Alexis Edelstein, Demetrius, and Alix Gucovsky
Alexis Edelstein and Alix Gucovsky kicked off their “Recall Bonin” campaign at The Venice Grind Thursday to a relatively small, but enthusiastic crowd.
Edelstein announced that they had collected $40,000 of the $200,000 they felt was necessary to get 27,000 acceptable signatures to effect the recall.
The goal is to get 50,000 signatures. “Signatures can be disqualified for many reasons,” Edelstein said, so they want more than enough. Their website for donations is www.recallbonin.com.
Edelstein said signatures would be taken in a 120-day window starting November. Right now they are trying to raise money.
The procedure, after getting the signatures, is to submit them to the City Clerk for authenticity and then the Clerk will submit them to the City Council. The City Council will then call for a special election. Election could be held any Tuesday between July and September.
Both claimed the “road diet fiasco” is what motivated them to launch this campaign and addressed the present road diets — Venice Blvd and the Playa del Rey.
“We’ve tried reaching out to Bonin multiple times but since he just got reelected and is termed out (can’t run again)and he has a 5-1/2 year term, he doesn’t seem to care what we think,” Edelstein said.
“He tried to divide the community. At some time, we are all drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists but Bonin never consulted any of us about this… there was never any engagement,” Gucovsky said.
Edelstein mentioned briefly the road reconfigurations planned for such thoroughfares as Lincoln, Sepulveda, Santa Monica, Pico for the coming year and was asked about Measure M.
What was to be a cozy place to shop on “Great Streets” has turned into a business downfall for the businesses. Demetrius owns four businesses on Venice Blvd in the diet and he is unhappy.
Former CD11 Council candidates Mark Ryavec and Robin Rudisill have both endorsed Recall Bonin. Edelstein said Robin Rudisil was stuck in traffic or she would have addressed the audience and everyone laughed at the irony of the statement.
Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) Transportation and Infrastructure committee proposed three motions regarding the “Great Streets” project that has sharply divided the neighborhood and made enemies of those who use or previously used Venice Blvd from Beethoven to Inglewood.
The motion that requested data was approved. Two motions that would have restored the lanes to Venice Blvd were sent back to transportation and infrastructure committee. The motion that wanted a safety study of the bike lanes also went to the bike committee.
It was stated that the board had voted 11 July to maintain the “Great Streets” pilot project for six months.
City hosted an information display/question & answer meet at the Gateway Apartments, 13368 Beach Ave, Tuesday night. In front of each display was someone who was available to answer questions regarding the proposed PSHO Ord .
Last week, Becky Dennison, Executive Director of developer Venice Community Housing Corporation (“VCHC”), published a piece on Venice Update (and on the VCHC website) asserting that Venice Vision is spreading “misinformation” about the Venice Median Mega-Plex through “flyers and websites without contact information” and urging Venice residents to get their information on the project solely from the VCHC website.
Venice Vision is in no way opposed to providing services – or housing – for the homeless in Venice. We are proud of Venice’s heritage as a welcoming and warmhearted community, and believe Venice has an important role to play in addressing homelessness; however we do not believe we should be the sole area of concentration.
All Venice Vision materials – including our flyers and our websites ( www.fightbackvenice.org and www.venicevision.org) – contain contact information. Becky Dennison herself contacted us about our materials on or about the same day she submitted her piece to Venice Update claiming that our flyers and website had been “distributed … without contact information.”
We have never engaged in “spreading misinformation”. Our goal is to provide as much reliable information as possible so that sound decisions will be considered for the future of our community and our generations to come. We invite you to visit our websites and join our mailing lists for updates and correct information on this and other topics. Venicevision.org and Fightbackvenice.org.
Below we address each area VCHC has claimed that we have been ‘misleading’.
By Kenneth Marek
An overflow crowd of approximately 60 people attended Mar Vista Community Council’s Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Meeting in a conference room at Windward School on Wednesday evening. Three separate policy motions, each asking Councilmember Mike Bonin to restore lanes on Venice Boulevard, were circulated at the Committee meeting and will be considered by the MVCC Board of Directors on Tuesday, September 12.
The “Regional Safe Bike Routes” motion asks Councilmember Bonin to restore the lanes and to “expeditiously study, design and pave a regional network of safe bicycle paths and routes.” This motion documents that since implementation of the lane reduction, “at least 17 accidents have been reported …including 9 involving cyclist. Total accidents increased by 325%, from 4 reported during the same period in 2016.” During the public comment portion of the meeting, one bike advocate said that she intended to speak in favor of keeping the lane reductions, but was supportive of this alternative upon reading the long list of proposed safe bike routes.
