Whenever I have a problem in my neighborhood, a quick call to Frank Banos in Councilman Tony Cardenas’ office usually results in action and results, often very quickly.
A low hanging, dangerous limb from a curbside oak tree was about to fall off. I called the Bureau of Street Services to report it, but three weeks later, they hadn’t come by to trim the tree. A call to Frank Banos in the morning, and the tree trimmers were there that afternoon.
That electric “psychic” sign on a house near Victory and Sepulveda? Frank and his office got it removed. Now they are working on the pick-up truck parked in front that is trying to circumvent the law.
The slum mall on the NW corner of Victory and Kester, owned by Ori B. Fogel? For months, an illegally parked van was sitting along the trash filled curb. Mr. Banos visited the site, and now the tenants and the owner seem to be keeping it much cleaner.
These are small problems, but I subscribe to the “broken windows” theory of law enforcement. When vandalism and neglect take over, violent crime follows. If we can clean up Van Nuys, we also help to increase civil behavior. I thank Mr. Cardenas and Mr. Banos for doing their best to be responsive public servants.
Please contact Councilman Cardenas, to discuss any local matter from litter to larceny, drag racing to drug dealing, tagging to taco poisoning, or possibly even murder and mayhem.
Here in Van Nuys 
So…who do i have to call to catch the “taggers” at the Del Taco on the corner of Van Owen and Balboa? I mean, really, the Del Taco is open 24 hours and they still manage to “tag” the poor building at least twice a month. and they manage to climb the billboards on each corner and spraypaint their masterpieces over the Chruch’s Chicken or the Toyota dealership signs. No one can seem to catch this happening? I guess it goes along with the drag racing motorcycles that gather EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 11.30P on Woodley Ave between Burbank and Victory. “Victimless” crimes, right? Or my tax dollars hard at work?
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I also live on Hamlin street..that new Spanish style house (2 story) is nice. But whats up with the house right next door? That has got to be the biggest turn off for anyone that is gonna live in the new house…Its kinda sad, so many nice craftsman homes on Hamlin, but so many of them have been neglected..I wonder what this street would have looked like 30 years ago…There is, however, a nice craftsman house that is for sale…kind of pricey..but nicely redone..hopefully the new owners keep it that way…
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I went past this house today and it seems that there are tenants living there. Or else the window shades are an effective illusion to indicate that the house is inhabited. I share your concern.
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[this may be a duplicate of a previous post, my apologies if it is]
Hi Noble Ave, it’s nice to meet a
neighbor online. The story with that house, is, yes, the Haynes Street house and the one next to it are the original guest houses to the house on Hamlin. The owner has a history of being absent and doing nothing really to maintain the property. There is a very nice man and his grandson in the one house, and they maintain the yard beautifully. I was also concerned that it is just a matter of time before the house on Hamlin becomes squatted.
My frustration is in the “alley” that borders the homes that runs from Hamlin to Haynes. From what I’ve learned, it originally belongs to the homeowner, but they “donated” it back to the City. The City, though claims no responsibility for it. Maybe Frank Banos can assist(?).
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The Psychic weirdos removed there sign
and put p a palm reading sign
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hi- how nice to meet a neighbor online! The house on Hamlin and the 2 houses behind it on Haynes all belong to the same owner, and I believe she has passed the property along to her son. The part that has frustrated me over the years is the pseudo-alley next to the property that has never been maintained and is such an eyesore. From what I have been told by the City, it seems that the owner donated the alleyway to the city, but the city has no real ownership papers making them responsible. The owners have a long history of being absent. One of the houses on Haynes has been rented for years by a really nice man and his grandson who have entirely (and at their own expense) maintained the property beautifully and are great neighbors. I have seen workers at the Hamlin house periodically since it’s been vacant and I’ve also thought it’s just a matter of time before someone starts squatting there. Since I read about Frank Banos in this post I thought I would give him a call.
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n8tv ny: i’m a noble ave resident and was wondering about the house on the corner of haynes/noble…is it a gueasthouse of the abondoned house behind it on hamlin? that’s the one i was really wondering about–the vacant spanish style house on hamlin. what’s up with it? it seems to be just asking for trouble…vagrants, prostitution, etc…
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Thanks, that’s good to know. I will give him a call to see if he can take care of the piece of slumlord trash at the intersection of Haynes and Noble streets. It has NEVER been addressed due to a loophole somewhere that the owner “donated” the alley back to the city, but the city has no real jurisdiction over it. I’ve been trying to get something to happen there for 31 years! (yikes! – yes that’s how long I’ve lived here).
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Update to your 10/29/06 entry about Valentino Court. I saw on WeHo News that there was another vote this week and the beautiful apartments will be demolished.
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That is so awesome that you are recognizing the city staffer that assisted you. It is a thankless job for the most part!
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