From Jenni Hawk -- Hello Fellow Venetians, We're hosting a fundraiser FRIDAY, JAN 20th, 6-9PM at the art studio of MB Boissonnault @ 324 SUNSET AVE., VENICE to raise money for the active SAVE VENICE lawsuit that residents of Venice --- Venice Coalition to Preserve our Unique Community Character (VC-PUCC) --- have brought against the City of LA for allowing ILLEGAL development in Venice by not upholding the Venice Land Use Plan and CA Coastal Act. Trial date is set for July --- but there is a very IMPORTANT COURT hearing coming up on TUES, JAN 24, 2017 and FUNDS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED TO KEEP THE LAWSUIT MOVING FORWARD AT THIS HIGHLY CRITICAL STAGE. One lucky person will be walking away with a signed, dated glclee print that MB is donating. There will also be a couple of other donation surprises :) We'll have wine, cheese and some fancy bread from Etxea Bakery. Robin Rudisill, who wrote our appeal against 742-748 Brooks, will also be joining the event. She is running against Mike Bonin for L.A. Councilmember of the 11th District and will be there to speak about these illegal developments. PLEASE BE READY TO DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN. CASH, CHECKS AND ONLINE DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE EVENT -- IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE FUNDRAISER PLEASE GO HERE TO MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION NOW - THANK YOU! https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=iPDrkIroAvfGSh2kpY3r9K2CDljHgWhAvco2gk4RjGMWp3mCT-9AFi6vCEHmP7YkFlJr4W Many of you have wondered why projects like 742-748 Brooks make it through the City of LA - especially those of you who have built houses somewhat recently and have adhered to the laws of our special coastal community. Simply stated: The City is not doing it's job of enforcing the Venice Land Use Plan and the Coastal Law and a group of residents of Venice are suing the City of LA for not adhering to these laws. One thing I have noticed is that the developers and some big architects are trying to put older Venice residents against the newer residents (with modern buildings) to create division that favors their business endeavors. I live in a big modern condo building built in the '80s - and I enjoy modern houses. It's not a war about modern versus bungalows - and this is what I've seen the developers/some architects doing at the VNC meetings. It's about preserving the things that make Venice unique from other areas of LA. It's about balance. And most important it's about following the Venice Land Use Plan and the Coastal Law!