City Council candidate Mark Ryavec says “new vehicle dwelling ordinance (LAMC 85.02) is fundamentally flawed, failing to protect thousands of residents from the burden of cars and campers living on their front curbs.”
Change Yellow to Red Prohibiting Camping
“We urge the city to immediately change all yellow striping to red and pass amendments to 85.02 to extend the ban on car camping at any time to within 100 feet of any property with a residential use,” Ryavec said.
The 85.02 dwelling ordinance maps allow for motor home and car camping in residential areas from 6 am to 9 pm and forbid camping from 9 pm to 6 am as shown with yellow. Ryavec feels this is an invitation for campers to invade residential areas and be allowed to stay during forbidden times because of lack of enforcement.
Maps Based on Zoning Not on Use
“The definition for “residential” is based on zoning, not on the actual existence of residences on a street,” Ryavec said. “There are hundreds, if not thousands, of single and multiple-family residences on commercially zoned streets that under the new ordinance will have to host car camping on their front curbs.
“So the ordinance needs a setback limit for residences where commercial zoning meets residential use or zoning. Right now car dwellers will still be able to park within a few feet of residences.”
Yeah Jack – Let’s show Veterans respect by letting them line the streets in front of our homes along Rose with crusty old RVs and party ’till dawn… This is the problem with the whole discussion. The lack of respect, in fact, a hostility, towards residents by the RV and street dwellers. If they did not act like irresponsible children most of the time and there were not as many, the citizens would not be so upset bythe situation. BUT THIS NOT THE CASE. It has turned into a political class war, the “housed” being seen as this country’s 1%-ers who have stolen the lives of people, who in reality, have just “given up.” Years ago, when the Pioneer Bakery was still in business, there were a number of workers who lived in their camper trucks in order to save rent money because they were sending it to their families in Mexico. These guys never stayed more than one night in any location, were quiet and friendly, as bakery workers were accepted as part of the neighborhood. The homeless on Venice streets today are something else; dirty, hostile and now empowered by a misguided Councilman and the city that is taking advantage of his plans to concentrate the squalor in a single small residential area. Just not fair.
What a shame. most of the comments i see here are related to How to further penalize and shame (if that’s possible) the homeless of venice,instead of how to come together as a community to find a viable solution for EVERYONE involved (that includes the homeless. believe it or not, they are people too). when I moved here in 1976, thats what vence did. it had the same amount of homeless then as now, but you didn’t see us whining and sniveling. You saw us doing what any NORMAL (definition of normal in Gods eyes: kind, giving, compassionate, generous,accepting) people do; help others in need to your best ability. and guess what? it worked.we all lived together harmoniously. that’s what you call COMMUNITY,assholes. some of you really personify exactly what ruined venice. dicks.
The numbers tell a different story Wendy
Get ready for the shaming – If you don’t support Bonin and want to “help” the homeless by building a few apartment buildings and bringing showers and haircuts for a few blocks near Rose, you are a heartless Nazi and want to exterminate them. Angela writes of bringing in more social services and intervention. What have the local groups done with the millions of dollars they are funded with as non-profits? When pressed, they answer that with, those people are “service resistant” and because of that, there is little that they can do. And the numbers grow.
You tell em Wendy.
Wendy, I have been here since 1964 and I disagree with your view of the community back in the day. Read this from the Beachhead in 1980:
Board-Walk Bummers!!!
A Community Problem and a call to Action
from Free Venice Beachhead #128 Sept. 1980
by Raphael
During the past few years many different weeds have been slowly growing, threatening to choke the spirit-life of our green and beautiful Venice-garden-island. In most cases the alarm has been sounded (against rent gouging, police abuse, encroachment of big-money land speculators and plastic culture, etc.) but somehow one very real and dangerous problem has been neglected, the weed allowed to grow unchecked, to the point that, in the eyes of an ever growing number of people from all quarters of our community, it is becoming a serious threat to our peace and freedom.
I am referring to the large number of half-witted, alcoholic (or over-drugged) violently antisocial sociopathics who hang out loaded in the pagodas or on benches, acting loud, profane and violent in an attempt to intimidate passers-by in particular and the whole community in general. This is not only a problem in appearance. Those of you who remember Bingo will recall that the one who, in a fit of stoned psychosis, plunged a knife into her defenseless body seventeen times was one of these. Nor is the problem of actual violence (killings, stabbings, beatings, sexual harassment, rapes, robberies) confined to isolated occurrences in our community. A woman was stabbed on August 17th near Breeze and Speedway in the evening. This problem is menacing us now.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that every impoverished soul who spends his days in the shelter of our gates, eating the crumbs that fall from our tables is a deranted killer. I am saying that certain ones among them have been doing everything in their power, as individuals and especially in groups, to make life for us in our beloved Venice a hell, and that “Now-Is-The-Time-For-All-Good-Men-To-Come-To-The-Aid-Of-The-Party.” (hmm…the typewriter works)
It is time for the Peace and Freedom loving citizens of this community to act to remove this problem.
It says here in this Psychology II textbook that the first step in coping with a problem effectively is to define it. O.K. WHat is the problem?
1. Defecation in the doorways. Most of us have observed one or another of our “colorful” (?) derelicts relieving himself on a back door, along a wall or in our carport or garage. It smells, it’s a health hazard, it is counterproductive to creative energy, it is a drag.
