Everything is Normal in Venice

By CJ Gronner

I was in project mode one recent Saturday, and found myself poking around in Lincoln Hardware, getting ready to paint a chair bright red. I looked up from my deciding to see my friend and Venice impresario, Danny Samakow, all excited and on a mission. He told me that the next day was going to be the best solar eclipse of our lifetime, and he was on his way to the Valley to buy a whole bunch of special glasses to view the spectacle through. Awesome. I told him I’d see him tomorrow, and we split our separate ways. I painted and thought about how much I love Danny’s sense of “School Spirit,” for lack of a better term.

He is always organizing and facilitating fun in the name of Venice and its people. I mean, who wants to and then actually DOES drive to the Valley on their Saturday to get special glasses to make something more fun for others? Then offers up special Eclipse drink deals at Danny’s Deli and gives any glasses donation money to AIDS research? Danny Samakow that’s who. He reminds me of a friend of mine from college who once showed up with massive amounts of glow sticks that we broke open to fling the light stuff around our walls and play (toxic) glow tag with. He would say, “There’s nothing worse than running out of fun.” Danny is that same type of dude. A real gem, and Spirit of Venice preservationist who we should all thank every time we see him and his wonderful team/s. For real.

Sunday was weird out all day alternating fog and sun. Most Venice people I spoke to were Art Walk crowd avoiding, and doing their own thing. Which is why it was so great to get down to the beach just in time for the maximum of the eclipse (6:38 pm!) and see absolutely everyone gazing skyward, collectively sharing the phenomenon.

And a phenomenon it was! The fog muted the whole thing, and made it so you didn’t really need the special glasses (but probably should have worn anyway) to see the super trippy eclipse go down. People were sharing the glasses bought at Danny’s Deli (About $1,000 bones made for AIDS research!) with strangers and passersby. It was hard to capture in photos, as was the electricity you felt in those moments of group excitement.

There aren’t that many events, especially natural ones, that bring a whole people together in the name of just seeing something cool, and way bigger than us. This was such an evening, and the beating of the drum circle in the distance only made it all feel more tribal. Heavy and joyous at the same time, which is what life itself is, after all.

To celebrate, we hit all three of Danny’s joints, and wound up at the Canal Club inventing what may be the drink for Summer ’12. A mango margarita with pepper infused tequila! So it tastes just like when you get a mango from a fruit cart person and they put the chili powder on it, and it’s a perfect fiesta in your mouth. We called it “The Eclipse.” Try it. And HAPPY SUMMER 2012 in Venice!!!

Here’s to never running out of fun!

Summer in Venice, in 2062

By Jim Smith

Hello, and Welcome to Venice!

If you’re visiting the City of Venice this summer, there are some things you should know. Venice is easily accessible by mass transit and bike lanes and paths. You should have no problem getting nearly to the beach before you have to put your feet on solid ground. Venice is also one of the most economical excursions in Southern California. If you bring a picnic lunch and have a transit pass or bike, you may get away without spending a cent. But if you want to buy someone a gift, Venice artisans abound on Ocean Front Walk and Windward Avenue, all the way to the Lagoon.

You’ll have your choice of a party atmosphere beach or a place of peace and quiet, save only the waves crashing against the sea wall. When you arrive, just look for the Tram (Streetcar) on Pacific Avenue. It will take you from the end of the Venice Peninsula to the Santa Monica border. Actually, you can ride it all the way to the transit centers in downtown Santa Monica.

Extending the Tram into Santa Monica was the subject of a huge debate in Venice a couple of years ago. Many people did not want an easy link with this regional transit center since it would, they said, bring many more visitors into Venice. But in the end, what carried the day was the idea of having an easy link for Venetians to the old subway that runs downtown, the Expo line and the Magnetic Levitation (MagLev) bullet train to San Francisco.

Many Venetians won’t have a chance to kick back until after our city-wide Summer Solstice (June 20, 2062 at 6:11 p.m.) celebrations are over. In recent years, the Solstice celebration has become even bigger than July 4th (founding of Venice day). There is something going on during the Solstice on nearly every block. While the Solstice falls early in the evening this year, the parties will likely go all night!

