The city of West Hollywood has added more Block by Block security ambassador kiosks at WeHo West locations. One is up by the Ramada Plaza West Hollywood on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Westmount Drive, in front of the former Starbucks location. The security kiosk went up this past weekend on October 1st. According to the ambassador working the morning post, the Ramada Plaza kiosk is currently being stationed from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
City of West Hollywood is implement three additional Block by Block Security Ambassador kiosks at Santa Monica Boulevard at N. Robertson Boulevard; Sunset Boulevard and Sunset Plaza Drive; and Melrose Avenue and Westmount Drive.
Block by Block Ambassador Kiosk – WEHO TIMESKiosks already in place are at West Hollywood Park by the dog parks overlooking the Great Lawn and the Parallel Perpendicular art installation, there is one at Plummer Park, and one at the West Hollywood Gateway at at Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
The city council recently unanimously approved a Block by Block Security Ambassadors program update expanding its Block by Block program with 30 additional Security Ambassadors. The Block by Block program has hired and trained 20 new Security Ambassadors, one Team Lead, and one Operations Supervisor. It is on-track to be fully staffed by October 1, 2022, with a total of approximately 85 Security Ambassadors.
The approved motion follows City Council approval on Monday, June 27, 2022, of the City’s FY 2022-23 & 2023-24 two-year operating budget and capital work plan, which directed an increase to the number of Block by Block Security Ambassadors by 30 positions. Additional direction regarding the expansion was provided by the City Council on Monday, August 1, 2022 when it approved the related amendment to the Block by Block agreement for services.
Block by Block Security Ambassadors work in collaboration with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station to provide supplemental safety services and they get to know West Hollywood’s neighborhoods to assist in providing an extra level of hospitality to businesses, residents, and visitors. Expansion of the program aims to provide an additional public presence to proactively reduce crime.
Block by Block Security Ambassadors are highly focused on safety and hospitality in West Hollywood with specific emphasis on:
· Maintaining uniformed foot and bicycle patrols throughout the City’s business districts and residential neighborhoods;
· Providing in-person responses 24/7 to non-violent calls for service;
· Conducting safety escorts for residents, businesses, and visitors; and
· Offering helpful guidance to community members and visitors about City information, directions, parking, and more.
First established as a City program in 2013, West Hollywood Block by Block Security Ambassadors provide a highly visible uniformed presence at the street level and leverage the effectiveness of local law enforcement by working in collaboration with personnel from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.
In addition to supplemental safety services, Block by Block Security Ambassadors get to know West Hollywood’s neighborhoods and assist in providing an extra level of hospitality to businesses, residents, and visitors and help to address and respond to quality of life concerns in the community.
Security Ambassadors receive trainings on topics such as active shooters, cultural diversity and sensitivity, administration of Narcan to treat narcotic overdose, mental health first aid, sexual harassment, emergency/disaster preparedness, and more.
The Block by Block Security Ambassador Hotline provides access to free, 24/7 support by phone or text at (323) 821-8604; a new toll-free number will be introduced in the coming weeks. For additional information, please visit www.weho.org/bbb.
About | Sheriff’s, Fire, Code, and Emergencies – The City of West Hollywood contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement and the Los Angeles County Fire Department for fire protection. The City’s Neighborhood & Business Safety Division oversees code enforcement.
For additional information, please visit www.weho.org/publicsafety. For anyone with public safety concerns, please reach out to the Sheriff’s Station 24/7 at (310) 855-8850. In an emergency, always call 911.
Hope they help quell the fears of the old Marys
Too late for STARBUCKS etc. West Hollywood has failed in their delay to address this problem!
How about fixing the streetlights 100 feet away on Westmount that have been out for weeks? It’s completely dark all the way to the roundabout. I don’t know why these ambassadors don’t report broken streetlights, so they can be repaired.
Seems like safety should start with working lights.
https://www.weho.org/city-government/city-departments/public-works/engineering/street-maintenance/street-light-repairs
Thanks. By the time I walk home, I always forget.
How do you know that they haven’t reported the street lights being out?
They’ve been out for at least a month. But I’ll report them myself now.
I agree ambassadors’ responsibilities should include things like reporting graffiti and reporting street lights out, etc, but i also think those are responsibilities of the residents who see this stuff as well. No need to wait til you’re home to report, the City of WeHo has a simple to use app to report this type of stuff:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/west-hollywood-official-app/id934525148 (non-Apple users will need to google search for the android version to download)
I used to the app to report a street light out and it took 3 months and multiple reporting before it was replaced.