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Close Guantánamo now! by Amnesty.org
You
want Guantánamo closed? Say/sing/act it on camera in a 5 to 10
seconds video clip! You're welcome to comment further on why
Guantánamo should be closed, as long as it is not offensive (no
swearing or nudity). If you can, shoot your video at a
recognizable landmark from your city or your country. Try to use
close-ups - remember the video will be shown on a small screen on our
website!
Artist Council
by Robert Lederman
We
are putting together a council of street artists for the purpose of
directing the future course of street artists' rights in NYC. As NYC
street artists we stand in a position that is unique. We have more
rights, and more firmly established rights, than any other group of
vendors, artists or street artists in the entire world.
At the same time, there
are tremendous forces of change taking place in NYC and society in
general which will inevitably affect those rights in a negative way, if
we allow them to.
Unlike other vendors, we
are victims of success, not failure. There are areas of the City which
have so many street artists and art vendors competing for space that a
reaction or backlash is absolutely inevitable. Some coherent system of
dealing with these conditions is going to develop. Will it be a system
we develop ourselves, or one imposed on us by City officials?
Rather than just
thoughtlessly enjoy our freedom until it is taken away, we should
become active players in improving the conditions that need addressing.
Change is definitely going to come. The only question is whether we
will be initiating and directing that change, or merely reacting to it.
Among the more than 1,000
street artists and art vendors in NYC who are members of ARTIST are
many thoughtful individuals who share this concern for the long term
future. If you are one of these people I want to encourage you to take
an active part in this artist council. If you know of someone who fits
this description, whether or not they are currently an ARTIST member,
please put them in touch with me or give them a copy of this email.
The format will be a
series of meetings and discussions on issues that the members of the
council themselves decide needs attention. These can include, but not
be limited to, enforcement, new vending laws, how and where artists set
up, how vending spaces are reserved, what kinds or art should be
allowed or not allowed to be sold under freedom of speech, what street
artists can do to affect the larger picture of city, state and national
events and so on. Individual members will suggest topics that the
council can then work on.
In anticipation of the
next crisis developing, the council will already be in place and used
to working well together. Members of the council will then assume
leadership roles in getting all the street artists and art vendors in a
specific area, or if needed, in all of NYC, to unite behind whatever
position we collectively come to.
We want to include on the
council artists and art vendors from as wide a spectrum of racial,
ethnic, religious and national origins as possible, both male and
female. Being able to speak more than one language will be a very
valuable asset. We also want to have both artists and art vendors on
the council in order that it be truly representative of those who work
on the street under the rulings in the ARTIST lawsuits.
It is equally important
to have representatives from as many different parts of the City as
possible on the council, so that wherever an issue develops, be it in a
park or on a street, we will have someone who can give us firsthand
knowledge and have personal connections with those who sell there as
well as with the local police officials, storeowners,BIDs and so on. The
only qualification you need to be on the artist council is a sincere
desire to work together to protect, preserve and expand the rights of
street artists.
Please let me know as
soon as possible if you are interested by sending me your name, email
address, phone number, where you generally sell and what you sell.
Happy Holidays and hoping to hear from you, Robert Lederman, President of A.R.T.I.S.T.
* * * * *
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Controversial
Letter from GRVNC President Sparks Criticism from Venetians
“One of the things that attracted me
to Venice was the feeling that everyone was welcome. My first visions of Venice were from the boardwalk
when I visited L.A. as a little kid; when my aunt hung onto me by the seat of my pants on
the roller coaster as it zoomed over the ocean….” (a quote from Virtual Venice by DeDe Audet)
“Home Safety November
2006
Dear VNC Board Officers,
The Venice Neighborhood Council
(VNC) has done little to improve Home Safety in Venice. It is
time to put this concern on the front burner.
Well within the range of things that
can be done are two areas of Home Safety: the homeless problem and high water.
Every
time some homeless person kicks in a window or is found sleeping in someone’s
bushes, our local police spend three hours collecting that person’s belongings
(yup, that’s the law now) and driving the individual all the way to Pacific
Division, up on Culver Blvd. and Centinela, for safe storage of the belongings
and booking.
That’s
three hours that the patrol car is not providing protection to Venice. Do
criminals know that? Of course they do.
With
will and money something can be done. There is money available only for use in Venice. It will
take some work, but it can be done. There is nothing the police would like
better than to keep patrols active in Venice. On the
Police Advisory Board, Chris Williams volunteered to serve on a task force suggest
by Captain Williams and several agencies. First we need to secure the funding
that is available to provide a transition station in Venice. There is
one million dollars available to help. Now let’s get behind this and make it a
reality.
