pace of 4.45 million in November.

December's sales had been expected to fall to a pace of 4.4 million units. according to Thomson Reuters.

The median sales price plunged to $175,400, down 15.3 percent from $207,000 a year ago.

That was the lowest price since May 2003 and the biggest year-over-year drop on records going back to 1968.

© 2009 The Associated Press.

UPDATE - The other side of the coin

Case-Shiller: House Prices Fall Sharply in November

by CalculatedRisk on 1/27/2009 09:15:00 AM

S&P/Case-Shiller released their monthly Home Price Indices for November this morning. This includes prices for 20 individual cities, and two composite indices (10 cities and 20 cities). Note: This is not the quarterly national house price index.

Click on graph for larger image in new window. 

The first graph shows the nominal Composite 10 and Composite 20 indices (the Composite 20 was started in January 2000).

The Composite 10 index is off 26.6% from the peak.

The Composite 20 index is off 25.1% from the peak.

Prices are still falling, and will probably continue to fall for some time. 

The second graph shows the Year over year change in both indices.

The Composite 10 is off 19.1% over the last year.

The Composite 20 is off 18.2% over the last year.

These are the worst year-over-year price declines for the Composite indices since the housing bubble burst.

The following graph shows the price declines from the peak for each city included in S&P/Case-Shiller indices.

In Phoenix, house prices have declined more than 40% from the peak. At the other end of the spectrum, prices in Charlotte and Dallas are only off about 6% to 8% from the peak.

Prices fell at least 1% in all Case-Shiller cities in November.

Quake-Up-Call: Get Prepared

Study finds troubling pattern of Southern California quakes

The southern stretch of the San Andreas fault has had a major temblor about every 137 years, according to new research. The latest looks to be overdue.

CLICK HERE for the full LA Times Story

CLICK HERE to link to a review for the "coolest earthquake-preparedness book ever" -- The L.A. Earthquake Sourcebook (release date February 1, 2009)

Linkage:"Bel~Air" Burglar Capture

Is it just me or does the LAPD's suspect look a bit different from those criminals captured on video in 2007 robbing a Bel~Air Estate (below)?  Could they be part of the same crew or perhaps they are two different operations entirely. . .  Hopefully, the LAPD will shed some light on this soon.

CLICK HERE for the Bel~Air Blog's August 27, 2007 Post publishing the original Crime Alerts and Pictures

From KABC 7 - UPDATED VIDEO Following Police Press Conference:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=6616873

From LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hillside-burglars21-2009jan21,0,4530132.story

From KTLA 5:

http://www.ktla.com/landing_news/?Bel-Air-Burglar-Caught-After-3-Year-Crim=1&blockID=191453&feedID=171

From KCBS 2:

http://cbs2.com/local/LA.Police.Hillside.2.913690.html

BREAKING NEWS - LAPD arrests a suspected leader of the 'Hillside Burglars'

From the LA TIMES

Troy Corsby Thomas and crew allegedly stole more than $10 million in cash, property from homes in wealthy areas of Los Angeles, sources say.

By Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein 
January 21, 2009

Los Angeles police have arrested a suspected leader of a small but sophisticated crew of burglars who allegedly broke into the homes of executives, celebrities and sports stars, stealing millions of dollars worth of cash and property, law enforcement sources said Tuesday.

Dubbed the "Hillside Burglars" by police, the bandits are suspected of committing more than 150 break-ins over the last several years, targeting some of Los Angeles' wealthiest neighborhoods, and taking items worth more than $10 million.

Troy Corsby Thomas, 45, who law enforcement sources alleged was one of two leaders of the gang, was taken into custody Saturday after a three-year investigation by a special Los Angeles Police Department task force.

Police records obtained by The Times show that Thomas described himself as an auto broker at the time of his arrest. At a brief court appearance Tuesday, Thomas pleaded not guilty to two charges of residential burglary in January 2006 and March 2008. He was held in lieu of $2-million bail. Additional charges were expected to be filed, according to sources. 

LAPD officials declined to comment on the arrest, saying they would hold a news conference today in which details of the case would be released. 

Law enforcement sources, however, said police got a break in the case when they found some stolen safes that had been dumped in a canyon. They also recovered DNA evidence at the scene of a burglary, which led to members of the crew. 

