Opponent of Gangs Given Different Job at Apartments

A North Hollywood woman, who won praise for her dangerous fight against gang members only to be fired from her apartment manager’s job for talking about neighborhood crime, will be kept on as assistant manager.

The decision Wednesday means that Viviana Guerra and her seven children will be able to continue living rent-free in the two-bedroom apartment that came with her job, said Larry Jacobs, owner of Park Place Management, which runs the London Manor apartments on Tiara Street.

Her demotion was among the drawbacks and benefits of Guerra’s growing celebrity status. She has drawn commendations from police, prosecutors and the state attorney general’s office for helping put five local gang members in prison by reporting their crimes and agreeing to testify against them, despite threats against her and her children.

Wednesday, she also heard from network television shows interested in telling her story, and from a woman’s organization that asked what help she and her family need.

But the statement that she still has a job was the show of support that Guerra most wanted.

Building owner Adelaide London said Wednesday that Guerra had not been fired but was “terminated with explanation” as the apartment house manager. London said she feared that resentful gang members would “get” Guerra if she continued to show apartments to prospective tenants, collect rents and maintain the grounds.

“She’s a target. She has kids. I was afraid for her life. I was afraid for her safety,” London said.

Guerra received a notice last Thursday informing her “that effective immediately you are being relieved of your position as apartment manager . . . Your full cooperation on a change-over to a new manager will be greatly appreciated.”

Jacobs said earlier that the action was taken because Guerra had not been renting out enough apartments and had been “making negative comments” to prospective tenants about the neighborhood’s troubles.

Although she was told that she could stay in her apartment indefinitely, Guerra was uncertain what the future held. Jacobs said Wednesday that Guerra could remain on as an assistant manager, functioning as a gang monitor and the building’s peacekeeper.

That commitment gives Guerra the security she says she needs to keep fighting the gangs. Despite offers of other apartments in safer neighborhoods, Guerra says she isn’t moving.

“I’m not giving (gang members) the satisfaction of seeing me move,” she said.

Guerra’s one-woman stand against gangs was widely publicized last month, when her testimony sent a gang member to prison for six years for threatening her life. The state attorney general’s office commended her for her courage in aiding police and prosecutors.

But her newfound fame has brought trouble as well as praise.

On Wednesday, detectives warned her that the headlines had brought another gang threat against her life.

“They want me out,” Guerra said. “They want me dead.” Police told her “to watch my back,” she said.

She also spoke with representatives of “60 Minutes” and “Dateline NBC,” who are interested in her story. And Darby Manger, a representative of the San Gabriel Valley chapter of the National Organization for Women, called to ask Guerra for a “wish list” of items needed by her family.

Guerra said she thought it might be nice to take her children to an amusement park.

In the meantime, Guerra passes the hours inside her apartment, afraid to go outside.

“I’ve sent five gang members to prison, but I’m in prison too,” she lamented.