Introduction (and thanks!)

Our community immersion experience was truly unique and wonderful. We could not have done it alone and so we have a couple thank yous...


We would like to thank Officer Connors at the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department, David at Cedar Sinai Hospital, Jeff at the Jeff Griffith Youth Center, as well as Ramona, Eric, Minerva and Becky for being fantastic leaders during our community immersion experience!


We'd also like to thank the City Of West Hollywood...for existing, for being so open to our visit, and for helping to introduce us to the world of social work!


What you read below was put together through the collective efforts of everyone in Sam Mistrano's 534 Policy Class. Thanks to everyone for your wonderful contributions and insights!

Demographics, Boundaries and Mutual Aid

Demographics

The City of West Hollywood has a diverse population but differs to the general demographics of Los Angeles County. The last counted population in West Hollywood was 35,716. Of that population, 86% are Caucasian, 8% are Latino, 3% are Asian and 3% are African American. A majority of the population is between the ages of 25-44. The city has a high propensity of gay, Jewish and eastern European populations.

West Hollywood is a very affluent city and community. There are several bars, eating establishments and high end retail shops. It is known as the playground for many celebrities that either reside in WeHo or reside in the neighboring cities and communities.

West Hollywood is a highly educated city that has higher then average incomes then the County of Los Angeles.

A majority of the population in West Hollywood either live in an apartment or duplex. There is a small percentage of residents that live in single family homes.

West Hollywood has a high yielding gay and lesbian population. The demographics have been changing and getting higher. The next Census is likely to show an increase in the gay, lesbian and bisexual population.

There is also a need for medical assistance relating to HIV/AIDS in West Hollywood.

A very small percentage of the population of West Hollywood is under 18 years of age.

Boundaries

Incorporated: November 29, 1984

84th city in Los Angeles County

Area: 1.9 square miles

Bounded by the Cities of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills

Bordered by: On the east by La Brea

On the west by Doheny

On the north by Sunset

On the south by Beverly

References

Kocher, S. (2002). City of west hollywood demographic profile. Retrieved August 23,

2009, from

http://www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/DetailGroup/navid/159/cid/1666/

Map of West Hollywood [Online Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved August 23, 2009, from

http://www.thesbian.com/wehoho/images/wehomap.gif

Mutual Aid

Walking through the community of West Hollywood and observing the neighborhood the only sign of neighbors being readily available to each other was the neighborhood watch signs posted throughout the community. This may be due to the fact that most of the housing in West Hollywood are apartment buildings and condos.



Therefore, we did not see neighbors interacting with one another outside of their homes. And even though this was the case, when interviewing some of the residents of West Hollywood, they shared that they felt safe and had no problems with the gay and lesbian population who reside in the community. None of those interviewed had any concerns or negative remarks to make in regards to the gay and lesbian population who reside in the community.

The city of West Hollywood offers an incredible amount of services and resources to not only its residents but non-residents as well. For example, those in need of any type of support and/or assistants may go to the Community Center in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 for assistants. The Community Center offers many programs specifically catering to youth and seniors, such as a meal program, health education, and a dance program in their dance studio located on site.



While visiting the community center we also walked around Plummer Park and noticed that this park alike others in the community appeared to be a place where families and seniors gather. The population in this park was typically elderly men and young families with toddlers. We noted that the elderly men sat at the park tables playing games and socializing with one another and the young families watched and played with their toddlers. Some of the park’s facilities include tennis courts and a play area for children.



In addition, there were also specific community centers for the gay and lesbian population that we visited. For example, the Jeffry Griffith Youth Center, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, located at 7051 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038. Their main focus is providing support to the gay and lesbian homeless and run away population between the ages of 14 and 24. Although, the center caters to the homosexual population, heterosexuals meeting these criteria are also welcomed. The center provides free meals, shelter, mental health services, GED assistants, HIV testing and many other resources.



www.lafreeclinic.org

http://laglc.convio.net/site/PageServer

Another location that we visited was the Gateway Center. The population there included gay, lesbian, and a few heterosexuals. The Gateway Center appeared to be a place where one can hang out, shop, and enjoy a nice meal. Finally, another meeting place we noted was the Abbey, an open patio bar where the gay and lesbian population tends to hang out.

http://www.abbeyfoodandbar.com/

http://events.la.com/west-hollywood-ca/venues/show/728413-the-great-hall-at-plummer-park

http://www.westhollywoodgateway.com/

The city of West Hollywood also offers service clubs such as the Lions Club which is located between Robertson Blvd. and Melrose Ave. The Lions Club focus is to improve their community. http://westhollywoodca.lionwap.org/

http://www.md4lions.org/

Something interesting that we found during our walk through the community of West Hollywood is that we did not note any churches, mosques, and/or synagogues. As a matter of fact, we did not note any signs of any religious affiliations.

