Shayne set out on his cross country skateboard journey in honor and memory of his father William “Chief” Carlson, a CIA contractor who was killed during an ambush in Shkin, Afghanistan, in October 2003. Traveling an average of 50 miles a day and stopping at military bases along the way to raise funds for charities that help wounded special ops soldiers and their families, Shayne has raised over $25,000.

More pictures from Ray Rae Goldman “after the jump”! Check out the ABC video here.

Shayne set out on his cross country skateboard journey in honor and memory of his father William “Chief” Carlson, a CIA contractor who was killed during an ambush in Shkin, Afghanistan, in October 2003. Traveling an average of 50 miles a day and stopping at military bases along the way to raise funds for charities that help wounded special ops soldiers and their families, Shayne has raised over $25,000.

It is expected that on Wednesday, after a 3,200 journey, Shayne will reach the Pacific shore in Venice at 2pm. We have heard from Bobby at Venice Originals Skate Shop that following a press conference at the shop, Shane will hit the beach and the Venice Skate Park for some celebrating.

Check out Shayne’s blog here. Friend Venice Originals on FaceBook and keep up with the news!

Show some support, Venice! 2 pm Wednesday!

From Bill Rosendahl:

July 26, 2010

Dear Friends,

I am writing to share with you some news about the progress we are making on a groundbreaking program to deal with the issue of people living in their vehicles in Council District 11.

As many of you know, city agencies and I have been working very hard to develop a comprehensive strategy to come up with a solution that balances restricted parking and law enforcement with social services for those who need them.

Last month, the City Council approved amendments to an ordinance that will make it easier to restrict oversized vehicles from parking on our streets overnight. At the same time, I have been working to create a Safe Parking program, which would create designated areas where economically disadvantaged people living in vehicles could sleep lawfully, obtain counseling and social services, and begin the transition to permanent housing.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the City-County agency charged with administering the program, has prepared a draft Request for Proposals (RFP), a legal document that solicits bids from social service providers to run the program. The RFP provides a broad framework and foundation for the program; more specific details will be worked out with the community once LAHSA selects a service provider.

LAHSA will formally release the final RFP next month, select a provider in early fall, and launch the program before the end of the year. In the meantime, I wanted to circulate the draft RFP and ask for your feedback. I have also asked my staff to prepare, in consultation with LAHSA, a PowerPoint presentation, summarizing how the program was developed and highlighting some of its key elements.

The PowerPoint is HERE. The draft RFP is HERE.

This proposed program is the result of months of collaborative effort by hundreds of people. This is s smart and cutting-edge program that builds on the successes of similar programs in other cities, and improves and tailors them for our community. I hope to launch the program before the end of the year, concurrently with the implementation of the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance.

In a few weeks, I will be holding a Town Hall meeting to thoroughly discuss the program. Prior to that, key members of my staff are available for meetings and briefings in smaller groups. In the meantime, I welcome your comments and feedback.

From the LATimes:

With no warning one weekday morning, investigators entered an organic grocery with a search warrant and ordered the hemp-clad workers to put down their buckets of mashed coconut cream and to step away from the nuts.

Then, guns drawn, four officers fanned out across Rawesome Foods in Venice. Skirting past the arugula and peering under crates of zucchini, they found the raid’s target inside a walk-in refrigerator: unmarked jugs of raw milk.

“I still can’t believe they took our yogurt,” said Rawesome volunteer Sea J. Jones, a few days after the raid. “There’s a medical marijuana shop a couple miles away, and they’re raiding us because we’re selling raw dairy products?”

Continue reading the rest of the article and watch the video by clicking here.

Rawsome Foods
665 Rose Ave
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 452-2244

Thanks to the LAist for the assist! Saw it there first!

You may notice that I have not used the official “politico” title of “Safe Parking Program”. Due to my own personal experience with some (not all) of the RV dwellers being hostile, threatening both verbally and physically and in general quite unneighborly, I think that the use of “Safe” is not appropriate when describing a system that will allow some (not all) of these people to legally reside in the community at our own expense. Feel free to call it an “overnight parking program” as that is what it is, but don’t try and color it as a “safe parking program”. Who is protecting whom from whom around here anyway?

A big thanks to Andrew L. for the video!

Click here to join the existing forum discussion on this.

Here is Navalette and her cousin Jataun Valentineon speaking about Venice on KCET’s Departures. RIP Navalette!