If you haven’t been to Venice in a while, you might be surprised by the changes. In recent years, the City of Venice has been engaged in beautifying and restoring our crumbling town. The first order of business was building a sea wall to protect against the ever-higher waves due to global climate change. Flooding had been occurring with increasing frequency, with powerful waves pushing water for blocks into the center of town. That’s a thing of the past now. Our famous sandy beaches have been preserved. Only problem is there is now a looming wall between the beach and the ocean. It doesn’t bother the surfers, but if you just want to swim, check the low tide schedule before you come.

At last, Venice has become a center of the arts and culture, just as Abbot Kinney had in mind 150 years ago. That doesn’t mean that you can’t indulge in “cheap thrills.” There are plenty of Pot Houses in Venice. There’s a giant game arcade on Windward Avenue, a skate park on the beach, amusement rides on the pier, and other delights to enjoy with a consenting adult.

The City has helped the arts along with generous stipends for serious painters, sculptors, poets, musicians, thespians and others. In addition, the new Center of Performing Arts has just been completed at the location of the old bus yard on Main Street. The Greek Theater is state-of-the-art with 5,000 seats, and numerous rooms for small events, classes and exhibits. The University of Venice also holds many of its free classes at the new Center.

It is also the location of some of the best entertainment in Venice, the meetings of the Venetian Assembly. This body, open to all residents of Venice, can override the City Council, since it represents the will of the people. It takes a big issue to pack this hall. Smaller meetings are held at the City Hall/Post Office on the Lagoon. The first meeting to be held at the Center was about building a desalination plant to produce fresh, clean water for all of Venice. It’s an expensive project, the cost of which many residents did not want passed on in their water bills. A compromise was reached where half the cost will be spread out over 20 years in water rates, which will still be only a fraction of those charged by the Dept. of Water and Power. The other half will come out of the general fund. At least, we can soon say goodbye to water rationing. Others were concerned with an unsightly plant marring the view of the coastline. The good news is that it will be hidden under the Abbot Kinney Pier.

Another change you might notice is that some streets have disappeared. Ever since the private automobile went the way of the horse and carriage, we’ve been left with all that concrete and blacktop. This problem, of course, is worldwide, but in Venice we’ve taken the lead in some innovative solutions. The canals and the Lagoon (former traffic circle) are back. Digging out the old canals in Central Venice was so easy with new digging equipment that other neighborhoods are now talking about having canals in their front yards.

Other streets have become community gardens, mini-forest preserves, sculpture gardens and pleasant – but separate – paths for walkers and bikers. We also want to keep some streets just as they were before Peak Oil hit, and the cars went away. Our children might want to visit an old-time street that carried thousands of gas-guzzling, polluting cars with anonymous people locked away inside.

Don’t worry, in Venice many people have been getting by just fine for 150 years without an automobile. The city was founded before cars took over our lives. The Beats and many of the Sixties Generation scorned these vehicles that kept people so isolated. The use of bicycles and walking has always been a part of Venice, and so it is today. In addition, we now have Trams on Pacific, Rose, Venice, Washington and Abbot Kinney Blvds.

While you will encounter lots of people on a summer’s day on the Boardwalk, it won’t be like those photos in the history vids when hordes of people jammed every available space and often had fights with each other!

Venice once had gangs, dangerous drugs, wild car drivers, crime, and was occupied by Los Angeles. Nothing seemed to be repaired; trash, advertising, and graffiti accumulated; and in their frustration people lashed out at each other. Due to economic conditions, many people had to live in their vehicles or even on the streets. These were obviously unacceptable conditions that no longer exist.

If one of these “homeless people,” as they were called, somehow appeared in 2062, they would instantly be befriended by a passing Venetian who would take him or her to a hotel or hostel where the person could stay, and eat, until they were able to secure income. What a horrible life some people had to endure before the Occupy revolution, which ended foreign wars and put the needs of the people first.

Today, with rapid transit throughout California, people have nearly limitless choices for recreation. One behalf of the Welcome to Venice Committee let me say how pleased we are that you have chosen to visit our fair city.   

About The Cover

Independence Day ~ Venice Style is an original acrylic on canvas by local Venice artist Frank Strasser. The painting depicts the amazingly eclectic swarm of locals and tourists seeking hot fun in the summertime and cheap thrills in the lurid carnival atmosphere of our world-famous Venice.

