Welcome to the October 2022 edition of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council's (SONC) newsletter, the Ziff Flyer.

email: lindsay.imber.sonc@gmail.com

It's autumn in Los Angeles and the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council ("SONC") has been hard at work ahead of several community events this month while working to bridge the gap between local stakeholders and city government.

Visit the SONC tent during the annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair, the first since the pandemic pause. Join the community as Ventura Blvd from Kester to Van Nuys is blocked off for exhibitions, food, entertainment performances, and even carnival-style rides. We'll be happy to see and meet you.

After the success of the SONC Summer Movie Series, we return to Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, 20 years to the day of its October 29, 2002 inception and charter. Several city departments and schools will be on hand for our free Saturday evening event and there will be several Halloween-themed activities, including a costume contest for all ages (and a special contest exclusively for kids!), as well as trick-or-treat opportunities to practice your candy-collection skills for Halloween Night. The Halloween-themed SONC 20th Anniversary celebration will feature festive music and entertainment performances during the late afternoon, and as the sun sets, we will screen the film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and invite you to bring chairs, blankets, or a picnic. Food trucks will be onsite if you wish to purchase food and drinks. Happy Halloween!

At its September meeting, the SONC board voted to adopt a position of support for a proposed city lobbying ordinance. This would mean that lobbyists and others who are being compensated to attend future neighborhood council meetings and advocate for or against a certain position would have to disclose this relationship. SONC also recommends the ordinance be expanded to include all public meetings (including City Council and Committee meetings), as well as to lower the threshold exemption amount for nonprofit lobbying disclosures.

SONC invites local residents, business stakeholders, and those with other community interest ties to Sherman Oaks to attend Board and Committee meetings, which are government meetings open to the public. Click here for our Calendar and information on how to attend and submit public comments. Our meetings are most impactful with your voices and we encourage the community to share their comments with us. SONC presently meets virtually, online via Zoom or by telephone.

Learn about the 2022 election's California state propositions at our October Board meeting on Monday, October 10, where we will have a presentation and overview of the upcoming issues on the ballot.

Stay safe and be kind to one another,

Lindsay

To view webinar details, please visit the SONC calendar.

October 17th, 2022, 6:30pm

October 18th, 2022, 7pm

October 25th, 2022, 7pm

October 26th, 2022, 6:30pm

page links for meeting agendas and to confirm dates & times.

Not sure what area you live in and who your

Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council representative is? Email SONC.Newsletter@gmail.com with your address or cross-streets with the navigational direction --

we will help you out!

Information about the meetings and how to “join in” is available on the SONC website: www.shermanoaksnc.org. Please give us your feedback and comments. 

The full agenda for this meeting will be available on October 7th, 2022 on the SONC website, www.shermanoaksnc.org. A physical copy can always be found on display at the Sherman Oaks Public Library.

1-669-900-6833, enter 85140543942 #

(1) Enter the Webinar ID: 85140543942

Should you have technical questions or issues, please email Stacey.Segarra.Bohlinger.SONC@gmail.com.

SONC meetings that are conducted using the Zoom Video-teleconferencing platform are now being recorded for playback. All recorded meetings are playable by clicking the associated meeting date links found on the committee page on the SONC website.

Pamela Harris, Co-Chair

Email: pamela.harris.sonc@gmail.com

Sarah Manuel, Co-Chair

Email: sarah.manuel.sonc@gmail.com

Please join the Human Services Committee on Monday, October 3rd at 6:30pm with special guest Elizabeth Cope from LA County Department of Mental Health.

To access this Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform:

How to Join the Virtual Zoom Meeting by Telephone or Online By Telephone:

Dial 1-833-548-0282, Enter Webinar ID 814 1778 3865, and Press #

Online: Cut and Paste  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/814 1778 3865 , Press “Enter” Or on Zoom join

Elizabeth Cope, LCSW, will present the ins and outs of the LA County homeless outreach system, the types of outreach teams and how to refer someone. She will also explain what the Department of Mental Health Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement team does, including defining its criteria and the specialty we serve within the greater system. Elizabeth will also provide a list of DMH resources, information about DMH Navigation team as well as how to reach the HOME Supervisor for the Sherman Oaks area.

