CommentsVOICES--I have hardly missed any meeting since the forming committee in 2001.
Last night was a disgrace. The Neighborhood Council system was established in 2001 in response to a vote by the stakeholders saying they wanted input into the political system as they felt that the politicians and bureaucrats were ignoring them.
Last night and some of the previous sessions of the Reseda Neighborhood Council has turned in to childish arguments over who said what and who did what. After I left, I don't know what happened although I understand that the President walked out.
Over the years, everyone thought that younger people should be recruited to the Board. Strangely, the teenager on the Board did not seem to be among the problem children.
Neighborhood Councils should be listening to and passing on the views of the community stakeholders. Not arguing among themselves.
It’s too bad that many of the Board members joined to add to their resumes and other reasons that do not help the community.
If you wish to argue, have a separate meeting with an impartial moderator to clear the air and permit the General meetings to be about the community.
If you have any questions, I am available to answer them.
(Garth Carlson is a former chairperson of the Reseda Neighborhood Council.)
-cw