The Bike Routes motion was the final agenda item considered by the Committee, and further discussion and editing couldn’t be completed by the firm 9 pm meeting end time, so stakeholders voted (20 in favor, 6 oppose) to table the motion with an understanding that Committee Co-Chair Ken Alpern would present an edited version at the September 12 Board of Directors meeting.
Earlier in the evening, stakeholders passed the “Reversal of Lane Reductions” motion (28 in favor, 17 oppose, 4 abstain), which concisely asks Councilmember Bonin to “immediately reverse the lane reductions on Venice Blvd. and to implement other strategies to improve the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of our roads for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.” This motion is also on the September 12 Board agenda.
Copies of a third motion were distributed at the Committee meeting by MVCC Board Member Elliot Hanna, who submitted his motion directly to the September 12 Board agenda, asking: 1) “to immediately reverse the lane reduction”, 2) “study alternate implementations”, and 3) urge Councilmember Bonin “to appoint a community panel”.
The MVCC Board will meet on Tuesday, September 12 at 7 pm in the Mar Vista Recreation Center Auditorium at 11430 Woodbine Street, Los Angeles, CA 90066. The meeting agenda could be found at: www.marvista.org.
Those who live or work in the area are welcome to speak at the meeting and/or to submit comments via e-mail to: board@marvista.org.
People dump perishables on 3rd Ave where the homeless have settled for years. Perishables are open to flies, rats, and whatever else is available. There is human feces in close proximity to the people and the perishables.
Rick Swinger, the man who has designated himself as the one to start cleaning up 3rd, has made notice to Venice Update of the Hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego and Santa Cruz. This article talks of the outbreak in San Diego. Rick has had the County Health inspector out to 3rd and is awaiting an answer.
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus is primarily spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person ingests food or water that is contaminated with the feces of an infected person.
Friday, people waited all morning for Sanitation to come and clean the sidewalks and the street and sanitize certain areas. They want this to happen. One homeless resident said it was the “fifth week that they haven’t come … look at this street.” Homeless residents move their belongings every Friday morning on to Rose between 3rd and Hampton so this cleaning can happen. Video below shows what they have moved.
Both homeless residents of 3rd and the residents of the surrounding neighborhood are concerned about the infestation of the rats, lack of cleanup, and the possibilities of other diseases, such as MRS and hepatitis.
The residents were asked who was dumping the food. One man said Phoenix house. One box of bread showed that bread was from Gelson’s.
Venice Update has asked the Council Office to post “No Dumping” signs with the penal code and the fine for doing such.
Food is not the only thing that gets dumped. Public storage renters dump miscellaneous items. People drive by and dump things, such as new carpet padding. Once a week the police along with Sanitation come by and pickup all bulky items (items that will not fit in a 60-gallon trash barrel, in accordance with LAMC 56.11.) This is new and they come once a week on a Thursday.
Rick Swinger asked for more trash cans. They brought more wired cans that Rick called “Rat Feeders.” So City put plastic sacks inside cans, one time. Photo above shows that City cleans the containers but leaves the trash surrounding them.
The Honorable Reverend Steven Weller of Venice Foursquare Church and Director of the LAPD Homeless Task Force died at home in his church with his wife Regina, Friday morning.
Services will be held at 10 am Saturday (September 9) at the Foursquare Church, 1400 Riviera Avenue, Venice 90291. A graveside service will be held at 1 pm at Live Oak Cemetery, 200 E. Duarte Road, Monrovia.
Flowers and condolences can be sent to the Venice Foursquare Church.
This is on Rose at 3rd. People meaning well drop boxes of various perishables for the homeless. These are two men with a truck load. Why don’t they take it to St. Joseph’s where they feed the homeless?
This is on 3rd and what it looks like after awhile.
This is the Oxford Triangle which infrequently gets piles of stuff. Triangle had about four spots of dumping all in one particular area recently. One apartment lessee left his “stuff” and it took three days for apartment management to clean it up; meanwhile there were a few other sympathetic dumpings and people started to spread the stuff.
This is the Windward Circle in front of the old post office.
It is illegal to dump. There are fines.
Many “No Dumping” signs are needed for areas such as 3rd Ave and Ocean Front Walk. Signs will state the Penal Code, the fine. Well intended people, as well as just plane dumpers, are dropping off “things” and perishables.
The perishables are threatening the health and safety of the homeless and the residents who surround the homeless. Rats are invading the neighborhoods surrounding 3rd where the dumping of perishables and other material is occurring, according to Rick Swinger who is heading a group to clean up 3rd.
