Enough is enough! We have a right to peace in our homes and our residential neighborhoods, and as the protectors of our community, we hope that you would agree! We also should be able to take a breath and enjoy our life on an ongoing basis, but these unacceptable projects being rubber stamped by City Planning just continue to hit us and if we don’t want our long-term Quality of Life ruined forever, we are forced to spend every non-working, waking moment fighting them. It’s a tough call, as this is ruining our current/short-term Quality of Life, but we feel that if we let one slip through our hands, the terrible precedent it would set would crater not only our neighborhood but the entire Venice Community. It is grossly unfair of LA City Planning to continually force an entire community into crisis mode by approving these projects with significant negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods, rather than doing the job that we pay our City Planning employees to do, which is to protect and maintain (maybe even improve……) our Quality of Life, thus allowing us to enjoy our lives in our Venice homes.
This was the closing statement made by appellant Ilana Marosi at the 259 Hampton hearing appeal by the West Los Angeles Planning Commission Tuesday night.
“It was unanimous,” wrote Robin Rudisill, chair of the Land Use and Planning Committee. “The community was amazing beyond belief. I am so, so proud. A great day for Venice.”
Ilana Marosi made the appeal of 259 Hampton. She garnered support from property owners and residents within 500 feet of 259 and other members of community whom she collected in the fight against 320 Sunset. The members opposing 600 Mildred (Kim’s Market) joined forces also.
“Enough is enough” seems to be the mantra for this group bound together to stop unscrupulous developers who, without parking, but with the desire to have alcoholic beverages less than 15 feet from residents, have proliferated in Venice of late.
“Ilana Marosi’s final argument was beautiful and moving,” stated Rudisill.
“Roxanne Browne was absolutely stunning and amazing as well with the points she made with her awesome charts and maps. They were truly a highlight of the hearing. She exposed a huge lie by the applicant and I hope you can read her comments.”
Hampton at 259 was approved by City Planning last year to allow a change of use from retail/fast food takeout to a full service restaurant with an additional area for rooftop dining and a full liquor license. The square footage, according to planning commission handout, was 1658 without counting the rooftop patio. The project was never vetted by the Land Use and Planning committee nor the Venice Neighborhood Council.
Several groups of “conservationists” have protested over the Oxford Basin, Oxford Retention Basin, Duck Pond removal of trees by the County. (See previous stories.)
(Photo courtesy of Jonathan Cotton.)
Last day of 2014 Jonathon Coffin took a picture with 48 Monarch butterflies “overwintering on one branch.” The branch was cut while raining with the butterflies nesting.
The following is Dr. Travis Longcore’s, of University of Southern California Spatial Sciences Institute, 5 January 2015 response to hearing about the cutting and shown the photograph. Letter was addressed to Erinn Wilson of the California Department of Fish and Game with cc to the California Coastal Commission representative Jack Ainsworth and to Joshua Svensson of the Department of Public Works.
Dear Erinn,
I’ve heard some conflicting things about the protection of Monarch butterflies at Oxford Lagoon in the past couple of weeks and am concerned that some definitional problems are coming into play.
I’m attaching a photograph showing a bare minimum of 48 monarch butterflies in a Eucalyptus tree at Oxford Lagoon at 2:51 pm in the afternoon on December 31, 2014. This photo was taken by Jonathan Coffin, who also counted the butterflies in the photograph. To be clear, this represents Monarch butterflies “overwintering” at Oxford Lagoon and should have triggered additional action by the regulatory agencies to protect this sensitive species, since the County’s consultant predicted that overwintering would not occur and therefore apparently no plans have been made to assess the significance of the loss or to mitigate it.
Some confusion might have arisen because there are two types of overwintering roosts. They are called different things, but often “autumnal” and “permanent”. “Autumnal” roosts are not used through the whole winter, but do constitute an overwintering habitat where Monarchs gather in numbers for some period of time in the late fall before the move on to other roosts. The Coastal Commission has in the past protected “autumnal” roosts of Monarch butterflies in other locations and recognized their importance in staff reports presented to the Commission.
At both types of roost, the Monarchs may stay put during the day when it is cool and foggy or may fly about and only roost at night when it is warm. It is still an overwintering site either way. No further information beyond the attached photograph and its date stamp is needed to confirm that Oxford Lagoon is a Monarch overwintering site.
