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Officials Condemn ICE Crackdown, Urge Immigrants to Know Their Rights at Wilmington Rally

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Officials Condemn ICE Crackdown, Urge Immigrants to Know Their Rights at Wilmington Rally

By Daniel Rivera, Reporter

On the morning of Feb. 22, elected officials and community members rallied at the Wilmington Municipal Building in solidarity with immigrant communities and to provide various resources to local families.

“We stand in solidarity with you and you’re not going back… let me say this… it is important that you know your rights… It is important that you educate yourself to make sure that the best weapon against deportation is knowing your rights,” Assemblyman Mike Gipson said in a speech towards the end of the rally.

His and Councilman McOsker’s office provided a variety of material directing them on where to get help, the various departments, and its local partner organizations like Organizing Rooted in Abolition, and Empowerment or ORALE.

They are rallying against the Trump administration’s policies on deportations through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement which has ramped up operations in various Californian communities directed at multiple community centers like workplaces or places of worship placing pressure on immigrant communities as they lose access to work and life resources.

Border Czar, Tom Homan during previous statements had originally indicated they would prioritize people with prior criminal histories but had recently shifted to all people who are in the country illegally are “on the table.”

According to data gathered by NBC, about 1,800 people or about 41% of the people arrested so far have had no prior criminal history and the administration has labeled these “collateral arrests.” According to data provided by US Customs and Borders Protection, the vast majority of those with criminal records are non-violent crimes of drug possession or driving under the influence.

The administration blames the Sanctuary City law, barring Californian law enforcement agencies from sharing information with ICE or cooperating with them on deportation operations.

“My parents taught me, that unless you were here when the the settlers came, original people, or unless you came in chains, we are all immigrants,” said Los Angeles Councilmember Tim McOsker in a speech.

Community organizations across Los Angeles County have pushed back against Trump’s immigration policies by forming a rapid response network to monitor ICE activity, film ICE interactions with the detained, and provide legal aid and information to immigrants arrested by ICE.

Recently, Trump has demoted acting ICE director Caleb Vitello, a 20-year veteran of ICE reportedly due to Trump’s frustration with slow arrests and deportations. The agency has not been reaching its targets due to alleged shortfalls in funding, which limit both their reach and capacity prompting possible diversion of funds from other departments like the Coast Guard and Transporation Security Administration.

“They are forcing people to give up their green card at the border, by voluntarily relinquishing it by signing a form called the I-407,” said Alfonso Morales an immigration lawyer during the rally. Immigrants who are pressed into signing the form will relinquish their permanent residency status.

According to Morales, border agents will coerce legal permanent residents who have a criminal history and have the right to a trial to determine whether they should be allowed to stay. The form itself is voluntary and residents have access to what’s called “cancellation” in which a resident can be forgiven one time provided they have been inside the United States for seven years and remain a resident for about five years.

Near the end of the rally, local organizations like ORALE direct community members to legal aid and information on deportations and Rising Communities who are providing information and referrals to various medical resources.

Sam Flood: A Church Leader, Labor Advocate, and Champion for Justice

Terelle Jerricks
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Sam Flood: A Church Leader, Labor Advocate, and Champion for Justice

This past January, Warren Chapel CME Church celebrated its 80th anniversary. Regardless of denomination, a church is formed when two or more believers come together in worship, teaching, and fellowship. While the church’s mission is to spread the gospel and make disciples, the Church has had to speak on the material realities of its believers, which included confronting racism and racial discrimination in employment and housing. Mount Sinai Baptist Church was the first black church in San Pedro to engage in this work starting in 1924. The work was just getting started by the 1940s. And where Mt. Sinai had Rev. D. Robert Cofield, Warren Chapel had one of its founding trustees, Deacon Sam Flood.

Chamber HospitalityFlood was a man of deep Christian convictions and a lifelong advocate for workers’ rights, racial equality, and community development. Born on June 6, 1897, in Kansas City, Missouri, Flood was the son of a preacher. Despite his religious upbringing, he chose to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War I, enlisting in Colorado. In the early 1930s, he moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and worked at a meat processing plant. By 1943, he relocated to San Pedro, California, finding employment as an electrician at Todd Shipyards and beginning a decades-long career in labor and community activism.

