Venice : More Talks on Homeless Set

A second round of talks among community members who are at odds over what to do with the area’s homeless was scheduled for today, participants said.

The negotiations, which were organized by the county’s Human Relations Commission, are being mediated by Lauren Burton of the Neighborhood Justice Center in Santa Monica.

Participants have declined to comment in detail on the discussions but generally described them as positive.

Representatives from several community organizations and City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter have been invited to participate.

Venice has one of the highest concentrations of homeless, with some 2,500 transients thought to be living in the beach community. Efforts to provide services for them have drawn protest from some merchants and residents.