Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council Newsletter: Issue #25-11 | | Welcome to the November 2025 edition of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council's (SONC) newsletter, the Ziff Flyer. | | |
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the SONC booth at this year’s Sherman Oaks Street Fair! It was inspiring to meet so many neighbors, local business owners, families, and community partners who care deeply about our community. We truly appreciate you taking the time to visit, share your ideas, ask questions, and discuss the issues that matter most to you—from traffic and public safety, to development, housing, small business support, parks, and community programs. Your feedback helps guide our work and ensures that SONC continues to serve the needs of Sherman Oaks stakeholders.
The Street Fair is one of our favorite annual traditions, not only because it brings thousands of us together, but because it reminds us of the strong community spirit that makes Sherman Oaks such a special place to live, work and recreate. Thank you again for your participation and continued engagement. We look forward to seeing many of you at future meetings and community events.
Looking ahead, we encourage you to join us at our next SONC Board and Community Meeting on Monday, November 10th, where we will be joined by our Assemblymember Nick Schultz. Assemblymember Schultz will provide a Sacramento legislative update and share insights on statewide policies affecting Sherman Oaks, including public safety, housing, and infrastructure. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about current legislative priorities. Also, Los Angeles Vector Control will present information on what it does to protect public health throughout the year especially now during mosquito season.
Stay informed and get involved. Your voice and involvement matter and makes all the difference in shaping a Sherman Oaks community for all. We look forward to see you on November 10th!
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SONC needs you! Please contact SONC with your interest to possibly serve on the Board in one of the vacant seats listed below. View the SONC area map to see the areas https://www.shermanoaksnc.org/page/map.
There are open seats in the following areas:
Area 2 Business Representative
Area 3 Business Representative
Area 4 Residential Representative
Area 5 Business Representative
Area 5 Community Representative
Area 5 Residential Representative
Contact SONC President to express your interest: hkatchen@shermanoaksnc.org
| | 📅 Upcoming SONC Meetings:
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How to Attend SONC Committee Meetings
Whereas in-person monthly Board meetings take place at the larger Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center (5056 Van Nuys Blvd), in-person SONC committee meetings are generally held at Sherman Oaks Martin Pollard Branch Library, 14245 Moorpark Street, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. Note that virtual meetings are held via telephone or Zoom. The President and Committee Chairs are empowered to select a meeting format that works best for their group or committee. Meeting locations, formats (in-person vs virtual), dates, and times are listed on the applicable agenda published before the meeting.
For information on specific times and locations for each meeting please consult the SONC website calendar page:
https://www.shermanoaksnc.org/calendar
| | How to Receive Agendas When They Are Posted | | | | Subscribe to LA City's Early Notification System (ENS) to be notified via email of all upcoming Board & Committee Meetings and to receive meeting agendas. | | |
Government Affairs Committee
Lindsay Imber, Chair
email: lindsay.imber.sonc@gmail.com
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This month, the Government Affairs Committee submits five items to the full board for its consideration on November 10.
The theme in our positions this month is consistent: we support proposals to put the people first and oppose actions that bring harm to our constituents and our community. A common thread you'll notice is our support of actions intended to bring more influence to the local level and services to our community. We oppose actions intended to consolidate or unilaterally impose programs that benefit corporations, developers, agencies, or fiscal interests over the people who actually live here.
Here are our positions:
FOR Council File 25-1136. The Neighborhood Prosecutor Program existed in our city prior to 2023, when the City Attorney ended the program in favour of a consolidated system that sought to more efficiently assign prosecutors in the City Attorney's office. By doing this, however, SONC and other hyperlocal agencies lost direct access to the City Attorney's office and to our ability to work with local advocates to address and resolve issues of public concern. We support CF 25-1136 to reestablish this vital program and restore success to our community.
AGAINST Council File 24-1085-S1. City Council seeks to transfer $150,000 from its Homeless Services Account to the Police Fund. We oppose efforts to remove funds allocated to address homelessness in this fashion. If a Councilmember wishes to allocate more than 23.6% of the total City budget for LAPD, they should find that funding within their own office's operational or discretionary budget rather than removing funding from vital city services such as homelessness and housing.
