Gunman on Abbot Kinney Blvd. Kills Man, Shoots Woman in Face

By Jim Smith

The Abbot Kinney Festival, Sept. 28, ended with a senseless murder at 9:20 pm as vendors and maintenance people were finishing the dismantling of hundreds of booths along the boulevard.

Instead of a pleasant day of happy reunions and wonder at the crafts and arts stretching from Venice Blvd. to Main Street, the day will always be remember as the end of the life of 31-year-old Adam Pacheco.

It’s unknown whether the gunman and the victim knew each other. The shooter apparently fired six shots into the crowd at San Juan Ave. and Abbot Kinney. A woman driving down Abbot Kinney was hit in the face, but continued to drive to California Avenue where she sought help. She was taken to UCLA hospital but released the next day. 

The murderer ran around the corner and escaped in a white truck driven by another man.

Ironically, there were more police officers on Abbot Kinney than could be found any other time of the year. Still more ironically, none of them saw the shooting. 

However, lots of local people did see the shooting. Calls to the Beachhead gave differing descriptions of the shooter and how he escaped. Most witnesses said he was white, some called him a skinhead. One even said he had blue eyes.

However, The LAPD issued a press release saying the killer was a 17-18 year-old male Hispanic. In response to a question from the Beachhead at a press conference, Sept. 30, at the Pacific Division, Homicide Detective Mike DePasquale said that one witness had told the police that the shooter was Hispanic, while another had said he was white or Latino. In spite of the conflicting witnesses, the police described him as a Hispanic, and implied that the shooting was gang related.

The confusion about the identity of the shooter may have been caused because he wore a hooded jacket when he performed the crime.

Asked why the street had not been cleared by 9:20 pm, as in previous years, LAPD Capt. Joseph Hiltner said only that the police were considering an early closing time in the future.

This was the second shooting in Venice within a week, and followed a murder in Mar Vista Gardens five days earlier. Police said both shootings were unrelated to the Abbot Kinney crime.

Anyone with information about the murderer should call the LAPD at 310-482-6316.

Who Do You Love? – For President

In early September, the Beachhead put out a call to Venetians to write about their favorite candidate for President. Of the six candidates on the California ballot, no one responded supporting Bob Barr, Alan Keyes or  John McCain. Submissions were received supporting Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney and Barack Obama. The best of those are reprinted in this edition.

Vote for Ralph Nader

By Jim Smith

I want to start this article about why you should vote for Ralph Nader by saying that I hope Barack Obama defeats John McCain. There is some difference between them on domestic affairs. Unfortunately, Obama wants to create a new Iraq war in Afghanistan, encircle and provoke Russia with a ring of NATO countries. He is not a peace candidate.

In California, Obama is miles ahead – 52 – 39 percent – at this writing. In 2000 and 2004, Gore and Kerry carried the state by more than 1.25 million votes – a landslide. Obama will get all of California’s electoral votes. In our convoluted democracy, popular votes don’t count, only electoral votes.

How can we, in Venice, make the best use of our valuable votes? By making it even more lopsided for Obama, or by voting for Ralph Nader? If you live in Venice, there is probably much more on which you agree with Nader. 

Ralph Nader’s platform includes the following. Neither Obama nor McCain is supporting any of these issues. Check the ones where you agree:

_____ Law and Order, Not Bailouts, On Wall Street

_____ Adopt single payer national health insurance (remove corporate profit)

_____ Reverse U.S. policy in the Middle East, withdraw troops and corporate contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan.

_____ Cut the huge, bloated, wasteful military budget

_____ No to nuclear power, solar energy first

_____ Aggressive crackdown on corporate crime and corporate welfare

_____ Adopt a carbon pollution tax (reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere)

_____ Living wage for all; Repeal the Taft-Hartley anti-union law (all workers should have the right to join a  union without being threatened with firing)

_____ Open up the election process and the Presidential debates (Nader is on the ballot in 45 states, yet he is barred from the debates)

(Detailed information on these and other issues is available at http://www.votenader.org)

Ralph Nader advocates a rapid withdrawal from Iraq. He is opposed to war with Iran. Both Obama and McCain say war with Iran is still “on the table.” Either of the two major candidates is likely to trade a “war” in Iraq for a “war” with Afghanistan. Nader has been opposed to U.S. intervention in Afghanistan from the beginning. He says the U.S. should abide by international law when going after terrorists. Ralph Nader is of Lebanese extraction. When he has a family reunion at his home, he can see the Middle East from his living room!

