Saturday, October 13, 2012

Robert Guevara- A History of Participation- No other candidate or current ERNC board member has more than a couple of such examples.


ROBERT GUEVARA, Candidate for ERNC President
Partial History of relevant experience for Neighborhood Council
In most cases, there were no or few ERNC board members appearing.
 
*  LANCC, “Los Angeles Coalition of Neighborhood Councils,” I attend monthly meetings, beginning with contacts in 2009 and am a regular participant- the only one from the ERNC.
 
*  Event:  2010, City Hall, Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment, open house and information session.
 
*  City Council Budget and Finance Committee meeting, Chair: CM Paul Krekorian, CM Jose Huizar, and CAO Miguel Santana, at Women’s 20th Century Club, Eagle Rock.
 
*  City Council Committee Meeting re: Neighborhood Councils, City Hall, Chaired by CM Bernard Parks.
 
*  Budget Representative for ERNC, 2010, 2011, 2012, attending meetings at City Hall, elected Budget Advocates for each year.
 
*  Attended Mayor’s Budget Day at City Hall, 2010, 2011, 2012, city wide event with presentation of report by Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates.
 
Meetings-
*  Attended meetings of other Neighborhood Councils, Historic Highland Park NC, Glassell Park NC, Lincoln Heights NC, and LA-32 NC (El Sereno).
 
* Attended Dahlia Heights awards ceremony as an ERNC representative and attended the Dahlia Heights 2012 Ice Cream Social community event.
 
* Attended Open House for 710-Freeway planning and comment event at Eagle Rock Elementary School.
 
* Attended the dedication of the Van de Kamp Community College campus on Fletcher Drive.
 
* Attended NC PlanCheck meetings in 2011 and 2012, City Planning Dept. presentations on upcoming changes
 
* Budget LA meetings of NC and other city activists.
 
* NECA meetings, (“Northeast L.A. Councils Alliance”) in Silverlake, 2012 presentations by Zev Yaroslavsky, L.A. County Supervisor, and representative on LAUSD Redistricting.
 
* NELA meetings, (“NorthEast LA” coalition of Neighborhood Councils.)
 
* Dept.of Neighborhood Empowerment 2012 Elections, Region 8 meeting-Glassell Park, candidate information and training meetings, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights.
 
* 2010 City Election, attended CD-14 Council Candidate forums with CM Jose Huizar and Rudy Martinez,
a. hosted by Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council,
b. in Glassell Park by the Glassell Park Homeowners Improvement,
c. and hosted by TERA and ERNC in Eagle Rock.
 
* 2010 Elections, member of the L.A. Clean Sweep organization with a major goal to have qualified candidates challenge incumbents in the “even-numbered” council districts.
 
* Attended the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Congress of Neighborhood Councils, the annual city-wide meeting for the city’s 95 certified Neighborhood Councils.
(I was the only ERNC board member attending in 2010 and 2012; one other ERNC board member attended in 2011).
 
* Attended DWP informational meetings in 2012 and some meetings of the DWP committee preceding the LANCC meetings.
 
* Attended Lummis Day annual event in 2011 as ERNC representative.
 
* Attended each of the Northeast L.A. Veterans Day Parades each November 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.
 
*Attended 2012 Primary Election L.A. District Attorney Forum, KPCC studio, Pasadena.
 
*Attended 2012 L.A. District Attorney Debate, August, 2012, LAPD Auditorium. Jackie Lacey and Alan Jackson for Nov. election.
 
 
* Eagle Rock Park, Concerts in the Park, 2011, 2012 as ERNC rep.
 
* National Night Out 2010, 2011 (2012 date conflict with D.A. debate downtown).
 
* KPCC Forum with former City Department head, Austin Beutner, KPCC studio, Pasadena.
 
*Attended various City Council meetings at City Hall downtown.
 
*Attended series on government, at City Hall, hosted by CM Jose Huizar
 
*Attended City Hall panel meeting on campaign funding issues, hosted by L.A. Downtown News
 
*Attended CD-14 Council member Jose Huizar “State of Town” address for 2010, 2012 (no “address” in 2011).
 
*Attended Eagle Rock Music Festival, 2009, 2010, 2011, ERNC booth.
 
*Attended 2012 Primary Election, Candidate Forum for Assembly District 51
Candidates:  Luis Lopez, Jimmy Gomez, Arturo Chavez and Oscar Gutierrez appeared. TERA as primary host.
 
*Attended L.A. City Redistricting meeting at Occidental College, 2012.
 
*Attended presentation by Eagle Rock High School, Principal Velasco with faculty member, joined by presentation from City Controller Wendy Greuel at Occidental College.
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And attended the Regular meetings of the ERNC Board and Executive Committee since joining the ERNC in April 2009.

Vote Today-Robert Guevara - Candidate for ERNC President


The View from the ERNC Candidate Forums This Week

by

Robert Guevara - Candidate for ERNC President

Election Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012- 10am-4pm

Eagle Rock City Hall, Colorado at Maywood


 
(Note: This was a post that I thought would be up way earlier in the day, Friday, in the Eagle Rock Patch.com, than whenever if ever it finally appears.  Part of this delay is my doing for being slow in finishing the writing.  And part is due to a computer operating in the tired mode, just when some speedy changes would help.  Since I did write this, I might as well post it now.  It wasn’t supposed to be a post-election commentary but it may come to that.  The ideas and views still stand as I have them now.)

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The live Candidate Forum on Tuesday and the Eagle Rock Patch online reporting and Forum helped to sort out the many candidates for Saturday’s ERNC election. I am running for President after 3 years on the board. I appreciated the opportunity to share my views and hear those of the other candidates. 

