In all the days since the disastrous fires destroyed vibrant and sparkling communities of people and their houses and businesses in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, flat and socially unpopular Van Nuys, miles from any combustible forests, sat silent, its empty parking lots and vacant stores along Van Nuys Boulevard mute and abandoned, its daytime as empty and lifeless as its nighttime.
You live here and just like people anywhere yearn for the same normal things that civilized places provide: safety, cleanliness, affordability, and lawfulness. But all you get are sirens, speeding cars, helicopters at 2am, Woodley Park set ablaze monthly.
After nearly 25 years here I see nothing but decline in the environment around Van Nuys.
3/5/18 Bessemer at Cedros.Van Nuys, CA3/5/18 Bessemer at Cedros.Old Post Office
The same neglected mini-mall that I complained about in 2009 is still the same trash strewn dump it always was. Its owner used to live in Bel Air. He complained about my criticism when all I asked him to do was hire a $10 an hour worker to sweep the sidewalk weekly and install a security light on the side of the building so people didn’t sleep and urinate and tag the walls.
The stores that line Van Nuys Boulevard from Vanowen to the Oxnard are largely empty, many are built with gigantic parking lots behind them that are also empty, parking for thousands of cars that once shopped here, but those shoppers have left or died.
The Valley Municipal Building is where CD 6 Councilwoman Imelda Padilla reigns over the neglect and the ugliness. She replaced Nury Martinez who had to resign in disgrace after she was recorded by covert means saying ethnically insulting things about other Angelenos. Martinez came after Cardenas who went to Congress where he now serves.
Cardenas, Martinez, Padilla. It sounds like a nursery rhyme with its melodic Spanish surnames. It might well be a soundtrack set to an ever- present social disaster of Van Nuys with its hundreds of homeless sleeping in the plaza, along the Orange Line, or in the parking lot of the CVS on Erwin Street.
How is it that the so-called heart of the San Fernando Valley, the place that once bustled with prosperity and good infrastructure, including light rail and neatly tended homes and businesses, has been allowed to die for so many decades?
Victory Bl. east of Sepulveda, Van Nuys, CA 5/10/18
Is it callous to also point out that Van Nuys is less prone to fire than other areas that have boomed in recent decades? Would Van Nuys Boulevard, lined with 13-story tall Park Avenue apartment houses be a higher fire risk than thousands of wooden McMansions shoved up canyons in Bel Air, Brentwood, Malibu and the Palisades?
And when Van Nuys gets light rail, might it be possible to imagine a walkable, pleasant, less expensive part of Los Angeles where the vaunted word diversity can be used equitably as all types of inclusion would occur with young, old, well-off, not so well-off, living in nice apartments with patrolled and orderly parks and streets?
Perhaps some of the displaced people would live in well-maintained buildings if such a thing existed in Van Nuys.
With so much focus on rebuilding Los Angeles a good place to start an experiment in civilization would be Van Nuys. It’s the only corpse that has been screaming for rescue for decades.
2018 fire in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, Lake Balboa, CA.
Project 2028: The Olympic Games in Los Angeles
“In its biggest decision on homelessness in decades, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that cities can ban people from sleeping and camping in public places. The justices, in a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, overturned lower court rulings that deemed it cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment to punish people for sleeping outside if they had nowhere else to go.”- NPR June 28, 2004
Mayor Karen Bass immediately criticized the Supreme Court decision and said Los Angeles will not “go backwards” [slogan of the campaign] in arresting vagrants. Nearly $1 billion dollars is allocated for citywide homeless reduction programs.
On August 11, 2024 the city of Paris officially handed off the Olympics to the next host city, Los Angeles, CA which will have the honor in 2028.
Along one area of Hollywood Boulevard, sidewalks which had dozens of homeless tents in early August were suddenly cleared of all tents on August 11, 2024.
The solution for homelessness in Los Angeles must be tied to the Olympics. We must find a way to host the Olympics every four years for the next two hundred years.
A few times a week, homeless encampment fires burn in the Sepulveda Basin near the area of the 405 Freeway, Burbank, Woodley and Victory Blvds.
In 2028, some Olympic events will be held in the ravaged, trash filled park. (cough, cough).
