June 2004 #275

Tue - June 1, 2004

Are We There Yet?

By Carol Fondiller

Several decades ago, I owned a bike, one of many. She was a beaut. Built for comfort, not for speed, with her fat balloon tires and broad comfortable seat, we had many adventures, my bike and I. She was hefty. A ‘50s (or earlier) girls Schwinn bike. She had a distinct personality, stable, and curvy. She was painted with bright blue enamel paint. If she had an engine she would have been a Hudson. She was called Prunella. I swear she named herself.

Posted at 09:00 PM Read More

Racism in Venice?

By Jim Smith

Last month, a number of white Venetians were outraged at being called “white supremacists,” “white crackers,” and similar names by Venetians of color. Most of the insults occurred outside the Vera Davis McClendon Center (named for a late, great Black Venetian) as they were entering a Venice Neighborhood Council meeting. One instance occurred during public comment at the meeting, but the speaker was quickly interrupted by members of the board.

Posted at 08:58 PM Read More

June 27 Election in Venice May Be Postponed

At press time, it was unclear whether the scheduled June 27 Venice Neighborhood Council election would take place, or be postponed for up to 90 days.

Posted at 08:56 PM Read More

Letters

• Vanguard Lives! - Danny Kaplan
• Election messed up, says Reader - Richard Abcarian
• Election messed up, says Board - Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council Board

Posted at 08:56 PM Read More

City Foils Coastal Commission

By John Davis

The California Coastal Commission Staff has rejected the Venice Specific and the Oxford Specific Plans as incomplete. Completed plans are needed to qualify for a certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) for Venice.
Many communities in the California Coastal Zone already have LCPs that allow the local entities more jurisdiction over development and management of coastal resources.

Posted at 08:51 PM Read More

LINCOLN CENTER PROJECT REJECTED BY L.A. PLANNING COMMISSION

The city of Los Angeles Planning Commission, May 13, rejected the proposed Lincoln Center Development. This project would have been the largest commercial development in Venice. The pair of six-story buildings would have stretched from Lake Street along Lincoln Blvd. to the alley next to Palms Blvd (the area that Ralph's, Rite Aid, Ross and the old Wherehouse building now occupy).

Posted at 08:49 PM Read More

BOOK REVIEW: QUEST: The Search for a Soul for Modernkind, by Vincent Coppola

Reviewed by Steve Goldman

With great passion, yet without a scintilla of mawkish sentimentality, Coppola here makes the strongly compelling case for love as the direct and primary implication of human consciousness.

Posted at 08:47 PM Read More

Who better represents the Spirit of Venice than John Haag?

TO: Venice of America Foundation Inc..

RE: Sprint of Venice Awards

He was a small businessman who ran the Venice West Coffee House for several years.

Posted at 08:46 PM Read More

It’s not just in Iraq

The recently exposed horrors of prisoner abuse in Iraq shocks people of sound mind. The current US administration has not yet admitted that we also torture American citizens who are prisoners in equally illegal and immoral ways within the United States. One example is the experience briefly described below by a Viet Nam War era conscientious objector who endured the horrors of the US Federal Prison in Springfield, Missouri.

Posted at 08:44 PM Read More

Poetry

• In Memory of Tony Scibella - S.A. Griffin
• When I imagine love - Hillary Kaye
• Broken Carousel - shanna moore
• The Young Dead - Vessy Mink
• the scum doesn’t just float on the water - Rex Butters

Posted at 08:07 PM Read More

Chillato comes to Venice

On April 20 Jason Guffy and Joseph Nejman officially opened the doors of JJ Chill, located at the corner of Windward and Pacific and began to serve their freshly prepared dessert delicacies to the people of Venice.

Posted at 07:58 PM Read More

MOON OVER VENICE

By David Scott (1973)

Ain’t got a nickel or a dime
Ain’t got a watch to tell the time

Posted at 07:56 PM Read More

99 or 100? Either way Happy Birthday, Venice!

The parade route is as follows:
Assemble at 10 am, July 4th in front of Venice City Hall (Beyond Baroque), 681 Venice Blvd.