Walkway Plagued by Crime to Be Closed

Citing “substantial evidence of serious and continual criminal activities,� the Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday that will permit residents to close a walkway adjacent to the Golden State Freeway between Brand and San Fernando boulevards.

Councilman Richard Alarcon, who represents the area, introduced the resolution after his office received numerous complaints from residents upset about gang activity, drug dealing and use, and trash dumping in the walkway.

“The community petitioned to close the walkway after we started working with them to clean it up,� Alarcon said. “Closing it down will have an immediate impact, it will keep any potential drug activity from occurring there.�

Under the terms of the resolution, area residents will be responsible for costs associated with the closure, such as purchasing and installing gates on each side of the walkway.

City engineers will oversee the operation and ensure that all affected city agencies and utility companies have keys to the gates. The walkway will remain closed for 18 months, at which time the council will have the option of extending the closure for a second 18-month period. It could potentially be closed for five years, Alarcon said.

“We went to do a cleanup there six months ago and I couldn’t believe the condition it was in,� said Alarcon, who indicated that he found more than a dozen hypodermic needles near the Brand Boulevard entrance.

“The weeds were 8 feet high; it was literally a jungle back there.