“These budget hearings are crucial to our work to put neighborhoods first in LA.”
–Mike Bonin, Councilmember for the 11th District
What is the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates?
With the recent release of the Mayor’s Proposed 2014-2015 Budget, neighborhood councils and community members have an opportunity to get involved and voice their opinion about their funding priorities and what is important to them. The purpose of the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates (NCBA) is to explore, research, study, seek input, prepare, and present the feelings and spirit of the communities of Los Angeles to the Mayor and City Council. Any stakeholder of the City of Los Angeles who wishes to become involved can be appointed and/or elected to serve. The Budget Advocates play an instrumental role in shaping the content of the Mayor’s Budget Survey by choosing topics and expanding outreach to include residents and business people as well as the city employee labor movement.
In April, the Budget Advocates released a white paper entitled “The Angelenos’ Recipe for Success” which focuses on recommendations aimed at rejuvenating basic concepts, increasing transparency, and finding more effective measures which will produce better practices and large dollar changes. They presented the white paper to the City Council on May 5, and a video of the proceedings can be viewed here.
A public hearing on the Mayor’s Proposed 2014-2015 Budget will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 10:00am. Additionally, a special meeting of the City Council will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 beginning at 9:00am, to be devoted entirely to consideration of the Budget and Finance Committee report and City Council motions to amend the Mayor’s Proposed 2014-15 Budget.
Call to Action: Community Impact Statements
Now is a crucial time for neighborhood councils to speak up about their priorities. Do you know how? A Community Impact Statement is an official statement or position adopted by a Neighborhood Council on issues pending before the City’s decision makers. It is a unique and unprecedented way for each Neighborhood Council’s voice to be known to the City Hall decision-makers and the world before a vote is taken.
The Community Impact Statement (CIS) process was created specifically for Neighborhood Councils so they can publicly express their support, opposition, or suggestions about any matter pending before the City Council, its committees, or City commissions. A Community Impact Statement is an official statement used to express the position of a Neighborhood Council as a whole, and is not to be used to express personal opinions. A CIS can be submitted online through the online form available through the City Clerk’s website, and can also be emailed, faxed, mailed, or hand-delivered to the City Clerk.
To aid in this process, Empower LA has put together a detailed How-To guide to Community Impact Statements. Read through the guide to familiarize yourself with the process and learn how to submit timely and effective Community Impact Statements.
If your NC has gone through the process of identifying an issue, understanding it, and reaching some type of consensus, then your NC has invested a lot of energy into its Community Impact Statement. Consider it a living document. Share it with others. Resubmit it as the issue goes through the legislative process, so it will reappear on subsequent agendas. The Community Impact Statement can be a valuable tool to help your Neighborhood Council fulfill its purpose “to promote more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs.” (LA City Charter Sec. 900)
To contact the Mayor and all council members, simply send an email to [email protected].