Here is what I want to fill in about the area that supplies more direct information on the subject of the Purpose of the NC.  Also I want to show some reasons I think I would be the best choice for President over any of my opponents, most of whom I have come to know and like over the years working with them.

Funding Concerns with the ERNC Budget

A big part of the questions posed by the live and the online forums were in connection with the funding that the ERNC receives annually from the city, a current level of $37,000, with the same amount going to each of the 95 NCs.  There has been a yearly cut for the last 3 years with more expected in the future based on the city’s precarious financial condition.

The responses of candidates showed the assortment of views about the purposes and goals of the NCs and few of them reflected what the ERNC’s connection to the city government is or should be.  I think there was a lot of misinterpretation of the system, but I have had years now of working in this particular area of interest.

There were many questions about “funds” and the ways that the money from the ERNC’s annual budget should be handled from the candidate’s perspective. This might have been a validation to candidates that funding is a primary purpose of the NCs over working in the area of involving all stakeholders, not just the funded entities.

 The questions produced a variety of proposals, usually focused on improving one or more aspects of life in Eagle Rock, with programs or projects considered for that purpose.  These were all for getting to a better level of conditions in Eagle Rock, but still leaving our interaction with the city government untouched.

 NC Purpose- In The Beginning

My view is more a reflection of the basic purpose of the NC system as the short statement as the purpose of neighborhood councils presents it:

“To promote more citizen participation and make government more responsive to local needs.”-  Los Angeles City Charter, Article IX

We still are in an “advisory” capacity, but fully authorized to act as such by the City Charter, the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment and several major reportson the system have this as the foundation for the system’s creation.

- A USC Policy Brief from 2007 shows one extensive study still applicable on operations of the neighborhood councils.

The priority for the NC system as shown in the many documents about the NC manner of administration is the accomplishment of outreach to facilitate the City Charter description, a goal all in itself.

Any funding actions in the nature of grants from the local NCs are secondary to all else that connects to the task of being responsive to the stakeholders and voicing the concerns to the city council.  The funding side of things is done at the discretion of each neighborhood council, within the parameter set for eligibility, which were very loose until this year when the mandatory use of the NPG, the Neighborhood Purposes Grant applications was enforced.

We have a condition now where funding is the considered purpose that NCs are to serve while outreach is more of a condition that will presumably occur on its own.  After 10 years in existence as a neighborhood council, the stakeholders’ continuing lack of knowledge of the NCs, even as to its existence in some instances, shows very well that this is not the case.  The impact of outreach is achieved by directly working toward accomplishing it as the Election effort demonstrated can be done.

Personal Experience as a Qualification Factor - Both as independently chosen actions and as an ERNC Representative.

Some reasons for getting your vote include being the only past or current board member with a history of participation in the wider scope of activities in city’s NC system.  I like to stay informed on relevant events and conditions affecting us on the NC level.  The overall topic of city government activity is a particular interest of mine. 

I have a better perspective on what the city government is about from hearing from our officials, representatives and the critics as well as the many peers that have developed an expertise in understanding and working within the system.

I have been the only ERNC member attending the several events over the years, as well as related but voluntary events.  I have been an ERNC Budget Reps for the Community and the Mayor’s Budget Days each year as part of the NC involvement with the annual city budget planning, electing the NC Budget Advocates who do further work to produce recommendations that are presented to City Council

My participation in LANCC, “Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition,” has been immensely helpful in understanding the system and the ongoing issues that the NCs are facing individually and system wide.   I think we need to be involved with the city government operations more than just what the past ERNC activity has focused upon. 

Along with becoming more informed on issues and events, I have met many people who provide me information of all types, many of them being from other NC across the city.  The acquaintances and friendship made along the way is another beneficial impact of the efforts, as we all want to have a better city.  We share a lot of views, what we think and what we learned, all to help make improvement.  Collective progress and impact is a result of the LANCC meetings, as well the other events and meetings that happen less frequently.

Miguel Santana, the Chief Administrative Officer for the city, spoke much earlier in the year and said that when he came on board, the city was “ hair’s breadth from bankruptcy.”  Now this was from a guy that knows and the story from the Mayor at that same time was totally different, all going to show that what is said at the time and what is true for that time do not always match, and with the city, the mismatches are many.

 A lot of what can be learned comes from the participants themselves from there own presentations and there’s not much to compare being there in-person to size up things by how it is being said and what is not said, as well.   So attending meetings can have a useful purpose and most of the time there’s something gained from them, if only to be sure of how deceitful a person can be to the public and not be affected by that.

Participation and Representation in Events Has Value

I attended the kickoff election meeting for the 8 NCs of Region 8 in Glassell Park as well as three more training and candidate information sessions.

 Even as to elections, no one on ERNC’s current election committee used the opportunity from these meetings to employ the techniques presented, and as far as I know, they still had not met Terrence Gomes, the Region 8 Independent Election Administrator, the “IEA,” who was present at each of these meetings.

Aside from missing the opportunity to learn diverse outreach approaches and hearing more on marketing aspects, the personal contacts are not made with city personnel in attendance, ranging from staffers to department heads that are there to make their own presentations.

Forming Alliances for Better Representation

Despite the uniqueness and warmth of community generally here in Eagle Rock, an awareness of and involvement with the operational side of city is needed to keep Eagle Rock and the Northeast L.A. area represented to preserve and promote what is important to us. There was little concern in the past for collaborating and joining with other neighboring NCs until now.  There are 37 NCs covered in the large Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils, “VANC,” an influential group outside of the formal city system and created by voluntary participation.

