Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Newsletter

August 22, 2003

Re: Funding Program Problems? Training Needs Needed. Amazing Facts Needed. Mayor’s Budget Policy Letter.

FUNDING PROGRAM PROBLEMS?

If you haven’t already written to us with the problems you are experiencing with the Funding Program, we need to document those problems so they can be included in our report to the City Council. I’m not sure that the decision-makers at City Hall are going to believe everything I tell them. I need it in your words.

TRAINING

Once again, we are asking for your suggestions, if you haven’t provided them already, regarding the type of training that you feel you need. We are putting an impressive and aggressive training program that provides additional focus on the needs of those who find themselves as new board members, and who are wanting to know more about how to become the world’s best board member.

AMAZING FACTS

I’m trying to capture amazing NC facts because I’m constantly getting questions from the media who are interesting in understanding the magnitude and effectiveness of what the NCs are doing. Absent a measuring tool (we’re working on that), we’re always on the lookout for “amazing facts.”

From what I can tell, the largest attendance at a post-election NC meeting was the 450 people who attended a meeting of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center NC. Can anyone top or come near that.

We’re collecting the election turnout numbers and making part of our regular status reports.

For those of you who have had street fairs, what was the attendance estimate, and how many new recruits did you get?

MAYOR’S BUDGET POLICY LETTER

By tomorrow, our Web site home page will include a copy of the Mayor’s Budget Policy letter for the upcoming 2004-05 fiscal year. Yes, the process begins this early. Normally, this wouldn’t be anything that you would care about, but since the Neighborhood Councils have been invited to play an active role in helping the Mayor establish his budget priorities, the same letter that he sends to the city departments is now, hereby, given to the Neighborhood Councils. Even if you haven’t yet had your elections and ready to officially participate in the process, seeing where the Mayor is placing his attention should be of interest to you.

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DONE website:
www.lacityneighborhoods.com

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Greg Nelson

213 / 485-1360
866 / LA HELPS toll-free
213 / 485-4608 fax
done@mailbox.lacity.org email