From The Venice Stakeholders Association:
Following last night’s transient vs. transient stabbing near the Venice Library in the Farmer’s Market parking lot, The Venice Stakeholders Association has renewed its call for Councilman Rosendahl to allow the LAPD to enforce several City ordinances that would disperse transient encampments and to stop public feeding programs on the Venice Boardwalk.
Councilman Bill Rosendahl
City Hall – 200 North Spring Street
Dear Councilman Rosendahl:
I am writing to ask that you immediately order the LAPD to enforce existing laws against sitting, lying and sleeping on public property between 6 AM and 9 PM, on occupying public property without a permit, obstructing the public way, obstructing ADA access, and storing personal possessions on public property. I also ask that you immediately introduce an amendment to the Boardwalk Vending ordinance to remove the spaces for public feeding programs.
You are currently playing Russian roulette with the citizens of Venice. Within the encampments you are allowing to exist and grow on 3rd Avenue, in the Farmers Market parking lot and elsewhere in Venice are individuals who are mentally ill, addicted to various drugs, and those prone to violence. The assault on a young couple on April 14th by several campers living on 3rd Avenue and the stabbing at the Farmers Market parking lot on April 21st underscore the violent element living in these encampments. It was not a coincidence that Boneetio Washington, who raped and murdered pregnant Eun Kang on Electric Avenue, routinely visited a public feeding program in Venice. The feeding stations, which serve no purpose in helping these individuals leave the street life, are a magnet and an enabler. The unsupervised encampments, in violation of several City ordinances, also enable these individuals to continue their life on the street and are a magnet for more transients to settle in Venice, which puts violence prone individuals close to our homes and families.
On April 18, 2012, Mayor Villaraigosa told me that you control whether the LAPD cites the violations of the Municipal Code concerning occupation of public space in your district and that his office has taken a hands-off approach in deference to the prerogatives of the Councilman of the district.
Please exercise your clear authority to remove these dangerous encampments from our neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Mark Ryavec
Mark Ryavec, President
cc: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Charles Beck, Chief of Police
Captain Jon Peters, Commander, Pacific Division
