Residents Sue Over the 'Lawless Skid Row' of Venice Beach

Venice Beach, one of the most popular tourist destinations and recognizable public spaces in Los Angeles, has long been the site of regulation battles. Now a neighborhood group is suing the city over what it perceives as rampant lawlessness.

1 minute read

February 4, 2015, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Residents in Venice have filed a lawsuit against the city and county of Los Angeles over what they say is a 'lawless Skid Row' around the beach boardwalk.

"The lawsuit filed by the Venice Stakeholders Association claims authorities are failing to enforce 'no camping' laws, which has created 'a public nuisance and dangerous conditions' in one of L.A.’s most popular tourist stops."

The Venice neighborhood, including the beach boardwalk, is commonly used as a filming location and is a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. But its attractiveness also pressures the public realm in ways that have created controversies in the past, such as when the city cracked down on the street vendors that set up shop along the boardwalk or the efforts of residents to curb overnight parking along beach-adjacent streets.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015 in CBS Los Angeles

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