My name is Zel Limenih, and I have literally grown up, attending school, playing sports, and spending quality time in West LA for many years.
West LA is an extremely diverse community. While it borders affluent neighbors such as Beverly Hills/Century City, Venice/Mar Vista, and Santa Monica, it feels like a central hub, bridging the gap between its surrounding communities. I love that Sawtelle Japantown is in the heart of West LA, and all that it's restaurant and a variety of night life culture brings.
Also, I have significant life history in West LA. I graduated from University High School. I have spent countless hours hanging (or picking up my sister who worked at) the Westside Pavilion Mall, or playing basketball at Westwood Rec. Center, or making music with friends at West LA College. I have also been invested in various church communities and volunteer efforts throughout West LA. For the last almost (5) years, I have served as Director of Felicia Mahood MPC, and have tremendously enjoyed working with both our Seniors, and general community at large.
Housing and homelessness are (2) of the largest concerns that this centralized hub faces most. As community members, our safety and security must be of utmost concern. Because of that diversity, I would also be apart of efforts that would allow the members of the WLA to blossom in its relationships between its varying community members.
Finally, I would like to see renovations made to the Civic Center area, where it can be used as a multi-use, multi-function shared community space that our collective community members can be proud of, and are equally invested into. Part of that vision of beautification would include a Community garden in our FM back patio space