L.A. might restrict music performers at Venice boardwalk

The Los Angeles City Council plans to debate today several changes to regulations governing the Venice Beach boardwalk -- a subject of considerable controversy and a string of legal challenges in recent years.

The Council approved a new ordinance for the boardwalk in April 2008 that was crafted under court supervision. It divided the west side of the boardwalk into a “p-zone” and an “i-zone.” Performers and other individuals seeking spots in the p-zone were required to get a permit through a lottery system between Memorial Day and Nov. 1. With that permit, they are allowed to peddle items including leaflets, bumper stickers, books, buttons or performance recordings.

Permits are also required year-round for individuals who want to sell certain items in the “i-zone” -- such as artwork or objects that are “inextricably intertwined” with their message. And the 2008 ordinance aimed to address residents’ complaints about noise.

Today, the Council will consider a new rule barring the use of musical instruments or amplified sound between sunset and 9 a.m. Members will also debate whether to give police more authority to ensure that performers rotate between shared spaces in a timely manner, as well as a change that would make the p-zone lottery system year-round. A fourth change would ensure there is enough room between the designated spaces to allow visitors and emergency officials to pass freely between the beach and boardwalk.

Norman Kulla, an aide to Westside Councilman Bill Rosendahl, said the changes are aimed at keeping the peace among performers, artists and free expressionists who compete for high-demand spots on the boardwalk, while addressing some of the concerns raised by residents in community meetings.

For Venice residents such as Eric Bostrom, however, the proposed changes do not go far enough. Bostrom, who lives 100 yards from the boardwalk, said he now spends his Saturday and Sunday afternoons away from his apartment because of what he describes as the “unbelievable” noise of a drum orchestra on the boardwalk.

“The residents are being affected in a captive listening situation, but the city is claiming they can’t do anything about it,” Bostrom said. “They just keep on doing things that have no effect.”

But Kulla, who is Rosendahl’s northern district director, said the Los Angeles Police Department’s beach unit is receiving training on a new noise meter that could more effectively monitor the source of sound that exceeds current noise restrictions.

“We understand that they’re frustrated and not satisfied, and we hope that the new noise meter will finally give them some relief,” said Kulla.

A vote by the Council today would only be on whether to ask the City Attorney to draft changes to the Venice Beach boardwalk ordinance. Members would have to vote again to finalize changes to the ordinance.

-- Maeve Reston at L.A. City Hall

Photo: L.A. Times

Comments

[gina c.]

mr. bostrom probably should not have moved 100 yards away from the boardwalk. it's similar to someone moving next to the beach and complaining about seagulls. or moving to downtown LA and complaining about the homeless people.
anyone in l.a. knows that the boardwalk is loud and noisy (if that is the way one chooses to describe MUSIC). that is part of the boardwalks charm. it is the perfect antithesis to the homogenized, corporatized, commercialized 3rd street promenade. soon, they will outlaw the peddling of merchandise, then they will outlaw the burning of sage and incense, then they will start moving in the Forever 21's and Starbucks on every corner.
all of these ordinances are giving cops free reign to do what is truly underpinning this entire "reorganization" of the venice boardwalk: hassle, harass and arrest the homeless people that reside near the beach.
DONT WORRY ERIC! soon everywhere we go will look JUST LIKE 3rd street promenade.

[tabitha]

Ok how about this:

If you don't like the noise of the Venice Beach boardwalk, don't move right on top of it! Duh.

[rb]

so this fellow moved in across from a drum circle and now complains of the noise. and what, does he want them to stop playing there? that seems fair.
or maybe people who don't want noise on venice boardwalk could move somewhere else.

[Jennifer]

The Venice Beach has been around for oh so very long. This is what the tourist come for to see the musicians, artist and the local color. When they started building all of the expensive building it brought more of the yuppies to the Venice Beach area and those of us that lived there for a very long time had to move further west. Pretty soon there will be no more artist's or musicians on the beach. This is very sad. Los Angeles will loose even more revenue.

[Monkus]

If you live 100 yards from the Venice Boardwalk, you should expect noise, especially on the weekends. It is VENICE BEACH...not Corona del Mar.

[D]

This is ridiculous. I'm not even a big Venice fan , but I can tell you that the one thing that makes the Boardwalk there thrive is the performers. It's horrible to restrict them like this. As far as the tenants that are upset at the noise. Where did you think you were moving? That's like moving into the middle of a downtown area and complaining about the constant sound of traffic. If anything to appease everyone can't they just create and enforce a noise ordinance ? Not something ridiculous, but something reasonable such as no loud noises after 10 pm ? .....

[Arbuckle Doc]

A world without music would be a really rotten place!!!

[joe]

the drum circles aren't even on the boardwalk, they usually go out a few hundred yards in the sand when they start playing. they're not particularly loud, but the sound travels far. I used to hear them from my old apartment in santa monica over a mile away.

[Chris]

Wow. You move there for the culteral enviroment, now they're complaining about it.

[CW]

this is absolutely laughable. Another great creation by lawmakers to place ordinances in order to create financial gain, permits to hand out flyers and cd's, really?? As far as residents....didn't you know the area before you bought or rented your property? The Venice Boardwalk is infamous! How can you sit back and complain when you are the ones who chose to live there knowing such information! That's like complaining about traffic if you live by Staples. Let the Boardwalk remain the way it is! It's what makes Venice "Venice"!

[Michelle]

Unless Eric Bostrom is 100 years old I have NO sympathy. Venice's bohemian atmosphere has been that way for decades. If you move into the area by choice, I would assume it's because you like the ambiance. I would suggest he buy a pair of well made earplugs and deal with. How dare he have the nerve to change was has been that way since before he called it home. Also, last I checked the "drum orchestra" wasn't on the boardwalk...it's on the beach's sand!