 Motivating the Creation of an NC System

A major cause for creating the NCs system came from the conditions where San Fernando Valley considered seceding from the city. There was a widely held view that the level of city services and quality of representation were disproportionately poor when considering the money that the city was collecting in fees and taxes in the Valley.  In short, we now have 95 certified NCs in the city system that grew from heading off the drastic goal that this dissatisfaction might have produced.

 A Part of City Government

Very little discussion by candidates on Tuesday even touched upon the nature of the NCs as part of the operation of city government or the interaction done with the city at the NC level, which is a principal reason for the formation of the NC system.  More time was spent on the preferred applications of the available funding if the candidate was to be elected. 

Each NC has the outreach aspect of NC operations as the most challenging part of operations, some to a greater degree than others. The recent election outreach shows what progress can be achieved in reaching more people when it is done by purposeful action. Spending first on projects and programs still does not address the “representative” part of having an NC exist, putting the cart before the horse, as those “in the know” would be more likely to have access to funding that heretofore was generously made available, to the extent that outreach did not really suffer because it was not actually part of the plan. Again, by “gifting” among the community recipients by the NC, it was rationalized that the NC was doing that purpose, i.e., an interpretation something like, “We reached out.  Look what the money got.”  And really, the public was not one bit more in touch with the NC or getting better informed on how city services could be handled any differently than before, since no input on the public’s behalf was made due to “no input” being sought by the NC in the first place.

So I am probably being more harsh than the situation calls for but when there is no recognition of real priorities or the need to touch base with constituents every once in a while, the local operation really leave you with a big feeling of frustration.  It is probably due to the fact that I go to meetings where members of other NCs have similar tales and some others have some successes that are shared that keeps me in the picture.  I know there’s a better way.

 The idea that was circulated today about dedicating a seat on the board to be the “factual basis” representative was an approach to counter NC takeovers non-resident groups that I learned about from the LANCC discussions a few years ago.  I presented a proposal to fill a long vacant Business Director seat. The idea was about taking action after “x” months unfilled, with an “At-Large director” appointment who would “continue until the next election at which time the seat would revert to the original category.”

 

That was an idea from a discussion during a LANCC meeting, probably arising at the same session as the dedicated “factual basis seat.”  Bringing that idea up at the ERNC meeting got the equivalent of a pat on the head and “run along now, we have to move on.”  So we moved on.  Now, in true retrospect, it’s one of those things that might have been useful had there been a climate more receptive to the suggestions made for better management of the NC rather than get a big helping of resentment for bringing up ideas from outside sources and not from ourselves on these things.

 ERNC Funding Realities

Unfortunately, the FY 2012-2013 budget’s available funds will be around $11,000 according to a statement made last Tuesday. 

Aside from ideas of funding and a limited ability to do so, the real purpose of the money is to provide the town halls for community views to be aired, for costs like the ones encountered in the election outreach so that all stakeholders will be included in what information is being disseminated.

 The budget for the NCs was created to enable each NC to be able to cover overhead and to pursue the task of outreach to establish the connection to the community and be able to provide the information as the City Charter authorized all this to happen. 

Another area that has not been visited in years by the ERNC is disaster preparedness, something of an area of concern brought to our attention in the power outage following the windstorms nearly of the past year.  Earthquakes continue to be another preparation area.  Information sessions and fairs have been conducted by other NCs. 

To add to the explain current ERNC spending for this FY, consider that the Eagle Rock Music Festival last week used $7,500 as one lump sum funding. This same funding amount was made last year when our budget was $40,500.  I tend to be the conservative one on the board and could not support these levels.  We have reduced funding and an exposure for more assorted overhead expenses to arise.   We had a discussion 2 years ago at a prior funding request whereby we suggested seeking other private donations based merit and popularity of the Festival. The result would be to gather the funding sought and reduce its need to request ERNC’s limited funds.

Learning About the City and Issues

My interest in the Neighborhood Council activity comes from my concern over the management style of the city in local government and its resulting impact on us all.

Over years of observing and being involved in the NC system, I learned that our city officials were not really doing many things with the constituent’s best interest in mind. My agenda is simply to share with others that information that many try to hide and to give to others who may be too busy to find what is being done by City Hall’s professional politicians so that we can have a better quality of life and intentionally so, not depending on City Hall working it in when convenient.

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Some good sources for information that many do not notice-  the L.A. Weekly, the L.A. Times and the L.A. Daily News are but a few of the sources of information about the city.   Deeper examination on city actions is provided by several major activist blogs that include CityWatch, RonKayeLA and Mayor Sam’s, with several others providing varied news about city hall and beyond.  The politicians and their staffs keep up with these sources, too.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Robert Guevara, Candidate for ERNC President- Response to Questions from Eagle Rock Patch

As mentioned below in the earlier posting, I am running for the office of President of the ERNC.

If you want to see who else is runnng, and some voting information from the ERNC web site, see LINK.

My response that was posted in the Eagle Rock Patch II today as "Meet the Candidates" posted here- kind of long, but something that tells you what the plans for improving the Neighborhood Council are about and why.
See Eagle Rock Patch Part I more candidate responses.

THE OFFICIAL SITE from Empower LA Election page-
Click here to read the personal statements of the candidates on the EmpowerLA website.


The Eagle Rock Patch online published responses for those candidates who responded and all candidates had the same opportunity to share their views but apparently, not all chose to participate.
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Robert Guevara, Candidate for ERNC President Responses to Eagle Rock Patch “CANDIDATE QUESTIONS” for 10-9-12:


1. What do you think accounts for the unprecedented interest in the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council elections this year?