Next,
high water and a rainstorm mean that a lot of sump pumps begin working in Venice. The City
and County of Los
Angeles have not done a good job of
controlling runoff during high tides. And now it is well known that tsunamis
travel thousands of miles, often in mysterious ways. Add the offshore slippages
(earthquakes under the sea) often felt here from close by undersea faults and a
little New Orleans will be
experienced…..Most important is to recognize
that these problems can be solved. In the past, Venice was regarded
as the ornery stepchild of Los Angeles, as an
exotic abode of artists, writers, actors and musicians (homeless too) who will
not be missed when they float out to see on the big one. DeDe Audet” © Dede Audet
Venice “Community” Backing Proposal for Environmentally Sensitive Hotel
By Daniel Miller Los Angeles Business Journal Staff
Venice – long
known for its carefree style but now an enclave with some multi-million
dollar homes – is on its way to getting its first upscale hotel.
The Ambrose Group, which built a 77-room hotel in Santa Monica three
years ago, is proposing a 57-room boutique replete with a rooftop pool
and small spa in the heart of the Abbot Kinney shopping district.
And in a sign of just how much has changed in this once Bohemian
neighborhood, the area’s influential neighborhood council last
week gave the 901 Abbot Kinney Blvd. project a unanimous thumbs up.
“What it gives back to
the community is incredible,” said Challis Macpherson, a member
of the council, an advisory body to the L.A. City Planning Commission
and the local City Council office. Of course, Venice being
Venice, this won’t be your average high-end boutique. The
48,500-square-foot hotel will have a simple name: Ray, without the
article “the.” It is planned for the site of famed
furniture makers Charles and Ray Eames’ former design and
manufacturing warehouse. Elements of the structure and its artifacts
will be incorporated into the lodging, said Deirdre Wallace, president
of the Ambrose Group. Moreover, there are plans to make the hotel meet
one of the highest environmental design standards through such touches
as organic sheets, water-efficient toilets and recycled building
materials. Then there’s a planned surf shop. “It is
about historical preservation, free space, public art, and it’s
green,” is how Macpherson puts it.
It’s also about location,
location, location. Just a few miles to the north, Santa Monica has
seen a boom of hotel construction over the past several years,
including the Viceroy Hotel and the renovated Casa del Mar. However,
the only hotel options in Venice have been more downscale: The Cadillac
Hotel and the Best Western Marina Pacific Hotel and Suites. Blame it on
the difficulty developers have long had getting their projects approved
in Venice. “We frown on chain stores and cookie cutter businesses
and Deirdre has been able to handle both sides of the ball,” said
Philip Fracassi, co-owner of Equator Books, located about four blocks
from the proposed hotel. “(Deirdre) has been able to appease the
purists and bring adrenaline to the business side of the
area.” Not so well embraced was a proposed hotel, the Pali
House, which another developer is planning for a site directly across
from Ray. Pali House received the full, traditional Venice scrutiny.
The proposed long-stay hotel at 812 Main St. would include 43 rooms,
but citing concerns over the hotel’s parking arrangements, the
neighborhood council’s land use and planning committee passed a
resolution on May 24 that rejected the hotel plans. On a 6-2 vote, the
committee urged Pali House’s developer, Palisades Development
Group LLC, to present a redesigned project to the neighborhood council,
which, though only an advisory body, is trusted by city planners as a
key indicator of local support. Matt Fisher, president of Palisades
Development said that his company is currently working on entitlements
for the property, and is “in process of moving
“forward.” Contrast that with Ray. Not only has the
neighborhood council approved it, but the land use committee –
with a reputation of being a tough crowd to please – voted for it
on July 26, despite the hotel exceeding the 35-foot height limit by 10
feet in parts. In the past, other projects have been rejected outright
for exceeding the limit. “I have to say I had to think
twice about it because I am here to uphold the code,” said
Colette Bailey, a member of the land use committee, who admitted the
environmentally-friendly aspects of the hotel won her over.
“Venice is about doing these cutting edge architecture projects
and it would be a shame to not approve it.” Ray’s
architect, Hagy Belzberg, designed the building to include brickwork
from the Eames warehouse. About one-third to half of the old warehouse
is to be preserved. “The building itself has gone through several
renovations since the Eameses left and we are trying to bring the front
warehouse space back to the original feel,” Belzberg said.
