last week i got terrorized by some wacked-out transient a-hole on bike with a beach chair strapped to his back, coming down the wrongside of the street, swerved at me then started swearing "get the f*** away from me, get the f*** away from me…" repeatedly. the whole street stopped and watched as he looped back around and screamed at me for a couple more blocks…. following me. i finally pulled up in front of Brickhouse and he took off… then showed back up looking for me. luckily i was inside. WTF??
then 2 days later i'm getting my car washed on lincoln and see some psychotic homeless dude attack mis own (solen?) beach cruiser and literally picked it up and threw it against a telephone pole, like 15 times, completely destroying the poor bike (what did this bike ever do to him? lol) and sent bike parts flying into traffic, including a runaway wheel. he was out of control and swearing up a storm loud enough for culver city to hear him.
lastly, i'm working out with my buddy at the santa monica "mucscle beach" area a couple weeks ago and another loud angry homeless dude approaches my buddy and starts screaming at him, in his face, begging for a fist fight. when my buddy ignored him, he moved opn to the next guy, then an old man, then a young woman, then a guy with a kid in a stroller. he was clearly a nut case but he had this nice bike and took off after an hour of tormenting the entire beach.
these monsters are everywhere. in the past 6 months, i've had my bike stolen, my house burglarized, and my car broken into. where does it stop??? with another murder or two??
i have news for you venice…. it's gonna get worse before it gets better. california is releasing thousands of convicted criminals due to prision over-crowding. guess where they're coming? yeah, the land of milk and honey… good ole venice beach. the politicians are doing nothing to help us. and what can the police really do? their budgets have been cut too.
it's time to takmatters in our own hands………..
5:01 pm March 13, 2010
SaltWater
Palazzo degli Uffizi
Member
posts 285
2
0
Hey man, I feel your pain, really. You sound like a decent fellow just trying to get along.
Let me ask you a question though. Why do you think they are headed for Venice? Don't get me wrong, Venice, Santa Monica and really any urban waterfront has always been attractive to all kinds of people but no less so the freaks, criminals, drop outs, burn outs and creeps.
Why do you think these undesirables as you describe them would be more inclined to head this way now?
5:10 pm March 13, 2010
zappaman
Member
posts 502
3
0
Easy answer, Saltwater.
Cuz we don't do anything about it.
Nor do the police or our elected officials.
Are you really that naive?
I would also describe them as "undesirables". What would you call them?
5:28 pm March 13, 2010
SaltWater
Palazzo degli Uffizi
Member
posts 285
4
0
I'm trying to engage the poor guy in a discussion, a debate of sorts. So when I asked him (an individual) a question I want to know what THAT PERSON thinks.
That said, are you saying that the undesirables as we're decribing them are headed this way because they somehow know that you, me, the police and elected officials are apathetic and won't do anything about it? If that's the case- lf one will do anything, how do you suppose that they know this? Do they have some sort of communication system set up amongst themselves? Or, is it just the way it is and has been for so long that it's an accepted fact?
And I already described them above as freaks, criminals, drop outs, burn outs and creeps. This list isn't meant to be complete.
6:52 pm March 13, 2010
zappaman
Member
posts 502
5
0
yes, word is out that Venice is the place to go if you want to live on the streets, break into homes, steal from cars, and threaten residents without any reprecussions.
you don't believe there are ways for these predators to find out Venice is desirable for their criminal lifestyle.
are you saying they just innately know to flock her like criminal geese?
get back to us when you have some answers instead of your endless questions.
8:04 pm March 13, 2010
oldskol
Member
posts 38
8
0
Chill out zap, you tell a guy to look for answers, but he's not supposed to ask questions ? But if he reads the site you send him to he's going to be able to answer his own questions and report back to you ? Once again you lower the level of discussion to a lecture from a opinionated know-it-all to the ignorant masses.
Why can't you pretend your speaking to a friend in person, I'm sure you would be more polite.
8:49 pm March 13, 2010
zappaman
Member
posts 502
9
0
His questions have been answered by me and others on every single thread he's posted on.
And yes, I posted a site that again has an answer to one of his endless questions.
Not a know-it-all, but I know how to google.
9:20 pm March 13, 2010
SaltWater
Palazzo degli Uffizi
Member
posts 285
10
0
Actually d00d, I was addressing the OP when you piped in. I mean, it's a public forum so you have a right to spout off but my questions were'nt even for you even for you. So if you're put off by my curiousity you don't have to answer or even read anything I post.
9:31 pm March 13, 2010
Venice Resident
Member
posts 87
11
0
I called the cops 4 times today. Drunk Begger again Venice Blvd and Pacific, banged on my car window. then within 4 minutes passed out transient IN THE STREET sunning himself Strongs Drive and Wasington Blvd. Then tonight same loser begger that I have called in at least 10 times N.Venice blvd and pacific when he approached my car begging with my 3 year old in my car, then after a trip to the super market, he was still there with two other loser meth addicts. Called the police again asking why no one has arrived yet. they had no anwser. Yes i have read the reports that many criminals are being released..and yes they will come here not because the police do not do anything but because the police are understaffed an can not possibly be in 10 places at the same time. ALL of us need to call the police EVERY TIME you see these guys drinking, smoking, begging,fighting, Illegally sleeping, jay walking etc anything you can think of whenthe police get to question them they usually have a warrant and get arrested…keep it up they will move on. Anyone who wants to be updated when I send out my e mails with success stories and horror stories should e mail me at Veniceresident@yahoo.com.
Also please take photos the police love them and they really help other venice residents identify the bad guys.
9:51 pm March 13, 2010
dexter
Member
posts 136
12
0
oh my god.. illegal sleeping and begging…!!!!!!!
what did they do to you… nothing… no wonder the cops dont have any time.. people like you are calling for no fucking reason………………4 times no less..