Rats carry many diseases. LA Times has written about MRS, hepatitis, and syphillis outbreaks among the homeless. Neighborhoods full of people surround the homeless encampments.
The City provided close to a dozen trash cans just recently at the request of neighbors. Swinger called these trash cans “rat feeders.” So, the City lined the new trash cans to see if that would help.
Most neighborhoods have people who clean up graffiti and they are usually the ones who clean up such pockets of dumpings. But 3rd is beyond occasional dumpings. Swinger has a GoFundMe to support his efforts.
Homeless residents on 3rd complain about the dumping. Mr. M, who is homeless, said “people dump all the time and blame us.” Beside him was a roll of unused carpet padding that had been dumped off.
Perhaps, Venice needs a task force to clean up and stop this illegal dumping such as was done in 2014 in other areas of Los Angeles. http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20141106/los-angeles-to-crack-down-on-illegal-dumping-on-streets-alleys
What the Books Say — Illegal, Fine
Chapter 13 County code for illegal dumping states:
Illegal dumping is the willful throwing, dropping, placing or depositing of a bulky item, hazardous waste or solid waste on public or private property not designated for that dumping or disposal purpose.
City Attorney Mike Feurer says on his website:
Whether it’s toxic waste dumped into a waterway or old furniture cast aside in an alley, illegal dumping blights our neighborhoods and threatens our families’ health and safety.
The County statement regarding dumping states “Illegal dumping activities pose a danger to public health and safety, decrease property values, lower the quality of life, and contribute to urban blight.”
=California Penal Code 374.3 said the fine was $1000 plus and there was a reward of $1000 for one who reported such. One asks what is a commercial quantity.
A person who places, deposits, or dumps, or causes to be placed, deposited, or dumped, waste matter in violation of this section in commercial quantities shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months and by a fine. The fine is mandatory and shall amount to not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) upon a first conviction, not less than three thousand dollars ($3,000) nor more than six thousand dollars ($6,000) upon a second conviction, and not less than six thousand dollars ($6,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) upon a third or subsequent conviction.
Also, pursuant to Section 117555 of the California health and Safety Code, a person who dumps illegally is punishable by up to six months on jail.
Update knows there is no enforcement of these laws unless there should be a blatant hazardous waste deposited in the middle of Venice.
Sanitation Removes Bulky Items but is Not Cleaning the Street
Sanitation truck escorted by the police comes every Thursday on 3rd to remove bulky items (LAMC 56.11) that have been collected by residents of 3rd or dumped on 3rd.
In addition the sanitation department is suppose to come once a week to clean up the trash and sanitize certain areas on 3rd. Sometimes they do not come. City gives valid reason, such as unions, money. But reasons are subjecting a neighborhood to unhealthy conditions that are out of their control.
Swinger’s web site states:
This year, Bonin voted against additional funds for Operation Health Streets, Clean Streets LA and LAPD Hope to clean up encampments in Venice and Skid Row– which the City Council later approved without him on a 10-0 vote – because it would take money away from services he wants to deliver to homeless encampments.
Due to a chronic lack of clean up and law enforcement in Venice, renters and homeowners who live near the world famous Rose Encampment – who are already dealing with new property taxes under Prop HHH and new sales taxes under Measure H to provide housing and services to the homeless – have been forced to raise money themselves and hire private vendors to clean up the filthy streets and alleys surrounding their homes.
In response to Swinger’s statement, spokesperson for Councilman Mike Bonin Jamarah Hayner stated:
For each of the past 3 years, Councilmember Bonin has secured $500,000 annually for Operation Healthy Streets clean-ups in Venice. As a result, Bureau of Sanitation is able to do weekly clean-ups in Venice — one of only two neighborhoods in the entire City of Los Angeles with that level of service. Prior to his taking office, Venice did not have any regularly scheduled clean-ups.
Councilmember Bonin voted against a proposal to augment Operation Healthy Streets by cutting more than $2 million from the City’s budget for homeless shelters, homeless services, and storage. We will never end homelessness and encampments on our sidewalks if we cut programs to reduce homelessness–programs that voters in Venice and Los Angeles have voted overwhelmingly to fund.
Regardless
Regardless, something needs to be done to stop the dumping in Venice. It is a contributor to an even larger problem that too must be solved.
The Oxford Retention Basin suddenly had a flock of birds who sat on the “S” divider posing for pictures and then, as quickly as they came, they were gone.
The basin has been noticeably absent of birds and butterflies since the basin was redone but occasionally a flock of birds will appear.