DLANC Candidates: Shannon Buhrmaster

"My focus is on illuminating the issues of homelessness and related issues."

With all due respect, Shannon - I think that those of us living in the neighborhood are well aware of the issue. My question that I would hope you would address would be - what concrete step-by-step plans do you have to help solve the problem?

Recently in particular, is the appalling sidewalk city that has sprung up on the east side of Main Street between 5th and 6th Street. On any given evening, you can find drug dealing, crack smoking and even a great game of craps taking place on the sidewalk - and with each passing day since the ACLU forced the issue with the city, it has gotten worse.

I'm an investor in the neighborhood, and this is an eyesore as well as an embarrassment for all of us - including the people that are left to live on the street. If we were in any other neighborhood in the greater Los Angeles area - this would not be tolerated.

Dennis, I understand your frustration. I do in fact have a plan. I am going to need residents like you on board to participate. Captain Smith from the Central division came down on our last DLANC meeting and addressed the council. He told us that they plan to hire more officers to help with this devastation down here. It is going to take some time, but I assure you that I am definatley the person to take this to the next level.

Sincerely Shannon

While I was walking home from the cause-way between the parking structure at 6th and Main to Spring Street last night, there was a police car parked on the east side of Spring, so I stopped to chat a little about the mess going on between 5th and 6th on Main. The cops said that there aren't enough police to patrol, and that they are fully aware of what's going on over on Main Street. They said a meeting was being conducted tonight within the police department, and they asked me to call the Watch Captain and voice my complaints. I also brought up that Andy Smith had met with my Home Owners' Association, and made a lot of promises to us - but so far I haven't seen anything over the last 6 months - in fact it's worse. I could have sworn I could see the two cops roll their eyes when I mentiened Smith's name. Hmmm...