Flood played a crucial role in advocating for African American workers’ rights in an era when unions were largely unwelcoming to Black workers. He became vice president of Local 9 of the United Marine Shipbuilding Workers of America, serving in this capacity for 17 years. Beyond his work in labor unions, he was deeply involved in civic and service organizations, including the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The San Pedro Coordinating Committee, and the Mayor’s Advisory Council. He also served as chaplain of the World War I Barracks.

His faith guided his deep commitment to equality and justice. In a 1972 interview with the Daily Breeze, Flood stated:

“My Christian experience makes me have feelings for my brother, and I know no boundaries of mankind. Every man is a man with me, and I’m thankful for the knowledge to know that I can be like that. I feel that with all the critical times now, every man ought to learn to practice that type of attitude. I’ve always tried to do the things that I thought were right, and I try to put oil on troubled waters.”

Flood’s activism extended beyond labor rights. He was an advocate for public housing and fair housing policies in San Pedro. As a founding trustee of Warren Chapel CME Church, he understood the importance of addressing the material conditions of his community alongside spiritual guidance. He was instrumental in organizing residents of Banning Homes, a temporary workforce housing project, to secure permanent low-income housing when Banning Homes was slated for demolition. He opposed plans to transfer the site to the National Guard as a training ground, instead pushing for it to remain a resource for displaced families.

In the late 1960s, as the Beacon Street Redevelopment Project threatened to displace working-class residents, Flood partnered with Pastor Ulysses L. Butts of Warren Chapel CME Church, the Greater Peninsula Council of Churches, and the League of Latin American Citizens to form the nonprofit Verdes del Oriente. Their efforts led to the development of Verdes del Oriente Apartments and the Harbor Towers for seniors to provide affordable housing for those impacted by redevelopment.

Flood was known for his relentless dedication to people and his community. Even after retiring from the shipbuilding industry, he remained deeply involved in civic affairs. When asked why he continued working so tirelessly, he responded:

“To keep from becoming stagnant. You have to keep active. Besides, I’m just interested in people and like to do good wherever I can.”

Sam Flood and his wife, Regina, were residents of the Los Angeles Harbor area for more than 30 years. Until his passing in 1973, he remained a steadfast advocate for justice, equity, and community welfare. His life’s work left an enduring impact on labor rights, civil rights, and affordable housing in San Pedro, cementing his legacy as a champion for the people.

New Lawsuit Filed to Stop Rent-Gouging Following LA Wildfires

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New Lawsuit Filed to Stop Rent-Gouging Following LA Wildfires

 

Following two of the most destructive wildfires in California history, in which thousands of people lost their homes, tenant advocates have joined forces to file a lawsuit against six LA-based landlords and agents accused of illegally raising rents to exploit displaced residents.

Filed on February 21, 2025, the lawsuit aims to enforce compliance with California Penal Code § 396, which bans extreme price increases on housing and essential needs following state-declared emergencies. The case, based on violations of the California’s Unfair Competition Law, was brought by community-based tenant organization Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (“SAJE”), represented by the Housing Rights Center, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, and California Center for Movement Legal Services. It is the first private action filed by legal non-profits against illegal rent gouging since the fires began.

The defendants—owners, leasing agents, and property managers—are accused of raising rents by 25% to nearly 50% in direct violation of anti-price-gouging laws, which limit rent increases to 10% following a natural disaster. The defendants were identified by a spreadsheet that tracks exploitative rent gouging, created by SAJE’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, and the Rent Brigade, a grassroots collective. The price-gouging ban remains in effect in Los Angeles County until January 7, 2026.

Before filing the lawsuit, attorneys sent 98 legal demand letters to landlords and property managers appearing to gouge rents, urging them to rescind unlawful rent increases and reset rental prices to a lawful amount by Feb. 4. The threat of legal action has already led some landlords to remove price gouged listings or lower rents to the appropriate rental listing, but many continue to violate the law.

Details: Read the complaint here.

Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments

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Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments

 

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom Feb. 19 announced the following appointments:

Jennifer Haley, of Rancho Palos Verdes, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Haley has been President and chief executive officer at Kern Energy since 2018, where she was previously vice president and general counsel from 2012 to 2018. She was an associate at Best Best & Krieger LLP from 2007 to 2012. Haley is the chair of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the California Science Center Foundation and Board of Directors of the California Chamber of Commerce. She earned a Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of San Diego. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Haley is registered with no party preference.