"These are very smart criminals. That's why it took us so long to catch them," said one LAPD source who was not authorized to speak publicly about the arrest. 

According to police, the Hillside Burglars usually wore black clothes, ski masks and gloves when breaking into homes in Bel-Air, Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills, the so-called Platinum Triangle, and the hills above Encino and Sherman Oaks. They usually struck at night and on weekends, while homeowners were out of town, police said.

The ring is one of several in recent years that have targeted these areas, which are home to many celebrities, corporate titans and studio chiefs.

As a testament to their skills, the burglars evaded security systems and cameras in all but one of their break-ins.

The only time the burglars were caught on a security camera was at an Encino estate. The tape shows a brief image of two muscular men without their masks, police said.

But their faces were hard to see. 

Police did not release the names of victims of the various burglaries.

UPDATE

News Release

Bel-Air Burglar in Custody  WHAT:     News Conference          WHEN:     Wednesday, January 21, 2009 10:30 a.m.               WHERE:     West Los Angeles Area Community Police Station 1663 Butler Avenue Los Angeles, Ca  90025 WHO:         Deputy Chief Charlie Beck, Commanding Officer, Detective Bureau  Deputy Chief Terry Hara, Commanding Officer, Operations West Bureau Councilmember Jack Weiss, Council District 5 Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, Council District 11 WHY:     To provide the identity and circumstances surrounding the arrest of the "Bel-Air Burglar," believed responsible for a three-year crime wave of over 150 burglaries in the areas of Bel-Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood Hills.

Bel~Air Beautiful - Thank you!

Recent Updates from Bel~Air Beautiful 

1. The Moraga Island, which lost its tree, has been recently re-landscaped thanks to the Bel~Air Garden Club.

2. The Bel~Air Association has placed lovely signs on the many islands in the neighborhood. These signs say, "Maintained by the Bel~Air Association." Maintaining these islands is another example of the hard work done by the association.

3. During the holidays all were able to enjoy beautiful Christmas decorations at the east and west gates, once again supplied by the Bel~Air Garden Club.

UCLA CANDIDATES NIGHT For the Los Angeles Municipal Primary Election

The Bel-Air Association invites you to the upcoming

UCLA CANDIDATES NIGHT

For the Los Angeles Municipal Primary Election

The forum will take place on Wednesday, February 11, 2009
from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. Reception)

California Nanosystem Institute Auditorium (CNSI)

UCLA CAMPUS

Please RSVP to (310) 794-6810 or advocacy@support.ucla.edu by February 9, 2009 

An evening of candidates, questions, and answers  and our community coming together!  

The Primary Municipal Election for the City of Los Angeles will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

The Bel-Air Association’s City Services Committee invites our members to meet the candidates running for the

Fifth District position on the Los Angeles City Council.

The candidates are:

ADEENA BLEICH
RON GALPERIN
PAUL KORETZ
ROBERT SCHWARTZ
ROBYN RITTER SIMON
DAVID T. VAHEDI 

This invitation is sent to you by the Bel Air Association, City Services Committee.  For more information please call Paulette M. DuBey, our General Manager at 310.474.3527. 

The evening will be moderated by Adrienne Alpert, KABC-TV Channel 7.

This program will be re-broadcast on KABC-TV and LA Channel 36 at a later date.  Parking is in LOT 9.  

CLICK HERE for interative UCLA CAMPUS MAP

California Tapped Out - Tax Refunds to be Delayed

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California's controller says he will begin a 30-day delay on tax refunds and other payments starting Feb. 1 because the state is running out of money.

Controller John Chiang said Friday he must delay $3.7 billion in payments next month because lawmakers have failed to address California's growing deficit.

With a $41.6 billion shortfall over the next year-and-a-half, the state is on the brink of issuing IOUs.

Chiang says his office must continue education and debt payments but will defer money for tax refunds, student aid, social services and mental health programs.

A severe drop in revenue has left the state's main bank account depleted. The state had been relying on borrowing from special funds and Wall Street investors; those options are no longer available.