[Kosha]

As a Venice resident, one of the things I take pride in is the electic nature of the boardwalk. Restricting amplified sound between sunset and 9 am is fair and valid, but restricting it on weekend afternoons would basically strip the Venice Boardwalk of what makes it THE Venice Boardwalk. And more specifically, the drum circle is one of the best parts of the boardwalk - people of all shapes and sizes and backgrounds getting together, speaking a common language - music.

To residents like Eric I say - you knew what you were getting yourself into when moving 100 feet from the boarwalk, and if you don't like it, you are free to move.

[Kris]

Dear Mr. Bostrom,

The drum cirlcle and various other musical sounds have radiated from the Venice Beach Walk for years and years, you had to have known this when you decided to move 100 yards away from it. Now that the new "hey cool I live at the beach" has worn off, I guess its not trendy to you anymore? Don't like it? Move! I agree it should stop after sunset, otherwise quit coming into a neighborhood because you loved what it offered then crying when you become bored of it.

[I Stone]

I am totally fascinated by the naivety of Eric Bostrom. He moves to one of the most eclectic, artistic, free thinking neighborhoods in the WORLD, decides that its too loud and obviously too crazy for him, and instead of moving he wants the city to regulate it. Who is this guy??? Sounds like the Grinch has moved to Venice, or better yet, this could be the making of a classic boardwalk script. Boy moves out from under rock, can't adjust to life lovin' vibe, tries to stop people from living free, loses mind for being a square. A Venice Classic!

[Tourista]

Venice is such a tourist place! The locals make money off the tourists and if the tourists stopped coming I am willing to bet that 99% of the performers and junk vendors would disappear. It's a commercialized bohemian atmosphere and it's morphed from it's humble beginnings.

Complaining about the drums and noise is ridiculous. Maybe you should move or adjust!

[Eric Williams]

Like others have said: If you want to live at the beach, expect noise. These people want to turn the beach into a monestary. I say MOVE AWAY. Let the street peddlers and the musicians have their way. That's what makes Venice such a unique place. Old Farts, please move to the mountains.

[Eric Williams]

The same problem exists at the Redondo Pier. The summer concert series' are always "Too Loud" for the old fogies who just happen to live at the beach. MOVE AWAY. I hear the desert is quiet. (Hint hint)

[Jane]

Why did he move near the Boardwalk if he does not like noise? I think that people have been preforming there
for a long time, and it draws alot of tourist to that area, people know it is there, so I have trouble understanding why this person would move 100 yards from Venice Boardwalk,
why are they catering to these people.

[Scott Hoenes]

"For Venice residents such as Eric Bostrom, however, the proposed changes do not go far enough. Bostrom, who lives 100 yards from the boardwalk, said he now spends his Saturday and Sunday afternoons away from his apartment because of what he describes as the “unbelievable” noise of a drum orchestra on the boardwalk."

Dude, don't live near the boardwalk if you have a problem with drums, that's not going anywhere, you're the one who moved in on that and now you're trying to make people do what you think is acceptable, not very humane, pretty selfish.

[WendiG]

Many long years ago, I used to hang out at Venice Beach onece in awhile, and it was so very interesting and entertaining...that's when the whole hippie thing was happening in the late 60's, and the muscle guys used to be down there in a 'cage', compariing pecs and lats, derenched in oil and giving the place a portion of the surreal vibe it had long enjoyed.
There were vendors then, bikers, sidewalk preachers and every race, creed and colour imaginable..there were elderly foks, sunning themselves on benches, ignoring or delighting in the whole scenario...years pass by, but I've always had a little place in my heart keeping the weirdness warm from Venice...and now they want to control it and restrict it and sanitize it...
*sigh*
Well. at least my memories are intact...

[J. T.]

It does not make sense. Was Bostrom OK when he first moved to Venice and then something changed him? The drum circle has been there for a very long time. It is sad to hear of such of negative individual getting serious attention from city council.

[Steve M.]

You've got to be kidding. Ordinances? Permits??? (Shell out cash, folks). I remember when this permit stuff reared it's ugly head in the '70's for using the tennis courts in Sepulveda Dam Basin and it was only $1 per month. How long did that last? Remember Pacific Ocean Park (POP)? Thank you, Los Angeles.

Venice Beach is famous for it's music and culture. When you move or visit Venice Beach, what the heck sort of environment do you expect? It isn't the Malibu Beach Colony, Dude!!!

I can't wait to see what they are going to do with Harry Perry, the guy on sktes with the guitar & amp. The City of Los Angeles should be paying for his performances. The same with the guys doing the juggling saws.

I am really glad that I moved to Virginia from that bureaucratic hole, known as Los Angeles.

Eric Bostrom, move if you don't like your apartment's location.

[Errol]

If there is anything 2 complain about over in Venice, its da bums. I been goin thru that Venice boardwalk a lot when I was a kid and now at 24, I still prefer da music n if your tired of that music, then move out cuz Venice has been, still is, and always will be Venice.

[Ella]

Why is it always the wealthy uncool, uncreative people who want to be cool and creative come to live in a place that is cool because they think it makes them cool ( but it can't because they are really uncool and uncreative)? They then proceed to destroy the very coolness and creativity that attracted them to the place to begin with by placing their left brained, uncool standards, lack of tolerance and creativity, and end up turning a once thriving place into a lifeless, gentrified, empty street, paved with pretentious chain stores, starmucks, run by a sheeple-fascist-sterilized-mall mentality. The same thing happened in Soho and many other neighborhoods in NYC. It must be contagious.

[ricardo]

i just love venice and its people of all walks of life i as a teenager hated that people would aproachme for money but then i found out that a simple NO will keep them on their way love the people performing in there and their crafty ones too i been up and down the coast i can only compared it to santa cruz on the summer time