THE VIEW FROM HERE - When I joined Tarzana Neighborhood Council, I was ready to jumpstart the revolution. A revolution that would connect leaders with constituents and give constituents more say in their hometown. I don’t think I was naïve, I think I was just so impressed by the dedication of so many board members in so many councils that it was inconceivable to me that we might fail. I loved neighborhood councils on a cellular level.
My stint as Election and Outreach Chair was challenging. I felt like I was in a three legged race and my partner was sleeping. I was endlessly pleading for funds to do effective outreach. I was told by the budget committee that I must “prove” that money spent on outreach items was not only cost effective but money well spent. They needed convincing that websites, ezines, printed election newsletters, booth merchandise, and events were essential and effective.
So I spent more time making reports on the increases in hits to the website, and increases in our email list, and trying to convince TNC that spending money for election news letters was essential and putting in a median that would cost $200,000.was not.
Their willingness to spend four years worth of funding on one median when our community had medians that were not maintained flew in the face of logic. Community members pleaded to get existing medians trimmed, cleaned, irrigated and replanted. The board simply wasn’t interested. They just buried the concerned community member with the responsibility of doing it for himself. So how could the tight fisted budget committee rationalize their decision making?
I thought it was quite clear why the Neighborhood Councils were funded; engage the community, provide information on city services, bring the opinion of the public back to city hall, utilize the expertise of community members to benefit local cities. Sure you can do beautification projects and fund various groups and efforts, but what is the priority? Can’t you hold a town hall meeting to ask the community what they want to do with their saved funds?
I felt an undercurrent of fear from board members, guised as penny pinching. If I do my job well, they could be out of power. Money spent on elections would increase competition. New ideas and new leadership would follow … God forbid.
Half of the board was entrenched in their roles, hanging on by their chinny chin chins. Half could care less if they showed up, spoke out, or got elected again.
That’s why I really wanted the City Clerk-held elections. We needed to take the power away from the Neighborhood Councils, who derail elections by less than sincere attempts to get candidates. I had hoped that the CITY would manage advertisements of elections and get candidates. Maybe hopes are meant to be dashed by the government. So many good intentions become the charred remains of government action or inaction.
TNC elections were notoriously small. We always had empty board seats, even though requests from community members to join TNC were tendered. In the last election, the whole board was automatically elected because we lacked candidates to run against them.
To add insult to injury, the board voted this year to end term limits as their exit was imminent. They still have empty seats and Jill Haber, a community activist, has not been approved for a seat months after she requested it.
Nor was Stan Saucier or Elaine Angel allowed to fill the empty seats. Both expressed an interest in prior years. None were given the courtesy of a vote by the board. All three are worthy candidates.
Instead they hand pick candidates that suit the board, or leave the seats vacant, or spend miserly on elections with half assed efforts to bring candidates in. All I wanted was for the revolution to be successful, not to keep my seat and its meager power for all eternity. This is a relay race not a marathon. Pass the baton for heavens sake.
Don’t expect this Neighborhood Council to be the voice of its community with this type effort. It is as closed off to its community as City Hall is to the Neighborhood Council System. Both are using smoke and mirrors when it comes to engagement, both are disingenuous and self serving.
This is not a condemnation of the Neighborhood Council System. No one could hope more for it to reach its full potential, than me. That’s why I must speak on this matter. There are many boards and many members I respect, even on TNC. But as we head towards 2012 elections, I am wondering how many other NC’s cling to seats instead of the dream. How many members have become an albatross instead of a blessing?
You see, if you’re really successful at outreach, and equally important, the community is actually valued and heard, when you leave your elected seats, you will always be able to influence the direction of your Neighborhood Council from the bleachers. You will have nothing to fear.
If you build your board, focused on the power of their own votes, then you should be afraid to leave your seats and join the people in the bleachers.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we deserve new people with fresh ideas, and perhaps the vicious cycle will become a learning curve again. We survived the original board’s learning curve, and we will survive every new board hereafter. As long as board members listen to their community, not do what they “think” is in the best interest of the community.
Termed out board members … there will always be a place for you at the decision table, IF your Neighborhood Council respects public opinion and the sanctity of your investment in your neighborhood.
No term limits … with no candidates … equals dictatorship!
(Lisa Cerda is a contributor to CityWatch, a community activist, Chair of Tarzana Residents Against Poorly Planned Development, and former Tarzana Neighborhood Council board member.) –cw
Tags: Lisa Cerda, Neighborhood Council, Tarzana, elections, term limits, candidates, city hall
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 48
Pub: June 15, 2012