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Venice Residents Blame Crime on Homeless "Addicts" and "Black Guys"
Photo Courtesy of Venice Justice Committee Many Venice, California residents see their street homeless and think "degenerates." These folks low on the compassion totem pole have taken their disdain a step further, going on for weeks with a letter writing campaign to ask the Mayor and LAPD to get rid of the Venetian "bums." And that's the kindest thing they've been called; other labels include "criminals," "crazy," "addicts" and "black guys." Very nice. The LAPD's presence seems to have disappeared in Venice and thus crime has increased. Some residents have shared stories of people sleeping in their driveways, breaking into their homes, threatening their lives and the lives of their children, and getting punched in the face. These are very scary and serious issues, but it seems like Venetians need to take a deep breathe and think for a minute. Tell the Mayor of Los Angeles and the LAPD to help Venice's homeless, not cuff them. First, I would like to give you, the residents of Venice, two thumbs up for doing an excellent job of perpetuating stereotypes about class, color,mental health and addiction. Not only this, you are doing your best to get your local politicians and police to come in and sweep "these people" away, making them someone else's problem, while legalizing your racism and classism. Bravo. Second, you absolutely have a right to live safely, as do the homeless, and the LAPD should definitely get back into Venice to do their jobs and protect you. But your tactics come at what expense? At the expense of criminalizing people who are in desperate need? Ensuring your own welfare at the expense of other people's -- hmm, am I the only one that smells the oppression wafting around Venice? Don't turn on the homeless because of budget cuts that have left you without a police presence. I can hear the thuds of knees knocking as the privilege of housing and safety is threatened by a bit of human suffering. This is the fear that makes this country great, creating a self-perpetuating reality to keep the poor poor, where politicians and police side primarily with the people who have the money and power ... and homes. Dear Venice Beach residents, a homeless presence does not mean you are in danger. Let's evolve a little when solving social injustice, shall we? Let's move beyond Hammurabi's code. One writer even threatened that Venetians will take matters into their own hands if they don't get the requested LAPD response. I imagine mobs of people with sun kissed cheeks and pastel polo shirts running through the streets of Venice with pitch forks and torches. Yes, I'm making fun of you Venetians, but homeless hate crimes are no laughing matter. And to the rest of the world, don't let these angry Venice residents be the only voice that the Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa hears. Don't let the Haves bully the Have-Nots and use them as a scapegoat for the rise in crime. Be the voice for the homeless and tell him that instead of criminalizing his city's homeless, he should help them and house them. Venice Homeless Sweeps Friday May 7
According to the City it was not a "Sweep." It was "Homeless Outreach" and the people arrested were being connected to services. This is preliminary information, but we understand out of the 32 arrests only 1 was released and the rest get their services in jail for the weekend. The charges were: LAMC 41.18 d - sleeping on a sidewalk, which is not supposed to be given out between 9pm and 6am according to the Jones decision. LAMC 63.44 B14(b) - a law that closes the beach from midnight to 5am - that the city did NOT get approved by the California Coastal Commission to even do LAMC 63.93 h - Says: remain, stay or loiter within the limits of any public library between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. the following day. Not sure if this law is constitutional. What is a limit and how do they know the people were even at the library the day before? These were people sleeping under the overhang in front of the Venice library. Also people were arrests based on warrants, like one man who was arrested for some old shopping cart tickets. <><><><><><><><><>
