Comments on: City Weighs Closure of One Ballona Creek Bike Path Entrance http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:23:58 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Max Miller http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/comment-page-1/#comment-674 Max Miller Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:02:31 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/#comment-674 I attended that meeting and it is clear that the residents of that gate are being terrorized by gangs, and that cyclists will be in greater danger if the access gate is closed. As one bike path rider said perfectly, "citizens use gates, criminals jump fences." The LAPD has given up policing, either because of lack of resources or because of incompetence battling street gangs. The path itself is County turf, while the street-side intersection is City of LA. It is only by pressuring Rosendahl's office to push the LAPD into effective policing, in cooperation with Burke's office which has jurisdiction over that section of bike path, that both residents and cyclists will find a solution. I urge you to contact both Rosendahl and Burke's office to express your concerns. I attended that meeting and it is clear that the residents of that gate are being terrorized by gangs, and that cyclists will be in greater danger if the access gate is closed. As one bike path rider said perfectly, "citizens use gates, criminals jump fences."

The LAPD has given up policing, either because of lack of resources or because of incompetence battling street gangs. The path itself is County turf, while the street-side intersection is City of LA. It is only by pressuring Rosendahl's office to push the LAPD into effective policing, in cooperation with Burke's office which has jurisdiction over that section of bike path, that both residents and cyclists will find a solution.

I urge you to contact both Rosendahl and Burke's office to express your concerns.

]]> By: Greg http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/comment-page-1/#comment-533 Greg Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:12:02 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/#comment-533 I received the below this weekend after writing to Rosendahl expressing my displeasure over the possible closing. We need to get a large amount of people there: Hello, Thank you for contacting the Office of Councilmember Rosendahl regarding the Ballona Creek bike path. A public meeting will be held on Thursday, April 3rd 6-7:30pm in Councilmember Rosendahl’s Westchester Field Office located at 7166 W. Manchester Blvd.Westchester, CA 90045 to discuss community concerns. Representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department and Department of Transportation will be present. I encourage you to attend and share your perspective. If you have any questions, please email or call me. Regards, Nicole A. Velásquez Field Deputy Councilmember Bill Rosendahl City of Los Angeles, 11th District 7166 W. Manchester Blvd. Westchester, CA 90045 PH: (310) 568-8772 FAX: (310) 410-3946 EMAIL: nicole.velasquez@lacity.org www.councilmanrosendahl.com I received the below this weekend after writing to Rosendahl expressing my displeasure over the possible closing. We need to get a large amount of people there:

Hello,

Thank you for contacting the Office of Councilmember Rosendahl
regarding the Ballona Creek bike path. A public meeting will be held on
Thursday, April 3rd 6-7:30pm in Councilmember Rosendahl’s Westchester
Field Office located at 7166 W. Manchester Blvd.Westchester, CA 90045 to
discuss community concerns. Representatives from the Los Angeles Police
Department and Department of Transportation will be present. I encourage
you to attend and share your perspective.

If you have any questions, please email or call me.

Regards,

Nicole A. Velásquez
Field Deputy
Councilmember Bill Rosendahl
City of Los Angeles, 11th District
7166 W. Manchester Blvd.
Westchester, CA 90045
PH: (310) 568-8772
FAX: (310) 410-3946
EMAIL: nicole.velasquez@lacity.org
http://www.councilmanrosendahl.com

]]> By: Stu Press http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Stu Press Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:50:46 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/#comment-522 How the heck is closing a gate going to stop gangs from hanging out on the bike path!?! The gangbangers, many of whom live in the projects that are up against the path, can just jump the fence..not much to it. They know recreational and commuter cyclists are always going up and down the path...and will make even JUCIER targets when it's even MORE isolated!! Councilman Rosendahl is quite naieve. How the heck is closing a gate going to stop gangs from hanging out on the bike path!?! The gangbangers, many of whom live in the projects that are up against the path, can just jump the fence..not much to it. They know recreational and commuter cyclists are always going up and down the path...and will make even JUCIER targets when it's even MORE isolated!! Councilman Rosendahl is quite naieve.

]]> By: Lee Ziff http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/comment-page-1/#comment-518 Lee Ziff Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:57:49 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/#comment-518 Closing entrances to the bike path is exactly what we should NOT do. Wrong message. Wrong action. Wrong result will occur. Crack down on the gang bangers with cameras and patrols. Initiate a "no tolerance" policy and get the FBI to use the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) to break up the gang. WE ARE NOT GOING TO START CLOSING PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS BECAUSE GANGS ARE FLEXING MUSCLE! Closing entrances to the bike path is exactly what we should NOT do. Wrong message. Wrong action. Wrong result will occur. Crack down on the gang bangers with cameras and patrols. Initiate a "no tolerance" policy and get the FBI to use the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) to break up the gang.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO START CLOSING PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS BECAUSE GANGS ARE FLEXING MUSCLE!

]]> By: Justin http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/comment-page-1/#comment-465 Justin Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:30:21 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/#comment-465 I totally agree with R T E. Closing a bike path entrance is going to reduce crime? Suuuuure. Now, I understand that LA has the least police/capita of any major urban city in America, but closing bike ramps isn't really going to make a difference. I wonder if after they close the ramp, and the crime doesn't go away, they will re-open it. Justin I totally agree with R T E. Closing a bike path entrance is going to reduce crime? Suuuuure. Now, I understand that LA has the least police/capita of any major urban city in America, but closing bike ramps isn't really going to make a difference.

I wonder if after they close the ramp, and the crime doesn't go away, they will re-open it.

Justin

]]> By: Radical Transportation Engineer http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/comment-page-1/#comment-458 Radical Transportation Engineer Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:20:56 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/03/19/city-weighs-closure-of-one-ballona-creek-bike-path-entrance/#comment-458 Closing the gate makes the area more isolated, more prone to crime, one might say a safer and better place for criminals, a haven. Sounds like a ridiculous idea to me. Cameras and enforcement are the way to go, they are the only answer. Closing the gate makes the area more isolated, more prone to crime, one might say a safer and better place for criminals, a haven. Sounds like a ridiculous idea to me. Cameras and enforcement are the way to go, they are the only answer.

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