There appeared to be little change in the number - roughly 85 - of campers living in the park, while the Friends of the Boardwalk were doing a credible job of documenting the weekly positioning of the campers along the VBRA.
With a new year I thought to check the status.
The number was slightly down, to 73. This includes a return of quite a few tents and larger structures, though most of campers are mobile, with bikes, backpacks, shopping carts, or trolleys.
There is some encroachment into areas previously cleared, such as the handball courts and two of the pagodas.
I was heartened to witness three LAPD officers forcing tent owners camped out near the police substation to take down their tents. (Tents are illegal at all times in any city park under LAMC 63.44.)
I want to compliment Pacific Division Commander Steven Embrich for his constant focus on enforcement at Venice Beach, despite the loss of 800 officers from the LAPD citywide, and loss of almost half of the Venice Detail, the result of the downsizing of the LAPD by Councilman Bonin and his colleagues. There is no other word other than "downsizing" to explain the bitter effect of Bonin's $150 million cut to the LAPD budget last year.
As Embrich points out, the fewer campers in Venice directly correlates to fewer crimes committed. And it is far preferable to prevent crime than to try to punish the perpetrators after the crime is committed.
I continue to believe that we will never have the LAPD and Dept. of Sanitation resources to reach zero tolerance for camping along our beaches and in our parks - and make them safe again for families - until there is a new, resident-friendly, public safety-oriented councilwoman elected to lead CD 11 and a new mayor.
Fortunately, we will have the opportunity to do just that this year.
Best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year to you and yours!
Mark Ryavec, president