Inaugural Viewing Party of President-elect Barack Obama @ L.A. LIVE (Downtown)

Westwood Subway Extension to Full Metro Board Next Week

The proposed Purple Line extension to Westwood (and possibly beyond with federal funds) is heading to Metro's full board a week from tomorrow, reports project spokeswoman Jody Litvak on her Facebook page. The decision was made at today's subway committee meeting. Next week's Board meeting will probably be the first unveiling of the suggested route, and if the Board gives the green-light, the EIR and EIS (environmental impact review/statement) can go forward; one of the last steps before construction. The EIR step is about a two-year ordeal, thoughSchwarzenegger has been pushing to hasten the EIR process in the building of new freeways, so who knows for sure.

Thanks to Curbed LA & Metro

December Retail Sales - Cliff Diving

The following graph shows the year-over-year change in nominal and real retail sales since 1993. 

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

To calculate the real change, the monthly PCE price index from the BEA was used (December PCE prices was estimated as the same as November). 

Although the Census Bureau reported that nominal retail sales decreased 10.2% year-over-year (retail and food services decreased 9.8%), real retail sales declined by 11.3% (on a YoY basis). This is the largest YoY decline since the Census Bureau started keeping data.

Credit to Caluclate Risk 

Obama Plans to Keep Estate Tax

From the Wall Street Journal

President-elect Barack Obama and congressional leaders plan to move soon to block the estate tax from disappearing in 2010, suggesting the levy might outlive the "Death Tax Repeal" movement that has tried mightily to kill it.

The Democratic stance on the estate tax contrasts with Mr. Obama's reluctance to press forward with his campaign pledge to raise income-tax rates on top earners, which he worries could have an adverse economic impact during a recession.

But Democrats are determined to act quickly to prevent the estate tax's scheduled repeal. Elimination of the levy on big inheritances was approved by Congress under President George W. Bush in 2001, with rollbacks phased in slowly and its full elimination slated to take effect next year.

The Senate Finance Committee will move within weeks on legislation to reverse that law, and Mr. Obama is expected to detail his estate-tax preservation proposal in his budget next month, congressional tax writers said.

CLICK HERE for the full WSJ Article

Global Warming? Heck no. Instead, go out and buy a Parka.

(A Hypothetical Rendering of Bel~Air in 2020)

What's a guy to do.  I have whiplash from competing global warming theories and now the following article reports that - global warming be damned - we are in fact on the brink of the next Ice Age.  And to be quite candid, the argument is compelling.  You read and decide, but in the meantime, I am firing up my SUV as it seems Global Warming might be our only hope!

"The earth is now on the brink of entering another Ice Age, according to a large and compelling body of evidence from within the field of climate science. Many sources of data which provide our knowledge base of long-term climate change indicate that the warm, twelve thousand year-long Holocene period will rather soon be coming to an end, and then the earth will return to Ice Age conditions for the next 100,000 years."

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

Bel~Air Family Displays Priceless Red Diamond

When he first saw the storied 5.05-carat red diamond - a gem colored "as if a drop of blood fell upon the hand of the cutter" - Douglas Kazanjian thought it was heaven-sent.

Kazanjian, head of a Beverly Hills jewelry firm, told his father they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy one of the world's most famous diamonds - one with a long history that includes being stolen by the Nazis during World War II and kept at Adolph Hitler's summer retreat.

"Red is the rarest color in diamonds," said Kazanjian, chief executive officer of Kazanjian Bros. Inc., a jeweler and collector of rare gems.

"This is one of the rarest diamonds in the world, and even if my company went on for another 1,000 years we would never find a diamond more rare than this."

The stone, one of only three true blood-red diamonds of 5-plus carats known to exist - is on display through Feb. 1 at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the first stop on a worldwide tour.

Thousands have already visited the museum to see the emerald-cut diamond with a deep reddish hue.

"Everybody who has seen it has marveled at it, partly because of its beauty and partly because it's a very rare stone," said Anthony R. Kampf, curator of minerals and gems at the museum. "I think what really makes it stand out even more than its appearance is the fact that it has a very interesting history."

The stone's journey from the diamond fields of South Africa to Hitler's collection to the Kazanjian Bros. began in the mid-1920s during a diamond rush in Lichtenburg, South Africa, when thousands of people dug for diamonds, according to Ian Balfour's book "Famous Diamonds."

The most unusual discovery involved a nondescript, dark and rough 35-carat stone a broker purchased for the equivalent of $40 a carat, Kampf said.

