Late October a public safety town hall was hosted by the Venice Neighborhood Council safety committee for improving the safety along Ocean Front Walk.

August 3 a vehicle entered OFW during a busy Saturday and ran into many people on the boardwalk, injuring several and killing one. Councilman Mike Bonin, who had been councilman but a month and a few days, immediately called together people from Beaches and Harbors, Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles Police Department, Department of Transportation, and Los Angeles Fire Department and asked them to walk the OFW and make suggestions.

Immediately signs were posted and plastic bollards were installed. These were intended to be temporary solutions.

Many groups have provided proposals. Department of Recreation and Parks gave theres at the Town Hall. The police have asked for cameras on the west side of OFW as well as a public address system for emergencies. Many have suggested better lighting. The main emphasis has been to provide emergency vehicles access yet stop unauthorized vehicles.

The OFW Task Force met. The task force consists of the above groups plus the city attorney’s office, Venice Neighborhood Council, and merchants, vendors, and residents from Ocean Front Walk.

This group came up with the idea of having police or individuals stationed in different areas, maybe information booths, and the outgrowth has been to have police walking the beat along OFW rather than driving or both . The other major suggestion was the elimination of drugs on the boardwalk.

Gonzo Rock, a representative of the task force, had a sticker poll for all to participate upon leaving the town hall meet. An early count showed police 24/7 walking patrols was the top pick followed by improved lighting, open bathrooms 24/7, and security cameras. Bollards hardly registered. Bottom item not visable

The City Department of Recreation and Parks gave their report at the town hall. Recs and Parks proposed having various solutions, such as retractable bollards, lockable gates with permanent bollards, functional obstructions, decorative elements (concrete planters) with bollards, bollards with concrete planters. Concrete planters seemed to be throughout their plans to add beauty and function. Some of the examples are

North Venice

Breeze Avenue

26th Facing Speedway

Clubhouse facing the Boardwalk

Private parking lot on Sunset