Life at Venn

Do not download this app. The building uses it to monitor tenant complaints and concerns and retaliates through it. We had 3 major security incidents happen in our building over 3 weeks, and were told by the moderators that we can’t discuss the lack of response from management to our multiple complaints, requests for increased security (there was a shooting in our courtyard, so these aren’t minor concerns), and just basic heads up and information about what happened and how we can keep each other safe. We were told multiple times that we can’t discuss the lack of response from management on the group chat, even though that was literally the only way we got them to acknowledge that anything even happened. People were really respectful in terms of our questioning of this policy, and yet all of those messages were deleted and at least one person was suspended for at least 24 hours for being vocal about asking about the guidelines. Often this app is the only way we even know about incidents in the building because management refuses to do anything to keep us safe or informed, but they censor any conversation about the lack of communication or response to these concerns. We also are told they don’t work for our management company, but they do get instructions from management on what is acceptable conversations and what should be deleted. They’ve also told us multiple times that they can escalate concerns to management to have them resolved. It’s extremely concerning that the mods at Venn have more of a direct line of communication with our management than we as rent paying tenants. They also censored any and all conversations about how to communicate with other tenants outside the app so we could discuss these issues in a safe space. They literally deleted all discussion of WA groups and told us we can’t use the app to “get around the guidelines,” meaning talking about management issues. This is absolutely management’s tool for squashing coordination and discussion amongst tenants about issues that clearly and directly concern them as a whole building. And again, for us, this was all triggered because of a shooting in our courtyard, so people’s bodily safety is being dismissed and censored. Do not use this app. It should be illegal.

New building management made us download this app in order to access front door keys. I find it invasive and I have privacy and data security concerns. Most building residents I have spoken to feel similarly. The app makes grandiose claims about fostering community in places where people have somehow been totally oblivious to each other’s presence before this magical app connected us, I have gotten to know my neighbours just fine before this app created ‘board game gang’ and included me in unwanted group chats in order to access a key.

When I first moved to LA, I could count the amount of people I knew on one hand. Venn changed that. I know my neighbors, I know the business owners on my block, I know the stories of my community. I’m connected to the people and places that make DTLA feel like home. In our digital world, there’s something really magical about being tuned in to what’s right in front of you.