"I'm sure they didn't realize what they had at the time until they cut into it because it was so dark," Kampf said. "The couldn't even see it was red. At that time, there were no significant red diamonds known."

Still uncut and of unknown value, it eventually was sent to Amsterdam-based jewelers the Goudvis brothers for cleaving and polishing, Balfour wrote.

In Holland, a master cutter made windows on each side of the stone. Under a lamp, he saw a reddish glow. After seven months of studying, cutting and polishing, the diamond was finished and viewed under candlelight.

"They were so surprised because it showed this amazing red color," Kazanjian said. "They said it was as if a drop of blood fell upon the hand of the cutter."

When no dealer in Amsterdam could estimate the diamond's worth, the Goudvis brothers sent it to New York City, but couldn't find any buyers willing to pay their price. It was returned to Europe and placed in a safe in Arnhem, the Netherlands, Balfour wrote.

In 1944, the Nazis stole the red diamond and other precious stones and took them to Germany. When the war ended, the American military discovered the stolen gems and artwork in a salt mine near Adolph Hitler's Bavarian summer retreat at Berchtesgaden. A general called the head of the war-loot commission and notified him that they had found many diamonds and what they thought was a large ruby.

"This was part of Hitler's personal collection during the war," Kazanjian said. "I'm sure he saw it. ... He took all the best art and valuables of Europe."

After the war, the red diamond was returned to the Goudvis family, but the brothers had died and the heirs were in debt to their bank.

So they sold the gem to a well-known broker. After two more owners, it was sold to an unidentified private collector in 1970 and its whereabouts remained a mystery for nearly three decades.

In 2007, a woman from the Far East whom Kazanjian Bros. had once helped sell an emerald ring paid a visit to the U.S. and showed the jewelers what they realized was the famous red diamond.

"My father and I looked at it and were stunned because we had never seen a red diamond that size before," Kazanjian said. "She had a history on it, including papers from (the previous owner)."

Kazanjian told his father he felt as if his ancestors had sent the red diamond to them from heaven. Kazanjian's grandfather James Kazanjian had traveled the world in search of rare gems and discovered the world's largest ruby in what is believed to be the legendary King Solomon's mines.

The family founded Kazanjian Bros. in 1918 in New York, then opened a Los Angeles location a decade later and relocated to Beverly Hills in 1969.

Knowing the diamond's history, Kazanjian bought the gem and named it the Kazanjian Red Diamond. He declined to disclose the purchase price or identify the woman who sold it to him.

He plans to sell it someday and use the proceeds for his family's scholarship foundation, but decided to send it on a world tour first, starting in Los Angeles.

The exhibit at the museum's Gem and Mineral Hall includes a display called "Hollywood Jewels," also on loan from the Kazanjian Foundation and featuring gems owned by Hollywood luminaries from Carole Lombard to Madonna.

All the jewels are displayed inside the museum's Gem Vault, which is watched by security guards during the day and "locked up tighter than a drum" at night, Kampf said.

Kampf said the heightened security is necessary given that value of the red diamond. In 1987, a 0.95 carat blood-red diamond set a world-record price of $926,000. Kazanjian declined to estimate the value of the Kazanjian Red Diamond.

"This stone is worth a lot more than five times that because it's not just five times bigger; it's a thousand times more rare," Kazanjian said. "It's so rare, it's priceless."

From the Daily News / Troy Anderson

Fun Weekend Activity - Photo LA @ Barker Hanger in Santa Monica

GENERAL INFORMATION   FAIR LOCATION Barker Hangar 3021 Airport Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90405 Click here for map.   BENEFIT RECEPTION To benefit the Photography Department of the  Los Angeles County Museum of Art Thursday, January 8th, 6-9 pm Click here to purchase opening night tickets.   PUBLIC FAIR HOURS Friday, January 9th, 12pm - 8pm Saturday, January 10th, 12pm - 8pm Sunday, January 11th, 12pm - 6pm   TICKETS $20 1-day pass (includes catalog) $30 3-day pass (includes catalog) To purchase tickets on-line, please click here.

Bel~Air Listing Reaches New Heights

What's that in the sky?

Is it a bird?  Or a Plane??

No!  It's Eight Acres (4 Flat) above Chalon! 

I know we have all seen it -- but have you seen it-seen it?

