On September 20, 2024, community members met with representatives from Los Angeles City Council District 10 to address long-standing concerns over illegal neighborhood gates blocking public streets between Country Club Park and Arlington Heights. The meeting, intended to seek transparency and accountability, ended in disappointment as community members were disrespected by council staff and evidence supporting gate removal was disregarded.

Despite a prior commitment to attend, Councilwoman Heather Hutt was absent from the meeting. Instead, her staff, including Chief of Staff Kimani Black and Chief Deputy Andrew Westall, represented the office. Community members presented evidence from the city Bureau of Engineering confirming that the gates have lacked proper permits for over two decades. The gates obstruct public access, hinder emergency services, and create barriers for pedestrians and people with disabilities.

When questioned about the legal justification for the gates, Chief of Staff Black stated, “We don’t need to find a statute or law to determine whether the gates should be there.” This response left community members stunned.

Max Hawkins, a concerned resident, pointed out that blocking public rights-of-way without legal grounds is unacceptable, to which Black retorted, “That’s your belief.”

The community also presented a petition with 1,927 signatures and over 500 written testimonials requesting the removal of the gates. However, Black dismissed the documents without reviewing them. An analysis of LAPD data showing a 23% increase in crime in the gated area compared to ungated sections was similarly disregarded.

Emails obtained through public records requests reveal internal acknowledgments of the gates’ questionable legality. An April 2023 email from a Country Club Park Neighborhood Association representative cautioned that the gates’ existence is “on shaky legal ground” and advised discretion when discussing them with city officials to avoid potential removal.

The meeting highlighted a lack of willingness from Council District 10 staff to engage genuinely with the concerns of community members. “These gates were never about crime—they were about exclusion,” said Arturo Cambron, a resident from the south side of the gates. Others shared personal stories of how the gates disrupt daily life, hinder accessibility for the elderly and disabled, and pose safety hazards.

“We need our streets back,” said community member Gillian. “These streets belong to the public, not a select few.”