June 17, 2025 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Venice Shorts: Karen Bass & Traci Park, Perfect Together?

By Nick Antonicello

With the election behind us and the politics of governmental progress now the talk of the day, it seems that a former Republican, right-of-center Democrat is now working with LA’s new liberal Mayor in a serious attempt to tackle the issue of encampments in Venice and beyond.

While politics does make for strange bedfellows, it seems LA Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D-LA) are making a concerted effort to tackle the issue of homelessness and get at least for the moment, parts of Venice’s homeless dilemma addressed and cleaned-up.

Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Traci Park announced that the Mayor’s new Inside Safe initiative is underway.

Outreach has begun to people living in encampments surrounding the A Bridge Home site at the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Pacific Avenue, and people have already accepted housing. Inside Safe is a new, citywide, proactive housing-led strategy to bring people inside from tents and encampments for good, and to prevent encampments from returning. 

“I’m proud to be locking arms with Councilwoman Park to change the way we approach homelessness in Los Angeles to bring people inside in a strategic and lasting way,” said Mayor Bass. “Councilwoman Park and I spent yesterday morning conducting outreach with encampment residents and meeting with service providers and local residents about how Inside Safe replaces quick fixes with real solutions. It’s important that the policy solutions developed are informed by the people most directly affected. Through Inside Safe, we will save lives and restore our neighborhoods.”

“During my campaign, I pledged to pursue a comprehensive approach to working with service providers and city leaders to compassionately get encampments like those surrounding the bridge home the support they need,” said Councilwoman Park. “This initiative is to show that the Government can be a place to heal. We don’t just want to say it; we want to show it. Putting people in rooms without the care they need doesn’t work. We need to ensure that they have adequate access to services they need including mental health, trauma, and substance use services for the unhoused.”

This new alliance between Bass and Park comes after a long campaign on different sides of the political equation as Park, a Venice attorney was an early supporter of former councilmember Joe Buscaino for LA Mayor, but he eventually dropped out to support billionaire developer Rick Caruso who spent over $100,000,000 dollars of his own money only to be easily vanquished by Bass by a 55%-45% margin with about one million votes cast.

Buscaino recently accepted a lobbyist position after spending two terms on the city council. Park never officially endorsed anyone in the November runoff, but clearly was more philosophically aligned with Caruso, who became a Democrat just weeks before announcing his plans to succeed Eri Garcetti last spring. Buscaino’s district director is now a member of Park’s staff in the same legislative capacity.

While this is in no-way an “Odd Couple” political partnership of sorts, it speaks to the importance of getting the homeless issue addressed in a meaningful way by these new leaders who have to strip away the notion Los Angeles is governmentally dysfunctional and out-of-touch with average Angelenos and Venetians alike.

This is certainly a good start with hopefully a new beginning to addressing homelessness in a meaningful fashion.

Nick Antonicello  is a thirty-year resident of Venice and currently serves as a member of the Outreach & Oceanfront Walk Committees of the Venice Neighborhood Council. Have a take or a tip? Contact Antonicello at nantoni@mindspring.com

Related Posts

Multiple Injuries Reported in Windward Ave Collision: REPORT

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Emergency crews closed the affected intersection to secure the area and began cleanup efforts A vehicle collision involving at least...

Venice Shorts: Final VNC Meeting for Outgoing Board This Tuesday

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Washington Blvd RV Motion, Election Survey results, Topics for Discussion and action By Nick Antonicello  The final board meeting for...

Renovated Riviera Estate Hits Market for $25M

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows flood the home with natural light, with nearly every room opening to a private deck or patio...

(Video) Home Front Build Maintains Original Architectural Vision For Modern Homes

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

For More Information, Go to homefrontbuild.com For More Information, Go to https://t.co/2a97C1iahj pic.twitter.com/XI7Z6URyv3 — Yo! Venice! (@YoVenice) June 16, 2025

(Video Recap) “No Kings” Protest Comes to Downtown Santa Monica

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

Palisades Park was one of a dozen LA locations where protestors took to the streets on Saturday to challenge ICE...

Newly 15-Unit Mar Vista Complex Goes for Nearly $10M

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

Thirteen of the units are exempt from Los Angeles city rent control, allowing greater flexibility for future rent adjustments A...

Metro Releases Draft Report for Sepulveda Transit Corridor Plan

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

Five proposed transit alternatives could connect the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, with service forecasted to begin between 2033...

THIS WEEKEND: Santa Monica Hosts 33rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

The event, which draws over 2,000 attendees annually from Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, and beyond, was first funded by...

SMPD Announces Safety Measures Ahead of Upcoming ‘No Kings’ Rally on Westside

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

Enhanced patrols, rapid-response teams, and advanced technology for situational awareness are part of a detailed operational plan The Santa Monica...

Venice Heritage Museum and Venice Arts Hosts Exhibit on Internment of Japanese Americans

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

The exhibition, housed in the museum’s back gallery, features the students’ work alongside a zine that ties the past to...

THIS WEEKEND: Skate Series Hits Venice with $25K Top Prize

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

The Venice Beach event will showcase street-level action, judged on amplitude, trick difficulty, execution, style, and overall impression Skateboarders are...

Mastro’s Malibu Reopens With Ocean Views, Signature Steaks, and Nearly Entire Staff Intact

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

Iconic Oceanfront Steakhouse Returns With Its Beloved Butter Cake, Nightly Live Music, and Sunset Glamour After a five-month closure due...

Grass Fire Extinguished in Palisades

June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025

Firefighters remained on scene to conduct mop-up operations, ensuring no hot spots persisted Firefighters extinguished a small grass fire in...

L.A. Louver Extends 50th Anniversary Exhibit

June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025

Located on the same block as its original 1970s site, L.A. Louver has hosted over 660 exhibitions since its founding...

Third Annual Rosé on Rose Wine Fest Comes to Venice Beach This Weekend

June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025

Rosé offerings priced between $8 and $10 per glass at various Rose Avenue establishments The third annual Rosé on Rose...