Alerted to Noise, Flooding Problems : Wachs Impressed by District’s Diversity

Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs continued his crash introduction course to his newly redrawn council district Monday by touring Van Nuys with homeowners who alerted him to areas affected by neighborhood decay, airport noise and drainage problems.

Wachs, who spent Saturday with Sunland and Tujunga residents and Sunday hiking trails in the rural La Tuna Canyon community, said he was impressed by the diversity of the neighborhoods in his district.

For example, Wachs said, Van Nuys homeowners who sponsored Monday’s two-hour tour by van were concerned about the lack of sidewalks and curbing in front of an apartment building. But in the more rural communities of his new district, the councilman found that many residents are struggling to preserve horse trails and open areas and are strictly opposed to sidewalks.

Flooding, Crime Problems

Three members of the Van Nuys Homeowners Assn. acted as tour guides for Wachs and three members of his staff. Major concerns were drainage and flooding near the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Fulton Avenue, loitering and crime caused by prostitution on Peach Avenue between Victory and Sherman Way and noise caused by airport traffic above Woodman Avenue and Hart Street.

Wachs, whose aides jotted down every complaint, reacted strongly when he spotted decay and litter along one block of Valjean Avenue, a street that parallels the Van Nuys Airport. The yards of several houses were covered with dilapidated cars and piles of trash. Plywood covered the window openings of one home, and someone had defaced the walls with red spray paint.

“Now wait!” Wachs said as the van pulled onto the street. “This is horrendous. There’s no doubt about it . . . that is inexcusable.”

Backs Cleanup Ordinance

Wachs said the properties were ripe for an ordinance recently proposed by Councilman Ernani Bernardi, who represented the area until council district lines were redrawn in September. Bernardi’s proposal would allow city crews to clean up property and bill the owners for the cost if they refused to do the job themselves.

Despite the occasional eyesores, Wachs said he was pleased by most of the neighborhoods, many of which boasted immaculately landscaped lawns and sprawling ranch-style homes.

Although he fought the recent redistricting that stripped away much of his political base, Wachs has been busy meeting with as many community groups and people in his new district as possible.

“You can’t take a defeat and throw up your hands,” said Wachs, who was left with only 8% of his old district. “You have to go in there and work twice as hard.”