10:28 pm March 13, 2010
Venice Resident
Member
posts 87
13
0
Dexter, you are an idiot, passed out in the middle of the street… yeah worthy of a call to the police and if some meth addict bangs on my car window with my three year old in the car i will call the police. …again, you are an idiot, these people are not collecting cans they are junkie losers who rob our homes and our cars at night then smile and beg for money by day. I have become active and have recieved MANY thanks from the police as they say to me If people call it makes their job easier. Yesterday and drunken drugged out loser was having a fit in front of my house and the police were called and he was arrested in front of the childrens park on dell, guess what, in possesion of illegal substance and guess what again, an outstanding felony warrant. Dexter, whats your address? i will have a tow truck haul a pice of shit RV full of transients right in front of your house and then you can give them cuddles and milk and cookies whild they rob your house or worse, commit a triple Murder, you should move to idiot town.
10:31 pm March 13, 2010
Venice Resident
Member
posts 87
14
0
PS: The police prioritize their calls so yes they do address more serious crimes before beggers and passed out junkies.
11:42 pm March 13, 2010
mr_popsicle
Member
posts 7
15
0
im not really interested in why, saltwater… but since u asked, it's pretty simple. if you care to engage simple thought. they come to venice because (A) word is out all over the country that venice is a lawless utopia for the homeless and desperate (B) they know they can get away with anything here and (B) there's nowhere else to go. sad, yes. but disneyland ain't free either and that's just life.
again, i'm not too concerned with why. all i know is this, i've got a baseball bat by my front door and a crowbar next to my nightstand. when someone decides to come into my home, they're probably gonna be leaving in a stretcher. actually, not probably! :)
10:15 am March 14, 2010
Shane
Member
posts 384
16
0
Actual conversation overheard on OFW. One guy said," I'm moving back to Colorado." The other said ,'Why? It' s so easy to be homeless in Venice."
11:14 am March 14, 2010
SaltWater
Palazzo degli Uffizi
Member
posts 285
17
0
mr_popsicle said:
im not really interested in why, saltwater… but since u asked, it's pretty simple. if you care to engage simple thought. they come to venice because (A) word is out all over the country that venice is a lawless utopia for the homeless and desperate (B) they know they can get away with anything here and (B) there's nowhere else to go. sad, yes. but disneyland ain't free either and that's just life.
again, i'm not too concerned with why. all i know is this, i've got a baseball bat by my front door and a crowbar next to my nightstand. when someone decides to come into my home, they're probably gonna be leaving in a stretcher. actually, not probably! :)
OK, I understand the 'why' isn't of importance to you but I'm going to put it out there- the 'why' is of importance. And since we might agree with your reasons- A and B, I'd ask why and how did Venice become the lawless utopia of late.
3:37 pm March 14, 2010
Wsder
Member
posts 35
18
0
Venice is now a homeless utopia for a few reasons. Back in the 80's and 90's there was much more of a police presence due to the rampant gang violence. When the police weren't engaged in direct confrontations with the Shorelines, V13 or random vagrant crackheads, they were hassling the homeless people of Venice (which was the "safe" police work in Venice at the time). Additionally, the streets of Venice weren't very safe to be homeless on back in the day. While it's true that a "scary homeless guy" vs the "average joe" works out bad for the average joe, the same is not true about a scary homeless guy vs a Venice Gangster or just a roughneck Venice local (back in the day).
I don't remember RVs parked around Venice with the same frequency when I was growing up… This is probably due to the threat of violence. Venice was a rough place… There were drive by shootings at Venice High, and it wasn't uncommon to hear gunshots and the helicopters before bed time.
The threat of violence is gone, the police have been scaled back and the new locals are not as rough around the edges (not saying that's a bad thing). The result is an empowered group of homeless people that don't feel like there will be any repercussions for their behavior. Even the super crazy have a small sense of self preservation and if there were consequences for intimidating people they wouldn't do it.
This is just MY version of what I think led to the increase in homeless, and I could be wrong. While it is important to understand the cause of the calamity, it's more important to work towards solutions.
I think Bret, and Yo!Venice! are on the right track with this letter writing campaign. The loudest issues will get the most attention. We can also start organizing visits to the West Los Angeles office. Letters are important, but a heartfelt plea to their deputy planners in a face to face meeting does wonders. If we organize, we can call the West LA, the Downtown, and the Westchester office to schedule meetings with staff. There are enough of us concerned about this issue. We are their constituants and they will have to assign a staff member to meet with us and hear our pleas. Imagine if 50 of us made 50 different appointments over a month period. I think the people with the direct confrontation stories would be the best ones to go in at first. Sit with a deputy planner and convey your fears to them. Let them know that you are scared and ask them to help you. If Rosendahl and his staff are not moved to help after that, than we'll have to wait it out until the next election.
So if you do get a meeting with a planner what should you ask for? I'm sure everyone wants to ask for a larger police presence, but I think we should suggest some new parking restrictions. I saw a "No Parking Sign" that was designated for vehicles over 6 feet high, the other day in the Oxford Triangle (I could be mistaken). This would do wonders for Venice… It would stop RVs from parking around our streets, and we wouldn't need the approval of the Coastal Commission, AND, we wouldn't need permits to park in our own neighborhood. Furthermore, I don't think it's too much to ask of the police to enforce the No Sleeping in vehicles law that is currently being ignored.
Sorry about the long winded response… I have been reading about this issue for awhile and finally took the time to chime in. I grew up in Venice, went to preschool on OFW and graduated from Venice High. It pains me to hear about people feeling intimidated or threatened by a rogue group of bullies that operate without consequences. Lets continue to get organized and demand a response from the people hired to represent us and protect us. Just started this twitter acct: twitter.com/savevenice
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