Tom Moran and Tom Sewell Fantasy by the Sea Peace Press: Culver City, CA, 1980 (1979) (Originally published by Beyond Baroque Foundation with a grant from the Visual Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts), 1920s
Annexation
"Venice's municipal government was burdened with a host of problems. The city tax rate had reached the maximum allowed by state law. The municipal debt was staggering and seemed impossible to liquidate. Charges of corruption and incompetence were leveled against a number of the trustees. The treasurer's embezzlement had further undermined any confidence the electorate might have had in Venice's ability to confront the world of the 1920s.
"Instead of internal change the municipal reformers turned their hopes eastward towards Los Angeles. With a seemingly endless supply of Owens Valley water and a relatively low tax rate, Los Angeles had been growing at a spectacular rate. The growth came primarily through annexations of previously unincorporated areas and smaller cities. Four square miles of beach front would be a handsome addition to Los Angeles' list of attractions.
"But the first attempt at an annnexation election was not with Los Angeles but with neighboring Santa Monica. The border between Venice and Santa Monica actually bisected several Ocean Park businesses. The consolidation of the two cities would, proponents claimed, provide adequate sewage, unite the Venice and Ocean Park amusement zones, remove the menace of Los Angeles annexation and permit construction of a harbor in the Playa Del Rey section of Venice.
"The annexation proposal went to the voters February 20, 1923. It was defeated 1466 to 922. Within a month petitions containing over 2000 signatures were presented to the Venice City Clerk asking for annexation to Los Angeles
"The measure stirred intense controversy. The Venice Chamber of Commerce asked for the en masse resignation of the trustees to restore local confidence. Signs reading "To Annexation and Ruin" pointed toward Los Angeles. A member of the audience leaped up and attempted to shoot Judge Fred Taft when he was giving an anti-annexation speech at the Neptune Theater.
"The results of the July 11, 1923, election were announced at 10 p.m. accompanied by siren blasts and whistles. Venice voters had chosen to remain independent by a margin of 1,849 to 1,503.
"Government matters continued to deteriorate in Venice. The Venice Band's contract was cancelled. All city employees earning over $4.50 per day were asked to resign. A county health inspector reported an epidemic of rats running loose within the city. The District Attorney started a series of raids on local speakeasies, gambling dens and "blind pigs."
"A "Committee of 100" was formed to push again for annexation to Los Angeles. They claimed it was a step that would "generally drag their blessed Venice out of the gutter." A billboard advertisement announced that "Annexation is worth any price."
"The amusement industry was afraid Los Angeles "blue laws" would ban late-night and Sunday dancing and close many of Venice's concessions. Business reflected on the new $8.5 million city hall planned for Los Angeles and wondered how long it would be before Los Angeles taxes began to rise.
"As a last-minute tactic, a number of anti-Los Angeles Venetians proposed a consolidation with Santa Monica as the lesser of two evils. Thornton Kinney pledged $10,000 to work for that goal if the Los Angeles annexation bid could be defeated. His sole interest was, he said, "to save the dear Venetians from getting into the grasping villainy of that juggernaut monster neighbor of cannibalistic tendencies, Los Angeles."
"The Venetians didn't want to be saved. On October 2, 1925, they voted for annexation to Los Angeles, 3,130 to 2, 216.
"There was talk of obtaining an injunction against the annexation based on the lack of contiguity between the two cities but no legal steps were taken. The official transfer took place November 25, 1925. The City of Venice became a suburb of Los Angeles."