Tag Archive for "City" - Venice News Updates

AirBnB Posts Venice Update’s Choice Rental

Posted by :reta On : July 2, 2015

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Category: AirBnb, Business, Short-Term Rentals, short-term rentals (STR)

Tags:Airbnb, City, Councilman, rentals, short-term rentals

This is Venice Updates’ No. 1 AirBnB rental choice. Don’t mess up your own yard. Do here what you wouldn’t do in your own backyard, your own neighborhood. Go wild invite the whole bar, the complete frat house, the complete kindergarten class, the whatever for $35 per night. Well, kindergartners don’t stay up that late. You get the drift.

Well, some have taken the owner up on this Hollywood Hills site. Has this short-term rental market gone too far without regulation, enforcement, and fines? Follow KeepNeighborhoodsFirst.com for a fast growing citywide group that keeps all informed.

Information and links were supplied by Keep Neighborhoods First.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/People-Buck-Naked-Having-Sex-Hollywood-Hills-Families-Fury-Airbnb-Campsite-311417891.html

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6007954

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/People-Buck-Naked-Having-Sex-Hollywood-Hills-Families-Fury-Airbnb-Campsite-311417891.html

Garcetti’s Latest on Homeless Ordinances That Passed City Council

Posted by :reta On : July 1, 2015

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Category: Councilman, Homeless

Tags:City, cleanup, Councilman, homeless, Ocean Front Walk, Venice, Venice Beach

Mayor Eric Garcetti’s latest is that he will not sign the new ordinances that were passed by the City Council regarding the homeless but he will not veto them either which means they will become official. But he has refused to allow enforcement of the laws.

He wants amendments to make sure that prescription medication and identification cards are not confiscated.

Venice was hoping this would help clean out the “transient homeless.” Venice is filled with homeless who are not local, in fact most are from out of state. They come for the skateboarding and the easy alcohol and drug life style. Lack of enforcement has allowed the Venice increase in homeless to be up 16 percent, while LA is up 12 percent.

LA Times article.

Bonin Adds Staffers to CD11

Posted by :reta On : June 30, 2015

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Category: City, Councilman

Tags:CD11, Chuzy Orozco, City, Councilman, Councilman Mike Bonin, Marietta Torriente, Mike Ai, Sharon Shapiro, Venice, Venice Beach

LOS ANGELES – City Councilmember Mike Bonin today announced the hiring of four new staffers, underscoring his commitment to constituent service and his philosophy of putting neighborhoods first.

The Westside councilman has hired Mike Ai as his deputy district director, Sharon Shapiro as his field deputy for Brentwood and Pacific Palisades, Jesus D. “Chuy” Orozco as his field deputy for Del Rey and Venice, and Marietta Torriente as his director of scheduling.

“I am proud to have a first-class team of professionals serving the neighborhoods of the Westside and the people of Los Angeles,” Bonin said. “Mike, Sharon, Chuy, and Marietta are great additions to that team and will help me deliver for the communities I represent.”

Deputy District Director: Mike Ai

As deputy district director, Ai will be responsible for implementing Bonin’s celebrated Access 11 program, a multi-faceted strategy to bring City Hall to the Westside and give residents greater access to their elected representative. The program includes: Bonin’s “Pop-Up Open Office Hours” at farmers’ markets, community festivals, and shopping centers; the popular “Hike with Mike” program; and neighborhood meetings in people’s living rooms.

Ai brings exceptional organizing experience to Bonin’s team. Ai previously served as a Legislative Deputy, LGBT Liaison, and Director of Advance to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and also managed Equality California’s Los Angeles regional campaign in the wake of the passage of Prop 8. Mike learned community organizing and became a leader through Camp Courage, a program that Bonin helped to develop to train LGBT activists and allies throughout the state on how to win hearts and minds in the struggle for equality.

“I got to know Mike well during Camp Courage and through his various roles with Mayor Villaraigosa’s administration and there is no one better to serve as my Deputy District Director,” Bonin said. “Mike will help lead my Access 11 program and will ensure we are bringing City Hall to the Westside and reaching out to people who don’t always reach out to local government.”

Pacific Palisades/Brentwood Field Deputy: Sharon Shapiro

Shapiro will serve as Bonin’s representative to the neighborhoods and organizations in the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood. She will also handle major projects and issues in those communities.

