Wanted to share a story with you all...I think many of you local residents can relate with this.

Recently, a month ago, I found my south wall facing MLK tagged by  some punk with a spray can. Turned out, he had tagged 2 other walls  along same path.

Of course, that really made me rather PO'd. But I immediately 1)  repainted my wall (still had some paint left) and 2) went to this LPB  website and got hold of Sonny Sasajima @ LAPD Southwest. Sonny called  me, we spoke, he cleared his busy calendar & came by my home. We had a nice and meaningful chat. He is a breath of  fresh air, very attentive & concerned and sincerely wants to help make Lemert Park a better community . Says he likes to meet the neighbors, feels LP is still overall a very nice neighborhood populated by good, decent folks. Sonny assured me I was not alone in my concern and that he was the primary POC for the Leimert Park area for Community Relations. Once he saw my place  & how much I had put into it to make it nice, he clearly understood why I was so upset. He was nice enough to have some pine tree brush someone had dropped on my side lawn picked up & removed. I really appreciated that. He also said since he does a "boot camp" at Audubon Middle School, he  passes my place regularly and now keeps an eye out.

Since Sonny & I spoke, I have not had any other tagging  incidents. But I am quite diligent & always on the lookout. Plus, I have full video survelliance on 24/7. Anyone messing with my property will get caught on tape. And I will gladly turn that tape over to Sonny who will follow up. To me, this was a nuisance issue but it felt like a personal affront.
 
LPB is a great asset & excellent way for  neighbors to meet and get better acquainted. And I am real glad we also  have Sonny watching out for us LP residents. The most important thing I got out of my conversation with Sonny is you have to take action, you cannot be apathetic.

If one resident gets something good out of my story, it was worth publishing.