Please join us, there will be a Q&A. If you want to provide your question ahead of time, please email Pamela and Sarah at Sarah.Manuel.SONC@gmail.com or Pamela.Harris.SONC@gmail.com.

The SONC Human Services Committee meets on the first Monday of each month. For more information please visit the Human Services web page.

Jeff Kalban, Chair

Email: jeff.kalban.sonc@gmail.com

The state requires that each CA city’s planning department must prepare a document called the Housing Element that identifies enough local zoning capacity to accommodate the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) quotas. RHNA quotas cover an eight-year cycle from 2021 to 2029 and are based on population growth, vacancy rates, and housing affordability requirements at every income level.

The current RHNA quotas are controversial because they hugely increase every city’s quota from the previous cycle. In light of our state’s population decrease, many cities are questioning the accuracy of the state’s data and are threatening lawsuits. Nonetheless, the City of LA must identify enough zoning capacity for more than 460,000 units of new housing over the next eight years. This is more housing than built during our boom years in the 1960s and 1970s.

In Sherman Oaks, we could be required to accommodate upwards of 9,000 new housing units over the next eight years. The current Housing Element map for Sherman Oaks (included here) adds density in several of our single-family neighborhoods through housing “overlays” that allow apartment houses next to single-family homes. The state has already rezoned our neighborhoods to allow four housing units on a single-family lot, including Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs or granny flats). We don’t need more density in our single-family neighborhoods.

The Vision Committee and members of SOHA’s Legislative Committee formed a committee to study our community and find sufficient zoning capacity without the need to up-zone single-family or existing multi-family neighborhoods. We found more than enough housing sites to achieve that goal. Our map placed more density in commercial areas throughout our community. We stayed away from rezoning any multi-family neighborhoods because our older apartments are more affordable and, in many cases,

rent-stabilized. The areas we identified would enrich Sherman Oaks by creating density while making a more walkable and greener community. We took our findings to the LA Planning Department, which was very supportive of our approach.

We then formed an ad hoc committee with Encino and Studio City, encouraging them to look at the Housing Element up-zoning requirements that they might be forced to accept. Both communities also came up with better solutions. The Ad Hoc Committee presented our findings to Councilmember Raman who eventually must approve the final Housing Element map. The three communities represent 60 percent of the councilmember’s district. During this initial meeting, she praised our work and its thoroughness but wasn’t sure the state would allow the removal of the proposed overlays in our single-

family neighborhoods. We contacted the state’s Housing Authority and were told there are no mandates that required overlays in our single-family neighborhoods, as long as the sites identified are appropriate and follow fair housing practices. Our selected sites follow these guidelines.

We will continue to have meetings with Councilmember Raman and hope she will support our community plan. We will keep you informed on our progress.

The next Vision Committee meeting is Thursday, October 6th, 2022. Planning and Land Use (PLUM) meets on October 20th, 2022.

Please join us and attend our virtual meetings. The Vision Committee meets at 6:30 pm on the first Thursday of the month and PLUM meets at 6:30 pm on the third Thursday.

To access the next virtual meeting on the Zoom Platform,

please see the PLUM/Vision Committee web page for updates and agendas.

Christy Adair, Chair

Email: christy.adair.sonc@gmail.com

Our October meeting will host renowned speaker, Christina Shareef, CEO/Founder of 404 Strategic Consulting Group, who will explore and explain the meanings and importance of the use of Gender Pronouns.

Gender pronouns are an important part of one’s identity and carry sensitive and cultural context. Because pronouns are a personal matter, using the correct pronoun shows someone you acknowledge and truly respect who they are. Join us as we delve into how to strengthen our pronoun inclusivity as a community and walk away with the following North Star learning goals:

Note, these conversations will be uploaded to https://www.shermanoaksnc.org. If you have any questions, please email at: SoncPScommittee@gmail.com.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 11th, 2022, at 6:30pm.

