ATWATER VILLAGE TO LOSE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS
The Atwater Village Neighborhood Council (AVNC) will get their operating budget for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 slashed from $50,000.00 to $11,200.00.
The City Council's Budget and Finance Committee voted to reduce neighborhood council (NC) funding program. The Committee recommended allocating only 1 million dollars to fund the NC System for fiscal year 2009-2010, which breaks down to just over $11,000 per year for each neighborhood council. The proposed reduction in NC funding will affect all 89 neighborhood council including the AVNC.
The AVNC is the primary financial benefactor for many Atwater Village community events and beautification projects. A sharp reduction in the AVNC yearly budget will most likely kill funding for almost all events and beautification projects scheduled for late 2009 and early 2010.
Call to actionAtwater Village stakeholders are encourage to contact the Los Angeles City Council to express their concerns about the sharp reduction in neighborhood council funding.
click here to email all LA City Council MembersSample text below, just "cut & paste". Feel free to add to or personalize sample text.
"Dear Council Members,
I strongly urge you to not reduce funding for the Neighborhood Council system.
Nearly every dime that our neighborhood council receives goes back directly to our community in services, events and improvement projects. In addition, a fully funded neighborhood council fosters a group of highly motivated volunteers who are the City Council's hands and feet in our neighborhood. It make city government approachable on many levels and it serves as a valuable point for citizens to regularly interface with city officials and police.
However, if neighborhood council funding program is drastically defunded their impetus dies. Funding is the City's way of recognizing the value of neighborhood councils. Please consider seriously the need to keep the Neighborhood Council System fully funded."