2. Spiritual Violence. In my opinion this is the gravest evil brought by these people. By constructing and continuously maintaining a violent “profile” on the boardwalk, a constant state of fear and tension becomes established. We are put in the position of always being “on guard” or in defensive mode which serves to drain us of our creative energy so that ultimately we either have to leave (and way too many good people from our ranks have moved out rather than continue to put up with these denizens of drek) of like the subjects of pepperland become transformed, after repeated attacks by the Blue Meany Apple Bonkers, into lifeless gray stone.
3. Uncontrolled and vicious dogs. How many time have you seen their dogs suddenly run out and snap their teeth in the mid-section of some harmless passing skater or bike rider? This leads to falls and broken bones as well as being very frightening to kids, women and the elderly, not to mention the smaller pets of the members or our community who are subject to attack and injury from these largely uncontrolled and probably un-innoculated beasts.
4. Profanity and loud and abusive language. I don’t know about some of you, but I have a mother. She lives nearby and I would like to be able to take her on a walk on the ocean front without hearing “Mother-f*cker” thirty times. I feel certain many among you share my distaste for loud, public, verbal abuse.
5. Assaultive change hustle. This is not your polite “Excuse me, can you spare some change?” This is where the hustler walks up so hard and fast that you instinctively step away to avoid being run into, where he stays one inch from your face and by his positioning impedes your progress, follows you for twenty feet and winds up hurling insults and epithets at your retreating shadow.
6. Broken glass and trash. This type of person generally feels more comfortable in a polluted environment and so will leave piles of beer cans, paper sacks, half-eaten food and cigarette butts strewn around. He delights in smashing bottles on the walk where the broken glass can puncture tires of bicycles or obstruct and injure skaters and walkers. Lately it has become fashionable for these groups to dump over trash cans as an expression of their contempt for our lives and sensitivities.
This then is the problem. What follows is one idea as to a solution. These techniques have been tried by a group of several residents in the community during the past month with surprisingly good results. It is believed that the more of us that use these techniques the swifter and the more certain will be the solution of our serious mutual problem.
DO’s and DON’T’S
Don’t attempt direct confrontation. There is nothing that these bullies like more than ganging up on the lone individual, thereby intimidating him or her into inaction. When confronted, withdraw (speedily). Do not allow yourself to be trapped into an argument. These people, like sharks, are constantly looking for a weakness at which to strike. DON’T GIVE THEM A TARGET. Instead, if you see them doing something wrong (i.e. public drinking, a violation of city law), being drunk and/or disorderly in public (ditto) committing acts or threats of violence or acting in an intimidating manner, allowing their dogs to menace people, etc.), quietly make your way home, close the door, draw the shades and DO call the police. (This is not 1966, they are NOT putting people in jail for ten years for a joint of weed anymore, the police are NOT automatically your enemy even given instances of police abuse.) They are your watchdog. They have been getting MANY calls lately about this problem and they are now responding swiftly (in most cases) and strongly. They are NOT busting heads, they are writing public alcohol tickets and dispersing these groups before the trouble has a chance to start. They are able and willing to help but they won’t come if you don’t call (because the community has come down on them so much for over-doing it). If YOU give them the mandate the WILL help us rid ourselves of this menace. (A word of encouragement – you will occasionally find an officer on the phone or on the street who just WON’T help. Don’t give up. This is a case of resistance on the part of an individual, not department policy. And don’t worry about creating a monster. As in the past, if the police get out of hand we can rein them in through community political action.)
If you want safe sane streets around here, you can have them, but your fingers have got to do the walking. DO form a community watch. Get together with the people in your immediate neighborhood. There is strength in unity. Pre-arrange distress and emergency signals and don’t be afraid to look out the window. The police may hake a half hour getting there and in the meantime the defense of a victim’s life will be in the hands of the people in the neighborhood. YOU are the home guard. Find out which neighbors can be called on in a pinch. ORGANIZE. DO walk tall and hang tough. Nothing makes a bully back down faster than stepping on his toes; he has no heart for the fight unless he has overwhelming force on his side. If you fight back (psychologically) you’ll win.
Remember this simple rule of thumb. Anyone who wants to be here without harming or intimidating others can. That’s what Venice is about. But anyone who is here to make trouble for others, nail ’em! There’s about a hundred of them and twenty thousand of us. Let’s put a stop to this Mickey Mouse terrorism
This is really from the Beachead? Currently, they are the biggest apologists for the type of behavior this article was decrying.
The Beachhead used to be a real community resource, not what is now.
http://www.virtualvenice.info/writings/years.htm
Also, read the old Beachheads, here. You will find that we have had these problems for a while.
Yes, the RV’s may be big and narrow. Try looking at it from the person who is living in that RV. I am very glad to hear Bonin wants the RV’s exempted only in Venice residential streets.
Billy, you are a hack. People don’t have a right to live in RVs in Venice Beach at the expense of paying residents (both owners and renters) just because they like the sunshine and “permissive lifestyle.” When does this nonsense end?
A lot of those RV dwellers are veterans who have actually walked the walk so that people like you can make a lot of money and live in your over-valued real estate. You should show them some respect.
Let the veterans park at the VA Center. It’s a nice, park-like area and services are nearby for them.
The other RVers can park under overpasses and come visit Venice beach during the day like other tourists.
I see very little rhyme or reason to the different parking zones. Part of the problem with these RVs is they are too big for Venice’s narrow streets. Blocking 2-way traffic and creating blind spots at intersections.