Just Call Me a Refugee

By Mary Getlein
“The best things in life are free.” The old man who used to own the Gingerbread House wrote a song with that as the title – with the profits earned by that song he bought up property in Venice – Mr. Frank: now I remember his name.
Part of the game of growing older [...]

What would Saint Joseph do?

By Susie Snakebite
Saint Joseph’s Thrift Store has closed in Venice and will reopen in Feb. in Santa Monica.  Norma, one of the staff there, approached me on the street a few weeks ago, very upset.  The whole staff of 5 had been laid off with one extra month of salary.  She asked me to call [...]

Hundreds Eat At “Feed the Beach”

By Roger Linnett
What started out as a neighborhood potluck dinner three years ago has grown into a legitimate Venice event the likes of which distinguish the Venice community for its outreach, charity and citizenship.
The Third Annual “Feed the Beach” free Thanksgiving Dinner went off without a hitch on Thursday, November 26, thanks to a special, dedicated [...]

On the Boardwalk – Treasure Hunting

By Ian Lovett
On his hat, his green baseball cap, is a pin: it reads, “Prospector,” spelled out in gold. He found some gold wire on the beach and asked a friend to make him a pin with his name on it—let him keep whatever gold was left over. He introduced himself to me as Dan, [...]

Permit Parking Lawsuit filed against Coastal Commission, City

A group calling itself the Venice Stakeholders Association filed suit, August 10, against the California Coastal Commission and the city of Los Angeles in an effort to have overnight permit parking districts (OPDs) reinstated.

This past June 11, the Commission, whose mandate is to protect the coast from overdevelopment and to ensure access for [...]

Venetians Cheer As California Coastal Commission Says No to Permit Parking

By Ian Lovett
On June 11, the California Coastal Commission voted 9-1, with one abstention, to reject a proposal to institute Overnight Parking Districts in Venice between the hours of 2-6 am. The vote came at the end of a five-hour public hearing, which featured testimony from the LAPD, City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, and hundreds of [...]

After the Coastal Commission Vote – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

After the Coastal Commission Vote –
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
By Jim Smith
The California Coastal Commission made a wise decision, June 11, when it denied pay parking (Overnight Parking Districts – OPDs) in Venice. It is a decision that I believe most Venetians will come to agree with, even those who adamantly campaigned for the [...]

Parking Woes Cloud Happy Summer Days

By Carol Fondiller
I’m not going to defend or attack those who live in their vehicles because this is irrelevant to the parking. From what I’ve observed in the forty something years I’ve lived in Venice, there have been people living in many variations of homes from tepees (yes!! really!) to tree houses (honest to Goddess) [...]

L.A. Times Distorts Homeless/RV Issues – Again

By Peggy Lee Kennedy
The Los Angeles Times ran a story dated May 27 by Martha Groves with a picture of a group of RVs parked on 7th Street in Venice. Except the RVs were cleared off 7th on Memorial Day, May 25, by LAPD Officers Theresa Skinner and Peggy Thusing along with the tow trucks [...]

On The Boardwalk: Friday Night With Roger

By Ian Lovett
The lot is empty. That’s the first thing I notice—the lot at the end of Rose where they always park is empty. I suddenly get what permit parking would do to this place. At night, everyone parks up in “the avenues,” as Roger refers to the rest of Venice.
And the place is abandoned. [...]