Amelia Tyagi, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Tyagi has been a managing director at Sellside Group since 2024, and an author since 2003. She was co-founder, chief executive officer, and president of Business Talent Group from 2005 to 2023. Tyagi was vice president and co-founder of HealthAllies from 1999 to 2001. She was a consultant at McKinsey & Co. from 1996 to 1999. Tyagi is the chairperson of her local chapter of Young Presidents Organization, a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles, Fuse Corps, and WildAid and Chairperson Emeritus at Dēmos. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Brown University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Tyagi is a Democrat.

Barragán and Padilla Reintroduce Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025

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Barragán and Padilla Reintroduce Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), and Sen. Alex Padilla (CA),Feb. 25 reintroduced the Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025, legislation that would establish a permanent Office of Environmental Justice within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

This bicameral legislation responds directly to the Trump Administration’s actions to eliminate the DOJ’s Environmental Justice Office and dismantle environmental justice initiatives.

“The Trump Administration’s elimination of environmental justice safeguards at DOJ is a gift to corporate polluters. It has left communities of color and low-income communities vulnerable to disproportionate pollution and harm, with no protection” said Congresswoman Barragán. “Our bill reestablishes and permanently codifies the Office of Environmental Justice to protect impacted communities and ensure polluters face accountability. No community should bear the health consequences of environmental injustice.”

“The Trump Administration’s systematic elimination of environmental justice efforts completely abandons millions of Americans whose communities have suffered from toxic pollution for decades,” said Senator Padilla. “Every federal agency has a responsibility to provide justice to these communities, and I remain committed to guaranteeing clean air and water for all. Our legislation would ensure that the Department of Justice holds polluters accountable for environmental crimes and works directly with communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis to rectify longstanding environmental harms.”

Key features of the Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025 include:

  • The establishment of a permanent DOJ Office of Environmental Justice responsible for developing and updating a comprehensive Department-wide Environmental Justice Strategy every five years.
  • Coordinating environmental justice enforcement efforts across DOJ and U.S. Attorney offices.
  • Annual grants to local and state agencies to strengthen their ability to enforce environmental laws and regulations.
  • Facilitating meaningful community participation, including nonprofits, in DOJ’s environmental justice decision-making processes.
  • The creation of a Senior Advisory Council within DOJ to guide policy and enforcement actions related to environmental justice.

The legislation is co-sponsored in the House by Representatives Rashida Tlaib, LaMonica McIver, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Suzanne Bonamici, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jasmine Crockett, Tim Kennedy, Dina Titus, Doris Matsui, Diana DeGette, and Yassamin Ansari.

The Senate cosponsors are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

Details: A copy of the bill can be found here.

AAN Publishers Joins Call for White House to Cease Punishing Journalists

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AAN Publishers Joins Call for White House to Cease Punishing Journalists

AAN Publishers (Association of Alternative Newsmedia) and over 40 journalism organizations led by the Society of Professional Journalists released a statement Feb. 21 condemning the campaign underway in Washington to penalize independent reporting on the government and its activities.

The statement calls on the Trump administration to lift its ban on the Associated Press from White House events and cease punishing news organizations based on their reporting.

“When leaders try to silence reporters through intimidation, legal threats and denial of access, they are not protecting the country; they are protecting themselves from scrutiny. This is how authoritarian regimes operate — by crushing dissent, punishing those who expose inconvenient facts and replacing truth with propaganda,” the statement says.

Read the full statement:

Joint statement of journalist-support organizations on government attacks on press freedom

Fair, accurate and independent reporting is essential to a functioning democracy. Without it, corruption and misinformation flourish. As organizations that champion journalists and the public’s right to know, we strongly condemn the campaign underway in Washington to penalize independent reporting on the government and its activities.

In a protracted war over words, the Trump administration has banned the Associated Press from White House events because the news service continues to call the “Gulf of Mexico” by its long-standing name while acknowledging the president’s executive order renaming it the “Gulf of America.”

