I hope this newsletter finds you well. I’m almost back to full steam with a few nifty adjustments to my desk and chair so that I can function better while I’m on the mend. Thanks so much to folks who emailed me well wishes on my (and my car’s!) speedy recovery. I really appreciate it!

While I had a little recover setback on Monday that prevented me from meeting with our international visitors from El Salvador, Director of Field Operations, Leyla Campos, and NEA, Melvin Canas, were great hosts along with City Attorney Mike Feuer and his team. Our visitors also received a proclamation from Mayor Garcetti acknowledging their visit to Los Angeles. Big thanks again to Melvin for putting together the visit (see his article below for more details). Next up, we have visitors from Saudi Arabia coming in August to check out our awesome Neighborhood Council system.

We’re doing some rearranging of our newsletter so that you can get information on our department’s work a little easier on the right hand side bar for our teams. Between the funding updates and policy changes, I’ve heard from Neighborhood Councils that it’s hard to stay on top of everything so we’ll make adjustments to make everything more transparent. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Speaking of suggestions, thank you for the feedback on the checking accounts! We are already working on improving the forms to address any questions. In the meantime, please remember that we’ll be expecting to see July’s monthly expenditure reports in August 10 days after your board approves them at your regular meeting. Also, if you are requesting funds to be transferred into your checking accounts, please request them at least 5 days before you need to use the amounts. Between corrections to the forms and other transfer delays, we’ve noticed it may take that long for the funds to arrive in your account.

In July, we’ve already had 13 Community Impact Statements filed by Neighborhood Councils. Thank you! If you haven’t already, please agendize relevant Council Files for your community’s feedback. One deadline coming up is weighing in on the Election Reform Commission’s report before it goes to City Council on September 15th. Please take advantage of this powerful tool to get your neighborhood’s opinion heard at City Hall.

If I don’t see you at the LANCC meeting tomorrow with Board of Public Works Commission President Kevin James, have a great weekend!

Best,

Grayce Liu,
General Manager
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment aka EmpowerLA