Local Facilities, Social Control and Social Networks

Local Facilities

Service Agencies In The Community:
The city of West Hollywood has many different service agencies for it residents in the community. The service agencies we visited on our tour of the city were the West Hollywood Sheriff Station, the local STD testing/walk-in clinic, the community center at Plummer Park, and the Jeff Griffith youth center.



West Hollywood Sheriff Station:
The Sheriff Station is located at 780 N. San Vicente Blvd; it is next door to the Pacific Design Center. The Sheriffs are contracted with the city of West Hollywood to protect and serve the community. Our guide Deputy Connors took us on a tour of the station, we were able to see where all the action takes place in the dispatch center, watch sergeant’s offices, and the booking center. The Sheriffs are responsible for patrolling the city. On avenge the city of West Hollywood has about 39,000 residents. On the weekends this population can easily go over 100,000 people, due to the live nightlife in the city with many local nightclubs and bars. The Sheriff boarders of the city are from La Brea (East), Doheny (West), Beverly (South), and Sunset (North). On average they have about ten Deputy’s out on patrol daily.

According to Deputy Connor’s one of the main complains from residents in the community is about the homeless. The Sheriff station works with a local group called People Assigning The Homeless (P.A.T.H), whom they will turn to when a homeless people is not braking the law. Another issues the city is having is more people having their cars vandalize. It’s very important not to leave any personal items such as wallets, bag, and clothes in the car where it could be seen. According to Deputy Connor’s, “someone’s car can get broken into over the smallest things”.

The Sheriffs in this community seem to have great control over everything that relates to them within the city. The people of the city seem to have a good relationship with them as well. This is very important. According to the Deputy’s we met they love being assigned to West Hollywood. The only issue for them is the traffic coming and going to work.

For more information of the West Hollywood Sheriff Station please visit:

http://www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/356/

For more information on People Assigning The Homeless (P.A.T.H) please visit:

http://www.epath.org/approach/response.php


STD Testing Center:
Located across the street from the Sheriff’s station on San Vicente is a local STD testing center, called The Spot, which is run by the Gay and Lesbian Center. The location for this center could be easily over looked if one did not know its location. There is a sign, however it is too small, and could be missed. One does not have to make an appointment; walk inns are accepted. The services are low to no cost, and they offer rapid testing for HIV (that is same day results).


Community Center at Plummer Park:
The community center is a wonderful jewel for the city of West Hollywood. They offer their services to anyone (you don’t have to be a resident of West Hollywood), but most of the services are for the youth and senior population. Services include:

• The teen center for the youth (ages 9-17). The youth take part in workshops such as film, dance, and writing. They also go on field trips, and receive homework help.
• The adult school; this is most for the senior from Russia learning to speak English.
• Exercises class (Yoga & Tai Chi)
• Lunch Program (Meals as low at $2 a day for seniors and people with disabilities)
• Computer Class
• Dance Classes (Tango & Belly Dancing)
• Book Fair and other special events

Besides all the great services the community center has to offer, Plummer Park itself is a really nice park to relax during the day. There is a large tennis court, lots of grass for laying out in the sun, and plenty of table to play card games. That is if you can get a spot with all the local senior who play dominoes at the tables. The thing I like the most about this park is the memorial, which is dedicated “In Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust”. It’s a nice way for the community to share the feeling of gone but not forgotten.

Jeff Griffith Youth Center:
The Jeff Griffith youth center is an amazing place. They are doing great work for today’s run away youth. They work with youth age 14-24. The services include:

• Food Program (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
• Over night shelter (if needed, there are ten beds)
• Shower area
• Laundry services
• Clothing closet
• Computer room,
• Hang out/ TV room
• GED program
• Bus tokens
• Health education (STD’s, hygiene, and referrals to medical services),
• Daily groups sessions (anger management, and drug/crystal meth support groups)
• Mental Health Services

This center is open to any youth who is in need of its services.