Online: Click or Cut and Paste into your web browser https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84270408817

Press “Enter”

By Telephone: Dial 1-669-900-6833, Enter Webinar ID 842 7040 8817, and Press #

Or on Zoom join meeting screen enter Webinar ID: 842 7040 8817

For more details on how to join the virtual video teleconference meetings, please visit the SONC Public Safety Committee web page

Harold Shapiro, Chair

Email: Harold.Shapiro.SONC@gmail.com

October 29th, 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of certification for the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council as part of the City of Los Angeles' Neighborhood Council system. To share this milestone with the entire community, SONC is throwing a party! Come and celebrate with us.

The Outreach Committee has developed big plans for this community celebration to not only commemorate SONC's 20th Anniversary, but to also enjoy the Halloween season. Chosen as the film to be screened for this free Movie in the Park event taking place on the Saturday evening before Halloween is the 1993 classic "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas". This stop-motion animated musical dark fantasy film was directed by Henry Selick (in his feature directorial debut) and produced and conceived by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of "Halloween Town" who stumbles upon "Christmas Town" and becomes obsessed with celebrating the holiday. Danny Elfman wrote the songs and score, and provided the singing voice of Jack. The principal voice cast also includes Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page, Paul Reubens (yes, Pee Wee Herman!), Glenn Shadix, and Ed Ivory. To complement the film screening which will commence once it gets dark out (and somewhat spooky and scary) there will be several fun pre-screening events for the kids as well as for the adults starting at 5:00 pm. A costume for the event will be a necessity, and there might even be a special award for the best one!

The event will take place at the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park, 14201 Huston Street, Sherman Oaks. The film will start around 7:15 pm when its dark enough. SONC will be co-hosting this event with the Council District 4 office and other Sherman Oaks organizations. This Family Fun extravaganza will feature the free movie in the Park, live performances by high school bands and a Barbershop quartet. Food will be available to purchase via Food truck vendors. Interactive activities will include face painting, a giant bubble making experience, a magician, and safe 'trick or treating'. The live performances will start around 6pm. Bring your own lounge chairs or blankets to sit on. And if you would like to, bring picnic items/food. Dress up in your spookiest and wildest costumes and get ready for a family fun event celebrating SONC's 20th Anniversary. Visit the SONC website at shermanoaksnc.org for more information.

We are only a couple of weeks away from the 30th Annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair which will be held on Sunday October 16th starting at 10:00 am and going until 6:00 pm. The fair is the largest one-day street festival held in the San Fernando Valley. This popular neighborhood happening, could not be held the past 2 years, but always brought out huge crowds of Sherman Oaks residents, when it did take place. Please note that Ventura Blvd. will be blocked off from Van Nuys Blvd. to Kester Avenue for this event. The street closure normally takes place the evening before and lasts well into Sunday evening. The event always features multiple stages with live musical and dance performances, a multitude of street vendors serving up great food, a petting zoo, pony rides and amusement rides for the kids, a climbing wall, zip line, a Ferris wheel, antique cars on display, and booths with local arts & crafts. All the local restaurants and businesses situated along this popular stretch of the Boulevard will be open during this free event. SONC will have a booth at the fair and is looking forward to having the opportunity to greet stakeholders face to face again.

If you are not currently registered to vote, the last day to register is October 24, 2022. Vote By Mail ballots and election materials will automatically be sent via US Mail beginning on October 6th through October 10th. Early in-person voting begins on October 29th and continues through election day, November 8th. Voters can visit any Vote Center to cast their ballot. Voters also have the option to receive their ballot and election materials in the preferred language of their choice. Besides English, ballots are available in 18 other languages.

The General Election ballot will include:

SONC has posted a video on our YouTube Channel that provides an overview of, and explains the State Ballot Measures. This video was recorded by the Greater Los Angeles League of Women Voters. To watch the video, follow this link: https://youtu.be/u7heM6PwdoA

For more information about the upcoming General Elections, please visit lavote.gov. Please make sure to cast your vote and let your voice be heard!