Frank has performed music and painted in Venice Beach for over 30 years. He will perform as part of Hinano’s 50^th anniversary celebration on Friday, June 1. His art can be seen at www.frankstrasser.info and www.frankstrasser.com and is on display at Very Venice Gallery, 1629 Abbott Kinney Blvd. He can be reached at franksterrocks@live.com or 310-827-5729.

Letters

• Surf & Skate Fest - Brady Walker
• PO’d at the P. O. - Suzy Williams
• Even More PO’d at the P. O. - Patrick Frank
• Venice Entertainer Framed in Santa Monica? - Greta Cobar

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Surf & Skate Fest

Dear Beachhead,

I am writing with the hopes of determining the community’s opinion of the inaugural Venice Beach Surf & Skate Fest held on April 21, 2012.

What I saw and heard from the revelers the day of the event was a wonderful outpouring of fun, camaraderie and enjoyment.  I personally feel that the event was a success and met my goals of presenting the local community a day of celebration in regards to our surfing and skating heritage.  But this is just my opinion.  And although I heard a lot of positive feedback on the event, there are some folks who do not share my views.

I like to think that I do my best to address everyone’s concerns when proposing or holding an event in my beloved community of Venice.  I also like to discuss these concerns in private or in a forum where it is beneficial to all parties involved.  But when these concerns are sent directly to the Councilmember’s office, the Coastal Commission & the LADOT two and three weeks after the event is over in attempt to spin a negative image on myself & my productions, it not only puts a bad light on me, but it also hurts my feelings deeply.

If city agencies & the California Coastal Commission only hear these negative comments on the event, it is a pretty good bet that they will not approve a 2^nd Annual Venice Beach Surf & Skate Fest.

I spent almost 1,000 hours of time & over $3,000 of money out of my pocket to bring this event to the people of Venice.  I am reaching out to the public to get your feedback, negative or positive.  Any ideas of what you would like to see?  Thoughts on what I can improve to make this event better if allowed to be held in 2013?  If you liked it or loved it, please send me your comments, no matter how long or short they may be.

Thank you for continuing to let me have fun with all of you wonderful Bohemians!

Sincerely, Brady Walker – 310-980-7129

brady_walker@hotmail.com

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PO’d at the P. O.

Dear Beachhead Collective,

The song, “PO’d at the P.O.,” featured on p. 5 of the May issue, was co-written by Sam Clay and me. It is mostly his work; I added some lyrics.  Please print a correction in the June edition.

Love, Suzy Williams

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Even More PO’d at the P. O.

Dear Beachhead,

I have to say that I won’t be sad to see that post office go, for several reasons: (1) It’s ugly in there. There’s string hanging from the louvers, crap laying around the counters, and the whole space feels impersonal and bureaucratic. (2) I hate the plexiglass. If we keep the present P.O., we keep the plexi. Makes it like East Germany in there. If we change the post office, maybe the new one can come without that stuff. (3) The help is less than helpful. Let’s just say that they are of widely varying intelligence levels. (4) The mural is historic, but it’s also very weird.

It’s one of the weirdest in the entire Post Office Mural Program (and I know because I am an art historian and I have studied this). Abbot Kinney rising out the doorway, photographically accurate which does him no favors, while the rest of the mural is more loosely painted. Hoo Boy. So I think the Postal Service should sell the building. Let it become a bar or something. And let’s try to make a new post office that we can be a little prouder of.

Patrick Frank

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Venice Entertainer Framed in Santa Monica?

By Greta Cobar

Solomon, the one and only Venice Snake Man, also known as Willie Lee Turner, was arrested in a coordinated operation in Santa Monica on April 29. Accused of felony assault and battery with great bodily harm for allegedly pushing a man in the Hollywood area on April 22, Solomon was taken to jail even though he does not match the description of the suspect.

Described as a 22- to 27-year-old black male wearing a baseball cap and riding a beach cruiser with a milk crate attached to the front of the bike, the suspect does not match Solomon’s style of clothing nor his age, as Solomon is about 30 years older than the written description of the suspect.

The incident in Hollywood left the victim in a coma and on life support. It was witnessed by two women, who were subsequently shown pictures of six subjects. One of the pictures was of Solomon, taken about 20 years ago. The two witnesses selected two pictures that resembled the suspect, and Solomon’s picture was not selected.

