LOS ANGELES - Wednesday, July 18, 2012, the Venice Beach community showed up to say NO when the Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) agenized a motion meant to criminalize homeless people in Venice. But the motion proposed by Mark Ryavec was denied by the VNC board members.
"This vote was a great victory for the people of Venice." According to Venice Civil Rights Attorney John Raphling, "Our neighborhood council rejected Mr. Ryavec's proposal, whose only purpose was to drive poor people out of our community. The proposal, basically demanding that police arrest homeless people for the crimes of sitting down on the sidewalk and setting their stuff on the ground is a morally wrong." Full Report: Thumbs Up to the VNC for Giving the Thumbs Down to a Motion Criminalizing Homeless by Peggy Lee Kennedy
Venice Council Rejects Anti-homeless Proposal