The 2023 Neighborhood Council elections kick off in November. SONC is seeking a slate of interested community members to run for the 10 available council seats across areas 2, 4, and 6 as well as 1 currently vacant seat in Area 1. If you are interested in running for a seat, please let us know. In 2022-23, the City Clerk will be using a hybrid election model for NC elections that provides for both in-person polling place voting as well as the option to Vote-By-Mail. The voting deadline for SONC elections will be Thursday, June 22, 2023.

The SONC Outreach Committee meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month. Please join us for our next virtual meeting on October 18th. For details on how to access the virtual meeting on the Zoom Platform, please visit the SONC Outreach Committee web page.

Jeffrey Hartsough, Treasurer

Email: jeffrey.hartsough.sonc@gmail.com

Thank you for being an engaged and supportive member of our Sherman Oaks community and of the San Fernando Valley.

General Elections are coming up on November 8th. Funding for services important to the livability of our Sherman Oaks community is determined by elected individuals who represent us. By voting, we elect those individuals. Please learn about the candidates and vote in November.

The SONC Finance Committee meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month. The next meeting will be on October 26th at 6:30pm. Please visit the Finance Committee web page for more details on how to participate.

As we continue to confront the daily challenges and complexities of life in Los Angeles, please be respectful and kind to others. Kindness is important.

Stay safe. Pray for Ukraine.

Jeffrey Hartsough

Treasurer

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of Candy Ann Williams on August 31, 2022. Candy joined the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council in 2018 to represent Sherman Oaks Area 1 as a Community Interest advocate. In 2019 she went on to serve as the Treasurer of SONC.

Candy was much loved by all those that knew her. She was dedicated to serving others, and greatly gave back to her community by founding a non-profit organization called Empowered Gifts, which sought to liberate underserved and underrepresented women from the shackles of domestic abuse, homelessness, and other socio-economic hardships. Through Empowered Gifts, Candy provided gorgeous handbags filled with feminine hygiene and beauty products to restore the self-confidence needed to not only pursue work but also to sustain long-term employment necessary for financial independence.

Collaborating with the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council and other community partners, Empowered Gifts distributed over 700 home-made face masks to nurses, physicians, first responders, support staff, and community

members at Sherman Oaks Hospital during the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

In 2021, Candy was awarded the Dream Charger Non-profit Award. She was a devoted member of Living Praise Christian Church in Chatsworth. She served as an usher and was a true believer. In mid-2021, Candy was granted acceptance into USC Price School’s Master of Public Administration program.

Candy was motivated by her faith to be a force for good and to leave this world just a little better than when she found it. In spite of her terminal illness, Candy never lost hope through her unconquerable spirit. She is warmly and fondly remembered by her family, friends, neighbors, and others whose lives she impacted.

This next section contains information from CD4, LAUSD, Sherman Oaks Library and all our partner organizations that are seeking volunteers. Stay informed and share!

The Department of Transportation (LADOT) will be opening the 2022 Residential Speed Hump Program application process at 9 AM PT on October 6th! The link to the application can be accessed on the fact sheet linked here.

After your application is submitted, LADOT will review and contact you with further instructions. We welcome you to share any submissions within Council District 4 with our office by emailing us at contactCD4@lacity.org!

The Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) is a one-time payment to provide relief to Californians — if you’re eligible, you will automatically receive a payment. Payments are expected to be issued between October 2022 and January 2023. Determine your eligibility, estimate your payment, and more on the Tax Board’s website here.

For the first time in five years, the City of LA is reopening the waitlist for its Section 8 housing voucher program — which provides federal funding to help pay for rents for low-income renters — from October 17th-30th. Residents will have two weeks to submit an online application for a chance at getting on the waitlist. The online application portal is not yet available, but for the latest information, read LAist’s helpful overview here, visit the City Housing Authority (HACLA)’s website here, and sign up for Council District 4’s newsletter here for more info as it becomes available.