The police then asked the witnesses to watch videos of Solomon doing his Snake Show in Venice, and subsequently one of them stated that Solomon resembles the suspect, even though his show image is different from his day-to-day style and demeanor.

After spending 19 ferocious days in three different jails, thanks to family members he is now out on a $50,000 bail. On another happy note, the victim of the incident recovered out of the coma and is no longer on life support.

Solomon has been a primary target of police harassment in Venice, and he is currently in the middle of a civil lawsuit against the LAPD. He received dozens of tickets over the last ten years for things like performing without following the rules of the Lottery system, which was since deemed unconstitutional. Just two years ago on Memorial Day he was arrested for speaking out against the war and criticizing the Police and Military for taking over the basketball courts to conduct their propaganda. As a result of that arrest he was banned from Ocean Front Walk for a year.

Known for speaking his mind against the injustices committed by our armed forces oversees and our police forces at home, Solomon is no stranger to being ticketed and arrested time and time again on bogus charges, all of which have been subsequently dismissed in court. Out of the dozens of tickets received and the dozens of times he was arrested, he was never found guilty and never was sentenced or required to pay a fine. The only exception is the previously mentioned Memorial Day incident, in which he was not found guilty, but was cornered into accepting a plea deal.

On April 29 Solomon was peacefully jogging in Santa Monica when 15 police cars and undercover police cars, half of them from Hollywood and the other half carrying Venice cops, swarmed in on him from all directions with their sirens on.  At gunpoint, Solomon was ordered to surrender. The two women who witnessed the April 22 incident in Hollywood were in the back of one of the police cars and were asked to identify him as the suspect. After what legally can be classified as coercion, the two witnesses agreed with the policemen’s statements and Solomon was taken away.

The operation to arrest Solomon was planned out and organized thoroughly enough to ensure that Venice’s Alex Thompson, the police blogger hiding her own felonious background (http://bit.ly/rpwqpU) was on the scene in Santa Monica to snap pictures.

As clearly illustrated by the pictures that Thompson posted on her blog site, the arrest occurred on Second St. and Montana Av. in Santa Monica. However, according to Solomon his arrest papers Testate Wilcox St. and Hollywood Blvd. as the location of arrest. The fact that Solomon hasn’t been to Hollywood in the last several months is just another piece of information that the LAPD is disregarding.

“I felt like I was six feet under ground, but what gave me hope was the fact that I knew I didn’t do it,” Solomon said about his time spent behind bars. He also talked about being starved, served only one hot meal a day that had to be eaten within five minutes. Examples of dishes that he was served include what he describes as “peanut butter with pieces of glass in it.” He and the other inmates went through major digestive problems on a daily basis.

 

Solomon was subjected to this treatment without being proven guilty, as a result of an operation that proves to be an LAPD effort to silence dissidents. The jail medical staff determined that his blood pressure was higher than normal and he was forced to take medicine that he wouldn’t voluntarily take. He described the pills as being of different colors and sizes from day to day.

“If a humanitarian world organization was to see the treatment of the inmates or the racial make-up, they would say that this is a form of genocide based on race and economic status,” Solomon said.

The Beachhead documented unjustly acts of police harassment towards Solomon in the past (http://bit.ly/MW543x), and the saga continues. The counter-culture that he represents is a vital part not just of the Venice community, but of the world as a whole. There are millions of people who take the dictated steps day to day, but progress and new ideals were never fostered by those types. And individuals who created real change in our consciousness and expanded our thinking found the courage to think outside of government constraints in spite of the hardships those choices have historically been sure to foster.

If you would like to be a witness to the fact that Solomon has never been seen wearing a baseball cap, as the suspect in this incident was wearing, or if you would like to help in any other way, please contact the Beachhead. Solomon himself is offering a $1000 reward for anyone who is able to identify the perpetrator. It might take a village to prove an innocence, and Venice is undoubtably the type of community that comes together to save its own.

Post Office Picket Planned For June 22

By Greta Cobar

The whole-in-the-wall new mini Post Office (PO) at the site of the current Annex is scheduled to open June 22, and the Coalition to Save the Venice Post Office plans to protest the inauguration with a picket line.

PO box service at the current post office is set to end Friday, June 15 and access to PO boxes at the new location is set to start Monday, June 18. Neither the zip code nor the PO box numbers will change.

