Almost all of Oxford Ave and parts of Thatcher Ave received the signs this week.
It was just reported that many of the signs say “and” instead of “or” which is a large error. This has happened before. A tally has to be taken, City notified, and change will occur.
Oversize vehicle signs are permitted on a block by block basis when 65 percent of occupants sign a petition.
Taylor Bazley, Venice deputy, said it would take six months and it did. Taylor Bazley has the application and petitions. You can reach Bazley at taylor.bazley@lacity.org.
And what is this? A designated campground for motorhomes and vans. Across the street, in front of Google are cars and vans that people are living in.
There are seven motorhomes and three vans, one of which is a handicap access vehicle that people are living in. Motorhome steps are on the sidewalk. One motorhome has his rear tire on the curb to keep his refrigerator leveled. Campground one block from the beach.
This guy looks comfortable with his chair out under the tree in front of Google entrance.
One Uber driver asked this reporter what was going on. “Don’t people try to change this, fix it” he asked.
A special Venice Neighborhood Council meeting was held 15 January to consider a motion covering 86 reasons “why Venetians want an Environmental Impact Report for the Venice Median Project.”
Jay Handel, co-chair of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates opened by explaining that an environmental impact report is “What can happen in a neighborhood that is going to affect me.”
The motion passed unanimously so a letter will be sent to Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilman Mike Bonin, Vince Berto, Kevin Keller, Johnny Le and the Los Angeles Planning Commission to urge full and formal attention be paid to the items listed in preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed development on the Venice Median (aka Reese-Davidson ‘Community’) project.
The Venice Median project consists of 140 affordable housing units that are planned for the parking lot between North and South Venice Blvd, between Dell and Pacific.
Several items were added to the list, such as request an impact report from fire and police as to how this project would affect their ability to serve Venetians; how would deviating from the Venice Specific Plan affect other construction projects; how would adding more homeless to the community affect drug trafficking in Venice, etc.
At the edge of South Venice Blvd where the Grand Canal enters the parking lot between North and South Venice Blvd, there is an encampment hidden from view.
Up Close it shows a lot of “stuff” jammed in, next to the Grand Canal. This has been missed in the weekly encampment updates because the side visible is the north side of Venice Blvd and that was cleared. Note the canoe in water.
Both photos were taken by Allan Parson, 11 January.
Bureau of Sanitation worked its magic on three of Venice’s disastrous homeless encampments that Venice Update has been showing pictures of each week.
Wednesday the crew hit Hampton, followed by Penmar Park west and then 7th. It was late in the afternoon before they finished. What a difference!
These encampments were worthy of being reported to the County Board of Health. The alley at Penmar Park was cleaned the week before.
The following videos and photos show the before and after of this cleanup.
Hampton Ave, just north of Rose
Some homeless had spent the night after the cleanup and they were packing up and moving on when photos were taken. Many of the people who had been camping moved on Wednesday and did not come back. It was being cleaned Thursday morning by the man St. Joseph hired to clean the areas.
Area West of Penmar Park
Area west of Penmar Park has been a disaster for at least three weeks. The alley, which followers should remember, was cleaned last week. Wednesday, Sanitation cleaned the other area thoroughly. All had to put down the tents and walk away while Sanitation did its cleaning of the grounds.
Video was taken Thursday morning after the cleaning.
7th Ave between Machado and Rose, behind Whole Foods
Video was taken Thursday morning after cleanup.
Shot below shows area not shown in video. Camera ran out of memory. Two of the homeless on the site had no idea what had happened to the majority of the inhabitants. They said it was nice and quiet last night. One man said they will return.
David Busch is standing outside his tent talking to police about 8 am Tuesday morning, trying to get police to do a Citizens Arrest on the two-member Safe Team that operates in coordination with the Business Improvement District (BID).
Safe Team members have been reminding homeless sleeping on the street that they have to put their tents down and move on after 6 am.
Homeless and their belongings are suppose to be off the sidewalks between 6 am and 9 pm. Police have been lenient with the homeless in allowing them to keep many of their possessions on the sidewalk. A tent still in place is not acceptable. This is in conjunction with the Jones Settlement.
Will Hawkins’ Chamber of Hope will be presenting a screening of the documentary “The Advocates” 18 January at Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd, 7 to 10 pm.
“I think this is an important film that presents the homeless crisis with clear eyes and without an agenda,” said Hawkins. “There are people living on our streets who’ve been abandoned and don’t have anyone looking out for them except these hard working advocates who give so much to help those who can’t help themselves.”
This is a film about those people who donate their lives to help the most vulnerable. Director Remi Kessler and some cast members will be on hand for Q&A following the screening.
Tickets are a suggested donation of $15. There will be a reception with beer and wine starting at 7 pm. Tickets may be obtained here.
They cleaned the infamous alley west of Penmar Park where the encampment is. That is great news for the neighbors. Now garbage is being stacked in the center at the end of one of the roads. Encampment Update does not include 3rd Ave or Ocean Front Walk to the beach.
The other tragedy is 7th, which is across the street from residents, between Rose and Machado and directly behind Whole Foods.
Neat but still in violation of ADA compliance.
Harrison got filled with tents. Landscaping was done in the area. One camper stays at Enterprise and another visited the landscaped areas.
Hampton seems to be growing.
Carter had some people mulling around the debris that was left. Most was cleaned by neighbors. One fellow slept across the street on large rocks. That cannot be comfortable.
Staples, Venice Blvd (north and south from Abbot Kinney to Pacific), Lake, Harding, and Freeway all seem to be free of encampments. Since last week the area, between North and South Venice Blvd where the canal is, was cleaned
When the homeless vacate an encampment, this is an example of what they leave for neighbors to clean up. This is Carter Ave next to Walgreens at Lincoln and Washington, Wednesday evening.
One resident came home to see the homeless occupying the grassy knolls and Ocean Front Walk. Photos were taken past midnight, during midnight to 5 am curfew.