In the recent confrontation between Russia and Georgia, both major candidates immediately sided with Georgia. Nader explained that Russia is angry with U.S. and NATO activity on its borders. “Why are we trying to surround a large country like Russia that already has reasons to feel paranoid,” said Nader. “It’s as if we are trying to start another Cold War,” he continued.

Let’s get one thing straight. Ralph Nader did not cause Al Gore to lose the presidential election in 2000. In fact, Al Gore won the election. It was stolen from him by George W. Bush and the Supreme Court. Had Nader not been in the election, the result would have been the same. If you want to blame someone for Bush getting in the White House, blame the Democrats for not fighting harder to defend our right to a free, democratic election in 2000 – and 2004.

Nader’s campaign is aimed at addressing the real issues that the candidates of the two major parties ignore. But it is also focused on the future. Without courageous candidates like Ralph Nader, we’ll be stuck with corporate-sponsored political parties that are beholden to the rich and powerful.

 

We can, and should, celebrate the possible election of an African-American as President of the United States. And, the inclusion of a woman as the vice-presidential candidate of the Republicans is a step forward for that party. These candidacies are symbolic of equality for people of color and women. Yet, the election of either one will not fundamentally change the living conditions of millions of Blacks or Latinos, or women. Real change for most working people will have to wait until a candidate with a platform like Ralph Nader’s gets elected.

Ralph Nader is on the ballot in California because he is the presidential nominee of the Peace and Freedom Party. It’s important to support third parties, like P&F, that provide another voice in the political arena. Don’t sit on the sidelines by registering “Decline to State,” or by remaining a Democrat (it only makes them feel complacent). 

Register and vote for the California Peace and Freedom Party. Learn more at http://www.peaceandfreedom.org. Visit Ralph Nader’s website at http://www.votenader.org. In Venice, call 310-399-2215. Vote Ralph Nader on Nov. 4.

Vote for Cynthia McKinney

By Mark Lipman

How lucky we are to be in California. While states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are forced to fight it out between the lesser of two evils, between one, who will give us total nuclear war and the other, who will give us a kinder, gentler war without end, while both will continue to cater to Wall Street in their own particular fashions, we here in California actually are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to make our votes count for something, something more than just the latest fad.

We have the chance to vote based on our moral beliefs; on who stands by us on the issues. We get the rare opportunity to cast a vote for the greater good.  The only question is which one?  McKinney or Nader?

Oh, how I wish they were on the same ticket – in either order.

While Nader has been a lifelong champion of consumer rights, McKinney has a lifelong political record of doing the right thing.  Ralph Nader has been right all along and so too has Cynthia McKinney.  Nader founded the Green Party and McKinney is their candidate.  In the end, that is what it comes down to.

Ralph Nader, for all he has done for this country, has forgotten the most essential thing – when to step aside to let the next generation take up the reins.

Instead of working together to unify the left, something this country desperately needs, we’re stuck with a split vote between two great candidates.

Cynthia McKinney is of the future, Ralph Nader is of the past.  McKinney is working to build the Green Party into a major party that can pose itself as a serious opposition party to both the democrats and republicans.  Nader, as much as I respect him; as much as he has done for all of us, is working for himself.

That’s the difference.  As an independent, thinking of what is best for the future of this country, I am left with only one choice – Cynthia McKinney.

Vote for Barack Obama

By Chuck Bloomquist

Barack Obama is the wisest and, indeed, the only reasonable choice for President.

I have a long and enduring admiration for real mavericks such as Eugene Debs, Norman Thomas, Henry Wallace, Peter Camejo, and Ralph Nader, and I’ve even honked for Ron Paul. 

But none of the third-party candidates listed can win and even if they did they couldn’t govern. The existing political establishment would make mock of them and defy them at every turn. In spite of the fact that the administration has become ever more powerful it still runs on partisan politics and the ability to seize the levers of power. So, love the oddballs, but don’t expect a vote for any of them to be anything but symbolic.

John McCain would be George W. Bush on steroids. His belligerence on Iran and recently towards Russia is particularly unsettling. His continuance of Reaganesque platitudes promising no new taxes and market solutions to all problems makes me feel like weeping. One of his loudest talking points is his promise to do away with earmarks. This resonates with the public although if looked at analytically, it is hard to fathom why. (It may be associated with wrapping one’s head around large numbers: for example, the daily cost of the war in Iraq is more than the total cost of the bridge to nowhere). 

