Note: This is written in response to Update article–“Second Beach Cleanup” last issue.  Also wanted to apologize for misspelling Carol Sobel’s and Deborah LaShever’s names in article. Indented statements are Deborah’s response to Update article.

By Deborah LaShever

The second beach cleanup started last Friday at Navy and progressed southward to Washington. This time Carol Sobol, her legal group, and friends Peggy Kennedy, and Deborah Lashever aided all.

Peggy Kennedy and myself are members of the National Lawyer’s Guild and were acting as Legal Observers at the Sweep.

The time required to do the job increased as the Sobol group tried to aid the Biohazard group and the police. Confusion for workers and homeless occurred when this happened.

The confusion was caused by many confusing miscommunications between the Sanitation Department and the Police, which is what the Sergent in charge admitted. Officers at the scene were quick to agree with my summation of the exercise as a “classic cluster.” This confusion could have easily set off altercations between unhoused people and police had the legal team not been in attendance to explain.

We assisted the unhoused to get their belongings together ahead of the police sweep, actually making it easier and faster for the police and sanitation. As the raid was scheduled until 3pm and when the police and sanitation workers broke for lunch at 11:30 most of the work had been accomplished, I do not know where your accusation that we caused more confusion and made it a longer process comes from. Could you please clarify?

Explanation of what homeless should do would have been better served days before by the homeless advocates. At the time, it was confusing to the homeless. Supposedly, there are other groups who come prior to cleanup to provide them information-rehab, shelters, etc.

We were helping the people that were there the day of the sweep. That was the immediate need. Many were unaware it was going on minutes before hand. We cannot be out there for days every time the city decides to conduct another raid. If you would like to do this service of letting people know alternatives like the Safe Storage Program on OFW. I am sure it would be much appreciated.

We would like to know who these groups are that you speak of that supposedly are providing information days before so we can coordinate efforts. I am not sure where you get your information. From all reports from the unhoused people there were never of any groups doing this. All unhoused that we interacted with were extremely grateful we were there to help them understand what was occurring and to make sure the process went smoothly.

Dissension and confusion seemed to be the aim of the game this time. Update was explaining to one homeless vendor, who asked, what the Warn, Bag, Tag, Store program was and how it would benefit all. Peggy Kennedy came up to the vendor and said “Don’t talk to Update; Update (representative) is not one of us.” Of course, Update is not one of them in that respect. Update has read the First Amendment. Update believes in First Amendment rights for all, not just those with an agenda.

What dissension do you mean? Making sure the unhoused were treated with respect is nothing like dissention. I am not certain of your definition of the word. Please clarify. And, again, the confusion you speak of was caused by the Sanitation/Police miscommunications, not by us.

What does this mean: “Of course, Update is not one of them in that respect. Update has read the First Amendment. Update believes in First Amendment rights for all, not just those with an agenda”? Are you saying we do not support the Constitution? Wow! You’d better read it again because it talks about rights for EVERYONE! That absolutely includes unhoused people, just so you are clear. Reta, be honest. Do you truly want and advocate for your unhoused neighbors to be treated with respect and dignity and do you stand for assisting these people to get their affairs in order so they can better access the “Housing First” people pay lip service to? I rarely see this blog advocating for assistance for these folks and immediate solutions to the problems they and the neighbors face, actually. I would love to see it though!

I am really glad you support Constitutional Rights! I support your Constitutional Rights of Freedom of Speech. Do you also support the Constitutional Rights of the unhoused? If so, how? Do you support the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights that the U.S. signed onto? These rights are being violated daily in Venice, just so you know. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ (please pay special attention to Articles 5. 6. 7, 8, 9, 12, 13. 17, 20, 21, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30.)

Update suggests for the sake of time, which equates to big bucks, that the homeless do this cleanup themselves orchestrated by and under direction of Carol Sobol with the aid of and to the satisfaction of the biohazard group. Am sure Sobol can demonstrate leadership among her homeless friends at the beach and they will respond in a positive manner to make this a more workable, livable situation, twice a month for a couple of hours. She obviously has the time.

This is not meant to appear in a derogatory way. Sobol obviously has an affinity with the homeless and they with her. Believe this is a workable situation for this project.

All must keep in mind that this City Park is not a “my” park; it is not a “homeless” park. It is a “public” park.

If OFW is for the public doesn’t this mean ALL the public? You do realize that unhoused people are part of the public and they deserve to be on OFW exactly as much as you do. OFW is public space for EVERYONE.

The city is spending the “big bucks” you are talking about because they listen to the people who want not to actually help unhoused folk but just want them gone, and who have no problem using these punitive and callous methods to achieve this. You are absolutely correct. These sweeps are a colossal waste of money! Why don’t you help us advocate for far less expensive, HUMANE solutions?

Carol gives unselfishly of her time to the most vulnerable among us in the name of Justice. This not free time for her and she is not out on OFW at 6:30 in the morning on a lark, I assure you. I’m not sure whether she would be interested in being a part of the city’s plan to run people out of Venice by continually conducting raids on them and confiscating their personal belongings. I would not. Why don’t you advocate for the year round storage program so people could VOLUNTARILY store their belongings off the sidewalk? Our temporary storage container is past capacity so not much more can fit in there. We need more space! Obviously there is a need! Why must this be punitive to work?

Thank you for giving me equal time on your blog in the name of Freedom of Speech.

Sincerely,

Deborah