Wednesday May 25th.
Hi All;

I received on my gate today the throwaway newsletter from Venice Town
Council announcing the elections of June 5 at the Oakwood Recreation Center
on California Ave and 7th Avenue. 10 am to 6 pm

Pre Election Candidates Forum:  June 1 and June 2  Westminster Elementary
School  6 pm to 9 pm
Here are my choices as they appear in that newsletter.

You  may know me. I have been an activist almost constantly with the Venice Town Council  since 1972 and  as well the Venice Neighborhood Council for many years.

I list candidates whom I think merit a NO vote – because in my experience and opinion they are either too pro development or their views are not known.

For me this election is more and more about ‘big boxes’ for wealthy speculators / investors and high paid business people and executives, overdevelopment on the commercially zoned parcels, and not about trying to preserve the physical ambiance of Venice.  It is not about the Arts.  All the candidates that I support below also supporters of the arts in Venice.

ARNOLD SPRINGER’S PICKS:

President:
Ira Koslow (****)

Vice President:
Sue Kaplan (****)
Mark Lipman (**)
Kelley Willis (**)

NO: George Francisco

Secretary:
Don’t trust any of the three.

Treasurer:
Hugh Harrison  (***)

Chair:  Land Use and Planning Committee
Robin Rudisill:  Current Chair. Best one ever (*****)
NO: Sauer; Silveira or Royce!

Communications Officer
No vote is best.

Outreach Officer:
No vote is best

At Large Community Officers:

This is a very important Board member post.  Don’t be lulled to sleep by the innocuous title. There are many of them to be elected.  Some of them are really dangerous to the streetscape and spirit of Venice. Together as a group, if elected, they ABSOLUTELY WILL constitute a Board majority and carry all votes on land use permits in Venice: To approve or not.

Among them are overdevelopment sleeper votes. They will help carry the appointments to  the next Land Use and Planning Committee and the votes on all development projects if elected to the Board.  So this is a critical position.

THIS IS A CRITICAL ELECTION.  PLEASE THINK AND REALLY CONSIDER BEFORE YOU VOTE. ITS UP TO YOU NOW AS TO HOW VENICE GOES.
YOU WILL REMEMBER YOUR VOTE IN THE FUTURE, ….DOWN THE LINE.

Unfortunately I think you can only vote for one name among those listed below.

RECOMMENDED:

Sylvia Aroth (*)
George Generis (*****) [current Board]
Yolanda Gonzales (****)
Noel Gould (?)
Mark Kleiman (****) [current LUPC]
Illana Marosi (***)
Jed Pauker (*****) [former LUPC current Board]
Gabriel Ruspini (*****) [Current LUPC]
Marc Salzberg (***)

NOT RECOMMENDED:

All below bend over backwards to help developers.  That’s my own considered opinion,
based on my many years of experience, —friendships notwithstanding.

Joe Murphy, Jim Murez, John Reed and Robert Thibodeau.
  ********************

NOT RECOMMENDED:  Because nothing is known to me or most others I believe about their attitudes on development beyond platitudes and vague promises.

Haseeb Rahan, Sunny Bak, Damon Berger, Cassity, Conway, Darling, Golen,
Hawkins, Jones; Juskys, Kaysing, Kephart, Lacuesta, Lambur, Livigini,
Meepos, Norton, Rotolo, Saro,  Schreiber, Schwan, Shaw, Stern, or Vulin.
           **********************

Well, let’s see what happens.

As always
Arnold Springer –your Venice neighbor.