News & Opinion by John Ehretz...

#1: What would you propose to suppress the graffiti of criminal gangs which assaults properties as frequently as 3 times in a seven day period?

Without exception, all blathered on only about 'paint outs' 'education' and youth programs.

Clearly, their properties, their neighborhoods, have not been assaulted endemically. Or they are conveniently 'politically' blind to our needs. Their visions of oppression, opposite ours, the criminal vandals being, in their minds, the oppressed, and we the oppressors.

However, most are simply naive outsiders to our Hollywood.

Their universal response to the 2nd question, was again a non response. We had asked: Given that there is no popular mandate for continued accommodation of a greater population in the Southland, what constraints would you proposed?

Sadly, we heard only drivel about accommodations, public subsidizations of industry and housing.

Only Eric Garcetti objected to 'non-profit' projects with their astronomic costs of construction and continued financial drain on taxpayers thereafter.

Mike Woo's salient contributions: maturity, experience, accenting the very real need for parking provisions. His record of providing such in that now treasured resource: the Cherokee Ave. parking structure.

Our Website : www.ushollywood.net now displays our evaluations as to how to maintain and enhance the remnants of the once desirable life in our Southland. WE urge all to access, to comment ,and to present positions

Happily, we are not alone in our concerns. This issue being at crisis point regionally, popular resistance has forced public analyses and discussion.In the Daily News, and even in the L.A. Times recently.

Water quality, costs of power. both gas and electric, traffic congestion, civil order,etc. are evermore pocketbook issues. We must 'concentrate' the minds of the wouldbe officeholders on our perceptions.

Who should shoulder the many and varied costs which accompany new arrivals? Who will? We current residents will, if nothing changes. From more 'assisted' housings to evermore schools, greater power and water supply problems, increased sewer construction, roadways, 'pollution', et al.

Should new housing reflect those costs? Like Mello-Roos assessments on many new tracts.

GANG GRAFFITI :

A review of the California penal code reveals attention to criminal gang behavior and the dire necessity of abatement. One would hope that a vigorous interpretation would assign responsibility and penalties for defacements to the gangs, and not, as now, to the member who actually did a specific deed. Which interpretation makes enforcement virtually nonexistent.

The task is to confer with a sympathetic attorney to gain a professional insight as to our prospects of demanding gang responsibility and penalty. Civil and criminal.

Till then: I can only relate the basis of our 'current' success in the Corridor.

We photo'd each instance with date, sent copies to our Senior Lead. Remember, without a file a history is lost. Oftimes graffiti is painted out before the LAPD is aware of it.

We have been able to identify the perpetrators by name and residence, our Senior Lead, 'visited them', repeatedly, their landlord was notified, and they were evicted.

In today's housing situation, this is a real inconvenience, particularly when one has already been evicted many times previously. It gets attention far more than a misdemeanor conviction. But there is no perfect solution to the appetite of the vandal.

Thus our Rx: Develop intelligence in your neighborhood. Talk with neighbors, door to door, gather information. As specific as possible. Discuss this info. with your Senior Lead. These vandals generally are engaged in other criminal activities, probably are known to the LAPD, often problem tenants, thus their vulnerability to practical penalties.

Caution: Ever remember the laws of slander and defamation.

Our Hollywood Coordinating Council:

Can it assume a prominent role in presenting the needs and goals of neighborhood groups, gaining a more visible and influential podium for the diverse groups?

I hope so, it's a natural, if ever there was one.

I have reluctantly accepted the task of membership chair, and this will be the goal. It has been enthusiastically received so far.

Here's another way a Coordinating Council could be useful, getting the Blvd. owners to host useful venues, not to ruinously go for the fast buck. Without vision we perish.

Charter Neighborhood Councils folk are wrestling with the massive legislated contradictions, they need our insights and drive towards independence from bureaucratic control and control by professional politicians.. perhaps, together, we all can achieve that 'critical mass' needed to again be "...a pleasant place where we can live, work, shop and proudly host visitors from all over the world."

You folks are going to have to sort out the how, when & where of it, if it's agoin to blossom and not wither.

Hopefully the Council can really come alive as our much needed platform for sensible public policy.

More on this........

People & Such:

Les Remsen , is plagued by a sciatic pain, but that hasn't stopped him from promoting terrific musical talent in our children. Les and Dorothy led the Council in it's rebirth in Hollywood. How we are blessed by such as they.

Vera Tylecek is working with the St Andrews Neighborhood Council group. In addition to leading the most effective neighborhood action group we have seen...( they should be joining her..)

Geoff Saldivar's Ramparts Rangers continue their labors despite the trauma of the loss of Elaine and her assistant. Geoff is recovering nicely from that stunning blow.

El Sayed continues courageously in neighborhood improvement and public policy efforts. An avid opponent of illegal immigration, he has seen the ruin it has caused in Los Angeles and works to shame public officials derelict in an obvious duty.

Virginia Charon continues her nurturance of her neighbors ( the worthy and the others ) and her neighborhood.

Jon Jay has agreed to do publicity for the Coordinating Council, despite his busy schedule.

Robert Nudelman's Hollywood Heritage inspired the revival of that Hollywood Blvd. building just east of Ivar Ave. It is something to see. He says that the Nederlanders are interested in acquiring the eerily quiet 'Henry Fonda' theatre. I'd thought they already owned it! That once terrific live theatre, if brought back, could make one almost believe in a revived Blvd.

Joe Shea was on the ballot for Mayor! "The Secessionist candidate" said he..and honored by the LAPD recently...I advised Joe in his complaints about the effect of money in the campaign. Work to make the posts the same salary that Riordan accepted : $1.00 per year.!!! One way to end 'professionalism.! And one employed in our old city charter where Department Commisoners are paid only nominal attendance fees. Volunteerism at its best...and far higher that what we as neighborhood volunteers ever get.

Events & Notes:

Vera's Group meets April 26th same place same time.

The Spelling Bee : 6:00pm April 26th, Hollywood Roosevelt. (Hollywood Coord..Council, sponsor)

Coord. Council: May 4th Noon, Hollywood Roosevelt.
Spelling Awards the main event.
Visit our website: www.ushollywood.net
register comments there, or,

Heard about that herbal remedy: Increases alertness!! Decreases appetite!!!
Track record historically by native people!!!

Populations in South America have used it for countless generations, only downside: excessive use may induce anexoria.

Boy, we could sure use it here today. ovefed, getting dumb and dumber!!!

Just think of the savings, reductions in those insatiable trips to the market and the refrigerator...to gymns and to medics for palliatives..

Just think of the ecologic savings, the dramatic lessening on the demand for the production of animals, their sustenance and slaughter !!!

Reenergized, we could learn more and shape up our neighborhoods all the better.

But, best of all, we'd feel better, just not fatigued by carrying around all those extra pounds and looking in the mirror with horror...Don't know about you, but,.Boy oh Boy...that's fer me, fer sure.

It's just a leaf that you chew. That's all. No prescription, no downside internal problems....I ferget the name, anybody know it?

Read about it in my old Britiannic Encyclopedia...Name escapes me now...

Trouble is tho, some idiot savant will try to improve on it and concentrate its effects, which, of course, will screw up the entire situation.

Best ferget the whole thing......

Oh, I remember the name of that terrific leaf, they call it Coca.

Oh well.....heck all gee..

Comments and contributions solicited...

by snail mail to: 1811 Wilcox Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028

by email: ehretz@pacbell.net
by fax: 323 465-3525
John