"Let My People Vote!"

In September of 2011, more than 600 representatives from Neighborhood Councils throughout the city came to City Hall for LA's Congress of Neighborhoods, filling City Council Chambers to standing-room-only capacity.

Mayor Villaraigosa, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, City Councilmen Paul Krekorian and Paul Koretz, Assemblymen Mike Feuer, and a host of City Department General Managers were all there, eagerly professing their desire to partner with LA's Neighborhood Councils.  

Of all the issues that were addressed that day, there was one topic that drew unanimous support and that was Neighborhood Council Board Elections. The only discussion revolved around process and funding but the message was clear, the representatives were united in their desire to conduct citywide Neighborhood Council Elections in 2012.

The City Council stands poised to vote on a motion transferring responsibility for the 2012 elections from the City Clerk and to the Department of Neighborhood Councils. All that's missing is the political will to act decisively and to authorize EmpowerLA to support participatory democracy by conducting regional elections during the months of August, September, and October.

Please take a moment to send your City Councilmember an email urging them to "Let My People Vote!" and to support participatory democracy at the grassroots level by supporting Neighborhood Council Elections.

Click this link to send an email to all 15 City Councilmembers.

 EmpowerLA is on the Road!

EmpowerLA Report - The Spring Semester of EmpowerLA's Leadership Academy is on the road with a brand new roster of empowerment sessions designed to support the upcoming Neighborhood Council elections with workshops on outreach, communications, and advocacy. In the first month, representatives from 31 different Neighborhood Councils participated in the Leadership Academy, enjoying a wide variety of workshops.

Please download the pdf to read more and for the schedule of the workshops HERE.