Melrose Village Neighborhood Alliance

There are three entities that have varying degrees of control over projects in the Melrose Village area, so let’s get to know them!

 

1. Council District 5 – The most important:

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CD5 encompasses a wide area including many Westside communities, as well as our Melrose Fairfax district. 

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http://empowerla.org/council-districts-map/

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Our currently elected councilwoman is Katy Yaroslavsky. Among her various duties is the very important oversight and review of projects and plans that impact our streets and neighborhood. Her approval means things move forward, while her withholding of support means they do not.

 

Her email is:

councilmember.yaroslavsky@lacity.org

 

website is:

http://www.councildistrict5.lacity.gov

 

2. Melrose Business Improvement District (BID) – not well known:

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The Melrose BID manages the stretch of Melrose Avenue between Highland and Fairfax. They are basically a group of commercial property owners (not necessarily the merchants who operate businesses) who agree to pay additional taxes to fund the cost of operations and improve Melrose Avenue. They provide a security ambassador, trash services, marketing, beautification services and supposedly parking, to Melrose Avenue. Their budget is approximately $600,000/year. 

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Their ideas for improvements do not always consider the impact on the surrounding residential neighborhoods, especially in regards to traffic and parking, of which there is a chronic lack for the patrons of the Melrose businesses. Their outreach to both residents and also merchants leaves a lot to be desired.

 

3. Mid-City West Neighborhood Council – the one most people have not heard of:

 

Neighborhood Councils are city-certified local groups made up of people who, live, work, own property or operate a business in the neighborhood. The board members are elected,  although these elections are not well publicized and very few people vote in them.

 

The MCWNC is in theory, supposed to be a voice for the neighborhoods in policy making and projects. It receives a $40,000 grant from the City each year.

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Melrose Village (the area between Fairfax and La Brea and 2 blocks north and south of Melrose) is considered Zone 2 of the MCWNC. Our current representative is Sam Roseme  who can be reached at: sroseme@midcitywest.org.