The clothing closet is a donation-based service the center offers the youth who need clothing. The center is in need of donations of clothing. They really need women’s clothing (bras, underwear) and feminine products. If you can, please make a donation!!!

The Jeff Griffith Youth Center is located at 7051 Santa Monica Blvd. For more information, call 323-860-2280.

Or visit the web site at:

http://laglc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=YW_Youth_Services


Shopping Areas:
In the city of West Hollywood there are many shopping areas, but most of them seem to be high-end boutiques, which are located on Robinson. There is also a mall, which is called “The Beverly Center”. This is one of Los Angeles top trendsetting shopping areas. The Beverly Center has brand stores such as: The Apple Store, Armani Exchange, Banana Republic, Bloomingdale’s, Brookstone, Burberry, Coach, D&G, Gucci, Louis Vutton, Macy’s, M.A.C, and Sephora just to name a few. This mall is also the home of some great restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle, Grand Lux Café, and P.F. Chang’s. There is also a movie theater located inside the mall. The Beverly Center is a large marketplace with over 160 stores. There is lots of parking space, and one never know which celebrity they may run into while shopping at the Beverly Center.



Food Markets:
The city of West Hollywood seems to be a health conscious place when it comes to food. During our visit we only saw one Trader Joe’s Supermarket. This Trader Joe’s was a normal size grocery store. They had a wide variety of goods for it’s shoppers such as: prepackaged foods, frozen foods, fresh fruits/vegetables, cheese, wines, nice cuts of meats, and seafood’s. The cost of the food is the average cost accorded to today’s standards. There is a large parking lot, and a bus stop at the corner. There are also other stores such as a nails shop in the same shopping center. Trader Joe’s is great place to do ones grocery shopping, however there should be more of a variety when it comes to food markets in a community.


Library:
The City of West Hollywood has a Library that is located on San Vicente directly across the street from the Pacific Design Center and the Sheriffs Station. This was the only library we saw on tour of the city. This library has been in the community since 1960 and is the home to thousands of book, magazines, and newspapers. This library is also connected to other city resources such as the local pool and West Hollywood neighborhood park. When we toured this area there were lots of people out enjoying these city resources. There were plenty of people in the pool doing laps, and the park was crowded with children on the playground.

The library is currently under construction. The city is rebuilding a bigger and more modern library. It’s called “The West Hollywood Library Project” this is a very important undertaking for the of West Hollywood city. After the completion the library will be 42,000 square foot, three stores high, and filled with art and other cultural items from the community. The library, pool, and park are still accessible to the community during construction.

The West Hollywood Library Project link (check it out):

http://www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/detail/navid/311/cid/3509/

Schools:
During our tour of West Hollywood we did not see any schools. What we learned from talking to people in the community was the nearest high school is Fairfax Senior High School located on Melrose. The middle school is Hubert Howe Bancroft Middle School located on Las Palmas Ave. The city has two elementary school: West Hollywood Elementary located on Hammond St, and Rosewood Elementary located on Croft Ave.

Banks In the Community:
When walking through the different areas of West Hollywood, there seems to be a good number of banks and ATMS located on the main streets. If you think about the plethora of boutiques, cafes, and other shopping options, it was not a complete surprise to see that banks were visible for both residents, as well as visitors. When speaking to a young gentleman who lives in the area and asking him about his thoughts on the use of banks in the area, he shared, “I think there are plenty of banks in West Hollywood.. There are two Bank Of Americas nearby, which is where I bank. For this local resident, it wasn’t so much the “service” or “reputation” that mattered. His choice was made simply because it was convenient.

Hospitals In the Community:
We had the privilege of visiting one of West Hollywood’s biggest hospitals, Cedar Sinai. In fact, it is one of the largest for-profit hospitals west of the Mississippi, comprised of 10,000 employees We had the opportunity to hear from David, the Manager for Medical Social Work at Cedar-Sinai. He had a wealth of information to share. In regards to the patients that come through:

· 800-850 patients each day

· Over 45,000 inpatient a year; 75,000 for emergency

· Social Workers will see anywhere from 80-85 patients over the course of a month

· Open referral system; Social Workers are free to see any patient

· The numbers per social worker may vary, depending on a patient’s active needs

· Private rooms to comply with HIPPA

Not only did David share all the facts, but he provided us with advice, guidance, and anecdotes as we embark on our first year of our MSW Program. One phrase we will surely remember, “It’s all about the patient---and helping the family understand that it’s about the patient. Another great piece of advice, “Be humble. Be Understanding.” He used these small phrases to share what it is like working in healthcare, and what we need to know if we are considering the field. He said, “Working in Healthcare can be challenging.” He said that you are there to see and do what you need to do; make compromises; and make an impact “right now.” He shared that you will learn to “pick and choose your questions,” and to be accountable.

