L.A. City News · @lacitynews
9th Nov 2010 from Twitlonger
ZUMA DOGG & BILL ROSENDAHL QUOTES IN VENICE ARGONAUT NEWSPAPER on VENICE BEACH BOARDWALK SITUATION: In response to Pregerson's rejection of the permit system and noise restrictions, one of the plaintiffs, David “Zuma Dogg” Saltsburg, a former boardwalk performer who has actively criticized the law over the years, was happy to have the court on their side.
“I'm very, very pleased that the federal judge saw it the way we did,” Saltsburg said. “The federal judge has asked the city for years to put something reasonable together.
“I'm glad that free speech is once again free in Venice Beach.”
Saltsburg, who claimed he was forced off the beach due to the ordinance regulations, alleged that the “city was in clear, massive violation of the U.S. Constitution.” Though he was pleased with the judge's decision, Saltsburg acknowledged he was sorry the case had to come down to that.
“(The judge) decided to side with us because he was merely applying clear U.S. law,” he claimed.
Asked for comment on the decision, city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan said the office is “currently evaluating the ruling and will be working with the policymakers on the City Council to determine the next course of action.”
City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said city leaders plan to meet with the city attorney's office to reflect on Pregerson's ruling and discuss with the community how to proceed.
“The bottom line is that we have to deal with no lottery and we have to find a way to do it so there's no tensions between the people who want spots,” Rosendahl said.
Rosendahl, who said he has personally not been a fan of the lottery system, noted that the boardwalk ordinance has been a “constant work in progress.” The issue that concerns the councilman the most is the judge's blocking of amplified sound restrictions and how it could impact the neighboring residents, he said.
The city is planning to put together a task force to study the issues and determine how to move forward, which could take a few months, Rosendahl said.
FULL ARTICLE INCLUDING DESCRIPTION OF LAWSUIT AND JUDGE'S COMMENTS: http://ow.ly/36W1X