Students who fraudulently use handicap placards for convenient
parking are being chastised once again. But this time the criticism
isn’t coming from the university.
At the annual meeting of the Holmby-Westwood Homeowners
Association, L.A.

Over the last couple of months, several retail stores have
closed up shop and left the Village forever. Many merchants in the
Village are facing dramatic rent increases, and under pressure some
have been forced to leave.

In a public meeting held Wednesday, concerned Westwood residents
and the Los Angeles Police Department requested Madison’s
improve its security staff and screening of underage drinking, and
reduce the restaurant’s hours of operation.

One of the few watering holes in Westwood is being called a
“public nuisance,” and is facing possible censure for
allegedly serving alcohol to underage patrons and because of fights
started in the bar, some involving UCLA football players.

In the eyes of more than a few Westwood merchants, getting more
people to shop in the Village ““ and making Westwood a more
attractive place in general ““ basically boils down to one
thing: more parking.

Westwood Village merchants and property owners continue to feel
frustrated with their Business Improvement District, which, among
other problems, appears to be missing money and is having trouble
paying off creditors, including UCLA.

Due to a souring economy, many Westwood merchants are not only
suffering low sales, but are also threatened with dramatic rent
increases. In these situations, long-time “mom-and-pop”
operations can be forced out of business.

Any perception that Bruins don’t have pride in their
school was erased this weekend.
After a six-year hiatus, a sizable crowd of present and former
Bruins converged on Le Conte Avenue early this weekend to watch
UCLA’s homecoming parade.

After six years, an absentee tradition is returning to UCLA in
the form of Homecoming. With events such as a parade, rally and the
game against Stanford, the celebration is pegged to heighten Bruin
pride.

It may be no secret that, by and large, Westwood has some of the
highest rents in Los Angeles, where property owners can charge
according to a seemingly unlimited demand.