“The space is going to be more representative of what it was when
the Eameses were there.” The Eameses began using the space in the
1950s, and operated there for several decades before selling the
property. Though the Eameses created the famous Eames Lounge Chair and
other noteworthy designs at the site, the building has been altered in
the past and is thus not protected from changes or demolition. Wallace
said that project plans will be submitted to the city for approval in
about six months. The goal is to break ground in spring 2007 with the
hotel opening up just one year later. © Los Angeles Business Journal
(Go here for Venice Specific Plan
to look at Ordinance No. 175,693, effective January 19, 2004. - no
doubt the way has been paved for much more development in the Venice
area.)
Red Alert – Part 2 by W. George E. K. French
Last month we enumerated ways the government has contrived
to limit the freedoms promised to us in the Constitution. In
summary, every thieving level of “government” is making a
mockery of our rights under the Constitution, every day. To
combat this, every citizen must learn what his or her rights are under
the Constitution (which means taking the time to READ it), and demand
those rights be honored. All we must do to change the whole
rotten mess is to FORCE enforcement of the Constitution. It IS
the Supreme Law of our land, and we had damned sure better start
treating if for what it is. If we can do that, everything else
works. Now then, let's see just where you and I and
all committed citizens can actually make real changes. Lots of
people and money can do the trick, but here simple mechanics available
to the average citizen will be discussed. Every city and town has
become a corporation. As a corporate critter, it can live
forever, unlike ordinary people. This gives the city or town a
monumental edge over the residents it purports to govern.
However, even though these collective entities are essentially
immortal, they are still made up of mortal people, who are the
corporate officers, i.e., the Mayor, Chief of Police, City Attorney,
all of the department heads, judges, etc. All of these corporate
officials swore an oath to uphold the Constitution when they took their
“Office.” Even though these
“Officials” swear this oath, have you ever heard of a city
council abolishing any of the local ordinances that are in violation of
the Constitution? Hell No! Instead, these ordinances are
used to levy fines that extort money from the people to support the
local government. Merely knowing that these laws are
unconstitutional is of no consequence when the local judge, being part
of the system, delivers a guilty verdict. An appeal of the lower
court decision is only as good as the appeals court that hears it
– or refuses to. A citizen can go broke climbing the
appeals ladder, while only the judge and attorneys benefit.
By NOT doing anything to eliminate unconstitutional local laws, or by
enforcing them, the “Officials” have failed to uphold their
sworn Oath of Office. They are guilty of malfeasance in office;
they are guilty of conspiracy. They have undermined the authority
of the Supreme Law of our Country, and they have committed Treason by
so doing. Every police officer has sworn the same oath to uphold
and protect the Constitution (as have the members of the military).
Every arbitrary arrest is a violation of that oath. It deprives
the arrested individual of his Right. A Right cannot be taken
away by any local ruling, unlike a Privilege, which can.
Likewise, every arbitrary shooting. (Here let us interject that
the currently controversial second amendment in particular, contrary to
much commentary, states very clearly “the right of the
PEOPLE,” not the government, the militia, the National Guard,
“to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
“The people” can only mean every common citizen of this
Nation, not just police or other government armed forces. The second
amendment was put in the Bill of Rights to protect the people from
government, not the reverse.)
To address these malfeasances, lawsuits must be filed by willing
citizens. The movement will be best initiated in small towns,
naming every official in the town who has violated his or her oath of
office. Every local ordinance or law that contradicts the Constitution
must be abolished, and every local official who upholds it removed from
power. This includes police. Remember, we said earlier that
it's the misuse of power without punishment that corrupts a person. It
is best to start at the bottom – with the small town and the cop
on the beat, and work up to the top. Every official who acts
above the law must either be made to obey the law or removed from
office. The defense that the Oath of Office was a mere formality
which the “Officers” never expected to have to obey because
that is how it has always been is not acceptable. It cannot be
both ways. Either local law is in accordance with the
stipulations of the Constitution (read Bill of Rights), or we do not
have a Constitutional entity. There are no other options.
We must be in deadly earnest about this. A very simple law will serve
to set the matter out plainly: It will state that anyone who has,
is, or now plans to enforce any law which violates our Constitution, or
who proposes such a law, shall immediately be ousted from any public
office. This person shall be stripped of all associated perks and
prevented from ever again holding any public office – even dog
catcher. If we do this with due diligence, everything else will fall
into balance. We have a marvelous Constitution. All it needs is
the teeth to bite those who attack it – and everyone of us.
The nation can no longer afford to suffer under a crooked Senate,
a crooked House of Representatives, an even more crooked de facto
executive. GW Bush is right; we are indeed at war, but our
principal enemy is our own corrupt “government.”