Perched atop Chalon where Chalon and Bellagio meet (and where I spotted many-a-deer in my youth on the way to John Thomas Dye School), a scalped mountain sits like a neatly measured cup of flour -- and is being offered to "qualified buyers by appointment" for $65,000,000.  (As an aside, since when do I need to be qualified to see dirt?  But then again, that's some mighty pricey dirt!)

For those without a calculator handy, that's only $16.25M per flat acre or $373.05 per square foot of flat unimproved (but oh so beautifully graded) land!

I don't know about you, but I have already advised my kids to forget the lemonade stand and instead sell cans of freshly scooped Bel~Air dirt on the side of the road.    Such is my take on a Section 529 College Investment Plan.

CLICK HERE for the official 11101 Chalon Listing Website

LA Westside Subway: Transit officials say it may take until 2032 to extend tracks 10 miles to Westwood

Click on Picture for Full Image

Maybe my kids' kids will be able to ride the "Subway to the Sea". . .

According to a timetable set by transportation officials overseeing Measure R, one of the most significant projects to speed travel on Los Angeles' Westside -- the "Subway to the Sea" -- is set to go very, very slowly.

The proposed rail line doesn't figure to pass engineering and environmental muster until 2013, just in time to see its biggest booster, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, leave office if elected to a second term. And it won't even reach Westwood until 2032, at which point Villaraigosa would be 78.

CLICK HERE for full LA TIMES story

Click HERE for the Subway to the Sea Coalition Site

You heard it here first - LA Times outs Micheal Jackson's New Westside Home

Although old news to our readers (see our Blog Post from December 24), the LA Times has officially reported that Michael Jackson has set up his (circus) tent in our neigborhood.

Michael Jackson leases Bel-Air mansion for $100,000 a month

By Ann Brenoff 
January 7, 2009

It may not be Neverland, but it will have to do. Michael Jackson has leased a Bel-Air mansion for $100,000 a month, according to his manager-spokesman Tohme Tohme. The pop icon wanted to be closer to "where all the action is" in the entertainment industry, the spokesman said.

The gated estate that Jackson is leasing was one of the most expensive houses listed for sale last year in Los Angeles but was withdrawn from the market after the Gloved One signed a year's lease.

CLICK HERE for the Full LA Times Story

New Laws for 2009!

I've got your back, Bel~Air.  

Before Johnny-law comes knocking on your door, brush up on the new laws for 2009.  

A partial list follows:

No-text Law: Writing, sending, or reading a "text-based communication" while driving will be against the law for all drivers in California.  Violating this law is punishable by a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. With the addition of penalty assessments, fines can be more than triple the base fine amount.

Temporary employees: Wages for employees of temporary services employers shall be paid weekly or daily if the work less than 90 days.

Family and Medical Leave Act: Families who have members who are active in the military are eligible up to 12 weeks of leave if they meet the "qualifying exigencies: short notice deployment, attendance at official military events or activities, arranging or providing childcare, attending school or daycare meetings, handling financial and legal matters, and rest and recuperation visits when the soldier is on leave."

Minimum pay for exempt computer professionals: Computer professionals' hourly rate for 2009 is increased from $36 to $37.94.

Definition of a motorcycle: Deleting the existing weight limitation of 1,500 pounds, removes a separate definition for electrically powered vehicles and will allow fully enclosed 3-wheeled motor vehicles to use the carpool lanes

Unlicensed car dealers: Law-enforcement officers can impound vehicles that are being sold by unlicensed dealers.

Alternative fuel: Allows drivers who run their vehicles on restaurant kitchen grease to skip most of a $300 fee previously required of anyone who hauled used vegetable oil or other grease away from an eatery. Veggie-oil users will now have to pay $75 for a license.

Computer bullying: Allows school officials to suspend or recommend expulsion for pupils who engage in bullying by electronic means, including over the Internet.

Carpool lanes: Makes it a crime to forge, counterfeit or falsify a clean air sticker issued by the DMV to certain low-emission vehicles, allowing them to be driven in high occupancy vehicle lanes. A separate law permits drivers of fully enclosed three-wheel motor vehicles to use carpool lanes.

Dangerous chemicals: Requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to adopt a plan to identify and evaluate dangerous chemicals in consumer products.

Drunk driving: Drivers on probation for DUI convictions face suspension of their license and towing of their vehicle if they drive on California highways with a blood or breath alcohol level of .01% or higher.

