I hope our newsletter finds you well.

As we are winding down this fiscal year, I'm happy to say that for all the challenges we've had implementing the checking accounts this past year, it's been a fairly calm year end close in comparison to years past. Many thanks to our Funding Team, led by Armando Ruiz, for working out the banking issues over and over again, to our Councils for Councils volunteer mentors, especially Jay Handal, Terrence Gomes and Ivan Spiegel, for their continued assistance in helping Neighborhood Councils with their funding, and of course, to our Neighborhood Council leaders who embraced the change and who continue to help us streamline the process. We'll be having debriefs with Neighborhood Councils over the summer to see how we can further innovate the Neighborhood Council Funding Program. It has been lovely to work with Controller Ron Galperin and his team as they partner with us to make the processes easier on the City side, too.

Speaking of funding, thanks to Council President Herb Wesson and Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Neighborhood Councils may have an additional $5000 next fiscal year. A motion was introduced this week to provide more funding to every Neighborhood Council. This is great news as Neighborhood Council elections are just around the corner and outreach will be key. Council President Wesson has also spearheaded improvements to the Neighborhood Council in general via Council Files 15-0389 and 15-0524. I reported back on these Council Files this week so please take the time to review the recommendations and weigh in.

I was happy to hear LAFD Battalion Chief Kristen Crowley speak at a monthly City Hall X Discussion meeting where women employees of City Hall meet and support one another. Kristen shared her inspirational story about working at the LAFD where they are trying to double the number of female firefighters in the near future. There are only 83 women out of the 3,200 firefighters in LA. Come Sunday, Kristen will become Acting Assistant Chief, making her the highest ranking female in LAFD. Congratulations, Kristen!

Don't forget that the Neighborhood Council Budget Day is tomorrow! Come and learn about the City's budget process and elect your new Budget Advocates for next year.

Our EmpowerLA newsletter will be going dark next week, and our offices will be closed on Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day. We will be back the week of July 6th, which is also the week the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners will be meeting on July 7th in Van Nuys City Hall.

Have a great weekend and enjoy our 4th of July!