Starting June 16 there will no longer be postal retail services available on Saturdays. Those of us who cannot make it to the PO Monday through Friday between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm will be out of luck.

Although the United States Postal Service (USPS) is moving forward with the sale of our Post Office as quickly as it can, it might be forced to move right back by current ongoing litigation in Washington DC.

Furthermore, the sale of the building currently housing our post office might not be completed due to USPS’s failure to create a covenant protecting the historic 1939 Works Project Administration building and the “Story of Venice” Edward Biberman mural that it houses.

“Section 106 must be concluded … prior to the transfer of the PO out of federal ownership,” stated Caroline Hall, Assistant Director of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, in a letter to Dallan Wordekemper, Federal Preservation Officer of the USPS. The Section 106 process ensures that the building and the mural will suffer “no adverse effects” as a result of the sale of the federal building.

In a phone conversation with Mark Ryavek of the Venice Stakeholders Association, Hall agreed that the USPS did not properly conduct the Section 106 consultation process. She noted that under that process the USPS is required to make formal submissions to the Advisory Council explaining their “undertaking” and their determination of whether there will be an adverse effect from the undertaking (in this case, sale of the Venice PO).

The covenant drafted by USPS was deemed to be “vague and virtually unenforceable” by John Henning, Attorney at Law, in a letter addressed to Hall and Wordekemper. Henning went on to state that the current covenant “has no beneficiary that is able or willing to take on the role of enforcing the covenant.”

Adrian Scott Fine, Director of Advocacy for the Los Angeles Conservancy, also wrote a letter to Hall and Wordekemper. In his letter, Fine points out the fact that although the covenant drafted by the USPS requires the California Office of Historic Preservation to accept, monitor and enforce the covenant, that office does not currently hold any covenants and has repeatedly stated to the USPS that it will not accept a covenant for the Venice PO building.

Hall stated to Ryavek over the phone that for a finding of “no adverse effect” to be made, a credible third party must accept the covenant and in that process the third party can negotiate the level of protection in the covenant. She went on to say that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has litigated such matters in the past and has expressed an interest in the Venice PO if the covenant and beneficiary issues are not resolved in the consultation process.

So far the USPS has refused to amend its draft covenant, which appears to indicate the agency’s acknowledgement of the precedent-setting potential of such an action for historic post offices nationwide.

Henning drafted an alternate covenant as a replacement to the useless covenant that the USPS has drafted, but the USPS has not accepted the terms of the new covenant. Among other things, Henning’s preservation covenant states that the buyer “shall fund a permanent endowment in the amount of $75,000 to fund the monitoring and compliance with this covenant.” It also regulates the use, repair, preservation, maintenance and inspection of the building and mural.

On May 7, Jim Smith submitted a series of questions to Diana Alvarado, USPS Pacific Facilities Service Officer, on behalf of the Coalition to Save the Venice Post Office. Simple questions such as when services plan to be moved to the new location; what the names of the bidders on the PO building are; are the bidders required to accept the covenant, have yet to be answered. However, a case file was open as a response to the inquiry.

The hope is that there will be no need for a picket line come June 22, by when the USPS should realize its foolishness in going against a strong, united community like Venice. However, in the unfortunate case that the USPS proceeds with the unpopular decision to move PO services to the Annex, please join forces with signs, slogans, instruments, microphones and lots of hoopla. See you all there!

Defaced Mural to be Restored

By Roger Linnett

Last month the beautiful old mural at the corner of Market and Main St., an iconic depiction of Venice in its heyday a century ago, was the target of a vandal’s spray can.  Unlike the usual, pathetic, garden-variety tagger, this self-loathing punk excreted large, red letters across a span of about thirty feet, nearly covering the mural from end to end and continuing around the corner, defacing more of the mural on the building’s side.

Clinical psychologists say that individuals who express themselves in this way do so in a desperate attempt to silence an incessant inner voice screaming their worthlessness, and definitely indicates an individual with deep-seated feelings of sexual inadequacy as the result of an embarrassing underdevelopment of the genitalia.

Other malignant misanthropes, emboldened by this rape of a public work of art, and probably suffering similar problems, have since added their pathetic scrawlings to this craven exhibition of mental masturbation.

