NCs are in the Dilemma Zone

CALL TO ACTION!

1) NC Heads of State - Now, more than any time in history, is the time for the Presidents/Chairs of each Neighborhood Council to stand together on the steps of City Hall and to present a united front.

Friday, May 15th at 9:00 am on the steps of City Hall

Each NC president/chair takes to the mic and simply introduces themselves, their Neighborhood Council and three things they've done to change the world, or at least to improve the quality of life in their community.

"We're doing good work in our community but if the City of LA has it covered, then let us know and we'll get out of the way. Otherwise, we're partners in making this a great city and we need the funding to continue that work."

89 NC Presidents/Chairs speaking in concert is a powerful and potent demonstration of power!

2) NC Boardmembers and Stakeholders - Now, more than ever, is the time for the rank and file of the NC's to show up and fill chambers with passionate and enthusiastic NC stakeholders and board members.

Tuesday, May 12th at 1:00 pm at City Hall
Budget and Finance Committee

Monday, May 18th at 10:00 am at City Hall
City Council

Each speaker steps up, introduces themselves and confronts the Committee/Council on the fact that their putting the NC budget on the chopping block but continuing to propose funding for items that are of dubious merit, or are redundant, or are extravagant, but in all cases, are of less value than NC funding.

"I'm here to challenge you on your proposal to cut the NC Budget. While the NC budget of $4 million is on the chopping block, you fund the(...insert absurd budget waste ie calligraphy or street closure or NC elections)."

The focus is simply to call the Committee and Council on their bad and ineffective choices.

3) LA Press - Now, more than ever, we need to stop talking to each other and go wide. Hit the LA Times and the Daily News. Hit the regional and local newspapers in your community. Drive the editorials with comments. Write letters to the editor. Go online and fill the blogs with conversations. Stop emailing each other and start emailing those who need to get into the conversation.

Get to the 4 Million people who need to know what's going on, who need to know we're a City with a crisis of leadership, who need to know that the NC's need their support.

Get to the "Civic Elite" who are in a position to pick up the phone and make the important calls. Surely we know those people. This is not the time to rely on "public comment" or in some cases, the "public standing." We need the full court press of pressure.

4) Mayor and City Council - Now is the time to barrage them with emails and phone calls. Phone calls are great, emails are better because you can cc CityWatchLA and we can duplicate the impact. NC's must organize this campaign and give specific instructions and follow up.

5) Crisis equals Opportunity - There is no better time than now for us to focus on our mandate and our purpose. This is the time to prioritize, to evaluate our performance and our network of contacts and support. This crisis is putting the NC system to the test and this will leave us stronger and more focused and more connected and more effective.

Or not! It's our call!

Venice NC Motion Template

"WHEREAS the City Council's Budget and Finance Committee will be recommending to City Council that the Neighborhood / Community Council funding program be reduced to a total of $1M for next year - this roughly breaks down to $11,200 instead of the $50,000 per Council; and WHEREAS such a funding cut would effectively eviscerate the ________ Neighborhood Council's mission and ability to function under the City Charter;

BE IT RESOLVED that the ________ NC actively lobby the City Council and Mayor to preserve Neighborhood/Community Council funding at a level of no less than $45,000 per year;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ________ NC encourage its stakeholders to write and/or call their Councilmember, the Mayor, and other City Council members to demand the same; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ________ NC work in cooperation with all other Neighborhood and Community Councils to oppose these proposed cuts."