DONE needs your help
to fill seven exempt positions TODAY!

Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition
A Coalition of Councils
General Meeting Agenda
December 6, 2014, 2014 10:00 AM

LADWP Headquarters
John Ferraro Building
111 North Hope Street

Website: www.lancc.org
WEB-BLOG (Notices, etc.):  lanccreports.blogspot.com
Send emails (questions, comments):
[email protected]

As most of you are aware, the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) is severely understaffed. DONE currently has only one supervisor and five field staff members, of which one member is on restricted duty, leaving only four staff members to assist and support 95 Neighborhood Councils activities.THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE CITY CHARTER.

Many NC’s need training and support, that DONE is just not able to provide due to the City Council reducing  the DONE budget and staffing requirements by 2/3 since 2009.

The Budget Advocates have written a letter to all elected officials with their position on this matter and LANCC members should support this position. The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners did so as well on Monday.

This Wednesday, November 12, 2014, the City Council will hear Item 24, an increase in “Exempt Positions” within the city. The Council’s action could allow DONE to get emergency help. Please note: EVERY DEPARTMENT will be asking for those 50 additional positions, but few have been as decimated as DONE. We are asking for seven of the fifty newly created positions to be allocated for DONE staffing needs.

We ask you to support the Department and the NC System. Due to the time constraints, please email and call your Councilmember.

Please send an email to:
[email protected],
with a copy to
[email protected]

Call your Council Office.

213-473-70XX

Replace the XX with the Council District number:
CD1-01
CD2-02
CD3-03…CD15-15

Your help and support is greatly appreciated.

I would like to thank Kwazi Nkrumah, President, Greater Echo Park/Elysian Neighborhood Council for a great example of an email that should be sent to your Councilmember.

You have received a letter from the Co-Chairs of the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates outlining the current under-staffing of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. This under-staffing crisis is seriously compromising the ability of both that department and of the Neighborhood Councils to function. This is a situation that needs immediate correction, as it undermines both the letter and spirit of the system of community representation and input that is provided for under the City Charter.I strongly urge you to take heed of the advise and request of the Neighborhood Council’s Budget Advocates in regard to insuring that at least 7 staff positions be immediately provided for the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE), in order to make it possible for the Neighborhood Councils to function, and to receive the much-needed help and support that DONE was established to provide. Nonetheless, the representational rights of the citizenry must be upheld, and fortunately the economic and budgetary status of the City have measurably improved over the past 18 months.

Again, I strongly urge you to insure that City residents have the tools and support to adequately exercise their rights under the City Charter. This can only be done if you make it possible for the Neighborhood Councils to fulfill their mandate. To do that, DONE must be adequately staffed. Please give these concerns your fullest and immediate attention. Please allot at least seven staff positions to DONE as you are allocating positions to the various departments.

Thank you for your dedicated support as NC Boardmembers to your community and the NC system.

Terrence Gomes
LANCC Chair