SMALLER COUNCILS FAVORED NOHO PANEL MOVE MAY INFLUENCE OTHERS.Byline: Dan Laidman Staff Writer A North Hollywood Hollywood. 1 Community within the city of Los Angeles, S Calif., on the slopes of the Santa Monica Mts.; inc. 1903, consolidated with Los Angeles 1910. neighborhood council has become the first to move formally toward breaking into smaller groups - a development that could encourage similar efforts elsewhere in the city. This month's vote by the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council would shrink shrink Vox populi noun A psychiatrist its boundaries to allow for a total of three community groups to eventually sprout within its current limits. The council currently represents almost 69,000 people - significantly more than many of the city's 120 other councils, which get $50,000 each, regardless of size. ``You've got different people from different areas fighting for the same amount of resources,'' said Diann Corral corral a small fenced-in enclosure with high, wooden fences, suitable for holding cattle or horses. corral system a management system in which range cattle are put into corrals and fed hay for a period when the environment is most , treasurer of the council and a supporter of the split. ``We just thought it made more sense for smaller 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. to get the maximum amount of services for our areas.'' ``It would eat up two-thirds of our budget just to send out a newsletter monthly to everyone in our community,'' Corral said. Greg Nelson, general manager of the city Department of Neighborhood Empowerment em·pow·er tr.v. em·pow·ered, em·pow·er·ing, em·pow·ers 1. To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. See Synonyms at authorize. 2. , said the effort could encourage such shifts in South and East Los Angeles East Los Angeles, uninc. city (1990 pop. 126,379), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, in an industrial area. It has a large Mexican-American population. There is a performing arts center and a cultural center. A junior college is there. , as well. ``This would be setting a precedent and we're excited about it,'' said Nelson. DONE now must examine city rules to determine how a split would work. The boundary change also needs the approval of the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners. And, as with most neighborhood council issues, the split has not come without some discontent. Some Mid-Town North Hollywood members, including the council's current president, object to the process. ``It came down so quickly I don't believe anyone was prepared,'' said Cary Adams, the head of the council. Adams also worries that some areas may suffer under the proposed setup See BIOS setup and install program. . The Mid-Town council would shrink to an area south of Burbank Boulevard, and Adams said there is no guarantee new councils would develop in the two areas to the north, especially the less-affluent area closer to the Burbank border. Leba Marquez, a board member from that area, also worries about her neighbors losing their voice. ``I'm concerned that we had a viable system working that seemed to somehow disappear without community outreach Outreach is an effort by an organization or group to connect its ideas or practices to the efforts of other organizations, groups, specific audiences or the general public. ,'' she said. But Corral said the move to shrink the boundaries was properly agendized so those who follow council activities would know about it. And she said she believes people will come forward in the two areas to the north to create new councils. ``I feel confident that it's going to go smoothly. There's strong leadership in each area,'' she said. Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. , who represents most of the area, said her office also would assist. ``We will help fill that gap if there is one,'' she said. ``I think the existing Mid-Town Neighborhood Council is committed to the entire community even if they do want to split it up into the three areas.'' Nelson, who was involved in the genesis of the neighborhood council system, said early advocates believed larger councils resembled small cities and could not effectively communicate with stakeholders Stakeholders All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. . ``My feeling is the ideal size would be so everything that was discussed at the meetings would be of interest to everyone in the area,'' he said. Dan Laidman, (213) 978-0390 dan.laidman(at)dailynews.com |
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