(Image from @venice_neighborhood_clouncil on Instagram)

As questions continue to mount over the permitting and approval of the FIFA Fan Zone at Venice Beach, one Venice resident decided to document a different part of the story: what it felt like to live through it.

On July 8, before the event concluded, Venice resident Angie René emailed Councilmember Traci Park to object to what she described as the privatization of public space, the disruption to neighborhood life, and the displacement of residents and street vendors.

Mar Vista Voice is publishing René’s letter in full below because it reflects concerns echoed by many Venice residents throughout the week, including the fact that a private, ticketed event was allowed to fence off portions of one of Los Angeles’ most iconic public spaces while creating traffic, parking and access problems for the surrounding neighborhood. Those concerns have since expanded to include questions about the event’s approval process, the entities involved in putting it on, use of taxpayer dollars for public subsidies, coastal access, and the use of public space for private commercial purposes.

Letter to Councilmember Traci Park (July 8, 2026)

Dear Councilmember Traci Park,

I am writing to formally express my disappointment and frustration with the decision to permit the private event currently occupying Venice Beach.

As someone who lives in Venice and pays a premium to call this community home, I find it unacceptable that a private organization has been allowed to create such widespread disruption for the very residents your office represents.

This event has effectively taken over our neighborhood. Residents have been left circling for parking or forced to park far from their homes because spaces have been consumed by attendees of a private event. Those of us who pay rent, taxes, and contribute to this community year-round should not be displaced or inconvenienced so that a private organization can profit from public space.

Equally concerning is the restriction of access through public property. The Venice Boardwalk and the connection to the bike path are public spaces intended for everyone. Allowing a private event to interfere with public access sets a troubling precedent and sends the message that public resources can be closed off for private interests at the expense of the community.

The frustration among Venice residents has been overwhelming. This has not been viewed as an event that benefits the neighborhood. Instead, it has created traffic congestion, parking chaos, restricted access, and unnecessary stress for the people who actually live here. It is difficult to understand how this level of disruption was considered acceptable.

Adding insult to injury, a beloved member of the Venice community—the organizer of our cherished annual Venice Fests—is now being unfairly blamed for the problems surrounding this event. He had absolutely no involvement in planning, organizing, or approving this. It is deeply unfortunate that someone who has spent years bringing the community together is now facing criticism for decisions made entirely outside of his control. I ask that your office help clarify that responsibility lies with the organizers of this event and those who approved it—not with an unrelated community leader.

I urge your office to reevaluate how permits for large-scale private events on Venice Beach are approved. Future decisions should prioritize the residents who live here every day by protecting neighborhood parking, preserving unrestricted public access, and ensuring that private events do not overwhelm the community.

Venice Beach is one of Los Angeles’ most treasured public spaces. It should remain accessible to the public and managed in a way that respects the people who call this neighborhood home. I hope your office will take these concerns seriously and work to ensure that future permitting decisions better reflect the interests of your constituents rather than those of private event organizers.

I look forward to your response and to seeing meaningful changes that put Venice residents first.

Respectfully,

A Concerned Venice Resident