I hope our newsletter finds you well. It’s been a super busy week as usual here at EmpowerLA. Staff are certifying elections while preparing for tomorrow’s elections and doing a bunch of Pop-Up Polls in between. I had the pleasure of swearing in the new Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council board on Wednesday night and conducting their board orientation workshop at their meeting. The STNC current holds the highest voter turnout of 1,222 voter thus far. Kudos to the STNC!
On Thursday night, I swung by the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils to talk budget and the proposed transfer of the Funding Team to the Office of the City Clerk. I heard some great news. Judith Daniels, VANC Executive Committee and long time Chatsworth Neighborhood Council board member, will be honored tonight by the Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council as Chatsworth’s Citizen of the Year for her work on the CNC selection process. She created a Selection Handbook that can now be shared with other Neighborhood Councils. Congratulations, Judi! Having already presented Judi with our Neighborhood Council Spirit Award winner, we know she is well deserving of the honor.
On a sad note, I also learned last night that long time Porter Ranch board member, Dick Rippey passed away. Dick was a great and kind person. We are so sorry for his loss. You can read more about Dick here and the results of his amazing work with the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council.
Some very neat things happened today. First, we launched our cool Civic Youth website in partnership with Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Innovation Team and are accepting applications (more info below). Second, I had the honor of giving testimony on the Neighborhood Council system to the Assembly Select Committee on Civic Engagement today. Assemblymember and Committee Chair Susan Talamantes Eggman is holding hearings statewide on redefining and improving civic engagement.
There were such informative presentations, including one from the fantastic Pete Marx, LA’s first Chief Innovation Technology Officer, on the role of technology in civic engagement. The Committee will continue its work into next year so I’m looking forward to some cohesion in state on civic engagement best practices.
Tomorrow, Region 7 will be having their elections. The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council is doing their awesome Pathways to Employment for Youth and the Studio City Neighborhood Council is holding their wonderful Green Living Fair tomorrow as well. Don’t forget that CicLAvia is on Sunday and that the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners meet on Monday at City Hall.
If I don’t see you, have a great weekend!