There was generally a more concerted effort this year than in the 2010 NC elections to promote the opportunity for stakeholders to file as candidates for the elections among the 95 certified neighborhood councils this year, with the administration of these elections in the hands of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.  The City Clerk’s office handled the 2010 elections for the neighborhood council system.  The contrast in the numbers filing for offices in the ERNC’s election had a lot to do with the local impact of the matter of Medical Marijuana Dispensary issues, the changing approaches to regulation, as well as the laws and state court decisions that were made over recent time.  Add to that the assorted views held by persons and groups within the local community and the resulting strong polarization produced, and the ERNC election appeared as an appropriate opportunity for influencing the situation accordingly by office seekers.


2.  What, in your view, is the purpose of a Neighborhood Council?

The Los Angeles City Charter, at Section 900, recites the purpose of the neighborhood council system very succinctly, “To promote more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs, a citywide system of neighborhood councils, and a Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is created.”

Over time, I think that the purpose of the NC system has evolved to something that ranges from a loose adherence to these terms, to a condition where an NC, both board and stakeholders alike, consider the funding activity, the higher-visibility component of operations, to be its main function.  The original purpose of NCs thereby is not being accomplished and stakeholders’ interaction with the mayor and city council has not been advanced as the plan for NCs intended. 


3. What kind of changes would you like to introduce in Eagle Rock if you’re elected to the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council?

In the capacity of President of the ERNC, I see that we would benefit as a community by turning to the purpose of the NC system for a goal, for working to get views of stakeholders become the basis for decisions of the NC board where now those decisions are more strongly based on the views of the individual board member.  Our actual contact with stakeholders is nowhere near where it should and could be with better use of updates to our web site.  Motivating more activity of board members in the events ERNC sponsors where we can meet the public will be a good start.

I would like to start with some approaches that have not been regularly used over the 3 years I have been on the board, and these are in furtherance of the items I stated above and they are not complicated, controversial or involving any significant expense.  The President has the role of motivating the board to achieve its duties.  There are duties involved, even as “volunteers,” and working to implement committees now dormant and getting stakeholders working on committees is a significant “involvement” that other NCs experience.

There are a lot more specific items but, in brief, the ERNC board has to work to serve the stakeholders of Eagle Rock as its connection to city government for the benefit of the stakeholders. Better representation at City Hall was a motivation for the creation of the system and that still remains as a need, even after many NCs have celebrated 10 years in operation.

 
4. Eagle Rock has some tremendous resources many other neighborhoods lack—two broad boulevards, two sprawling public parks, good schools, to name a few. Which of Eagle Rock’s major assets do you think are well utilized? Which do you think are underused—and what would you do to utilize their full potential as a member of the ERNC?

The stakeholder population in Eagle Rock includes business owners and their employees. That  is sizeable in comparison to other NCs that have a less significant presence of a business population.  As mentioned in the question, the noted resource features that we have in Eagle Rock are recognized as part of the reasons for living in Eagle Rock. 

In order to answer your question more appropriately, we, the ERNC, should be taking in comments from the stakeholders, as individuals and groups or organizations, on their concerns and then we can move forward with that information as a basis.  The ERNC is not any single organization to be a ruling factor in the area, nor should we be, but we are a part of the whole. 

The ERNC is the only local group as the City Charter authorizes, to be directly connected to the city government and that aspect should be our focal point in acting. We should be coordinating activities and cooperating with the community individuals and groups to determine what areas need attention and apply a priority for attention as appropriate to the ERNC’s ability and authority.

We should be representative in affecting ordinances, city services and other municipal functions as our advisory jurisdiction so extends.  The early notification provision for the city to inform NCs in order for responses to be made to the city on behalf of stakeholders is still not established, although part of the plan for NCs. There is a coalition of NCs, LANCC, working on better interaction.  The LA NC Budget Advocates is one accomplishment, with its function and importance in budget considerations rising each year.

 
5. Do you think corporate businesses such as Target and Starbucks are good for the community—or do you think they harm the interests of small businesses? Do you think Eagle Rock needs a judicious mix of mom-and-pop shops and corporate-owned stores?

Corporate entities are not good or bad, per se. They can be large and influential and that may threaten what residents and existing businesses believe is good for the area. There can be a balance and some planning applied to come to the best result for both the establishment of large stores and the small businesses.  An awareness of the community and involvement by the large corporate style businesses helps to benefit the area.  The setting of the Eagle Rock Plaza has followed the format of many malls, with large stores being the anchors and smaller enterprises occupying smaller spaces, and many of the tenants being a mix of corporate small store franchises as well as independent stores.

A blanket judgment would be a flawed way to approach the local situation.  The case-by-case consideration would be a better way to evaluate what impact a particular business type would create here and then consider what would be needed if problems appear.

 
6. What’s your view about land use issues in Eagle Rock? Do you think Eagle Rock’s community leaders are too tough on businesses looking to open in the neighborhood?

In the context of the ERNC, our Land Use committee is very useful to bring out the concerns of the community and the businesspersons.  It may not be a perfect condition but it is a component that allows early examination of proposed changes, both small and large. There is a specific plan, the Colorado Specific Plan, which applies to the area, one of many “specific plans” that exist among communities in the city.  I am not involved in that committee and as a committee purpose, its members have developed their own level of expertise to produce recommendations on business changes in Eagle Rock.

If there is a matter of being “too tough” on potential openings of businesses here, I think there’s a lot of responsibility for that coming from the way the City of L.A. handles businesses across the city, with the idea of being “business friendly” as some on the city council like to say, not by any means a universally accepted condition. That may be what could be a larger reason for problems, with the included “red tape” not being any source of enjoyment for anyone, either.

