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Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Newsletter
January
5, 2005
Re: “SAFER
COMMUNITIES MEASURE” MEETINGS UPDATE.
This is the
fourth newsletter regarding this series of community meetings. Each
one is a reminder and an update.
The schedule:
Thursday, January
6, 5:30 p.m.
Harbor
Area
Ryan Putnam
Hall, Gaffey Shooting Range
2981 North
Gaffey Street, San Pedro
Saturday, January
8, 10:00 a.m.
Valley
Areas
Kaiser
Regional Lab
11668
Sherman Way, North Hollywood
Monday, January
10, 6:30 p.m.
East
Area
Ramona
Hall
4580 N.
Figueroa St.
Tuesday, January
11, 6 p.m.
South
Area
Mark Ridley-Thomas
Constituent Service Center
8475 South
Vermont Avenue
Wednesday, January
12, 6:30 p.m.
Central
Area
National
Council of Jewish Women
543 North
Fairfax Ave.
Thursday, January
13, 6:30 p.m.
West
Area
Location
to be announced.
Monday, January
16
Holiday.
Tuesday,
January 17
Possible first City Council committee meeting
Wednesday, January
26.
Deadline for City Council action
There will be
a series of six community meetings at which Neighborhood Council
and other community leaders will be given an unprecedented opportunity
to provide input on a possible ballot measure that would raise revenue
to create about $200 million a year for more police officers, improving
fire and paramedic service, and expanding or creating gang intervention
and prevention programs. Each meeting will be hosted by one or more
neighborhood council leaders, and all interested people are urged
to attend whether or not they are involved in a neighborhood council.
There will be
presentations by the police and fire departments, a question and
answer period, and the completion of surveys that will be tabulated
by city staff (the CAO), and included in their report to the City
Council.
All of this
is happening because a City Council action directed city staff to
work with neighborhood councils and other community groups and report
to the City Council on options for a public safety ballot measure.
This is the
first time that the public has been involved to this extent in providing
input and shaping the options that will go to the City Council.
In the past, the public’s first chance to weigh hasn’t
usually been until a specific proposal has been made and is literally
moments away from being considered by a City Council committee.
And too often there is no opportunity to for the public to ask questions,
get answers, and provide input without having to schlep to City
Council committee meeting in the middle of the afternoon.
By the end of
each meeting, we should hear comments from the public, and have
surveys in hand, that answer three questions: (1) do you favor a
ballot measure to raise revenue to improve public safety, (2) which
methods of generating the new money, if any, would be acceptable
to you, and (3) what would like to see the money used for?
The Fire Chief
is expected to attend all meetings. The highest ranking available
brass from the Police Department will be at each meeting. Chief
William Bratton has been confirmed for the meetings on Jan. 10 and
Jan. 13. The city’s budget and financial experts will be present.
Nobody knows
what the results will be. The choice for you is whether you want
the City Council to decide on this matter with or without your input.
This newsletter and all subsequent ones regarding these meetings
will be on our home page at www.lacityneighborhoods.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Greg Nelson
gnelson@mailbox.lacity.org
866 / LA HELPS
213 / 485-1360
213 / 485-4608 fax
done@mailbox.lacity.org
email
www.lacityneighborhoods.com
website
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