jonf, if I remember correctly, it started behind WF and residents had a problem with that.  I guess what I mean, is, why doesn't WF do it in front of their building in the parking lot there?  

(Directed generally, not at jonf) Aren't the vending spaces (even the food ones) meant for small vendors?  WF is a large corporation.  Shouldn't they have been kicked out of that space?  I've got nothing against WF at all, but fair is far after all. 

Also, to the person saying that the homeless are stakeholders in Venice… What exactly makes them stakeholders? Is it just by virtue of camping on and squatting land? Are they paying taxes on the money that they panhandle?  Are they claiming excise tax on the stuff they are stealing/carting around?  The statement that the homeless are stakeholders in Venice does not make any sense. I've lived here for about 6 years now, and only in the past couple of years have I really felt like I have a say/stake in the community.  As someone who doesn't own a car, I shop almost exclusively in Venice, and I don't mean just small purchases on the boardwalk.  I support local businesses with money I bring in from out of state, whether it's rent, groceries, or other items needed to live, play, and work.  To me, that is what allows me to consider myself someone with a vested interest/stake in this community.  I do not see the homeless doing this, other than the money that is grifted/stolen from tourists (who would otherwise also spend that money here).  It seems to me, by your logic, that even tourists are stakeholders in Venice and should have a hand in our local politics and how the community is maintained, run, and otherwise functions.  

Venice Beach and The Boardwalk (OFW) are public parks, apparently operated by the City/County of Los Angeles.  We are never going to be able to say "your kind can't be here" but we can do our best to enforce the laws of the land in a humane and ethical manner, without reverting to some police state or anarchist free for all.  This should be a beautiful place to live, work, and play.  By most accounts it generally is.  It's just irksome to pay to live here with all of the fantastic amenities this community has built and maintained only to have it , pissed, and littered upon by people who think it's "cool" to trash it.  I don't want this to become like SaMo, but if given a choice between SaMo and the status quo of what it was like when I first moved here, I'd accept it for a bit of peace, peace of mind, and not have to wonder what the hell that wet stuff was I just rolled over on my skateboard (I have to pick it up and carry it places…)

Summarily, I would ask once again, why does it have to be OFW, and Venice in general?

jonf said

rick90291 said
jonf, if I remember correctly, it started behind WF and residents had a problem with that.  I guess what I mean, is, why doesn't WF do it in front of their building in the parking lot there?  …

Yes, I think that's right, Rick.  My assumption was that it was Whole Foods property, probably in loading areas?  (Never really been behind the store) 

If it was their property, doing it there could make sense from a business perspective, assuming they don't get shipments that day, because they'd be utilizing extra space instead of their customers' parking spaces.

(Also, I don't know how the parking lot is owned or apportioned, as it is used by other businesses, not just WF)

It didn't make sense to the people that live just across the street from the back of WF. WF was going to do it without even consulting their neighbors, thankfully they listened to the neighbors concerns and found another location.