Continued arrogant malfeasance must lead to open revolt by the
populace. Just as our armies cannot be victorious in the Middle
East, so the powers that want to be cannot quell our three hundred
million people here at home. Win we ultimately shall. The
only question is how long it will take. So let us all work
together to begin to make it happen– NOW.
© W. George E. K. French
|
OUTRAGEOUS, APPALLING, REVOLTING, INSULTING, HATEFUL,
MEAN-SPIRITED
by Bill Greenslade
No one can deny that through the years Venice
Beach, California, has
contributed very greatly to the arts, music, peace and freedom of the
world. No one, that is, except the
President of the Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC), DeDe Audet. In her letter
(opps.) to the VNC Board dated Nov 2006, she is quoted as saying, “In the past Venice
was regarded as the ornery stepchild of Los Angeles, an exotic abode of
artists, writers, actors and musicians (homeless, too), who will not be missed
when they float out to sea on the big one.
DeDe Audet."
In my opinion, this is a very mean-spirited letter and a
neighborhood council should not have such a mean-spirited person on it, never
mind her being President. I implore
everyone to please call, fax and/or email the council and demand no less than
DeDe Audet's resignation!!!! The contact
information is: Tel:310-399-5515, Fax:651-331-5515, email Secretary@grvnc.org.
In my mind, a public apology would not suffice to erase such an appalling and
anti-Venice statement. Please join with
me and ask for DeDe Audet's resignation from the Board.
© Bill
Greenslade
Fistfights, Vandalism Mar Some Neighborhood Councils, City
Official Claims
By Kerry
Kavanaugh Los Angeles Daily News
Five years after the first neighborhood councils were
established, city officials said they are seeing more violence and intimidation
in the system of grass-roots democracy.
Fistfights, racial slurs, shouting matches and vandalism are outlined in
a report presented Monday by the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to the
City Council's Public Safety Committee.
From January to September, DONE tracked 18 incidents of disruptive behavior,
compared with 15 in 2005 and five in 2004. And council members are quitting
because of it, DONE interim General Manager Lisa Sarno said. "When we are losing active and
conscientious board members who really want to do the work for their community
but cannot continue to be in an environment where it's constant strife,
conflict and escalating violence, the community loses," she said.
There are also untracked reports of intimidation and bias that have scared away
potential participants. "We can give you chapter and verse on hate, prejudice, bias and keeping people out," said Rabbi Allen
Freehling (right), executive director of the Human Relations Commission, which
works with neighborhood councils on training and resolving conflicts. He added
that if neighborhood councils are the example of grass-roots democracy, "God help democracy." The problem with the system is that if a
member breaks the rules and the board refuses to act, there are no
consequences, Sarno said. DONE can
advise councils how to resolve problems but can't remove a misbehaving board
member; it can only decertify the entire council. DONE and the Human Relations
Commission want to see formal rules on behavior, and Sarno wants DONE to have
the authority to remove problem board members and intervene when things get
ugly. Still, some neighborhood council members said they were surprised
by the report. "We've talked about some actions that we
felt were unethical, but I have not heard of physical incidents," said
Jill Barad, president of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council and the Valley
Alliance of Neighborhood Councils.
"If this is supposed to be a big problem, I think DONE should come to us
and tell us that." Among the
incidents the report details: A board
member in East L.A. interrupted a speaker who didn't speak English
well and told him he "should return
when he has learned English." A
representative from the Mayor's Office had to step in and stop a board
president from hitting a member with the gavel. An employee in the Mayor's
Office sought a restraining order after being threatened by a neighborhood
council member.
© L.A.Daily News
The Truth Shall Set You Free by I.M.Love
This is my story of Life as I & I and we see it.
I am an African I am from
the First Family of Slaves that were kidnapped and brought to this so
called New World. Ha! Ha! Ha! I am also the Beginning of
prehistoric creation – I am Ancient in many ways (Mankind’s
mind) I & I African History has created millions of societies and
traditions that have been handed down from generation to
generation. I & I we are the great-great-great Grand Father
of Egyptian Temple, Christian Temple, Moorish Temple, Islam
Temple.
I & I History are impacted on All Life on Earth – Sky –
Nature. I & I we are the Spirit of the Weeping Forest…the
Spirit of All Darkness…the Spirit of All Light. And I
& I Spirit wander all over the universe – the Spirit of the
Rain. I & I Spirit never passes any Creation its Strength of
Love lifts up the Hearts of the Universe that beats and beats and beats
for millions of years, dancing, walking, leaping, singing, talking,
playing, loving. Come with me & I.
