CommentsVOICES--This last March, the new Chair of MidCityWest Community Council, Lauren Nichols, wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Library Commission, which was approved by almost the entire Board, insisting that "the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) terminate its relationship with the Los Angeles Police Department, effective immediately. . .
the very presence of LAPD prohibits the security of many patrons and staff members. . . The presence of LAPD is incompatible with LAPL’s stated mission “to provide free and easy access to information, ideas, books and technology that enrich, educate and empower every individual in our city’s diverse communities imperil, the lives of its patrons and staff.
When I made an issue of this with Nichols and Scott Epstein who supported the motion to send the letter, who I'm sure you are aware is running for city council, the minutes for the March 2021 Mid City West Community Council Board Public Meeting, where Nichols' letter was in full detail, were removed!
A 31-year-old resident of the MidCityWest neighborhood was murdered a few weeks ago in his own backyard by a homeless parolee. Ironically, the homeless man was on parole for burglary. Rather than discuss the tragic murder of a neighbor, the only thing mentioned by the MidCityWest Board at their April public meeting was that the homeless parolee murderer was a victim, and was having a "mental health crisis," when he was casing the resident's home prior to burglarizing and stabbing him numerous times. When I made an issue of this with the Board, this outrageous statement was left out of the minutes of the April 2021 Mid City West Board Public Meeting.
These are just a few examples of what has become of MidCityWest! Like many other long-term neighbors in the community, I ignored Scott Epstein and MidCityWest for years. Clearly, that was a mistake, and I am shocked at how bad it has become!
Maybe it is time to expose what has become of MidCityWest under its leadership for the last seven years?
(Robert Cherno is a long-time activist in the mid city west community. Views expressed or those of Mr. Cherno.)
-cw