The total amount of money spent on all earmarks is trivial relative to expenditures in Iraq and as far as I know, no one has ever been killed through implementing earmarks; indeed, many good works have been accomplished at a local level. 

On the basis of his record and his speeches Barack Obama provides hope for substantial and far-reaching change in the abysmal record of the federal government over the past several decades. He has seized the levers of power in the Democratic Party, invigorated the electorate, and raised record-breaking amounts of money for his campaign. All of which suggests that he can indeed govern and perhaps keep the wheels from totally coming off of the federal wagon. 

Nominations to the Supreme Court should show a definite improvement over recent appointments and are imperative for the satisfactory resolution of issues important to women, workers and the general public. One can be sure that he will also appoint better qualified people to important positions in the administration to replace the political hacks we have been subjected to in the last eight years. 

It is reasonable to hope that he will act on the environment, energy, and health care in a progressive and responsible manner. Global warming should finally get the attention its seriousness warrants. On foreign policy his heart seems to be in the right place and he will have advisors who have been around the track a few times and will, at least, provide debatable alternatives. 

In addition to these policy initiatives, he has many other positive attributes that beg for an affirmative vote. His election will ratchet up the civil rights movement another notch. While not achieving the promised land of which Dr. King spoke, it will be another irreversible step in that direction. His election will clearly raise the esteem in which the United States is held throughout the world. This would provide a friendlier environment for negotiations with foreign countries. His election should signal the end of our bellicose approach to foreign affairs. 

The change required in our federal government is way beyond the capability of any of those running for the office, including Barack Obama. None of them, or any others, would be able to bring even half the change the country really needs in the time allotted between election cycles. That change can only come from constant pressure by the citizenry on the government, abetted by wise electoral decisions. 

Letters

• McCain offers a chocolate teapot and Barack a steaming one - clare kitchen

• Suzanne’s Angels – 1 - Bruce Deile

• Suzanne’s Angels – 2 - Moira Nordholt

——

McCain offers a chocolate teapot and Barack a steaming one

Dear Beachhead,

As an outsider I write to offer you my humble opinion. I do this as I have an interest in being in the US and care about its future.

 If I was a US citizen I would vote for Barack and his team because I believe they will make a needed difference particularly to vulnerable people overlooked in society. 

 Barack has the sterling qualities and grounded good sense so important for developing US prosperity and international relations. His appeal to Europeans is not an accident it is respect of a fine leader who understands diversity and oppression in the world. He did not support the war and would work for world peace. 

 His wife and mother contribute essential voices of women applicable to all backgrounds. I trust their life experience and their ideas of what needs to be developed for women in US society to bring greater parity and welfare. 

Republican’s bias against women’s rights particularly over reproductive issues, negate women’s’ integrity and quality of life.

 Any leader worth their salt must work against oppression and support the vulnerable in society. Barack has this edge as he listens with a sensitivity and emotional intelligence which is humane and needed at this time of financial and emotional recession.

clare kitchen, london,uk

——

Suzanne’s Angels

Dear Beachhead,

This is in reply to your 2007 article about Suzanne Verdal (homeless woman in song ‘Suzanne’ by Leonard Cohen from the 1960’s). I just posted under the Francoise Hardy French version of ‘Suzanne’ found on You Tube (it’s on my faves–www.youtube.com/azorka82). Hopefully Suzanne Verdal has received help. Thank you for the article. 

Bruce Deile, Homeless; Bellingham, WA

——

 Suzanne’s Angels – 2

Dear Beachhead

By the time this month’s Beachhead comes out, I will be back in Venice relishing the comforts of home. I’ll be enjoying quiet time with my kitty and savoring the sounds of my partner’s piano improvisations while cooking a meal of fall’s market bounty.

I’ll be delighting in the simple pleasures of a long hot shower, a Sunday paper and my own bed – simple pleasures made blissful by the effort required get back to them, and by the daily reminder that to be provided with these creature comforts is a blessing.

By the time you read this, I will have completed an epic motorcycle ride from Venice Beach to Inuvik, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, 2 degrees north of the Arctic Circle on the MacKenzie River Delta near the Arctic Ocean – and back. I will have logged almost 10,000 miles on my 1997 Buell S1 Lightning named Henk. 

