I hope our newsletter finds you well.

We're starting to get the first names of the Neighborhood Council leaders attending Mayor Garcetti and the Pat Brown Institute's first Neighborhood Council Civic University. It's very exciting because this is going to be a wonderful class. Please make sure your selected members register asap here because they will receive more information from the Pat Brown Institute to complete their registration.

It was such a pleasure last night to attend the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils' 12th Anniversary Mixer last night. City Attorney Mike Feuer, Controller Ron Galperin, Councilmembers Mitch Englander and Paul Koretz, Board of Public Works President Kevin James were some of the City officials who stopped by to mingle with Neighborhood Council folk. The VANC Executive Board surprised VANC founder, Jill Banks Barad, with the VANC's first Jill Banks Barad Award for Sustained Excellence in Leadership. When I first started with the Department 7 years ago, Jill was, and still is, one of my mentors on amazing leadership so I am thrilled she was recognized for her exceptional skills as a long time leader in the community. The VANC then went on with their wonderful "Best of" awards, recognizing Valley Neighborhood Councils doing awesome work the past year (more info below). Congratulations to Jill and to the VANC Executive Board for a wonderful event!!

The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners will be reviewing the proposed online voting contract at their March 16th City Hall meeting at 1 pm. If you haven't had the chance to hear my online voting presentation at the LANCC or on Wednesday's webinar, please join me at our next 2016 Neighborhood Council Election Town Hall in the Valley on Saturday. You can also check out our updated report to the Commission and our updated Online Voting FAQ. The Commission meeting is available live via Council Phone (213-621-CITY). Because Everyone Counts will be doing a presentation, we will be live streaming the meeting here. If you can't make the meeting, but would like to provide comments to the Commission, please email them to commission@empowerla.org.

Don't forget to tune in on Sunday at 6 pm to the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate's last broadcast on KRLA 870 with Deputy Mayor Rick Cole, CAO Miguel Santana and Inspector General Fernando Campos. Also, please save the date for the next Budget Day with Mayor Garcetti on March 28th. More info to come!

If I don't see you at the Election Town Hall tomorrow, keep cool this weekend!

Best,

Grayce Liu,
General Manager
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (aka) EmpowerLA