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RESTORE FREE SPEECH @ VENICE BEACH

To: Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles), Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) and Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District)

Started by: The Benefit Network

Venice Beach Boardwalk is a world-renowned tourist destination attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. A big part of the attraction is the Free Speech Zone (FSZ) where nonprofits, churches, activists, artists, authors, performers and free thinkers gather.

Tragically commercial vending, condoned by the City of Los Angeles, now proliferates in the FSZ (a public forum), leading to ruthless competition for space and location. Traditional free expression has been squeezed out by aggressive ‘vendors’ hustling a living, while traditional 1st Amendment protected activities have been replaced by competitive commerce in a hostile takeover.

The FSZ is morphing into a commercial zone, if this continues we will lose our public space and our free expression, FOREVER! Don't let this happen, please sign our petition to tell the Los Angeles City Attorney, Carmen Trutanich, Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Councilmember, Bill Rosendahl, to restore the First Amendment in the FSZ and remove ALL commercial vending ASAP!

Sign the Letter

RESTORE FREE SPEECH @ VENICE BEACH

To Our Elected Officials,

When you took office you swore an oath to support the US and California Constitutions. You have failed to support and uphold the 1st Amendment in the Free Speech Zone and have, thus, breached your sworn oath of office. It is time to make amends. Commercial vending, in the guise of First Amendment activities, proliferates in the Free Speech Zone (FSZ) on the world-renowned Venice Beach Boardwalk (a public forum), leading to ruthless competition for space and location. Nonprofits, activists, artists and performers have been squeezed out by aggressive vendors hustling a living in the FSZ, replacing First Amendment activities with competitive commercial vending, condoned by Rec. Parks, LAPD and the City of Los Angeles. Many of the traditional Free Speech activities such as those operated by nonprofit organizations, churches, political activists, artists and performers have been edged out in a hostile takeover by ruthless commercial vendors. The FSZ is becoming a commercial zone, if you allow this to continue we will lose our free speech zone FOREVER. We cannot allow this to happen, we urge you to restore the First Amendment in the FSZ and remove ALL commercial vending! Respectfully Yours,

[Your name here]

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Gilbert Zaragoza Berkeley, CA

Sent letter to Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) , Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles) and Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney)

Sep 30
Joycey Berry Canton, NC

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 18
Ani L. Schwartz Arroyo Seco, NM

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 17
Amber Thrasher Port Hadlock, WA

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 17
Lily Rocco New York, NY

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 17
Just *C* Mosheim, TN

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 17
Cherokee Fred Jesus Carrollton, GA

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 17
Ron. Price pasadena, TX

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 17
Shobha Varma Philadelphia, PA

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 16
Damian McDonnell Bridgewater, MA

Sent letter to Carmen Trutanich (Los Angeles City Attorney) , Bill Rosendahl (Los Angeles City Councilmember - 11th District) and Mayor Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles)

Sep 16