Comments on: R.I.P Venice Local Dave Freeman

By: pirco (18 year "local")

pirco (18 year "local") — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:04:34 +0000

it certainly takes a few years before you become a local. no matter where you happen to live, though, you should know a bit about your community.

personally, I like what YoVenice is doing but don’t expect too much… this is just a small beach town .

By: ariel

ariel — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:19:36 +0000

i am an LA native and i’ve been in venice 8 years now and definitely consider this home. i am not as active in the local community as i would like to be since i work elsewhere in LA county and don’t have time, but i definitely consider myself a local regarless of what someone who was born here may think. the beauty of venice is its freedom and mindset so the select few that complain about it may not truly represent the majority.

what yo! venice! is doing is great. it’s reflective of venice’s ideals and keeps us informed about what is happening around us while still respecting everyone’s differences and looking at things with a fresh, open minded viewpoint. keep up the good work!

By: keri

keri — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:57:05 +0000

(This is not directed specifically at Mark S. – it’s an issue that keeps coming up.)

Ok…so just for the record…how long does a person have to live here to be welcomed by the “locals”? If you love Venice and feel an attachment to it – what does it matter how long you’ve lived here?

I haven’t lived here my whole life but I dedicate most of my week to running a blog that promotes Venice, its businesses, its growth, its success, its residents (new and old). We constantly mention that anyone can write for us and we want to represent all of Venice – 90% of the people who contact us have lived here less than 15 years and are trying to promote events or businesses in an effort to see Venice become a tight-knit community. Apparently, that’s not “local” enough.

It seems that the only way the “locals” want to participate in our site is to make comments about how we don’t belong here or we don’t get it. If there is something we aren’t getting or aren’t covering, CONTACT US DIRECTLY! yo@yovenice.com.

I had a meeting last week with an “old timer” (in that she’s lived here forever and is active in Venice everything.) It turned into a 2-hour conversation about so much of Venice’s past and present issues, who used to be in charge of what, what services there used to be or not be…I loved it and would love to bring that kind of Venice experience to our blog.

Anyone is welcome to comment about whatever they want and we am happy that they do – but everyone is encouraged to contact us, meet with us, tell us your side of the story, what you love about Venice, what you hate about Venice. We’ll post about it!

By: Mark S.

Mark S. — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:16:06 +0000

“late 90′s”…”truly are from here”…”truly understand it”…yawn…”from new york”…whatevers, straight up tourist territory disneyland suckers.

By: Bret

Bret — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:28:37 +0000

Thanks for the comment Richard … seemed like your pal had a pretty good outlook on life.

By: richard yelland

richard yelland — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:40:50 +0000

thanks for making that connection between Dave’s life and spirit to his home in Venice. Venice was such an important part of him.the worldwide connection Dave made with people around the globe– with obituaries popping up from London to Sydney, from Italy to India–is a testimony that Venice is one of the creative centers of the universe. a place that can only be fully appreciated by those who can truly understand it, as Dave did.

i moved here from new york in the late 90′s. Dave came number of years later but was kind of an old soul about the place. he was a local. it was like he was able to embrace every person he came across, every nook and cranny of Venice and feed off the energy. i’ll never forget the time i mentioned to him about moving after a shooting occurred up the street from my house. he had strong words for me, disappointed that i would betray myself like that. he made you realize how venice, if you truly are from here, is in your blood, is a part of you and is a part of who you are. if you are a true Venetian like Dave, unfortunately you might just have to leave someday. but for now let’s celebrate in Dave’s honor that we are here.