From Reuters:

The 4,900 square feet main house, completed in 1987 by architect Brian Murphy, can be bought — along with the 1,355 square-foot cottage, the pool and the pool house — for $3.95 million. The three townhouses, built in 1981, range in size from 1,143 to 1,330 square feet (106-123 square meters), and can be bought for $750,000 to $1.05 million each.

For more pictures at Brian Murphy’s site click here.

If you are unaware of The Venice Surf and Skateboard Association, Skateboard California has a nice video they released this week that includes interviews with VSA members. Their tireless work for the community is worth supporting and you can find out how to do so by clicking here.

On the agenda for this evening:
1. Welcome/ introductions/ New Participants
2. Approval of Minutes

3. Public Comment/ Community Requests (2 min per speaker)
4. Old Business- EcoFest
5. Board Member Reports / Sub-Committee Reports:
a. Treasurer’s report
b. Jesse Martinez
c. Lance Lemond
d. Lauren Seagrave
e. Steve Mayorga

6. New Business: Racing Sun Pictures
7. Public Announcements

Erwin Hotel Venice Beach
1697 Pacific Ave
Venice 90291
(310) 452-1111

As there have been two recent deaths in Venice due in part to rip currents, we recommend reading the National Weather Service Rip Current Safety Tips and also checking out this informative video done by The University of New South Wales. (Even if you think you know everything abut rips, we recommend watching this video as a refresher.) Stay safe people!

If caught in a rip current:
* Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
* Never fight against the current.
* Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
* Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle–away from the current–towards shore.
* If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
* If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

If you see someone in trouble, don’t become a victim too:

* Get help from a lifeguard.
* If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
* Throw the rip current victim something that floats–a lifejacket, a cooler, an inflatable ball.
* Yell instructions on how to escape.
* Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

When at the beach:

* Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
* Never swim alone.
* Learn how to swim in the surf. It’s not the same as swimming in a pool or lake.
* Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out.
* Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to identify potential hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water. This is part of their job.
* Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist along side these structures.
* Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach. They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean’s surface.
* Pay especially close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.

Mondays Closed
Tuesdays 12:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesdays 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
Thursdays 12:30 – 8:00 pm
Fridays 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Saturdays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sundays Closed

The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest population of any library in the country through its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, over six million books and other items, state-of-the-art technology, and its Web site.

Thanks to Lorena H. for the tip!

Venice – Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library
501 S. Venice Boulevard
Venice, 90291

Download the complete PDF by clicking here.

UPDATE: CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THIS MEANS: When the Council adopts an ordinance the Mayor has three choices: sign it, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. He chose the latter course.

The Oversize Vehicle Ordinance has thus passed.

Click here to make the picture full sized.

La Fiesta Brava
423 Rose Avenue
Venice, CA 90291-2629
(310) 399-8005

Join the existing thread on this by clicking here.

Sophia Heller, a consultant working with the LA City Council District 11 office, will update the Venice Neighborhood Council on the CD11 safe parking program. Ms. Heller’s report will be presented at the VNC’s next board meeting, on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, in the Auditorium of the Westminster Elementary School, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, starting at 7:00PM.

The new program’s design will serve as the guideline for the “Streets to Homes Program” to be administered by the LA Housing Services Authority (LAHSA) in close coordination with the CD11 community. It will focus on helping people who use their vehicles for sleeping and shelter to access safe and secure overnight parking and enroll them in case management systems that provide access to permanent low cost housing while making available a program liaison to the community at large. Additional details, including timing and program goals, will be provided at the meeting.

The VNC Board will also hear a motion to support the LA City Council in developing a city-wide Valet Parking Permit Program. The Council has asked the City Attorney to submit language for an ordinance that will address, in part “community intrusion problems.” Under the proposed ordinance, “valet companies will need to determine the anticipated number of customers and locations where customer vehicles will be parked… a key component is an auditable ticketing system that will allow the tracking of… the location where the vehicles are parked. This system will not only track the valet operations, but establish and monitor parking capacity.

In other actions, the Board will review a letter to be submitted to elected officials supporting a ban on “touch and goes”, “taxi backs” and other operations connected with pilot training at the Santa Monica Airport. And hiking trails proposed for the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve will be reviewed, with the possible endorsement of alternative routes. Applications for the VNC’s Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC) and Neighborhood Committee will be considered and members selected for a two year term.

