Special zones urged for people who sleep in RVs, cars in Venice, California

[Liberal_in_LA]

Venice is a beach area in the City of Los Angeles.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rvzones22-2009jan22,0,2640966.story

Venice is a popular spot for parked motor homes


L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl says the sites could be city property, church parking lots, industrial areas and other places away from neighborhoods.
By Phil Willon and Martha Groves
January 22, 2009

Tough economic times have spilled onto the streets of Venice, which has become a favorite place to park for scores of otherwise homeless people living in cars and campers. The practice has ignited a mini-uprising among residents living in the pricey coastal community.

The number of cars and recreational vehicles has swelled so much over the last year that Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents the city's coastal areas, has proposed creating special zones away from neighborhoods where people can sleep in their vehicles.


"The community has been going ballistic," Rosendahl said. "They can't park their own cars. Some of the folks who live in their cars and in campers defecate and urinate outside and create other issues of quality of life and health."

His proposal, similar to programs in Santa Barbara and Eugene, Ore., would allow the cars and recreational vehicles to park in select "municipal properties, parking lots of churches or community-based organizations, industrial areas and other areas that would have minimal impact on residential communities."

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"Let's stop kidding ourselves," Rosendahl said. "People are living in their cars. . . . So let's deal with the reality. In this economic downturn, it's even increasing."

Up to 200 people are living in campers or cars in the Venice area, which has many residential areas where overnight parking is not restricted, the councilman said. As part of his proposal, which is expected to be heard by a council committee within the next few weeks, neighborhoods in Venice would have the option of restricting overnight parking to residents who live in apartments and houses.

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[burythehatchet]

1. Mad Max

[blues90]

2. I can understand the residents side and the homeless side

The entire issue is so disheartening and anyone could end up there out on the street. Personally I would not park in a residence area. I was even thinking of getting a old used motor home if worse came to worse , living in my small car I suppose beats the street or a tent.

There has to be something done because I doubt these people choose this way of life and there are plenty of parking lots and perhaps some portable out houses would not be too much to ask.

And this is america now , no jobs , no money and a bleak future for so many.

Man it's just so sad and scary . We can all thank the last admin for this and the wonderful corporations who got where they are because of workers they are now so willing to toss aside like garbage.