AGAINST City Attorney's request for $250,000 to hire a third-party law firm to defend LAPD in upcoming litigation re: lawsuits filed by Los Angeles Press Club and Status Coup alleging police misconduct and excessive force.
FOR Council File 25-1221. We support Animal Services' efforts to place animals in adoptive homes to mitigate the euthanasia rate. At the same time, we need to ensure adoption remains responsible. Animal neglect in many ways is worse than shelter overcapacity. We need a balanced approach and CF 25-1221 is a good start.
AGAINST Council File 25-1181. We oppose the City's proposal to expand existing helicopter pad inventory for private use. SONC has long opposed efforts to increase disruptive and pollutive air traffic in the skies over Sherman Oaks and we oppose the City's capitalistic greed in seeking profits over the health, safety, and wellbeing of its residents. Enough is enough. The corruption at City Hall is out of control and we strongly take a stand here.
Thank you for your continued interest in Sherman Oaks. Please stay safe and be kind to one another.
With Pride and Determination—
Lindsay
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Planning & Land Use Committee + Vision Committee
Jeff Kalban, Chair
email: jeff.kalban.sonc@gmail.com
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Please join us at 6:30 PM on Thursday, November 6th at the Sherman Oaks Library for a discussion on planning and infrastructure recommendations related to the City Charter Reform.
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, together with the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association and United Neighbors, is closely monitoring two major planning issues that could significantly impact the quality of life in Sherman Oaks:
1. Senate Bill 79 (SB 79)
This deeply flawed bill, recently signed by Governor Newsom, would allow 5- to 7-story market-rate apartment buildings on any property within a half mile of certain bus or rail stops, with no requirements for affordable housing, parking, open space, or landscaping. SB 79 would massively upzone Sherman Oaks, enabling over 200,000 new market-rate units in a community of just 70,000 residents. It is a giveaway to developers and real estate investors, not a strategy to address housing affordability.
We are working with the Planning Department and Assemblymember Shultz on options to significantly amend SB 79. The City of Los Angeles recently adopted a new Housing Element that responsibly plans for 255,000 new housing units citywide, prioritizing affordability and directing density to commercial corridors. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council has long supported this approach. SB 79 would undermine these thoughtful, community-driven planning efforts.
2. Sepulveda Transit Corridor – Alternative 4
Alternative 4 proposes running noisy, above-ground heavy rail trains along Sepulveda Boulevard, displacing more than 500 Sherman Oaks residents. Yet south of Mulholland, the same line would operate as a subway. Our community should not be forced to bear the impacts of an elevated rail line while others receive an underground alignment.
At our July 3 Vision Committee meeting, Bechtel presented Alternatives 4 and 5. We followed with our concerns regarding all five alternatives currently under consideration, all of which have significant flaws. Alternatives 5 and 6, both fully underground, provide more viable pathways and have been formally supported by this Board, but each requires major revisions.
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Public Safety Committee
Susan Collins, Co-Chair
email: susan.collins.sonc@gmail.com
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The Public Safety Committee meeting for November 2025, will be held on: Tuesday, November 11, 2023, starting at 6:30pm via Zoom only.
The Public Safety Committee is here to assist the community with many types of safety concerns. During the Oct. meeting we heard from concerned residents, business owners and stakeholders close to the intersection of Stern & Ventura about on-going crime and encampments. We passed a motion to be presented to the SONC board to request additional resources be provided to this area to implement sustainable improvements to the safety of the community. Co-Chair of the committee, Christy Adair updates residents on the availability of Emergency Response / Safety Courses that benefit the person and the community. If you have any concerns that you'd like to bring to our attention, please join us during the meeting via zoom. You can also request we add your concern as an agenda item by emailing us prior to the meeting: Susan.collins.sonc@gmail.com.
CONGRATULATIONS! to the new Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T) Graduates! (See picture). Many thanks to the Galleria for the space, and to both Southern California Preparedness Foundation and Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council for providing the CERT backpacks filled with preparedness necessities. It's a great starter pack for emergencies. Every graduate is a valuable resource in the event of an emergency. Have you signed up yet?
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) sponsors 2 C.E.R.T. classes a year. C.E.R.T. classes are FREE disaster preparedness classes taught by LA City Fire Fighters over 7 weeks. For information on how to participate in programs such as C.E.R.T., visit www.cert-la.com or email christy.adair.sonc@gmail.com.
