Illegal behavior in the area coming from adolescents has become one of the primary concerns for Palisadians
By Zach Armstrong
A video posted on Nextdoor shows local teenagers fighting in public in close proximity to the Palisades Village.
In the video, which was posted by Nextdoor user Lisette Kramer, three teens are seen exchanging blows and pulling each other to the ground where they continue wrestling, until an older man comes to break up the fight. It seems the exchange occurred in front of Gelson’s on Via de la Paz.
Illegal behavior in the area coming from adolescents has become one of the primary concerns for Palisadians in the past year.
The Palisadian Center for Youth Sports and Recreation, in particular, has somewhat become the neighborhood hotspot for dangerous teenage activity. In early November of last year, LAPD were called about juveniles chasing others on the tennis courts with tasers. A month prior, LAPD received a radio call for a possible overdose of a 16-year-old female around the area behind Palisades Library. Other reports of partying, drinking, lighting fireworks and vehicle racing around the rec center led LAPD to identify the park and surrounding area as an “extra patrol location.”
In a more recent episode of these illicit actions, two teenagers were found “engaging in activity” on the public Carthage stairwell leading up from Haverford Avenue to the alley behind Via de la Paz.
Michael Edlen, a leading local real estate agent and alternative representative for Area 3 on the Pacific Palisades Community Council, made a $5,000 donation last week to prevent crime in the neighborhood as “disruptive teenage activity” has plagued the area.
According to PPCC, the funds are earmarked for the “public safety pilot partnership” that is currently being considered by CD11 and LAPD. The effort would add between 15 to 20 hours of patrol time in the Palisades. The CD11 Council Office and LAPD West have already met to discuss the initiative, according to PPCC President Maryam Zar, who said “everyone involved has indicated a willingness to consider the idea.”
