By Kip Pardue

So many have asked what you can do to stop the incredibly short-sighted plans proposed by Councilman Mike Bonin. There will be a public meeting SEPTEMBER 8TH (NEXT THURSDAY EVENING), 7 pm, Westminster Elementary School, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd to discuss the Venice median lot project, the Westminster Senior Center plan, and possibly the Thatcher Yard lot (that lot has yet to be specifically mentioned).

In an email being circulated, Bonin is blatantly lying to the residents of Venice and showing his true hand – HE WILL STOP AT NOTHING IN ORDER TO BUILD FREE HOUSING AT THE BEACH IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

He says this is our “second opportunity” to be heard – an obvious lie. The first time anyone heard of this project publicly was on the meeting held March 29th. How could we possibly have our opinions heard when it was presented to us at that very same meeting?

He has maintained that there would be a “feasibility” study to determine which city lots will be sold and which will be used for housing. The results of this study have yet to be released if it happened at all. I find it utterly impossible to believe that any “study” would find that it is feasible to build in the middle of a neighborhood well within the Coastal Zone on the most expensive real estate in LA. Because we have yet to see the results, we are also unsure of the other 7 lots in the study – including the Thatcher Yard. Are others received housing? Are others being sold? If so, to whom? What types of housing will the other lots provide?

He says that the developers will submit their “plans” on September 15th but apparently, at the meeting on September 8th, he will be able to answer our questions about the plans. How could he possibly know how many units, how they will be situated, who will be housed without the submitted and accepted plans? The only way he could know is if he already has the answers. Bonin has seemingly already chosen the developer and has zero intention of hearing our voices.

The Westminister Senior Center is receiving the same treatment. Regardless of VNC vote, huge public outcry, proximity to a grammar school, and possible legal hurdles, Bonin has already contracted Chrysallis (a Homeless Service Provider) to manage the storage of homeless belongings. Our voices have been ignored.

The voices of the advocates, however, are as loud as ever. A mere hint of unrest from them led to a revoking of the BID vote. The Venice BID followed the same process of ratification that every other BID in Los Angeles followed. There was a vote held for business owners in which 77% approved the BID. There was public comment at City Hall. But because that public comment was cut short, the entire BID process has to be revisited.

Yet the Westminister Senior Center project and the Venice Median lot project have had no vote and, before this meeting, ZERO public comments and continue to move forward.

PLEASE COME TO THIS MEETING. PLEASE BRING AS MANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AS POSSIBLE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH AT 7 pm, WESTMINSITER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

There is a big difference between offering a “hand up” and completely free housing and storage at the beach (paid for by our tax dollars).

Background

On March 29th, Councilman Mike Bonin had a Community Meeting on Homelessness. He proposed building homeless housing on the City Parking Lot No. 731 located between North and South Venice Boulevards and Pacific and Dell Avenues.

You asked to know more. On September 8th, is your second opportunity to be heard.

The developers will be submitting their building Proposals with “development strategies” on September 15th. Get your concerns heard before the Proposals are in.

How it will affect you? How many housing units are planned, managed and monitored? The size of the new adjacent parking structure. How will a disruptive “homeless encampment” that occurred in the parking lot in 2008 – 2009 be prevented from growing up again around the proposed project?

The community appreciates the severity of the homeless issues, which should focus on giving a “hand up” to those in need and want help.