After giving us more information about the healthcare field, he shared what is practiced at Cedar-Sinai: brief intervention, crisis intervention, and problem solving. He then gave us more information on the history of Cedar Saini.

More detailed information and background can be found here: http://www.csmc.edu/5.html


City Hall:
The City Hall is located 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard between La Cienega and Fairfax. They are open Mon-Thurs 8am - 6pm; Fridays 8am - 5pm. However, after doing a little research online, we found that the official reports that “the City Hall is closed every other Friday as part of the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Regulation XV.”

We thought it might be interesting to see if local residents were aware of their city Hall. One gentlemen responded, “City hall at Sweetzer and Santa Monica, very accessible. great parking there after hours too.” This local resident shared that it was a great place for his friends to park after hours, when there was no street parking available.

More information can be found by visiting the Official City of West Hollywood Website:
http://www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/77/


Looking For The Courthouse:
After learning that the West Hollywood area was patrolled by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s, we wondered where the local court cases were handled. Unfortunately, we didn’t’ get a chance to ask Deputy Connor this question. Therefore, we asked a local resident. When asking a local resident where the courthouse was, he responded with, “Luckily I have no idea. Maybe down by the sheriff station on Santa Monica blvd and san Vicente?” After doing some online research, we found that several of the court hearings actually take placed in Los Angeles County at the Central District Hollywood Courthouse (Located at 5925 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA).


Gas & Transportation:
Since our group had the opportunity to visit West Hollywood on both a weekday and a weekend, we were able to observe and compare what the traffic was like. There were streets that were certainly busier than others in terms of car traffic and foot traffic. For example, Santa Monica an San Vicente seemed to be quite busy with mostly cars, whereas Robertson seemed to be busy with both cars and pedestrians (possibly due to all the shopping).

In order to evaluate the means of transportation and resources, we found that talking to residents was a must. When trying to evaluate the presences of gas stations, it was really hard to gage our selves, since we walked a limited amount of streets. When speaking to one local resident, we asked how accessible and affordable it was. He responded, “Pretty good gas. The best is Exxon on Crescent Heights and Santa Monica blvd. Cheap Gas!” Also, there is Mobil, which I hate...no credit cards.” This resident didn’t’ seem too concerned with the brand of gas, but more so, that he was able to pay with his credit card. Again, (much like the choice of bank), we’ve found that convenience is important!

We also asked this resident about access to public Transportation. He express that there are “lots of buses and even a community shuttle for 25 cents.” He mentioned that he only took it once. He shared, “Only for a 5 min ride to local bar or restaurant to avoid parking and because it allowed me to have a drink.

The City of West Hollywood provides a great website listing the various means of transportation. In fact, there is detailed information regarding subsidy programs (bus/cabs) for the elderly, the ill, and community members with disabilities. More information can be found by clicking:

http://www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/t/tsk/8/

Social Control

If you’re thinking about visiting West Hollywood in the near future and wondering how safe the city is, then this section is for you. The City of West Hollywood appears to be a well kept city, perhaps due to the very efficient Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Hollywood Media, the City Counsel and local Neighborhood Watch Associations, just to name a few. These and other agencies are responsible for the safety of those living in the City of West Hollywood, and they work together to ensure that this community remains a safe and healthy environment. Although other areas around Los Angeles have a more noticeable police presence, you are likely to see a sheriff’s car around the city. It is important to note, however, that there does not seem to be as much police presence on the eastern side of the city. This might be because the sheriff’s station is located on the west end. Additionally, some other types of social control present in the city are pet control and rent control.

· Los Angeles County Sheriff’s West Hollywood Station – www.wehosheriff.com/

· Hollywood Media – This is an intermediary group that can be called upon by various agencies in the area before the Sheriffs are needed to intervene. They do not carry guns, but have the authority to arrest people if situations get out of hand.

