A Beachhead Exclusive – The proposed Ocean Front Walk
Ordinance
A Brief History
–
Carol Fondiller and others were
arrested on the Ocean Front Walk in 1969 for distributing a Venice Survival
Committee leaflet. Taken to the old Venice jail and booked. They claimed she had
drugs in her purse, which Fondiller denied. At the arrangement, the police said
there wasn’t enough to prosecute. Charges were eventually
dropped.
Vending began in the 70s with minimal
charges for spots on the east side of the Ocean Front Walk. It soon became
costly, and shoddy with sunglasses,
t-shirts.
On the west side, the rule
was that nothing could be sold. Tables could be set up for political and
religious causes. Jerry Rubin sold buttons and bumper stickers for donations.
The LAPD objected to his quoting a price. The ACLU intervened and won the right
to sell, as long as it was political or religious. Then musicians began selling
their cassettes, followed by masseuses, hair braiding, sage and henna
tattoos.
Vendors have always found
space on a first-come basis. Some Ocean Front Walk residents have complained
about noise from early arrivals beginning at 6 am. They are not supposed to set
up until 9 am.
Another complaint has been
about loud amplified music from both sides of Ocean Front Walk. The Venice
Neighborhood Council passed a resolution against excessive noise some months
ago, but so far been ignored by the city. The ordinance doesn’t seem to
address this issue.
What the proposed
ordinance does set out is regimentation of the Ocean Front. Something many
residents and artists feel in inappropriate for free spirited
Venice.
Posted: Thu - January 1, 2004 at 06:55 PM