Dear Venetians, Friends and Supporters: Please send an email ASAP to City Planning re: Open House vs Forum Discussion on the Local Coastal Program (LCP) tomorrow evening - see sample below - pls add your own words where possible. Also, please show up and stand up for a transparent, inclusive and democratic process for the certification of the LCP - NOW is our chance to help guide that process and ensure that we have a say in how the LCP is implemented, before it is FINAL. Tomorrow night: Venice Local Coastal Program Open House Event When: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 from 7-9:30 p.m. Location: 1010 Abbot Kinney, Venice 90291 -------------------- Sample Email: Hagu Solomon-Cary Ms Hagu Soloman-Cary, I am writing to provide input and public comment on the process you have adopted for community participation in the certification of the Venice Local Coastal Program. Recent developments in the Venice Coastal Zone are prejudicing the LCP process and creating cumulative environmental harm. Therefore, I am requesting an Environmental Impact Review (and any other possible studies) regarding issues of traffic, parking, access to public sanitary facilities, air quality due to increased construction, variances given, loss of green space for habitat, loss of low income housing, a Mello Act review, and effects on the unique community character of the Venice Coastal Zone. Venice is a world class tourist destination with a unique community, often not benefiting from revenues the City collects from the location. If Los Angeles City hasn't already conducted these important studies, I suggest that funds collected from variances issued, etc. as a possible funding source for such studies. The Coastal Commission requested an accounting of these variances - which we have yet to see. Furthermore, the LCP process requires the widest possible participation by the public, per the California Coastal Act. On Monday, April 18, 2016 there was an 'invitation only' meeting that did not reflect the diversity of the Venice community. And it was the disruption of that meeting, by uninvited community members, that led to this differently structured Open House meeting. While I am glad to see this process now being made more public, I am concerned as to why the structure of the meeting was changed to an Open House with no question and answer discussion included. I strongly urge the City to move forward with a series of public town halls, allowing for community input and questions. This could help provide time to assemble and present the above named studies - if you haven't prepared them already. I look forward to seeing any of the Venice Coastal area studies, providing comments, and participating in the LCP process for Venice. Sincerely