Drop your donations at the 2 convenient locations on Venice Blvd. There is a container at Taverna at the Mar Vista: 12249 Venice Blvd., OR Mavro Coffee at 12224 Venice Blvd. THANK YOU!

Nourish LA feeds neighbors in need
Nourish L.A. is a non-profit organization that’s passionate about fighting hunger, preventing food waste, and cultivating community. They partner with local businesses, organizations, and individuals to collect extra food and distribute it to Angeleños in need.

Food Drives
Every weekend, Nourish L.A. holds food drives in Venice and Los Angeles. There are no requirements or sign-ups. Just come by and pick up a free bag of groceries! Each bag has an assortment of produce, meat, eggs, dairy, prepared items, and pantry staples like pasta, pasta sauce, beans, and rice. Some vegan and gluten free options are also available. Groceries are first come, first served.

Veterans Resource Fair on Thursday, December 7th from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at the New Directions for Veterans building on the VA campus. We will have free grocery gift cards, food, and living essentials, as well as access to all sorts of resources and information for all veterans. 

For any questions, please email Michael Amster at michael.amster@lacity.org 

RENT RELIEF PROGRAMS
Los Angeles

Eligibility requirements for the United Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Program:

• To verify if you live in the City of Los Angeles, go to neighborhoodla.org.
• One or more individuals within the household have experienced a loss of employment
• Reduction in household income
• Incurred significant costs
• Experienced other financial hardship between March 2020 and now
• Have unpaid rent due to their current landlord for any month(s) between April 1, 2020, through now
• The current household income is at or below 80% of the area median income

To apply, click here.

Los Angeles

Eligibility requirements for the LA Rental Assistance Program:

• Head of household identifies as a woman.
• Must file taxes as Head of Household
• Have dependents of any age living in the same household
• Lived in their homes for a minimum of three months
• Has received or anticipate receiving a pay or quit notice from landlord or management company.
• Demonstrate family is facing an unexpected financial hardship that is preventing them from paying rent and have a plan to maintain housing after assistance.
• Live in one of the four designated zip codes of 90004, 90028, 90029, or 90038.

To apply, click here.

Los Angeles

Eligibility requirements for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance ​Program:

• Pay your heating or cooling bills, even if you use wood, propane, or oil
• In an emergency or energy crisis, such as a utility disconnection
• LIHEAP services can vary depending on income, household size, place of residence, and other factors

To apply, click here.

Los Angeles

Eligibility requirements for the The Home Energy Assistance Program:

• A current original electric bill
• A current original gas bill
• Copies of all household income for the past 30 days for all adults 18 years or older
• Signed affidavits for all household members age 18 or older who do not have any source of income
• A copy of your valid California driver’s license or other valid California picture ID
• Applicant’s Social Security number

To apply, click here.

We had a fun day at the Mar Vista's Farmers Market last week. Although it was warm, the crowds were present and At-Large Director April Peterson met many members of our community. 

Last week, LAPD Senior Lead Officers- Adrian Acosta and Karwon Villery provided a crime update with a question-and-answer session. The meeting was well attended and included four residents who were victims of burglaries and one home invasion. The meeting shed light on Mar Vista's troubling position with an 8% increase in property crime https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2023/03/20/los-angeles-crime-rates-map-safest-neighborhoods/11032761002/ and 33% increase in violent crimes. There were 23 burglary reports in Mar Vista in December—more than the 22 incidents in the previous three months combined. https://xtown.la/2023/08/07/some-los-angeles-neighborhoods-see-spikes-in-burglaries-as-citywide-totals-stay-steady/

Mar Vista is considered a soft target in this alarming scenario. “Soft target” means that most homes have dual wage earners. As such, these incidents predominantly occur between 12PM and 6 PM, strategically coinciding with when homeowners are at work or picking up their children. Also, nicer and larger homes indicate more disposable income and a better probability of obtaining valuables. Notably, a group of individuals from Arcadia have been responsible for carrying out many of these burglaries.

Of particular concern is the fact that despite being apprehended in March and April, these individuals were subsequently released in May due to policy changes within the District Attorney’s Office. This unfortunate development has led to a recent surge in home invasions. According to LAPD, the statistics reveal a distressing 76% increase in burglary cases within the Mar Vista region.

It's important to note that the modus operandi of these individuals often involves targeting garages for entry when garages provide access to the house. This highlights the urgent need for community awareness and vigilance in safeguarding our homes and properties. 

Generally speaking, the officers suggested that residents be mindful of strangers/strange vehicles in their neighborhood and report suspicious activity to 911, not websites like Nextdoor, as LAPD does not monitor Nextdoor and a crime reported on Nextdoor is essentially a non-event. How you report what you see is important. By stating to the 911 operator that you observed suspicious activity, you provide officers with grounds to search a vehicle or person. Simply stating that you see a stranger will not provide them the grounds for a search. 

The officers also suggested that you get to know your neighbors and when they typically are at work or on vacation so you can report something suspicious on their behalf. It’s up to the community to work together. Lastly, they suggested that residential blocks organize Neighborhood Watch programs as it’s an effective way to prevent these property crimes. More information can be obtained here: https://www.lapdonline.org/office-of-the-chief-of-police/office-of-operations/neighborhood-watch/ (https://www.lapdonline.org/office-of-the-chief-of-police/office-of-operations/neighborhood-watch/)

LAPD has committed to holding more meetings for the Mar Vista Community Council ("MVCC") PHS & Homeless Committee. You can find out when the meetings are held by Signing up (https://marvista.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe u=21ac64fde1e38ef12127390ac&id=f0971c029d) for the MVCC weekly newsletter.

KARWON VILLERY, SLO – Mar Vista

CELL: 310-622-3973
38717@lapd.online