NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS REVIEW COMMITTEE FINALIZED.Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH Staff Writer Beginning the long-awaited review of the neighborhood council system, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. finalized on Friday his appointments to the 29-person commission dedicated to evaluating the city's system of grass-roots democracy. The commission has one year to review how well neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. are working. Members will revisit the goals, rules, legal status and power of neighborhood councils. Charlotte Laws Charlotte Laws (born May 11, 1960) is an American author, local Los Angeles politician, community activist, and animal rights advocate.[1] As a former actress, some of her credits can be found under her Screen Actors Guild name Missy Laws. , with the Greater Valley Glen Council, was selected by colleagues and the mayor to represent the South Valley on the commission. ``I think this is going to have a huge impact. The possibility is there to seriously move forward grass-roots democracy,'' she said. ``I'm so enthusiastic about the fact that L.A. has a neighborhood council system, and I want it to get better and better.'' Now seven years old, the neighborhood council system has gone through some growing pains grow·ing pains pl.n. Pains in the limbs and joints of children or adolescents, frequently occurring at night and often attributed to rapid growth but arising from various unrelated causes. . Participants have complained that city bureaucracy, rules and heavy-handed oversight by city officials discourages people from getting involved. Some councils have been plagued by infighting in·fight·ing n. 1. Contentious rivalry or disagreement among members of a group or organization: infighting on the President's staff. 2. Fighting or boxing at close range. , which has also scared away potential members. City leaders hope the so-called 912 Commission -- named after the section of the City Charter that calls for review of the neighborhood councils system seven years after the system was created -- will find solutions to many of the problems that have hindered the groups. The commission will hold public hearings and is expected to produce its first report in six months. Neighborhood councils were able to nominate candidates for each of the seven city planning city planning, process of planning for the improvement of urban centers in order to provide healthy and safe living conditions, efficient transport and communication, adequate public facilities, and aesthetic surroundings. areas, and the mayor made the final decision on those and seven of his own choosing. City Council members were each able to appoint one member. kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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