Snacks and coffee will be provided.

Venice Neighborhood Council Board Meeting
Westminster Elementary School Auditorium, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd (enter from Westminster)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
7:00 PM until 10:00 PM

The LA Times is reporting that the Venice Community Housing Corp. has received a $1.3-million grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Shelter Plus Care program to provide rent subsidies for chronically homeless people with disabilities.

Residents will be housed in a 20-unit building in Venice that the housing organization bought in October with a $750,000 forgivable loan from the city of Los Angeles and a $3-million loan from the Corporation for Supportive Housing, a national nonprofit group.

Read the rest of the article at the LA Times by clicking this.

Here is a video that KCET’s Departures did with Steve Clare of Venice Community Housing Corp:

As there is an existing thread in the forums on this, I am not starting a new one. Join the existing discussion by clicking here.

FOR:
Do you want Mayor Villaraigosa to approve the Oversize Vehicle Ordinance which recently passed the City Council vote? If approved it will limit RV parking on the streets of Venice.

Write this:
Subject: Please Approve the Oversize Vehicle Ordinance!
Message:
Please sign the new Oversize Vehicle Ordinance and get the signs up in Venice. Venice is the 2nd largest tourist destination in Los Angeles. It is unreasonable for Venice to remain a free urban RV campground. We need your help as residents! Please sign the Oversize Vehicle Ordinance!

Send it to these email addresses: Jennifer.Badger@lacity.org, Larry.Frank@lacity.org, councilman.rosendahl@lacity.org

__________________________________________________________

AGAINST:
Do you want Mayor Villaraigosa to reject the Oversize Vehicle Ordinance which recently passed the City Council vote? If rejected, RV’s will remain without new restrictions on the streets of Venice.

Write this:
Subject: Please Reject the Oversize Vehicle Ordinance!
Message:
Please reject the new Oversize Vehicle Ordinance. RV’s should not be restricted on where and for what hours they can park on city streets!

Send it to these email addresses: Jennifer.Badger@lacity.org, Larry.Frank@lacity.org, councilman.rosendahl@lacity.org

Click here to read the letter full size.

As mentioned last week, Santa Monica is putting up a huge fight to try and keep flight traffic away from the city that operates the airport and direct the traffic over Venice. Tomorrow we will have new write-in information for readers to contact the FAA and voice their opinion on the matter.

This press release was sent out before the tragic plane crash at Penmar Park yesterday.

From Councilmember Bill Rosendahl:

Councilmember Bill Rosendahl is calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to make permanent a test procedure for propeller aircraft at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) that would dramatically reduce the number of idling aircraft that spew aircraft emissions over Los Angeles neighborhoods.

“Los Angeles gets all the take-offs, all the landings, and all the noise and pollution. Current flight procedures result in greater delays at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Santa Monica Airport (SMO),” Rosendahl said.

The procedure, tested recently at the airport, diminished conflicts with LAX traffic, thereby reducing the idling of propeller aircraft that creates a cloud of aircraft emissions that hovers over homes just hundreds of feet away in Venice, Mar Vista and West LA.

“This new procedure is better for people in Venice, Mar Vista and West LA surrounding the airport,” Rosendahl said. “I am grateful that the FAA tested this procedure, and I strongly encourage all my constituents to urge federal officials to implement it permanently.”

Since aircraft from SMO can come within 3 miles of the LAX departure track on take-off, air traffic controllers are often forced to order departing airplanes to hold and idle on the Santa Monica runway until a position clears up in the airspace ahead. Santa Monica officials have stated their opposition to the new procedure and have launched an effort to block its permanent implementation due to potential noise impacts on Santa Monica residents.

“I represent residents living near two airports in my district, SMO and LAX. Nobody needs to tell me about noise impacts from those airports,” said Rosendahl. “But, I can’t ask a kid living in Venice, Mar Vista or West LA to play in a black cloud of aircraft emissions so that someone in Santa Monica is spared the noise impacts.”

A recent FAA review found that primary departure flight tracts at LAX and SMO converge and conflict just west of the airports, resulting in 594 minutes of average flight delay per month. In its March 18, 2010 interim review, the FAA reported that “aircraft operating costs associated with these delays has been estimated to exceed $1,000,000 since June 2008. Additionally, as aircraft wait out the delay, they emit tons of pollutants and emissions.”

