Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association

Ven-Mar Meeting on August 6, 2002

Sep 08, 2002

On August 6, 2002, the Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association welcomed our "new" Los Angeles City Councilwoman, Cindy Miscikowski, to the community. The occasion was VenMar?’s regular first-Tuesday-of-the-month meeting, which was called to order by Alex Utas soon after 7 pm. This was the only item on the Agenda.

Over 150 members and guests came to meet Ms. Miscikowski, who impressed us with her vast knowledge of City Government, gained over many years of working in City Hall. After disclosing past ties with this part of Los Angeles and outlining her position on a number of current issues, our new Councilwoman very ably fielded questions from the audience on a great variety of topics. Here are some of her answers:


Playa Vista development: Ms. Miscikowski explained that of the four quadrants, the SE sector was approved and is being developed. She expressed the hope that the Trust for Public Land would be able to work out a restoration/ownership deal to bring the remaining sectors under public ownership. The area near the 405 Freeway, previously earmarked for Dreamworks, may now be used to accommodate an institution. The open stretch of Lincoln Blvd. south of Jefferson has been approved for widening. Other parts of Lincoln Blvd are under consideration by the Coastal Commission and LA DOT.

Ms. Miscikowski?’s office will assist residents with establishing the HPOD (Historic Preservation Overlay District) for the 1948 modernist development known as the Gregory Ain Mar Vista Tract. Her staff contact person for this issue is Kristen Montet, Planning Deputy.

Ms. Miscikowski confirmed her husband?’s and his family?’s long-time ties to real estate and explained that in the 1960s the Ring Brothers had acquired rights to develop certain lands in the Marina (del Rey). Her husband is the son of one of the brothers. Because the Marina is in LA County territory and none of the developments are close to the boundary with the City, there are no conflicts of interest for Ms. Miscikowski. This has been confirmed by the City Attorney, whom she consulted.

The Councilwoman agreed to contact the Dept. of Recreation and Parks about the possibility of establishing a Senior Center in our area.

In response to a complaint that owners of private property had taken over public parking spaces around the Venice canals, Ms. Miscikowski voiced opposition to the use of public land for private use and promised to contact the Bureau of Street Maintenance.

Regarding the ever increasing traffic and the population influx into the area, Ms. Miscikowski supported a regional approach to traffic planning, as adopted for the Lincoln corridor. She denied that the Expo Transit Line was a dead issue and pointed to Friends4Expo as active citizen advocates for the project.

A number of persons mentioned specific local traffic problems for which they suggested solutions such as stop signs, no-turn signs, speed bumps, etc. Ms. Miscikowski mentioned the existence of a DOT Local Traffic Management Office and recommended that these problems be taken up in an organized approach by our Neighborhood Association. Alex Utas agreed to promote this.

The meeting came to an end at 8:45 pm, with an appreciative round of applause for our Councilwoman.

- posted by AU