Community Corner

L.A. Taking Testimony on Sober-Living Homes

Residents are complaining about noise, threats and crime. Planning Commission will consider an 84-page Community Care Facility Ordinance.

Neighbors have long been complaining about noise, threats and crime associated with group homes and half-way houses cropping up in their communities.

Councilman Greig Smith has authored an ordinance to crack down on both licensed and unlicensed sober-living facilities, and citizen comment is being taken from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in the first floor conference room at Marvin Braude Center, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys. The workshop, sponsored by the city Planning Department, is the third and final meeting being held in various city locations.  On Thursday, the Planning Commission will consider the 84-page Community Care Facility Ordinance.

"My office has been working for several years to crack down on these group homes that have proliferated in residential neighborhoods across the San Fernando Valley. We authored the motion to create an ordinance to regulate problem group homes in response to the numerous complaints about drug and alcohol abuse, overcrowding, noise, threats, crime and other problems associated with these nuisance group homes," Smith said.

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His office has established a Group Home Task Force including the Volunteer Surveillance Team, Department of Building and Safety, the City Attorney's office, LAPD officers and local stakeholders.


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