New police substation to help secure Westwood safety,
shoppers
By Marjon Ghasemi
Westwood-goers will be able to feel a bit more secure in the
village because of the opening of a new police substation on Feb.
1.
City officials and merchants alike are hopeful that the
substation will finally put Westwood on the long-awaited and
highly-debated road to revitalization.
"Westwood was declining but now this will help us continue to
move upstream," said Linda Abell of Crescent Jewelers. "We are all
very pleased."
The substation on Westwood Boulevard will be employed
predominantly by the Los Angeles Police Department and some
university police officers. Although the university police officers
will now be stationed in Westwood, their one mile jurisdiction
around the school will not be expanded.
Substation employees will coordinate neighborhood watch programs
and various drug prevention programs for local schools, in addition
to walking a foot beat, explained university police Chief Clarence
Chapman.
Abell said she hopes that the new substation will encourage
shoppers to feel safe in the area.
"Westwood does not have any problems but because of the events
of the mid-’80s, the public perceives it as such," Abell said.
"(The substation) will help comfort the public."
Abell was referring to events which climaxed about a decade ago.
In the summer of 1986, a car drove up the sidewalk on Westwood
Boulevard, injuring five people and killing one. A traffic ban was
implemented within a month and the village became entirely
pedestrian.
Even though crime is no longer as prevalent as it used to be,
city officials feel there is always room for improvement.
Councilman Mike Feuer plans to enhance public safety by opening
other substations in the vicinity, said Cynthia Corona, Feuer’s
assistant chief deputy.
"There is a level of crime that exists in every city," Corona
said, "but with this substation, a criminal is going to be deterred
from coming to Westwood."
The city council’s office is hoping that the substation – which
is being constructed to include a community room – will encourage
shoppers and stimulate the economy of the Westwood area.
"We are hoping that the substation will enhance the economic
recovery of Westwood," Corona. said.
The main funding for the venture is coming from the Business
Improvement District. The organization, which started its first
fiscal year last October, maintains a fund to which local merchants
contribute. The funds are appropriated to marketing and
improvements for the village.Comments to
webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu