tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76124637932506398162024-03-04T23:56:20.429-08:00Living in VeniceWe are an Independent Neighborhood Watch Group Living and Working in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles, California.Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-37097359991315152212010-04-26T16:44:00.000-07:002010-04-26T16:48:05.770-07:00L.A.P.D. Police Advisory Pacific Division<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit68nGv8P4CizqWWc1bMVCPVqCXx1UD4ZAeKOxoLs0fu3cbfQbYoqUwTxkFrPQdRmyd_wdWBOSt6mHQzhTAsEA6jQgb-feZEd7TErfxkQlTDnmNMw5vZIZGP9hAJlnIm4wDrqZEAIJ5c5A/s1600/badge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 88px; height: 88px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit68nGv8P4CizqWWc1bMVCPVqCXx1UD4ZAeKOxoLs0fu3cbfQbYoqUwTxkFrPQdRmyd_wdWBOSt6mHQzhTAsEA6jQgb-feZEd7TErfxkQlTDnmNMw5vZIZGP9hAJlnIm4wDrqZEAIJ5c5A/s320/badge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464596758122217106" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Reminder: This is an update of current events of concern in the Pacific Area Community.<br /><br />This is an update of current events of concern in the Pacific Area Community.<br /><br />Recently there has been an increase in Theft From Person's. We are asking people to be aware of their surroundings when in public places. The new iPhone is currently being targeted by suspects. We want to remind people not to leave items or merchandise in plain view in their vehicles. Again, iPhones, electronic devices, gym bags, lap tops, or money. Please be especially diligent when visiting Venice Beach this summer. Another item of concern in the greater Los Angeles Area is Grand Theft Auto(GTA)of Jeep Wrangler's particularly doors and soft tops.<br /><br />Venice/Oakwood Community Member’s: There has been an increase in Home Burglaries while the victims are at home. As the warmer months approach please keep your doors locked even when you're inside the house.<br /><br />Address/Location<br />LAPD - Pacific<br />12312 Culver Blvd<br />Los Angeles, CA 90230<br /><br />Sign up for notifications: <a href="http://www.nixle.com/">Nixle.com</a>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-16530901615359429372010-03-21T09:08:00.000-07:002010-03-21T09:32:15.135-07:00ABC News Town Hall Meeting at the Boys & Girls Club of Venice<div style="text-align: center;">Here's your chance to talk and voice your opinion!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />When:</span><br />Wednesday, March 24, 2010<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What time:</span> 6:00 to 8:00 pm<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where:</span><br />Boys & Girls Club of Venice (Venice Blvd. & Lincoln Blvd.)<br />2232 Lincoln Blvd. Venice Ca. 90291<br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.bgcv.org/town-hall-meeting1">www.bgcv.org</a><br /><br />ABC7's News, Programming and Public Affairs Departments will be in Venice to meet with community leaders and residents. Our goal is to hear from you about local issues and stories that affect your community.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpvyoIoiCXY3g5SKYjnBzyW1ZD8mgaTFDfju_t9XhnumjyagSZGFBVJRc14k5c51qx-HNVUsfyW_HuhU9MKv81fG36N1SnzvtkcZY7dE1FfGwUdAq0UvK7_445q58zjesjPPwk6RMoo1m/s1600-h/ABC7withwhite.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpvyoIoiCXY3g5SKYjnBzyW1ZD8mgaTFDfju_t9XhnumjyagSZGFBVJRc14k5c51qx-HNVUsfyW_HuhU9MKv81fG36N1SnzvtkcZY7dE1FfGwUdAq0UvK7_445q58zjesjPPwk6RMoo1m/s320/ABC7withwhite.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451120514999601634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpvyoIoiCXY3g5SKYjnBzyW1ZD8mgaTFDfju_t9XhnumjyagSZGFBVJRc14k5c51qx-HNVUsfyW_HuhU9MKv81fG36N1SnzvtkcZY7dE1FfGwUdAq0UvK7_445q58zjesjPPwk6RMoo1m/s1600-h/ABC7withwhite.gif">Boys & Girls Club of Venice invites us to a town hall meeting.</a>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-64947010386166538762010-03-20T05:58:00.000-07:002010-03-21T09:07:58.222-07:00Thank you Yo VeniceThis comment came in from the owner of Yo Venice and we wanted to post it because they sum up some of the issues we have so well. As we posted many times before, it is quality of life issues for all of us, not just the residents but the homeless neighbors we have also. This is a health issue for us, all of us. We just would like to have a clean healthy and safe community.<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.yovenice.com/">"Yo Venice</a> is my site. I also posted the following. What is your stance on the issue?<br /><br />I don't think anyone in Venice really minds "the homeless" and wants Venice to be "whitieville" like the Palisades or Manhattan Beach. I think people mind transients that verbally and physically attack people, steal shit, and in general are not cool. If your neighbor played trumpet from 3-6 am you would be pissed. There is nothing wrong with trumpet players, its just when and how ya play the thing … if the new breed of transients were showing any respect to the community, rather than just trashing it, harrasing people, and fighting with residents, I dont think anyone would really mind them sleeping in the park or living in their trucks. Venice is a compassioante place and that is how all the homeless ended up here in the first place. But "as is" many of the transients are being "4 am" trumpet players and that has ta be shut down until they decide to play nice with the community and respect where they are.<br /><br />What is happening here is not your down on your luck Woody Guthrie dustbowl era "could I sweep your sidewalks or wash your windows for a meal" homeless/ transients whom a community should try and help back up the ladder. This group by and large are spoiled brats that think you "owe them" something just for walking by them on the street. If you ignore them they may attack you. Screw that … it is time for them to go.<br /><br />The homeless activists fight for the homeless that they think are being dehumanized. I am all for that, no one should be made to feel less than human. The problem is that this new group of transients is doing the reverse, they are dehumanizing the neighborhood of Venice, treating it like it just doesn't matter, and the residents here just don't matter to them. Everyone has the right not to feel marginalized and feel like their existence is respected by their fellow man … what you are seeing here in these forums is people that, while they may have a roof over their head, a computer to type on and some money to spend on dinner each night, .. are angry that the transients are in fact dehumanizing THEM, treating THEM with ill will and no respect. If the transients here can't respect "their neighbors" they should be dealt with by laws that are on the books … laws that were set in place to force disrespectful people to show some respect to others … and thats what these weekly writeins are about" </blockquote>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-73754193353619604482010-03-18T08:39:00.000-07:002010-03-18T08:54:48.881-07:00Quality of life issues in Venice........We call Rose Avenue "Skid Rose"...<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mOCUZ8m62YM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mOCUZ8m62YM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">From: YoVenice.com "Have you noticed Venice getting better? Are there less aggressive transients around town? Do you feel safe walking near your own home? If not, you need to make the effort and write in again this week.<br /><br />In the last week, readers of this site have commented that the LAPD Pacific Division seems to be listening and helping out our community by getting safety lights replaced and making their presence known to some of the transients that are terrorizing our neighborhood.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">THANK YOU LAPD!<br /></div><br />Readers here have also mentioned that LAPD officers have been told not to pursue these aggressive transients by decree of Councilman Rosendahls office. We do not know the validity of this, but have been forwarded emails that show the “Legal Clinic for Venice”, sponsored by The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles has actively been passing out fliers to the “Homeless People and People Living in Vehicles” in Venice that seem to be begging the homeless and people living in vehicles to make legal cases against the LAPD in their enforcement of existing laws that prevent people from living on city streets."<br /><br />Click here to read <a href="http://www.yovenice.com/">YoVenice.com</a> blog.<br /></blockquote><br />This was in response to .....<br /><br /><blockquote>A “pissed off” Venice resident tired of being “pissed on” has decided to start an old fashioned write in campaign to get the community together for the greater good of safety by petitioning local politicians and police members to actively try and improve the living conditions for all Venice residents.<br /><br />Here is the “write in” letter from Venice Resident Steve G:<br /><br />The Subject Line Should Read:<br />VENICE RESIDENTS REQUEST MORE POLICE SUPPORT!<br /><br />(Personalize this or Cut and Paste if you like but this is what I am writing:)<br /><br />Dear Mr Mayor, <a href="mailto:councilmember.rosendahl@lacity.org">Mr Rosendahl</a> and <a href="mailto:jon.peters@lapd.lacity.org">Captain Peters</a>,<br /><br />As a long time Venice resident I cant help but notice the growing number of Transients, Homeless and RV Dwellers that have invaded Venice in the past year. It is sad that some of these people have fallen on hard times, but some are Mentally Ill, Substance Abusers or just “Homeless by Choice” Why is the City ignoring the requests of victims (taxpayers) of this squalor. Puke on the sidewalks, “homeless” people, addicts and RV dwellers harassing actual tax paying residents and tourists is simply unacceptable.<br /><br />I have learned that there has been a request for a special police unit dedicated to the Transient/Homeless people living in Venice. This is my official request as a tax paying Venice resident. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS DEDICATED TO THE TRANSIENT/HOMELESS ISSUES WE ARE EXPERIENCING HERE IN VENICE!<br /><br />There is a fine line between Civil Rights Taxpayers Rights, Human Rights and Quality of Life.</span><br /><br /><br /></blockquote>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-28457776342041997372010-03-16T11:35:00.001-07:002010-03-16T11:38:21.675-07:00Earthquake Rediness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ci.la.ca.us/LAFD/eqbook.pdf"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtZIbJux48vNjJXpFtyBFiWQDJTXNw0VVLVGQ8t3cq9LajpZ3gmOSifJh3TGYX0RccvZfa-1xhPKnW294BHRIo-OYVg27UHiV4eFXQvfT9ZHJI5Qxz0ylrr72St746w4-E24Hiv2ASIt4/s320/Picture+33.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449302287639548562" border="0" /></a>Are you prepared?<br />Are you Ready?<br /><br />Click here for <a href="http://www.ci.la.ca.us/LAFD/eqbook.pdf">EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS</a> booklet prepared by the Fire Department.Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-4015069537189607762009-12-29T12:46:00.000-08:002009-12-29T12:49:47.311-08:00Give Blood, Give Life<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgi17dvnirmNtxt0nyk2eu7CAWawJj4sL_sOlz6_uShjY5tzS0wT4PrqU9h9r1gdOrP04Dmh7gnETXHAZPk_unVJsN6uuZieAflHUGl7OOlm1xTfnx7k8SnwPTsilIsJojA5zzv6xppkD/s1600-h/redcross.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgi17dvnirmNtxt0nyk2eu7CAWawJj4sL_sOlz6_uShjY5tzS0wT4PrqU9h9r1gdOrP04Dmh7gnETXHAZPk_unVJsN6uuZieAflHUGl7OOlm1xTfnx7k8SnwPTsilIsJojA5zzv6xppkD/s320/redcross.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420762793706260850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">LAPD Pacific Division<br /><br />Life-Saving Blood Drive<br /><br />Wednesday January 27, 2010 <br />2:00 pm to 8:00 pm<br /> Location: Pacific Station, 12312 Culver Blvd<br />Red Cross Bloodmobile<br />(In the rear parking lot)<br />Sign up online at <a href="http://www.givelife.org">www.givelife.org</a> sponsor code:<br />badge or Sophia 310-202-2890<br /><br /><br />Questions please contact Officer Kristan Delatori or Officer Sophia Castaneda –<br /> CRO Office (310)202-4524<br />Please Bring Picture ID<br /></span></div>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-53129471352642681482009-10-19T08:11:00.000-07:002009-10-19T08:21:40.405-07:00Local television abc7.com visits Venice.An elderly mother and her two sons call an SUV home parked on the streets and parking lots around the beach area.<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"She is partly homeless by choice; she refuses to live in a state-supported convalescent home, and her two sons refuse to place her there."<br /><br />"For the last five years, Berger and her sons have made their home in an old Suburban."<br /></blockquote> <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/index">ABC7.COM</a><br /><object id="otvPlayer" height="268" width="400"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/static/flash/embeddedPlayer/swf/otvEmLoader.swf?version=&station=kabc&section=&mediaId=7069334&cdnRoot=http://cdn.abclocal.go.com&webRoot=http://abclocal.go.com&site="><br /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><br /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><br /><embed id="otvPlayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/static/flash/embeddedPlayer/swf/otvEmLoader.swf?version=&station=kabc&section=&mediaId=7069334&cdnRoot=http://cdn.abclocal.go.com&webRoot=http://abclocal.go.com&site=" height="268" width="400"></embed><br /><br /></object>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-9325422468073127632009-10-07T07:56:00.000-07:002009-10-07T07:57:37.226-07:00Lincoln Place landlord settles with tenants<blockquote><a href="http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2009-10-05-62926.113116_Lincoln_Place_landlord_settles_with_tenants.html#print">Source: Santa Monica Daily Press</a><br /><br />Lincoln Place landlord settles with tenants<br /><br />by Melody Hanatani<br /><br />October 06, 2009<br /><br />VENICE — A classic landlord-tenant battle came to a close recently when the owners and former residents of Lincoln Place reached a settlement that not only preserves a group of historic buildings from demolition but allows renters to return to their one-time home.<br /><br />The agreement with the property owner, the Apartment Investment and Management Co. (AIMCO), will avail up to 83 units to former tenants who are part of the settling party and limit new construction to the replacement of 99 units that previously existed on a now-vacant lot, a far smaller-scaled project compared to a 1993 plan to build 850 units on the 33-acre site, most of which would have been market-rate condos.<br /><br />While the settlement is contingent on a separate agreement between AIMCO, the city of Los Angeles and other tenant groups, residents are optimistic that their needs will prevail.<br /><br />“We are confident the city will do everything they can to accommodate the interest of tenants and get the apartment back running,” John Murdock, an attorney representing the tenants, said.<br /><br />Just less than a dozen tenants remain in the garden-style apartment complex that once boasted 52 buildings and 795 units that were developed in 1951 and backed by the Federal Housing Authority to support World War II veterans and their families. The complex has however been largely abandoned following a series of legal fights that began after 1993 when the property owner proposed redeveloping the site, including a lawsuit over the eviction of more than 50 households. Tenants claimed in the lawsuit that AIMCO violated conditions of the California Environmental Quality Act as well as an agreement with the city of L.A. to relocate tenants to other units or properties instead of evicting them. The Second District Court of Appeals later ruled the evictions were unlawful.<br /><br />There were 147 households involved in litigation.<br /><br />“We are very excited to put the community back together, to breathe some life to the area, to return much needed housing to the city of Venice and L.A. and get this behind us and chart a positive future,” Patti Shwayder, senior vice president for AIMCO, said. “We’ve been in three separate settlement negotiations over the years and I guess the third time is the charm.”<br /><br />Most of the tenants voluntarily left the complex after accepting relocation packages that included thousands of dollars to help pay for moving expenses. Those who did not accept the offer were evicted. Some staged a “tent city” to protest the evictions.<br /><br />The settlement includes the preservation of the exteriors of existing historically eligible buildings, a victory for preservationist Amanda Seward who nominated the property for listing on the California Register of Historic Resources.<br /><br />The California State Historic Resources Commission determined the property was historic, which the property owner later appealed. AIMCO agreed to drop the appeal to the commission’s decision that the property is eligible in the California Register as a historic district.<br /><br />Lincoln Place was designed by architect Ralph Vaughn in his signature “Hollywood stylized” version of modern architecture, Seward said.<br /><br />“It was the largest post World War II development built under a special governmental program designed to provide financial support for working class housing after the war,” Seward said regarding the significance of the property.<br /><br />AIMCO plans to submit a design plan after all legal disputes are settled. Shwayder said development of the 99 units will be contextual with the existing neighborhood.<br /><br />Sheila Bernard, the president of the Lincoln Place Tenants Association, has lived in the complex since August 1988 and is one of 11 tenants who still remain, most of whom are seniors or disabled.<br /><br />She said the tenants have been mostly “hunkered” down over the past several years and remain cautiously optimistic that a resolution will be reached with the city of Los Angeles.<br /><br />“I think from the very beginning all we really wanted was a fair resolution and a chance to live there and be at peace,” she said. “Anything we did during all those years was fundamentally in that direction.<br /><br />“We’re very hopeful that we will have achieved that objective with that settlement.”<br /><br />melodyh@smdp.com</blockquote>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-51575639406829730922009-08-14T16:25:00.000-07:002009-08-14T16:48:39.622-07:00Please call 311 to report human feces!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Please call 311 to report human feces on the streets & alley ways!<br /></span></div><br />They will take the report and also ask for the Department of Sanitation Watershed Division.<br /><br />One of the residents did this recently and Inspector Lee responded in 6 hours!<br /><br />They will clear feces from public areas and sidewalks, but not private property.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Remember, whatever is on the sidewalk and streets winds up in the storm drains!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />UNTREATED human waste on the streets is an extreme public health risk to all of us! </span></span><br /></div><br />We also recommend that you also the call the Department of Health at<span style="font-weight: bold;"> 800-427-8700</span> and file a report.<br /><br />If you do call please follow up with an eMail and get the name of the person you spoke with, the date and the time. Creating a paper trail is really good, also if you have the stomach for it snap a picture and include it in your eMail. Most of us have cell phones with cameras and digital cameras, if you do not a throw away camera is very reasonable these days.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Remember a picture is worth a thousand words.<br /></div><br /><br />Please be vigilant in reporting to official agencies and let them know we have an extreme<br />and chronic homeless situation & human feces in in the streets of Venice. People living on the streets also use the streets as their toilet.<br /><br />Keep track of your complaints.Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-17795988492418856982009-07-16T12:31:00.000-07:002009-07-17T08:55:28.947-07:00Some useful phone numbers.First when should you call 911?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">911 is used for Life Threatening Emergencies Only</span><br /><ul><li>A crime is in progress</li><li>You require medical attention and need Paramedics<br /></li><li>There is a fire</li><li>Domestic Violence in progress</li></ul>You can call 911 from a Cell Phone but the response time may be delayed, if you have an Emergency when ever possible use a Land Line for a faster response.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /></div>The Non-Emergency phone number for the L.A.P.D. is 1-<span style="font-weight: bold;">877-ASK-LAPD</span> or 1-877-275-5273<br /><ul><li style="text-align: center;">Loud Parties or other Disturbances</li><li>Suspicious Activity</li><li>Trespass or Loitering</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /><div style="text-align: left;">For access to all city services for Residents of Los Angeles call <span style="font-weight: bold;">311</span><br />Los Angeles County Residents the number is <span style="font-weight: bold;">211</span><br /><br /><ul><li>For Non Police related information</li><li>They will either provide you information or advise the contact information of the agency you should contact for your specific need.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here is a useful number if you are stuck on the <span style="font-weight: bold;">freeway</span> and there is no call box and you do not want to leave your car. Call <span style="font-weight: bold;">399</span> from your cell phone.<br /><br /><ul><li>This works from any cell phone</li><li>Live operator will connect you with either the Metro Freeway Service Patrol or your Auto Club</li><li>This is a non Emergency number for roadside assistance while on the freeway</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Anonymous tip line for L.A.P.D. 877-LAWFULL or 877-529-3855<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Graffiti problems, call Pacific Division Graffiti Solutions 310-204-2749<br /><ul><li>Pacific Graffiti Solutions will identidy the graffiti if it is gang related and reports are issued to L.A.P.D.</li><li>Be specific and have the exact street address and or cross streets and what the graffiti is on. ie telephone pole, garage door etc.<br /></li></ul><br />Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division front desk 310-482-6334<br /><br />L.A.P.D. Blog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/lapdblog.typepad.com/">lapdblog.typepad.com/</a><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-62483040162342237622009-06-22T07:15:00.000-07:002009-06-22T07:49:24.133-07:00Crime Prevention Tip from the L.A.P.D.<span style="font-weight: bold;">Vehicle Robbery, "Carjacking" Prevention</span><br /><br />Vehicle robbery is by no means a new crime, nor is it sweeping the nation in epidemic proportions. Vehicle owners have been victims of this crime for decades. The term<span style="font-weight: bold;"> "carjacking" </span>was coined by the news media. The term has raised fear levels out of proportion with the actual probability of becoming a victim. Realistically, this is a crime of low probability, but potentially high consequences........<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Being the victim of a "carjacking" can be dangerous, even deadly.</span>.....<br /><br /><ul><li>When there is an emergency not requiring 9-1-1, spare change for a phone call can save the day. Keep the spare change with you at all times and <span style="font-weight: bold;">keep important phone numbers in your wallet or purse. </span><br /></li></ul><ul><li>Know the area in which you are traveling. Take the time to learn the locations of police and fire stations and emergency rooms. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Leave a written itinerary with family or friends including the expected time of departure and arrival.</span> Call to announce your arrival, or any changes in your plans.</li></ul><ul><li>When traveling out of town, plan all trips carefully. Carry maps with routes and destinations clearly marked. Service your vehicle regularly to ensure it is mechanically sound. It is much safer to travel on main roads during daylight hours. Never pick up strangers, under any circumstances, and keep your doors locked and windows closed at all times. Never drive with less than a 1/4 of a tank of gasoline on short trips. Never drive with less than a 1/2 of a tank of gasoline on long trips.</li></ul><ul><li>When possible, <span style="font-weight: bold;">drive in the lane nearest the center of the road </span>to distance any would-be pedestrian attacker from your vehicle. Drive on well-lighted, well-traveled streets. Avoid shortcuts that take you on dark, isolated streets. Do not drive wearing expensive jewelry. Do not leave other valuable items in view. Lock valuables in the trunk.</li></ul><br /><ul><li>When <span style="font-weight: bold;">stopped in traffic, leave sufficient space between your vehicle and any vehicle in front of yours</span>. If someone approaches in a threatening manner, the open space will allow you to move forward or leave the location. Do not stop directly along side a vehicle in an adjacent lane. If possible, stop 1/2 vehicle length offset, keeping your vehicle in gear.</li></ul><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do not park next to vans or other high profile vehicles </span>that could conceal a suspect. When returning to your vehicle, have your keys in hand and be ready to unlock and enter your vehicle without delay. As you approach your vehicle, check from a distance for any suspicious activity along your path. Look under your vehicle from a distance. Upon arriving at your vehicle, look in the back seat area for any secluded intruder. If you have a two-door vehicle, leave the seat backs pushed forward so you can easily inspect the rear area. Most importantly, if you have suspicions, request a security escort, or walk with other people to where your vehicle is parked. Walk together and keep an eye on each other until everyone is safely locked inside their vehicles.</li></ul><ul><li>When parking in your garage, leave your vehicle lights on and inspect the surroundings as you close your garage door. Automatic door openers are recommended. Once the automatic garage door is closed, only then unlock your door and exit the vehicle.</li></ul><ul><li>If your vehicle breaks down on the road, attempt to move your vehicle to a safe location. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Activate the emergency flashers and stay locked inside until help arrives</span>. If someone stops to offer assistance, request they summon help from an authorized emergency roadside service.</li></ul><ul><li>If the driver of a vehicle with no markings motions you to pull over to the side of the road, do not pull over. Keep driving to the nearest open business or where other people are present. However, comply immediately when directed by an officer in a marked vehicle. Nevertheless, if you sense anything out of the ordinary, you may request to see identification. Law enforcement officials understand this type of concern.</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you feel you are being followed by another vehicle, do not drive home.</span> Drive to the nearest police or fire station. If one is not nearby, drive to an open business and honk your horn. Call the police immediately and give them the suspect and vehicle description. This will alert the police and could possibly assist in solving other similar crimes.</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you are involved in a minor traffic accident and suspect suspicious circumstances, do not check the damage in a remote area or on the freeway.</span> Motion the other driver to follow you to the nearest police or fire station or open business to exchange information. In all situations, immediately note the driver and vehicle description.</li></ul><br /><ul><li>If you are attacked and the suspect has a weapon and demands your valuables or vehicle, comply. Your property can be replaced or recovered later. In some cases "carjackers" have abducted their victims along with their vehicles. These cases require in-depth mental preparedness. There is no cut and dried security advice for drivers threatened with abduction. In these situations, the attacker’s actions and victim abilities vary widely. Taking action is a personal decision. If pleading for your release, and all other measures fail, do everything within your power to escape.</li></ul><ul><li>Once you and your attacker are in your vehicle, the "carjacker" has total control. There is no way to predict if the "carjacker" will harm you. One tactic you might consider, if you are outside your vehicle is to fall flat on the ground. The "carjacker" may not want to take the time to force you inside the vehicle.</li></ul><ul><li>If you are inside your vehicle, consider offering a credit or cash withdrawal card to entice the attacker. If accepted, this may give you the opportunity to flee.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;">Vehicle Robbery Prevention - You Can Make The Difference<br /></div><br />Reduce the risk of vehicle robbery and avoid setting yourself up;<br /><ul><li>Keep doors locked and windows up;</li></ul><ul><li>When stopped, leave room to maneuver and escape;</li></ul><ul><li>Driving in the center lane makes you a more difficult robbery target;</li></ul><ul><li>Be wary of strangers approaching you. Trust your instincts and drive away when you feel threatened;</li></ul><ul><li>Keep valuables out of sight;</li></ul><ul><li>Park in lots or garages with attendants;</li></ul><ul><li>Park in well-lighted areas;</li></ul><ul><li>Park in the open. Never let a high profile vehicle or truck hide a robber;</li></ul><ul><li>Be aware of your surroundings when walking to and from your vehicle;</li></ul><ul><li>Walk with other people when possible;</li></ul><ul><li>Walk with purpose and stay alert;</li></ul><ul><li>Approach your vehicle with your key in hand;</li></ul><ul><li>Look in and around your car before entering; and</li></ul><ul><li>If the "carjacker" is armed, don't resist, give up your vehicle and get away as soon as possible.</li></ul><ul><li>What if you are followed, or involved in a suspicious accident?</li></ul><blockquote></blockquote>If you have a cellular phone, call the police and advise them of the situation;<br /><blockquote>If you suspect you are being followed, immediately drive to a police, sheriff or fire station or to busy area;</blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;">DO NOT drive home; and<br /><br /></div><blockquote>In both cases, write down the license number and description of the suspects. If you are involved in a suspicious traffic accident, do not inspect the damage in a remote area. Motion for the other driver to follow you to the nearest police station or busy, well-lighted location to exchange information. Use your emergency flashers at the same time.</blockquote><br /><ul><li>If you get robbed, give up your vehicle and leave the scene immediately. Do everything you can to avoid being kidnapped.</li></ul><ul><li>Consider having a vehicle tracking system installed in your vehicle. Your vehicle can be tracked immediately and an arrest or recovery of property is more likely.</li></ul><ul><li>Consider installing an alarm system that will shut down the vehicle engine after a few seconds or minutes. This allows the "carjacker" to drive away until the engine turns off. The suspect will abandon the vehicle when it fails to restart.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vehicle Robbery Prevention - Interesting Facts</span><br /></div><br />What is it: A robbery where the object of the robbery is a car.<br />Where is it: Mostly in big cities - less so in the suburbs, small towns, and rural areas.<br />When is it: Usually during hours of darkness, but it can happen anytime.<br />What suspects look for: Opportunity, ease of attack.<br />Chances for victimization: Low probability, but high potential for serious consequences.<br />Statistical information:<br />One percent of all vehicle thefts is categorized as GTA's.<br /><br />Two percent of all robberies involve "carjackings."<br /><br />Three percent of all vehicles in Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County involve "carjackings."<br /><br />A high percentage of the victims are affluent. Suspects target expensive vehicles.<br />Conclusion<br /><br />There are many preparatory actions one can take to prevent "carjacking." Behavior Modification and mental preparedness are key to its prevention. This information is meant to contribute to your personal security, in and around your vehicle. You can never be too careful, prepared or aware. Share this information with family and friends. Schedule family discussions, ensure everyone is aware and prepared in event of a "carjacking."<br /><br /><a href="http://lapdonline.org/prevent_crime/content_basic_view/1164"><span style="font-style: italic;">For more crime prevention tips click here</span></a>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-61236423446437476142009-05-30T10:37:00.000-07:002009-05-30T10:39:26.489-07:00Coastal Commission staff recommends permit parking in Venice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn60Cfa2hEtcG89MjmN9yvjNe_2p7P6UKPZnT4-sSXovIfU_WME57ghlmuwpOOnF1snUAOkjGXErcYWD9KSUagTObKplo7kHO1RHViOwipGlU7zc7Hieocpwka98oH3OT1zUE7SjLrttr_/s1600-h/47137739.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn60Cfa2hEtcG89MjmN9yvjNe_2p7P6UKPZnT4-sSXovIfU_WME57ghlmuwpOOnF1snUAOkjGXErcYWD9KSUagTObKplo7kHO1RHViOwipGlU7zc7Hieocpwka98oH3OT1zUE7SjLrttr_/s320/47137739.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341672931531529266" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(84, 84, 84); font-family:'Helvetica Neue';font-size:12px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-venice27-2009may27,0,4140194.story"></a><blockquote><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-venice27-2009may27,0,4140194.story">http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-venice27-2009may27,0,4140194.story</a><br /><div class="body" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 100%; font-family: inherit; "><i>From the Los Angeles Times</i></div><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 200%; "><br /></h1><div class="storysubhead" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 100%; font-family: inherit; ">If the board approves the proposal, parking in certain zones near the beach in the early morning hours would be restricted to those who live in the neighborhood.</div><blockquote><br /></blockquote>By Martha Groves<br /><br />May 27, 2009<br /><br />The staff of the California Coastal Commission has recommended that the agency approve permit parking zones in five areas near Venice beach, delighting residents aggravated by the constant presence of recreational vehicles and provoking anger from public access and homeless advocates.<br /><br />If the so-called overnight parking districts are approved in June, it would mark the end of a 12-year battle by residents, said Mark Ryavec, a Venice activist.<br /><br />"This is a struggle for residents to be able to secure their neighborhoods and secure parking in their neighborhoods and to stop what too often was a public nuisance," Ryavec said Tuesday.<br /><br />Many who live near the beach complain that people living in campers take up precious curb spaces and pose health and safety problems.<br /><br />In a letter to the commission, Nikoletta Skarlatos said she came home from a hearing in February to find her street filled with campers and their occupants.<br /><br />"One was dumping raw sewage and urine directly into the storm drain," she wrote. She said she walked to the back of her house and "saw a pile of human fecal matter against my house wall."<br /><br />Steve Clare, executive director of the Venice Community Housing Corp., expressed disappointment in the recommendation. Restricting parking, he said, is part of a "pattern of denial of public access" to the beach overnight.<br /><br />Other opponents also challenged the proposed restrictions, complaining that they would displace people who now live in campers and cars.<br /><br />"That is a big issue," acknowledged City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents Venice.<br /><br />Rosendahl said he was studying programs in Santa Barbara and Eugene, Ore., that have designated overnight parking lots for RV dwellers where they can also take advantage of social services. Rosendahl said his office has contacted the Obama administration to plead for federal stimulus money for such "wraparound services" for RV occupants staying in designated areas.<br /><br />Municipal code prohibits overnight sleeping in vehicles on city streets, but police have fought a losing battle to enforce the law, Rosendahl said.<br /><br />"If the commission votes in favor," he said, "it becomes the kickoff of an overall process that will take several years before all aspects are met."<br /><br />Of the five permit parking zones proposed by residents, two extend to the coastline. In those areas, the staff report said, street parking for individuals without permits would be prohibited from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.<br /><br />Three public parking lots near the beach would stay open 24 hours a day. Visitors could prepay for four hours of parking. Three other inland areas would restrict parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.<br /><br />Residents could buy three annual permits for $15 each and two visitor permits, good for four months, for $10 each.<br /><br />A permit, however, would not guarantee a parking space, said Yadi Hashemi, the acting senior engineer responsible for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's parking permits division. He added that permit prices were expected to remain the same for "the foreseeable future."<br /><br /><a href="mailto:martha.groves@latimes.com" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 100%; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 122, 170); text-decoration: none; ">martha.groves@latimes.com</a></blockquote><a href="mailto:martha.groves@latimes.com" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 100%; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 122, 170); text-decoration: none; "></a></span>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-79321851778856889452009-05-29T15:32:00.000-07:002009-05-29T15:35:27.918-07:00The Battle for VeniceAs seen on KCET Local television<div><br /></div><div><div><br /><a href="http://kcet.org/socal/2009/05/the-battle-for-venice.html">The Battle for Venice</a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>For years, the Los Angeles beachside community of Venice has been a magnet for the so-called "vehicular homeless." These are people who park in residential and commercial neighborhoods and live long term in their recreational vehicles, vans and cars. The motor-homeless say they have no place else to go and only want to be left alone. But many Venice residents contend the vehicle dwellers are turning their community into skidrow by the sea.</blockquote><br /><br /><object width="564" height="348" id="cfb9829oi" name="cfb9829on" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://p.castfire.com/fcieq/video/102371/102371_2009-05-28-205231.flv"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed width="564" height="348" src="http://p.castfire.com/fcieq/video/102371/102371_2009-05-28-205231.flv" id="cfb9829ei" name="cfb9829en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object></div></div>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-63520339415004858502009-03-13T10:34:00.000-07:002009-03-13T10:41:09.771-07:00From MSNBC National News.<div><div style="text-align: left;">Venice Beach mobile homeless shown on <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29665603#29665603">MSNBC</a> National News. Bill Rosendahl is interviewed on the subject by Chris Jansen. Mr. Rosendahl talked about trying out the Santa Barbara solution regarding parking lots for the RV's. Take a look:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/29665603#29665603" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /></div><p class="msnbcLinks">Visit msnbc.com for <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072">News about the Economy</a></p></div>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-55837195584048596462009-03-10T06:46:00.000-07:002009-03-10T08:19:03.471-07:00911 & You<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">9-1-1 is for Emergencies!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">Non-Emergency telephone number is 1-877-275-5273</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIKlx6GQYUvtzfKLmQqzgZct9eDPNAGvxt0AUQXLEQYW4MZtiX9PpAdabkFPFI8aiQ5Bz69FcmKm1eWUNW8rwvHeZ1ElTzSExIzGbnAtF4dMelApsckIdjj4wZ_8BZ-WsBg3L3GUR43c7/s1600-h/center.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIKlx6GQYUvtzfKLmQqzgZct9eDPNAGvxt0AUQXLEQYW4MZtiX9PpAdabkFPFI8aiQ5Bz69FcmKm1eWUNW8rwvHeZ1ElTzSExIzGbnAtF4dMelApsckIdjj4wZ_8BZ-WsBg3L3GUR43c7/s400/center.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311557686317048978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Metropolitan Communications Dispatch Center<br /><br /></span></span></div>The Los Angeles 9-1-1 emergency telephone system was implemented in order to provide quick and efficient help to those in need. The design is simply a 3-digit telephone number that can be dialed from any telephone, regardless of area code. It can even be dialed from a disconnected phone, and the call is always free.<br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxfOKI45gY-BQHsDyrdy-6IfqwUTiMqxQS-EBDH-77YuVt7amOKfLM9BGMM_qYRvhh8AiJyL92NIqKpuuweIQQgvefOCaMeiQHRAfbK8XTHrm4dMfceTfuK5eJk3rOs5t5su5DffHONyt/s400/command1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311557688918676850" border="0" /><br /><div><br /></div><div>The Los Angeles 9-1-1 system receives approximately 3.5 million calls annually. However, 60% of these calls are not emergencies. This has caused the system to become critically over burdened which poses a threat to us all. You can help by following a few important guidelines. </div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VqISkEjJ0ZkeQ4Xmu3xUfoh6EwN6RsCIsLvHMxjk6IyOKVlfE_JEulTvvSvNL7uB40D7myJ_abhKVapo342mCKVji-5-pq2XfOubPdaxyxjUTJc0BbH57yQyrOSe61LpehI-w1cKCZ4A/s400/command2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311557688628802754" border="0" /><br />9-1-1 should only be used for an emergency. An emergency is a crime in progress and/or a life threatening situation requiring the police, paramedics of Fire Department.<br /><br />Obviously, there are many other situations that require police response, but they may not warrant 9-1-1 calls. Direct dialing the 1-877-275-5273 for non-emergency situations will ensure police repsonse without overloading the 9-1-1 system. Think before you dial 9-1-1<br /><br />If you do have a 9-1-1 Emergency it is important that you remain on the line, even if you have dialed 9-1-1 in error. When a 9-1-1 call is received, the address and phone number from where the call is originating automatically appears on the computer screen at the Communications Center. If you dial in error and do not remain on the line, the dispatcher is required to dispatch officers to the location provided by the computer to confirm that o emergency exists.<br /><br />When you call 9-1-1 for an Emergency, it is important that you remain calm and be prepared to answer the dispatcher's questions. The "WHERE," "WHAT," "WHO," and "WHEN" of the situation you are reporting are extremely important. Sometimes it may seem the questions are unnecessary, or may not make sense to you, but there are good reasons why they are asked. Patience will help process you call and get appropriate help to you as quickly as possible.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">************************************<br />Important Telephone Numbers for Non-Emergency L.A.P.D. Asisstance.<br /><br />1-877-ASK-LAPD<br />(1-877-275-5273)<br />or dial 3-1-1<br /><br />1-866-452-2489<br />For routine City business and non-emergency services<br /><a href="http://lacity.org/">http://lacity.org/</a><br /></div>Other useful numbers:<br />L.A.P.D. Pacific Division phone number: 310-202-4502<br />Black & White car dispatch: 818-734-2223<br /><a href="http://www.lapdonline.org/">http://www.lapdonline.org/</a><br /><br />Abandoned Vehicles - 800-222-6366<br />Animal Regulations - 888-452-7381<br />Anti Drug Hotline (anonymous) - 800-662-2878<br />Bureau of Street Services - 800-996-2489<br />(street lighting, pot holes, bulky item removal, sewer, sidewalk & traffic signal repair)<br />California Highway Patrol - 323-906-3434<br />DWP - 800-342-5397<br />Graffiti Hotline - 800-611-2489<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.nena.org/pages/ContentList.asp?CTID=22">9-1-1 Facts</a></div>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-8810133788827781962009-02-24T04:10:00.001-08:002009-02-24T05:10:56.809-08:00Quality of Life issue for Venice Residents......