Favoring the ‘Flip’ Side of Crime Fighting : Shop Owner Has a Tireless Approach to Ridding Area of Prostitution, Drugs and Trash

In recent weeks, we have lamented the case of feuding Neighborhood Watch groups whose members were unable to find common ground against the real foes: prostitution and drug crimes along Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys. That includes one gadfly whose increasingly annoying efforts are apparently causing problems for one of the businesses she is supposedly trying to assist.

As a counterweight, we are pleased to note the efforts of one Philip (Flip) Smith, tire shop owner and rather tireless (sorry) founder of the Sepulveda Boulevard Business Watch. Los Angeles Police Department officials say that Smith and his organization have done more than most to fight crime and urban decay in that part of the San Fernando Valley.

While some establishments--most recently five local hotels--have had to be ordered by city officials to help thwart crime, Smith’s group has persuaded businesses to voluntarily improve lighting and security measures. When it was apparent that prostitutes and drug dealers were using pay telephones to ply their trade, Smith was responsible for the move to reprogram those telephones so they could not receive incoming calls.

Last month, Smith’s group worked with a homeowners association and the Sepulveda Boulevard-area Neighborhood Watch to draft petitions to send to local and state politicians. The petitions urged lawmakers to come up with measures to fight prostitution.

Smith’s work last year included getting local businesses to clean up trash-strewn median strips on the boulevard. “The city can’t afford to take care of the medians,” Smith said. And there was Smith, last August, trumpeting the need for businesses to inspect themselves for--you guessed it--potential earthquake damage.

Most importantly, Smith stresses the need for citizens to work together with police to fight crime. Perhaps others will begin to listen to him.