Tensions lead to shouting at Venice homeless meeting

VENICE, CA (FOX 11) - A Venice homeless committee meeting was almost canceled in progress Monday night after shouts from the crowd became too disruptive.

The meeting was held at the Oakwood Rec Center, and tensions in the packed room quickly became heated.

At the center of the meeting was controversy over a proposal to turn an unused MTA bus yard at Main/Sunset in the middle of Venice into a 4 acre homeless shelter.

The proposal is supported by LA councilman Mike Bonin.

Public speakers were divided between supporters and opposition of the proposal on each side of the room.

Several times, the meeting turned into a shouting match between both sides, leading to threats of the meeting being cut short, and threats that people could be kicked out.

At the end of the merging, the homeless committee voted unanimously to pass a motion supporting "bridge housing", which is what the shelter would be considered, but no decision has been made on the shelter yet.