RESEDA : Protest Planned at Town Hall Meeting

City Councilwoman Laura Chick’s town hall meeting tonight--the first since she took office last summer--may become the scene of a protest by Chick opponents, who are upset about a planned fast-food restaurant in their neighborhood.

Activists in the Quimby Park neighborhood said Tuesday that they are recruiting neighbors to picket the meeting because Chick has not supported their efforts to limit the drive-through window hours at the restaurant.

“We want more people outside than inside Laura Chick’s town hall meeting,” said Marilyn Robinson, a neighbor of a proposed Jack in the Box restaurant at the corner of De Soto Avenue and Vanowen Street in Canoga Park.

Robinson and supporters in local Neighborhood Watch groups believe Jack in the Box’s drive-through window will draw gangs and transients into an area already troubled by crime.

Chick met with restaurant opponents Monday, and to their dismay asserted that the 24-hour drive-through window was acceptable.

“Laura does not see any connection between Jack in the Box being open 24 hours and crime in the neighborhood,” said Denise Binder, district planning deputy for Chick.

The official topic of Wednesday’s meeting is not fast-food restaurants, but crime. Chick, who ran on a platform of hiring more police officers, plans to discuss problems of crime and how to prevent them.

Chick and several police officers will be on hand to discuss “ways to make our neighborhoods safe and to fight apathy,” said Chick field deputy Rayna Gabin.

Officials representing Los Angeles library, parks, elderly services and planning will also answer questions.

The town hall meeting is the first of a series of three that Chick plans for regions in her district. It is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Reseda High School at 18230 Kittridge St.