By Anonymous
No one could want this 56.11 defined more than this writer. Thanks Councilman!

Saturday, 6 December, without knowledge of this motion and without knowledge that I was breaking the law, I became a vandal or there is an investigation involving me as a vandal.

I asked a friend, who had a saw, to remove a skeletal bike chained to a tree in my neighborhood. Neighborhoods in Venice are plagued with the “bike blight.” It so happens that the bike belonged to an apartment dweller who was using the parkway for his parking place. Wheels were gone and had been gone for some time. It became a skeletal bike and a blight to the neighborhood.

When bike was removed, apartment dweller and friend or roommate came out yelling and ready to fight. Words ensued, holding, slapping, and restraining occurred and film was taken. Police who came did not know about 56.11. I was told three calls were made by police to police to see if it was legal to remove a bike from parkway.

It was decided that it was not legal.

In the quest for truth for me and for all of Venice
Captains Brian Johnson and Nicole Alberca were queried to find out if it was legal to remove skeletal bike from parkway. No answer.

A supposedly knowledgeable police officer was asked if it was legal to remove a skeletal bike from a tree in the parkway. Answer was that there was an ongoing investigation and this officer was not at liberty to answer the question.

A city attorney at city attorney’s office was asked about such. Reply was city attorney’s office does not deal with such unless cited. Was told that LAMC 56.11 is a section that LAPD can use to enforce but they need a person present to cite them. It was mentioned that Street Services may have other sections that can be used to remove items without a person being there (like abandoned property etc.). Was told they have a protocol they follow for those types of issues. Was referred to Angelo Miller of Street Services.

Angelo Miller of Street Services was asked:
Question:
I would like to know the procedures for removal of “stuff” from the parkway.

Am particularly concerned about skeletal bikes such as one shown. What is the procedure for you to remove it? Do you have to post a notice? Do you have to give them time?

Answer:
Please click on the following link to generate a service request:
http://www.lacity.org/MyLA311/ServiceRequest/index.htm

After imputing all pertinent details, you will be emailed a reference number.
Please keep this number handy. You can follow the status in the coming days/ weeks.

As you can imagine, there are several complaints ahead of yours. All complaints will be handled in the order received. In time, a violation notice will be hand served and/or mailed to the adjacent property owner to remove the bike frame.

Sanitation was queried with no response.

Life Gets Complicated
Life gets complicated in big city. Hopefully, our Councilman will get this ironed out for those of us who care and who live with “skeletal bike blight” in our neighborhoods. Those who are action oriented should be given governing rules and should follow such. No one wants to break a law. But, also understand that no one wants a neighborhood with a “crime invitation.”

In the meantime, contact Debbie Dyner-Harris at the Council Office for skeletal bike removal. And thank you city attorney.