Amy A of Electric …Mark Ryavec is a hero for all he does for Venice.  There are other heroes in Venice — like those who operate Little Free Libraries and those we see (like a woman on my block who wishes to remain anonymous) who takes care of landscaping that is not her own. Thank you to all who make Venice a nicer, cleaner, more parkable, and more neighborly place to live. It means a lot.

Arnold S of Electric …

So – Dear Triangle:
It was so interesting for me to read about all the folks in the Triangle
who really object to neighbors and strangers putting dog shit in their black
trash bins. I hope it’s not going into the green trash bins.  Around here
some folks just dump their soiled cat litter in the street, where it’s blown
around by the winds, carried on numerous tires of numerous cars onto
numerous other streets and thence into homes and businesses!  Yee Gads!
In another shit story the residents around Sunset Avenue and Rose that was the site of so many people defecating, urinating, cooking, sleeping etc. …that VSA and Mark Ryavec decided to take matters into their own hands (sic!) and pay for the weekly clean up.  It was successful, except that it
cost $500 a month.
Undoubtedly the surrounding residents were thankful to Mark and the VSA for showing what could be done by….’Self Help’ .—–
But when asked if they wouldn’t kick in to a fund to clean up the spot
continuously, to voluntarily associate  themselves rather than taking
handouts from the VSA which ended its voluntary neighborhood subside —or go back to relying on the city…they decided to go back to the city’s
embrace so they can—-bitch, bitch, bitch, and grovel in the olfactory and
visual experience of their own neighborhood once again.
So much for Self Help!  Mark probably picked up that idea when he was a Political Science major.
But Mark —now-a-days even the solution of Self Help (so American in
origin) is a delusion— held only by some few like you —-who aspire to
generate collective  neighborhood good in this culture.
Forget it!  Self Help can only be an instantaneous human impulse and is not socially sustainable in the medium or long run if you leave all of
‘them’ to their ‘druthers’, that is….Selfishness, Greed, and Narrow Self
Interest.  We have to learn to accept this and live with it, AND it’s social
and political consequences.

Gary W of Argonaut …Residents who live near LMU ARE NOT seeking preferential parking and the university has not “contracted” with anyone to charge students and visitors.

They are doing it themselves.
As the story clearly states, residents are adamantly AGAINST preferred
parking and have rallied against it.
If you are going to reference a story that I have written, please summarize
it accurately and not misinform people.
And this situation is not remotely similar to what is occurring in Venice.

Gene S of Oxford …With regards to “people” who do the right thing and pick up after their dogs, and put their poop bags in trash cans. What’s the big deal? Would you rather they leave the crap on your lawn?

After all it’s in a bag!. It is a “trash” can.  Get a life.

Nancy P of Oxford  …The Fighter video, I have to say the personal trainer handled it very well!  Sheesh!