Josh Svensson of County Public Works
Ref: Last Update issue showed graffiti on pump station in Oxford Basin (Duck Pond). Sounds like it was cleaned up and then re-graffitied.
You can report graffiti and other issues on our website at the below link, and in my experience they handle issues reported here quickly. Josh did report the one shown in photo.
http://dpw.lacounty.gov/contact/
Harris Levey
Regarding the People Street program. People Street program is a money allocation for small, unused lot areas, such as the peak area at Ocean and Venice, the area at the post office annex on Windward. It will be discussed at the 29 April VNC meet. For more information now go to: People Street peoplest.lacity.org
http://www.venicenc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/PeopleSt_Info.pdf
Harris Levy said: How wonderful that the city has enough money to spend upwards of $40,000 for each individual project (primarily in commercial areas), when there aren’t funds for sidewalk repairs, tree trimming, and the like.
David Ewing answered Harris Levey: I’ve been told that the cost is largely being covered by private donations. Perhaps, someone from Mike Bonin’s office could clarify.
Carolyn Rios
Ref: Previous Update article regarding parking but article wasn’t meant to be Triangle specific but analogous to Venice. It was meant to stress the fact that residential areas should not be parking accommodators for commercial endeavors.
I do not understand why the parking is a problem in Triangle. I regularly ride my bike through the Triangle and what I see is that most houses have driveways and garages. How can there be a problem when you have your own private driveway to park in. Also, except for maybe half a block in, there always seems to be plenty of street parking.
I just don’t understand why people complain, please explain.
Answer:
Yes, we do have garages and most use them along with their driveways. Triangle has 350 single-family homes. What we have abutting the Triangle in the back are 2000 plus units and commercial on Princeton and Lincoln. Mirabella is now charging for their visitor parking. Guess where it goes? Princeton commercial has no place for their customers. Guess where it goes? Jefferson-Marina has a “pedestrian emergency access door that is used as an entrance/exit. Guess where their tenants park for convenience?
These are all violations of the Oxford Triangle Specific Plan that says no access from C4-OX (2000 are zoned such) into the R-1 area. The OTSP was published specifically to protect the R-1 from such. Cindy Miscikowski as councilperson violated the OTSP when she required pedestrian openings on Carter and on Princeton. (And yes, we could probably win a 50K law suit.) It has made local residents furious; several fights have ensued, etc. It is a continuous battle to explain to tenants that they are supposed to park in their buildings. Buildings were designed for such; Triangle has a specific plan. Tenants have no idea what anyone is talking about when we explain that. Jefferson-Marina management of the fire gate is a joke. Tenants rule at Jefferson Marina, Mirabella much to the chagrin of the homeowners. It is not legal, it is not fair.
Yes, we use our garages, our driveways. But we would like to have guests, dog groomers, gardeners, be able to put the garbage out, an occasional party. Unbelievable as it sounds single family residents have lives too just as tenants do. But we don’t overflow our vehicles into their garages.
Amy Alkon
Valet took in BMW SUV, drove THROUGH THE BRIG’S LOT (empty save for one truck at the side, which seemed to either belong to the valet or some workmen) and parked it in the city lot that is supposed to be free parking for all. This means there is one less parking space for people who are not willing to pay that The Brig has made money on. This is utterly disgusting and goes on the weekends from The Brig with regularity. I seem to catch them doing it when I’m looking out my front door at least once a weekend. I have video on them doing this, too.
I wish people would mete out social disapproval to the businesses — like the parasitic Gjelina — that do not provide adequate support (like parking) for the clients they bring in, and instead use antiquated zoning codes and sneaky maneuvers to offload their costs onto residents. Back in the 1990s, it was entirely possible to park safely, and without driving around all upset for 20 minutes or more, in my neighborhood (off Abbot Kinney).
Now we not only have Gjelina bringing in hundreds and hundreds of people a night and providing zero parking spaces, the valet at The Brig charges people to park and then takes up what is supposed to be free public parking in the public lot. (I have video of this.) I would guess this is done so they can take more money from more people to park in their lot. If you know business owners doing these sorts of things — taking from residents, because we are easily victimized thanks to antique zoning codes — you do not owe them your friendliness or politeness. Quite the contrary. We need to show them that it is not socially profitable to behave like parasites rather than neighbors and community members.
Amy Alkon, Venice neighbor and author “Good Manners For Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck” (St. Martin’s Press, June 3, 2014), (which also includes some of the wonderful things Venice neighbors do, like operating Little Free Libraries on Nowita and Altair).
