LOS ANGELES – Residents of Venice Beach today filed a lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking the Court’s help in addressing dangerous conditions and nuisance problems in Venice. Councilmember Mike Bonin, who is in his first term as the City Councilmember representing the area, released the following statement in reaction to the filing:

“I share the frustration with the deplorable conditions on and near Venice Beach. The condition is unacceptable for residents, for merchants, for tourists and for the hundreds of unhoused people who sleep on our streets. We need to keep our parks and neighborhoods clean and safe — AND we need to find permanent shelters and services for the homeless.

“However, as the VSA well knows, the courts have repeatedly handcuffed the City in its attempts to manage Venice Beach by a series of rulings on vending, on sleeping in public spaces, and on cleaning up both encampments and trash. The courts have repeatedly told the City of Los Angeles what it cannot do. While the source of the VSA’s ire is more appropriately aimed at the courts, if this lawsuit results in a ruling that tells the City what it can or must do, I would welcome it. We’re all interested in making Venice safe, clean and welcoming, and I trust that we are all also interested in marshaling the services and building the housing we need to end the crisis of homelessness in our City.”