Emergency calls: Increases penalties for people who knowingly use 911 emergency lines for calls other than emergencies. The penalty is a written warning on first offense, $50 on second, $100 on third.

Emergency planning: Merges the governor's Office of Emergency Services and Office of Homeland Security into a single cabinet-level agency.

Fire prevention: Improves measures to prevent damage from wildfires, including a requirement that homeowners clear brush from a 100-foot perimeter around their houses. Another law requires California forests to be better managed against tree-killing pests and to make it easier for fire departments to access firefighting equipment.

Foreclosure consultants: Provides a registration and bonding process for foreclosure consultants and bars such consultants from entering into certain agreements with homeowners.

Green jobs: Requires the state to develop a comprehensive approach to the needs of California's workforce associated with its budding "green" economy.

GPS devices: Allows a global positioning system device to be mounted on the windshield of a motor vehicle only in the 7-inch square in the lower corner farthest from the driver or in the 5-inch square in the lower corner nearest the driver.

Hospital infections: Requires hospitals to develop more comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure that patients are not infected in medical facilities.

Human trafficking: Voids any provision of a contract that purports to allow a deduction from a person's wages for the cost of the person immigrating and being transported to the United States.

License plates: Creates a California Gold Star Family license plate for families who have lost loved ones in wars.

Meat safety: Makes it a misdemeanor to buy, sell or butcher sick and some disabled animals for human consumption.

Medical care: Requires doctors treating terminally ill patients to give them comprehensive information about end-of-life options, such as hospice care at home and the right to refuse treatment.

Medical insurance: Requires that when insurers cancel someone's coverage, they allow other members of the family to keep theirs.

Another law prevents insurers from refusing to pay the medical bills of customers injured while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

A third new law requires insurers to pay for HIV screening.

Medical techs: Requires California's Emergency Medical Services Authority to establish and maintain a statewide registry of the status of emergency medical technician licenses. Also mandates that beginning July 1, 2010, all EMTs undergo mandatory criminal background checks.

Mobile homes: Requires, at time of sale, all mobile homes and manufactured housing to have smoke detectors in all rooms designed for sleeping and to have seismic braces on gas-fired water heaters.

National guard: Authorizes a state employee who is a member of the National Guard or reserves to receive government benefits for four additional years, if they were ordered to serve on or after Sept. 11, 2001, as a result of the war on terrorism.

Oil drilling: Permits development of additional oil reserves beneath submerged lands of the Wilmington oil field.

Pets: Provides for enforcement of "pet trusts" set up by animal owners to pay for continuing care of their pets after the human owners die.

Phone cards: Requires refund within 60 days to any holder of a card if the provider's services fail to operate in a commercially reasonable manner. Also mandates that phone-card firms maintain a toll-free customer service telephone number.

Press freedom: Prohibits discipline of high school and college journalism advisors for the content in a student newspaper.

Privacy: Makes it a misdemeanor to use radio waves, without consent, to remotely read another person's identifying information. The measure is in response to the practice of having personal identification information included on government-issued identification cards that can be read with radio-frequency identification devices.

Real estate: Allows the state Department of Real Estate to suspend or bar a person who has committed a violation of real estate laws.

Schools: Allows Los Angeles Unified School District and other districts to continue tapping state funds even as they withdraw from a program to fund multitrack, year-round schools.

Senior homes: Assisted-living homes are required to show potential customers their history of rate hikes, tell local prosecutors about suspected abuse and plan for emergencies such as blackouts.

Smoking: Allows the state director of the Department of Mental Health to prohibit the possession or use of tobacco products on the grounds of state mental hospitals.

Spousal abuse: Prohibits jailing of alleged victims of domestic violence for refusing to testify against their abusers.

Tax breaks: Allows taxpayers to exclude forgiven mortgage debt from their incomes for state income tax purposes.

Taxis: Allows local agencies to disconnect the telephone service of a taxicab operator that fails to obtain proper permits and insurance if other enforcement remedies have failed.

Teacher crimes: Includes "no contest" pleas in the definition of convictions when the Commission on Teacher Credentialing decides whether to suspend or revoke teaching credentials.