Here is a report excerpted from the Los Angeles Fire Department:
CONTAINED – Grass Fire; INC#0254; 07:00AM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; 20 LAFD ground-based Firefighters took less than three hours to fully contain the fire to twenty (20 ) acres of light grass north of Burbank Boulevard and west of the San Diego (I-405) Freeway. No infra/structure damage. No injury. Fire cause under investigation. ; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 E288 E39 E88 RA39 T88 WT88; CH8; 17; Brian Humphrey
Update #BurbankFire Brush Fire; INC#0826; 02:35PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; 69 LAFD Firefighters have stopped all forward progress of the fire via largely defensive firefighting operations by ground and air, with the fire held at 75 (Seventy-Five) acres of vegetation northwest of the intersection of Burbank Boulevard and Woodley Avenue in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. No infra/structure damage. No injuries. #LATraffic: All traffic lanes (northbound and southbound) on Woodley Avenue between Burbank Boulevard and Victory Boulevard will remain closed until LAFD operations are complete. Unknown ETO. Travelers, please avoid the area by use of an alternate route.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC14 CE59 CM40 CM42 DZ41 DZ45 E100 E105 E239 E288 E290 E39 E73 E83 E88 E90 EM14 H0D H3 H4 H5 H6 HA3 HA4 HA5 HA6 HE2 RA39 T39 T88 T90 WT88; CH5; 17; Brian Humphrey
Brush Fire; INC#0826; 12:50PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; PRELIM: LAFD ground and air response to currently five (5) acres of vegetation burning near the intersection of Burbank Boulevard and Woodley Avenue in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. Slow rate of spread. No current infra/structure threat. As a precaution, the ‘Apollo 11 Model Aircraft Field’ was calmly evacuated. No injuries reported. #LATraffic: Closure of all traffic lanes (northbound and southbound) on Woodley Avenue between Burbank Boulevard and Victory Boulevard until LAFD operations are complete. Unknown ETO. Travelers, expect congestion and use an alternate route; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 BC14 E100 E239 E288 E290 E39 E83 E88 E90 EM14 H3 H5 H6 HA3 HA5 HA6 RA39 T39 T88 T90 WT88 + Park Rangers.; CH5; 17; Brian Humphrey
CONTAINED Grass Fire; INC#0779; 12:54PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; It took 34 firefighters just over an hour to extinguish the three-acre grass fire using hand tools, hose lines, LAFD Dozers, and water tender. No reported injuries. Cause under investigation.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 CE84 DZ45 E100 E288 E39 E83 E88 HE1 HE5 RA100 T88 WT88; CH8; 18; Nicholas Prange
Grass Fire; INC#0779; 11:47AM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; Firefighters are on scene of a grass fire, approximately two acres in size.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 DZ45 E100 E288 E39 E83 E88 HE1 HE5 RA100 T88 WT88; CH8; 18; Nicholas Prange
CONTAINED Brush Fire; INC#1688; 10:00PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; Firefighters made a quick direct attack on the vegetation fire, and snuffed it out at approximately one acre (updated estimate after the flames were out). It took 24 firefighters approximately 25 minutes to extinguish the flames. No reported injuries. Cause under investigation.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC14 E100 E239 E288 E290 E39 E7 E81 E83 E90 EM14 H0B H0F H3 H4 H5 HA3 HA4 HA5 RA39 T39 T88 T90 WT88; CH8; 18; Nicholas Prange
Grass Fire – Contained; INC#1847; 11:16PM; 5600 N Woodley Av; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; Firefighters have successfully surrounded and extinguished approximately two acres of brush in the Sepulveda Basin. Originally burning as two separate small fires, careful coordination allowed them to merge before crews flanked and extinguished all remaining flames; several fire companies remain at the scene to address hot spots and ensure no further threat remains. No injuries, cause is under investigation. Nothing further.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 E288 E39 E88 E90 H6 HA6 RA88 T88 WT88; CH8; 17; Lyndsey Lantz