Heather Kahler
First of all I thank those who read and relate to what I have written for speaking up as well and for your support. It means a great deal.
We all experience “economic, medical, psychological, emotional or sociological” issues…there are also choices made. I have divulged enough of my personal obstacles, and care not to do more, but leave it to say many of the same reasons and scale of circumstances described as “economic, medical, psychological, emotional or sociological” that happen to those who wind up on the street, also happen to many people (my father and myself included) who do not wind up on the street. The difference? Perhaps some people have more support, perhaps some do not, or think they do not, but the bottom line is choice (mentally ill excluded). And when people are offered a way out, help, and refuse it over and over, that is a choice. And again Regardless of WHAT that choice is, or not, they can be respectful of those around them and the community in which they “live” housed or not.
Leave it to say people have made choices when these things have befallen them in “economic, medical, psychological, emotional or sociological”, and even in extremely tragic situations, everyone most often has a has a choice at some point in time along the way, or several times along the way (excluding the mentally ill). I do not claim to know who is who. And yes, I have had conversations with some, as I stated previously, Michael the veteran is one.
My first inclination is that those who truly cannot help themselves, they likely chose NOT to become a drug addict, or drug dealer, or petty thief in response to the “economic, medical, psychological, emotional or sociological” circumstances that befell them. Which ones are they? I do not pretend to know for certain, I just know some are and some are not.
Reta Moser
Alley cleanup. Rosie Westerman of Howard asked how does one get homeowners to clean up in the alley? I said perhaps, cleaning it up for them, thus, hopefully, shaming them might do it. Any suggestions? Also, noticed that hedges are overhanging in sidewalk public right of ways. People on wheelchairs using the sidewalks are having difficulties again. Spring brings growth. Remember that all growth must be cleared from the sidewalk. Trees must be 9 feet off sidewalk, 11 feet off street.
Elections. Liz Wright, co-chair of election committee, has forwarded most of the pics and bios for the candidates. Update is coming out with a special for candidates. Many did not want to post such in Update. So there will be holes—lack of data—in the publication that should come out this week for the candidates. Update is trying to increase candidate visibility for those voting. Update has no intention of capturing the souls of those who are reluctant to submit pics and bios. Update just wants to make this the most informed election and the voter turnout to top that of previous one.
584
Comments–21 April 2014
Josh Svensson of County Public Works
Ref: Last Update issue showed graffiti on pump station in Oxford Basin (Duck Pond). Sounds like it was cleaned up and then re-graffitied.
You can report graffiti and other issues on our website at the below link, and in my experience they handle issues reported here quickly. Josh did report the one shown in photo.
http://dpw.lacounty.gov/contact/
Harris Levey
Regarding the People Street program. People Street program is a money allocation for small, unused lot areas, such as the peak area at Ocean and Venice, the area at the post office annex on Windward. It will be discussed at the 29 April VNC meet. For more information now go to: People Street peoplest.lacity.org
http://www.venicenc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/PeopleSt_Info.pdf
Harris Levy said: How wonderful that the city has enough money to spend upwards of $40,000 for each individual project (primarily in commercial areas), when there aren’t funds for sidewalk repairs, tree trimming, and the like.
David Ewing answered Harris Levey: I’ve been told that the cost is largely being covered by private donations. Perhaps, someone from Mike Bonin’s office could clarify.
Carolyn Rios
Ref: Previous Update article regarding parking but article wasn’t meant to be Triangle specific but analogous to Venice. It was meant to stress the fact that residential areas should not be parking accommodators for commercial endeavors.
I do not understand why the parking is a problem in Triangle. I regularly ride my bike through the Triangle and what I see is that most houses have driveways and garages. How can there be a problem when you have your own private driveway to park in. Also, except for maybe half a block in, there always seems to be plenty of street parking.
I just don’t understand why people complain, please explain.
Answer:
Yes, we do have garages and most use them along with their driveways. Triangle has 350 single-family homes. What we have abutting the Triangle in the back are 2000 plus units and commercial on Princeton and Lincoln. Mirabella is now charging for their visitor parking. Guess where it goes? Princeton commercial has no place for their customers. Guess where it goes? Jefferson-Marina has a “pedestrian emergency access door that is used as an entrance/exit. Guess where their tenants park for convenience?
