Toluca Lake Magazine

Out & About

Night Out for a Safer Neighborhood

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On August 5, Toluca Lake residents and organizations celebrated community connection at the National Night Out and Safety Fair, hosted by the Toluca Lake Homeowners Association (TLHOA), Toluca Lake Neighborhood Watch and LAPD’s North Hollywood Division. The local attendees joined an estimated 38 million people in 17,000 communities across the U.S. participating in the 42nd annual National Night Out, a campaign dedicated to fostering stronger, safer neighborhoods and strengthening partnerships between law enforcement and the public they serve.

“Toluca Lake had not had a National Night Out in five years,” TLHOA board member Terry Herkner notes. “With the big uptick in crime, particularly burglaries in the fall throughout the community, it was important for our neighbors and friends to see the involvement and partnership of TLHOA, Toluca Lake Neighborhood Watch and the LAPD.”

After a town hall organized by TLHOA and the Neighborhood Watch in January to discuss the rising burglaries in the area, she says, “it was clear we needed a full-scale effort from Toluca Lake and the LAPD to engage the community, which we are doing through the Neighborhood Watch.” Neighborhood Watch co-chairs Steve Hampar and Robyn Allyn have worked tirelessly to recruit watch captains and encourage neighbors to sign up, with Allyn leading the charge to hold dozens of block meetings. Hampar, a member of TLHOA’s Safety Committee, built on their efforts by organizing the National Night Out and enlisting sponsors from the local business community.

The event offered neighbors the opportunity to meet LAPD officers and the Mounted Unit, learn CPR from LAFD and self-defense from Bright Star Martial Arts, and talk safety issues with City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and U.S. Congressmember Luz Rivas. The event also featured safety and crime prevention vendors, refreshments from Red Maple, a kids’ zone, a DJ, giveaways and plenty of neighborly camaraderie to help ensure the area remains a secure and caring place to live and work. Herkner says, “We hope the event has introduced and reinforced the progress and commitment that LAPD and Toluca Lake share in keeping our community safe.”