Please Support Maintaining the Venice Beach 12-5AM Closure Policy

Please support the continuation of the closure of Venice Beach and Boardwalk 12-5 AM for reasons of public safety.

The City has foolishly decided to file for a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) to maintain its decades-old park closure policy from 12 to 5 AM.  This is an exposure the City should not risk as closing the beach at any time is well within the exercise of its inherent police powers; e.g., the Los Angeles County Lifeguards did not get a CDP to close the beach last year during lightening storms that threatened to electrocute anyone out on the beach.

In the first step in the CDP process, the Rec. and Parks Department applied for a City CDP to the City's Board of Public Works, which was granted.  Now, the usual suspects, which include the head of the Venice Family Clinic and other homeless advocates who filed the earlier lawsuit that led to the City filing for the CDP, have filed an appeal which will be heard this Friday before the Los Angeles City Board of Public Works (DPW).

Fortunately, DPW staff at this point has recommended denying the appeal and maintaining the beach closures at night on all of LA's beaches.

To support the CDP for the beach closure policy please send a simple message, such as:

I support the City 12-5 AM Beach Park Closure Ordinance.  I urge you to deny the appeal of the Coastal Development Permit for the Beach Park Closure Ordinance.

Send it to:  fernando.campos@lacity.org and norman.mundy@lacity.org

Send copies to:   mike.bonin@lacity.org and debbie.dynerharris@lacity.org

The Board agenda is here:   http://ens.lacity.org/bpw/agendas/bpwagendas86117942 01192018.htm

 The staff report is here:  http://boe.lacity.org/docs/dpw/agendas/2018/201801/2018019/boe/20180119 ag br boe 1.pdf

Thanks and best wishes to you and yours for the New Year.

Mark Ryavec

Top 10 Reasons Los Angeles Homelessness Will Soar Again in 2018

   1) Average cost to build a SINGLE UNIT of “supportive housing” for L.A.’s homeless: $421,433
   
   2) Cost to BUY a 1-bedroom CONDO in Westlake, or a 4-bedroom HOME in Riverside: $421,000

   3) Number of homeless units built under Mayor Garcetti with $1.2 billion in HHH bonds: ZERO

   4) Cash spent by developers in 2017 to influence the City Council, mayor & officials to build MORE luxury housing: $4.8 million

   5) Skid Row’s average rent after the City Council gentrified the area for urban hipsters: $1,900/mo.

  6) Of 20 new residential towers slated for South Park DTLA, number that offer affordable units – TWO

  7) Affordable units planned for Westfield Promenade’s 1,400-unit mega-project in the Valley:  ZERO

  8) Number of households evicted by L.A. landlords so they could  jack up rents in 2017: 1,200

  9) Number of affordable bungalows & units razed by L.A. developers in 2017: “City Hall doesn’t keep track.” 

 10) Number of toilets Garcetti opened for 1,800 homeless people on Skid Row in 2017:  EIGHT 

Source: The Coalition to Preseve LA