General Manager's Update 

I hope this newsletter finds you well. This week started with a bang at the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates meeting on Monday where your hard working advocates split up analysis on diverse budget issues to finish their white paper on the City budget. They also passed a motion objecting to any further delays or cuts to the Neighborhood Council elections and funding, which received support from the City Attorney's Office. Thank you to everyone who is weighing in on the proposed election budget!

 

We're racing to get ready for Regional Budget Day and the Valley Plan Review Committee tomorrow as well as prepping for next week. On Monday, the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners will be taking on the stakeholder definition, reviewing the work of their standing committees. That evening the City Council Budget and Finance Committee is holding a special meeting to hear a report from the CAO and CLA on this and next year's budget and shortfalls. On Tuesday, our election report goes to City Council and our new funding report on the status of the current Neighborhood Council Funding Program and recommendations for a checking account goes to the Education and Neighborhood Committee.

 

It was nice to take a tiny break to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils last night with representatives from all 34 Neighborhood Councils in the Valley. Founder and Chair, Jill Banks Barad, received a surprise "Got It" Award from her Executive Committee for her inspirational leadership all of these years despite the many challenges. I was also happy to acknowledge Jill and the VANC's visionary ways for the Neighborhood Council system with a new twist to the famous Keep Calm and Carry On British poster from World War II.

 

I look forward to seeing you at Regional Budget Day and the Valley Plan Review Committee tomorrow!

 

Enjoy your weekend!

  

Best,

 

 

Grayce Liu, 

General Manager

Department of Neighborhood Empowerment  

 

Empower Yourself.   

Empower Your Community. 

Empower LA.

    

Valley Alliance celebrates

10 years of Civic Engagement

The Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils (VANC) celebrated their 10th Anniversary with a Mixer at CBS Studios that drew representatives from the 34 Valley NCs as well as most of the candidates for citywide office, all of whom professed their support for Neighborhood Councils. Jill Barad, founder and chair of VANC, was honored with a "Got it!" award for her leadership, her vision, and her fortitude in rallying the Neighborhood Councils together a decade ago, and then keeping them together over the years and through the many battles that they have waged to improve the quality of life in their communities...

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Regional Budget Day is here!

YOU are cordially invited to attend Regional Budget Day tomorrow, Saturday, March 16 th at 8:30 am - 12:30 pm when the results to the LA Budget Challenge survey are revealed. For those of you willing to sacrifice your Saturday morning for such a worthy cause, a light continental breakfast will be served, provided generously by a number of your local Neighborhood Councils. NEW for this year: We are taking Regional Budget Day into the regions! The four locations that will be running simultaneously include...

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EMD trains communities

to Get Prepared

The City of LA's Emergency management Department is hosting workshops that teach community members how to organize their neighborhood so that they are able to prepare for disasters and work together to support the most vulnerable by capitalizing on the strengths and talents of community members...

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Funding Update 3.15.13

On Friday, March 1, 2013, the Department issued letters to Neighborhood Councils with outstanding reconciliation reports. Pursuant to the Treasurer Handbook "The entire Neighborhood Council (NC) Board shares the fiduciary responsibility for the use of its funds; including auditing, managing and reconciling its records. All financial transactions must be reviewed and approved by the Board in a public meeting and shall be in compliance with all Department policies and procedures." NC's will be given unti...

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News from Field Operations 3.15.13

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming Board Development Series Session in the Central Area on March 23, 2013. We will meet at the Hollywood Constituent Center, located at 6501 Fountain Avenue, LA, CA 90028 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We have invited Mr. Richard Ray from the Department on Disability to talk about services and accessibility to people with disabilities and how to partner with his office. Talking about the Council File Management System, we will have...

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Small Business Assistance - Mastering Business Growth Program

The Southern California Gas Company is conducting a 10-part training program for owners of small businesses (annual revenue under $1 million) that have been in business for less that three years. SCGC's Mastering Business Growth program is a series of ten (10) course modules which provide participants a toolkit for business planning and implementation. Participants must be Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE) woman-owned, minority-owned or disabled veteran-owned non-certified and certified businesses. Also, participants may bring one employee to any course...

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Complete Streets Workshop?

The Southern California Association of Governments is hosting an all-day training session on Complete Streets, the State of California mandated policy for ensuring that all streets are designed and operated to accommodate all roadway users, including bicyclists, public transit riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. SCAG's Toolbox Tuesday is designed for municipal employees, community advocates, and consultants who have an interest in developing community based conversations on how local transportation and land-use planning can better incorporate Complete Streets strategies...

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