For comparison, the 2014 Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count reports data from 13 sites in Los Angeles (but not Oxford Lagoon). If Oxford Lagoon had been counted, it would have been the 6th largest roost in the County. Four roosts had no butterflies and the largest roost only had 180 butterflies. The full data are linked from this website: http://www.westernmonarchcount.org/data/
I hope this puts the observations at Oxford Lagoon in context. It is a Monarch overwintering site and and the 48 butterflies seen in one photograph — had they been seen on Thanksgiving — would have been enough to make it a significant site within the context of the County (a quarter of the number at the largest roost!), even if it is an autumnal roost or if the butterflies are not roosting on a warm day. The site is an overwintering site and disappearance of the roost is an impact that would need to be mitigated by the County.
I hope that DFW and the Coastal Commission might ensure that no further trees are cut, because doing so would represent an impact to a sensitive species that was not disclosed in the environmental review process, and more importantly so that we might maximize the chances that the Monarchs remain in this area into the future and be added to the annual Monarch count at a time when the species is being considered for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act.
I am sending this from my academic email because it represents my professional, scientific opinion, as someone who has worked on butterfly conservation in Los Angeles County for 20 years this year. It does not imply endorsement or approval by the University of Southern California.
Best regards,
Travis
An Osprey was also cited in the lagoon.
Patricia McPherson made the statement that if this is an overflow basin what is the worry with the present trees? This all should have been monitored.
Hello 2015
Christmas is over along with the holidays that ensued. May the spirit of the Christmas Season continue throughout 2015.
Have not reviewed the big stories for 2014. All the other news sources have done such.
Can only say that the big stories for 2015 in Venice will be the homeless and directed toward public safety of Venice residents, followed by the redo of the Oxford Basin and the growing influence of the Land Use and Planning committee of the Venice Neighborhood Council to direct the density and landscape or skyline of Venice.
Land Use and Planning Committee, chaired by Robin Rudisill, has grown significantly in influence of the neighborhood. On the other hand some developers, builders want to bypass the Venice process because of the demands. LUPC is an advisory group they say. But there is a growing group of Venetians who want to stop construction until there is a mass, scale and character document in hand. Sue Kaplan, who is chair of the ad hoc committee for mass, scale, and character, said the document with numbers should be available this year—2015. The numbers will give developers, architects guidelines for design. This is a problem throughout the City but only Venice has taken the first step on its own.
Public safety—Read Mark Ryavec’s story of two home invasions in Venice.
Read the Oxford Basin story.
Several protests have occurred during the Christmas Holidays over the Oxford Retention Basin, Oxford Basin, Duck Pond. Latest was Monday.
County is removing all the non-native trees as well as those that are diseased. Monarch butterflies have been nesting in some of the Eucalyptus trees and other birds and ducks that have flown in have been disturbed, killed or relocated. Protesters claim birds need trees.
Trees in the background, in last photo, are on the bike path and controlled by Department of Beaches and Harbors. The Oxford Retention Basin is controlled by the Department of Public Works.
Douglas Fay says Oxford Basin was mitigation for the Marina as was the Ballona Wetlands a mitigation for the Playa Vista. He has documents indicating such. Fay further has the story of it being dedicated a Bird Conservation area and the signs are still up surrounding the basin stating it is a bird sanctuary.
It is also a retention basin for water overflowing the streets.
Public Works wants to make the retention basin able to contain more water volume and is prone to make the basin a public park or viewing park rather than a bird conservation area. In so doing, the department wants to start over. Remove the trees, remove the dirt, dig it deeper, have two viewing peninsulas and have a four-foot fence surrounding the area.
Douglas Fay does not believe the basin will be sufficient for containing the water. The four-foot fence is a contention for all who live in area. Most want it eight feet.
Following is letter Fay sent to Friends of Oxford Lagoon:
Twice I’ve documented the tide gates being left open allowing salt water to enter the sewer system. Today I had a camera and took a picture.
(Photo courtesy of Doug Fay.)
At the meeting with County officials where Friends of Oxford Lagoon asked for a phased tree replacement plan, this was before the Christmas 2014 Marina Del Rey Tree Massacre, Angela George, with LACFCD and is in charge of tide gate operation, said they do not allow seawater into the sewer system. She also stated twice that the “additional 1.5 vertical feet of tidal exchange” approved by the California Coastal Commission is no longer part of the project. The County can’t change the project without amending the Coastal Development Permit (CDP).
