I hope our newsletter finds you well. It was a busy week preparing for our budget hearing today, welcoming State Department visitors, conducting board orientation and getting ready for Neighborhood Council elections on Sunday for Region 5 while putting up Pop-Up Polls for online voting (more info below). We did our presentation for our budget to the Budget & Finance Committee today. Many thanks to Commissioner Lydia Grant of the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners, Sylmar Neighborhood Council member, Ann Job, and Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council member, Patti Berman, for coming to provide public comment in support of our budget request! We’ve upped our proposed additional funding in the letter for the Congress events from $10,000 to $20,000 at the request of the Congress Planning Committee. We’ve been asked to provide some report backs before the committee takes final action. A reminder that the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates will be presenting their white paper and department recommendations on Monday in Budget & Finance Committee!
I was happy to hear that VANC Chair, Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council President and LADWP Commissioner Jill Banks Barad was named as one of the 2016 Stars of the Valley by the Valley Economic Alliance. The ceremony will be held at the LA Zoo on May 21st. A BIG congratulations to Jill for her continuous amazing work! The ceremony will be held at the LA Zoo on May 21st. A BIG congratulations to Jill for her ongoing amazing work!
Our and the City Attorney’s staff were happy to welcome State Department delegations from Belarus and Saudi Arabia (all elected or appointed women public officials!) on Wednesday. They came to learn about how Neighborhood Councils work to engage the community. The delegation from Saudi Arabia then went to Neighborhood Council Valley Village’s board meeting that evening where I was swearing in the board and conducting the board orientation.
I know President Tony Braswell and the NCVV board provided a great learning experience for them so the Neighborhood Council system again left a great impression on our guest. Thanks to NCVV for hosting them!
Don’t forget about United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council’s 5-Steps to Neighborhood Preparedness event with the Emergency Management Department tomorrow. If I don’t see you this weekend, have a wonderful one!