The Oceanview Adult Day Health Center that owns the building is planning to restore the mural as they have after past desecrations of this wonderful public art piece. Someone began the work but has not returned after only one day’s effort. The Oceanview people are eager to have the mural returned to its original condition, and will pay for the work. Any interested muralist should contact the Oceanview administrator Anna Moyseyev at 310-581-6700.

Voting Like It Mattered

By Jim Smith

While some countries, including Egypt, Greece and recently France, are making a change from their old regimes to, well, something else, here in Venice we are stuck with the old “same old, same old.”

The ho-hum on your June 5 ballot will include candidates for U.S. President, Senator and Representative, as well as a California Assemblymember, assorted local officials and some questions (ballot measures) for you to answer.

If anything on the ballot is remotely important, it is denying Carmen “Nuch” Trutanich the opportunity to do even more damage as County District Attorney. Wrong-way Nuch is currently our L.A. City Attorney, where he spends his time fighting medical marijuana, homeless people and other issues of concern in Venice. Just vote for anyone else on the ballot for District Attorney. There will be a runoff.

This election will be conducted under the “Top Two” process which denies third parties their right to contend in the November election. That means this is your only chance to vote for Peace and Freedom, Greens and Libertarians, since the rules are rigged against any of them ever becoming one of the top two vote-getters. But in this election, you are permitted to vote for any candidate of any ballot-qualified party regardless of which party it is to which you belong. That is, a Republican can vote for a Democrat or vice versa, or for any third-party candidate.

Depending on your point of view, you might want to vote for Marsha Feinland (Peace & Freedom) or Gail Lightfoot (Libertarian) for Senator instead of multi-millionaire Dianne Feinstein. For Congress, you can vote for veteran politician Henry Waxman, whose district now includes Venice. Despite never having represented us, he will be listed as the incumbent on the ballot. Alternatives to Waxman include Bruce Margolin, a Democrat and lawyer, who represents those of us who have been busted for pot. Or you could vote for a Topanga Green, David Steinman, or for a Venice Libertarian, Steve Collett.

Waxman was one of the sponsors of a 2006 Postal Reorganization Act that plunged the Postal Service into billions of dollars of deficit by requiring that 75 years of future retiree medical care be paid in ten years. He has also turned a deaf ear to pleas from the community to use his Congressional clout to save our historic post office. A lower vote for Waxman than expected in Venice might get his attention.

What about the judges? There are several schools of thought on voting for judges. Some people won’t vote for anyone who might later put the voter in jail or prison. If you believe in affirmative action to help overcome white male privilege, then you should vote for the women and people of color who are running. If you want a reasoned analysis of why you should vote for a judge, you can consult political activist Jackie Goldberg, as the Beachhead has in past years. Her picks for the June Primary can be found at: http://bit.ly/N9HiyB.

Most of the candidates have web sites where they tell (in theory) what they stand for. They can all be found at: http://bit.ly/KYxR2A. You can find your polling place location at: www.lavote.net/LOCATOR. Polls are open Tuesday, June 5 from 7am to 8pm.

Whether you vote or not, remember that these people have exceptional power over us, and at the federal level, over the entire world. On June 6, the day after the election, let’s dedicate ourselves to a complete overhaul of a system that serves to protect the power of the 1 percent.

Students, Teachers Work To Save The Venice Skills Center And Adult Education

By Charles Thomas

Uncertainty and tension continue at the Venice Skills Center.  For many students and teaching staff, it is “needles and pins” over the future of the Center in the wake of recent drastic budget cuts.

In March, the school board voted to “zero out” funding for adult education. However, since then, there has been ongoing talk among the board, the school superintendent, labor unions and others for ways to keep adult education. Unless a solution is reached, this will mean closure for the Venice Skills Center.

Since that devastating news from the March meeting, the board has not revisited the budget issue as anticipated. According to Steve Zimmer, our board district representative, we should have received more budget information (via board vote) around May 15.

However, the “anyone’s guess” atmosphere continues among staff and students at the Center (as nothing further has come from the board).  On May 9, the Center’s teaching staff was summoned to a meeting and told they likely would lose their jobs on June 19. This meeting was a “last rites” (of sorts) for the Skills Center. Teachers were instructed to remove all posters from the walls along with personal effects, and to turn in student records. Teachers were also given technical assistance on applying for unemployment and addressing the issue of whether to take retirement. The principal, herself, is opting for retirement although she had hoped to work at least another two years.