 
7. How would you use the Neighborhood Council’s limited funds for projects in the community? Which areas—neighborhood beautification, public safety, youth programs, for example—would you like to prioritize?

I think our representative function would have to inquire with various stakeholders for their views on priorities.  All of the mentioned areas have value, and how this should be determined is the question.

We, as NC members would or should be responsive to input and priorities expressed by stakeholders and take that into account in establishing priorities for action.  That still is not to say the NC should be acting only on what surveys or polls dictate, but what we do now is not based on fully exploring the stakeholders’ concerns as much as it is based on what we personally believe should be their concerns.

A leadership role should include responsiveness to what the constituency voices, but consider, too, that there should be an expectation of conflicts arising among the views presented.   A one-size-fits-all solution is probably not going to be the answer.  That is where further discussions are needed in seeking solutions.

 
8. Do you think a Neighborhood Council should spend its funds in ways that benefit every community member? Or do you think a Neighborhood Council with limited funds has to necessarily be selective about backing certain projects at the expense of others?

Funding as part of the establishment of the NC system, was conceived to be there for achieving the purposes of the NCs.  Ours, like many among the 95 certified NCs in the system, spend a lot of time in meetings on funding requests, the function and the amounts as variables among them.  We have had successive funding reductions for the past three fiscal years, 10 percent, 10 percent and 8-plus percent, or coming down from the initial $50,000 annual funding, to $45,000, to $40,500, and now at a $37,000 level. 

Funding caps have been made in some NCs, as a few have set a $2,000 maximums, while ERNC has none.  Our 2012 Eagle Rock Music Festival was granted $7,500, and an equal amount was granted for 2012’s Music Festival when our budget was $3,500 higher.  The choices were between making the expenditure for a one-time event by the ERNC vs. having the Event make its own efforts seeking private donations over the preceding year in lieu of the ERNC funding. This was discussed over 2 years ago at the time the 2010 Music Festival funding request was made and I was in the minority in trying to conserve funds.

From the budget funding allotted by the City Council each year, an NC should cover some overhead expenses and work on “outreach” to the stakeholders so that the “representation” part of the system happens.  Stakeholders of many but not all NCs, are in the majority of those who are not aware of what an NC is supposed to do or sometimes are not aware of the NC at all.  That is the responsibility of each NC to address, but since it’s not any exciting part of the job, little attention goes to that end as I observe.

There was an article written in the Highland Park-Mt. Washington Patch by David Fonseca, the July 3, 2012  on Neighborhood Councils’ effectiveness (http://highlandpark-ca.patch.com/articles/neighborhood-councils-how-effective-are-they ) showing some good points on the funding situations as well as a few problem other NCs have encountered.  A few parts had me identify with the presented scenarios where the funding requestors were a big part of the typically small audiences at meetings.  ERNC has not had some of the problems other NCs have had, fortunately, and we do run well in that regard.

However, as an area for attention, we have never had a “Budget & Finance Committee” in the 3 years I have been on the board to vet funding requests. Instead, we evaluate at the time the request is made and decide most requests at that same meeting, spending a lot of meeting time on funding issues. 

The B&F committee, one of many in the Bylaws, would help produce a more complete evaluation of the funding requests.  It also would have stakeholder involvement expanded in producing recommendations, as committee membership is open to stakeholders.  We could apply some comparative merit for competing request for available funds instead of the “fund until the money runs out” approach. 

Actual outreach is not being accomplished now in the best way by these approaches. Funding is not, in my opinion, done in the most fair and effective manner.  The will to change this has not risen to a level among the board to change things to this date.  My experiences at other NC coalition meetings have shown me other ways that would improve our performance and impact with City Hall.

Let me just say that providing funding to any particular group, while useful for achieving the individual purposes, does not produce another stakeholder with any more understanding of what our council members or mayor happen to do that affects us all- and that could happen with just following the City Charter’s descriptions.  THAT to me is our current failing in expending funds that should be for that purpose of being a conduit between the stakeholders and the city hall, including our CD-14 representative there.

Again, there should be a balance between true outreach and funding action in the community. By saying we have accomplished outreach by some “funding action” is either a rationalization or truly misunderstanding the operation of outreach that the City Charter and neighborhood council plans intended.

 
9. Would you be willing to tap private and nonprofit organizations to raise funds for community projects? What expertise, if any—in grant writing, for example—do you have for fundraising?

While we are not specifically grant writers nor do we have that duty as board members, the assistance envisioned in your question where we can direct to other sources of funding is not new. Personally, I “write” but I am not a grant writer.  We did fund TERA at the last meeting for the employing the services of a grant writer for pursuit of greater funding for more of the goals of “Take Back The Boulevard.”

 I mentioned the “alternate source” of funding as a suggestion during a meeting back about 6 months or more when the Principal of Rockdale Elementary made a funding request that would be useful for them but not absolutely essential- in my own opinion- at the time.  A discussion began about developing some manner of finding alternate sources of funding and working more as a board to use that as an alternative to direct funding.  Dan Law, Youth Director at that time, had some suggestions for that style of assistance.  As I recall, some funding, possibly in full, was approved that night, and alternate funding sources remains as an area for consideration.

 
10. If elected, what would you like to see as your biggest success as a member of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council?

I would like to see a cooperative board, open to suggestions from each other and the stakeholders so that this organization can reach a level of contact by actual “outreach” so people understand what the ERNC does and can do for them, and that they make use of this organization.

I want to accomplish the joining other NCs in the local region, a move away from our current posture as an isolationist board, evidenced by low participation in even minimal NC actions.