· Community Impact Team – This includes the efforts of the Sunset Policing Team, the Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Team, and the Special Problems Unit Team. http://www.wehosheriff.com/special.htm

o Sunset Policing Team (SPT) – This team was created to give more attention to policing the Sunset Strip, an area known for having many bars and clubs. Four deputies patrol the area on motorcycles.

o Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Team (COPPS) – This 6-person team targets criminal transients in the city.

o Special Problems Unit Team (SPT) – with the help of 6 deputies, they sometimes work undercover in order to suppress crime, narcotics, and prostitution, among other things.

· City Counsel – They provide leadership and a means for which the city, its members, and the Mayor John Duran to create goals and in order to improve the quality of life in the city. www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/detail/navid/390/cid/238

· Neighborhood Watch – www.whwra.org/crimewatch.html

· Rent Stabilization – The city makes sure that the tenants and the renters know their rights and responsibilities. http://www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/113/

· Pet Control – The city also enforces the laws about pets, however they are very cooperative when it comes to allowing pets in most areas of the city, including most of its public parks. http://www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/439/

Social Networks

In the community of West Hollywood, you can find a lot of different types of social networking such as a community center that offers a variety of services such as writing workshops, ESL classes, different types of dancing classes, and computer courses. There are a wide variety of resources from the local library that are made easily accessible to the public. Other than the wild night time weekend life, the people of West Hollywood come together and join groups to support diversity such as (refer to evidence of diversity). Many groups have been established that aid in assisting the population affected by HIV/AIDS, the Senior Citizens, along with the Russian and Jewish communities, and it is evident through the types of diverse resources available to these populations.

There are numerous events throughout the year that help unite people all over such as the gay pride festival, the AIDS marathon, and year round camps and activities for children. The Jeff Griffin Youth Center is amongst many centers and shelters that help service run away and GLBT teens. It is a privilege in my eyes to have resources like this in a local city area. The Russian and Jewish communities have many activities and areas where they can congregate and interact. Holocaust survivors have places they can go to reunite and speak their stories. This to me is a very important network to have and I am relieved to see this type of service available. Overall, West Hollywood seemed to have more social networks than most cities I have visited. I felt that the people of the city had many avenues available to help get the services they need. I actually would feel more accepted living in West Hollywood than in my small suburban city.

As an interconnected community ensuring the safety of its residents, it is easy to find neighborhood watch signs throughout the City of West Hollywood.

The residents of West Hollywood seem to be very interconnected. However, the population living in the west side of town is different from the one in the east side. In the former, there is a vibrant GLBT community that is very united, as can be inferred by the number of GLBT social settings and the political notices against Prop. 8.

In the latter, there is a tight-knit community of Russian senior citizens and disabled individuals who gather together at the park and its community center to socialize and play board games.

The community of West Hollywood displays a plethora of Social networks; amongst their 39,000 residents, they offer a variety of assistance to their community and surroundings cities. West Hollywood’s Sherriff Department connects local residents with neighborhood watch groups. To assist their homeless population, the Sheriff’s Department, works together with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless). The Department also provides a Mental Health Response team. According to Deputies Kevin Connors and Jon Klaus the deputies stated they do not want to arrest but to help those that are in need of such services. West Hollywood also has a community garden. The Abby and the Motherlode, are one of the many popular hot spots; It’s a great social meeting place for both gay and straight people. On the weekends more than 100 to 200 thousand people crowd the West Hollywood bars, clubs and restaurants; making it one of the most busiest party cities in Los Angeles.

Identity & Civic Engagement, Assets & Risks, Insider Perspective

Identity and Civic Engagement:

· The community in West Hollywood identifies primarily as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender), which is evident with the placement of rainbow flags that line the streets; the flags are along the borders of the city: down Santa Monica Blvd. between Fairfax St. and San Vicente Blvd. In a census collected in 2006, it was recorded that approximately 44% of the population identifies themselves as apart of the LGBT community.

· Another group that the city of West Hollywood identifies with is the Russian population. It is known from the 2006 census that approximately 8% of West Hollywood’s residents are from what was formerly the Soviet Union. The Eastside of the city offers a more eclectic cultural aspect to the intimate city, (e.g. Russian Nights Festival, an event held every summer).

· Residents of West Hollywood largely identify with the Democratic Party affiliation.