<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; white-space: pre;font-family:'Lucida Grande';" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Venice votes to restrict overnight RV parking</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;font-family:'Lucida Grande';" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmX421UlQFQz-81AC3fxN4S9xE6wTbR11JYJU9tSYhn7uqUIVPlS-bim-RxCiEfF127NKgS1p0MFAlfmB5TGBg2PkEhxqcZIIPKbEKgRWDtoiMQsHt4GKK9cs2DeW2JbTokcDqDmvfvZW/s400/45227239.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306335127476667522" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ><div style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-align: right; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:9px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">Ricardo DeAratanha, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-venice-parking24-2009feb24,0,424364.story"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span">Los Angeles Times</span></span></a></span></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">The overnight parking of vehicles like these, along 7th Street, has divided Venice residents.</span></span></div><div style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-style: inherit;font-family:inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">via: </span><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-venice-parking24-2009feb24,0,424364.story"><span class="Apple-style-span">Los Angeles Times</span></a><br /><br />http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-venice-parking24-2009feb24,0,424364.story<br />From the Los Angeles Times:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Venice votes to restrict overnight RV parking</span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><br />The measure, which some residents have sought for more than a decade, needs Coastal Commission backing.<br />By Martha Groves<br /><br />9:39 PM PST, February 23, 2009<br /><br />A plan to restrict overnight parking won the strong support of Venice residents in a nonbinding election over the weekend. The plan still needs approval from the California Coastal Commission, which is expected to take it up in June.<br /><br />Fed up with homeless people who live in cars and battered recreational vehicles parked along residential streets, many Venetians have for more than a decade urged the city of Los Angeles to create overnight parking districts that would limit parking in their neighborhoods.<br /><br />On Saturday, more than 1,500 people -- a record turnout for a Venice Neighborhood Council election -- cast ballots on two competing nonbinding initiatives. The first, Initiative A, called on the neighborhood council to rescind its prior approval of overnight parking districts. That measure, backed by advocates seeking to protect the rights of those living in the RVs, failed 868 to 634.<br /><br />The second, Initiative B, affirmed that Venice residents have the right to establish such districts. That measure passed 891 to 608.<br /><br />The vote results were released Sunday on the neighborhood council's website.<br /><br />The Los Angeles City Council has approved the parking restrictions, which had the strong support of local Councilman Bill Rosendahl, but the matter is far from over.<br /><br />A few residents have appealed to the California Coastal Commission, which has jurisdiction over the areas of Venice closest to the beach. The commission indicated that it wants to take a closer look at overnight parking districts and their implications.<br /><br />Because the commission is charged with maintaining the public's access to the coast, it wants to be sure there is enough early morning parking to accommodate fishermen, joggers, surfers and others.<br /><br />"The first petitions for [parking districts] were signed in the community 12 years ago, and it's clear one can't wait to find a solution to where to put these RV dwellers," said Mark Ryavec, co-chairman of the neighborhood council's Homelessness and Vehicular Occupation Ad Hoc Committee.<br /><br />That panel has been scouring the region for sites where groups of RVs can park.<br /><br />"It's a difficult challenge," he added. "I'm encouraged by the vote and am cautiously optimistic that eventually the community will be able to improve their quality of life."<br /><br />martha.groves@latimes.com<br /><br /><br />and Via The Venice WatchDawg:<br /><br /></span></div><blockquote><div style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-style: inherit;font-family:inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >What this all means is anybody's guess... Ask the Councilman.......<br />*******************************************************<br /><br />"All the devils that disturbed me<br /> And the angels that defeated them somehow,<br /> Come together in me now" - - Winslow Leach<br /><br />*******************************************************<br />Venice WatchDawg - - A big win for OPD<br /><br />A bittersweet victory as the election was substandard and a number of<br />WatchDawg Readers emailed in that they were unable to vote because of<br />the lines and confusion - Pro choice forces won despite all of this<br />contentious BS as well as the anti-OPD people not telling the truth<br />about their goals, motives and agenda in their printed material. So,<br />what else is new.....<br /><br />For those who want to know more, there is plenty more below. I want<br />to thank all who organized the positive effort, Georgann Abrams,<br />Stewart Oscars, Mark Ryavec, Pat Snyder, Marie Hammond and countless<br />others who spent hundreds of hours planning the promotion, but most of<br />all, I want to thank you WatchDawg readers who spent the time and took<br />the effort to make the City understand that Venice is NOT the<br />Beachhead Collective or the Venice Town Council who want to wind the<br />clock back to 1968. I personally am not comfortable with the OPDs,<br />BUT, I'll fight like hell for everyone's right to sign up for one. So<br />justice and democracy won - national socialism has to go back to dank<br />basements and gloomy coffee houses.<br /><br />Meet the new Venice - Come on over and check out Oscars Wine<br />Establishment on the north side of Rose between Dimmick and Rennie,<br />yep, right across from the dead bakery lot with the motorhome wagon<br />train surround - Its just that kind of town.......<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />Rick Feibusch<br />Venice WatchDawg<br />************************************************************************<br />From: Georgann Abrams<br /><br />Date: Feb 22, 2009 7:33 PM<br />This email is going out to friends and family and fellow Venice neighbors.<br /><br />There were over 1500 ballots cast yesterday. Put simply, it was to<br />vote yes or no on OPD (Overnight Parking Districts) in Venice. More<br />came to vote than ANY Venice Neighborhood Council election EVER.<br />Voting was to be 12:30 to 3:30. The line started forming at 12:00 -<br />and wrapped all the way around the Venice library and down to the end<br />of the parking lot on Venice Blvd - ALL DAY.<br /><br />People were still voting after 4:30.<br /><br />OPD YES = 891<br />OPD no = 634 (counting about 200 non-residents)<br /><br />Stewart (Oscars) and I started this 3 years ago and never could have<br />imagined what it has taken. This vote only means we know the real<br />residents of Venice are of like mind. Nice.<br /><br />Georgann Abraham<br />________________________________________________________<br /><br />CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO ALL.!! I just returned from a walk to<br />clean up a huge pile of you know what. I cannot wait for my house to<br />cease being someone's toilet.<br /><br />Much gratitude to all of the Veteran OPD organizers, Stewart,<br />Georgann, Mark et al. Thanks to all of you in this community for<br />fighting to maintain human decency and the freedom to have the RIGHT<br />TO CHOOSE. KEEP VENICE SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />Nikoletta Skarlatos<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />There was a line around the building and none of them looked homeless.<br />I was so proud of my fellow venetians. Fingers crossed on this<br />particular issue.<br /><br />Celeste Chada<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Well, that was crap-ass disorganized debacle.<br /><br />I casually walked over to the library a couple minutes after 12:30 to<br />find a line heading to the beach on the northside of the library.<br />I stepped in to line at 12:36 only to wait for the greeting 50 minutes<br />later. "Have you voted with us before." A friend asked "who is us."<br />And was promptly asked for all of his info. I, having voted in the<br />past, gave him my name and upon checking of the list was told not<br />according to our list. "Fill this out", way too much info being asked<br />for. I did not see my friend, he wasn't to happy about having to do<br />more than show his ID after waiting 50 some old minutes. I voted and<br />left.<br /><br />When I got home a neighbor called to tell me it took him an hour and a<br />half in line to vote. But what we were not being told is that we<br />could have pre-registered online and then just walked to the front of<br />the line and voted. Not sure if that was true but others identified<br />themselves as pre-registered and went straight in.<br /><br />http://www.grvnc.org/files/090127VNCRegistrationForm.DOC<br /><br />I read the procedure after the fact and question why it said you had<br />to register on-site.<br /><br />I'm sure however the vote turns out someone or more will complain that<br />there wasn't sufficient time for everyone that wanted to vote. That,<br />I will never know. This was an attempt for a neighborhood ADVISORY<br />council to gather an opinion by putting on the councils agenda for the<br />stakeholders to vote on. There is nothing that makes this an official<br />vote. If either of the factions wanted a better impact; an online<br />petition, not a vote, would have more substance.<br /><br />Dru Lewis<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Three people called me yesterday by 1pm to say the line was going<br />around the library. We got there about 115p and stood in line for<br />maybe 10 minutes. Then Marie said she heard that if we had voted in an<br />NC election before, we needn't wait in line.<br /><br />So I went to the front of the library to check, and asked Mark<br />Salzburg, OUTREACH CHAIR "if we've voted before . . ." and he<br />responded, "Yes, you can go right in, but don't tell anybody." We have<br />heard from quite a few people who stood in line, but couldn't wait,<br />etc. There needed to be a Pre-Reg and a New Voter line.<br /><br />Carolyn Ward<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Maria and I had only a few free minutes to vote in the early<br />afternoon. The lines were horrendous, and we simply didn't have time.<br />Bottom line, we were disenfranchised because nobody told us we could<br />go right in. This was wrong.<br /><br />The inability to vote by absentee ballot was wrong.<br /><br />Permitting ballots to be counted elsewhere the next day was wrong.<br /><br />Aldis Browne<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />And Yes, The whole thing was a mess, and yes, people who waited for<br />hours didn't have to and yes they made up the rules as they went<br />along.......<br /><br />But, it is quite obvious that The Beachhead Collective, the RV<br />dwellers and the people who serve them were not able to sway anyone's<br />opinion about the acceptability of living freely in front of our homes<br />- This just in from the Venice Paper:<br /><br />Permit Parking Vote Count Fiasco<br />Venice Paper Online<br /><br />February 22, 2009. Venice—Never mind that 1,506 Venetians turned out<br />to vote, yesterday's plebiscite on whether permit parking should come<br />to the area could be thrown out due to alleged improprieties in the<br />counting of ballots.<br /><br />According to Laddie Williams a previous officer of the neighborhood<br />council who stayed to watch the votes being counted, rather than count<br />the ballots on-site immediately after the vote--as previously agreed<br />to--a neighborhood council official chose instead to send the ballots<br />home in the custody of a colleague and for the count to continue<br />today. Williams told VenicePaper that the ballot box had already been<br />unsealed at that point.<br /><br />Read more.........<br /><br />http://www.venicepaper.net/pmt_more.php?id=439_0_1_0_M<br /><br />*******************************************************<br /><br /> More comments:<br /><br />Congratulations to all involved. The OPD opponents wasted a great deal<br />of everyones time, but it only serves to demonstrate the will of the<br />community on this matter. So much for their effort to overturn the law<br />concerning sleeping in vehicles on our streets...<br /><br />It has long been clear that basic competence is too much to expect<br />from some of VNC's most regular volunteers. But to be fair, this is<br />more like student government. The City Charter set up NCs as play pen<br />for community activists...to keep us busy...advisory only...if an<br />elected official wants advice...or sometimes provide cover to do what<br />they see fit...<br /><br />Steve Freedman<br />*******************************************************<br />What happened to the registrar running NC elections, or the DONE staff<br />with NALEO? Confirming actions and actvities, or is it 3 monkeys,<br />hear no evil, see no evil, and say no evil?<br /><br />I was present at the Library and I can say that the letter Mr. Selan<br />writes is correct and we in the community are outraged at the process<br />that was not followed and the process was altered because on One<br />individual stating he was tired and the voting would continue tomorrow<br />at the Public storage in Venice at 11:00am.<br /><br />The entire event was wrong and the community was outraged at the way<br />this handled. Please take this grievance that was filed tonight and<br />act on it and do ask for the individuals who filmed to give you a copy<br />and you will see the less then fair practice of Mr. Spiegel and the<br />event that followed. Please investigate and let the neighborhood see<br />that our elected officials will act when it is called for.<br /><br />Please don't excuse this grievance we need assistance in a fair and<br />organized process and this was not the case at all yesterday! The<br />entire process was wrong and the way it was carried out was wrong<br />also.