Call to Action Renewed For Opposition to Verizon Cell Tower

Rendering of Proposed Cell Tower. Photos Courtesy of Artistic Engineering

Some of you may recall that Verizon previously applied to the City for this same location and were turned down. They appealed the decision and were turned down again. RVNA and local neighbors banded together to do outreach to neighbors about whom to write to and when and where to attend the hearing. Those efforts were successful.

At the recent SORO meeting, Verizon revealed that they had sued the City of L.A. over this issue in Federal Court. They said that both the City of L.A. and Verizon came to an agreement that Verizon should reapply with modifications to their proposal.

The modifications that Verizon revealed were pretty marginal. They reduced the height of the proposed tower from 54′ to 52′. They plan to put a concrete planter with bushes at its base. They plan to enclose their operating equipment and diesel generator in a walled space. They changed the type of faux tree to a eucalyptus.

Their new plan still does not meet the zoning codes for the area and would be located right near single family homes. Right when we have many neighbors working hard on the Great Streets project to improve Robertson Blvd., they want to install this giant cell tower right in the middle of it.

We have been compiling pertinent info from neighbor’s research on this issue and is the basis for the recent RVNA email on how to take action and the main points to address, if RVNA neighbors are so inclined

 

RVNA Survey Results

Reynier-Rooftops
Reynier Village rooftops looking south towards the Culver Stairs. Photo © 2017 Joseph Martinez

Many thanks go out to all those who participated in the RVNA survey. The RVNA Board is seeking to better serve its members and this was the first step in getting an idea on what members want out of their Association and community. The results of the survey tell the story of a group of neighbors that have much pride and love for Reynier Village and look towards a very promising future for our community. Overall 59 neighbors took the survey.

Highlights:

APS and Security

80% of members taking the survey use the APS service included with the higher tier of dues to RVNA. From this group 64% are satisfied with the service, and 70% would be interested in paying more in order to receive a more comprehensive patrol service. For non-members, 52% did not see the service as a reason to join RVNA. In the open-ended questions security and crime reduction was a common thread when addressing what the membership wants RVNA to focus on. Overall participants scored how safe the neighborhood feels at a 3 marking it “Somewhat Safe.”

Reynier Park

52% of participants said their use of Reynier Park was either Not So Often (35%) or Not at all Often (17%). Overall satisfaction with Reynier Park scored a 3 for the participants putting it in-between “Not Satisfied” to “Somewhat Satisfied.” Open-ended questions had park improvement as a common thread.

Community

Another common thread in the open-ended questions showed that participants value their neighbors and the community in general. Satisfaction and Proudness of living in the neighborhood scored a 4 marking it “Satisfied,” and “Proud,” respectively. In the open-ended questions, participants mentioned many community activities they wanted RVNA to organize, like: outreach to Shenandoah Elementary, clean-up days, block parties, adult cocktail parties, and more park nights.

The Board is taking this data to inform the future direction and activities we will engage in. In the short term, we will hold a morning community gathering with Coffee in the Park on Saturday, 4 November, from 9AM-11AM, a Spring Cleaning event in 2018, more park nights, a possible block party, and a member meeting to discuss the future of APS service and our security presence in the neighborhood. As for Reynier Park, this survey was taken prior to the new signage and we still await the results from the Reynier Park survey SORO has implemented.

With the Great Streets initiative on Robertson, expanded community building program, and the possible Reynier Park improvements, one thing that is common and agreed upon by the community, that the future of Reynier Village is very promising!

View 2017 Survey Results – PDF File

(Download free PDF Reader)

 

 

Ice Cream Social At Reynier Park

Ice Cream Social at Reyneir Park

A fun afternoon of ice cream treats, watermelon, fun games and activities for kids and family.

We had so many positive successes yesterday:  the crafts area with the pet rocks, the ice cream and watermelon, the tattoos, the SORONC booth with all of the park photos and people sharing their preferences and taking the survey, the RVNA booth with lots of outreach to our neighbors and new sign-ups for our email list, and, lots of folks enjoying the Drum Circle!  I’m not sure if the rest of you were there to see the water balloon toss and the 3-legged race (hilarious), but I think Angelica and I really enjoyed seeing the kids have so much fun (see photos below)

Altogether a great day and congratulations to all of us for helping to create a fun opportunity for neighbors to come together!

RVNA board will meet sometime in the next few weeks to discuss the event and assess our RVNA survey results!

Thanks to everyone,
Andrew Leavenworth
RVNA Co-President

 

Photos © 2017 Edgardo Perez

 

Make Your Voices Heard – Community Surveys

Reynier Village Neighborhood
Reynier Village Neighborhood © 2017 Joseph Martinez

Take part in both of these community surveys and make your voices heard.

Reynier Village Neighborhood Association wants to hear from you. Share your thoughts about RVNA and what you would like our focus to be.

Take RVNA survey now.

Take SORO Survey to help improve Reynier Park

Photos – RVNA Disaster First Aid Class

Reynier Village Neighborhood Association in conjunction with the CERT Neighborhood Team Program (http://ntp-la.com/) presented a FREE Disaster First Aid class with Marci Sandell, EMT, CERT last Sunday. M​arci was amazing, as always.

Photos © 2017 Andrew Leavenworth