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LOCAL : Wachs, Police Urge Continued Barricade of Sepulveda Area

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<i> From Times staff and wire service reports</i>

Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs and police officials today called on the council to let barricades thrown up around a 12-square-block Sepulveda neighborhood remain standing to keep out drive-by drug traffic.

Police say the program has been so successful that the streets should be permanently closed off, allowing residents and guests to enter only through a guard station at Sepulveda Boulevard and Rayen Street.

The City Council, which would have to approve permanently removing the streets from public use, was scheduled today to consider an interim measure introduced by Wachs that would keep the roadblocks up as long as police deem necessary.

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Seven of the 15 council members said last week that they support the idea--and two said they are considering it--but some have reservations about the impact on nearby areas. Last week, police officials conceded that narcotics activity has increased in nearby areas.

Council members Joel Wachs, Ernani Bernardi, Hal Bernson, Mike Woo, Gloria Molina, Zev Yaroslavsky and Robert Farrell said they support the proposal.

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