Fully Contained – Brush Fire; INC#1388; 07:45PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; This wildland blaze, known as the “Burbank Fire”, has been fully contained at 2 1/4 (2.25) acres. All LAFD helicopters have been released, and ground-based LAFD operations will continue tonight to monitor and fully extinguish any active flame within the perimeter. There has been no infra/structure damage, no evacuation and no injuries. Closure of all traffic lanes (eastbound and westbound) Burbank Boulevard between Woodley Avenue and the 405 Freeway will continue tonight until LAFD operations are complete. Unknown ETO. Travelers are asked to continue to avoid the area, expect congestion and consider an alternate route. The specific cause of the fire has yet to be determined.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC14 CE83 DZ45 E100 E288 E290 E39 E83 E88 E90 EM17 H3 H4 H6 HA3 HA4 HA6 HE5 RA100 RA83 RA88 T88 T90 WT88; CH8; 17; Brian Humphrey
Update Contained – Brush Fire; INC#1388; 07:20PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; A series of precise LAFD helicopter water drops have contained the perimeter of the (yet to be determined size) blaze in thick underbrush of the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, south of the intersection of Burbank Boulevard and Woodley Avenue. 32 LAFD Firefighters will continue their largely defensive ground-based operations tonight to fully extinguish all active flame within the perimeter. There has been no infra/structure damage, no evacuation and no injuries reported. Closure of all traffic lanes (eastbound and westbound) Burbank Boulevard between Woodley Avenue and the 405 Freeway will continue tonight until LAFD operations are complete. Unknown ETO. Travelers are asked to avoid the area, expect congestion and consider an alternate route. An investigation into the specific cause of the fire will commence upon full fire extinguishment.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC14 CE83 E100 E288 E290 E39 E83 E88 E90 EM17 H3 H4 H6 HA3 HA4 HA6 RA100 RA83 RA88 T88 T90 WT88; CH8; 17; Brian Humphrey
Brush Fire; INC#1388; 05:44PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3RG8PQg; #SepulvedaBasin; PRELIM: LAFD ground and air response in largely defensive operations to less than one (1) acre of grass burning on the southeast corner of Burbank Boulevard and Woodley Avenue in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. Moderate rate of spread with light winds at 10-15 MPH out of the southwest. No current infra/structure threat. No evacuation. No injuries reported. Closure of all traffic lanes (eastbound and westbound) on Burbank Boulevard between Woodley Avenue and the 405 Freeway until LAFD operations are complete. Unknown ETO. Travelers, expect congestion and consider an alternate route.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC14 CE83 E100 E288 E290 E39 E83 E88 E90 EM17 H3 H4 H6 HA3 HA4 HA6 RA83 T88 T90 WT88; CH5; 17; Brian Humphrey
CONTAINED Brush Fire; INC#1074; 04:51PM; 6100 N Woodley Av; https://bit.ly/3JmOXNT; #SepulvedaBasin; Firefighters responded to the archery range, where a two-acre brush fire burned nearby, stoked by sustained winds. Employees and patrons of the archery range were evacuated temporarily while firefighters went to work to contain the flames. Ultimately, it took 41 firefighters an hour and 19 minutes to contain the vegetation fire to approximately two acres, which consumed grass, brush, and trees. Evacuation has been lifted. No reported injuries. Cause under investigation.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC14 CM40 CM42 E100 E288 E290 E39 E81 E83 E88 E90 EM14 EM17 H0B H0C H3 H4 H7 HA3 HA4 HA7 RA88 T88 T90 UR88 WT88; CH8; 17; Nicholas Prange
Grass Fire; INC#1074; 03:32PM; 6100 N Woodley Av; https://bit.ly/3JmOXNT; #SepulvedaBasin; Approximately two acres of grass burning with 10 mph winds (gusts 20-30 mph) moving to the southeast (near the archery range).; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 CM40 CM42 E288 E39 E83 E88 T88; CH8; 17; Nicholas Prange
