Liz Wright
I pay attention when I drive, and still barely miss cyclists and pedestrians as they swoosh out between parked cars, or peddle with no lights, no reflector, all dolled up in dark clothing. Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists all must be more cautious at night. None of us can see as well in the dark as in the light. Duh.
Be as visible as you reasonably can be. If you are going to be out after dark, wear white – especially on your upper body. Cyclist helmets with flashing lights can be seen. Night walkers, try some of those shoes that light up with each step. They are great fun and provide visibility. Cyclists, put some decent lights on your bikes! I have seen some with what seemed to be led lights on the wheels. Highly visible. How far away do you think those little reflectors can be seen? And cars are going how fast? Duh. How far for your 1.5v light? Have a friend follow you in a car and report on your visibility. You love to ride, but do not want to spend the rest of your life doing it in a wheelchair. If I can’t see you in time, I might hit you. My car will suffer less damage than your body. Both of us will be changed for the worse forever.
Arnold Springer
Challis McPherson is right. The decision by the city to restrict the Small Lot Subdivision ordinance as it applies to Venice is really a significant turnabout, at least to my mind and —if it holds.
Most of the LUPC members as I recall fought against 3 units per lot which the SLO did not permit, because it violated the VSP and the third unit in the project did not have to be ‘affordable’, plus the parking was almost always substandard or even deficient.
The previous City Planning Director (endorsed by the previous VNC Board) shoved this down our throats and thank the gods, the long and numerous protests against this egregious abuse of the VSP and the LCP as yet unfinished process were finally heard by the Councilman, Mr. Bonin, else nothing would have happened. As far as I knew the VNC board and leadership did absolutely nothing on this issue, although they could have worked behind the scenes. Who knows what Byzantine politics have been created by the Neighborhood Council empowerment. Now, as to the noise, the traffic congestion, the ‘cooking’ fumes from restaurants permitted in existing structures without any attempt to seriously cleanse or restrict their noxious and vomitous exhausts, —plus not to mention no parking required largesse -when can we expect that ‘stuff to stop’ ?
Or don’t we residents pay enough taxes already?
Amy Alcon
My prediction, based on experience, of what will happen at 320 Sunset if they are allowed to open:
Gjelina was allowed 60 seats with “grandfathered parking” — an abysmal and ludicrous situation past LUPC boards didn’t care to bother changing, meaning that a business doesn’t have to provide parking spaces but instead takes them away from residents because, oh, decades and decades ago, nobody wanted to be in Venice.
They were supposed to provide one space — in a garage on the property. Hah. They do not. They use it for storage.
Those 60 seats? They mushroomed into over 100 seats, despite the fact that this is not what their zoning allows. They violate many of their codes, including the one that specifically says there is to be NO amplified sound (music) on their patio, which borders on a neighborhood. (In hot weather, you have to keep your window closed because of their violation.)
My neighborhood has been RUINED by parasitic Fran Camaj bringing in HUNDREDS of customers many times a day to Gjelina and providing ZERO parking spaces for them. I cannot drive to the bank or the store unless I do it at 5 am because I will not be able to find a space for my car without possibly driving around for a half hour. I hope he is not allowed to ruin Sunset as well.
My warning to residents there and any in positions of power on the neighborhood council, etc.: If experience predicts anything, it is that this business will violate any code it wishes to and Buildings & Safety will tell you “We don’t come out at night” (to deal with violations), etc.
Reta Moser
Predictive crime and LAPD wanting neighbors to provide a presence … Carter at Lincoln was mentioned. Most people believe this has to do with the Jefferson-Marina apartments, which has a frequent crime event, and not the Carter at Washington where Walgreens is.
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Comments–17 August 2014
Liz Wright
I pay attention when I drive, and still barely miss cyclists and pedestrians as they swoosh out between parked cars, or peddle with no lights, no reflector, all dolled up in dark clothing. Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists all must be more cautious at night. None of us can see as well in the dark as in the light. Duh.
Be as visible as you reasonably can be. If you are going to be out after dark, wear white – especially on your upper body. Cyclist helmets with flashing lights can be seen. Night walkers, try some of those shoes that light up with each step. They are great fun and provide visibility. Cyclists, put some decent lights on your bikes! I have seen some with what seemed to be led lights on the wheels. Highly visible. How far away do you think those little reflectors can be seen? And cars are going how fast? Duh. How far for your 1.5v light? Have a friend follow you in a car and report on your visibility. You love to ride, but do not want to spend the rest of your life doing it in a wheelchair. If I can’t see you in time, I might hit you. My car will suffer less damage than your body. Both of us will be changed for the worse forever.
Arnold Springer
Challis McPherson is right. The decision by the city to restrict the Small Lot Subdivision ordinance as it applies to Venice is really a significant turnabout, at least to my mind and —if it holds.
Most of the LUPC members as I recall fought against 3 units per lot which the SLO did not permit, because it violated the VSP and the third unit in the project did not have to be ‘affordable’, plus the parking was almost always substandard or even deficient.
The previous City Planning Director (endorsed by the previous VNC Board) shoved this down our throats and thank the gods, the long and numerous protests against this egregious abuse of the VSP and the LCP as yet unfinished process were finally heard by the Councilman, Mr. Bonin, else nothing would have happened. As far as I knew the VNC board and leadership did absolutely nothing on this issue, although they could have worked behind the scenes. Who knows what Byzantine politics have been created by the Neighborhood Council empowerment. Now, as to the noise, the traffic congestion, the ‘cooking’ fumes from restaurants permitted in existing structures without any attempt to seriously cleanse or restrict their noxious and vomitous exhausts, —plus not to mention no parking required largesse -when can we expect that ‘stuff to stop’ ?
Or don’t we residents pay enough taxes already?
Amy Alcon
My prediction, based on experience, of what will happen at 320 Sunset if they are allowed to open:
Gjelina was allowed 60 seats with “grandfathered parking” — an abysmal and ludicrous situation past LUPC boards didn’t care to bother changing, meaning that a business doesn’t have to provide parking spaces but instead takes them away from residents because, oh, decades and decades ago, nobody wanted to be in Venice.
They were supposed to provide one space — in a garage on the property. Hah. They do not. They use it for storage.
Those 60 seats? They mushroomed into over 100 seats, despite the fact that this is not what their zoning allows. They violate many of their codes, including the one that specifically says there is to be NO amplified sound (music) on their patio, which borders on a neighborhood. (In hot weather, you have to keep your window closed because of their violation.)
My neighborhood has been RUINED by parasitic Fran Camaj bringing in HUNDREDS of customers many times a day to Gjelina and providing ZERO parking spaces for them. I cannot drive to the bank or the store unless I do it at 5 am because I will not be able to find a space for my car without possibly driving around for a half hour. I hope he is not allowed to ruin Sunset as well.
My warning to residents there and any in positions of power on the neighborhood council, etc.: If experience predicts anything, it is that this business will violate any code it wishes to and Buildings & Safety will tell you “We don’t come out at night” (to deal with violations), etc.
Reta Moser
Predictive crime and LAPD wanting neighbors to provide a presence … Carter at Lincoln was mentioned. Most people believe this has to do with the Jefferson-Marina apartments, which has a frequent crime event, and not the Carter at Washington where Walgreens is.
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