The Office of District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman provides Sherman Oaks with a dedicated field deputy to handle resident and business owner issues at the city level. Ryan Ahari is the Sherman Oaks Field Deputy, and also services Van Nuys. If you need assistance with City services, agencies, and departments (graffiti, trash, abandoned properties, and more), you can always reach Ryan through his CD4 web page here or call (213) 424-2412 and Ryan's email address is: ryan.ahari@lacity.org

In addition to contacting Ryan, for any issues related to homelessness anywhere within Council District 4, you can contact Senior Homelessness Deputy Sarah Tanberg (sarah.tanberg@lacity.org) or Homelessness Deputy Josh Scarcella (josh.scarcella@lacity.org)

Are you a teen in need of volunteer hours? Join the Sherman Oaks Library's Teen Council! The council is open to teenagers ages 11 and up and is an excellent way to hone leadership skills by planning and directing library programs. Members participate in weekly activities ranging from cooking food to putting up Halloween and Christmas decorations to tutoring students. They can also write and publish an article on LAPL's Teen Blog. Through the Teens Leading Change program, Teen Council members have the opportunity to create a project designed to tackle issues affecting their communities as well as showcase their work at the end of the year.

Meet other teens in the community, have a say in teen programming and develop your leadership skills.

New at Sherman Oaks! A Book Club for Teens 12-18 years old. This month we will be reading and discussing "Legend" by Marie Lu. This will be a hybrid book club - in

person and via Zoom. For the Zoom link, please RSVP to

shrmno@lapl.org.

Join us at the monthly used book sale at the Sherman Oaks Branch Library on the second Saturday each month. The proceeds will benefit our local branch. The book sale will be held outside on the patio and inside the multipurpose room at the library.

Select from a large assortment of quality children's books (picture books, chapter, and young adult), fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, education, graphic novels, classics, poetry, plays, art books, CDs, and DVDs. Most books are $1 or less.

We pause all donations on the Wednesday before the book sale and resume on the following Monday after the sale. Thank you for your generous support.

Children are invited to share the joy of storytelling and reading with our special STAR volunteers. Take home a free book after coming to three STAR events at our branch.

Join us for a special day of spooky crafts outside followed by a Magic Show

Join us for Toddler Storytime on Zoom, presenting songs, finger plays and stories for 15-20 minutes.

Questions? - email the branch at shrmno@lapl.org, or call 818-205-9716.

Here is the link for our branch happenings: https://lapl.org/branches/sherman-oaks

For more information contact Meredith McGowan, Senior Librarian

At its August 23rd meeting, the SONC Government Affairs Committee hosted members of the LA City Planning Department who presented an overview of the proposed Draft Wildlife Ordinance and spent some time fielding questions from committee members and some Sherman Oaks stakeholders. This meeting was recorded and is available for playback here.

The Draft Wildlife Ordinance proposes new development standards for lot coverage, setbacks, landscaping, and fencing, as well as grading and height limitations. If the ordinance is approved by the LA City Council, it would create a new Wildlife Supplemental Use District (WLD) and apply those supplemental regulations to any properties located in the area of the Santa Monica Mountains approximately bounded by the 405 and 101 freeways and Ventura Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard.

The deadline for submission of public comments on the proposed ordinance was August 22 at 5 p.m. The next step in the process is for the City Planning Commission to consider the comments submitted on the proposed ordinance, and to present their findings to the LA City Council before the end of 2022. Please visit the project website here for the latest developments, to read the draft ordinance, and for more information.

The Oil and Gas Drilling Ordinance has been prepared in response to City Council File No. CF 17-0447, which amends the Los Angeles Municipal Code to prohibit all new oil and gas drilling activities and make any existing extraction a nonconforming use in all zones of the City. On August 9, Los Angeles City Planning released a draft of the proposed Oil and Gas Drilling Ordinance and on August 30, City Planning held a virtual presentation, question and answer session and public hearing on the proposed ordinance. City Planning would like to thank everyone for their attendance, feedback, and testimony. If you were unable to attend or have more to share, please be reminded that there is still an opportunity for your comments to be heard.

Public comments will inform City Planning's recommendation to the City Planning Commission, which will hear the ordinance this fall and make a recommendation to City Council. In order to ensure that your comments are included in the staff recommendation report to the City Planning Commission, please submit written comments by email to planning.oildrilling@lacity.org or by hard copy to the mailing address below by September 2, 2022 at 5 p.m. Any written communication must include case number CPC-2022-4864-CA.