CONTAINED Grass Fire; INC#0499; 10:11AM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3aPmUFx; #SepulvedaBasin; Thirty-two LAFD firefighters (by ground only), plus LAFD Crew 3-A volunteer hand crew, anchored the fire and advanced hose lines around both flanks, while allowing the dam to be a fire break to stop the head of the fire. It took 57 minutes to stop all forward progress, limiting the burned area to two acres. Crews will remain on scene to ensure there are no hot spots or smoldering material remaining in the fire’s footprint. No structures damaged. No reported injuries. Cause under investigation.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 CW3A DT1 DZ45 E288 E39 E8138 E83 E88 HE1 T88 WT88; CH8; 17; Nicholas Prange
CONTAINED Brush Fire; INC#0749; 10:59AM; 6300 N Balboa Bl; https://bit.ly/3tgQyeW; #SepulvedaBasin; Crews held the fire to approximately one-eighth of an acre in less than 30 minutes. No structures damaged. No reported injuries.; FS 100; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC15 BC17 BP99 CM20 CM22 CM40 CM42 E100 E239 E273 E290 E39 E64 E66 E73 E83 E88 E90 E94 EM15 H0B H0C H1 H3 H4 H7 HA1 HA3 HA4 HA7 RA100 SO1 T39 T73 T90 WT88; CH8; 17; Nicholas Prange
Brush Fire; INC#0749; 10:34AM; 6300 N Balboa Bl; https://bit.ly/3tgQyeW; #SepulvedaBasin; Small vegetation fire (approximately 50′ x 100′), slow moving, in the Lake Balboa Park area with no structures threatened. Crews are making good progress, getting hose lines around it, and do not anticipate further spread. ; FS 100; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC15 BC17 BP99 CM20 CM22 CM40 CM42 E100 E239 E273 E290 E39 E64 E66 E73 E83 E88 E90 E94 EM15 H0B H0C H1 H3 H4 H7 HA1 HA3 HA4 HA7 RA100 T39 T73 T90 WT88; CH5; 17; Nicholas Prange
Grass Fire – Contained; INC#1561; 06:40PM; 6066 N Woodley Av; https://bit.ly/3JmOXNT; #SepulvedaBasin; 26 ground based LAFD Firefighters contained the fire to two (2) acres of grass and vegetation (7:06 PM) . No structures. No injury. Crews will remain at scene for at least two hours to complete mop up. Fire cause under investigation.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 E100 E288 E83 E88 E90 RA83 RA88 T88 WT88; CH8; 13; Brian Humphrey
Knockdown – Brush Fire; INC#1297; 06:04PM; 5600 N Woodley Av; https://bit.ly/3JTkDLa; #SepulvedaBasin; Despite hot weather and a steady 7 mph wind from the south, a well-coordinated LAFD ground and air response with the assistance of Park Rangers, held flames to three (3) acres of grass and brush on the west side of Woodley Avenue north of Burbank Boulevard. No injury. No structures. Fire cause under investigation.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC14 E100 E239 E288 E290 E39 E81 E83 E88 E90 EM14 H2 H4 H7 HA2 HA4 HA7 RA88 RA90 T39 T88 T90 WT88 + Park Rangers; CH5; 17; Brian Humphrey
Brush Fire; INC#1297; 05:15PM; 5600 N Woodley Av; https://bit.ly/3JTkDLa; #SepulvedaBasin; PRELIM: LAFD ground and air response to a grass fire extending into brush on the west side of Woodley Avenue north of Burbank Boulevard. No structure threat.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; AO1 AO2 BC10 BC14 E100 E239 E288 E290 E39 E81 E83 E88 E90 EM14 H2 H4 H7 HA2 HA4 HA7 RA88 RA90 T39 T88 T90 WT88; CH5; 17; Brian Humphrey
Contained – Brush Fire; INC#1311; 07:18PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3aPmUFx; #SepulvedaBasin; Thanks to precise water drops from a pair of quickly arriving LAFD helicopters, forward progress of the fire/s has been stopped in just 50 minutes. The 40 ground-based LAFD firefighters are finalizing control of the perimeter of the blaze with hand tools and hose lines. No final acreage estimate is available. No injury. No structures damaged. Fire cause under investigation.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 BC14 E100 E109 E239 E288 E290 E81 E88 E90 E99 EM14 H1 H2 HA1 HA2 RA83 T39 T88 T90 WT88; CH5; 17; Brian Humphrey
Brush Fire; INC#1311; 06:28PM; 15700 W Burbank Bl; https://bit.ly/3aPmUFx; #SepulvedaBasin; PRELIM: LAFD ground and air response to several spot fires in volatile light-to-medium density brush south of Burbank Boulevard. No road closure. No structure threat. No evacuation.; FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 6; BC10 BC14 E100 E109 E239 E288 E290 E81 E88 E90 E99 EM14 H1 H2 HA1 HA2 RA83 T39 T88 T90 WT88; CH5; 17; Brian Humphrey
Here in Van Nuys 
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