I left Venice on August 19, and today, more than a month later, I’m about five days from home – if everything goes smoothly.

It’s been quite an adventure… 

I’ve ridden to the Land of the Midnight Sun, camped under the northern lights, entered (and lost) the legendary Outhouse Races in Dawson City, had my fair share of bear sightings, bumped up and back the entire dusty Dempster Highway, burned up a pair of tires, and broke down.

The other day, I rode for the first time ever in snow. I love the Alaska Highway for its stark isolation and the sheer will power it requires in foul weather to carry on. But I had a rip in my drive belt and my tires were balding. This particular portion south of Fort Nelson was not fun. 

My fingers seemed permanently frozen around the handgrips and I had ice on my rain suit, but when the snow lightened and the sun came out three hours into my ride, my spirits lifted. I became hopeful I’d make it down to Mile 0 in Dawson Creek and be off the Alaska Highway before winter closed in on northern Canada. 

But right there and then, at the height of optimism at the peak of the day at the summit of a mountain pass, I hit the depths of despair. The tear in my drive belt gave way and I was flying beltless down the chip sealed road – tons of torque, but no drive. 

It could have been a nightmare. But within seconds of my breakdown, the crisis was diffused by Mark, John and Richard, whom I flagged down and who thought nothing of loading my bike into their pick-up and driving me to a trucker camp down the highway where I could wait for them to stop in the following day to take me 500 miles to Prince George for repairs.

The rescue happened so quickly, I was barely able to register the severity of the situation – just how vulnerable I’d have been standing out there in bear country in the freezing cold on a highway where traffic is scarce and trucks with three willing and able guys, room in the back and tie-downs at the ready even scarcer. It’s only now that days have passed, my motorbike is repaired and I’m safe and warm that the enormity of it all is beginning to sink in.

Before setting out in August, I started Suzanne’s Angels – Women on the road for Women on the street – to help a friend in need. 

Perhaps you’ve seen her funky truck, the wooden shingled art home on wheels, or maybe you’ve had the opportunity to hear her read her beautiful poetry at Sponto’s. 

Suzanne lives in her truck with her four beloved adopted cats. She lives homelessness as art, with a great deal of dignity, but five years of being exposed to the elements and sleeping in a crawl space is taking its toll.

She’s been an enormous source of inspiration to myself and many, finding beauty in the smallest details, and never taking a thing for granted. Yes, she’s the real muse behind Leonard Cohen’s poem, which became the hit song, “Suzanne” covered by no less than 20 artists since the 60’s. His ethereal description of her forty years ago still rings true. She still finds “heroes in the seaweed” and “shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers.” 

Suzanne is an eloquent writer and a sensitive poet, and has lived a fascinating life. Her dream is to have a small studio where she can make herself at home and finish writing her book. 

She has recently taken large steps toward that dream. Suzanne is presently near Santa Cruz with her truck and her kitties, trading garden work, along with her cooking and massage skills for the use of a new friend’s kitchen, bathroom and electricity.

She just needs a leg up. Response so far has been wonderful. I’ve had pledges of a penny per mile or more from friends, friends of friends, and strangers. Even Erik Buell, designer of my motorcycle and CEO of the Buell Motorcycle Company, has made a personal pledge. My goal is to have a dollar per mile pledged before the cold rains of winter begin in the redwoods near Santa Cruz. I’m almost half way there. 

Whenever I embark on a solo adventure, I prepare myself with the uncomfortable reality that I may occasionally, due to mechanical failure or inclement weather, have to rely on the kindness of strangers to get me out of a jam. I sometimes have no choice but to trust in the innate goodness of humanity. Perhaps because of that trust, I’ve encountered angels every time.

I’ve set up “Suzanne’s Angels” as a group on Facebook, as well as a blog at http://www.suzannesangels.blogspot.com. Anyone who would like to help me help Suzanne get a roof over her head can email me personally at moira@firehorserider.com.And what could be more fitting than to invite Mr. Moss to the inaugural event of the Arch Conservatives of Venice, CA? He can give us pointers on more ways to circumvent NIMBYism or, perhaps, bring more and more NIMBYists into the reality of Arch Conservatism.

I look forward to such an event.

Venice has had plenty of name-calling episodes as the community struggles to respond to new ideas without losing the community. I recall a time when all the kids came home from San Francisco and told us to respond to criticism with love. Let’s give our critics some arch love. 

