Central Los Angeles : Council OKs Request to Close Walkway

Residents of the Victoria Park neighborhood moved a step closer to their goal of keeping vandals, prostitutes and drug dealers away from their homes Wednesday as the City Council heard their request to close a walkway that leads to Venice Boulevard.

The City Council sent the motion to the Board of Public Works, where city engineers are expected to approve the installation of gates that will keep people from entering and congregating along the walkway.

“One of the problems,” said Victoria Park resident Alvan Burton, “in addition to the criminal element in the walkway, is that a person who has committed a crime and is being chased by a police car [on Venice Boulevard] can run through the walkway, knowing the police cars can’t fit.”

The walkway leads from Venice Boulevard, just west of Crenshaw Boulevard, to the Victoria Park Place neighborhood. Residents signed a petition requesting the gate installation.

Kari Derderian, Councilman Nate Holden’s legislative deputy, said residents are going to put up $1,000 to install the gates and the city will waive the $200 permit fee. “The gates should be up within three months,” said Derderian.