This disturbing challenge to journalistic independence is part of a troubling pattern that extends well beyond the White House press corps. For example, the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission has taken extraordinary steps to investigate and intimidate broadcasters over their internal policies and constitutionally protected editorial decisions. These actions by the head of this historically bipartisan, independent regulatory body set a dangerous precedent and risk giving the government greater control over which voices are heard.

The administration also has evicted longtime news organizations from the Pentagon pressroom, giving their desks to news outlets that favorably covered the administration’s agenda.

President Trump and his congressional allies have long opposed what they viewed as government efforts to coerce speech. In 2023, for example. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and 44 other members of Congress said as much in a brief submitted in a U.S. Supreme Court case in which conservatives accused the Biden administration of coercing social media platforms to adopt pro-COVID vaccine policies. That brief in Murthy v. Missouri stated, “Official pressure to suppress speech violates the First Amendment.”

When leaders try to silence reporters through intimidation, legal threats and denial of access, they are not protecting the country; they are protecting themselves from scrutiny. This is how authoritarian regimes operate — by crushing dissent, punishing those who expose inconvenient facts and replacing truth with propaganda.

The First Amendment is an integral part of the U.S. Constitution that President Trump swore to “preserve, protect and defend.” He also signed an executive order on day one to “ensure that no Federal Government officer, employee, or agent engages in or facilitates any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen.” The president must abide by his oath of office and executive order and ensure that First Amendment principles are forcefully upheld.

In a nation founded on freedom of speech, regardless of party or ideology, the government can never compel agreement with its viewpoint as a condition of access to information. The administration must lift the ban on AP. And the administration must cease punishing news organizations based on their reporting.

Society of Professional Journalists

AAN Publishers (formerly Association of Alternative Newsmedia)

American Society of Magazine Editors

Asian American Journalists Association

Associated Collegiate Press

Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

Buffalo Newspaper Guild – CWA Local 31026

Criminal Justice Journalists

Defending Rights & Dissent

Denver Newspaper Guild – CWA Local 37074

Education Writers Association

Freedom of the Press Foundation

Inter American Press Association (IAPA)

IAPE, Local 1096, TNG-CWA

Indigenous Journalists Association

iSolon.org

Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS)

Military Reporters & Editors

National Association of Black Journalists

National Association of Hispanic Journalists

National Association of Science Writers

National Federation of Press Women

National Press Photographers Association

National Scholastic Press Association

National Writers Union

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists

New Hampshire NewsGuild

Online News Association

Project Censored

Public Media Journalists Association

Quill and Scroll

Radio Television Digital News Association

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW)

Society of Environmental Journalists

The Association of Health Care Journalists

The Media Guild of the West – CWA Local 39213

The NewsGuild-CWA

The News Media Guild, Local 31222, TNG-CWA (the union representing AP journalists)

The NewsGuild of New York

The NewsGuild of Philadelphia TNG-CWA Local 38010

Toledo NewsGuild, CWA Local 34043

Washington-Baltimore News Guild

Todd Stauffer, Feb. 21

Council Moves to Designate Historic Japanese American Fishing Village as Cultural Monument on 83rd Anniversary of Executive Order 9066

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Council Moves to Designate Historic Japanese American Fishing Village as Cultural Monument on 83rd Anniversary of Executive Order 9066

 

LOS ANGELES – Feb. 19, on the 83rd anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans, the Los Angeles City Council passed Councilmember Tim McOsker’s motion to begin the process of designating the last two remaining buildings from a once-thriving Japanese American Fishing Village on Terminal Island as City Historic-Cultural Monuments.

“Terminal Island was once a vibrant Japanese American community, but by 1942, that community was forcibly displaced, and the structures demolished, leaving families with nothing to return to,” said Councilmember Tim McOsker. “The last two remaining buildings from the Japanese American Fishing Village stand as a testament to this community’s resilience and a reminder of the injustices they endured. While we can never undo the past, we can ensure their history is never forgotten and their contributions remain an integral part of Los Angeles’ past, present, and future.”

Located at 700-702 Tuna Street and 712-716 Tuna Street on Terminal Island, these two buildings are the last remnants of a fishing village that, in the 1940s, was home to over 3,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans.

