Letters


• Thornton Avenue Development - Joyce Haskell
• Thanks - Tina Catalina Corcoran
• Venice Beach - Edwin Vásquez
• Homelessness - Peggy Lee Kennedy
• Thanks again - Ivan Smason
• History Question - Marty Samps

Thornton Avenue Development

Dear Beachhead Readers:

The city has approved two Ocean Front projects fronting on Thornton Avenue. The present city code amendment states a 28 ft. maximum on walk street buildings. These new buildings have been approved at a height of 35 feet and have improper setbacks not in exact line with the rest of Thornton Ave. Sunshine and views for the residents would be cut off, not to mention the community feeling of Venice.
The walk streets and Ocean Front Walk are a part of Venice. Why would tourists or anyone want to stare at $2 million condos, just like every other place? This cannot happen. This would set a very poor precedent for all future buildings built here. I have gathered 269 signatures and other people are gathering signatures as well. Within 75 days, the matter will come to a public hearing. Please Help!

Write to:
Emily Gabel-Luddy
Planning Dept
200 N. Spring St 7th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Joyce Haskell
Thornton Avenue resident

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Thanks

Dearest Beachhead, All:
You honor me with every issue.
“Thank You”- Much-
(I Really Miss You!)

Love,
Tina Catalina Corcoran

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Venice Beach

Dear Beachhead,
Venice Beach was the first place I visited when I arrived to this country from Guatemala. Every year it is a ritual for me to go there and feel free walking and relaxing, like I did then twenty years ago.

Edwin Vásquez
Rosamond, California

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Homelessness

Dear Free Venice Beachhead,

On June 17, I attended a C-PAB (Community Police Advisory Board) Homeless Outreach meeting at the LAPD Pacific Division (Venice’s police station). I saw an employee of the City Attorney’s office present a paper to the LAPD, which was supposed to be list of license numbers of Venice homeless folk who live in their vehicles. These vehicle license numbers were collected prior to the meeting while driving through Venice neighborhoods with the supposition that these vehicles were being lived in.

Call me foolish, but I thought that the criminalization of homeless folk was a bit more random than this and I also wonder if this kind of license collecting is part of the City Attorney’s budget. Compassionate Venice residents should attend such meetings and discourage the laughing when someone slips and says, “No Homeless Sign,” instead of “No Parking Sign!” This is so not funny.

Just in case Beachhead readers didn’t already know - some of the major causes of homelessness are: the lack of a [family] support system, lack of affordable housing, economic hardships, and declining social services. One nice peanut gallery comment I heard at the meeting was about shipping the homeless to Barstow.

I could say much more and I will, but I ask readers not to support the needless harassment of Venice homeless folk. To quote a critic of the Free Venice Beachhead and the author/editor of the Watchdawg, “The future of Venice is depending on all of us to take part and point the powers that be in the right direction.”
The next Homeless Outreach meeting for Venice is July 15, 6:30 PM at the LAPD Pacific Division. For more information on attending Homeless Outreach meetings, contact LAPD Pacific Division Officer Mathews at 310 202 4524.

Peace,
Peggy Lee Kennedy

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Thanks again

Dear Beachhead,

The June issue looks great. I loved learning about Abbot Kinney and the story about the Beachhead and the Mao’s Kitchen restaurant is hilarious.

Please accept the enclosed check as a first attempt on my part to partially defray Beachhead collective production costs.

Thanks again and I hope to see you at a poetry reading or other cultural event soon.

Ivan Smason

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History Question

Dear Beachhead,

Here's a History question for you:

At the time of John Haag's Venice West coffee house, in 1959, there was a coffee house up in West LA, on Sawtelle near the VA. It was called the Blue Couch. What was the name of the man who ran that one?I think he might have been a relative of John Haag's, but I'm not sure.

Any info you can provide will be appreciated. Thanks,

Marty Samps

Posted: Tue - July 1, 2003 at 07:26 PM          

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