We recently witnessed discharges coming from the LACFCD pump house near the bike path and the strong odors that followed. Seawater in the sewer system will also create odors in the Oxford Triangle neighborhood.
Is the County intentionally creating the unpleasant smells that they promise will not happen again if we allow them to convert our dedicated Bird Conservation Area into a recreational park, or will they continue consistent with the way the County manages our most precious resources?
At 8 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2015 the County and Department of Fish & Wildlife representatives will meet at Oxford Lagoon to cut down the remaining eucalyptus trees that have Monarch Butterfly and an Osprey using the trees as habitat. Patricia McPherson, Grassroots Coalition, Friends of Oxford Lagoon, and other activists will be there demanding the trees remain. This is not how you restore and enhance habitat. This is our Bird Conservation Area.
From members of Grassroots Coalition, Friends of Oxford Lagoon, Ballona Institute:
Neither LA County nor California Department of Fish & Wildlife have recordation or consideration of this type of occurrence at Oxford Lagoon a Designated Bird Sanctuary since 1963.
Finally, New Years eve, after a very loud protest by a passerby who joined Patricia McPherson of Grassroots Coalition and others in anguished screams, the chainsaws were put to rest. Horrified on-lookers stared in amazement as Monarch Butterflies along the north fence of the Bird Sanctuary tried to fly. Unfortunately, it was a cold, rainy day. Monarchs don’t move much in cold, rainy weather. The County did not do their job getting the Monarchs safely out of the way or having a Monitor during cutting.
See three YouTube videos below: The first YouTube shows the County cutting down this healthy Eucalyptus tree as part of an “Enhancement” project. This destruction is just one of about 650 other trees, already destroyed.
Osprey & Monarch at Oxford Lagoon Destruction 2a
Osprey & Monarchs at Oxford Lagoon Destruction
Monarch Butterflys at Oxford Lagoon
OSPREY. According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s California Interagency Wildlife Task Group, Osprey are uncommon winter visitors along the Coast of Southern California (Garrett and Dunn 1981). Osprey prey mostly on fish. They require open, clear waters for foraging. They are coastal birds.
This osprey uses the large eucalyptus trees at Oxford Lagoon everyday; it has been bringing its catch to the Eucalyptus or pine tree within the Bird Sanctuary.
Osprey numbers appear to have declined starting in the early 1900s. The Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS), in collaboration with the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy, has started an osprey reintroduction on Santa Catalina Island in order to return a key component of the ecosystem to the Channel Islands and southern California. The Osprey is currently listed as a Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Friends of Oxford Lagoon members drove to Alhambra to meet with LA County Department of Public Works. Vincent Yu, who conducted the meeting, gave them the impression they would halt the chainsaws on that day, December 17, 2014, only to return to the site to find them taking out mature Eucalyptus. Even the District Assemblywoman, Autumn Burke, spoke with Vincent Yu the morning of the 17th to no avail as she stood watching the chainsaw activity.
The County’s Streambed Agreement with Fish and Wildlife specifies a Biological Monitor should be on hand to avert harm to wildlife–no monitor has been present.
No work is supposed to occur when there is rain but the County ignored the Agreement the day of this video. It had been raining off and on all day.
WE believe numerous violations have occurred at Oxford Lagoon. The County’s defiance of our requests for a slower, phased approach for their landscaping project is unconscionable.
The dead bird in the video was documented during the take down of trees and brush on December 29, 2014 at Oxford Lagoon.
There is still time to save the remaining Eucalyptus. These photos were taken on December 31, 2014—the day after several Eucalyptus trees were destroyed. Monarch experts have said that a stand of trees has to be big enough and tall enough to support wintering staging areas for the Monarchs.
We know the Monarchs are using this area, please help us make sure the remaining trees are saved. Osprey also need high perches to feel secure from disturbance, to be away from people.
Tomorrow, Monday, January 5, 2015, the County tree cutters will be back at Oxford. Please help us end the destruction of this critical habitat.
CONCERNED CITIZENS CAN CALL THEIR SUPERVISOR EARLY THIS MONDAY OR COME TO THE LAGOON AT 8 AM.