Rosendahl explained, “This report makes clear that the slight change in the flight plan would result in better operations across two airports. It is a no brainer that this should be adopted on a permanent basis. It reduces delay time at SMO and LAX by 85% percent, while reducing aircraft emissions and noise at both ends.”

Following complaints from local resident groups who would live under the new flight track, the City of Santa Monica issued a press release calling for a full environmental review and public input into the pending FAA decision to change the departure procedures for propeller aircraft flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) at Santa Monica Airport.

“I welcome a comprehensive environmental review of air safety, air pollution, and both health and noise impacts of Santa Monica Airport, with full public input by all of its neighbors,” said Councilmember Rosendahl. “I ask that the FAA to engage the City of Los Angeles and its residents in the final decision making process as well as Santa Monica.”

Rosendahl urged interested residents in LA to voice their concerns and support the new departure procedure to Santa Monica Airport staff at (310) 458-8692 as well as to their local members of Congress, and Council District 11.

To get you in the mood for this coming weekend, here is a little video I made with my point and shoot during the 4th weekend two years ago.

A full list of street closures around Venice and the schedule is “after the jump”!

The event is sponsored by Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors and features Zambelli Pyrotechnics, which originated more than 100 years ago in Italy, the display will follow the Italian tradition of huge finales.

Where to Watch the Fireworks
Fireworks are launched from a floating barge located in the waters of the main channel between Fisherman’s Village and the Breakwater (the ocean entrance to the harbor).
Depending upon weather and cloud cover on the night of the show, the fireworks can usually be seen throughout the marina, and from the waterfront side of most hotels, restaurants, beaches, apartments and anchorages. You may be able to glimpse the fireworks from afar from Playa del Rey and Venice Beach Pier. Popular locations include:

• Fisherman’s Village, 13755 Fiji Way (2 blocks west of Lincoln Blvd.)
• Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way (1 block west of Admiralty Way)
• Marina Beach (Mother’s Beach), 4101 Admiralty Way (1 block south of Washington Blvd.)

Parking
Come early! Parking lots fill up early on July 4th. There is no on-street parking inside Marina del Rey. Parking is available in 14 self-pay public lots. Most parking lots are full by 6 p.m.

Street Closures
Streets in and around Marina del Rey are heavily impacted on July 4th, and some streets will be closed to incoming traffic in the hours leading up to the fireworks display, depending upon traffic and parking conditions. Many streets in the Marina Peninsula residential area are closed except to local access only by mid-day on July 4th. Street Closure Information.

If you plan to visit a restaurant or hotel by personal car, shuttle or taxi, schedule an early arrival to avoid inconvenience, and call the business in advance of your arrival for traffic advice and instructions.

After the fireworks are over, exiting the Marina may involve substantial delays, and you may not be able to exit the area in the same direction from which you arrived. Be prepared for major detours and street closures.

TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES: MDR Fourth of July Fireworks Show
Sunday, July 4, 2010 @ 9:00 p.m.

The following streets will be under soft closure at 1:00 p.m., local access only:
- Southbound Strongs Drive at Washington Boulevard
- Southbound Pacific Avenue at Washington Boulevard
- Southbound Via Dolce at Washington Boulevard
- Westbound Washington Boulevard at Pacific Avenue
- Northbound Pacific Avenue at Convoy Street
- Eastbound on Grand Ave at Vista del Mar (leading into the City of El Segundo)

The following streets will be closed at 6:00 p.m.:
- Connector from northbound Lincoln Boulevard to Culver Boulevard
- Connector from southbound Culver Boulevard to Lincoln Boulevard
- Southbound Culver Boulevard at Route 90 (Marina Freeway)
- Northbound Culver Boulevard at Jefferson Boulevard

The following streets will be closed at 7 :30 p.m.:
- Westbound Jefferson Boulevard at Lincoln Boulevard

The following streets will be closed when Marina parking lots (at 8:30 p.m.):
- Southbound Via Marina at Washington Boulevard
- Southbound Palawan Way at Washington Boulevard
- Westbound Bali Way at Lincoln Boulevard
- Westbound Mindanao Way at Lincoln Boulevard
- Westbound Fiji Way at Lincoln Boulevard
- Southbound Alla Road at Short Avenue, Bonaparte Avenue, Panama Street and Route
90 (Marina Freeway)