Moira Nordholt

IN BRIEF: Change Your Eating Habits

At last! Desert on Abbot Kinney that you can enjoy without a guilty conscious. N’ice Cream – organic gelato – held a grand opening celebration, Sept. 27, with a line down the block waiting to get in. The best news is that the locally-owned store is conveniently located next to the chain-store, Pinkberry, across the street from Abbot’s Habit.

Unfortunately, two great eateries have closed their doors this month. Stroh’s Deli at 1239 Abbot Kinney Blvd. fell victim to rising rents. One AKB merchant said her rent is raised $500 per month every year. Sounds like an invitation to chain stores. Who else  can afford those rents?

Also closing was La Fiesta, purveyor of fine Mexican foods, at Windward and Pacific. Rents are also a problem in this part of town, not to mention the arrival of a chain Mexican restaurant across the street.

Stroh’s is being replaced by J’s Kitchen, which bills itself as an “all organic vegan macrobiotic way of eating.” 

And, Eko Zone, a new vegan store, will celebrate its grand opening with a special event on October 10. It will be located at 1718 Main St. #1. Eko Zone sells vegan clothing, shoes, accessories, and bodycare items.

103 Appeals Filed Against Permit Parking In Venice

More than 100 individual appeals have been filed opposing the city of Los Angeles’ plan to impose Overnight Permit Parking Districts (OPDs) in Venice, according to Julie Van Wagner of the city’s Bureau of Engineering.

The restriction of coastal access was the overriding concern of many of the appeals. It would be nearly impossible to find free parking on public streets in Venice from 2 – 6am if the OPDs were implemented. This would force many very low-income residents who live in their vehicles to leave the coastal zone. It would also prevent evening shift workers from coming to the beach and surrounding area after they get off work. 

The OPDs were vigorously opposed at the only public hearing on the matter, which was held in Venice on June 26. Opponents noted that the hearing was not even mentioned in the Decision issued by the Bureau of Engineering on Aug. 26. Appeals pointed out that this might be a violation of state law. In addition, the conduct of the hearing was contracted out to a Boston-based firm, Camp, Dresser and McKee Inc., and no transcript of the hearing was made.

Other issues included lack of exemption of vehicles with handicapped placards; inability of residents living west of Speedway to obtain parking permits; a possible conflict of interest by the city of Los Angeles’ Department of Transportation which filed the application for the OPDs and stands to make about $1 million per year for its overnight parking fund from selling the $35 permits; plus revenue from citations for not having a permit. 

Alan Willis, Principal Transportation Engineer at the Dept. of Transportation, who filed the applications on behalf of the city, claimed that the OPDs were needed because of “overnight parking of commercial vehicles and abandonment of vehicles.” Opponents say these are fabricated excuses for establishing the permits.

According to Peggy Lee Kennedy of the Justice Committee and Venice Food not Bombs, the OPDs are aimed at those who live in RVs. “The city, along with a few homeless haters came up with this scheme to drive the poor and disabled vehicular housed homeless people out of our community.” 

Steve Clare, executive director of VCHC, a neighborhood based non profit housing corporation located in one of the OPD’s, said VCHC’s appeal focused on issues of  “fundamental fairness.”  “The public should have the right to use the pubic streets that we all pay to maintain.  And no one should be denied the opportunity to come and enjoy Venice beach whenever they can find the time.” Clare said.

Jim Smith, a participant and former chairperson of the Venice Town Council, said “Nothing in recent years has united opposition of all groups in Venice like the OPDs have. It has brought together homeowners, renters and the homeless to oppose OPDs, which seem so wrong for so many reasons. Unfortunately, the anti-RV crowd has convinced Councilmember Bill Rosendahl to go along with the OPDs in spite of community opposition.”

The appeals will now be reviewed by Van Wagner, who said it may take more than a month since there are so many of them. Meanwhile, opposition to permit parking continues to grow in Venice.

What happened at the Venice Neighborhood Council meeting?

By Jim Smith

The Venice Neighborhood Council (not to be confused with the Town Council or the Community Council) met on Sept. 16. Here are some of the highlights (and lowlights).

• At the last minute, a motion was pulled that stated the VNC “adamantly rejects any neighborhood council participation, endorsing or use of City Council revised form 52. The form would disclose what property the Board member owns. A similar form is required for all candidates of public office. The value of the form is that it would alert members of the community to possible conflicts-of-interest by the VNC officials. A Board member told the Beachhead that several other members had said they would resign if required to fill out the disclosure.

•Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC) chair, Challis MacPherson, resigned from the Board (which she is a member of also) and walked out when a vote went against a proposal to expand the LUPC. About an hour later, and after some back room arm twisting, a new vote was taken that pleased MacPherson, and she returned to her seat. The motion was to increase the LUPC committee from 9 to 13 people. A referendum to that effect was voted on by the stakeholders (the community) last month, and it did not pass. Whether the Board can override the wishes of the community remains to be seen.

• The Board wants to “grandfather” already constructed illegal fences and allow new fences that are higher than the current maximum of 42 inches. Discussion, pro and con, was heard, and a vote will be taken at the next meeting.

• A motion was considered to put the VNC on record against the sale of any city-owned “surplus” property in Venice. It was on its way to passing until an aide of Councilmember Bill Rosendahl told the body to exempt a vacant lot at 520 Venice Blvd. which was in the process of being sold. Community activist have long sought, to no avail, to use the triangular-shaped vacant lot at the corner of Venice Way for a community garden. The aide said the proceeds of the sale – which should go to the Venice Surplus Property Fund – would be used to build a parking garage. In other words, Venice would lose the possibility of a conveniently located community garden, and would have to pay out of its local fund to build a parking garage for the convenience of visitors from other parts of Los Angeles. The parking revenue would go to the city of Los Angeles. The Board quickly amended its motion to exempt this piece of property.

• A VNC motion was placed in support of “Annual Growth and Infrastructure Review” which is based on a lawsuit against the city for excessive growth without adequate infrastructure to support it. However, the motion was quickly tabled when it dawned on Board members that it could result in a moratorium on development until adequate infrastructure – sewers, water, transportation, etc. – was created in Venice. 

Venetians will get an opportunity to hear about the lawsuit – and support it – at the Venice Town Council meeting on Oct. 10 at the Methodist Church auditorium. The lawsuit says that the city of L.A. is violating its own provisions for ensuring there is adequate infrastructure before more growth is allowed. Lucille Saunders, who initiated the legal action, will speak.

What’s Cookin’ At Lincoln Place – We’re Not Dead Yet!

By C.V. Beck

Here at Lincoln Place we residents who remain continue to be treated as if we are invisible and/or gone already.  This is quite a blow to our self-esteem, this being treated as though we are already dead and gone, when we are not.  We are still alive,actively living our lives in Venice, Bohemian artistic showplace of the western edge, in case this has slipped your mind.

Both sides “talked” in mid-September, apparently, AIMCO is still greedy as ever. Therefore, both sides will be proceeding with discovery and ensuing motions. The cases of the “locked-out” residents are being transferred from evictions court to the complex court where the damages suit is being heard.  Our attorneys are working very hard to get the “locked-out” residents restored to their legal apartments here.

A few weeks ago, more signs reappeared on Penmar Avenue, apparently in response to a plethora of dogwalkers who had very aggressively seized upon this opportunity not to have to clean up after their pet companions.  There were five signs, all saying “Private Property – No Trespassing – Violators will be prosecuted” and at least 3 security guards along the row who continue to tell passersbys that “no one lives here.” According to one resident, the postal workers and Fedex are still being told that “no one lives here;” and this person’s mail continues not to be delivered or picked up, timely.   

One day in September, I was awakened to the sweet sound of power equipment at 7am. When I went to look, barefoot and with a camera in my hands, I saw several tree trimming trucks and storage bins, which had magically appeared all along Elkgrove Avenue. A good sized crew was pruning and trimming up in the trees.  One of my neighbors spoke with the crew leader who said they were contracted by the city to perform 20 percent trimming and pruning of neglected trees at Lincoln Place, around the vacant units only, and that they would be there for one week.  My neighbor was told not to take pictures of the crew or of the crew leader or the trucks…. small flags have appeared around the sprinkler heads throughout the complex, of various colors, some of which say “John Deere Landscape.”

Sept. 28, at the Beachhead booth at the Abbot Kinney Street Festival, a man came up to me, saying that it was because of the Beachhead that he had decided to become an artist and was now living in Santa Monica.  He said that Venice was too expensive, that he used to live at Lincoln Place, on Elkgrove and that (he believed) almost all of the buildings here have been torn down.  I explained to him that people still live here, that 52 buildings are still intact and that the locked out residents will be returning first. He did not seem to hear me.