Despite discouraging news, there is still an amazing undercurrent of hope and resolve for the Center’s survival. Rallies and activism have continued full force. As we go to press, a Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for June 1 to mobilize supporters, teachers and students on the issue of adult education.

The meeting is scheduled at 3p.m. at city council member Bill Rosendahl’s field office, 7166 W. Manchester Ave (aat the corner of Manchester and Lincoln Blvd). Zimmer, Congressional Representative Maxine Waters and representatives from the offices of Bill Rosendahl and State Senator Ted Lieu are expected to attend. This could be a great opportunity for meaningful dialog.  Please show your support by attending.

On May 5, a few hundred of us rallied at Venice High School. Response to our Westside Rally was evidenced by honking horns along Venice Boulevard from passing drivers showing support. Speakers at the event included Matthew Kogan, who chairs the Adult Education Committee for the teachers’ union.

In his remarks, Kogan pointed out that the sign identifying the office of board member, Steve Zimmer had been removed the day before our rally.  Zimmer’s office is right across the street from where we held our rally, and the previous day Zimmer’s sign had been taken down.

On March 29, a bus load of us from the Skills Center trekked together to La Plaza del Mariachi in East L.A for a rally.  We bonded in camaraderie as our bus load emerged together, converging on the Plaza with our placards, signs and whistles.  The rally speakers, as usual, were passionate and motivating on what we can do for our adult ed crisis.  A big focus of the speeches that day was directed towards Monica Garcia, the current school board president. There is great contention and dissatisfaction among Garcia’s constituency for what was said to be her budget mismanagement, squandering, and voting along with the board majority to “zero out” funding for adult ed.  A formal “recall” campaign has been launched against Garcia. See www.RecallMonicaGarcia.com.

A “testimonials page” is now online, where written accounts of those who have benefitted from the Skills Center (and adult ed in general) can be read.  A video version of that format is available at youtube.com/saveadultedstories.

The latest developments with the ongoing adult ed struggle can be found at http://lastudents.org and http://saveadulted.org.

Two Views of the Zip Line: Zipped, Not Taxed

By Dean Henderson

The vote for the zip line at Windward Plaza was probably a foregone conclusion, possibly a classic example of bait and switch salesmanship. Regardless, at its May 15 meeting the Venice Neighborhood Council voted (with some dissension) to approve a proposal permitting a 3 month trial period for a zip line at the beach. After the fiasco of the big wheel, any project promoted by the Recreation and Parks Dept. would likely be an improvement.

Ian Green, co-founder of Greenheart/Flightlinez and 3 of his staff gave a brief presentation illustrating previous projects as well as artist’s renderings of the Venice pavilion zip-line proposal. Two of Greenhearts staff members are Venetians and will be teaching classes and workshops to area children; one of the 15 conditions recommended for the proposal.

Among other conditions attached to the project are that the zip-line be removed at the end of the 3 month trial. And that permanent structure is subject to review by the City of Los Angeles and the California Coastal Commission and the VNC. Also, that 2/3 of the gross revenue received by the City of LA is spent on maintenance and services at Venice Beach. And also the VNC reserves “meaningful consultation” rights regarding maintenance and services. Other conditions cover security, lighting, signage, a monthly review of operations by the Parks and Recreation, LA Council District 11, the VNC and community members. Finally, Condition 15 permanently rejects the “Great Observation Wheel” aka Big Wheel.

Public opinion during the comment period was evenly divided. With criticism of the project including the view that the zip-line may be a president for other commercial ventures and Venice does not need an attraction, the beach is the attraction. One community member commented that the parks are public and should not be made a revenue source. This is exactly what the Parks and Recreation does not seem to understand. In years past the city was able to maintain the beach and it facilities without having to resort to commercial partnerships. When most of the buildings along Ocean Front Wall were residential and there was little commerce on the beach area, the city found money to clean restrooms and remove garbage. Now that Ocean Front Wall s almost entirely retail and dining and “Silicon Beach” is a buzzword, the city can no longer pay for services it had in the past.