Please visit City Planning’s website to view the proposed Draft Oil Ordinance and Fact Sheet containing frequently asked questions. If you have any questions or would like to sign up for updates and/or provide feedback, please email planning.oildrilling@lacity.org or send correspondence to the following mailing address:

Jennifer Torres, Department of City Planning

200 North Spring Street, Room 701

Los Angeles, CA, 90012

Metro continues to plan in its attempts to discover viable transit option solutions that will make it easier to get from/to the San Fernando Valley and LA's Westside. The natural barrier created by the Santa Monica Mountains makes traveling between the Valley and the Westside challenging and as we all know, the 405 freeway is one of the worst places to be in your car during morning and evening rush hours. Metro is working to evaluate the impact of a high-quality, reliable transit service option using a high-speed rail system connecting the San Fernando Valley and the Westside.

The project is currently in the environmental review phase which will consist of two components: 1) preparation of a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and 2) preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

For more information about feedback received during the project scoping period, view the project’s Scoping Summary Report. Metro plans to host a community update in Fall 2022 focused on alignments and station locations.

To learn more about the project, visit the website

The LA County Dept. of Public Works is still offering its series of free webinars to beautify your home and garden through November 2022. The Smart Gardening Webinars are approximately 45 minutes long followed by a 15-minute period to answer questions and take orders for compost bins. For those who are unable to attend, they have posted videos of the sessions. There are four core subjects being offered:

Intro to Composting: Learn about backyard and worm composting to create a rich soil amendment to nourish your garden.

Water-wise Gardening: Create a beautiful drought-tolerant landscape and learn about grasscycling to fortify your lawn.

Organic Gardening: Build healthy soil, grow herbs and vegetables, and address plant pests and diseases using organic methods.

Small-space Gardening: Learn to grow plants in containers and set up a small-space worm composting system.

For more information and to register online, visit their website: https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/sg/webinars.cfm

Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power is Offering Free Landscaping Design Services to Transform Your Turf

Are you interested in saving water and money on your bill? The LADWP turf replacement program is offering homeowners a rebate of $3.00 per square foot for up to 5,000 square feet of converted yards per year. As an LADWP customer, you can get free landscape design services for transforming your landscape to be more drought tolerant. The design can be submitted along with your turf replacement rebate application. Planting and irrigation plans are provided at no cost to LADWP customers who wish to remove turf and replace it with low-water use California Friendly® and native plants. The rebates for removing lawns and water-hungry plantings are still in effect. With the coming hot summer months, and new watering rules going into effect, the time is right to replace.

The provided plans can be given directly to a licensed contractor for installation and also included is a simple guide on how to best hire a landscape contractor. The plans will include a stormwater capture feature, such as a rain garden, in the design. Irrigation plans include the use of water-efficient drip irrigation systems.

Your newly installed garden will capture and reuse stormwater, recharge groundwater, prevent polluted runoff from flowing into the rivers and ocean, and provide food and habitat for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Once your newly installed plants have been established, you will see the savings on your water bill.

To learn more about this free design program and to apply, visit the LADWP website at:

To serve its senior, income-restricted, and medically-vulnerable customers, LADWP is launching ‘Cool LA’ rebates of $225 to purchase room air conditioners to help keep them safe during extreme heat. LADWP has also announced a new level-pay billing program that will allow all customers to spread their utility bills out evenly, over a twelve-month period. For more about these new programs, click here, and for DWP’s existing assistance programs, click here.

To sign up, please visit: https://nhifp.org/volunteers/

If you are interested in volunteering with the LA Regional Food Bank, please visit this link.

amartinez@lafoodbank.org

Facebook - @laworks 

Twitter - @LAWorksNow 

Instagram - @laworksnow

Please visit LAWorks.com

Email Contact:

Get Involved In Your Community

If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain and starting a Neighborhood Watch Program in your neighborhood, please contact your Senior Lead Officer at the email addresses or phone numbers listed below to obtain further details. There are 4 senior lead officers assigned for all of Sherman Oaks:

email: 30853@lapd.online

(818) 731-2565

9SL89

email: 40229@lapd.online

(818) 731-2563

9SL63

email: 36816@lapd.online

(818) 731-2560

9SL41

email: 32914@lapd.online

(818) 731-2562

9SL37

Please sign up on Nextdoor.com to receive current updates about crime trends and events in your community.