<br /><br />Please as elected officials act now and act fast for this process and<br />the VNC needs help as Mr. Selan has been requesting for months and you<br />have done nothing just allowed this debacle to happen ignoring Mr.<br />Selan's numerous grievances over and over month to month. You all<br />know this because you receive the charge and you pass it to the locals<br />who has named numerous times and they dismiss each and everyone of<br />them with prejudice. Now you cannot ignore what happened yesterday<br />beca use this was done under a city charter that must be recognized<br />and this process was not followed and many irregularities were seen by<br />all who participated in the count.<br /><br />We need DONE and the City of Los Angeles to come in and right a wrong<br />they have created by ignoring Mr. Selan, if you had of acted on one of<br />those grievances this may have been different but these individuals<br />are out of control and it is horrible for Venice.<br /><br />What happened to the League of Women Voters who always ran the<br />election when the GRVNC had elections? The truth is no body really<br />cares because Mr. Selan has complained about Koslow and Spiegel for<br />years and no one has heard him. Now drunk with power these two have<br />exploded on the community and we are outraged!<br /><br />The outcome doesn't matter because the rules that were agreed upon<br />were not followed this vote is null and void!<br /><br />Let the grievance stand that Mr. Selan has filed and go forward and<br />DONE, Mayor, CD 11 act on it(Rosendahl) was present for awhile<br />yesterday at the Los Angeles Public Library in Venice. The whole<br />ordeal from the beginning was set up to fail and these so called VNC<br />members are not for the entire community no matter if homeless or RV's<br />or community.<br /><br />Go to Venicepaper.net for one look or other local media not the<br />corporate because they report lies about Venice and the parking.<br /><br />Laddie Williams<br />*******************************************************<br /><br />"Back in the Sixties, when we said that we wanted<br />to change society, we should have been a little<br />more specific." - - Christopher Lloyd<br />(From the comic kiddie film, Camp Nowhere - 1994)<br /><br />*******************************************************<br />Appointed VNC Grievance Chair and Appointed Election Chair Change<br />Election Rules The Reason "Election Chair States He is<br />Tired"<br /><br />From:Rick Selan, Venice Neighborhood Council Voting Member<br /><br />Re: Request for Ethics Investigation into VNC Election and Request for<br />Investigation of VNC Grievance Chair Walking Off Taking Unfilled<br />Ballots Already Signed By Poll Watchers<br /><br />VNC Appointed Parliamentarian, LAUSD Trickster and VNC Appointed<br />Election Chair Ivan Spiegel Has Under Age Student Carry Filled Out<br />Ballots To Awaiting Toyota Rather Than Touching Ballots Himself.<br /><br />For over forty years, this advocate has voted in hundreds of elections<br />throughout this country, but has never seen anything quite like the<br />way the VNC OPD election ended today. The rules called for all votes<br />to be counted today February 21, 2009. This did not happen. Appointed<br />Election Chair Ivan Spiegel went off on VNC Emeritus President Dede<br />Audet.<br /><br />The election was held today from 12:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. at the<br />Venice library with numerous LAPD squad cars and police on the streets<br />and on the library grounds. This appeared quite intimidating to those<br />who wanted to vote. I received a call informing me to be careful as<br />there was a riot at the library. When I went to vote, there were<br />police everywhere but there were no problems. To this 30 year + Venice<br />resident, the police being out there appeared to be a tactic of VNC<br />and CD11 to create a fear that does not exist. This is pattern and<br />practice to continue "separate, but equal."<br /><br />To better understand the dynamics of what took place after the police<br />left the election, one must understand the "less than clean" politics<br />in the VNC Grievance, Election and Rules Committee. Please understand<br />that the Grievance and Rules and Election Committee are made up of<br />Chair Ira Koslow, a LAUSD employee who denies all VNC Grievances<br />unilaterally as non-actionable based on prejudice. VNC Secretary Joe<br />Murphy, the former Chair also sits on the Committee with High School<br />Student Dexter O'Connell who has also served a s the grievance chair<br />following the same less than fair rules. According to Dexter<br />O'Connell, "Ivan Spiegel 'bamboozled' the grievance process by<br />applying great pressure on one individual to vote the Spiegel way to<br />keep the VNC grievance process unilateral so grievances are never<br />heard. That elected member then resigned as an elected member. Ivan<br />Spiegel has done similar "less than clean tricks" for the District<br />3-Mark Twain LAUSD Good Ol' Boys and Girls Club. His actions today<br />were not new nor unexpected for those who know the past.<br /><br />With these facts in place, lets look at the election process around<br />5:30 P.M. after police were gone. According to those present, Ira<br />Koslow approached Ivan Spiegel to request that he take home all of the<br />ballots that were initialed by the poll workers but had not been voted<br />on. Mr. Spiegel gave Mr. Koslow permission to take these ballots home<br />with him. Why? What was Mr. Koslow to do with20these ballots?<br /><br />At this point, I received a call to allow me to hear the yelling and<br />screaming inside the library as Mr. Spiegel decided he was tired and<br />rather than counting the votes tonight following the election rules,<br />he made the unilateral decision that the ballots, will be counted on<br />Sunday.<br /><br />Mr. Spiegel attempted to throw Form er VNC President Dede Audet out of<br />the room as she attempted to explain the need to go to an all night<br />restaurant to count the ballots following election rules that votes be<br />counted today.<br /><br />Strangely, Mr. Spiegel had opened the ballot box at 5:00 P/.M. aware<br />that the library closed at 6:00 P.M. When I arrived at the library the<br />yelling and screaming was still going on. There were those on scene<br />filming the "less than respectable scene" as Ivan Spiegel stated rules<br />cannot always be followed.<br /><br />Rather than touching the ballots, Ivan Spiegel used the younger<br />brother of Rules Committee member Dexter O' Connell to carry the<br />ballots to an awaiting Toyota 5NIV092. I asked the driver her name.<br />She stated, "Right". Ivan makes the rules for VNC as the appointed<br />Parliamentarian.<br /><br />Mr. Spiegel, now totally out of control, told those in front of the<br />library that the ballots will be counted at 11:00 A.M. at Extra Space<br />Storage on 2/22/09.<br /><br />Mr. Spiegel's performance today threatening former VNC President Dede<br />Audet with being removed from the library for her suggestions and<br />his use of a 15 or 16 year old teenager to carry out the ballots<br />rather than do it himself is no different than that of gang leaders<br />who allow those under age 18 to carry out the crimes as punishment is<br />far less severe for those under age. Even after making it clear to Mr.<br />Spiegel that he was using a child to do his dirty work, he had the<br />younger sibling continue to carry the ballots.<br /><br />This was not a happy day for the Venice Neighborhood Council and the<br />fair voting process. Why does this continue? These are major reasons<br />why VNC is less than functional.<br /><br />Peace. Change. Hope.<br /><br />In unity for accountability,<br /><br />Rick Selan<br /></span></div><div style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-style: inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(84, 84, 84);font-family:'Helvetica Neue';font-size:12;" ><div class="storybyline" face="arial,sans-serif ! important" size="11px ! important" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal ! important; font-variant: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-size-adjust: none ! important; font-stretch: normal ! important; margin-top: 5px ! important;"></div></span></div></blockquote><div style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-style: inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(84, 84, 84);font-family:'Helvetica Neue';font-size:12;" ><blockquote><div class="storybyline" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: arial,sans-serif ! important; font-style: normal ! important; font-variant: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; font-size: 11px ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-size-adjust: none ! important; font-stretch: normal ! important; margin-top: 5px ! important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><blockquote></blockquote></span></span></div></blockquote><div class="storybody" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif ! important; font-style: normal ! important; font-variant: normal ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; font-size: 13px ! important; line-height: normal ! important; font-size-adjust: none ! important; font-stretch: normal ! important;"><a href="mailto:martha.groves@latimes.com" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; outline-style: none; font-style: inherit; font-size: 100%; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 204);"></a></div></span></div></span></div>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-4586953683232435562009-02-11T14:36:00.000-08:002009-02-11T14:45:50.434-08:00Open Letter to Venice Residents.<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span></p><blockquote><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Via: Venice WatchDawg </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">An Open Letter to Venice Residents About Overnight Parking Districts </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">****************************************************************************** </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">"Be who you are and say how you feel because those who mind </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." - - Dr. Seuss </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">****************************************************************************** </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Dear Readers, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">These two articles below will both explain why Venice is being overrun </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">with RV "live aboard" campers, while Santa Monica and the Marina are </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">not - and, why you should VOTE to retain the right to restrict </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">parking in </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Venice at a special Venice Neighborhood Council election on Saturday, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">February 21st at the Venice Public Library between 12:30 to 3:30 </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">PM........ </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Best, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Rick Feibusch </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Venice WatchDawg </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">*********************************************************************** </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Don't Lose Your Right to Choose! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">An Open Letter to Venice Residents </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">About Overnight Parking Districts </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">by Georgann Abraham </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Dear Venice Residents, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Lack of parking in Venice has long been a hot issue. This has been </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">made much worse in several parts of Venice by the increase in people </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">living in their RVs, vans and cars. To keep your block's right to </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">choose overnight parking permits for residents and guests, you must </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">vote in a special election held by the Venice Neighborhood Council on </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Saturday, February 21st at the Venice Public Library (12:30 to 3:30 </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">PM) . </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This election is an attempt by non-residents who live in vehicles and </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">their supporters to take this right from the rest of us. Currently, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">you have this right; it is afforded to residents all across the City </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">of Los Angeles including Venice. Two initiatives will be up for a vote </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">on the 21st: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Initiative A - - would deprive Venice residents of their right to have </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">restricted parking from 2-6 AM on their block. As it is, Venice </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">residents have a right to restricted parking, if, and only if, a 2/3rds </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">majority of their block wants it. Initiative A seeks to eliminate even </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">this very limited right to protect access to parking. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Initiative B - - would affirm your right of choice to have restricted </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">overnight parking if a 2/3rds majority on your block agrees. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">How did we get to this point? Personally, I did not pay much attention </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">to people sleeping in vans and RVs in Venice until one day when I was </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">working in the front yard and heard my neighbor yelling at a woman, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">who had been living in an RV in front of our homes, as she was about </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">to dump a very large bucket of urine and feces in front of our homes. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">That's when I realized this is a problem, not just the harassment </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">that Venice residents endure from those who live in their vehicles, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">but as a real and serious health issue – to residents and to those who </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">swim at Venice Beach – because the sewage dumped (or leaked) from </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">these vehicles goes straight to the shore. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Advocates of the RV dwellers will tell you that those who support </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">overnight parking restrictions are hateful and unsympathetic. This is </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">not the case. Some of those supporting residents' rights to set up </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">overnight restrictions are also participating in a Venice Neighborhood </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Council Committee that is specifically working on ways to help people </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">who are homeless or as well as those who choose to live in vehicles. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This is a compassionate way of dealing with the problem. these </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">residents are working hard investigating resources already available </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">and brainstorming new and creative ways to help people get out of </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">unfortunate situations. I support the efforts of this committee. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Locals find that the hateful behavior is coming from some of the RV </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">dwellers. Really, what is more hateful than parking in front of </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">someone's home for days at a time and loudly partying all night, just </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">daring residents to do anything about it? </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What is more hateful than throwing excrement on someone's property? </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What is scarier than finding syringes, spent condoms and pornographic </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">material in your yard, hoping it won't be your children finding it the </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">next time? What is more inconsiderate than making the public sidewalk </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">one's personal patio and intimidating pedestrians to stay away? </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Preserve Your Right to Choose – </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">o Vote No on Initiative A </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">o Vote Yes on Initiative B </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Saturday, February 21st at: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The Venice Public Library </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">12:30 to 3:30 PM </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The RV advocates are now so brash that they have proposed giving </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">vehicular dwellers "resident stickers," at $50 a year, to make it </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">legal for them to park in front of our homes YOUR HOME!!!. They are </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">demanding that these vehicles be exempted from the ban on living in </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">vehicles on city streets and the requirement that vehicles be moved </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">every 72 hours. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What would this do for the proliferation of RVs in Venice? </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">How much do you pay in rent, mortgage, and/or property taxes to live </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">in Venice? I don't think most Venice residents would have objected to </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">a few RVs in Venice if they were clean and moved frequently. But at </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">least one RV advocate literally passed out flyers around the city </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">inviting RV dwellers to live in Venice and instructing them on how to </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">evade the laws against living in vehicles and how to out-fox the </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">police! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Now, it is estimated that over 200 RVs and vans are on Venice's </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">streets and more arrive weekly. This puts a tremendous burden on </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">residents and we have had no choice but to pursue the overnight </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">restrictions. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This is not a "not in my backyard" reaction. It's ALL in Venice's </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">backyard. Did you ever notice that there are no RVs parked overnight </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">in Santa Monica or the Marina? Every beach community surrounding </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Venice has nighttime regulated parking which has funneled ALL the RV </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">parking into Venice. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Whether or not you think an overnight parking restriction is needed on </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">your block, this election may be your last opportunity to say that </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Venice residents deserve the right to choose for their own block and </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">not have this </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">possibility taken away from us.n We face an up-hill battle to maintain </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">this right. Due to the VNC's loosey-goosey voting </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">LIES: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The RV advocates blatantly lie about the overnight parking district </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">(OPD) process. They say that if the 5 OPD overlay zones are approved </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">by the Coastal Commission, everyone in Venice will then have to pay </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">for a parking permit. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">TRUTH: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The truth is this is just enabling legislation to set the rules for </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">small block-by-block initiatives. As of now, only 40 blocks have </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">signed up out of over 500 blocks in Venice. If your block does not </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">circulate a petition to all its residents – renters and owners alike – </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">and garner 2/3rds signatures of every household, there will be no </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">restrictions on your block. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">LIES: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The RV defenders also maintain that walk street residents will not be </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">allowed to have permits to park in restricted areas. The truth is that </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">ALL residents in each of the overlay zones will have the right to </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">purchase a permit in their district, including walk street residents. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">They also inflate the cost of a permit, claiming that they cost </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">hundreds of dollars a month. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">TRUTH: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">A resident sticker is $15 per year, renewable four-month visitor </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">permits are $10, and nightly guest permits are $1. But this only comes </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">into play if your block signs up and approves restricted parking. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">LIES: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The RV protagonists maintain that the proliferation of RVs is a </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">consequence of the current economic crisis. However, longtime </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">residents say they have seen the increase in RVs develop over the last </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">20 years. In TV and print news stories, RV dwellers have admitted they </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">have lived on our streets for years, long before the current financial </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">downturn. Residents have photos of the RVs on out streets going back </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">to the mid-1980s. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">TRUTH: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Over the years, the inability of the police to effectively enforce the </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">ban on living in vehicles has attracted more people to this lifestyle </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">and has made Venice a magnet for RVs. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I urge you to come out February 21st to protect your right to set up </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">overnight parking restrictions if you find them </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">appropriate for your block. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Georgann Abraham, </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">RN, Venice, CA </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">For further information </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; color: #000099"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #1a306c">go to: <a href="http://webmail.ca.rr.com/do/redirect?url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.venicenc.org"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000099">www.venicenc.org</span></a> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">or call: 310 569 4643. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">************************************************************** </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">WHY THE RVs ARE ALL COMING TO VENICE </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">AND NOWHERE ELSE, HERE ON THE COAST </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">by Stewart Oscars </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">January 14, 2009 </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">A Listing of Parking Restrictions on City Streets in the Coastal Zone </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">in the City of Los Angeles from the Northern Border of Los Angeles </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">south to the El Segundo Border </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I recorded an inventory of the posted parking restrictions of the </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">streets of Los Angeles in the Coastal Zone from the Northern Border </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">(Surfview Drive) to the Border with El Segundo (South of West Imperial </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Highway) on January 9, 2009. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I found that nighttime parking along the coast is restricted </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">everywhere except Venice (with the exception of three short blocks </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">totaling 6 or 7 parking places). </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The following is the description of restricted parking in the survey area: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">1) Between L A Northern Border and Santa Monica Northern City Border </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">(Castellammare and Pacific Palisades): </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">a) There is no parking on Pacific Coast Highway between the hours of </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">10 pm and 5 or 6 am (the am restriction varies by location). </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">b) Temescal Canyon has no parking 10 pm to 5 am. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">c) Los Liones Drive has no parking 11 pm to 5 am. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">2) Venice: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">a) Pacific Avenue (from Navy St to Westminster St) has no daytime </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">parking 8 am to 8 pm but has nighttime parking. So parking is </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">actually increased at nighttime/early morning because parking is </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">allowed on Pacific Avenue from 8 pm to 8 am. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">b) Two blocks West of Speedway have limited parking: Ozone Ave is </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">signed no parking 10 pm to 6 am. And Union Jack Street is signed no </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">parking 9 pm to 7 am. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">c) Inside the Silver Strand at Via Dolce and Marquesas there is one </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">block signed no parking 2 am to 6 am. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">3) Playa Del Rey to L A Border with El Segundo: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">a) West of Esplanade on Convoy St. there is no parking 11 pm to 5 am. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">b) Pacific Avenue from 62nd Avenue South to Culver Blvd on both sides </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">of the street there is no parking 10 pm to 6 am except for a short </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">section on the west side of Pacific north of the park. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">c) Vista Del Mar south from Waterview the entire drive to El Segundo </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">both sides of the street have no parking 10 pm to 6 am. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">d) Napoleon above Vista Del Mar has a one block section with no </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">parking 10 pm to 6 am. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Looking at the restricted street parking established in the Coastal </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Zone in the communities surrounding Venice leads me to ask: with all </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">these precedents established, why are the residents of Venice having </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">such a hard time establishing less restrictive parking districts? </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Preserve Your Right to Choose – </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Vote No on Initiative A </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Vote Yes on Initiative B </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Saturday, February 21st at: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Venice Public Library </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">12:30 to 3:30 PM </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">********************************************************************************</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">********* </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Westminster Elementary TREE PLANTING! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Please Join US! Saturday, February 21, 2009 </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">from 8am - 1pm to plant some 35 trees as well as many vines and shrubs. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This is one step toward our MASTER PLAN of a Green School/Joint Use </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Campus! (open to the community after school and on weekends.) </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We will have a good group of folks out on that Saturday, rain or shine! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Tools and snacks will be provided. WE'd love for you to join us! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Please see attached promo/donation flyer. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Many thanks! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Coby Dahlstrom, Westminster Elementary PTA President </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; color: #000099"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="http://webmail.ca.rr.com/do/mail/message/mailto?to=mrsdrdahl%40yahoo.com">mrsdrdahl@yahoo.com</a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #1a306c"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">submitted by Linda Lucks </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">********************************************************************************</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">******* </span></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span></p>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-8166941167060284672009-02-08T08:53:00.000-08:002009-02-08T08:55:46.087-08:00From L.A.P.D. blog<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; "><h3 class="entry-header" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; ">Beware On-Line Scam</h3><div class="entry-content" style="position: static; clear: both; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><div class="entry-body" style="clear: both; "><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; ">Los Angeles:</span> The purpose of this notification is to alert the public of the latest widespread computer on-line scam circulating throughout the city:</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Individuals are searching computer websites, particularly “Craig’s List”, seeking employment. Once the unsuspecting individual submits their resume` to what appears to be a legitimate company, they receive a congratulation notification which purports to hire them immediately. Later, they receive an official package through the U.S. Mail or other private express shipping companies containing printed counterfeit checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks with a note that the enclosed monies is payment for services paid up front. </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">They are also told to deposit the checks into their personal account and keep a percentage for their services. The individual is instructed to wire a specific dollar amount by Western Union services to various locations. In all cases, the alleged companies are out of the country; however, the addresses on the printed checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks are located in the United States. </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Anyone attempting to cash counterfeit checks, money orders, or cashier’s check, are subject to arrest and prosecution. </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Some recipients have admitted that they were not given a specific job description and were aware that most employers do not pay you before services are rendered. </p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Detectives are asking the public to use caution and due diligence when applying for employment on-line. Ask specific questions regarding the job duties and wages. Anyone with information on this scam or receiving suspicious on-line employment should call Detective Yvonne H. Parker at Commercial Crimes Division of the LAPD, at 213-485-4131. After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD. Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org. All tips are anonymous.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a href="http://lapdblog.typepad.com/lapd_blog/2009/02/beware-online-scam-.html">http://lapdblog.typepad.com/lapd_blog/2009/02/beware-online-scam-.html</a></span><br /></p></div></div></span>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-21325508291493722152009-01-26T13:16:00.000-08:002009-01-26T14:16:54.989-08:00Public Health & Quality of Life Issue!Bill Rosendahl Los Angeles city councilman asked fellow council members Thursday to consider special zones for people who sleep in RVs and cars in Venice.<br /><br /><object id="2984" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="394" width="448"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param name="movie" value="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=38206404&path=%2Fstation%2Ftv_channels"><embed src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=38206404&path=%2Fstation%2Ftv_channels" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed></object><br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl said the overnight camping sites could be city property, church parking lots, industrial areas and other places away from neighborhoods.<br /><br />The practice of the homeless using their vehicles as sleeping shelters has created a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">quality of life issue for people living in Venice neighborhoods</span>. The homeless campers have been accused <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">defecating and urinating</span> outside as well as taking parking spaces away from homeowners.</blockquote>via: <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/City-Councilman-Proposes-Special-Sleeping-Zones-for-Venice-Homeless.html">nbc LA news</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">A Life Style or Economic Conditions?</span><br /></div>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-83687965240224979622009-01-22T10:52:00.001-08:002009-01-22T10:57:58.975-08:00Special zones urged for people who sleep in RVs, cars in Venice<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rvzones22-2009jan22,0,2640966.story">Via Los Angeles Times:</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeVlBkwpacD8VJzeiYj4t90ODw6LGjjzYqlX7es5U-sZJ46lFYh79Egf_WKrZJAdRDJsMIsMosdjoyyenz-bDk8_KjRPhpcLK3oeWNjHgAmY3WmeR-hijNWFad7tsWwW7JvelPVSei7C_/s1600-h/44639767.jpg"><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeVlBkwpacD8VJzeiYj4t90ODw6LGjjzYqlX7es5U-sZJ46lFYh79Egf_WKrZJAdRDJsMIsMosdjoyyenz-bDk8_KjRPhpcLK3oeWNjHgAmY3WmeR-hijNWFad7tsWwW7JvelPVSei7C_/s400/44639767.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294192986260875058" border="0" /></a><br />Special zones urged for people who sleep in RVs, cars in Venice<br />L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl says the sites could be city property, church parking lots, industrial areas and other places away from neighborhoods.<br />By Phil Willon and Martha Groves<br /><br />January 22, 2009<br /><br />Tough economic times have spilled onto the streets of Venice, which has become a favorite place to park for scores of otherwise homeless people living in cars and campers. The practice has ignited a mini-uprising among residents living in the pricey coastal community.<br /><br />The number of cars and recreational vehicles has swelled so much over the last year that Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents the city's coastal areas, has proposed creating special zones away from neighborhoods where people can sleep in their vehicles.<br /><br />"The community has been going ballistic," Rosendahl said. "They can't park their own cars. Some of the folks who live in their cars and in campers defecate and urinate outside and create other issues of quality of life and health."<br /><br />His proposal, similar to programs in Santa Barbara and Eugene, Ore., would allow the cars and recreational vehicles to park in select "municipal properties, parking lots of churches or community-based organizations, industrial areas and other areas that would have minimal impact on residential communities."<br /><br />Current city laws prohibit sleeping in a car or RV on the street.<br /><br />"Let's stop kidding ourselves," Rosendahl said. "People are living in their cars. . . . So let's deal with the reality. In this economic downturn, it's even increasing."<br /><br />Up to 200 people are living in campers or cars in the Venice area, which has many residential areas where overnight parking is not restricted, the councilman said. As part of his proposal, which is expected to be heard by a council committee within the next few weeks, neighborhoods in Venice would have the option of restricting overnight parking to residents who live in apartments and houses.<br /><br />However, some Venice residents said they feared that Rosendahl's plan might also designate certain residential streets in the beach-side community as RV zones.<br /><br />"We don't believe the solution is turning residential areas into urban RV campgrounds," said Mark Ryavec, who heads the Venice Stakeholders Assn., which recently submitted to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the council a petition with 237 signatures of residents opposed to Rosendahl's proposal.<br /><br />Residents in parts of Venice have for years battled what they view as an incursion by RV dwellers. The tensions are particularly pronounced in and near the Oakwood section, a roughly one-square-mile area bounded by California Avenue, Lincoln Boulevard, Rose Avenue and Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Residents complain that some RV occupants defecate in alleys, party into the wee hours, and dump waste into gutters and storm drains.<br /><br />Ryavec, co-chairman of a neighborhood council committee that is studying homelessness and RV living, said the panel has identified more than 20 "relatively isolated" sites in Rosendahl's 11th Council District that could each accommodate five to 10 RVs. They include an area across from the Dockweiler State Beach RV park, vacant rental-car lots in Westchester, and an RV and boat storage lot off Lincoln Boulevard. He said, however, that many RV dwellers "want to stay in Venice."<br /><br />Terry, an RV dweller in Venice who spoke on the condition that her last name not be used because she feared retribution from residents, said more people have been forced to live in their vehicles because of the tough economy, the rash of condo conversions that have left many tenants without shelter and rules limiting overnight parking on certain streets in Santa Monica and Los Angeles' Westside.<br /><br />Terry said Los Angeles police officers have proposed that she and others move their RVs to the area across from Dockweiler State Beach.<br /><br />"That's 10 miles away," Terry said, as she exercised her dog near the Oakwood Recreation Center one recent evening. Her 1976 blue-and-white RV stood across the street. "These vehicles aren't going to make it down there."<br /><br />She said such a move would be a hardship because her two teenage children attend school in the area; her daughter also works at a nearby restaurant. For the last three years, she and her children have lived in their car, a van and now the RV, which she said she bought for $850 when it was in fine working order.<br /><br />Since then, she said, people that she suspects are Venice residents have sliced her tires, put gravel in her gasoline tank, stolen her son's clothes and dented the RV's door with clubs.<br /><br />"We can't tell the police," she said, adding with a note of irony: "We're the criminals."<br /><br />In Santa Barbara, another town along the California coast that has become a favorite locale for people living in vehicles, the city started an "RV Safe Parking" program four years ago as part of its outreach to the homeless.<br /><br />Seventy-five people have received permits to participate in the program, parking their cars at night in various city and county lots, as well as some operated by churches. Under a city contract, the New Beginnings Counseling Center has an outreach worker check on participants at least twice a week, referring them to housing and job assistance programs as well as other services that cater to their financial, physical and mental well-being.<br /><br />Participants are required to provide their own restroom facilities, either in an RV or a portable toilet if they have a car, said Gary Linker, executive director of New Beginnings.<br /><br />They must also follow a list of rules, and there have only been a few complaints from nearby residents over the last four years, he said. Those who apply for the program -- there is a waiting list -- are interviewed by the outreach worker to make sure they qualify.<br /><br />"We have to make sure people aren't traveling through on vacation. This isn't a KOA," Linker said.