Anonymous– I am completely unnerved by this. Need LAPD addresses.

Anonymous– (Ref: Woman soliciting on Washington in middle of traffic.) She walked all the way past Carter between lanes. Young, irresponsible enough to get pregnant and be on the street then pushing all her mistakes on drivers and endangering that poor baby inside her.

She should be arrested. Placed in a shelter for mothers, child adopted out or placed. With all the money she collects, she should have bought some friggin condoms. I am so tired of lazy, irresponsible, addicted (illness or no, the choice was made at some point) and expecting to sponge off society while they perpetuate their noncontributing uselessness.

Sounds harsh but as a mother, THIS pisses me off. It is not fair to that unborn child and way too easy in this day and age to prevent.

Anonymous–Just sent you three interesting photos.

This is a major tragic society problem – assistance is needed from the federal govt, state gov, and private agencies…including more experienced mental health workers, counselors, drug experts and the medical profession..a tragic statement on society!! (Just my opinion!) Pictures were of a man sleeping one block west of Mayor’s house.

Anonymous–Thank you for, hopefully, starting a line of communication with residents of Venice to fix our own problems within our own community.

I have lived here for 38 years. It wasn’t the best neighborhood when I came here, but nothing like what’s going on now.

Venice is like a stepchild to Los Angeles. The city rakes in the money from the boardwalk and we get very little service and are left with the crap (sorry no other word fit).

We don’t need some overpaid, hand-picked czar to help us.

Homelessness is not our only problem down here. We need help with gangs that graffiti our properties, so many things that can bring our city back.

Suggestions: get to know your neighbors, get out from those barricades that hide you. The more we’re out in force cleaning up our own properties out in force to let people know we are a community not Disneyland or a ghetto no one cares for.

Anonymous– I do feel unsafe sometimes walking though there. I know they are there because Walgreens throws a lot of food out and stuff out so they congregate.

It is really hard because I feel compassion for the homeless but drugs near our homes make me very worried. Drugs in the neighborhood usually means increase in crime. I wish Walgreens would hire a security guard to man the area. They had the same problem in Downtown Los Angeles, the Staple Center hired security and created safety for the residents. It made a huge difference and impacted the neighborhood in a good way.

Anonymous– Re: the couch and chair – I moved these to my backyard. I saw that it was becoming a magnet for the homeless and removed them. Now I just need to get them out of our yard. This morning there was also some mattresses dumped on Carter. I’m guessing someone was moving and is using Carter as their dumping ground. My wife and I have discussed putting a video camera up (probably will need two) facing each way on Carter to track what is going on. Probably won’t have up for a month or so, but will certainly be informative.

Comment: Call to number on garbage can for special pickup will get them removed the day normal trash is removed.

Anonymous– When I find homeless on the sidewalks in my neighborhood I email Pastor Steve Weller of Venice Four Square Church at

Venice4square@hotmail.com Along with SLO Gregg Jacobus.

Anonymous– I agree with those comments about Walgreens. The place is filthy outside, the trash barrel overflowing. They have a guard at the door but he seldom ventures outside.

I’ve nominated Walgreens previously for the award as ugliest commercial building in Venice, window-less and shut off from the outside world. And that once was an elegant building.

Certainly the homeless/vagrant situation must be hurting that drugstore. I wouldn’t walk there at night and doubt if many others would. I never see many inside the store, one or two and that’s it, and that’s no matter the hour.

Beats me.

Anonymous-– I live in Venice, near 3rd and Rose. The dozens of homeless that sleep on 3rd every night are ruining the neighborhood. They intimidate my guests, my lady friends have to be walked to their car at night, and I don’t feel safe outside of my own home. They deposit trash all over the streets, they store their belongings 24/7 on the sidewalk, and most disturbing, they defecate and urinate everywhere. The smell of their feces and urine is thick in the air. It attracts insects, rodents and facilitates disease. Their trash rots in the sun. Some of them are mentally ill and scream profanities at the top of their lungs in the middle of the night. It is a deplorable situation. It creates an environment that attracts crime and encourages others to join the fray. It looks as if the residents of Venice just don’t care about where they live or how their neighborhood is perceived. It sucks the pride right out of the city.

Without help from law enforcement to encourage folks to move along or seek shelter, the only thing that helps is traffic. Foot and automobile traffic. The area between rose and sunset on 3rd is appealing to the homeless because it has deep sidewalks and is void of businesses. Nobody trying to park their cars or milling around at night to disturb them from sleeping, shitting, or using drugs on the street. They have their privacy.

Most recently, Gjelina has tried to open a restaurant/bar on sunset. Just the kind of establishment that would create foot traffic and have people parking their cars on 3rd at night. Instead of embracing such an initiative from a local entrepreneur some venetians have chosen to focus their energy differently. They have organized to prevent Gjelina from opening its doors. I find it incredibly frustrating that these folks find the time and energy to campaign against a restaurant and yet do nothing to solve the homeless crisis that plays out each and every day on the streets of their sacred neighborhood. Perhaps, they should worry a little less about the lamb sausage pizza and a little more about the ever-growing shanty town in their own backyard.

Anonymous– I honestly cannot believe the emails I read about acceptance of these homeless people in your neighborhood. It is the single reason I will not stay in this neighborhood when my kids get older. I have worked my ass off to change my family’s financial position so that these vagrants and drug addicts can sleep 50 feet from my bed? I don’t think so. It’s flat out disgusting. Not one of these guys/girls is trying to pull themselves out of a rut or bad time. As one of the emails stated they enjoy this life of absolute waste. How many of you really think one of these people would take a job if you offered? The answer is none. Until everyone makes their presence in our Triangle an absolute nuisance for them, then they will continue to get more comfortable and bring more than just a Lazy Boy. I really hope Firestone will disrupt their habits but I’m not holding my breath. Hey, I would love to drink, party, sleep, have sex and eat sandwiches all day. I would also like to crown myself King of the World and have 10 wives. Fact is it’s not realistic or acceptable… but I was born with a sense of responsibility like 95% of you. If you weren’t then my neighborhood is not the right place to post up. Let’s go people. Fight for what’s yours.