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Dec. 20, 2019 – Jan. 2, 2020

Supreme Court Turns Down Homelessness Law Ruling ties hands for lawmakers grappling with encampments, celebrated by homeless advocates. By Sam Catanzaro The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal in a case surrounding a Boise, Idaho law that would have made it illegal to sleep in public places, a setback for many West Coast cities grappling with a growing homelessness crisis. The decision, issued by the court without comment Monday, leaves in place earlier rulings by the 9th Circuit appeals court, in the case Martin v. Boise, that homeless persons cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property in the absence of adequate alternatives. The ruling is binding in the 9th Circuit, covering nine states including California, a state home to 1/4 of the nation’s homeless population. Lawyers representing Boise argued that the decision ultimately hurts the individu-

als the law claims to protect by hindering lawmakers within the 9th Circuit from managing homeless encampments that pose a public safety risk. “Public encampments, now protected by the Constitution under the Ninth Circuit’s decision, have spawned crime and violence, incubated disease, and created environmental hazards that threaten the lives and well-being both of those living on the streets and the public at large,” said lawyers for Boise in court documents. Los Angeles County, where homelessness

increased 16 percent the past year, and many other governing bodies backed Boise in its petition to the Supreme Court. “The Martin decision forbids municipalities from enforcing common sense ordinances that prohibit public camping unless those local governments can offer acceptable shelter to every unhoused person in the jurisdiction. In other words, the County could be powerless to address camping in public places by anyone until it provides shelter for everyone,” the County wrote in September. LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl who

represents Santa Monica and is a Santa Monica resident, however, voted against backing Boise’s petition in September. “We need to continue to provide more and more housing and shelter and services, not simply ticket and arrest,” Kuehl said. This was a view shared by lawyers representing homeless individuals and their advocates following the Supreme Court’s decision Monday. “We’re thrilled that the Court has let the 9th Circuit decision stand so that homeless people are not punished for sleeping on the streets when they have no other option,” said Maria Foscarinis, Executive Director at the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. “But ultimately, our goal is to end homelessness through housing—which is effective and saves taxpayer dollars—so that no one has to sleep on the streets in the first place. We hope that the 9th Circuit decision will help communities find the political will to put that housing in place. Housing, not handcuffs, is what ends homelessness.” The case now returns to the 9th Circuit. The City of Boise says it is evaluating options for its next actions.

Jody Maroni’s Closes After 40 Years in Venice Boardwalk fixture serves its last sausage. By Kerry S later After 40 years on the Venice Boardwalk, beloved restaurant Jody Maroni’s Sausage Kingdom has closed. “I have loved the freedom that Venice has given me to express my various sausage fantasias,” Jordan (Jody) Monkarsh said in a statement. A boardwalk fixture located at 2011

Ocean Front Walk, the restaurant closed on December 16 with a farewell party that was held be held on December 15 from 2-6 p.m. that celebrated the closing of Jody Maroni’s with food, drink, laughs and love. Jordan Monkarsh, the son of a Studio City butcher, studied English at UC Berkeley while working in the gourmet food industry. In 1979, Monkarsh returned to Los Angeles and began to sell sausages on improvised carts, before opening Jody Maroni’s Sausage Kingdom on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The restaurant was a hit and soon Monkarsh expanded, opening storefronts across the country and operating locations in some of Los Angeles’ most famous landmarks including Dodger Stadium, Staples Center and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition, Monkarsh launched a wholesale sausage business, which the family will continue to operate. The family, who lived above the Venice restaurant for years, says that they are nothing but grateful for the Venice community. “We have spent the last few years navigating the transforming terrain of Venice – knowing that this chapter in our family’s story would soon conclude. We end this chapter with nothing but gratitude for our family, our greater Venice community, and

Jody Maroni’s on the Venice Beach Boardwalk

Photos: Courtesy Jony Maroni Sausage Kingdom (JodyMaroni.com).

whatever the future has in store. We are lucky to have been able to have our story woven into the fabric of this metropolis – here at the edge where dreamers thrive,” reads a statement. “In our name, we ask

that you hire local, feed locals, be locals. We have nothing but gratitude for our customers, who have come back decade after decade – and watched this neighborhood evolve with us.”

