Businessman Gets Fernando Award for Combating Crime

Philip A. “Flip” Smith, a Van Nuys tire store owner long heralded for his work combating prostitution and other crime along Sepulveda Boulevard, was awarded the 1997 Fernando Award on Friday night.

County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky announced the winner at an awards dinner at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel. Other dignitaries present included Los Angeles City Council members Laura Chick, Mike Feuer, Richard Alarcon and Cindy Miscikowski, Supervisor Mike Antonovich and state Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley).

Smith, of Woodland Hills, owns Flip’s Tire Center in Van Nuys and is president of the Mid-Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Los Angeles Police Department officials have praised Smith and the Sepulveda Boulevard Business Watch, which he founded, for doing much to fight crime and urban decay in that part of the San Fernando Valley.

Smith is credited with persuading businesses to voluntarily improve lighting and security measures and clean up trash-strewn median strips along Sepulveda Boulevard. When prostitutes and drug dealers were found to be using pay telephones, Smith pushed to have the phones reprogrammed so they could not receive incoming calls.

Smith was raised in Los Angeles and attended local schools, including Valley College.

He receives a trophy and his name is inscribed on a statue at the Van Nuys Civic Center.

The other four finalists were:

* Kenneth C. Banks Jr., a North Hollywood insurance broker active in the Rotary Club, East Valley YMCA, Police Activity League and the NoHo Arts District.

* Horace H. Heidt of Sherman Oaks, president of an apartment complex in Sherman Oaks and an entertainment consultant who is involved in Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce activities and does volunteer work for City of Hope and Children’s Village USA.

* Walter W. Mosher Jr., president of Precision Dynamics Corp. in Pacoima and past chairman of the Valley Industry & Commerce Assn.

* Terry York of Agoura Hills, owner of the Terry York auto dealerships, is a longtime volunteer in Encino, recipient of awards from the March of Dimes, American Cancer Assn. and Encino Lodge B’nai B’rith.