IT'S OFFICIAL - WE ARE SHERMAN OAKS

Today we can FINALLY celebrate our VICTORY!

The City Clerk of Los Angeles has officially verified that the action of the Los Angeles City Council, which voted to approve our Neighborhood Name Change application in a 10-2 vote on July 14, 2009, is the FINAL action on this matter and the case has been officially APPROVED!

WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY SHERMAN OAKS!

What's in a Name? Van Nuys Neighborhood Wants to Opt Out - Which Way, L.A.? on KCRW

What's in a Name? Van Nuys Neighborhood Wants to Opt Out - Which Way, L.A.? on KCRW

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Now Part of Sherman Oaks

That's right we did it! The first official recognition of our neighborhood as part of the existing community of Sherman Oaks. There was still ugliness from the opposition, but ultimately their arguments were not compelling. What was compelling was the massive support from the affected community. It was awesome today seeing all those people there to support the effort.

There was tireless effort within the core group. At times we felt demoralized, but mostly we felt able to go on to the next step because we relied on one another and the amazing people of our neighborhood/community.

Thanks to all the supporters, the core group members and to the City Council for recognizing us as a Part of Sherman Oaks.

Take a victory lap!

Dr. Bob Cohen, President of the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce writes a letter supporting our effort to officially become recognized as a part of Sherman Oaks. Please read the letter linked here written to Councilwoman Wendy Greuel.

The Housing Chronicles Blog: The importance of neighborhood distinctions in L.A.

The Housing Chronicles Blog: The importance of neighborhood distinctions in L.A.

Here is another blog talking about us.

Have you driven around the neighborhood lately.  The support for our effort to be recognized as a part of Sherman Oaks has been overwhelming.  Our lawn signs are everywhere.  

Yesterday a group of your neighbors showed up to take a photo to further emphasize their support.  You can see by the picture, taken at Tobias and Martha, that this is a group of neighbors that care about their neighborhood.

The momentum of this effort is moving in the right direction.

Hello Neighbors! 
Aside from having perfect LA weather this last weekend, it was a great couple of days for our neighborhood name change movement!

Several of our "core group" members who have been working on this issue behind the scenes, knocked on your doors, meeting you personally or leaving our postcard with a letter attached for you to send to Councilwoman Wendy Greuel.

In a rousing show of support, lots of you bought "Part of Sherman Oaks" lawn signs. These signs are critical to raising awareness of the neighborhood name change issue, will direct folks to our website and will show Councilwoman, Wendy Greuel, as well as other City Councilmembers and the media, that our community is united, enthusiastic and determined about this name change. 

If you have not alreadyput up your lawn sign, it is a $5 donation to cover the costs of its production. Please call Mel at (818) 510-3375.

Thank you! We are a Part of Sherman Oaks!

LA City Election Results

Looks like CD 2 Councilmember Wendy Gruel easily won her bid for City Controller.  With all the election pressure off, we wonder now if that makes our effort to be recognized as a part of Sherman Oaks an easier task or not.

I'll put more up as soon as I know it, but for now keep your fingers crossed.  Still have a ways to go before we can plan the party.

Progress!

The efforts of many hours of hard work came to fruition today. The website was published, post cards have been ordered and we'll have lawn signs to post in yards throughout the neighborhood by next week. We have reached a tipping point in this effort.

Things are really coming together. While there hasn't been a big public presence since the last Van Nuys Neighborhood Council meeting, lots of planning and work has been going on behind the scenes.

This has been a tremendous opportunity to meet all the wonderful people in our neighborhood. I encourage you all to visit the website, send a message to Wendy Gruel and purchase a $5 lawn sign to show your public support.

Orphaned Community Bands Together To Become Part Of Sherman Oaks

San Fernando Valley neighbors banded together in an effort to become officially recognized as a part of Sherman Oaks.  A core group of neighbors living in the 91411 & 91401 zip codes organized themselves in order to spread the word throughout the entire community that we the neighbors residing east of Sepulveda Blvd, west of Hazeltine Ave and south of Oxnard Blvd down to Burbank Blvd are a Part Of Sherman Oaks. 

 These efforts garnered the support of local businesses, both those south of Burbank Blvd and those north of Burbank Blvd, in the proposed area.  Additionally, the neighbors south of Burbank Blvd support the efforts to recognize the 1800 homes within the proposed area as Part Of Sherman Oaks.

The 1993 Sherman Oaks boundary was re-drawn to include the area north of Magnolia Blvd up to Burbank Blvd leaving Van Nuys Blvd a part of Van Nuys.  Clearly, an oversight in drawing that boundary did not take into account that the neighborhood north of Burbank Blvd mirrored the same demographics, housing types, and housing mix.  Also, the industrial zoned Oxnard Blvd created a natural northern boundary.  The area that includes the Orange Line busway bisects the area in a real and meaningful way.  A Better understanding of just how this natural border divides the area can be found at our website www.partofshermanoaks.org. 

The earlier boundary oversight becomes even clearer when the LAUSD district map and LA City Council map is overlayed showing the area already considered a part of Sherman Oaks Schools and Coucilwoman Gruel’s district.  Furthermore, the San Fernando Valley Beautification Committee recognizes this natural boundary since their efforts do not extend below Oxnard Blvd and the Sherman Oaks Beautification effort includes this proposed area up to Oxnard Blvd.  All these facts combine to make a compelling argument for inclusion of this orphaned community as an official Part Of Sherman Oaks.

Welcome

We are a part of Sherman Oaks!