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# I Guess Neighborhood Councils have All the Time in the World
November 17 2011
Written by Paul Hatfield.
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PERSPECTIVE - Maybe Stephen Box has time to spare, or at least time to tackle all of the issues facing the city and the nation.
However, chiding neighborhood councils for not weighing in on issues [\[link\]](http://216.18.22.247/lead-stories/2457-maybe-they-should-occupy-las-neighborhood-councils) such as Occupy LA, campaign reform and the city budget reveals his lack of appreciation for the limited time unselfish volunteers have to conduct business.
Box dismisses the importance of board discussions about the costly sidewalk ordinance that may cost residents thousands of dollars each and restrictions on the use of the purchasing card, which represents the only practical means of spending for NCs.
Box says “neighborhood councils are preoccupied with their own elections.”
I suppose he believes they should roll over and tolerate the city’s failure to support elections. Of course, there must be nothing wrong with pushing them to 2014 to save a few bucks. So what if many current board members will leave before then and their replacements seated by a chaotic, unregulated selection process. [ \[link\] ](http://cityclerk.lacity.org/election/nc%20docs/Stakeholder_Election_Alternatives_Survey_10.27.pdf)
In short, the neighborhood councils are in a battle for their existence.
Yes, I wish we could devote time to larger citywide issues, but priorities are what they are and the boards labor to push back against obstacles created by one of the most mismanaged city governments in the nation, a government that would rather see the NC system collapse.
Some of the best and brightest board members and active stakeholders are fully absorbed by monitoring and challenging the devious actions of the DWP and its powerful union, and the Public Works Department. Rate increases planned by these two unrestrained juggernauts will cripple homeowners, many of whom are underwater on their mortgages.
NC Budget Advocates have become more of an independent voice in recent years and do not shy away from criticizing unrealistic assumptions while offering sound advice.
NC planning and land use committees are ever vigilant when it comes to fighting oversized projects.
There are the little things, too. NC members cooperating and supporting the LAPD and LAFD.
Organizing pet adoptions. Supporting local school activities.
But all of that is not good enough for Box.
And on top of that, the Pico Neighborhood Council dared to table a discussion on the Occupy LA until the next meeting!
I guess Pico NC and other NC activists don’t have as much free time as the former City Council candidate and can’t keep up with the pace of his personal agenda.
I have to wonder if Box’s candidacy was nothing more than a vanity campaign to promote his image and self interests.
*(Paul Hatfield is a CPA and serves as Treasurer for the Neighborhood Council Valley Village. He blogs at Village to Village, contributes to CityWatch and can be reached at: phinnoho@aol.com )* –cw
Tags: Stephen Box, Paul Hatfield, Neighborhood Councils, NCs, Public Works Department
CityWatch
Vol 9 Issue 92
Pub: Nov 18, 2011
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