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Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Newsletter
June 15,
2004
Congress
of Neighborhoods Opinion Survey Results
Here are results from surveys that were circulated at the last Congress
of Neighborhoods, and from those who responded afterwards to an
e-mail offer to answer the survey questions.
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Note
from DONE: If our newsletters appear difficult to read because
there are no breaks between the paragraphs, it is likely that
you can resolve this by changing the settings on your e-mail
system. That would involve ensuring that your system reads
your incoming messages in HTML not in Plain Text. If you are
using GroupWise, go to:
Tools>Options>Environment>Views
and
change the settings. We are continuing to work on other remedies
on our end.
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OPINION SURVEY – RESULTS
May 22, 2004 – June 11, 2004
1. Do you personally have the ability send and receive e-mail messages?
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88%
(111)
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=
Yes |
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12%
(15)
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=
No |
1a.
If no, is there anyone who can send and deliver messages for you?
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43%
(6)
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=
Yes |
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57%
(8)
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=
No (Note: Two people responded “no” to this question after receiving
the questionnaire that had been sent via e-mail) |
2.
The Election Procedures Working Group, the majority of whose members
have been nominated from the Neighborhood Councils, is finalizing
a list of recommendations that may be enacted into citywide polices
or laws. Do you feel that there are some rules regarding Neighborhood
Council elections that should apply to all Neighborhood Council
elections?
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67%
(80)
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=
Yes |
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11%
(9)
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=
No |
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24%
(29
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=
Don’t Know/No Opinion |
3.
Neighborhood Council board members must abide by the state’s financial
conflict interest laws, but as yet, they do not have to fill out
financial disclosure statements. Should Neighborhood Council board
members be required to fill out financial disclosure statements
(better known as Form 700)?
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35%
(44)
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=
Yes |
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31%
(39)
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=
No |
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30%
(37)
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=
Yes, but only for decisions that they make regarding financial
transactions such as the spending of money, hiring staff, and
entering into contracts, and not for votes on community issues |
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4%
(5)
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=
Don’t Know/No Opinion |
4.
The state’s Brown Act (the “open meetings law”) applies to Neighborhood
Councils, and the City Charter requires that Neighborhood Councils
do their business in an open and fair manner. Which best reflects
the way you would like to see it apply to Neighborhood Councils?
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54%
(68)
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=
Keep it the way it is. |
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4%
(5)
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Exempt the Neighborhood Councils from it. |
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39%
(49)
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Change or eliminate certain parts that apply to Neighborhood
Councils. |
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4%
(5)
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Don’t Know/No Opinion |
5.
The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment sent a proposed Code
of Civility to each Neighborhood Council in the event they want
to adopt it as a guide for the action of its board members. Recently,
a motion was introduced into the City Council that would make the
Code a requirement for Neighborhood Council board members. Do you
feel that a Code of Civility should be a requirement for all Neighborhood
Council board members?
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66%
(75)
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=
Yes |
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22%
(25)
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=
No |
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12%
(14)
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=
Don’t Know/No Opinion |
6.
Are you being offered the training you feel you need?
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67%
(69)
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=
Yes |
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20%
(21)
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=
No |
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13%
(13)
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=
Don’t Know/No Opinion |
7.
Has your Neighborhood Council attempted to engage specific city
departments concerning the delivery of services?
8.
Has your Neighborhood Council included business representatives
in its board or committees?
9.
Are we better off or worse off with Neighborhood Councils?
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80%
(90)
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Better |
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3%
(3)
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Worse |
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10%
(11)
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Same |
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7%
(8)
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Don’t Know/No Opinion |
10.
Please give a letter grade, like in school, to:
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Department
of Neighborhood Empowerment
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B
7.60 |
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Board
of Neighborhood Commissioners
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B-
7.20 |
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City
Council
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B-
7.18 |
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Your
Neighborhood Council
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B-
7.06 |
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(NOTE:
A score of "7" equaled a B- while a score of "8"
equaled a B.)
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Greg Nelson
866 / LA HELPS
213 / 485-1360
213 / 485-4608 fax
done@mailbox.lacity.org
email
www.lacityneighborhoods.com
website
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