Valley Village to launch Neighborhood Safety Network

A Neighborhood Safety Network is being started in Valley Village, with a focus on emergency preparedness and Neighborhood Watch.

Neighborhood Council Valley Village, in partnership with the Valley Village Homeowners Association and the office of L.A. Councilmember Wendy Greuel, will hold a town hall meeting about the new program from 6:30-9 p.m. tonight at Colfax Elementary School, 11724 Addison St.

The meeting will have a Community Emergency Preparedness Team (CERT) overview and information on the next training sessions necessary to become a member of the CERT program.

Expected speakers include Manny Arreygue, senior lead officer with the North Hollywood Police Department, Ken Saito, neighborhood prosecutor, Evan Roosevelt, from Councilwoman Greuel's office, Bill North, CERT coordinator for the Valley Village CERT program, Tony Willis, Valley Village CERT 3 coordinator, as well as Robin Ibrahim and Wayne Kartin, CERT coordinators for Battalion 14.

"With the recent earthquakes in China and other natural disasters around the globe, this is a wake-up call for all of us," said Dorothy Apple, NCVV board member and organizer. "Our goal is to protect Valley Village and make sure that our stakeholders are as prepared as possible for any natural disaster, and that we continue to watch out for each other as part of an effective neighborhood watch crime prevention program."

The meeting is open to all Valley Village residents.