Restore Venice Blvd.

Sunny Grill - Poor Design of Venice Blvd. Road Diet Hurts Business

EXCLUSIVE: Sunny Grill owner Mia Pelonis Garefis shares how her business has struggled through multiple unannounced sidewalk construction projects and poor road design on Venice Blvd.

TAKE ACTION!

Contact those in charge of the road diet project and request they restore 3 traffic lanes and the bike lane to its previous configuration in each direction on Venice Blvd. in Mar Vista.

1) LADOT - https://www.veniceblvdmarvista.org/be-heard/
(ladot.veniceblvdmarvista@lacity.org)

2) Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti - https://www.lamayor.org/talk-us
(mayor.garcetti@lacity.org)

3) 11th District Councilmember Mike Bonin - http://www.11thdistrict.com/contact_us (councilmember.bonin@lacity.org)

4) Mar Vista Community Council Board of Directors - http://marvista.org/contact.php
(board@marvista.org)

DISCLAIMER: The unscripted views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the businessperson and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Restore Venice Blvd. No monetary compensation was provided for participation in this video.

©2017 Restore Venice Blvd. All rights reserved.

Tattoo Lounge - Venice Blvd. Road Diet Causes Decline in Business

Councilman Mike Bonin, local businesses, Mayor Eric Garcetti, road diet

EXCLUSIVE: Tattoo Lounge tattoo artist Patrick Thomas explains how the Venice Blvd. road diet has caused a reduction in clients and made his commute much more dangerous.

TAKE ACTION!
Contact those in charge of the road diet project and request they restore 3 traffic lanes and the bike lane to its previous configuration in each direction on Venice Blvd. in Mar Vista.

1) LADOT - https://www.veniceblvdmarvista.org/be-heard/
(ladot.veniceblvdmarvista@lacity.org)

2) Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti - https://www.lamayor.org/talk-us
(mayor.garcetti@lacity.org)

3) 11th District Councilmember Mike Bonin - http://www.11thdistrict.com/contact_us (councilmember.bonin@lacity.org)

4) Mar Vista Community Council Board of Directors - http://marvista.org/contact.php
(board@marvista.org)

DISCLAIMER: The unscripted views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the businessperson and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Restore Venice Blvd. No monetary compensation was provided for participation in this video.

©2017 Restore Venice Blvd. All rights reserved.

Grand View Market - Struggles in the Wake of Venice Blvd. Road Diet

Councilman Mike Bonin, local businesses, Mayor Eric Garcetti, road diet

EXCLUSIVE: Grand View Market owner Miriam Zlotolow discusses how the road diet and parking reductions on Venice Blvd. have negatively affected her business and how she feels the city is working against small businesses.

TAKE ACTION!
Contact those in charge of the road diet project and request they restore 3 traffic lanes and the bike lane to its previous configuration in each direction on Venice Blvd. in Mar Vista.

1) LADOT - https://www.veniceblvdmarvista.org/be-heard/
(ladot.veniceblvdmarvista@lacity.org)

2) Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti - https://www.lamayor.org/talk-us
(mayor.garcetti@lacity.org)

3) 11th District Councilmember Mike Bonin - http://www.11thdistrict.com/contact_us (councilmember.bonin@lacity.org)

4) Mar Vista Community Council Board of Directors - http://marvista.org/contact.php
(board@marvista.org)

DISCLAIMER: The unscripted views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the businessperson and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Restore Venice Blvd. No monetary compensation was provided for participation in this video.

©2017 Restore Venice Blvd. All rights reserved.

Louie's of Mar Vista - Venice Blvd. Road Diet Casualty

Councilman Mike Bonin, local businesses, Mayor Eric Garcetti, road diet

EXCLUSIVE: Former Louie's of Mar Vista owner John Atkinson talks about how the road diet on Venice Blvd. negatively impacted his business and contributed to its closure on Sunday, November 12, 2017.

TAKE ACTION!
Contact those in charge of the road diet project and request they restore 3 traffic lanes and the bike lane to its previous configuration in each direction on Venice Blvd. in Mar Vista.

1) LADOT - https://www.veniceblvdmarvista.org/be-heard/
(ladot.veniceblvdmarvista@lacity.org)

2) Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti - https://www.lamayor.org/talk-us
(mayor.garcetti@lacity.org)

3) 11th District Councilmember Mike Bonin - http://www.11thdistrict.com/contact_us (councilmember.bonin@lacity.org)

4) Mar Vista Community Council Board of Directors - http://marvista.org/contact.ph p
(board@marvista.org)

DISCLAIMER: The unscripted views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the businessperson and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Restore Venice Blvd. No monetary compensation was provided for participation in this video.

©2017 Restore Venice Blvd. All rights reserved.

11 Sept 17

We need EVERYONE to remind the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) and Councilman Bonin that you still support the return of the lanes on Venice Blvd. #restoreVeniceBlvd

Go to Sample Email

The majority of the MVCC Board still refuse to listen to the community and are once again purposely encouraging bicycle and pedestrian activist groups to send a flood of support letters the MVCC and Councilman Mike Bonin in favor of the current configuration of the Great Streets - Venice Blvd. "pilot" project.

These MVCC Board members and activist groups are encouraging people from all over the city to email the MVCC and Councilman Bonin to silence our voices and speak in support of the lane reductions.

We need YOU, the stakeholders who are living this gridlock nightmare everyday to write an email and say "No! I use Venice Blvd and I STILL DO NOT WANT THIS!!!"