Until last week, Shapiro served as the Hollywood Area Director for the Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge. In addition to extensive relationships with key public safety leaders in LA, Shapiro bring additional insight and perspective on homelessness issues to Bonin’s office, having worked for many years to help the homeless community as a founding participant of Hollywood 4WARD. Shapiro is a Los Angeles native with deep ties in the northern part of Bonin’s Westside Council District, and her family helped found the Pacific Palisades.

“Sharon is smart, passionate, incredibly knowledgeable about the City and navigating bureaucracy on behalf of residents and I hired her because of her ability to cut through red tape on behalf of neighborhoods,” Bonin said. “I’m incredibly confident that she is exactly the right person to help me put neighborhoods first in Brentwood and the Pacific Palisades.”

Shapiro succeeds Norman Kulla, who retires June 30.

Venice/Del Rey Senior Field Deputy: Jesus D. “Chuy” Orozco

Orozco will serve as Bonin’s representative to the neighborhoods and organizations in Del Rey and in Venice. He will also handle major projects and issues in those communities.

Orozco joins Bonin’s staff after working for nearly two years in Councilmember Paul Koretz’s office, where he also served as a Field Deputy. Orozco is an expert organizer, trained in the organizing methods of Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Fred Ross. As a community organizer for Latino Policy Coalition, Orozco recruited a team of more than 200 dedicated volunteers on a campaign that registered 10,000 new Latino voters in Arizona. Orozco lives in the Del Rey neighborhood of the Westside.

“Chuy lives and breathes Del Rey and will be a natural fit in Venice,” said Bonin. “His organizing background, his exceptional energy and intelligence and his passion for helping his neighbors will all be fantastic assets for the constituents he serves. I’m incredibly excited to work with him to put neighborhoods first in Venice and Del Rey.”

Orozco succeeds Cecilia Castillo, who is now working as a legislative deputy for Councilmember Bob Blumenfield.

Director of Scheduling: Marietta Torriente

As director of scheduling, Torriente will handle the councilman’s calendar, all scheduling requests, and will make sure Bonin maximizes time in each of the district’s neighborhoods.

Torriente spent five years as a Major Donor Event Planner for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), where she helped develop LACMA’s programs and exhibitions. She also has experience engaging with the business community, as the former Associate Director of Membership and Social Media Manager for the Central City Association (CCA). Torriente previously assisted Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Protocol, where she wrote briefing memos for the Mayor’s major meetings with foreign diplomats and elected officials.

“Marietta’s unique blend of experiences as a writer, event planner, strategist, and networker will be a great asset to help make sure I am balancing my time throughout the eclectic district I represent,” Bonin said.

Westchester Parade Starts at 11

Posted by :reta On : June 29, 2015

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Category: Community Events

Tags:City, Dignitaries, Floats, Fourth of July, Westchester, Westchester Parade

In Westchester they even dress for the parade.

The parade in Westchester—and it is the only one around—will start at 11 am at the Westchester Park at Lincoln and Manchester and go north on Loyola Blvd to the University.

Last year the parade had floats, dignitaries, groups, marching bands. See Fourth of July at Westchester Parade. The street is packed with residents and visitors. People on the boulevard line their lawns with chairs for the residents and visitors. Last year there were 50 events.

History of the parade, according to HomeTown News of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, started in 2000 and was meant to be the culmination of a series of events held by the Westchester/Playa del Rey Historical Society to help celebrate the millennium. Realtor and longtime resident Mary Lou Crockett spearheaded the idea for the parade that included the notion that it would need to team with another entity. In this case it was the Chamber of Commerce. This it did and as a result, the Fourth of July parade in Westchester became an annual event, growing each year.

Murez Needs Email Support for Centennial Park

Posted by :reta On : June 28, 2015

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Category: Uncategorized

Tags:Abbot Kinney, Centennial Park, City, Recreation and Parks, Venice, Venice Blvd, Venice Library, Venice Neighborhood Council

Picture shows Centennial Park and several other parks Robin Murez has revitalized in Venice.

Robin Murez, who has titillated us with her historical art pieces on Abbot Kinney and wowed us with revitalized corners of art, needs the help of Venice Residents to refurbish Centennial Park.

Background
Each year the Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) selects projects presented to them as a means toward the betterment of Venice.

