Melrose District residents have organized A Night To Unite Public Health and Public Safety, as part of LAPD’s larger National Night Out festivities this evening from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Poinsettia Park Recreation Center. Organizer Melrose Action (a “virtual neighborhood watch” providing crime data, news, and public safety information) announced it is “proud to bring National Night Out, America’s night out against crime, back to Poinsettia Park for its 13th year in a row. The event will focus on the biggest threat facing the public at large, COVID-19.”
Expanding the event’s traditional focus on public safety, Melrose Action will offer free COVID-19 vaccinations from community partner Cedars Sinai Medical Center and free COVID-19 Testing by Los Angeles County partner Fluegent Genetics to anyone who wants one, no appointments necessary. The Melrose/West Hollywood area was recently designated a “Covid-19 Hot Zone” by the L.A. County Department of Public Health from the recent surge in Delta-variant COVID cases…and, according to the organizers, all involved agreed the event needed to take on a new, more urgent, purpose.
“There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 crisis and its impacts still remain the single most important threat to public safety all members of our community and city face today,” event organizer Peter Nichols told the Buzz.
But more traditional Night Out events will definitely be included, too. At 7:30 p.m., L.A. City Councilmember Paul Koretz will also present a special commendation to newly promoted LAPD Commander Shannon Paulson for her distinguished service to the Wilshire Station community, and will introduce new Wilshire Division commander Captain Sonia Monico and patrol Captain Anthony Otero.
And at 8:00 p.m, Melrose/Fairfax District L.A.P.D. Senior Lead Officer Ian O’Brien, along with Councilmember Koretz, L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer, L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin, and other LAPD officials, will lead a one mile “Light The Night Safety Walk,” together with neighbors carrying flashlights, to share a signal of unity in preventing crime, which has hit the Melrose District very hard this year and last.
