Empowerment and Respect
by Ron Kay

OPINION

May 14, 2009

Friends:

The City Council, in its continuing show of disrespect for Neighborhood Councils and community activists of all types throughout LA, tried to gut funding for NCs by 80 percent. But they backed down after more than 100 activists spoke at Tuesday Budget and Finance Committee meeting.

That is not the end of the story. This is not about money. Empowerment and Respect are the issues. And now is the time for community groups of all types to come together and make a stand, to demand a full partnership with government so we can revive our neighborhoods and achieve our goals from preserving the Ballona Wetlands and the Southwest Museum to making our streets safe and getting the basic services we have a right to expect.

At 9 a.m Friday, join NC leaders and other community activists on the steps of City Hall's south lawn for a rally and news conference to set out our goals.

Many people are angry. Others are happy funding has been temporarily restored, although the city budget crisis will continue a long time and NC funding will remain in jeopardy throughout the year as the city plans to revise the budget weekly since the spending plan to be approved next week is filled with fictitious revenue and cuts to paper over the $530 million deficit that is expected to be more than $1 billion the following year.

Out individual feelings and differences in some viewpoints matter little. Our city desperately needs our help to avoid the dire consequences of overspending for so long that we are facing harsh cuts in the city workforce, especially in area like planning, building code enforcement, street paving and ethics monitoring.

We don't have to be hostile to our elected officials. And we don't have to come hat in hand begging for special treatment.

We can offer an olive branch and a commitment  to become neighborhood watchdogs and the first line of city service providers whether we're involved in NCs, homeowner and resident groups, service clubs, non-profits or just individuals who care deeply about our city.

Changing the political culture of LA doesn't take ballot measures or charter reform. It requires nothing more than mutual respect and a spirit of genuine cooperation and understanding, an honest dialogue.

The time to seek community empowerment is now. There may never be a better opportunity to bring real democracy to LA and work together for positive change.

The mayor is under siege from the unions and others. The council is confused and uncertain. In our own ways, we all know what it takes to create healthy and diverse neighborhoods and a city that works for its people.

Please come to the rally Friday morning if you can or email or call your council office (see attachment). We also want to come out in force Monday and Tuesday when the full council debates the budget.

In numbers, there is strength. The goals are simple: Community, Empowerment, Unity.

Best as always,

Ron--

ron@ronkayela.com
ronkayela.com
cell 818 / 621-8349
office 818 / 704-8418

Saving LA Project
Support OurLA.org -- LA's online newspaper for the 21st century
To donate: http://www.communitypartners.org/donate.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LA City Council
Contact Info

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~