The RVs Next Door: A Venice Town Hall on Wednesday, October 28th

WESTSIDE - While the Homelessness Committee of the Venice Neighborhood Council (www.venicenc.org) was unable to produce a quorum to conduct its formal agenda Monday evening, it was announced in general discussion that the long-awaited Town Hall on illegally parked RV’s, campers, and vans has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 28th at the First Lutheran Church of Venice located at 815 Venice Blvd, with doors opening to the public at 6:00 PM. 

A presentation was made by Selena Inouye, a local community leader, grassroots organizer, and an active committee member of the Parking, Transportation, and Infrastructure Committee (PTIC) of the Venice Neighborhood Council. The event will consist of a moderated panel discussion, a legislative update by LA City Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11), and 90 minutes of Public Q&A with the event’s panelists.

Any Venice stakeholder interested in submitting a question can do so by e-mail at: [email protected].

This Town Hall has been discussed and debated for months, and now that a date has been finally set, the selection of a moderator has to be determined as of this writing.

According to Homelessness Chair Alley Bean, a news media personality is being considered to moderate what is expected to be a large gathering of Venetians on a sensitive and volatile issue of rampant RVs throughout the Venice community, with an emphasis along Washington Boulevard stretching from the beach west to Lincoln Blvd east. 

The objectives of the Town Hall are to foster transparency around this issue and ensure open communication with stakeholders, improve accountability, and provide clarity with clear information on how community members can partner with city and county officials to achieve measurable improvement and results.

During open discussion and public comment, resident Chris Cerbo told the committee that due to the proliferation of RVs along Washington Boulevard, “open prostitution” was happening literally outside his home that can be seen from his residence. Stakeholder Robin Murez talked about $2 billion dollars in unaccounted spending on homelessness and that “total accountability” is necessary for the public to have any confidence in solving this homelessness and RV crisis. 

The announced panelists are the following: 

• Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11)
• Los Angeles CAO Matthew Szabo
• Chief Freddie Nuno of the LADOT Parking Enforcement Division 
• LASAN Assistant Director Gabe Miranda
• LAHSA Director of Outreach Operations Lakesha Williams

Other invited guests include: 

Daisy Paez, Executive Officer of the Mayor’s Homelessness & Community Health team, Jonah Glickman, Deputy for Homelessness and Housing, LA Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Cid Tesoro, Deputy Director of Environmental Services for the Los Angeles County Public Works Department; Captain Keith Harrison, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Marina del Rey Station; and Isela Gracian, Senior Deputy for Homelessness & Housing. LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell. 

The Homelessness Committee of the Venice Neighborhood Council is chaired by Alley Bean. Committee members John Reimers and Pat Rafael were also in attendance. Judy Goldman, Naomi Nightingale, Julie Bean, and Sarah Mahir were absent. VNC Community Officer Yolanda Gonzalez was also in attendance and participated in the discussion. 

In other business, the CD-11 Coalition for Human Rights is seeking community assistance regarding the donation of rain ponchos, tarps, tents, replacement sleeping bags or other gear for the unhoused. For details, contact them online at [email protected] 

(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-three-year resident and covers the issue of homeless encampments and RVs. A longtime contributor to City Watch LA, he can be reached via e-mail at [email protected])