Toll roads: Allows local transit agencies to create carpool lanes that can be used by lone motorists willing to pay a toll on stretches of the 15 Freeway in Riverside County and portions of the 10 and 110 freeways in Los Angeles County.

Used cars: Allows police officers to impound vehicles of anyone cited for acting as a car dealer without a license.

Veterans: Requires the state Department of Veterans Affairs to develop plans to reach out to National Guard members or veterans returning to California from combat, and assist them in obtaining a screening for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Another law authorizes, after local approval, veterans whose vehicles display one of a number of special-recognition license plates to park free in metered spaces.

Wave pools: Requires operators of wave pools at amusement parks to increase safety steps, including assignment of lifeguards, provision of life vests and restrictions on children shorter than 42 inches.

Bel-Air Mansion Sells for $38 million

The Wall Street Journal reports that a six-bedroom, 11,400-square-foot Mediterranean-style Bel-Air mansion (reportedly 671 Siena Way) has sold for $38 million (which is particularly interesting as it was sold in 2005 for a reported $14,900,000).  Blogger Big Time Listings (CLICK HERE for the full article) digs up an EXHAUSTING amount of information on the topic, if interested.

California State Budget - What are we really talking about?

With all the talk about California's budget and the State running out of money - it is important to put into clearer context where the money comes from and where it goes.  Below is a graphical representation (i.e., pie charts) of the latest Proposed 2008-2009 Budget from our Governor.  

As a personal aside, I note that a whopping 41.3% of California's budgetary dollars (almost $60 Billion) goes toward state funded education -- and that is with the Governor's proposed cuts.  If I were to spend 41.3% of my annual income on my kids' education, you can be damn sure I would demand best-in-class schools and results.

2008-09 Total Revenues and Transfers 
This pie chart displays for each major revenue source the amount and percentage of the total estimated for the budget year. Figure includes General and special fund revenues and transfers. 

 

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2008-09 Total Expenditures (Including Selected Bond Funds) Includes Budget-Balancing Reductions
This pie chart reflects for each Agency the expenditure amount and percentage of the total proposed for the budget year. Figure includes General, special, and selected bond fund expenditures. 

 

New Year Stats - Bel~Air BLOG Explosive Growth Continues

Thank you to everyone who regularly visits and participates in our Bel~Air Association BLOG!

As the below chart clearly shows, we have had impressive visit and page view growth just about every month in 2008.  

Now if we can only get our stock portfolios to look like the below chart -- we will all have a wonderful 2009!

Take care and best New Year wishes to all.

-Chris

Bel-Air Association BLOG This Year's Visits and Page Views by Month

LAPD NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH NEWS (Forward these tips to all the women in your life)

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH NEWS

Sergeant Podesta

January 2009

Some of you have already received this information, but it never hurts to repeat it even if we save one person from becoming a victim. This was forwarded to me by Senior Lead Officer Maria Gray, and it has a lot of good tips. >>> MARIA GRAY 1/2/2009 11:25 AM >>> The below information was forwarded to me from a friend who wanted to disseminate this survival information to as many women and children as possible. I told her I would assist her in this goal. Please file these tips away in your mind so that in the event you are subjected to an attack, you will have a prepared and successful response (rapists hope that you will freeze up in fear). Forward these tips to all the women in your life. Thank you, Maria __________________________________________________________________________________ A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts: 1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed . They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair . Women with short hair are not common targets. 2) The second thing men look for is clothing.. They will look for women who's clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing. 3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are off-guard and can be easily overpowered. 4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5: 00a.m. and 8:30a.m. 5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots. The number two: office parking lots/garages.. Number three: public restrooms. 6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught. 7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years. 8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming. 9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands Keys are NOT a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it. 10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it?, or make general small talk: 'I can't believe it is so cold out here,' 'We're in for a bad winter.' Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target. 11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP! or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target. 12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes), yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent. 13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the Arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it - it hurts. 14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's out of there. 15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly. 16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!! You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble. 1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do : The elbow is the strongest point on your body If you are close enough to use it, do! 2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans : If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION! 3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives. 4 Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc, and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.) DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go.. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location. 5 A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage: A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat. B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars. C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.) 6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!) 7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zigzag pattern! 8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP! It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim. 9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby --- This should be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well.