In the early 20th century, Japanese immigrants played a foundational role in establishing Los Angeles’ tuna fishing industry, transforming Terminal Island into a hub of commerce and community. According to the LA Conservancy, the village held “a pool hall, several Buddhist temples, a judo hall, Fishermen Hall, a Baptist church, a bank, and a Shinto shrine, enabling residents to practice the official religion of Japan.”

However, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Terminal Island’s Japanese and Japanese American residents became the first community in the country to be forcibly removed. The FBI took all the non-native Japanese fishermen and community leaders into custody immediately, and all traffic to and from the island was suspended.

Just days after President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, the U.S. Navy ordered all Japanese and Japanese American families to vacate the island within 48 hours. With no time to make arrangements, many were forced to abandon their homes, businesses, and belongings, suffering significant losses. The Japanese Americans on Terminal Island were among the first sent to internment camps, while the U.S. Navy seized the island, demolishing and effectively erasing the village. Today, the two remaining buildings are owned by the Port of Los Angeles.

McOsker was joined at City Hall by the Terminal Islanders Association, a group of former residents and their descendants who have long advocated for the preservation of, not only these buildings, but also the memory of their community among the descendants of this lost neighborhood.

This designation marks a crucial step in recognizing and preserving the contributions of Japanese and Japanese Americans to Los Angeles while ensuring that the injustices they endured are never forgotten.

With the council’s approval, the City Planning Department will now prepare the application for Historic-Cultural Monument designation, which will be reviewed by the Cultural Heritage Commission before submission to the City Council for final consideration. If approved, the designation will protect these buildings from demolition or significant alteration, ensuring their history is preserved for future generations and securing their place as a landmark in Los Angeles’ history.

California to Launch Digital Democracy Effort to Improve Public Engagement

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California to Launch Digital Democracy Effort to Improve Public Engagement

 

LOS ANGELES — Gov. Gavin Newsom Feb. 23 announced California’s upcoming launch of a program that will bring Californians together to engage, interact, and share ideas to help shape government services and collectively create policy solutions. Engaged California is a program to support community conversations about important topics using digital platforms. With this new initiative, the state will better ensure decisions are centered on the people’s voices. As part of California’s all-in response to the firestorm, this pilot program is being launched now for survivors and the greater Los Angeles community.

With Engaged California, the state will better empower Californians to have honest, respectful discussions on important topics to help create more responsive and people-driven policies and programs. The program is modeled after successful digital democracy efforts in Taiwan, which used digital tools to help increase consensus-building and build governance powered by the people.

The foundation of the program will encourage participation from Californians across all walks of life to interact with each other to find common ground and help set priorities for state government action. The program will help people to directly voice their concerns and ideas, and improve policymakers’ and administrators’ efforts to listen to Californians outside of election cycles and to be more responsive to their concerns.

“Fire survivors are looking for answers, and California is gearing up to meet them where they are,” said Government Operations Secretary Amy Tong. “We have to think differently to bring us closer to those we serve, especially those whose voices we may be missing through traditional channels.”

Engaged California is different from a poll or town hall, and is not designed to mimic social media. The platform is the intersection between technology, democracy, and state government. The end goal is to encourage more discussions as a new way to find common ground, a process known internationally as deliberative democracy.

The launch of Engaged California will initially focus on the response to the Los Angeles firestorms, bringing together community members to help influence response efforts and better address issues based on community experiences and voices.


The Government Operations Agency, the California Office of Data and Innovation or ODI, in partnership with Carnegie California, the West Coast office and program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, are leading the development of this program and its supporting deliberative engagement tools. The state is also partnering with the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and community organizations to help ensure the program is accessible for community members who may be harder to reach.

Other program design partners and advisors for this initiative include scholars and leaders from: The American Public Trust, the Berggruen Institute, Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab, UC Berkeley, Harvard University’s Center for Internet and Society, the San Francisco Foundation, Project Liberty Institute and the Kapor Center.
Details: https://engaged.ca.gov

Tuesday Talk: San Pedro Artist Laurie Steelink Speaks at Kleefeld Contemporary

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Tuesday Talk: San Pedro Artist Laurie Steelink Speaks at Kleefeld Contemporary

Join at the museum to hear artist Laurie Steelink speak about her practice. Steelink’s artwork A Love Supreme is on view in the museum’s Glenn Court gallery.