Run with me with Spirit of Love from which I was created. I die
– I Live – I Cry – I Fly – I get cold – I
get hot – I sleep. But when I & I, and we, awake to the
Love Light of the Sky in your Eyes that shines like the stars, you will
see I & I in me – in you – in we. Come Brother. Come
Sister, it is time to be FREE. Come ANSWER OUR CALL. © I.M. Love
Venice Local Pepper-Sprayed While Handcuffed
by Tibby Rothman Venice Paper
 CA.—You’ve seen him hosting an open studio for the Art Walk, renting out one of the homes he owns in the area, participating at community meetings, eating breakfast at Abbot’s Habit and paddling out at the Breakwater. But
on Tuesday, November 28, longtime Venice resident Greg Falk stood in a
new environment: a press conference announcing his civil rights suit
against the City of Los Angeles and several of its police officers...more
Small victory for Ailing G.I.s by APFN.org
A Manhattan federal judge has ruled that a group of New York Army veterans who fell ill after inhaling
depleted uranium dust from exploded U.S. shells can sue the federal
government - but only for medical malpractice after their discharge A
1950 Supreme Court decision - commonly known as the Feres Doctrine -
has long prohibited suits against the federal government by soldiers,
U.S. District Judge John Koeltl ruled last week. "To the extent
that the injuries asserted in the plaintiffs' complaint arise out of
their military service ... the court is without jurisdiction to hear
those claims," Koeltl stated in his 29-page opinion. George Zelma, the
plaintiffs' lead lawyer, had argued during a Sept. 6 hearing that
despite the broad prohibition of the Feres Doctrine, Congress had never
intended "our government to betray its own troops." Koeltl
rejected Zelma's argument, but he did allow the eight former National
Guardsmen to sue the government for medical malpractice they allege was
committed by Veterans Administration doctors after they were discharged
back into civilian life. "I'm satisfied that we got something,"
said Ray Ramos, one of the plaintiffs and a former NYPD cop who served
as a sergeant in the 442nd Military Police Company in Iraq during 2003.
"Because of the Feres Doctrine, I was afraid the judge would rule
against us on everything," Ramos said. "This gives us a day in
court.” http://www.apfn.org/apfn/DU_sm_victory.htm
© APFN
JOIN
4-TIME
GRAMMY AWARD WINNER
EDWIN HAWKINS
IN
HIS APPEAL TO RAISE FUNDS
FOR
AMERICA’S HOMELESS
Donate
$10 online and download a copy of Edwin Hawkins’
“People In Need” (PIN)
song
www.myspace.com/edwinhawkins
or send $15.00
check/money order
The
Benefit Network/PIN Fund
P O Box 1952
Venice CA 90294
Thoughts on the FDA by Denise
Hey, this is Denise, and I am sick and taking these antibiotics.
No problem, I'm into fixing things and find solutions like taking
antibiotics that make me sick in the sun!! Weird, because the
whole point and job of the medicine is to make me better – not
sicker! I think this medicine is meant for people in Alaska,
where they have six months of darkness. I mean, come on, the FDA (which
should be two separate entities) approves medicine which is reactive to
the sun as okay for California? Even on rainy days there is still
sun! These people are crazy. At least in Alaska (or most of
it) there are six months of darkness. Now there the medicine
makes sense! Here, it makes no sense and makes me what to get
high to try to figure out the logic of it. I think the FDA is
actually using my drugs!!! Happy Holidays to Everyone!
From Denise.
The Truth About Yours, Mine and Reality
by Samuel Butler
It doesn't matter what you and I think should happen in any given
matter or event. One must be willing to risk all if his or her
truth is to prevail, and have back-up in the event it will be needed to
wipe out fragments of resistance. The brainwashing we grow up
with tells us that the truth will always win in the end. We
believe this means that any independent person can prevail. We
forget that even semen takes thousands working for the same goal for
one to be successful. This is true in part because we make up the
collective and a win for one helps us all. The moment we think
that in a struggle of push and shove our own strength spells victory
and that is why others should follow us, we stand alone. The
truth is that the just falls as the weak to the more powerful
component, just or not, as a way of limiting other forces from
maintaining rule. It happens all the time. Splitting atoms
only increases the chaos of a situation already out of control.
So what do we do? We bury the dead of our past failed experiences
while our numbers increase, and change the way we approach the expected
repetition of the past event.
© Samuel Butler, Commissioner, Art/Music/Culture, Superhero Artist
Deadline for each issue is 25th of the month.
Send articles, poems, etc. in Word .doc format and
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