<br /><br />Rosendahl said his proposal is limited to the coastal district he represents, since Venice has been "overwhelmed," but it directs the council to address the issue of RV and car dwellers on a district-by-district basis. He also emphasized that the measure was meant to "kick the process in gear," with the understanding that plenty of related issues still must be debated and resolved.<br /><br />That includes whether to limit the RV zones to people who can prove they have roots in the area.<br /><br />That became an issue in Ontario in 2007, when the city set up a secure "tent city" near the airport for the homeless, complete with bathroom and shower facilities.<br /><br />When hundreds of people from outside the San Bernardino County city descended on the site, Ontario officials decided to limit it to people who could produce documents showing that they had lived in the city.<br /><br />"There is not an easy answer," Rosendahl said. "But at least this raises the issue of homelessness to a higher level."<br /><br />phil.willon@latimes.com<br /><br />martha.groves@latimes.comMembers of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-21030768692939104552009-01-01T19:43:00.000-08:002009-01-01T19:49:11.763-08:00Homeless advocates sue Laguna Beach<blockquote></blockquote><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-aclu24-2008dec24,0,5005012.story">From the Los Angeles Times</a><br /><br /><object id="WNVideoCanvasDEFAULTdivWNVideoCanvas" height="321" width="500"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="wmode" value="windowless"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="movie" value="http://video.latimes.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf"> <embed src="http://video.latimes.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="windowless" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="isShowIcon=true&affiliate=LATMS&affiliateNumber=421&backgroundAlphas=100,100,100,100&backgroundColors=eeeeee,eeeeee,eeeeee,eeeeee&backgroundRatios=0,25,130,255&backgroundRotation=270&borderAlpha=100&borderColor=aaaaaa&borderWidth=1&clipId=3269061&playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDobject&closecaptionPaneLabelText=&closePaneLabelText=&commercialHeadlinePrefix=Commercial&controlsBackgroundAlphas=100,100&controlsBackgroundColors=eeeeee,eeeeee&controlsBackgroundRatios=0,255&controlsBackgroundRotation=270&controlsBorderColor=212121&controlsBottomPadding=8&controlsButtonLeftBorderColor=c7c7c7&controlsButtonRightBorderColor=656464&controlsHeight=40&controlsOffFaceColor=828282&controlsOverFaceColor=454444&controlsSidePadding=8&defaultStyle=flatlight&disableTransport=false&domId=WNVideoCanvasDEFAULTdivWNVideoCanvas&emailErrorBorderColor=ae1a01&emailErrorMessageFaceColor=ae1a01&emailFormFieldAlphas=80&emailFormFieldColors=dddee0&emailFormFieldRatios=0&emailFormFieldRotation=90&emailInputFaceColor=454444&emailMessageLabelText=&emailPaneLabelText=&emailSentConfirmationMessage=&errorMessage=&fullScreenControlType=none&hasBevel=false&hasBorder=true&hasBottomBorder=true&hasFullScreen=true&hasLeftBorder=true&hasRightBorder=true&hasTopBorder=true&helpPage=http://www.latimes.com/about/site/stv-flash-video-about,0,301457.htmlstory&hostDomain=video.latimes.com&idKey=DEFAULT&imgPath=http://latms.images.worldnow.com/images/static/video/flash/&invalidRecipientFieldMessage=&invalidSenderFieldMessage=&isAutoStart=&isMute=&landingPage=http://www.latimes.com/video/&loadingMessage=&offFaceColor=828282&overFaceColor=454444&overlayBackgroundAlphas=92&overlayBackgroundColors=b6b6b5&overlayBackgroundRatios=0&overlayBackgroundRotation=90&overlayOffFaceColor=454444&overlayOverFaceColor=ffffff&pauseButtonText=&playAtActualSize=0&playButtonText=&playerHeight=321&playerWidth=500&recipientEmailLabelText=&sendEmailButtonText=&senderEmailLabelText=&senderNameLabelText=&shareListItemHighlightBorderColor=ffffff&shareListItemOffFaceColor=828282&shareListItemShadowBorderColor=b1b0b0&shareListListItemOverFaceColor=828282&sidePadding=3&smoothingMode=auto&staticImgPath=http://latms.images.worldnow.com&summaryGraphicMessage=&summaryGraphicScaleStyle=stretchToFit&summaryPaneLabelText=&tabBackgroundAlphas=100,100&tabBackgroundColors=e6e6e6,e6e6e6&tabBackgroundOverAlphas=100,100&tabBackgroundOverColors=eeeeee,eeeeee&tabBackgroundOverRatios=0,100&tabBackgroundRatios=75,255&tabBackgroundRotation=90&tabBackgroundSelectedAlphas=100&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderAlpha=100&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderColor=aaaaaa&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderWidth=1&tabBackgroundSelectedColors=eeeeee&tabBackgroundSelectedHasBevel=false&tabBackgroundSelectedHasBorder=true&tabBackgroundSelectedHasDropShadow=false&tabBackgroundSelectedRatios=0&tabBorderAlpha=100&tabBorderColor=aaaaaa&tabBorderWidth=1&tabFontSize=10&tabHasBevel=false&tabHasBorder=true&tabHasDropShadow=false&tabHeight=26&tabLeftBorderColor=e5e5e5&tabOffFaceColor=828282&tabOverBorderAlpha=100&tabOverBorderWidth=1&tabOverFaceColor=454444&tabOverHasBevel=false&tabOverHasBorder=true&tabRightBorderColor=868686&tabShadowColor=333333&topPadding=3&videoSliderBackgroundColor=cccccc&videoSliderKnobBackgroundAlphas=100,100&videoSliderKnobBackgroundColors=cccccc,cccccc&videoSliderKnobBackgroundRatios=0,255&videoSliderKnobBackgroundRotation=90&videoSliderKnobBorderColor=959495&videoSliderKnobOffFaceColor=444444&videoSliderKnobOverFaceColor=212121&videoSliderKnobShadowColor=5a5a5a&videoSliderLoadIndicatorColor=828282&videoSliderProgressIndicatorColor=454444&volumeSliderOffColor=cccccc&volumeSliderOverColor=828282&" height="321" width="500"></embed></object><br /><br /><blockquote>The coalition accuses the city of enacting policies designed to harass the homeless and avoid building shelters. Officials counter that it wanted to help the homeless.<br /><br />By Paloma Esquivel<br /><br />December 24, 2008<br /><br />Early last year, Laguna Beach city officials set about addressing homelessness in the upscale enclave. They assembled a task force to study the issue, installed parking meters to collect change for social services and assigned a police officer as a liaison for the community's homeless.<br /><br />But on Tuesday, homeless advocates filed suit against the city, saying its real intent was to engage in a campaign of harassment while providing no long-term, city-sponsored shelters.<br /><br />"City leaders have chosen to attempt to eliminate the homeless, rather than eliminate homelessness," said Mark Rosenbaum, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.<br /><br />In a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, the ACLU -- along with Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Irvine School of Law, and the Newport Beach-based law firm of Irell & Manella LLP -- accuses the city of failing to have long-term shelters, criminalizing sleeping on the street and allowing police harassment for minor or unavoidable offenses.<br /><br />The city's "treatment of mentally and physically disabled homeless people violates the clear mandate of the Constitution," said Chemerinsky.<br /><br />The city's Homeless Task Force reported early this year that there are 45 to 55 homeless people in Laguna Beach. Almost all met the definition of chronic homelessness, and many have a mental or physical disability. According to the suit, the city offers no transitional or emergency shelter other than a cold weather shelter, which operates between December and March.<br /><br />Assistant City Manager John Pietig said officials are looking to work with regional shelters, such as a transitional housing facility that opened in Tustin this fall, to house long-term homeless persons.<br /><br />As for opening such a shelter in Laguna Beach, he said, the prospects are small.<br /><br />"Our city is largely built out," Pietig said. "There isn't a lot of available land to build shelters, and the land that is available is very expensive."<br /><br />Despite not providing sufficient shelter, the lawsuit alleges, the city refuses to rescind an ordinance that makes it illegal to sleep on the beach, in city parks, on public streets, in alleys or in a car parked at any place in the city.<br /><br />"The ordinance effectively makes it illegal to be homeless in Laguna Beach," said Jill R. Sperber, a lawyer with Irell & Manella LLP.<br /><br />Pietig countered that the city had not actively enforced the ordinance since February and is looking into revising it.<br /><br />"We need to see if there is a better way to do it," he said.<br /><br />The suit also alleges that police officers have actively engaged in a campaign of harassment against the homeless. In January, the city touted hiring Officer Jason Farris as part of an extensive outreach effort to build trust with street people and persuade them to get aid.<br /><br />According to the suit, welfare checks by the officer and others are actually an excuse to interrogate the city's homeless, wake them in the middle of the night and early morning, demand ID and search property.<br /><br />Jim Keegan, a homeless advocate who has lived in Laguna Beach for 10 years, said he has worked to feed and counsel the homeless for nearly 30 years.<br /><br />"The proper reaction to their stories is tears. It should make you weep," he said. "The leadership of this city doesn't seem to feel that way."<br /><br />Pietig sees it differently.<br /><br />"This community has really taken the time and effort to come up with a comprehensive approach to dealing with homelessness," he said. "It's disappointing people are taking this opportunity to degrade the city and its efforts."<br /><br /><a href="mailto:%20paloma.esquivel@latimes.com">paloma.esquivel@latimes.com</a></blockquote>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-83652716688182060072008-12-11T12:17:00.000-08:002008-12-11T14:48:23.749-08:00Homeless Man Shot and Killed in Venice, CaliforniaHomeless Man Shot and Killed<br /><br />Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for the murder of a 50-year-old homeless man in Pacific Division.<br /><br />On December 8, 2008, at around 7:40 p.m., the victim was in an alley behind 1600 Lincoln Boulevard, when an unidentified male suspect approached the victim and shot him with a large caliber handgun. The suspect then rode away on a bicycle northbound towards the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Palms Avenue. The suspect is described only as a male.<br /><br />The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time. The victim’s identity is not being released pending notification of next of kin.<br /><br />Anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or may have information regarding it, is asked to call LAPD Pacific Division Homicide Detectives at 310-482-6316. After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637). Callers may also text “CRIMES” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click Web Tips. All contacts are anonymous.<br /><a href="http://lapdblog.typepad.com/lapd_blog/2008/12/homeless-man-shot-and-killed-.html"><br />From the L.A.P.D. blog</a>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-39944295797605072182008-11-25T19:02:00.000-08:002008-11-25T19:03:40.287-08:00Opponents of Venice Parking Permit Lose Appeal.<object id="WNVideoCanvasDEFAULTdivWNVideoCanvas" width="404" height="343"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="wmode" value="windowless"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="movie" value="http://video.ktla.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf"></param> <embed src="http://video.ktla.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" 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It's a quality of life issue for the homeowners and renters of the neighborhood and a HEALTH HAZARD for all of us.<br /><br /><br />A motion By Councilman Bill Rosendahl<br />Councilmember, 11th District<br />Los Angeles, California<br /><br />As a result of the current economic crisis, families and individuals are falling upon hard times<br />and are too often faced with stark and unpleasant choices, Many people have lost their jobs,<br />their homes, and their support network. Many people cling to stability by their fingernails, living<br />in their vehicles as they try to get back on their feet, or as a last-ditch effort to avoid sleeping on<br />the streets.<br /><br />Current city law, however, effectively criminalizes living in one's vehicle on a publicly owned<br />street. L.A.M.e. Section 85.02 states: "No person shall use a vehicle parked or standing upon<br />any City street or upon any parking lot owned by the City of Los Angeles or under control of the<br />Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors as living quarters either overnight,<br />day-by-day, or otherwise," (Title and Section Amended by Ord. No.158,219, Eff. 9/19/83.)<br /><br />In an effort to balance the quality of life of residents with social justice, other cities have crafted<br />more nuanced ordinances, still forbidding camping in vehicles on city streets, but creating<br />special zones where people can sleep safely in their vehicles, They have done so without<br />impacting the quality of life in residential neighborhoods, Communities practicing such a<br />balanced approach include Eugene, Oregon, and the County of Santa Barbara.<br /><br />As the economy worsens and more and more people face poverty or homelessness, the time has<br />come for the City of Los Angeles to pursue such a balanced approach. The current ordinance<br />should be amended, creating a process that allows each councilmember to designate zones in his<br />or her district where people can sleep in their vehicles. These zones could include municipal<br />properties, parking lots of churches or community-based organizations, industrial areas, and<br />other areas that would have minimal impact on residential communities.<br /><br />I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council request that the City Attorney, in collaboration<br />with the Chief Legislative Analyst, draft an amendment to LAMC Section 85,02, modeled after<br />the Santa Barbara and Eugene initiatives, creating a provision for councilmembers to designate<br />discrete and distinct areas of their council districts where people would be allowed to park and<br />sleep overnight.<br /><br />I FURTHER MOVE that the Chief Legislative Analyst explore funding opportunities that would<br />allow such specially designated areas to be matched with staffing, security, and social services,<br />as is done in Santa Barbara County.<br /><br />PRESENTID BY, Bill Rosendahl<br />Councilmember, 11th District<br />Los Angeles, CaliforniaMembers of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7612463793250639816.post-61056459859492401692008-10-12T16:58:00.000-07:002008-10-12T17:13:25.849-07:00Bread & Roses Cafe on Rose Avenue.As seen on KTLA Channel 5<br /><br />Bread and Roses Cafe<br />663 Rose Avenue<br />Venice, California 90291<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wLgrEVlb6qM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wLgrEVlb6qM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Members of the Venice Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15277802449891274143noreply@blogger.com1