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LAPD Updates from the 10/9/2025 Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) Meeting:
- LAPD currently has 8659 sworn officers. Mayor Bass has currently authorized a budget that allows for 8300 officers. (This is a significant decrease from the Mayor’s campaign promise to increase the number of sworn officers in LAPD to 9500).
- Van Nuys Division currently has 1 Narcotics Detective – we’re supposed to have 6-8.
- Van Nuys Vice Division is down to 1-2 Detectives – we’re supposed to have 8.
- Captain Zine had been using overtime hours to pay for additional detective assistance; however, the mayor has significantly reduced the amount of overtime hours and there are no more hours available.
- The budget to address human trafficking has been “stripped”
- The budget to address homeless clean ups and enforcement has been “stripped”
- Van Nuys Division is experiencing an increase in robberies, particularly in Sherman Oaks. Expensive watches are being targeted.
- Sepulveda Blvd. is experiencing an increase in prostitution which brings pimps, gang activity and additional crime to the area.
- Officers report seeing a lot of “Ghost guns” and 3-D printer guns.
- 30% of LAPD calls are homeless related.
- 80% of LAFD calls are homeless related.
- Officers request residents who call for “Bulky Item Pick Up” to please wait until the day before your scheduled pick up to set things on the curb – especially furniture. Homeless people take those items, and they frequently result in blocked sidewalks.
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Need help with potholes, street pavement issues, graffiti removal, or other city services? Try submitting a report via MyLA311.
MyLA311 connects residents, local businesses, and visitors to popular City services and information through its call center, website, & mobile app. The mission of MyLA311 is to connect people to City services and information, quickly and easily, via the communication channel of their choice. Click here to visit MyLA311.
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Subscribe to SONC's
Early Notification System via the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to receive all agendas for council meetings and committee meetings.
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If you need additional assistance with City services, agencies, and departments (trash, abandoned properties, and more), you can contact the Office of District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman here or via (213) 473-7004.
In addition to contacting the office, for any issues related to homelessness anywhere within Council District 4, you can contact Field Deputy Taleen Keuroghlian (taleen.keuroghlian@lacity.org).
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Volunteer with
The Valley of Change
Feed Our Friends In Need
Second Saturday of Month
Community Cleanup
Second Sundays
'Come to the Corner'
Email Contact:
info@thevalleyofchange.org
For more information please visit:
TheValleyofChange.org
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Volunteer with NHIFP
Take advantage of helping out your community.
North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry is looking for volunteers.
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LA Regional Food Bank
If you are interested in volunteering with the LA Regional Food Bank, please visit this link.
Questions, concerns, please email:
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L.A. Works
Join L.A. Works and learn about all the volunteer opportunities available here in our great City of Los Angeles!
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Get Involved In Your Community
If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain and starting a Neighborhood Watch Program in your neighborhood, please contact your Senior Lead Officer at the email addresses or phone numbers listed below to obtain further details. There are 4 senior lead officers assigned for all of Sherman Oaks:
Jose Saldana
email: 30853@lapd.online
(818) 731-2565
9SL89
Mariana Romo
email: 40229@lapd.online
(818) 731-2563
9SL63
Joel Gutierrez
email: 36816@lapd.online
(818) 731-2560
9SL41
Kristan DeLatori
email: 32914@lapd.online
(818) 731-2562
9SL37
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Get Involved!
What interests you?
If you live, work, own property, own a business, or belong to a non-profit organization, school, or religious institution in Sherman Oaks, you are a stakeholder in Sherman Oaks. We hold monthly Board of Directors and various committee meetings which you are invited to attend to learn about and participate in your community. Join SONC's Mailing List today.
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What is a Neighborhood Council?
The Neighborhood Council system enables meaningful civic participation for all Angelenos and serves as a voice for improving government responsiveness to local communities and their needs. We are an advisory body to the City of Los Angeles, comprised of stakeholder volunteers who are devoted to the mission of improving our communities.
Neighborhood Councils advise the Mayor, City Council and City Departments on the City budget and will give local residents greater say over the decisions that affect our lives. You can view a brief video explaining what Neighborhood Councils do and what it means to be a Neighborhood Council member here. |
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