I already know many board members from other NCs, as well as city officials and staff, as well as many department heads, and I am meeting more all the time as I continue to attend events and meetings related to city issues.  Some meetings are part of the NC service and many are from my personal interest in gaining more information.  I am not an expert in a lot of things about the city, but I have become friends with many who are experts or at least very well versed in particular topics to teach me more.
 
By grouping together a number of NCs, our voice in City Hall will be less likely to be ignored as our numbers grow.  That would be better representation for our stakeholders and their concerns.

ELECTIONS Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council- Saturday 10-13-12 "Vote For Me"

I haven't posted anything on this blog for a long while as election matters and such have had my writing applied to other blogs.  But I return to post some self-serving items for your consideration.

Yes, I, ROBERT GUEVARA, have become attached to the system that fosters the careers of politicians that I regularly criticize.  Over the years of being in contact with many in the activist community, I myself have accumulated some useful knowledge and experience that I consider an asset to make the ERNC a better organization.

  It turns out that I have become the only ERNC board member who regularly attends relevant activities such as the  monthly meetings of the LA Neighborhood Council Coalition, open to all, especially board members from any of the city's 95 Neighborhood Councils.  This is just one of the sources of experience I have had, but a major and influential group in the city NC operations, including NC Budget Advocates, who present the Mayor and City Council with a separate and researched report for budget discussions each year.

  I have made contacts with many other NC board members and learned lots about what makes and doesn't make a good NC.    I have heard from many City elected official in person, as well as many department heads and reps, and developing helpful relationships to do a better job in NC operations.  Nobody else running for ANY ERNC office this election has that background- or I would have seen them at the events and meetings I am talking about.

THE ELECTION IN EAGLE ROCK is THIS SATURDAY 10am to 4 pm at the Eagle Rock City Hall on Colorado (at Maywood), a few blocks east of Colorado & Eagle Rock Blvd.


I am running for PRESIDENT now, after 3 years as the Secretary and Education Director

But it's a Neighborhood Council Election- Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council ("ERNC'), to be exact, and all board members are either elected or appointed to the board.


About Elections for the Northeast L.A. NCs.
Most people look at Eagle Rock as the site of the annual Music Festival that just ended last Saturday, or, now, for the Medical Marijuana Dispensary concerns as the recent news stories highlight.

The 8 NCs of the entire Northeast region ("Region 8" in administrative terms) will have their individual elections that day, too.   Besides Eagle Rock, you have Lincoln Heights, LA-32 (El Sereno), Boyle Heights, Glassell Park, Greater Cypress Park, Historic Highland Park, and Arroyo Seco NCs with election activity.

MARIJUANA- MEDICAL MARIJUAN DISPENSARIES impact.
The Eagle Rock Patch is a good source of information on candidates and the controversies and comments about the medical marijuana dispensaries that have become a major concern of segments of the community.  There really is not much about those concerns left for NC involvement as during the period when the City Council began addressing the issues with ordinance drafter a few years ago.

Now the courts have the ball in their court and voter petitions for a referendum has caused the City Council to cancel the last ordinance approved that would have banned all Medical Marijuana Dispensaries until some court resolution. 

Last week, the federal government's arm of the law reached out to begin asset forfeiture proceedings against some of the MMDs' landlords- and that usually works to cause MMDs to move out as the landlord's like rent, but they don't want to risk losing their property for that tenant.

I am looking for voter support as Qualifications for a Stakeholder to vote in the ERNC election are different than in regular elections.
Age:   16 or aboveCitizenship-  Not relevant A connection to the Eagle Rock Community-   Live, work, own property, attend school, own a business, attend services at religious institutions, a member of a club or community organization in Eagle Rock, or a consumer/customer (shop in Eagle Rock- evidenced by recent receipt from a Eagle Rock-based store).

That last category that allows shopping as the "Factual Basis"for voting has many people seriously concerned but so far, that is a legal basis to vote in Saturday's Election, among many other qualifications that may require added presentation to show such qualifications are met.

The voter registration is done at the time of voting on Saturday at Eagle Rock City Hall.

If any of you have any of the connections to Eagle Rock as mentioned, feel free to participate and vote for me, Robert Guevara as President that day, and I will appreciate your support and any other voters that you can inform who would qualify to vote here.

Friday, August 17, 2012

LHS Alumni Meeting for August on Saturday- 10 a.m.

Late verification- the Alumni General Meeting will be at the Cafe In The Heights (across from the school), starting at 10 AM (not 9:30). 

Several items coming up on agenda as events.

See the new LHS Alumni Association website, http://lhsaatigers.org/Home.html   It's still in the construction stage, but moving forward.

A Kenny Washington Memorial football game is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd.

A Picnic on the campus lawn will be held from Noon to 3 pm that afternoon with the game set for 4 p.m. at Andrus Field.

Fall 2012 dance coming up on November 3rd.

Football season begins at LHS, Alumni Association concession stand will be in operation, thanks to volunteers.

Upcoming is the LHS Centennial Anniversary celebration in 2013; advance ticket orders now being taken with Alumni Association membership bonus included for early ticket purchases (to December 2012).   More details with the Association.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Lincoln High Alumni Association Website Now Open.

The Lincoln High Alumni Association has it's own independent website now in operation, as announced today at the Alumni Association's monthly meeting.

Log on at http://lhsaatigers.org/Home.html   There's still more to be done but this website should allow for better dissemination of information and provide more current updates of activities and plans.

Friday, July 20, 2012

July 19th of many years past- musicians and entertainers of our times.