You can contact Alan Scher for more information about the Neighborhood Watch Program.

The October edition of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Watch News is available to read online here.

Make a difference as an LAPD volunteer and be the change you want to see in your community. Volunteers represent a broad range of ages, from teenagers to senior citizens. As a volunteer, here are some of the available opportunities:

For information on volunteer opportunities with the LAPD, email Officer Jason Jimenez in the Community Relations Office at 38903@lapd.online, or call (818) 374-5420. You can also get more information about the LAPD Volunteer Program by visiting this link.

Beginning in the 1930's many Hollywood film and television stars served as honorary mayors in their communities, bringing recognition to their local neighborhoods and advocating for public services, roads and parks to better people’s lives.

Former Sherman Oaks honorary mayors included television's Bonanza patriarch actor Lorne Greene in 1963, long time resident, radio and television announcer and Groucho Marx sidekick George Fenneman in 1958, and another famous celebrity resident, pianist, singer, and actor Liberace was the honorary mayor before Fenneman beginning in 1955. Actress and singer Gale Storm was mayor in 1953 and 1954. Actor Richard Arlen served as honorary mayor beginning in 1949. English born film and stage actor Arthur Treacher was honorary mayor of Sherman Oaks in 1945. Funnyman Bud Abbott challenged and beat Sherman Oaks honorary mayor Cliff Arquette in the selling of war bonds at a 1944 rally, taking over the position. B-movie cowboy actor Tom Keene was sworn-in as Sherman Oaks’ honorary mayor during a rodeo competition in 1939.

One of the most notable to serve was actress Marsha Hunt who was named Honorary Mayor of Sherman Oaks by the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce in 1983 and went on to serve in that role for 2 decades. For those of us who knew of her or were fans, Marsha Hunt will live on in our hearts forever. Marsha passed away on Wednesday, September 7th of natural causes at her home in Sherman Oaks, where she had resided since 1946. She would have been 105 years old on October 17.

Marsha has a 7-page resume of service and awards that she had won over the years for her activism. An actress for more than 75 years with over 55 films to her credit, Marsha Hunt also worked for the United Nations and advocated for the homeless. She lived in the San Fernando Valley for most of her life. She was one of the first to recognize the growing homeless problem. She rallied her fellow Valley honorary Mayors and formed the “Valley Mayor’s Fund for the Homeless” and was instrumental in helping to open the first homeless shelter in the Valley in 1985 - today known as Hope of the Valley. Another project near and dear to her heart was “Rose Cottage”, a day care shelter for homeless women and their children. Marsha not only spearheaded the campaign to raise funds but she designed the facility space, making sure that all the women’s needs would be met.

This part of Marsha Hunt's life is not as well known as the story of her rise to stardom beginning with a 17 year old girl in the 1930's making movies at Paramount and MGM and then the fall from grace when she was unfairly blacklisted after making a trip to Washington DC to protest the McCarthy Era House Un-American Activities Committee hearings in the late 1940's along with several other prominent Hollywood actors and writers, and then subsequently refusing to sign a letter saying she had been duped and apologize to the American people. She refused because she hadn’t been duped, and there was nothing to apologize for. She was as American and as patriotic as her accusers claimed to be.

The whole story of Marsha Hunt's life is beautifully documented in the 2015 film "Marsha Hunt's Sweet Adversity", directed by Roger C. Memos. This documentary will be airing on TCM on Thursday October 13th at 10PM PST and 1 AM EST on Friday October 14th- as part of a 75th anniversary Blacklist tribute. Catch a showing if you can, as this is an important piece. Marsha Hunt was truly a Sherman Oaks icon and treasure!