By Esther Cicconi

People's Weekly World

VENICE, Calif. - On Aug. 25, at least 300 angry and spirited protesters marched and rallied against owners, developers and HUD officials trying to end subsidies for rent and affordable housing in this beach area of Los Angeles. Many tenants and people from the community joined the march in solidarity.

While rents in L.A. are becoming unbelievably unaffordable and unfair to seniors, minorities and the working poor, this is one of the last areas of L.A.'s westside that is affordable to low-income renters. Many have lived here all their lives.

Among the organizations involved were Coalition L.A., Coalition for Economic Survival, Legal Aid of L.A., Venice Neighborhood Action Committee and others.

Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) spoke out at the rally expressing her anger. Harman has written a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development protesting the elimination of low-cost housing in the Oakwood section of Venice.