Here are some of the things that jog your memory to days gone by- with reference to the LA Radio.com Rewind compilations as the source.  Well, if you aren’t very old, then there’s not that far to to go to be jogged.  But for others, you might notice how so many people, celebrities, we remembered as “young” or “not that old” are now pretty old.  But for some  of this flashback to a younger time, check the list that follows from laradio.com, with some of my comments added.
LARP Rewind: July 19.
On this day in 2011, Jimmy Buffett and his 11-piece Coral Reefer Band played a sold-out concert at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Along with his hits he sang his first chart single, The Great Filling Station Holdup, which reached #58 on the country chart in 1973. On this day in 1980, Billy Joel earned his first gold record, for It's Still Rock & Roll To Me, written by Joel and produced by Phil Ramone. The song was also Joel's first number-one hit.
On this day in 1975, Lefty Frizzell died of a stroke at 47. Born William Orville Frizzell in Corsicana, he had six number-one country hits, including Saginaw Michigan, Always Late and If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time.
On this day in 1966, Frank Sinatra, 50, married 21-year-old actress Mia Farrow.
On this day in 1923, Radio Corporation of America (RCA) put WRC, "The Voice Of The Capitol," on the air at 640 kHz in Washington, DC. WRC shared the frequency with AT&T's short-lived station WCAP.
BIRTHDAYS
Today, July 19, 2012, singer/guitarist Vikki Carr is 71.  Born Florencia Martinez Cardona (I have heard her recite her full name and it’s way longer) in El Paso, she signed with Liberty in 1962 and reached #115 with her first single, a version of Gene Pitney's “He's A Rebel”.  (YouTube audio with a video collage- or montage- of pics of this different treatment by a young Vikki Carr- showing the artist over the years; she seemed chubby in some that must be from a young age, with different changes in the look shown over the years but still exuding the same glamour over all this time.) (I saw her a few times on the Art Linkletter daytime t.v.  show when I was absent from LHS. Linkletter had a popular book, “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” some or much of the content taken from the interviews he did on the show with visiting local elementary school kids, a segment of each show. She was one of the few artists at that time that actually said she was "Mexican." You might remember that Linda Ronstadt had some Mexican roots she didn't seem to generally acknowledge until most of her rock years were behind her, while many new genres were ahead- and she had a fine voice, too, for all of them. )
In 1967 she got to #3 with It Must Be Him.”  In 1962 and 1968 she was a regular performer on a syndicated variety tv series hosted by trumpeter/bandleader Ray Anthony. Carr began recording Spanish-language albums in 1971 and has won three Grammy awards. Among her hit singles to make the Latin chart are Déjame, Discúlpame, Adoro, Mala Suerte, Cosas Del Amor and Hay Otro En Tu Lugar. She has performed for five US presidents and the Queen of England. Carr's latest CD, Viva La Vida, will be released in September.
(Checking the YouTube videos, her singing in Spanish or English still impresses me.  Hard to believe she’s 71.   Here’s a good sampling of her performances with some pretty good quality video- Vikki Carr Ni princesa ni esclava, Nomas ocho dias, Total (Duo con Ana Gabriel, Video).)  [I have no idea how old she was here but the voice is fine on all the songs over the years.  I have lots of her albums in vinyl that I haven’t heard in many years, and now hearing some of these samplings I remember how those were what they called, “easy listening,” just play and enjoy- my Andy Williams collection  dating from the 70s and 80s were in that category, too.]
Also today, George Hamilton IV (he is the guy with the ever-present tan) is 75, Commander Cody (George Frayne) is 68, Average White Band bassist/lead singer Alan Gorrie is 66, Flying Burrito Brothers/Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon is 65, Queen guitarist Brian May is 65, Lucie Arnaz is 61.
On July 19, 1986, twenty-six years ago today, Michael W. Smith's Rocketown was beginning its fourth week at number one on the KYMS Top 40. God Only Knows by Russ Taff, former lead singer of the Imperials, was #2. David Meece climbed from #19 to #10 with Seventy Times Seven. Tonio K (born Antonio Krikorioan) jumped from #28 to #19 with Perfect World. Dion DiMucci, famous in the late 1950s as leader of “Dion & the Belmonts” (some good doo wop to hear in  “I Wonder Why”  audio on YouTube) (A very good quality video of “Runaround Sue performed live shows some of what we heard in days past) and in the '60s as a solo artist, (in 1968, was the original singer of “Abraham, Martin and John” that was a departure from his earlier styles,, accompanied with some classical guitar touches) moved from #27 to #26 with Crazy Too, from his contemporary Christian album, Velvet & Steel. High debut at #35 was Prayer For The Children by Allies. The quintet was led by Bob Carlisle, who would have a 1997 top-ten hit, Butterfly Kisses.

LHS Alumni Meeting Saturday at Cafe in the Heights

The LHS Alumni Association's July meeting will be at 9:30 a.m at the Cafe in the Heights on Saturday, July 21, 2012.  The Cafe is located across the street from the school on N. Broadway.

Some items to be covered at the meeting are the August Dodger game fundraiser and the November Alumni Dance fundraiser.  Coming up for more planning is the 2013 Lincoln High Centenial Celebration.  The football season for LHS is getting closer and the Alumni concessions stand will be back in operation so arrangements are being planned now.

The LAUSD calendar calls for classes to begin in August instead of September.  LHS was one of the first to begin using that schedule a few years ago before it was applied to all schools.  One main effect of this schedule would be to have the semester be completed before the Christmas break. 

It's a shorter summer however, but there's also a shorter school year with the days cut back more and more as the LAUSD tries reducing the work year to avoid cutting more teachers.

And there's the continuing issue of charter schools becoming the beneficiaries of the LAUSD school construction program.  Would voters have approved the huge bond measure many years ago if they knew many brand new schools would be operated by charter schools?