December: The Business of Giving-Gets Going! By Guy C amilleri I am writing this column on a bright and sunny day in Venice Beach, CA taking stock of 2019 and looking ahead to 2020. I don't know about you, but I, for one, am happy to put this decade to rest. That being said, here are six things I like

to do this time of year. 1. Take a look in the rearview mirror to acknowledge and reflect (if that's your thing) on what you have accomplished this year; "I booked an acting gig," "I secured representation," "I wrote, directed, and acted in a short film." 2. Share and celebrate these achieve-

ments with family and friends. Not only does this feel good, but it's also a way of inviting others to do the same next year for themselves. 3. Go old school and send a card to family, friends, and business associates expressing your appreciation. 4. Bring closure to that which needs closure. 'Tis the season to speak directly to the individual(s) about a specific event that hasn't been fully expressed. Do you want to carry this burden with you next year? 5. Define what this time of year means to you, and permit yourself to act in accordance with that. Avoid pretending it means something it doesn't, and simultaneously, revel in the joy of what it does mean to you! 6. It's a time of giving. But, it's also a time to make sure you include yourself when the business of giving gets going! Let yourself off the hook on that which you imagined you would have accomplished by now, and instead, take stock in knowing next year is right around the corner. Be kind to yourself this holiday by using the gift of time to relax and savor the holidays. It's a blast to write this column, and I appreciate you for reading it. A big shout-out to Yo! Venice newspaper for providing this monthly platform for me to write! Guy Camilleri is a Venice-based actor, acting-life coach, screenwriter, and surfer

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Photo: Courtesy.

In this weekâ€™s column, Guy Camilleri reflects on 2019 and looks ahead to 2020.

living in Venice Beach, CA. His acting classes are jam-packed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at the Electric Lodge with actors, writers, directors, and creative people from all walks of life. His private coaching specializes in building undeniable characters for film, television, stage, auditions, self-taped auditions, original material, solo shows, reels, and self-expression in any field of interest. To register or book a coaching session, visit www.rawactingstudio.com. Follow Guy's column on Yo! Venice and RAW acting studio on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

DEC. 20, 2019 â€“ JAN. 2, 2020

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Californians are about to find out whether money and new apartment-style dwellings can do much about the state’s expanding and seemingly intransigent problem with homelessness. As ad hoc encampments proliferate, featuring everything from small pop tents to excrement in the streets and chop shops where parts are taken from stolen bicycles and sold, politicians have begun throwing money at the depressing scene. The newest state budget allocates $650 million to local governments for helping the homeless, while another $1.7 billion-plus is earmarked for drug and mental health treatment and other homeless services. Los Angeles alone has more than 10,000 new rooms under construction or in the planning phase for use by the currently homeless. There’s little doubt about the severity of the problem or its causes, ranging from job losses to recent prison releases, low wages, drug addiction, alcoholism, family disputes, rent increases, domestic violence and mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorders affecting war veterans. The scope is enormous. Of the more than 570,000 people sleeping in American streets, cars or other places unsuited for human habitation, more than 114,000 are in California. That puts one-fifth of homeless Americans here, while the state has only a bit more than 10 percent of the national populace. So far, providing small dwelling units for them has not solved the problem. Said one city official in the homeless Mecca of Santa Monica, “For every one we manage to house, two more will arrive shortly after.”

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Or, as a member of the state’s new commission to investigate homelessness remarked in a radio interview, “If we house 33 people in new units, another 150 will arrive on the streets the next day.” The problem drew tweeted attention from President Trump, who caught sight of a couple of homeless encampments as his motorcade drove last fall from a helicopter at the Santa Monica Airport to several Los Angeles fund-raisers. He saw others on a fund-raising visit to San Francisco. Trump blasted state and local officials, mostly because almost all are Democrats who usually oppose him. Meanwhile, he proposes reducing the federal investment in housing vouchers which are probably the foremost tool cities and counties can use to provide private space for the unhoused, many of whom shy away from mass homeless shelters lacking privacy or partitions. And yes, California’s state and local investment in fighting homelessness amounts to more than one-third of the $6 billion the federal government spends on the problem. City and county officials here say their problem could be eased considerably if Trump and Housing secretary Ben Carson provide 50,000 new rent vouchers through two existing programs. A letter to Trump from Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California officials after Trump’s blast at the state’s homelessness also suggested the value of vouchers should be upped because of high rents. Newsom asserted those vouchers could “eliminate veteran homelessness in the state,” where about 15,000 former military personnel sleep outside or in cars every night. So far, no response from Trump, who appears preoccupied with staving off impeachment. The Department of Housing and Urban Development also did not re-

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DEC. 20, 2019 – JAN. 2, 2020

Structure Installation Begins at Bridge Housing Site Trailers, membrane structure on site By S am C atanzaro Installation of trailers and a membrane structure have begun at the bridge housing shelter in Venice that will provide 154 beds for homeless individuals at the old MTA lot on Main Street. In a Facebook post, Councilmember Mike Bonin announced that trailers for youth housing have been installed and the membrane structure that will provide housing for adults arrived at the property as well. PATH will be the lead operator of the site and will work with the Venice-based SPY, which will also provide services at the temporary facility, which will provide 100 beds for adults and 54 beds for youth. Photos: Councilmember Mike Bonin/Facebook.

