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.
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