I was not naïve when I attended the Venice Town Hall on Homelessness last Thursday, Sept 23rd. The announcement from Bill Rosendahl's Office set the tone, “Homelessness Issues. Enforcement strategies and social services.”

The opening statement by Councilmen Rosendahl was clearly delivered, “If you are defined as homeless you are not welcome in Venice. If you operate an RV you are being targeted, and just so you understand we're going to threaten you, intimidate you, without offering you any reasonable solutions based on respect and dignity.”

Rosendahl and the City of LA team solutions are to increase LAPD Officers (21 or so), offer waste dumping for RV at Hyperion in South of LAX, and possibly keep the bathrooms open at night. In the same opening statement he made it clear that policing homelessness is NOT a solution. Yet, the show of ego and power was at it's highest level to date. With no California Coastal Commission standing in the way, the City of LA team made certain to use every human rights violation available short of physically harming the people in attendance.

It was indeed absurd. When I arrived in the parking lot I was stopped by many LAPD Officers which were deciding if the lot would be opened because of “threats.” Seeing these men and some women with weapons strapped on talking about having to protect a Venice Town Hall as if it was a fortress for a United Nations meeting holding the US Government to task for many of the injustices motivated by global corporations and the world banks, was OVERKILL! As I assisted a disabled woman from my van at the entrance I was informed my hippie painted van could remain on the grounds. Apparently my Love and Earth message was not perceived as a threat to security, so why were homeless persons?

I was one of the chosen to speak during the Town Hall during the Q & A while others that put in cards before me were bypassed by Mr. Rosendahl. Again it was no surprise that many of those that commented during this segment were part of the agenda to push power of ego over the power of love.

“They're Everywhere,” a statement made by Mr. Rosendahl in regards to RV's in Venice. I counter that stated about LAPD, “They're Everywhere.” I have much of the misuse of power on video as evidence. The following day LAPD Officers were witnessed knocking on doors of RV's. Artist returned from work on Venice Boardwalk to find their vehicles towed compliments of the LAPD orders. Threats were made to leave Venice.

As I stated to the Venice community we are a human race first. No one is illegal on Earth. We must work together to solve our communities challenges instead of pitting each other. This is injustice. This is a fear campaign. Basic human rights are being violated daily in Venice by a bully called the City of LA, and some angry, hateful childish, spoiled residents who believe they are better than the majority of Venice residents. Those that are misusing power pitting our Venice community against each other believe that most of us do not see the extortion, depletion and misuse of out environmental, social and economic resources, etc. but we SEE the big picture.

We're asking others to assist us with our Venice campaign to shift the love of power to the power of love. Unity in diversity using compassion is the path to finding solutions that empower people.

It's that same old story we here all over. A few tarnish or ruin it for the rest. Why don't you form a group to go around and stop the few from dumping their trash and sewage on the street. Walk past and smell some of those motor homes. I'd like to live in Venice too. I'd want them thrown out in my neighborhood. The silent majority needs to stand up to this filth. Why not complain about the streets in downtown LA. Oh, that's probably not a problem you care about since you don't hang there. QUIT COMPLAINING, GO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I'm sure the police decided to pick on these people all by themselves. I'm sure they've been inidated by phone calls from residents that are not happy and they're reacting to their calls. Let's see how much effort you put in to solve this issue. Do you always pick on the police until you need them?

A national crime that has been allowed to fester is the way this mafia government has treated the veterans. About 30% of the homeless are the detritus of American Imperial Adventure, left like used toilet paper to litter our streets. Used and abandoned. To be shunned and criminalized.
After having been told to do the dirtiest, most miserable job on earth.
Shame on our nation and our conscience.

the often cited statistics of 31% of homeless in Venice used to be residents of the area is uncorroborated and unverified and just a clever use of numbers to impress whom ?

It has never been revealed or clear what Venice offers that other parts of the massive & vast Los Angeles doesnt also have... wide streets street areas around parks [not in the parks ] food cheaply made and sold by working people free concerts and much more outside of Venice area of LA. Yet, the strong demand is to be by the sea, the beach, the surf and the streets that are occupied by those who cant afford to live 'inside' mostly. A few may chose to live outside, most do so out of economic reasons.

Ask them. I did. They sometimes tell it as it is and other times as it is convenient for the hon-homeless to hear.

That many who object to being 'moved' or required to sleep at special parking areas that Rosendahl has spoken about before for the big huge RV's that block all sunlight and parking on the LA city streets near all beaches...these objectors are self-serving in making demands most other residents of LA cant even afford....a beach of their own ...proliferated with some real and some faked "disabled" license plates to park in the county parking lots free on weekdays.

What is to be done ? These 'victims' of the curse of govt officials are not all sweet, fraile, loving and kind people...no more than most others are

Venice demanding big vehicle drivers/ live-in-them folks are sometimes shrewd, mean, bullying, and conniving...depends on whom they trust or like and when it is inconvenient to tell their real stories to... to believe every victim's statements as Fact, is foolish.

They are just clever people who have taken over an area as if it belonged to them alone. The streets of Venice are not for any one group, and home owner or apt renters who pay for property use are offended at being maligned and invaded upon also.

To make one camp, pure, holy and adorable and the other camp mean, viscious and rich is fake extremist labeling only. Not real. Not representative. Not helpful to solving how some LA CITY STREETS can be used to help those who have "no where else to go"...

tho why Venice is the ONLY PLACE has yet to be clearly described legitimately and honestly. the ugly fighting continues...and 'bleeding hearts' bleed for no honest reasons most of the time...

all who claim they are "victims" are also empowered and demanding in some ways they refuse to admit to.

most of the homeless are not due to current economic chaos and downturn of banks' cheatiing and bailouts, but have been out on the streets in various ways or intermittently for a very long long time..ask them...I have...

The newly unemployed impoverished are another story that needs different solutions than the 'old timers' who know all the tricks, ropes, and ploys to get help with a fair return to their society...

they dont OFFER TO WORK even as is possible with a disability part-time to BARTER for services or help...why not ?

the un-stable-homed folks could do so much more to help themselves and be seen as regular decent citizens with a more COOPERATIVE ATTITUDE, but seldom do so because of some harbored resentment and anger at being somehow displaced from others' economic stability.

Why are the homeless seen as "less" ? Could they [not all but most] act differently, show a more community-affiliated manner to be accepted or even wanted as are other more stable-lifestyle people, working or not. Being poor is not the problem usually. It is the way people act and think and treat each other.

Why do the home-lessened people think they are victims, or special, rebelliously"superior" , and as outcasts and resenters ?

It could be different.

when Jerry Brown is Elected one of the things He plans is to
eliminate the homeless problem. centralized housing, mandatory labor, and forced psychiatric treatment where needed

California Uber Alles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjMptzRVjw0
Dead Kennedys
"I am Governor Jerry Brown My aura smiles And never frowns Soon I will be pres..."
I fu*king love good music with a bite