· To ensure the safety and protection of the city’s residents, concerned citizens and officials hold neighborhood watch meetings in their local area. On record, the City has 20 Neighborhood Watch Group meetings within the two square mile radius that encompasses the city.*

· The city has a Domestic Partners Registration program which enables any two individuals to have their relationship officially recognized by The City of West Hollywood.*

· Accommodating many of the residents, domestic partners of city employees may be eligible for medical benefits.

· The City of West Hollywood hosts a series of forums to address issues or concerns, such as “Gay Men Forum”, “Human Rights Speaker Series”, and “Public Hearings” regarding proposed construction and development. *

· According to the sheriff’s department, the community held several rallies to oppose Prop 8 (a proposition on the ballot in the state of California to legalize gay marriage) in front of City Hall.

· While religious institutions were not prevalent in the main business district of West Hollywood, there are a significant number of religious organizations within the city limits. The city offers places of worship to a variety of creeds, including Scientology, Catholicism, Judaism, Christian Science, among many others. St. Victor’s Catholic Church, located at 8634 Holloway Dr. West Hollywood, CA 90069, is notable for its AIDS Memorial Chapel. Once a year they hold a prayer ceremony in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to AIDS. Also from the 2006 census, it is known that about 10% of the community is affected by AIDS/HIV.

*If you are interested in attending or participating the events or forums please visit the cities website at www.weho.org for more information.

Assests/Risks

When one mentions assets in terms of a community, this describes all the positive and enriching places, people and services that benefit the community. The risks are what may make a community unattractive or potentially dangerous. Listed below are some key resources we observed depicting the assets, as well as some of the risks in West Hollywood.

Eating Establishments: The Food Lab is located at the heart of West Hollywood on Santa Monica. The catering company café, caters to organic consumers, eco-friendly, and healthy eaters. As we walked by, a handful of people from their late twenties to mid thirties waited to be seated. Just on the other side in the courtyard the tables were occupied by people already having lunch on a Saturday morning. As the business owners state they use only organic, nitrate & hormone free ingredients wherever possible. They purchase their produce on a daily basis, source their meats and poultry carefully, and prepare all of our food with love and care. In addition they mention that their eat-ware, ranging from plates, cutlery, cups, and packaging is 80% environmentally friendly and biodegradable. “It is extremely important to us to be a leader in keeping this planet clean and beautiful, and therefore have made every effort in finding items that are not only attractive but also harmless.”

Places of Worship: There are 9 religious institutions in West Hollywood where one can participate in Catholic, Jewish, Methodist, Buddhist, Episcopalian, Prebysterian, and Episcopalian worship. The West Hollywood Presbyterian Church is inviting to diversity, welcoming, “lesbian couples and their kids, gay couples and their kids, and straight families, single straight people and single gay people and transgendered people, not to mention people of every color and age” as their website states (http://www.wehopres.org/)


Businesses: Trader Joe’s was the most notable marketplace in West Hollywood. We noticed that it is not too crowded and when we spoke to a director, he did mention that the clientele is comprised of a much older population. They host community events such as Beach Bingo, attracting the second highest population, seniors at 21 %. At the same time, it continues to serve the healthy-conscious food connoisseurs by providing a variety of organic products.

Education: There are 6 elementary schools of which 4 are private, 1 charter, and 1 public. To continue secondary education, parents can choose from 4 middle schools, 3 being private, and 1 being public. For the past 25 year, since the city first became its own entity, there has been no High School serving West Hollywood. Students are expected to attend the local LAUSD schools; Fairfax High School, and Hollywood High. This suggests that there are not many families who continue living in West Hollywood for an extended period of time, since the need for a high school has not been developed over the past twenty years. Majority of the residents in West Hollywood do not have school age children. Majority of the schools located in West Hollywood are private implying the residents of this community are fairly economically stable.

Community: Another key asset to this community is the West Hollywood Community Center. They offer a wide range of services ranging from adult school, to ESL for seniors, to exercise classes such as: Tai Chi and Yoga. They also offer dance classes such as: Tango, Belly Dancing, Folk Dancing and Hip Hop. They offer computer classes, and host tenant rights clinics. The great thing about this center is that services may be accessed by non-residents.

Homelessness: West Hollywood does have risks and amongst them is homelessness. In fact, according to the Sheriff’s Station, their main complaint from residents is related to homelessness. Local business owners or residents call to complain about transients loitering around their businesses or homes. The Sheriff’s Station however, does work alongside PATH-People Assisting the Homeless, an outreach group for the transient community. Instead of immediately arresting the homeless, the Sherriff’s Department gives them an opportunity to get connected with resources.