But all that's not part of the meeting topics- just a note to see some of the other things going on in the district.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Some July 9th Reference Points in Music and Entertainment

The very informative website www.LARadio.com has one part of the website I present here. That LARP Rewind section always  gets me to think how fast time goes by and how some things don't seem as old as they are- to me, at least.

From the high school perspective, coming out of Lincoln in 1967 by way of graduation, it was the middle of the war in Vietnam, the Summer of Love was here, and two years had passed since the Watts Riot.  It was one year before Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed in April 1968, and two months later, Robert F. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel here in L.A. after winning the California June primary.

So, you may or may not have some close or vivid memories to these all of events and people, but there should be some here to get you thinking about different times.
-----------------------------------------------------
From:
LARP Rewind: July 9.
On this day in 2010, during a Santana concert at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois, lead guitarist Carlos Santana proposed to his girlfriend, Cindy Blackman, who toured with the group as their drummer and also recorded and toured with Lenny Kravitz. They would marry five months later in Maui.

On this day in 1965, ten weeks after switching from adult contemporary to top 40, KHJ published its first Boss 30 survey folder. On the cover was 9pm-to-midnight "Boss Jock" Sam Riddle.  (Sam Riddle would be hosting locally on Channel 9 each afternoon the very popular dance show, "9th Street West").  The Rolling Stones' Satisfaction was number one.

On this day in 1957, Dick Clark replaced Bob Horn as host of WFIL/tv's Bandstand after Horn was fired following a drunk-driving arrest. The Philadelphia program would go national a year later on ABC as American Bandstand and run until 1989.

Today, July 9, 2012, Ed Ames is 85. Born Edmund Urick in Malden, Massachusetts, he formed a group with his three brothers, Gene, Vic and Joe, while still in high school. Taking Vic's middle name, they called themselves the Amory Brothers. They performed around Boston and with Art Mooney's orchestra, then became the Ames Brothers. From 1948 to 1960 they had 33 top-40 hits, including Rag Mop, You You You, Tammy and The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane.

Ed played a Native American character, Mingo, on the first four seasons of Fess Parker's 1960s tv series, Daniel Boone. In 1967 Ed had a top-ten solo hit, My Cup Runneth Over. Also today, bluegrass mandolinist Jesse McReynolds is 83, James Hampton is 76, Brian Dennehy is 74, Richard Roundtree (He played the title role in the movie "Shaft"- made more memorable by the title song that Isaac Hayes sang) is 70, pianist/composer John Tesh is 60, country singer/guitarist David Ball is 59, Sister Sledge vocalist Debbie Sledge is 58, tv actor Jimmy Smits is 57, Tom Hanks is 56, Soft Cell lead singer Marc Almond is 55, Kelly McGillis is 55, Simple Minds lead singer Jim Kerr is 53, Courtney Love is 48, White Stripes lead singer Jack White is 37, Fred Savage (child star of a favorite of mine in the late 80s to early 90s, "The Wonder Years") is 36, Disney Channel actor/singer Mitchel Musso is 21.

On July 9, 1977, thirty-five years ago today, Best Of My Love by the Emotions was in its fourth week at number one on the KGFJ Soul 40.  The group was three sisters who as children had sung gospel and called themselves Heavenly Sunshine. Best Of My Love would earn them a Grammy for best r&b vocal group. The Floaters, a Detroit quartet, jumped from #10 to #6 with Float On. War climbed from #16 to #11 with L.A. Sunshine. High debut at #35 was Clean Up The Ghetto by the Philadelphia International All Stars (Archie Bell, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Dee Dee Sharp and the O'Jays).

Saturday, July 07, 2012

On July 6th, Recollections- old and not as old- and Birthdays


Some Entertainment recollections from the past and birthdays from laradio.com’s LARP Rewind for July 6 -
On this day in 2010, Poor Boy Records released Custom Built, the fourth studio album by Poison lead singer Bret Michaels. It included a duet with Miley Cyrus, Nothing To Lose, and reached #14 on the album chart.

On this day in 1998, Western actor/singer Roy Rogers died at 88. On this day in 1971, Louis Armstrong died of heart failure at 69.

On this day in 1964, the Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, premiered in London.

On this day in 1947, ABC Radio debuted Allen Funt's Candid Microphone, which would evolve into the tv show Candid Camera.

On this day in 1937, Benny Goodman and his orchestra, including Gene Krupa on drums and Harry James on trumpet, recorded Sing Sing Sing for Victor Records. The recording was 8:43 in length and took both sides of a 12-inch 78-rpm record. It reached only #7 on the chart but has become Goodman's most renowned song. Sing Sing Sing was written by Louis Prima, who first recorded it in 1936 for Brunswick.

Today, July 6, 2012,  singer/actress Della Reese is 81, Ned Beatty is 75, r&b singer Gene Chandler is 75, country singer Jeannie Seely is 72, Sylvester Stallone is 66, singer/guitarist Nanci Griffith is 59, rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson III) is 37.

On July 6, 1968, forty-four years ago today, Boogaloo No. 1 by Leo Acosta, a Mexican drummer and orchestra leader, was in its second week at number one on the KALI Top 30. At #2 was Cuando Me Enamoro by Angélica Maria, a singer-songwriter and telenovela actress. Henry Mancini's Norma La De Guadalajara was #7. Released as a single from the album The Big Latin Sound Of Henry Mancini, it went to #21 on the adult contemporary chart and number one in Mexico. José Feliciano jumped from #18 to #8 with Lágrimas Negras/La Copa Rota. High debut at #29 was El Juego De Simon by Los Rockin Devils, a rock'n'roll band formed in 1962 in Tijuana by brother and sister Frankie and Blanca Estrada.