Taking on the Ryderz
This letter is a follow up to the Palisadian-Post’s stories: “LAPD Using ‘Al Capone’ Playbook to Thwart Ruthless Ryderz” (Aug. 24, 2017) and “Residents Raise Money to Take on the Ryderz” (Jan. 18).
We want to describe the ongoing efforts to increase police presence and traffic enforcement in Pacific Palisades in response to activity by the Ruthless Ryderz motorcycle gang.
On March 30, 2017, Alphabet Streets resident Paula Leonhauser sent a letter to LA officials in response to activity by the Ruthless Ryderz motorcycle gang. This was three days before the fatality at Chautauqua and Sunset involving the Ruthless Ryderz.
It was met with written acknowledgment by LAPD that there was “a motorcycle group that is creating a havoc in your community” and interfering with “your quality of life issues.”
On May 3, increased enforcement efforts were launched along the Sunset corridor from PCH to the 405 under the jurisdiction of the LAPD West Traffic Division and its then-Captain Tina Nieto (now Captain Gary Walters) and Sgt. Danny Eun.
West Traffic Division is a separate entity from West LAPD, including Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore, and is more akin to the California Highway Patrol in function of traffic enforcement.
The Sunset Corridor Task Force also pulled in Lisa Cahill from Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office.
Leonhauser has been in weekly communication with Cahill and Eun since May 2017.
Those efforts have borne much fruit, resulting in the Sunday sting operations that have seemed to curb Sunday Ryderz’s rides, enforcement traps at the Sunset 76 station, and an expedited speed survey along Sunset, allowing speed radar enforcement, along with significant RR citations for equipment violations, speeding, reckless driving, expired licenses and severe impound changes for illegal motorcycles.
According to Eun, Leonhauser has been a tremendous support in West Traffic’s “effort to deal with the RR in Pacific Palisades” and “has been superb in acting as the liaison between the Pacific Palisades community and the division.”
Eun has asked the community to “rather than dealing with many different sources, if I may ask you all to coordinate with her.”
As reported, Leonhauser and I were considering creating a nonprofit to fund ongoing enforcement efforts.
However, we came upon the Los Angeles Police Foundation, which is an independent, not-for-profit organization and the largest source of private funding for the LAPD.
A restricted account for the division and task force has been established, and contributions already exceed $2,000.
To donate, contact Cecilia Glassman (cecilia@lapolicefoundation.org or 213-489-4636).
Donations should be directed to West Traffic Division, Sunset Corridor Task Force.
Additionally, Steve Bardack, who is on the board of the Upper Riviera HOA, has joined our efforts, and is looking into joining forces with all other HOAs and using their collective influence to permanently solve this growing threat.
Those interested in supporting our efforts through donation or otherwise can contact Leonhauser (leonhauser@aol.com) or myself, Nina Madok (ninamadok@gmail.com).
Annine Madok | Alphabet Streets
A Nod to Women
Before March closes, I want to punctuate its passing with a nod to women.
On March 7, the world celebrated International Women’s Day, acknowledging a gender that has long struggled to gain a modicum of equality. While around the world women still fight for basic rights, closer to home, we continue with our own modern struggles.
Here empowerment might be a homeless woman having the courage to finally say “yes” to help, knowing there will be resources to support her. For a mother caught in an abusive relationship, it may be the strength to say, “I’m going to walk away.” For a young woman wanting to enter a big city life, knowing there’s a job waiting.
This month, the Commission on the Status of Women held a ceremony at City Hall. We celebrated women who had taken the hard, stark steps to empower themselves or others, and persevered against unfathomable adversity to gain firm ground, then reach back and lend a helping hand to others.
Mayor Eric Garcetti recognized LAFD Battalion Chief Nikki Brodowy for her inspiring approach to gender awareness within her command.
The commission itself recognized Oree Freeman, who survived being trafficked at the age of 11, and is today an activist against human trafficking.
Councilmember Mike Bonin recognized a remarkable advocate and community volunteer, Cozette Vergari. Vergari is a lawyer and activist against domestic violence. She is a pro bono attorney for the county’s Domestic Violence Project and launched the Human Trafficking Initiative for the Rotary.
I am proud to be a commissioner in the city of Los Angeles but couldn’t help but contrast my morning hobnobbing with influencers over freshly squeezed OJ with my awareness of what women face around the world.
A few days after the Pioneering Women Awards, I moderated a panel here in Pacific Palisades.
Guests included a fellow commissioner and orchestrator of the “Look Again in LA” campaign to fight human trafficking, an activist and rape survivor who now helps women get elected to public office, a Planned Parenthood advocate and the director of community business, focused on women entrepreneurs, from Mayor Garcetti’s Economic Development team.
Each brought to the conversation a perspective of incremental, almost accidental, empowerment that culminated in a life rooted in empowering others.
We were women celebrating women. It was a heartwarming event that prompted one audience member to proclaim, “I don’t want this conversation to end.” #MeToo
Maryam Zar | Marquez Knolls
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