The following streets will be closed at 8:50 p.m.:
- Southbound Mindanao Way at Glencoe Avenue
- Southbound Lincoln Boulevard at Venice Boulevard
- Southbound Culver Boulevard at Centinela Avenue
- Northbound Lincoln Boulevard at Jefferson Boulevard

The following streets will be closed at 9:00 p.m.:
- Northbound La Villa Marina at Mindanao Way
- Southbound Mindanao Way at Route 90 (Marina Freeway)
- Southbound Lincoln Boulevard at Route 90 (Marina Freeway)
- Southbound Lincoln Boulevard at Washington Boulevard
- Southbound Culver Boulevard at Route 90 (Marina Freeway)
- Northbound Vista del Mar at Imperial Highway
- Northbound Pershing Drive at Imperial Highway

The following traffic information will take effect from 9:15 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.:
- Traffic northbound on Via Marina will not be allowed to turn right (eastbound) onto
Admiralty Way. Traffic will be directed to Washington Boulevard.
- Traffic northbound on Palawan Way will not be allowed to turn left (westbound), or
right (eastbound) onto Admiralty Way. Traffic will be directed to Washington
Boulevard.
- Traffic eastbound on Bali Way will not be allowed to turn left (northbound), or right
(southbound) onto Admiralty Way. The traffic will be directed to Lincoln Boulevard
and allowed to turn South or North.
- Traffic eastbound on Mindanao Way will not be allowed to turn left (northbound), or
right (southbound) onto Admiralty Way. The traffic will be directed to Lincoln
Boulevard and allowed to turn right (southbound) onto Lincoln Boulevard, or
continue East on Mindanao Way to Route 90 (Marina Freeway).
- Traffic eastbound on Fiji Way will not be allowed to turn left (street will not be open
to thru traffic), and thru traffic must turn right.

Parking Restrictions:
1. Vista del Mar between Culver Boulevard and Imperial Highway, there will be “No
Stopping – Anytime,” with signs posted all day.
2. Culver Boulevard between Jefferson Boulevard and Route 90 (Marina Freeway),
there will be “No Stopping, 4:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.,” with signs posted.
3. Grand Avenue between Riviera Avenue and Main Street, including traffic circle
within the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Main Street, there will be “No
Stopping, 11:00 a.m. to Midnight,” with signs posted.

Fisherman’s Village Area Parking
• Lot #1 – 13737 Fiji Way (423 spaces)
• Dock 52, 13501 Fiji Way (232 spaces)
• Lot #2 – 13465 Fiji Way (225 spaces)

Burton Chace Park Area Parking
• Lot #2 – 13465 Fiji Way (225 spaces)
• Lot #4 – 13500 Mindanao Way (145 spaces)
• Lot #5 – 4545 Admiralty Way (at Bali Way) (219 spaces)
• Lot EE – 13650 Mindanao Way (60 spaces)

Marina Beach Area Parking
• Lot #8 – 4220 Admiralty Way (next to Marina International Hotel) (177 spaces)
• Lot #9 – 14110 Palawan Way (181 spaces)
• Lot #10 – 4101 Admiralty Way (across from Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel) (206 spaces)
• Lot #11 – 14101 Panay Way (at Via Marina near Cheesecake Factory) (255 spaces)
• Lot #12 – 14151 Marquesas Way (at Via Marina) (199 spaces)

Dockweiler State Beach:
Once parking lots at Dockweiler State Beach are full, traffic (on westbound Imperial
Highway) will be directed to use Vista Del Mar or northbound on Pershing Drive (based on
traffic congestion).

Beach Shuttle
The Playa Vista – Marina del Rey – Venice Pier Beach Ground Shuttle operates from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on July 4th. The last shuttle departs Playa Vista at 7:15 p.m. There is no service after 8 p.m. to return to your starting point, so plan your trip accordingly.

WaterBus
Marina del Rey WaterBus is an on-the-water shuttle system, and links seven locations within the marina by boat. It operates from 11 a.m. – midnight on July 4th.

Bike Trail Closure
The bike path in the area of the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center boat ramp to the east side of La Ballona Creek Bridge is closed from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on July 4th.

Driving Directions To Marina del Rey
Driving into Marina del Rey from other parts of California is simple with its proximity to major freeways. Marina del Rey is convenient to the 405, 10 and 105 freeways, and Lincoln Boulevard (Route 1).