TOP LEFT – The membrane structure that will house adults at the Venice bridge housing center. BOTTOM LEFT – The trailers for youths.

The 154-bed homeless shelter, part of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s A Bridge Home program, will be located on the 3.15-acre lot that takes up an entire block between Pacific Avenue and Main Street south of Sunset Avenue. In this program, Mayor Garcetti asked every Councilmember to look at encampments in their district and to find locations for bridge housing. MTA closed the lot in 2015 after receiving multiple offers from developers interested in the site. The property can be used for housing for the next three years, however, because there is no deal in place. The project has not been without controversy. Opponents have raised issue with the shelter’s location, worrying that the site will disrupt the mostly residential neighborhood. In addition, there has been concern raised about the housing being within a 1,000-foot radius of Westminster Elementary School. The Venice Stakeholders Association is in the midst of a legal battle against the City of Los Angeles over the project, saying the environmental review was unjustly fast-tracked and did not take into account an increase in noise levels from individuals in the shelter or its air conditioning units.

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E-Scooter Company Employees Unionize San Francisco-based Spin employees vote to join local Teamsters union By S am C atanzaro

In a first for the industry, employees for an e-scooter company in California have voted unionized. On December 5, workers at San Francisco-based e-scooter company Spin voted to unionize and join a local Teamsters chapter. Spin, who was bought by Ford in 2018 for

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$100 million, is one of four companies awarded a permit to operate shared-mobility devices in San Franciso. While the company operates devices in cites throughout the country, including Los Angeles, it is unclear if employees in other cities will vote to unionize. The union vote from last week applies to around 40 Spin workers responsible for the maintenance and management of scooters throughout San Francisco. “Spin has long differentiated itself with our workforce policies, choosing (an employee) model and local hiring over independent contractors and staffing agencies. We believe investing in everyone from our headquarters

to our warehouses leads to a safer, more reliable service,” said Nima Rahimi, senior policy counsel at Spin in a statement published by the San Francisco Chronicle From the outset, the e-transit industry has relied heavily on independent contractors. A state law that is set to go into effect in the new year, however, has led to scooter companies hiring more full-time employees. Assembly Bill 5, aimed primarily at making sure companies classify ride-hailing employees and other gig workers as W-2 employees, has impacted other industries as well including e-transit, leading to a decrease in the use of independent contractors.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you went to an open house and saw a framed KKK application on the wall, what would you do? COLUMN: Yo! Broker Dear Yo! Broker, I recent read where a black guy went to an open house and saw a KKK application in the bedroom. It turns out the house belonged to a cop who was later fired when the word got out. Hey I’m no KKK member but I am having an open house and do have some stuff on the walls. Can people bust me? Marvin K.K.Kurious Hi Marvin, I have to tell you, many years ago our house in Michigan was for sale and the realtor advised my mother to take our family photos off the wall – so buyers wouldn’t know African Americans lived in the house. I’m no expert on free speech issues, but as a real estate broker, I will tell you that when you show a house some things should be taken down – and some things like family photos should stay up and will probably work in your favor – no matter how weird your family. However, please know that if you have something illegal – like a garage conversion or illegal guest house, someone might complain and the city may send out an investigator. As

you can guess, there are great reasons to have an open house – and good reasons not to have an open house. Good Luck, Winston Cenac

Woman Missing Since October Was Possibly Headed to Venice, Investigators Say Destiny Carlos last seen October 11, possibly headed to Venice By Sam Catanzaro

Got an unusual real estate question? e-mail it winston@bulldogrealtors.com. Winston Cenac is the owner of Bulldog Realtors, a boutique real esate brokerage with 90 agents and offices in Venice, Santa Monica and West Adams

A 26-year-old woman who has been missing since mid-October may have been headed for Venice, missing person investigators have announced. Historic South Central Los Angeles resident Destiny Carlos was last seen on October 11, 2019, around 4:30 p.m. leaving her home near the 200 block of 43rd Street. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Carlos may have been going to Venice. The 26-year-old has not been seen or heard from since the LAPD says. Authorities describe Carlos as Hispanic, 5’ 4”, 130 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding Carlos is urged to call the LAPD’s Missing Persons Unit

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Destiny Carlos, who was last seen in mid-October, possibly headed to Venice.

