VENICE – The Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) voted Tuesday evening to approve the mission statement and creation of an Ad-hoc Committee to review the possibility of cityhood for Venice and detach from the City of Los Angeles.
VNC President Ira Koslow appointed local resident Nick Antonicello as chairperson who spearheaded the creation of the committee.
“This is an historic moment in Venice’s history and future. Our local neighborhood council by a vote of 15-2-2 decided that we need to analyze, monetize and review the notion of Venice leaving Los Angeles and becoming a more productive and efficient, standalone community, noted Antonicello, the Committee’s new chairman.
“When nearly 80% of this elected community body comes together to unify around a new idea, this is a chance for real change for Venice, and a great leap forward for property owners and tenants alike,” observed Antonicello.
“Properly considered; the notion of cityhood can unify Venice and end the current political toxicity that exists in our community discourse,” said Antonicello.
“The goal of this committee will be to consider all options of cityhood and how Venice can stand alone as an independent municipality while weighing all factors such as essential services and cost. I intend to reach out to our elected officials in the legislature as well as county government to gather as much data and evidence as possible to offer all Venetians an objective, sober and reasonable analysis, noted Antonicello.
“Everywhere I go here in Venice there is a sense this neighborhood and community has been forgotten or ignored. That Venice does not receive the level of services and attention this destination resort and urban beach enclave needs and demands. The challenges of homelessness, gentrification and public safety to say nothing of other quality-of-life issues like street paving, tree trimming and parking might be better served by a smaller, grass roots unit of government that could be far more effective and accountable.”
Antonicello said he would favor a directly elected mayor on an at-large basis and a combination of council members elected at-large as well as by districts to maximize representation, participation and representation.
Antonicello is now seeking local Venetians to serve on this nine-member body.
It is Antonicello‘s goal to formulate the committee by September and meet on a bi-monthly basis thereafter.
For more information on how to join the committee, please contact Antonicello at nantoni@mindspring.com. 310-621-3775.
Those with a background in the law, government and public policy are urged to volunteer.
For more information about the Venice Neighborhood Council, please visit www.VeniceNC.org
Nick Antonicello only wants Cityhood to appease his developer and real estate friends into guarenteeing that real estate deal go uninterrupted by what Nick defines as “BoninVille” style of government. The newly elected VNC has the same agenda in mind. Under City Hood Hood which favors developers, especially new commercial development Venice will go through dramatic negative changes. Homeless and low income families will no longer be able to afford to live in Venice. Gentrification which is City wide is even greater in Venice do to the fact it’s near the beach. Home and commerical development will increase also dramatically. Nick Antonicello and his gang of thieves will also seek to literally throw out anyone that is low income and the homeless. Nick’s Anti Homeless stance will make homeless against the law in Venice. City hood is only a security blanket for the rich wealthy land and commerce leaders to manipulate our system so the rich can keep getting richer. Don’t believe one word Nick Antonicello has to say about renters having “more power”. Venice is small in comparison to Santa Monica and Venice is already suffering from a shortage of housing, especially the low income, and even middle income earners. Their is not a chance developers, and property owners will want to settle on any rent control ordinance in this small town that is literally a gold mine to these types of people. City hood will only bring total segregation of the Westside since other small towns will want to follow this Cityhood trend. It’s already bad enough that the homeless are being treated worse than animals by people like Mark Ryavec. Stop the BID also, which is only unofficial Cityhood in disguise. I promise you Nick Antonicello you have no idea what you are up against when people like me are fighting 24/7 to save Venice. I promise you that this isn’t over by a long shot!
60% of Venice are renters currently. Just who are my “developer/real estate” friends? It’s amazing how one can lie and slander when they don’t have to put their name to these words that are patently false. Who are these people you refer to as a gang of thieves? Santa Monica is very credible comparison in terms of population and services. If Venice was it’s own municipality, renters would make a majority of voters. Don’t let the facts get in the way of these intentional falsehoods. I just wish the author would grow a set of testicles and at least reveal who he or she is…
Been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt – What’s yer point, Troll???
I’d like to see you yell that loud at the VNC meetings Nick A and Rick F. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUE4v1rUpSM