📰 Neighborhood News 📢
WE DID IT!
🎉
Our TOWN HALL on Tuesday evening, January 28 was a smashing success! The Reynier Village Neighborhood Association Board organized this first community meeting in quite some time, bringing neighbors together for an important discussion.
We had LAPD give crime reports, and representatives from Councilwoman Heather Hutt’s office provided updates and took questions from over forty neighbors who showed up to address issues that matter to our community.
Building a Stronger Community
We intend to hold these public meetings four times a year and hope to see even more of you join us in the future!
A Fond Farewell & A New Introduction
Our beloved LAPD Lead Officer Chris Baker, who has served our community for years, bid his farewell as he transitions to working west of Robertson Blvd.
We were introduced to Pete Ojeda, our new Lead Officer. With 23 years of service in the LAPD, he brings a wealth of experience. He can be reached at 36393@lapd.online.
Crime Updates: The Good & The Bad
- Robbery (street confrontations) is down 80% – great news!
- However, home burglaries in neighboring Cheviot Hills have spiked.
When asked how we can best protect our homes, Chris Baker shared these essential tips:
✔ Lighting: Keep outdoor lights on all night.
✔ Hardwired Cameras: Bad guys use WiFi jammers—don’t rely on internet-connected cameras.
✔ Dogs: Yappy dogs are the best deterrents.
✔ Alarms & Windows: Always set your alarm and secure second-story windows—burglars use backyard ladders!
✔ Know Your Neighbors: Start a neighborhood text chain for quick alerts.
✔ Trash Cans: If you’re away, have someone pull in your bins.
✔ Suspicious Vehicles: See something off? Grab a hose, water the lawn, and take a photo—it doesn’t hurt to be noisy!
✔ Calling 911: If your alarm goes off, check your notifications. The magic words when calling 911? “Burglary in Progress.”
Addressing Safety in Reynier Park
Many neighbors have reported concerns about a mentally ill man isolating in the Reynier Park restrooms, known as “The Screamer.” His presence near the children’s play area has alarmed many residents. LAPD officers continue to offer him services, bringing in the Mental Evaluation Unit, but he has refused assistance each time.
The Need for More LAPD Patrols
Several residents expressed concerns about the lack of police patrols in our area. Here’s why:
🔹 Our LAPD division covers 65 square miles but only has 220 officers, making it the least staffed division in the U.S.
🔹 We have only four officers in two patrol cars covering our area—assuming no one is sick, in court, or handling an arrest (which takes 4–6 hours per case).
🔹 Just four years ago, LAPD had over 10,000 officers. Today, we’re below 8,800.
City Updates from Heather Hutt’s Office
Terence Gomes and Mayra Guevara, representing Councilwoman Heather Hutt, provided updates on citywide issues:
- 4,118 encampments have been offered services this year, especially near schools.
- Heather Hutt strongly supports moving unhoused individuals into services and housing, believing it’s a quality-of-life issue for both them and residents.
Reynier Park Renovation: Coming This Summer!
Exciting improvements are on the way:
✅ New security cameras monitored by LAPD.
✅ Termite-proof pergolas.
✅ Exercise stations.
✅ New water fountains.
✅ New picnic tables and benches.
✅ New playground surface & fully restored play equipment for our little ones.
We’re making real progress together—let’s keep building a stronger, safer, and more connected Reynier Village!
– Pete, the Park Commish