Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Newsletter

September 12, 2005

Re: KATRINA ASSISTANCE.  NC INITIATIVES PROPOSAL.  BUDGET DAY.  DAY OF SERVICE.

KATRINA ASSISTANCE

The city has not yet been asked by FEMA to receive any evacuees, but the city is ready. It is estimated that there are over 1,000 persons who arrived here on their own through nonprofits, friends, or on their own. The city hopes that Neighborhood Councils can make them available to help these people once they arrive and are trying to settle in to their new neighborhoods. Some will arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs. The Red Cross will assist with immediate food and clothing needs. Longer term needs will be addressed by the community.

Presently, it's a little difficult to know where they are. If we receive FEMA evacuees, we will know where they are. The soonest that they could arrive would be September 14. They will be processed at Westchester Recreation Center , and then driven to their short-term shelter. The city has committed to hosting 2,000 people.

The best single number for people to call who want to help or contribute, or for people who need help is 2-1-1 .

NC INITIATIVES PROPOSAL

The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council started a proposal that would require the City Clerk to create official City Council files after receiving ideas for citywide or regional issues from Neighborhood Councils took another step forward on Tuesday. The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners voted 5-1 to support the idea. The proposed that the file could only be created after it was proposed by a Neighborhood Council and “co-signed” by two others. The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment had earlier endorsed the idea as it was proposed by Silver Lake . The proposal is still in the Education and Neighborhoods Committee.

BUDGET DAY

A reminder that everyone is invited to join the Mayor at Budget Day, 9 a.m. , Saturday, October 1 in City Hall. Contact DONE to RSVP at 3-1-1 , (213) 485-1360, or done@mailbox.lacity.org.

DAY OF SERVICE

And you are reminded to join the Mayor and your neighbors at the Day of Service on Saturday morning October 8. Click here for more details.

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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