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THE WESTSIDE - At the last meeting of the Venice Neighborhood Council, a motion restricting overnight parking on Washington Blvd between Lincoln and the beach was about to be voted upon when members Helen Fallon and Lis Redmond abruptly left the meeting, which led to the motion not being entertained due to a lack of a board quorum, thus ending the meeting in a state of chaos!
But now the motion will be entertained under new business during the upcoming June meeting and is expected to be passed by the rest of the board with probably the exception of Fallon and Redmond.
Both have spent a great amount of time and effort in delaying a board vote by leaving the last meeting and previously trying to bottle up the motion in committee and thus delaying full board approval.
Ironically, by leaving the meeting they brought clarity to the issue as Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11) was in attendance and voiced strong support in getting these RVs removed. Recreational vehicles that have been stationary for months, Park's office took swift action and had "tow away" signs posted that saw a marked improvement in the number of vehicles from a high of forty, to just a handful as of Friday, June 6th.
Park should be congratulated for taking positive, swift and immediate action. Steps that most VNC board members endorse with the obvious exception of this minority of two who do not represent the overwhelming sentiment of Venice residents!
Sources say members of the LA City Attorney's office also played a role in the immediate posting of these signs. Now the question is whether the Venice Neighborhood Council will follow Park's logical lead and affirm her swift response to this ongoing crisis.
VNC President Brian Averill in a brief phone call last week indicated strong support for the Washington Blvd contingent and is on the record supporting the Councilwoman's efforts. Averill has demonstrated previous support for correcting the crisis and will continue to work with CD-11 to find the best solutions residents seek.
The VNC's Homelessness Committee, previously rejected the same motion authored by Community Officer Clark Brown, a retired attorney to end the Washington Blvd crisis by a 7-0 vote, led by the likes of Lisa Redmond, a longtime apologist for anything regarding the homeless that finds her in constant opposition with Venice homeowners as well as tenants and the business community.
For the question remains, why is she in constant opposition in solving this encampment and RV crisis and reacting to the stated needs of her actual neighbors?
In the case of Washington Blvd, she has repeatedly dismissed the severity of the crisis, claiming that the homeless have a "right" to violate overnight camping guidelines that take away crucial parking for those tenants along this busy thoroughfare to the beach. In a rare display of community unity, Washington Blvd homeowners as well as tenants all agreed the current conditions are unacceptable, and all support this motion that has been obstructed and delayed despite the need for action by the VNC.
Clark Brown, who received the second highest number of votes in his bid for a third term, has built a strong network of support with residents tired of the enablement of street encampments and RVs. Brown's motion and ability to organize neighborhood support was obvious and evident, despite the actions of two board members who have no interest in assisting or helping the Washington Blvd community.
One of the fallacies exposed is the fact that a majority of these vehicles are out-of-state transients and not displaced Venice residents as suggested in previous board deliberation.
Talking points that "nothing can be done," and that the current crisis is not an emergency for these residents have been basically exposed as political rhetoric and nonsense from those obsessed with keeping transients on the streets no matter what the consequences for the real residents of Venice!
Drug use, illegal activity and the violence that is part and parcel of these permanently parked RVs is not the behavior of a neighbor, but a criminal!
For the hard reality is that there is a solution to this crisis and that solution is enforcement of the law.
And the fact a large majority of RVs have voluntarily exited the premises tells you such enforcement must remain consistent.
Enabling criminal behavior is never a solution.
Residents must be treated with respect and those who do not live here should not be given some exempt status at the expense of actual Venetians.
And let it be stated that those who were encamping were offered both services as well as housing to remediate the situation and improve their lives.
Those obsessed with protecting the current status quo that does nothing to change conditions are in some kind of political denial. In reality, they are not representing the interests of those who live here, but the transients who need to understand that illegal encampments will no longer be tolerated.
It is time for the Venice Neighborhood Council to right the wrong of the previous non-support of Washington Blvd residents and join Councilwoman Park in correcting the situation by passing the Clark Brown motion.
There simply is no justification for not voting "yes" when the mere posting of the "Tow Away" signs has dramatically changed the conditions and improved the quality-of-life concerns of these individuals that are being ignored by this NC.
Grass roots governance matters.
Having a council member who resides in Venice matters.
Supporting motions that make sense and deliver for residents matter.
A "yes" vote by the VNC is what residents demand and expect.
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-two-year resident of the Venice Neighborhood who exclusively covers the actions and deliberations of the VNC. Have a take or a tip on all things Venice? E-mail him at [email protected])