Murez ranked Number One by the VNC for “Our Centennial Park Rejuvenation” Project and was awarded $3700 of $5000 applied for to accomplish the task. Centennial Park is the median on Venice Boulevards at the Library, between Abbot Kinney and Ocean.
“We are merely trying to replace tall grasses and shrubs that have died due to neglect,” wrote Murez. “They were fully permitted in the Venice Boulevard Design Permit, D30879. This permit has been relied upon repeatedly through the years. It enables landscaping of Venice Boulevard to be a continuous design and as ‘Los Angeles’ Ceremonial Gateway to the Beach.’ It was developed with the community and it’s what the community wants.”

The Council office and the VNC fully support this plan and Murez has gathered 175 signatures of residents to boost the fact.

But …
“Department of Recreation & Parks (RAP) has not yet signed our authorization form,” according to Murez. “Without that form, the VNC cannot fund the project. RAP did not seem to realize that all we are doing is filling in plants on the Venice Boulevard Design- – a permit that describes the plants that are planted along the full length of Venice Boulevard, including Centennial Park. Neighbors want that to remain a continuous planting design; we are not trying to change the plan. We just want to rejuvenate it with the drought tolerant grasses that are intended for the site. So we should not need to file a new permit – which would take months – and would cause us to lose this funding.”

Need Emails
Ask that the RAP people sign the Authorization Form before 21 July and state that we should not need a new permit to do this “landscape rejuvenation” project.
Robert Oyakawa RAP Landscape Architect robert.oyakawa@lacity.org
Cathie Santo-Domingo RAP Planning Superintendant cathie.santodomingo@lacity.org

CC to: Debbie Dyner-Harris in Councilman Bonin’s Office debbie.dynerharris@lacity.org

“I am told that emails to the VNC board may help,” Murez said. $5000 was for plants only, not labor. Ask that they re-instate our budget to $5000 (assuming RAP provides the Authorization Form).
Board@VeniceNC.org
VNC President, Mike Newhouse: president@venicenc.org
VNC VP, Mark Salzburg: vp@venicenc.org

CC to:
Debbie Dyner-Harris in Councilman Bonin’s Office debbie.dynerharris@lacity.org

Spacecraft Plans Encounter with Pluto; You Can See At Observatory

Posted by :reta On : June 28, 2015

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Category: Bob Eklund Column

Tags:Bob Eklund Column, City, LORRI, NASA, Pluto

Based on article from Astronomy Now magazine and press release from Griffith Observatory.

New Horizons Spacecraft Prepares for Encounter with Pluto July 14

In a long series of images obtained by New Horizons’ telescopic Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) between May 29 and June 19, Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, appear to more than double in size. From this rapidly improving imagery, scientists on the New Horizons team have found that the “close approach hemisphere” on Pluto that New Horizons will fly over has the greatest variety of terrain types seen on the planet so far. They have also discovered that Charon has a “dark pole”—a mysterious dark region that forms a kind of anti-polar cap.

“This system is just amazing,” said Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator, from the Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado. “The science team is just ecstatic with what we see on Pluto’s close approach hemisphere: Every terrain type we see on the planet—including both the brightest and darkest surface areas—are represented there, it’s a wonderland!

“And about Charon—wow—I don’t think anyone expected Charon to reveal a mystery like dark terrains at its pole,” he continued. “Who ordered that?”

“The unambiguous detection of bright and dark terrain units on both Pluto and Charon indicates a wide range of diverse landscapes across the pair,” said science team co-investigator and imaging lead Jeff Moore, of NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California. “For example, the bright fringe we see on Pluto may represent frost deposited from an evaporating polar cap, which is now in summer sun.”

GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY TO CELEBRATE FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH PLUTO.
On July 14, after a journey of 10 years and three billion miles, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft will make the first-ever close encounter with Pluto. What can we expect from New Horizons as it ventures past the mysterious dwarf planet? A good way to find out is to come to Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory, which will host several activities to celebrate the New Horizons encounter with Pluto. All events are free and open to the public.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 — LIVE PLUTO FLYBY
* 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT: Twenty-minute talks on Pluto and New Horizons, presented hourly
* 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. PDT: NASA-TV coverage of the New Horizons flyby with commentary by Griffith Observatory staff
* 6:02 p.m. PDT: Signal from New Horizons confirms the spacecraft’s safe passage through the Pluto system
* 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. PDT: Presentation by Griffith Observatory staff about the New Horizons mission and recap of the evening’s events (Streamed live on GriffithTV)
* 10:00 p.m. PDT: Observatory and Griffith Park close as usual

Friday, July 17, 2015 — ALL PLUTO CONSIDERED
* 7:30 – 8:45 p.m. PDT: Griffith Observatory Curator Dr. Laura Danly and Griffith Observatory Director Dr. E. C. Krupp show the latest images of Pluto from New Horizons and illustrate Pluto’s impact on culture from its discovery until now. (Streamed live on GriffithTV)

WHERE: Griffith Observatory, Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater, 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, California 90027

Seating is first-come, first-served, up to the capacity of the theater. For more information visit http://www.griffithobservatory.org or call (213) 473-0800.