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Toll Lane for the 405? LA Metro to conduct feasibility study into converting 405 carpool lane into toll lane By S am C atanzaro LA County officials are considering converting the 405 freeway carpool lane into a toll road, allowing solo drivers to use the lane by paying a fee. Last week, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) hired engineering firm WSP USA Inc. to conduct a study into the feasibility of con-

HOMELESS, from page 4

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verting the San Diego (405) Freeway carpool lanes into a tool lane accessible to solo drivers for a fee. The $27.5 million studying, to be conducted over three years, will look at the segment of the freeway between the San Fernando Valley and the 10 Freeway in West Los Angeles. Part of the study will be determining how much money drivers would be willing to

pay to use the toll lanes. The potential toll lanes would be modeled after the ExpressLanes on the 110 and 10 freeways. The maximum toll on the 110 is $23.10 while the maximum toll on the 10 is $29.4, with per-mile rates ranging between 25 cents ant $2.10 depending on congestion.

If Metro approves the creation of toll lanes, they would begin operation in the fall of 2027, in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. According to Metro, to receive federal funding for the toll lanes, traffic speeds in the lane would have to be at least 45 mph 90 percent of the time during peak periods.

environmental reviews until 2025. Lest Californians rely on the urban myth that most of the homeless prefer to stay that way, one recent study showed that 34 percent of them say their problem would be solved with employment assistance and another 31 percent say all it would take to get them inside is substantial help paying rent. Without doubt, some state money now going to cities and counties will go to rent

subsidies. But it’s uncertain that will be enough. No one knows how many of the homeless will want to move into new housing if it looks like dormitories or barracks. No one knows how many will agree to drug or mental health treatment, problems that together afflict almost half the current homeless. Which suggests all the new money may help a bit, but probably won’t rid the land-

scape of many current scruffy encampments.

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DEC. 20, 2019 – JAN. 2, 2020

“1917”: Best Movie of the Year?

Mirror Media Group

Yo! Venice Staff MANAGING EDITOR Sam Catanzaro | sam@yovenice.com ART DIRECTOR Amy Patton CONTRIBUTORS Keldine Hull Guy Camilleri Morgan Genser SALES 310.310.2637 ext. 102

By Whitney Scott Bain 1917 is an astounding World War I odyssey of epic proportions and human emotions that David Lean would be proud of. Without question the best movie of the year. On April 6, 1917, British Expeditionary Force (BEF) lance corporals Blake and Schofield (Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay) are entrusted with a vital message to stop a dawn attack on a German held territory that is a trap for 1,600 soldiers who will be massacred when they go over-the-top.

Their journey through No Man’s Land holds for them dark foreboding and surreal vistas with haunting images of the horrors of war. One of most impressive sequences is when night flares are set off by the German army creating ghostly images that dance on the walls of a battle scarred town leading to the only source of illumination which is a burning building resembling Dante’s Inferno. Stand out performances that Blake and Schofield meet during their journey include Andrew Scott as battle-weary, Lieutenant Leslie, Mark Strong as sensible Captain Smith, Colin Firth as

General Erinfore who sends the boys on their urgent mission and Benedict Cumberbatch as the head strong, Colonel Mackenzie. Director Sam Mendes who also co-wrote the script with Krysty Wilson-Cairns based the story on some of his grandfather’s first hand experiences during the war and keeps the pace moving pell mel using fluid, single shot takes, Roger Deakins’ brilliant cinematography draws you into the atmosphere of being there alongside with the soldiers in real time and Thomas Neuman’s dynamic score all add up to the perfect movie for the Academy Awards in every category.

BUSINESS MANAGER Max Montemer 310.310.2637 ext. 104 DISTRIBUTION Prie in Media distribution@ mirrormediagroupla.com PUBLISHER T.J. Montemer | tj@yovenice.com 310.310.2637 ext. 107

L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Yo! Venice invites letters from readers on any subject. All letters must include the phone number and address of the writer. Letters are subject to editing from the Editor for reasons including length or questionable content. Views expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily the views of Yo! Venice. Mail: 2116 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 260, Santa Monica, CA 90403 E-mail: sam@yovenice.com

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