Outsiders and Crime: Another risk of residing in West Hollywood is the massive influx of outsiders coming to the city. West Hollywood’s actual population is estimated at 39,000 people, but on weekends can range anywhere from 100,000 to 120,000. As a result, the streets become congested since a lot of cars must park on the street. The Sheriff’s Station did mention that a large volume of the crimes occurring in West Hollywood, are related to auto burglaries. There is also very strict parking enforcement, and are fined for not reading the signs carefully. On an 8 hour shift, a West Hollywood Parking Enforcement officer issues about 40 tickets in one day. The number of reported crimes in West Hollywood as noted by the West Hollywood Sheriff’s was 11 for the week of August 12-19, 2009. On 2 of those days, there were no reported crimes.

Neighborhood: The sense of community is a strong element accented by community groups established outside of law enforcement agencies. The Neighborhood Watch program in West Hollywood is a means for keeping dealing with crime. In addition, residents in West Hollywood are involved and invested in their communities as they present their views and ideas to the City Council meetings. Overall, a sense of community helps to bring people of West Hollywood together and establish common interests.

From our observations, it is evident that the assets of the West Hollywood community by far outweigh the risks. People are very friendly, as well as pet friendly. In addition, this community is very socially progressive. Same-sex couples or other domestic partnerships are given the same rights as heterosexual partnerships in which the couples are legally married. Overall, West Hollywood is a great community to live in and to enjoy on the weekends.

Insider Perspective

After conversing with many of the residents, they stated that their neighborhood is very safe and friendly. On both Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning, there were families out in the parks and walking down the streets with their children. Because West Hollywood is stereotypically known for its night-life, we asked one father his opinion on the neighborhood. He described it as peaceful and safe and that the transition to the night-light is very natural—almost like the tides—and that around 5 all of the families go home and the club going crowd comes out. He said that at least from his perspective, nobody resents the change and that both groups are very respectful of the other’s space.

In the West Hollywood area, there were not any fast food restaurants which mean that citizens are able to sit down in a facility and communicate with the workers there. That is a different mentality compared to busier cities that have an over abundance of fast food locations.

The most common crime in West Hollywood is property theft—mostly coming from thieves breaking into cars. Because street parking in West Hollywood is more common than parking lots, garages, or gated lots, cars line the streets leaving them as prime targets for break-ins. The homeless population of West Hollywood does not seem to be a risk, with the majority calls into the sheriff’s station coming from business owners needing occasional help with a homeless person sleeping, urinating or drinking outside their establishment.

During our conversations with the sheriff’s department, Officer Kevin Connors stated that more of the homeless population decides to stay in the West Hollywood community compared to other locations around the city. He reasoned that this was because they are often left alone and not bothered whereas in other communities around Los Angeles they are often disrespected and seen as a nuisance. Many residents want to stay because the area is safe and the crime rate is low. They reap the benefits of having a hospital in such a close proximity to them, as well as other resources such as a brand new Pavillions and the Beverly Center. Because West Hollywood is well known for being GLBTQ friendly, many members of this population choose to live here, allowing them to be generally free of judgment and persecution as well as placing them in the vicinity of the bars and clubs that are friendly to their demographic.

One of the only complaints that Officer Connors had about West Hollywood was the traffic. Because it is not in the direct vicinity of any major Los Angeles freeways, getting to West Hollywood can be an issue of navigating busy and crowded surface streets. This issue intensifies on the nights and weekends, when club goers and bar hoppers flood the city, doubling and sometimes tripling the population, which leads to even more traffic and crowded streets.

Many of the residents of West Hollywood seemed to share similar opinions about their area. Most viewed it as a safe and accepting environment in which to live, being generally free of crime with good neighborhood resources and reasonable cost of living prices.


The views and ideas of the community have an impact on some of the policy that keeps the city governed. They’re ideas start with things such as private parking all the way up to how the neighborhood watches are set up. Much of the revenue the city makes comes from their parking system. With street parking, meters and paid public parking, the city capitalizes on the influx of visitors.

Outsiders Perspective, Diversity and Homelessness

Outside Perspective

An outsider’s perspective of West Hollywood depends heavily on the individual’s acceptance of non-traditional life styles.