LAPD Community Crime Alert

COMMUNITY ALERT NOTIFICATION LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL PUBLICATION WEST LOS ANGELES AREA

This will be the final report for 2008. Overall it looks like we will exit the year with a 5% crime reduction in Part 1 Crime (the most serious) over last year's reductions. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for being involved and playing an active role in making our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Clearly with our limited resources we could not have accomplished this without the community-police partnership that we share. I wish everyone a safe and prosperous New Year in 2009. See you next year! If you see what you believe may be a crime in progress, call 911! If you see other suspicious activity, notify the Los Angeles Police Non-Emergency number at 1-877-275-5273. Residential Burglary: 700 block Sarbonne Rd, RD 0806. MO: Construction site. Between 12/27/08 at 1800 and 12/29/08 at 0900, suspect(s) used code to deactivate the alarm, forced open containers and removed tools. 10000 block Cielo Dr, RD 0807. MO: On 12/24/08, between 1430 and 2100, suspect(s) forced the SFR rear slider, removed jewelry. 10600 block Lindamare, RD 0806. MO: Between 12/14/08 at 1000 and 12/21/08 at 1800, suspect(s) entered the SFR via an unlocked side door, removed cash from an unlocked safe in the couple's son's bedroom. 9400 block Readcrest Dr, RD 0809. MO: Construction site. Between 12/19/08 at 1530 and 12/22/08 at 0700, suspect(s) smashed a hole in the garage wall, removed tools. 10500 block Wilshire Blvd. RD 0834. MO: Between 12/21/08 at 2230 and 12/22/08 at 0630, suspect(s) forced the apartment kitchen window, removed watches and a bracelet. 1000 block Malcolm Ave. RD 0828. MO: Between 12/17/08 2030 hours and 12/18/08 0800 hours, unknown suspect(s) entered the victim's residence through an unlocked living room window while they were sleeping. After gaining entry the unknown suspect(s) took the victim's (2) laptop's, cellophane, memory sticks and wallets, from the living room area. 2200 block Gloaming Way. RD 0809. On 12/16/08 1700 hours and 12/18/08 0745 hours, unknown suspect(s) smashed the victim's rear sliding glass door with a large potted plant. The unknown suspect(s) entered the victim's residence and took a Buddha Statue, T.V. and DVD player. 3000 block Lake Glen, RD 0808. MO: On 12/15/08, between 0900 and 2100, suspect(s) entered the SFR by unknown means, removed antique bedroom furniture (gifted to victim by estranged boyfriend). Grand Theft Auto: 12-28-08, 1600-2000 RD 0815 500 block Veteran Ave. pkg garage 95 Honda Accord 12-21-08, 1000/1300 RD 0816 900 block Veteran Ave. Garage 96 Subaru 12-25-08, 2030/0700 RD 0806 10800 block Savona. Garage 08 Odyssey 12-19-08, 2100-1845 RD 0807 10400 block Ravenwood Ave. street 07 Nissan-Path 12-15-08, 2100/0700 RD 0815 11200 block Montana Ave. 95 Honda Civic 12-10-08, 1815/1930 RD 0817 Lindbrook Ave/Gayley Ave. 99 Honda Civic Burglary Theft from Motor Vehicle: 12-29-08, 1930-0915. RD 0829 1300 block Holmby Ave. driveway I-Pod, phone charger 12-28-08, 1130/1300. RD 0855 1300 block Sepulveda Blvd. Pkg lot Smash Purse 12-23-08, 2100/0800 RD 0829 1300 block S Beverly Glen Bl. Street Cut None taken 12-22-08, 1800/1800 RD 0807 10300 block Viretta Ln. Street Smash GPS 12-19-08, 1215/1230 RD 0893 1300 block S. Sepulveda Bl. Pkg Lot Smash Purse 12-18-08, 2100-0900 RD 0834 10600 block Holman Ave. Street smash I-Pod, laptop 12-14-08, 2000/0800 RD 0855 1500 block Camden Ave. Sub Gar Smash Wallet (multi 2) 12-13-08, Unk Time RD 0807 1300 block Shadybrook. Unk Unk Unk 12-03-08, 0600/1000 RD 0855 1600 block Camden Dr. Sub Gar Pry Radio 12-04-08, 2000/2200 RD 0834 10500 block Wellworth Ave. Susp removed purse

Happy New Year!