Select activities will be streamed live on GriffithObservatoryTV. For video, schedules, and downlink information visit http://new.livestream.com/GriffithObservatoryTV

Contact:
Bonnie Winings
Friends of the Observatory
+1 (213) 473-0879, +1 (818) 621-2434
bwinings@friendsoftheobservatory.org

Images & Links:
http://astronomynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/NH_LORRI_OP4_mid-June_v3_PLUTO.jpg
http://www.griffithobservatory.org/events/Pluto_Events_2015.html

Tenters Get Close to Home

Posted by :reta On : June 28, 2015

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Category: City, City Attorney, City Property, Councilman, Homeless

Tags:City, City Attorney, cleanup, Councilman, homeless, LAMC 56.11, Venice, Venice Beach

Tents–No, in the parks; yes, on public sidewalks. One can erect a tent in a park only if permitted, but otherwise, no. Tents on public sidewalks can be erected between 9 pm and 6 am only. In either case, if rule is not followed, item can be considered a bulky item and not require notification for confiscation.

This in from Luca Lacovoni:

This tells me three things:

1) not enough has been done to contain nor to resolve the current situation

2) the word in the “tent community” has obviously been that it is safe to set up camp in any area

3) so much so that there is no more room on 3rd and they are now spreading out to other locations

The new law concerning public areas–56.11–is clear and should go into effect soon after Fourth of July. Has to be signed by Mayor Eric Garcetti and be published.

Bulky items are those items too large to fit in 60-gallon garbage container with lid closed. Bulky items will be removed without notification.

Items cannot be left in public area. Items that are left will be considered stored and subject to 24-hour notification to be removed.

Items, not considered bulky, left in public area after being served 24-hour notice will be picked up and stored in City storage facility.

Council Passes Ordinances Affecting Venice Homeless

Posted by :reta On : June 24, 2015

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Category: City Attorney, City Ordinance, City Property, County, Crime, LAPD, Police

Tags:3rd, 56.11, 63.44, City, City Counciil, homeless, OFW, Police, tents, tents in parks, tents on sidewalks, Venice, Venice Beach

Tents–No, in the parks; yes, on public sidewalks. One can erect a tent in a park only if permitted, but otherwise, no. Tents on public sidewalks can be erected between 9 pm and 6 am only. In either case, if rule is not followed, item can be considered a bulky item and not require notification for confiscation.

Two ordinances were passed this week by City Council. Both will affect the Venice homeless and their possessions in parks and city areas. Both ordinances will become effective early July when Mayor Eric Garcetti signs them and they are published.

Basically, both ordinances define bulky items and establish that they may be removed and destroyed without prior notice.

A tent is considered a bulky item, unless permitted, in a park area and will be removed and destroyed. A tent in a public area must be there only from 9 pm to 6 am. Other than those hours it will be in violation.

Personal property placed in a public area for 24 hours or more shall be considered stored and subject to removal. In addition it cannot be temporarily moved and put back on a regular basis.

Moving Personal Property to another location in a Public Area or returning Personal Property to the same block on a daily or regular basis shall not be considered to be removing the Personal Property from a Public Area. The City may remove and impound such Stored Personal Property after providing 24-hour written notice.

Both ordinances define that notification of personal property removal will be 24 hours rather than the present 72 hours. Personal items remaining after 24 hours will be removed to storage at a designated place for 90 days as they presently are.

This ordinance, amending subsections B and I of Section 63.44 of Chapter VI of Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC), will restrict the possession of non-permitted bulky items and tents, and prohibit storage of personal property within the limits of any park, including a Park consisting of beaches and water recreation areas. All City parks will be affected, as will Venice Beach Park, which also includes Ocean Front Walk.