West Hollywood is comprised of 39% lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) individuals. This makes it a difficult community to reside in if an outsider is homophobic. However, those who have been exposed to this particular life style, directly or indirectly, are able to overlook the “differences” between “insider’s” and “outsider’s” views.

Some outsiders enjoy the atmosphere that West Hollywood has to offer mainly because of its unique sub-culture. Its friendly environment enables individuals outside this community to feel welcome and opens up the possibility of making it an easy transition if the desire to move into the community arises.

· However, those who may enjoy visiting West Hollywood because of its glamor, popularity, distinctive shopping, and exquisite dining, may not necessarily look at it as a place they would like to reside in due to its highly congestive traffic throughout the day. This problem worsens during holiday season when parades and other events such as the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival and political rallies are taking place.

· Many of these festivities create problems for law enforcement because of the excessive drinking establishments, and the lack of secured parking which then turns vehicles into easy break-in targets.

· Individuals who reside outside of West Hollywood city limits may be viewed as outsiders or the “other.”

· In the past year current legislation has affected the West Hollywood LGBT community by passing Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriages. No longer will domestic partners be given the same opportunity to marry as heterosexual couples.

· Although many social differences have affected the LGBT population, the city of West Hollywood continues to be a friendly and welcoming community.

Evidence of Diversity

There is a clear evidence of diversity in West Hollywood. The GLBT community prospers in this area and is welcomed and supported my many streaming from surrounding neighbors to the Sheriffs of the city. Diversity is welcomed in this community and is very refreshing. At the Youth Center, there are many services rendered to the youth who are as diverse as they come. While walking around the city, rainbow flags are commonly seen displayed in the streets openly. Also, while looking inside shop windows, you can see “Repeal Prop 8” signs posted inside shops.

Not only is the city sensitive to those of various sexual orientations, but the city also helps with those from different cultures. For example, the city of West Hollywood and Russian Advisory Board came together to help entertain the Russian community with cultural events for them to enjoy along with performing arts events throughout the year. It was intriguing to see the rules and regulations signs Plummer Park are translated into not only English and Spanish, but also in Russian. This shows us which populations predominantly live in this area. It seems like this city is focused on providing services and care to everyone that resides there and accepts diversity with loving arms. I myself felt very comfortable among the diverse crowds and individuals I saw in West Hollywood, and would not hesitate to return soon.



Cedars Sinai displays a huge Star of David on the top of the hospital; the community displays sensitivity to all people from diverse backgrounds.

The community holds strong to their value of diversity. There is a free spirited attitude towards human sexuality. The community seems open to all people who want to express themselves freely for who they are and want they strive for in their community. In the parks I observed many bi-racial couples and gay individuals. The modern art museums openly display erotic art, storefronts advertisement sexy clothes and sex toys on storefront windows.

These links are very helpful :

www.weho.org (provides info on Services City of W. Hollywood has to offer)

www.epath.org (People assisting the homeless)

http://www.lagaycenter.org/

Jeff Griffith Youth Center (323) 461-8163

7051 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038

www.lagaycenter.org; e-mail youthservices@laglc.org

http://www.friendsofaids.org/hivstdtesting.html

Homelessness

The City of West Hollywood does not appear to be effected by homelessness very much; their almost pristine streets are pedestrian friendly without the impediment of homelessness.

· Depending on the time of year, they might have anywhere from 75-100 homeless.

· When homeless people disturb business owners, patrons or become destructive of city property, authorities are notified and the homeless are removed and taken of out of the city’s limits. Calls made to the Sheriff’s Department by business owners have had to do with panhandling, urinating in public, and harassing customers.

· At times when the homeless become a disturbance, instead of detaining them in jail, the Sheriff will place a call to PATH, (People Assisting the Homeless). This is an agency that provides them with a bed for the night, clothing, showers, and a nutritious meal.

· The Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition also helps feed the homeless; this program is located at 1040 N. La Brea, Los Angeles, CA 90038, the boarder of the city limits.

· The few homeless that live in West Hollywood primarily repose in West Hollywood Park during the day. At nighttime they tend to migrate east to Plummer Park, another park in the city of West Hollywood. (picture if available)

· For the most part according to the Sheriff Department, the homeless feel comfortable and a lot safer in West Hollywood due to the fact that they are not harassed by other homeless.