From the northern Los Angeles area, drive south on the San Diego Freeway (405-S), past the junction with the Santa Monica Freeway (10), and exit at the Marina Freeway (90). Take the Marina Freeway for approximately 3 miles. Before the freeway ends, turn left onto Mindanao Way, and drive into the Marina area. Turn left or right onto Admiralty Way to your destination.

From the southern Los Angeles area, drive north on the San Diego Freeway (405-N), past Los Angeles International Airport, and exit at the Marina Freeway (90). Take the Marina Freeway for approximately 3 miles. Before the freeway ends, turn left onto Mindanao Way, and drive into the Marina area. Turn left or right onto Admiralty Way to your destination.

From the eastern Los Angeles area, drive west on the Santa Monica Freeway (10-W) to the San Diego Freeway (405-S). Exit at the Marina Freeway (90). Take the Marina Freeway for approximately 3 miles. Before the freeway ends, turn left onto Mindanao Way, and drive into the Marina area. Turn left or right onto Admiralty Way to your destination.
Viewing the Fireworks Display From a Boat
Fireworks are launched from a floating barge located in the main channel between Fisherman’s Village and the Breakwater.

Boats are allowed to idle in the main channel (no anchoring). A designated ‘fall-out’ zone surrounds the fireworks launch site where no is be allowed to enter.

Fireworks can also be viewed from Santa Monica Bay.

The Los Angeles City Council today unanimously approved amendments to the City’s Oversize Vehicle Ordinance that will make it more effective at removing campers, converted buses and large recreational vehicles from residential neighborhoods.

The revised citywide ordinance will allow neighborhoods in any part of Los Angeles to elect to ban vehicles over 22 feet long or over 7 feet tall from 2-6 AM from local streets.

“We have long asked for these amendments,” said Mark Ryavec, the president of Venice Stakeholders. “The earlier version only banned the largest of buses, moving vans and RVs and thus was ineffective at preserving parking at night for residents.”

Ryavec praised Councilman Bill Rosendahl for standing firm against last minute demands by RV and camper dwellers that the ordinance go back to committee for unnecessary tinkering.

“All the opponents wanted to do was delay the imposition of the new version of the ordinance so they can continue to squat on residential streets for which they pay no mortgage, rent, utilities or taxes,” Ryavec said. “They have turned Venice into the largest franchise of Kampgrounds of America and just want to keep it that way.”

“Rosendahl saw through this tactic and rejected it.”

The ordinance now heads to the Mayor for signature and then individual ordinances will be presented defining the boundaries of any neighborhood that requests these overnight restrictions. Following this, the signs will be installed on a block-by-block basis.

Recently the FAA tried a six month test pattern at The Santa Monica Airport which directed departure traffic over Santa Monica and not the usual route over Venice.

The City of Santa Monica is not happy about new IFR departure procedures and says it will “aggressively pursue all avenues” to force the FAA to conduct a full environmental impact study before any change is made permanent.

The previous procedure had general aviation airplanes flying to the coastline before making a 40 degree Northwest turn. Several of the new patterns that were tested move that turn to a point over Penmar Golf Course, which then take the aircraft over a residential neighborhood near the Santa Monica Pier.

Needless to say, Santa Monica residents don’t want the traffic sent their way and have sent in over 3,500 emails saying “reject the test pattern” to city officials.

The FAA makes the ultimate decision on whether the test pattern should be made permanent, so Venice Residents need to email their opinions to those who matter and make sure the traffic pattern is put into effect and allows for a more equal distribution of noise, rather than just dumping the Santa Monica Airport Traffic and pollution all over Venice.

So here is the email to write:

Subject: Please Approve The New FAA Test Pattern at Santa Monica Airport (KSMO)

I am writing you to voice my opinion on the recent FAA Test Pattern held at The Santa Monica Airport (KSMO). The new test pattern should be made permanent as it more fairly distributes the burden of Santa Monica Airport departures between Venice and Santa Monica. I have also been informed that this new pattern provides for better safety in regard to air traffic from LAX. Please realize that Venice is not an industrial zone, it is a zone of families just like Santa Monica, and we should not have to shoulder the burden of this traffic ourselves.

