2023 Venice Neighborhood Council Members Sworn In

Brian Averill Sets the Tone as New Vnc President With Action First and Bickering Last

By Nick Antonicello

The Venice Neighborhood Council (www. venicenc.org) had become the best reality television these past two years as virtual meetings would turn into food fights with little accomplished, while being held hostage in ZOOM proceedings.

That was not the case tonight.

Now back in-person before a crowd of about 50 residents, the governance of the VNC was live at the Westminster elementary school on Abbot Kinney.

For tonight was different as new President Brian Averill set the tone for civility as this board of nineteen elected members took their oath of office and now have become an extension of municipal government here in Los Angeles.

These frontline volunteers seemed up to the task as a healthy mix of incumbents and newcomers were sworn to office by respected Venice activist Naomi Nightingale who offered sage words of advice and encouragement to these new officers. Dr. Nightingale received her PHD from Antioch and MPA from CSU-Long Beach. A former officer of the VNC from 1999-2003, she was formerly employed with the LAUSD and served as district office director for former California State Senator Diane Watson (D).

The board announced two vacancies as one member Sima Kostovetsky, while easily reelected last March decided not accept her new term of office. She had served two terms as the board’s Outreach Officer. The second was Chie Lunn, another incumbent and strong supporter of Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11) has relocated to London, England.

The board also announced that applications were being accepted to serve on the allimportant Land Use & Planning Committee, more commonly referred to as LUPC and chaired by local attorney Michael Jensen, whose wife Melissa Diner just completed six years as VNC secretary.

Brief government presentations were made by representatives of Congressman Ted Lieu (D) and

LA Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11). It was announced that over 500 units of housing have been constructed at the old VA facility and that the LA City Council was on a summer hiatus.

Under public comment several residents of Flower were in attendance to inform the board that the encampments that were recently cleared and swept have returned, and they were seeking immediate support from the new body thanks to the persistent efforts of retired attorney Clark Brown who was reelected to a second term and has made the cleaning and clearing of Venice encampments priority #1 while seeking support from Park to relocate the unhoused on unused government parcels at LAX which would be away from local residential properties.