These are all violations of the Oxford Triangle Specific Plan that says no access from C4-OX (2000 are zoned such) into the R-1 area. The OTSP was published specifically to protect the R-1 from such. Cindy Miscikowski as councilperson violated the OTSP when she required pedestrian openings on Carter and on Princeton. (And yes, we could probably win a 50K law suit.) It has made local residents furious; several fights have ensued, etc. It is a continuous battle to explain to tenants that they are supposed to park in their buildings. Buildings were designed for such; Triangle has a specific plan. Tenants have no idea what anyone is talking about when we explain that. Jefferson-Marina management of the fire gate is a joke. Tenants rule at Jefferson Marina, Mirabella much to the chagrin of the homeowners. It is not legal, it is not fair.
Yes, we use our garages, our driveways. But we would like to have guests, dog groomers, gardeners, be able to put the garbage out, an occasional party. Unbelievable as it sounds single family residents have lives too just as tenants do. But we don’t overflow our vehicles into their garages.
Amy Alkon
Valet took in BMW SUV, drove THROUGH THE BRIG’S LOT (empty save for one truck at the side, which seemed to either belong to the valet or some workmen) and parked it in the city lot that is supposed to be free parking for all. This means there is one less parking space for people who are not willing to pay that The Brig has made money on. This is utterly disgusting and goes on the weekends from The Brig with regularity. I seem to catch them doing it when I’m looking out my front door at least once a weekend. I have video on them doing this, too.
I wish people would mete out social disapproval to the businesses — like the parasitic Gjelina — that do not provide adequate support (like parking) for the clients they bring in, and instead use antiquated zoning codes and sneaky maneuvers to offload their costs onto residents. Back in the 1990s, it was entirely possible to park safely, and without driving around all upset for 20 minutes or more, in my neighborhood (off Abbot Kinney).
Now we not only have Gjelina bringing in hundreds and hundreds of people a night and providing zero parking spaces, the valet at The Brig charges people to park and then takes up what is supposed to be free public parking in the public lot. (I have video of this.) I would guess this is done so they can take more money from more people to park in their lot. If you know business owners doing these sorts of things — taking from residents, because we are easily victimized thanks to antique zoning codes — you do not owe them your friendliness or politeness. Quite the contrary. We need to show them that it is not socially profitable to behave like parasites rather than neighbors and community members.
Amy Alkon, Venice neighbor and author “Good Manners For Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck” (St. Martin’s Press, June 3, 2014), (which also includes some of the wonderful things Venice neighbors do, like operating Little Free Libraries on Nowita and Altair).
Heather Kahler
First of all I thank those who read and relate to what I have written for speaking up as well and for your support. It means a great deal.
We all experience “economic, medical, psychological, emotional or sociological” issues…there are also choices made. I have divulged enough of my personal obstacles, and care not to do more, but leave it to say many of the same reasons and scale of circumstances described as “economic, medical, psychological, emotional or sociological” that happen to those who wind up on the street, also happen to many people (my father and myself included) who do not wind up on the street. The difference? Perhaps some people have more support, perhaps some do not, or think they do not, but the bottom line is choice (mentally ill excluded). And when people are offered a way out, help, and refuse it over and over, that is a choice. And again Regardless of WHAT that choice is, or not, they can be respectful of those around them and the community in which they “live” housed or not.
Leave it to say people have made choices when these things have befallen them in “economic, medical, psychological, emotional or sociological”, and even in extremely tragic situations, everyone most often has a has a choice at some point in time along the way, or several times along the way (excluding the mentally ill). I do not claim to know who is who. And yes, I have had conversations with some, as I stated previously, Michael the veteran is one.
My first inclination is that those who truly cannot help themselves, they likely chose NOT to become a drug addict, or drug dealer, or petty thief in response to the “economic, medical, psychological, emotional or sociological” circumstances that befell them. Which ones are they? I do not pretend to know for certain, I just know some are and some are not.
Reta Moser
Alley cleanup. Rosie Westerman of Howard asked how does one get homeowners to clean up in the alley? I said perhaps, cleaning it up for them, thus, hopefully, shaming them might do it. Any suggestions? Also, noticed that hedges are overhanging in sidewalk public right of ways. People on wheelchairs using the sidewalks are having difficulties again. Spring brings growth. Remember that all growth must be cleared from the sidewalk. Trees must be 9 feet off sidewalk, 11 feet off street.
Elections. Liz Wright, co-chair of election committee, has forwarded most of the pics and bios for the candidates. Update is coming out with a special for candidates. Many did not want to post such in Update. So there will be holes—lack of data—in the publication that should come out this week for the candidates. Update is trying to increase candidate visibility for those voting. Update has no intention of capturing the souls of those who are reluctant to submit pics and bios. Update just wants to make this the most informed election and the voter turnout to top that of previous one.
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