Results from VNC Board Meeting on Tuesday (4/20) Considers Items of Significant Impact to Venice The VNC Board passed the following 2 motions: This motion also reprograms funds for the purpose of the Grand Canal Restoration Project and for safety helmets to be used at the Venice Skateboard Park. Motion two: Support for allocation of $700,000 + to conduct a comprehensive homeless services program in Council District 11 modeled after the programs in Santa Barbara, California and Eugene, Oregon that provide safe parking spaces and services for people living in their vehicles.You can view this motion at: Council Member Rosendahl has sent a letter explaining both motions which can be viewed at: Motion to Oppose Bill that Restricts Coastal Commission’s Review of Overnight Parking Districts in Venice Withdrawn – because the State Assembly Bill the VNC Board was to discuss was withdrawn on the news that a settlement to litigation between the Coastal Commision and various parties on the status of OPDs in the LA Coastal Zone is in the offing. Report on St. Joseph Service Registry Project Last March the VNC heard a proposal from St. Joseph Center on its plan to establish a “Service Registry” of the homeless population of Venice and we approved a motion supporting their plan. In August, St. Joseph Center presented an update us on their progress, see http://venicenc.org/files/StJosephCenter_07022009_VCHIP_Presentation.pdf http://venicenc.org/files/StJosephCenter_07022009_Vulnerability_Index.pdf <><><><><><><><><> |
Please sign our petitions to: KEEP OUR PUBLIC STREETS FREE ~ NOPDs IN VENICE RESTORE FREE SPEECH @ VENICE BEACH <><><><><><><><><> Effectiveness of Pinkberry boycott by anti-chain group debated after frozen yogurt store closes its Abbott Kinney location BY GARY WALKER, Argonaut
After three years on one of Venice’s busiest and most eclectic commercial corridors, Pinkberry has decided to leave town. The frozen yogurt chain on Abbot Kinney Boulevard was the focus of a community boycott since 2007, led by Venice residents Dawn Hollier and Melissa Bechtel, the co-founders of Venice Unchained. The group is trying to prevent additional retail chain stores from setting up shop on the seaside community’s most frequented commercial thoroughfares, such as Abbot Kinney and Ocean Front Walk. While Hollier was thrilled that the yogurt shop was leaving town, she did not attempt to take full credit for Pinkberry closing its Abbot Kinney location. “I’m not in a position to judge what factors influenced their decision to close the Venice Pinkberry,” Hollier, a film editor and 20-year resident of Venice, said the day the frozen yogurt shop served its final treats on Monday, May 3rd. More Keep the spirit of Venice alive!
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Dear Council Member Rosendahl: I write to you as a concerned community member who utilizes Oakwood Recreation Center. The primary purpose of this letter is to make the City of Los Angeles and our Council District 11 aware of the community concern that Oakwood Recreation Center should not ever be considered for a Dog Park. Should the topic of additional Dog Parks in West L.A. ever arise at your Council Meeting, keep in mind that Oakwood Recreation Center should never become an option. The community members who utilize Oakwood Recreation Center voiced their concerns. Moreover, what we will welcome is an increase in patrol to cite dogs off leash for those offenders that are not abiding by the law. This concern is further evidenced by some community members who are currently treating Oakwood Park as a dog park, by allowing their dogs’ off-leash when children and adults are present, which is also a violation of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code 53.06.2. There exists two communal off-leash dog parks in the West LA area: The Westminster Dog Park ½ mile away from Oakwood Recreation Center and Santa Monica Airport Dog Park a mile away from Oakwood Recreation Center. The Oakwood Recreation Facility is the only park in the Oakwood/Milwood area, that provides affordable day-care, summer camp, teen club and group sports for our children and we hope that Oakwood will continue to provide much needed after-school programming and a place for our children to engage in physical activities in many years to come. Thank you for your time and consideration in listening to concerned community members. Rosendahl promises to defend leases of local arts non-profits despite proposal to end rent-free deals BY GARY WALKER, Argonaut Board members of Beyond Baroque, the venerable Venice nonprofit literary arts organization, rejoiced in 2008 after signing a 25-year lease for the city-owned building they share with L.A. Theatre Works. “It has been a long, arduous struggle and it is now over, with a much sought-after and favorable conclusion for Beyond Baroque,” Fred Dewey, the group’s executive director, said in an interview with The Argonaut after the lease was signed. Nearly 18 months later, a proposal by Los Angeles’ chief budget officer could alter the dynamics of the leases for some of the city’s most recognized non-profits. The plan, which has not been presented to the full City Council, would suspend the current leases on buildings owned by the city and require the tenants to pay rent at 50 percent of the current market value. More <><><><><><><><><>
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If You Are Concerned About Oakwood Park Becoming a Dog Park Here Is a Letter You Can Send to Bill Rosendahl to Voice Your Concerns