District #4 Don Knabe 213-974-4444
District #3 Sheila Kuell 213-974-3333
District #2 Mark Ridley-Thomas 213-074-2222
District #5 Michael Antonovich 213-974-5555
District #1 Hilda Solis 213-974-4111
For more information go to Facebook for Grassroots Coalition – Los Angeles, CA; Facebook for Friends of Oxford Lagoon; Facebook for Ballona Institute—Oxford Lagoon; and, Facebook Member Pages of Vegan.com.
Walgreens, with the cooperation of the owner of the chain stores at the same Lincoln-Washington corner, is displaying signs aimed to limit the traffic in the shopping center.
What Walgreens and the owner of the chain stores are trying to do is make the entrance to shopping center off of Lincoln only. Exit would be onto Carter with a right turn only leading to the alley or to Washington.
The corner with two ingress/egress openings on Carter is a favorite for overloaded traffic on Washington. Many going east exit Washington at the Oxford light and do the Oxford-Berkeley-Carter trek. Others use the alley paralleling Washington and enter from various streets.
It is also a favorite when traffic wants to go west.
Both cut-through situations are continuous in the Oxford Triangle throughout the day. Residents in the Oxford Triangle certainly do not like the cut-through traffic.
The Oxford Triangle needs a traffic quieting system such as Costco has surrounding their store.
On April 8th of this year, around 4:30 AM, a transient living in Venice was crazy on drugs, yelling at the top of his lungs that “he has a gun,” on Horizon Avenue near Riviera.
Several residents were awakened by his loud ravings and called the police. The police did not respond, the police said, since it was just another drug addict acting out in Venice.
A young mother of two in a duplex was awakened and went down her stairs to investigate. She heard the transient yelling at the top of his lungs and then heard noises that she thought came from him fighting with someone in the street. As she descended her stairs she realized that he was trying to kick in her front door.
She called the police but they still would not send a squad car because he was outside.
She grabbed her 5 and 7 year old children and fled down the back stairway to her neighbor’s on the first floor. She and her children and her neighbor and the neighbor’s young children heard the transient yelling as he went up the stairs. Not being able to kick down the door, he had broken the glass plate in the top of the 100-year old door and dove through it, cutting himself extensively in the process. He was momentarily stopped by a child guard at the top of the stairway, but he got past it and proceeded to go into the young woman’s living room and then into the bathroom, which he demolished and in the process covered it in blood. He ripped both pedestal sinks off the wall, which the police later told the resident would have taken Herculean strength and indicated he was on probably PCP.
Quickly realizing that they were not safe downstairs, both single moms fled with their children to a neighbor’s across the street who offered them sanctuary.
From the time she called the police to the time they arrived, 25 minutes elapsed.
The police and emergency medical personnel surrounded the duplex and then entered the house. They found the transient fighting with a shower curtain on the floor of the bathroom, drenched in his own blood. It took six cops and EMTs to subdue him and carry him to a waiting ambulance.
The transient had a criminal record in Idaho. He is not from California. He is to be confined in a mental hospital for one year.
The young woman’s in-laws, who owned the property, sold it. The young woman has moved to a new residence that has three doors to pass through before one can enter the home.
She and her oldest daughter have PTSD and are both in counseling; the young woman could not sleep for the first month after the break-in.
This is the sixth home invasion in our small neighborhood that I know of since April.
And Traveling Mayor Eric, City Attorney Mike Feuer (AKA The Poodle), Councilman Bonin (AKA The Homeless Advocate) and Chief Charlie Beck (Well, we can’t arrest our way out of this mess in Venice) are doing precisely what to stop the next home invasion in Venice by transients that continue to be allowed to camp on Venice Beach, on 3rd Street and on Venice Boulevard?
Peninsula had a few wet intersections, such as this one at Mast. Buccaneer was a little more flooded. Note that building on left could use some sand bags.
There was debris in the channel at the jetty leading to the ocean.
Compared with other parts of Los Angeles, this week’s rain did little damage in Venice area. It scattered palms all over Venice, interrupted electrical power here and there, and flooded a few streets.
Members of various environmental groups concerned about the Oxford Basin redevelopment assembled last Tuesday to protest. County was supposed to start removing diseased trees that day. Removal as of press date has not been initiated.
