By Maya Meinert
Special to the Daily Press

VENICE — A federal lawsuit filed on Oct. 16 against the city of Los Angeles claims that the city’s most recent amendment to an ordinance that restricts activity on the Venice Beach boardwalk is unconstitutional, claiming it violates both the 1st and 14th Amendments.

Attorney Carol Sobel, president of the Los Angeles National Lawyers Guild, filed the suit on behalf of Venice Beach boardwalk “Free Speech Zone” activists. The Free Speech Zone was created to give artists, organizations and other individuals a space to perform their activities on Ocean Front Walk.

This is the second time the city of Los Angeles has amended the ordinance. Previously, the ordinance restricted artists’ activities by requiring people to pay a one-time fee of $25 for a permit to operate on the west side of the boardwalk. The law also created a specific number of spaces on the boardwalk, forcing people to participate in a monthly lottery to determine who gets the use of the allotted spots.

The ordinance also restricted the size of displays; except for an umbrella or other sun shade, a display cannot exceed four feet in height.

The latest amendment, enacted in March, further restricts the use of the designated spaces by allowing people to use unoccupied spaces only after 12 p.m. Still, if the permit holder assigned to that space arrives afterwards, the space must be relinquished to that permit holder.

Though some boardwalk performers and groups say the restrictions are unfair, not everyone is upset about it.

“It’s the lesser of two evils,” said a landscape artist who identified himself only as “Daniel.”

The landscape artist has been showing and selling his wares on the boardwalk since 1995, and appreciates how the new law has helped clean up the area.

“I understand that we need to respect the commercial side [of the boardwalk],” he said. “They don’t like big banners and displays.”

Opponents of the ordinance contend it not only violates their right to free speech, but also alters the historic diversity and character of Venice Beach, which they say is causing a decline in business.

“By running off the street people, there is less of a crowd,” Daniel said. “But that’s life.”