Victim Blamed for Fatal Crash!

By Jim Smith
A police report on the investigation into the death of Devin Petelski on Oct. 15, when she was hit broadside by a police car, has been completed but is not being released to the public. The Beachhead has requested a copy under the state’s freedom of information act.
According the city attorney’s office, the [...]

Murder on Venice Boulevard

By Jim Smith
Devin Petelski had just finished her shift at a detox center near Costco. At 11:45 pm on Oct. 15, she pulled up to a stop sign at Glyndon and Venice Blvd and began a right turn onto Venice. She never saw the angel of death barreling toward her in the form of an [...]

In Brief

Once More Into The Breach
“Reform” City Attorney Still Wants OPDs
Rapist On The Loose

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Once More Into The Breach
Just when you thought it was safe to park your RV, the Coastal Commission is holding yet another hearing on November 5 in Long Beach.
The announcement from the Coastal Commission says, “the purpose of this hearing is to consider the findings [...]

Eyewitness to “Murder on Venice Blvd”

By Ruth Fowler
I live at the intersection of Venice Blvd and Glyndon Avenue in Venice Beach. On October 15, I went to bed early – about 11pm. I woke up briefly when I heard a horrific screech of breaks and a terrifying crash – but to be honest, when you live in Venice, you hear [...]

$20/Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better

By Jebediah Reed

Remember that time you went on a long drug binge and it turned into a crime spree and you totally messed up your life and hit rock bottom and had to go to jail for a while but in retrospect it was the best thing that ever happened to you because otherwise [...]

Live Free Or Drive!

By Jennifer Smith and Jim Smith

The recent battle over permit parking has kept a spotlight on Venetians’ continuing dilemma of where to stash their cars. Yet, no solutions have yet been proposed that would address the problem – with or without pay parking – with a long-term solution.

Much of the dialogue has centered on having [...]

As the Crow Caws

(One Sassy Bird’s Opinion)

Well, I suppose I should first introduce myself before I start mouthing off. My name is Lily Crow and I live here in Venice.
Anyway, there has been a lot of hooplala over those big RV’s parking in the streets. Now ordinarily, we crows stay out of human affairs for a flock [...]

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) [...]

What’s Behind the Push for OPDs?

By Peggy Lee Kennedy

Rubber Tramps, Gypsies, and Hippie Busses are nothing new to Venice. In fact, Venice is known worldwide for embracing different lifestyles. When the circus came to town, Venice is where the Gypsies stayed. Beat poets and anarchists hung out. Misfits fit in. If you were odd, you were cool in Venice. And [...]

Permit Parking – Not a New Story

By Jim Smith
What’s behind the effort to bring permit parking to Venice? In a word, gentrification. In Los Angeles, and cities around the country, it’s a familiar story. A family of professionals spends big bucks to move into a so-so neighborhood. Before long the happy couple looks out the window and sees – gasp – [...]