Fixing Our Sidewalks and Remembering Tom LaBonge

The City’s plans for repairing our sidewalks has been suspended because of the budget crisis caused by the COVID epidemic.  However, as everyone knows, many of the sidewalks in Hancock Park not only need repair, but are a hazard to pedestrians.  The Association has asked the City’s Street Services Department for help in getting the most dangerous sidewalks fixed.  Block captains will be identifying the problematic sidewalks on their block and, with the Association, will build a list of the sidewalks that are most in need of immediate repair.  This list will be submitted to the City’s Department of Street Services which will prioritize repairs based on estimates of liability and schedule repairs.  Unfortunately, this process will only address the most egregious situations, so we’re also exploring other funding options to pay for repairs, including using Association dues and resident participation.  This is a difficult time not only for Hancock Park but for the entire City and the Association will be continuing to investigate ways to keep making progress on backlogged infrastructure work.

We send our condolences to the family of our former councilman, Tom LaBonge, who recently passed away.  Tom started out as the Hancock Park field deputy to Councilman John Ferraro and he played an important part in the successful effort to install our beautiful historic streetlights.   Tom was our Councilman when Hancock Park successfully established itself as an HPOZ and Hancock Park’s history and beauty are now preserved for all future generations.  He loved all the neighborhoods in his district, taking photographs of landmarks that became part of the calendars that were his annual gift to his constituents. 

This is when we ask our members to support the Association’s work by paying their annual dues.  You’ll receive a mailing soon, so please donate; we need your support now more than ever.  One of the things your dues pay for is parkway tree planting, which is now in process.  Let us now, via the website, if you need a tree. 

Don’t forget to consult our HPOZ Planner Suki Gershenhorn (suki.gershenhorn@lacity.org) before starting projects that change the exterior of your house. The Preservation Plan, which regulates our HPOZ is at preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park. Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System: laocb.org/programs/graffiti-abatement and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180.