Last Friday night the California Coastal Commission upheld its stance that the “gentrifiers” in Venice will not get their overnight parking regulations. Venice, for now, will continue to allow anyone, including motorhomes, to park within its city limits at any hour of the day.

To catch those of you up who haven’t been paying attention, Venice has long been a home for RV dwellers, hippies, transients, homeless, hobos, etc. It’s made its name for being that way, and in recent years, many who overpaid for homes there feel that they’ve got to get out the “riff raff” to increase their property value…when the reason it was cheaper (than surrounding cities) is because of their presence.

Apparently, the best part of the night was when Commissioner Sara Wan stated that this is a social issue for the city of Venice, not a Coastal Act issue for the Commission. She saw thru the BS to realize that Venice residents don’t want these regulations for their coastal access, but as a way around the lax parking regulations in the city.

Well done California Coastal Commission. I applaud your existence and your protection of beach front access to all.

Read a more detailed summary of the meeting at LA Metblogs, where I found my information. Matt Mason, the author, clearly disagrees with the Hobosoul’s stance on homelessness.