Lincoln Place: TENT CITY REPORT


By C.V. Beck

Tent City has resumed once a week, Saturdays, 10 to 5 pm, California and Frederick Streets, southwest corner, behind the Ross/Ralphs area in the free speech area. We have snax and chats all day long. Come see us if you want.

Lincoln Place is fully tied up with litigation. For example, on April 18, Judge Gerald Rosenberg found triable issues of fact as regards the possibility of duress in signing of allegedly “voluntary” termination agreements for three residents. These three cases are being sent up to be heard with the rest of the remaining residents of Lincoln Place in status conference in Malibu on June 5. The CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) case is not expected to be heard prior to August or September. The Court of Appeals granted permission for the Tenderloin Clinic, San Francisco, to file an amicus brief on behalf of the tenants. In the meantime, we are still here.

At Lincoln Place, the residents continue to experience off-leash aggressive dogwalking. I encouraged the last person with a german shepherd not to let it off the leash but rather to do us all a favor and take themselves to the dog park and have a good day. This was met with annoyance and attitude and I responded in kind. Also, some visitors have reported being followed by packs of security on bicycles and some have been told that everyone is gone and refused admittance cursorily. For example, David Busch had been turned away, not being even allowed to knock upon my door and a woman from the cat place was not allowed to go up the walkway to meet with the person she had an appointment to see.

Craig White, Senior Lead Officer, Pacific Division, has now retired. There was a party held for him at Penmar Park Rec Center and well attended by community members of parts of Venice and Mar Vista, Councilman Rosendahl and his deputy, Mark Antonio Grant, were present to give Officer White his well-deserved awards and thanks. The event was begun with a gong ceremony which I thought was fabulous and seemed to put us all in a very nice state of mind. This shindig was a joint effort of some neighbors of Rose Avenue, Lake Street, Penmar Avenue and Mar Vista. Susan Ostanek, a former resident of Lincoln Place, presented Craig with a box of photo cards of Lincoln Place. Jokes were told by Bill Rosendahl and many thanks for Craig White’s 32 years of service with LAPD Pacific Division, (as well as two tours of Viet Nam) were given to him. The temporary new Senior Lead Officer is Anthony Vasquez.

The infamous Lake Street drug house is now closed, vacated and fenced off.

St. Joseph’s has relocated to 404 Lincoln Boulevard and Flower Street, for social services and showers. Hours are: Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays from 7:30 to 4:30, Wednesdays from 7:30 to 12:00 noon and on Friday from 7:30 to 3:30 p. m. Closed Saturdays and Sundays. Community Liaison number is 310.396.6468 x322 and the weekend and after hours hotline is 310.358.2835. I am glad to see them open again, doing what they do best, providing necessary services to the community.

Posted: Tue - May 1, 2007 at 08:00 AM          


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