Please, let's not let a small and vocal group - who don't care how long it takes for you to get to work, the doctor or your kids baseball game - speak for us. Please, send an email and let you voice be heard! Send your email no later than 5:00 PM on September 12th.

If you can, join us Tuesday, September 12, 7 PM at the MVCC Board of Directors meeting at Mar Vista Recreation Center, 11430 Woodbine St. in the small gymnasium to show them what community really looks like.

SAMPLE EMAIL

To: MVCC@EmpowerLA.org, board@marvista.org

CC: councilmember.bonin@lacity.org

RE: Restore Venice Blvd NOW

Dear Board Members of the Mar Vista Community Council:

As community representatives, you need to listen to Mar Vista and Venice Blvd. stakeholders who continue to support any and all policy motions that immediately reverse the lane reductions, aka road diet, and return Venice Blvd. to the long established six lane configuration.

I still believe that Venice Blvd. must be improved with the safety of everyone - drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians - in mind. I still don't believe this Great Streets - Venice Blvd. "pilot" project is the solution, and over 3,000 stakeholders have signed the petition on Change.org asking for these lane reduction to be reversed now. (info.restore-venice.com/petition)

As someone who uses Venice Blvd. on a regular basis, I am once again requesting the immediate return of the 3rd lanes for vehicles on Venice Blvd. and a reconfiguration of the boulevard that works for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Sincerely,

[insert you name here]
[insert your address or city here]

One Day Email Blitz

Councilman Mike Bonin, lane restoration, meetings, stakeholder feedback

6 September 17

We need YOU to flood the MVCC Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with emails supporting two *new* motions on the agenda for the meeting today, Wednesday, September 6th.

Go to Sample Email

These motions call for:

7b. Potential Reversal of Lane Reductions on Venice Blvd.

POLICY MOTION: Restoration of 3 car - lanes in each direction on Venice Blvd.
The Mar Vista Community Council asks that Councilmember Mike Bonin immediately reverse the lane reductions on Venice Blvd. and implement other strategies to improve the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of our roads for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. As representatives of your constituents and your elected advisory body, we believe strongly that this is the only remedy that addresses the constant, voluminous, community outcry on this issue.

7d. Advocacy/Laws for Potential Safety Measures for Bicyclists and Pedestrians

1) POLICY MOTION: Universal Helmet Laws and Night Lights for Bicyclists

2) POLICY MOTION: Distracted Pedestrians Crossing Streets and Highways

3) POLICY MOTION: Regional Safe Bike Routes Policy Motion

You can find the entire agenda for the meeting here: http://www.marvista.org/parking-committee.php

If you would like to attend the meeting, it will be held at 7:30 PM at the Windward School Boardroom 1030, Building C (by baseball diamond), 11350 Palms Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90066.

Send your emails to: Ken Alpern (ken.alpern@marvista.org) and Michelle Krupkin (michelle.krupkin@marvista.org) and cc: the MVCC Board of Directors (board@marvista.org) and Councilmember Mike Bonin (councilmember.bonin@lacity.org).

We need as many emails sent as possible please, especially if you're not able to attend the meeting. Thank you!

Sample Email

To: ken.alpern@marvista.org, michelle.krupkin@marvista.org

cc: board@marvista.org, councilmember.bonin@lacity.org

Dear MVCC Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Co-Chairs Michelle Krupkin and Ken Alpern,

I am a Venice Blvd stakeholder and I continue to support to the return of the third lanes on Venice Blvd. I support any motion that asks Councilmember Mike Bonin to immediately reverse the lane reductions on Venice Blvd. and implement other strategies to improve the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of our roads for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

I understand there are also motions on the Committee meeting agenda tonight that support:

creating Regional Safe Bike Routes
encouraging education on the issue of Distracted Pedestrians Crossing Streets and Highways
urging the adoption of Universal Helmet Laws and Night Lights for Bicyclists.

I want you to know that I am in favor of these motions as well.

Sincerely,

<insert your name here>
<insert where you live here>

cc: MVCC Board of Directors
Councilman Mike Bonin

Please join us and fellow #restoreVeniceBlvd supporters at these meetings and events this week:

AUGUST 8TH, 7 PM - The Mar Vista Community Council Board of Directors meeting at Mar Vista Recreation Center, 11430 Woodbine St. in the small gymnasium.

SAVE THE DATE: the next meeting will be 9/12.

AUGUST 9TH, 6:30 PM - The Mar Vista Community Council Great Streets Ad Hoc Committee meeting at the Mar Vista Branch Library, 12006 Venice Blvd.

SAVE THE DATE: the next meeting will be 9/13.

Looking for Councilman Bonin? He'll be at the Mar Vista Farmers' Market, Sunday, August 13th from 11 am to 1 PM. Come tell him how much his road diet is affecting you & your family and ask him to give us the lanes back now!

Please share this information with your neighbors! Thank you.

PLEASE RSVP HERE: http://info.restore-venice.com/rsvpLADOT.

This is the first LADOT open house on the Great Streets Venice Blvd. "pilot" project. LADOT says they will be presenting a one-month evaluation on July 22 from 1 to 3 p.m.at the Windward School Gymnasium 11350 Palms Blvd, Mar Vista, 90066. Parking will be available onsite in the parking lot off Sawtelle Blvd.

It's time to ask them for the DATA about the "pilot" project's impacts, including traffic flow, emergency response times, walking and bicycling activity, cut-through traffic, and safety statistics.

COME PREPARED WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & DON'T LEAVE UNTIL YOU GET THEM ANSWERED!

Restore Venice Blvd.

Give us back the Venice Blvd...

...that was working for everyone!