Email your message to:

noise@smgov.net (Attn: Stelios Macrides)
arturo.pina@lacity.org (for Rosendahl)
http://harman.house.gov/contact/email-jane.shtml ( email form for Jane Harman; enter zip code 90291-2602)

Here is a simple email form for either “side” that you can use and send to the emails provided below. It will help if you can tell personal stories of why you passionately choose your side. Earlier today I spoke with someone “in the know” of politics in Los Angeles and they assured me that when people like YOU take the time to write in, it certainly does help to make policy. SO, no excuses peoples … I took the time to lay it all out here for you … please take the time in writing in for the side of your choosing.

Update: to those of you that aren’t clear on which is which … as I replied on FaceBook:

Q: “can you spell it out a little clearer for me? does “support” mean “get them off my curb?” thankx.”
A: Support means “get them off my curb”.

Subject: I SUPPORT THE OVERSIZED VEHICLE ORDINANCE

Members of the LA City Council:

Tomorrow, Oversize Vehicle Parking Restrictions will be in front of The City Council. As a resident of Venice Beach I fully support the city council passing this.

_____________________________________________
OR, if you like the RV situation as is:

Subject: I DO NOT SUPPORT THE OVERSIZED VEHICLE ORDINANCE

Members of the LA City Council:

Tomorrow, Oversize Vehicle Parking Restrictions will be in front of The City Council. As a resident of Venice Beach I do not support the city council passing this.

___________________________________________

Send your email to the City Council at these email addresses:

councilmember.reyes@lacity.org, councilmember.Krekorian@lacity.org, councilmember.zine@lacity.org, councilmember.Labonge@lacity.org, paul.koretz@lacity.org, councilmember.cardenas@lacity.org, councilmember.alarcon@lacity.org, councilmember.parks@lacity.org, Jan.Perry@lacity.org, councilmember.wesson@lacity.org, councilman.rosendahl@lacity.org, councilmember.smith@lacity.org

The new Rapid Line 733 will run seven days a week from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.. Buses will run every 10 minutes during rush hour and every 15 to 20 minutes during the off-peak hours. Metro Rapid service has a number of desirable characteristics such as fewer stops, frequent service, level bus boarding/alighting and a bus signal priority system that when all implemented together, provide fast and frequent bus service.

“I have advocated for a Rapid Line on Venice Boulevard since I’ve been in office” says Councilman Bill Rosendahl. “Metro’s decision to introduce the Rapid Line 733 demonstrates the power of persistence.” If you take the 733, you might just have Rosendahl sitting next to you, as he says “I look forward to taking my first trip this Tuesday morning on my commute to City Hall. I hope everyone can soon take advantage of this convenient bus line. As a community, we can all take pride in Rapid Line 733 as it shows what we can accomplish working together towards a common goal.”

I hope that all of the “action” groups around here are considering this bill and the fact that there will be a lot more RV’s moving to Venice because of our “lax” overnight enforcement of vehicular dwelling. If you think we have it bad now, wait until this act passes and local State Parks provide ocean front free parking during the day. Where do you think they will go at night? They sure won’t be parked in Santa Monica!

From The Santa Monica Daily Press:

A trip to the beach is an inexpensive way to pass a summer day, and it could become even more recession-friendly if voters this November approve a proposed ballot initiative that would do away with parking fees for in-state drivers at all California state parks — including at Santa Monica’s state-owned beaches.

Of course, there’s a catch.

The proposed measure, called the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010, would add an extra $18 per year to California vehicle owners’ annual registration fees to boost revenue for the ailing park system.

While the measure’s passage would be great news to frequent state park visitors, those responsible for overseeing Santa Monica’s beaches say it could also present a daunting enforcement and management challenge.

“It’s really a logistical nightmare in terms of managing the parking,” said Barbara Stinchfield, City Hall’s director of Community and Cultural Services.

And it’s now official: Voters will have their say on the idea in the next election. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen last Thursday officially qualified the measure for the ballot, with supporters saying they turned in 760,000 signatures — nearly twice the number required for qualification. A coalition of teachers, public health advocates and civil rights organizations are behind the initiative.

To continue reading the article click here.

What to do at a Hands Event:

STEP 1
Go to the beach at 11 AM in your time zone for one hour, rain or shine.

STEP 2
Join hands for 15 minutes at 12:00 forming lines in the sand against oil drilling in our coastal waters.

STEP 3
Leave only your footprints.