Where did the tax receipts go? Business license fees or the city’s share of the massively increased property values (via tax) that even in this post real estate bubble time are still far above the not so distant past.

The crux of the issue is not any individual project. The Big Wheel stunk, the zip-line seems far less intrusive and more in harmony with the community. But why must we be told that these sorts of projects are needed to pay for services our tax monies once covered? If this is to be the new model for funding city services then there will be more ventures such as the zip-line and the Big Wheel  here in Venice and throughout the City. The limit will only be reached when the public says NO but at the VNC, on May 15,that did not happen.    

Two Views of the Zip Line: Zipped or unzipped?

By Katy Crenshaw

At the Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) meeting held on May 15, the Zip Line proposal appeared on the agenda. The VNC recommended the installation of the structure by Greenheart/Flightlinez productions (a Canadian based company) with a few conditions.

First, and foremost, the Zip Line should get a three month trial period. And, thereafter the structure should be dismantled. At the end of the trial period the attraction would be subject to environmental review by the City of L.A., the California Coastal Commission, and to input from the VNC, and the community regarding; noise impact, parking, visual blight, security & safety, crowd control and revenue earned.

Among other recommendations provided by the VNC included nighttime lighting and security, local entertainment opportunities, financial packages provided for at-risk minors, local artistry opportunities to dress the towers, financial incentives for Venice residents, monthly benefits for local non-profits hosted by the Greenheart, and permanent rejection of the “Great Observation Wheel” in favor of a location elsewhere in the City where it may generate community support.

Greenheart Productions offered a half-hour pitch where they offered a big-hearted effort to win over the community. Addressing the concerns of local residents, the team explained the Zip Line project and the fundamental concept for the installation of the Zip Line structure. Ian Green, co-founder of Greenheart/Flightlinez productions (http://www.greenheart.ca) is based out of Vancouver but works worldwide to provide conscious, nature-based entertainment. Canopy walks and flightlines are developed and aimed at nature conservancy and giving back to the community. The company also has structures located in Las Vegas, San Diego and Bootleg Canyon in Nevada.

Ian Green assured the crowd that he is only interested in providing a Zip Line that is not “too showy” and developing something that fits into Venice Beach. Green also insists this is an opportunity for conservation of Venice parks and Venice Beach. The Greenheart team includes locals from the Venice community that support the idea and would work with the community to integrate the culture of the community as well as maintain the artistic integrity of Venice. Included in the planned events for the three-month trail period include a school that would offer classes for Trash Art, Ocean Awareness, Empowerment Through Bravery for young girls and Costuming class.

During the public comment time period member of the community raised their voices. One commenter supported the idea of a family-friendly attraction, even at the cost of visual blight to customers from his Sidewalk Café, yet he still requested more information. Others had serious reservations including safety concerns and one resident told the VNC, “Don’t REC our PARKS!”

The VNC listened and voted with eight in favor, six opposed, and three abstentions. The Zip Line is approved for permitting. Now the major hurdle that stands in the way of Greenheart productions is the California Coastal Commission (CCC). An email from Ian Green to the Beachhead stated that Kevin Regan of Rec and Parks was working to get the Zip Line on the Commission’s June Agenda. As of May 30, the Zip Line is not on the June Agenda. According to Chuck Posner, of the CCC, the City has not yet submitted an application for the permit. Since the Zip Line structure is on the coastline it must have a permit for any structural coastal development. The earliest this could occur would be July’s CCC Agenda.

Do the math. One ride at the attraction will cost $20 bucks. During the 90-day trial period Greenheart projects about 250 rides on a good day. This equals a potential for $450,000 in revenue for the Zip Line project.  After covering the total costs of the structure ($300,000) the potential return on the investment is $150,000.

How much will go to the City of L.A.? And how much will trickle into Venice? Possibly, there could be a return in revenue to the City of L.A. of $90,000, if they are given 20 percent of gross revenue. Is this gonna happen? It is recommended that two-thirds of the revenue from the City be returned to Venice. This is a ballpark figure of about $60,000. The Greenheart team also stated they anticipate hiring 3-4 people for the Zip Line crew from the local community. The total impact on Venice from the Zip Line project remains to be seen.

If you are interested in filing an appeal form with the California Coastal Commission, FAQs are located here:  www.coastal.ca.gov/cdp/appeals-faq.pdf