In a meeting on July 22, the Health and Safety Commission welcomed Erin Cassidy-Eagle, psychiatry and behavioral sciences professor at Stanford University, for a discussion about the impact sleep has on health and well-being. Also at the meeting, the commission discussed updates from the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD), the Beverly Hills Fire Department (BHFD) and the Human Services Division, that reported a decrease in homelessness and a decrease in crime rates. Later, Jamie Wozny, a wellness coach and speaker, led a moment of mindfulness.
Cassidy-Eagle is a renowned professor of psychiatry who has published nearly 30 studies in behavioral science that focus on anxiety, insomnia and other factors that are known to affect sleep patterns. She attended the meeting virtually, where she led a presentation, discussing the negative impacts of not getting enough sleep and how to eliminate some of these detriments that people may not recognize in their daily life. She pointed out that a common impact people don’t know about is the ability for a person’s body to react to vaccines. “If you have disrupted sleep the week before you get your flu shot this fall, you will only develop 50% of the antibodies that you should develop when you get that shot,” said Cassidy-Eagle.
While there may seem like simple over-the-counter fixes for difficulty sleeping, she explained that relying on supplements does not address the underlying cause of poor sleep. “If someone said to me, ‘tell me one thing’ —if there was just one thing I could try, it would be to get up at the same time every day,” said Cassidy Eagle. She pointed out that reducing anxiety and stressors can also help individuals fall into a deeper sleep.
In an effort to reduce anxiety levels, Jamie Wozny, a coach and speaker who works with clients at large companies such as NBC and Hulu, led a virtual moment of mindfulness. Her work focuses on embracing authenticity and finding inner peace. “There’s science that shows us that the feelings that we’re in, the energy that we’re in, affects our cells, which affects our body,” said Wozny. She explained that every individual is made of energy, and their energy field extends up to 2 feet around them. “If we are in a self-loving space, we are actually affecting everyone around us,” she continued. She urged people to practice self-love by acknowledging whatever emotion they may be feeling and telling themselves either out loud, or in their head that it’s okay to feel whatever that emotion may be. Validating ourselves and practicing reflection, as she explained, can reduce cortisol levels throughout the day.
As cortisol levels dropped, BHPD was happy to announce that crime rates have decreased as well. Lieutenant Andrew Myers reported that in 2023, the city saw a record number of hate crimes, with 28 total hate crimes over just 12 months. In 2024, however, there have been nine reported hate crimes— a major decrease in just six months. The total number of aggravated assaults for the month of June was two, compared to six in May. Property crimes decreased from 119 in May to 113 in June. BHPD’s response time also decreased by 13 seconds, for an average time of two minutes and 30 seconds. Myers reminded the commission that applications are still open for individuals who are interested in helping these rates decrease through the Citizen Police Academy. Applications close on Aug. 13.
The Human Services Division is also accepting applications for this year’s Day of Wellness, which will take place on Sept 22. Those interested in leading a session or having a booth can apply now through Aug. 20. In a positive update, Human Services Administrator Christopher Paulson announced a 0.27% decrease in homelessness in LA County. In June, the division counted 222 unduplicated unhoused individuals in the city of Beverly Hills, and they moved 45 new residents into housing.
Deputy Fire Chief Alfred Poirier provided an update on BHFD, stating that the number of reported fire incidents in June 2024 was 721 compared to 742 in June 2023. The department saw the most significant decreases in numbers of rescues and explosions. Later at the meeting, they gave a recap on the emergency preparedness fair, which educated the community on how to handle a variety of emergency situations before the fire department is able to arrive at the scene. As Fire Chief Gregory Barton explained, they plan on hosting more events like this one in the near future.
