Cutting Back Business Hours to Fight Crime

A city zoning administrator on March 2 ordered five Van Nuys motels to hire security guards and work with police to reduce crime or risk being shut down. The measure was lauded by community leaders but criticized by motel operators as expensive and unfair. Now some community leaders concerned about crime on Sepulveda Boulevard have called for the city to extend its crackdown to include other 24-hour businesses that may increase crime in the area.

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Should businesses believed to contribute to the high crime rate be required to reduce their hours and hire security guards, or should other measures be considered?

Capt. James McMurray, commander of the Police Department’s Van Nuys station:

“I prefer, as we have done, to deal with these (businesses) on a case-by-case basis. Those businesses that have demonstrated an inability to control their clientele should be closed. But there are some businesses in that area that are perfectly capable of conducting business without drawing prostitution and they should be allowed to continue. We are in touch with those community groups so we know almost the next morning if a business is adding to the problem or not. It’s better energy spent on those few specific ones rather than targeting everything.”

Marvin Braude, Los Angeles City Councilman who asked for the initial investigation of all 11 motels in his district:

“I think it is appropriate for the city to require additional controls on those businesses which contribute to certain types of crime in the neighborhood. We have done this for many years with liquor stores, dance halls and the like. The city attorney has advised the city that we can legally take additional steps to make business owners responsible for what occurs on their premises and in large measure these have been supported by the Los Angeles Police Department and the community organizations in the neighborhoods where these problems exist.”

Romana Catton, police community representative for a Sepulveda Boulevard neighborhood watch group and founder of Unified Community Watch:

“I don’t think you can generalize and say every 24-hour restaurant and store. I think you have to pinpoint businesses that clearly contribute to the crime, which is also verified by police reports. . . . Since crime is so prevalent on the boulevard in the late evening hours, businesses that do contribute to the crime need to have their hours addressed and on-site security. I’m not saying they absolutely have to have it, but it needs to be addressed. . . . LAPD knows which businesses contribute to crime. There are some businesses on the boulevard that are open 24 hours that I don’t think contribute to crime. I don’t think they should investigate every 24-hour store. It’s unethical and very expensive. I don’t think people who run a legitimate business should be penalized and looked into.

Heesun Ho, manager of El Cortez Motel, which was ordered to hire security and follow other instructions:

“The high crime rate is all over L.A. these days. Accusing the businesses won’t solve the problem. If they want to solve the problem, they are supposed to solve it as a community. The small businesses are not in a position to pay these security guards. If this happens, these businesses will close and go to another area. More police power over here with some reasonable tax rates (is needed). It affects a lot of honest business people. That’s not a fair way. This is a community-wide problem.”