City Officials to Meet With Homeowners

Robina Suwol and the roughly 50 other members of the Tobias Avenue Homeowners Assn. have charged themselves with a mission--improve the quality of life in Van Nuys.

The group hopes to get some direction on how to best do that when representatives of Mayor Richard Riordan, Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski and the city Department of Building and Safety attend the group’s monthly meeting on Tuesday.

“We’re a group of people concerned with making Van Nuys a better place,” said Suwol, block captain of Tobias Avenue, a small strip between Kester Avenue and Van Nuys Boulevard. “We’d like to discuss what the city can do to help.”

Suwol said association members have tossed around several ideas, such as increased street lighting and graffiti removal. Her long-term goals, however, are more ambitious. Suwol said she would like to see a community arts center established in Van Nuys for residents.

She said a possible site could be in the new municipal center planned for Van Nuys.

“I’d also like to see some programs for the youth, to give them an outlet to be creative and to learn,” Suwol said. “I think that kind of thing will make them have more pride in their community.”

Although none of these ideas has formally been discussed with the city, Suwol said she hopes the lines of communication can be opened at Tuesday’s meeting.

Along with the quality of life improvements, the association will hear a report on crime and safety in the area from Los Angeles Police Department Officer Angel Munoz, senior lead officer for the community.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at 5925 Tobias Ave.

For more information, residents may page Suwol at (818) 410-4790.