This ordinance, which repeals and replaces Section 56.11, Article 6, Chapter V of LAMC, will prohibit the storage of personal property in public areas.

Maintenance Yard Demolition and Fencing Funding Approved

Posted by :reta On : June 23, 2015

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Category: Uncategorized

Tags:Adel Hagekhaklil, Bureau of Sanitation, City, cleanup, Venice, Venice Beach

City Maintenance Yard at Thatcher and Princeton will be demolished and area will be fenced.

Adel Hagekhaklil, assistant director Bureau of Sanitation, announced this week that funding was secured and approved for the demolition of the City Maintenance Yard on Thatcher. Funding also included the installation of a wrought-iron fence with a curve at the top.

The abandoned yard has been one of the homeless encampments of late. A meet was held of the residents and the residents selected the wrought-iron fence with the curve at the top. Residents feel that when the property is exposed, the homeless will not come to camp.

“We are progressing on the demolition and will provide a schedule as soon as we select a contractor,” wrote Hagekhalil.

Because of the homeless encampment in the yard, the Bureau of Sanitation has included it in their Friday cleanups along with Ocean Front Walk and 3rd.

What is Happening in Venice…Ref: Homeless

Posted by :reta On : June 18, 2015

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Category: Uncategorized

Tags:City, cleanup, Councilman, Crime, homeless, Venice, Venice Beach

Body is wrapped in yellow comforter at corner of Lincoln and Washington.

One wonders what is happening in Venice … and it is not just Venice. But more importantly, what can be done? Homeless are sleeping all over the streets, on bus stop benches, and in doorways on commercial properties and sidewalks and in residential neighborhoods in alleys, bushes, etc. Things are stolen or missing from yards. People wake early in morning to find people trying to get into their cars. Homeless go into yards in broad daylight and take things.

The streets–commercial and residential–are filled with homeless roaming. Most are wired with drugs or asleep on the sidewalks drunk. Homeless in Venice are mostly “travellers,” meaning they are just passing thru and enjoying the sun.

City Officials Well Aware and Acting
Our City officials–Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilman Mike Bonin, City Attorney Mike Feuer are well aware of what is going on, what is necessary, and are working toward a cleaned, everybody-housed, everybody-healed city.

The changing from 72-hour notification to 24, along with the removal of bulky items without notification will help, no doubt about it. Providing more storage for the homeless is another.

Laws backing up enforcement and incarceration have got to be considered along with a place to incarcerate. This is all daunting.

Private Groups Quietly Making a Difference
The Teen Post in Venice and Chaplain Steve Weller are quiet, effective workers, getting people off the streets, into a productive life.

Silver Triangle (See Comments.)
Saturday morning at 4:15 am, a resident of the Silver Triangle was awakened by a man first ringing her front door bell and then pounding on her front door so hard she thought he would break in. He yelled and cursed.

Police were called twice, as first 911 call was busy. They came after 30 minutes. Three ADT security cars came after 10 minutes and followed man down Mildred until the police arrived.

Blood was running down man’s leg and man was yelling that someone had stabbed and shot him.

Man had written in blood all over front door and there was blood on the steps and walkway. One neighbor said it reminded her of Charles Mansion.

Man was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Golden, Oxford Triangle
Harold Belker, who lives in the 800 block of Dickson, saw a man walk out of his yard with his wet suit tucked under the arm. Belker tackled him, his wife called the police, and the police apprehended him. He had gone thru other peoples’ yards. This happened in daylight about 6 pm Sunday.

A flower pot was stolen from house on Thatcher and owner found drug equipment behind house in alley.

One man woke to find someone trying to get in his car.

Sanitation department now includes the Maintenance Yard on Thatcher on their weekly Friday cleanup sweeps, along with Ocean Front Walk and 3rd. One week they reported getting three needles. It is private property inhabited by homeless at night.

The truck that was reported stolen from Thatcher driveway was found in East Los Angeles with guns and bows with arrows inside. Guns had the serial numbers removed.

Lincoln and Washington corner looks like a Third World country transplanted. Adam Firestone’s brewery, which is under construction, had someone clean the yard and street of all the debris at Carter next to Walgreen’s. So what in picture above is gone.

Normally, one person cleans that corner along Carter, not Washington, every Monday morning. This Monday morning there were too many sleeping, too dirty for one person.

Illegal solicitors at that corner only help advertise the Venice homeless, lawless drug and alcoholic problem.

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