A meditation on interpersonal connection and reciprocal support systems, the artist created the work during a period of deep contemplation on the nature of life and love. Steelink’s abstract imagery references scientific and spiritual perspectives, from cellular structures seen under a microscope to altered visions that can arise when using plant medicines.

No RSVP is required.

Multidisciplinary artist Laurie Steelink identifies as Akimel O’otham, and is a member of the Gila River Indian Community. Born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Tucson, she received a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, and an MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. She served as archivist for the Gilbert and Lila Silverman Fluxus Collection in New York, and was director of Track 16 Gallery in west L.A. from 2002 to 2016. In 2012, Steelink founded Cornelius Projects, an exhibition space in San Pedro, CA that she named after her father. The curatorial focus at Cornelius Projects is primarily the cultural history and the artists of San Pedro and the Harbor Area. Steelink’s work has been exhibited internationally, and she has participated in Native American Indian Marketplaces at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, and with the Santa Fe Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Time: 12 to 1p.m., Feb. 25

Cost: Free

Details: https://tinyurl.com/Kleefeld-current-exhibitions

Venue: Kleefeld Contemporary, 1250 North Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach

Time to Reform the LA Neighborhood Council Voting System

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Time to Reform the LA Neighborhood Council Voting System

 

Zero In-Person Voting Diminishes Participation, Interest, Credibility, and Confidence in This Badly Flawed Process

By Nick Antonicello

Could you imagine, as a candidate for office, that you were responsible for signing up and verifying voters, and then compel them to register for a ballot and hope that they vote?

For that is the half-baked logic of LA city officials, specifically DONE, Empower LA and the LA City Clerk’s office by not offering same-day, in-person voting, but rather leaving the qualification process to volunteers to register stakeholders even though that information already sits in the City Clerk’s office in the form of the existing voter roll!

In Los Angeles, it is easier to vote for the U.S. presidency than it is to vote for a community officer on a 21-member local advisory board here in Venice.

The question is obvious.

The question is why?

As of this writing, only 242 individuals have bothered to sign-up here in Venice, and many of those will not cast a ballot. To put this into perspective, the population of Venice is roughly 35,000 people. Is this really a concerted effort to depress stakeholder turnout by the very people whose job it is to offer a valid and credible voting platform?

Neighborhood councils are the closest form of government to the people.

While they are advisory bodies, who advocate for their communities with City Hall on important issues like development, homelessness and emergency preparedness, neighborhood councils are part of the Los Angeles City government, and have annual budgets funded by taxpayer dollars.

Neighborhood council board members are in fact elected city officials who are members of their local communities, but they donate their time as volunteers.

Would it be a municipal budget buster to offer these hard-working advocates a nominal stipend for their time and energy?

The neighborhood council system was established in 1999 as a revision to the Los Angeles City Charter, as a way of ensuring that the LA government remains responsive to the different needs and lifestyles of Los Angeles’ rich variety of communities.

There are currently 99 neighborhood councils in Los Angeles, each serving about 40,000 people per body.

With no same-day voting, it will take weeks to tabulate results and these new members won’t be seated until July leaving a long “lame duck” session for the outgoing members. And why are these elections treated like a second-class democracy?

Why doesn’t the LA City Clerk simply mail every registered voter a ballot, like every other election, and why must one be vetted to vote in these elections, yet homeless individuals are held to a lesser standard?

If one is not a resident of Venice but qualifies as a stakeholder, doesn’t it make much more sense to have those finite number of individuals be vetted versus the entire voter population of 35,000?

Why is this system, bluntly speaking, ass backwards?

It is far more responsible for the city clerk to conduct these neighborhood council elections all on the same day at the same time and use the voter registration system as the primary source of participation. For if thousands of voters participated versus hundreds, these volunteer boards would flex much more influence and power with the 15-member Los Angeles City Council, a detached body of embedded politicos earning some $300,000 annually as the most highly compensated elected body at the municipal level in the United States today.

The level of participation and turnout in Venice will be anemic and embarrassing thanks to those responsible for this colossal error in logic or judgement.

Placing a price on grassroots democracy in the form of a third-rate election process that seems intentionally designed to depress voter expression is in fact democracy denied. For how one can claim to represent Venice or any neighborhood when one could be elected with just dozens of votes because city officials are politically tone-deaf, unable to distinguish the trees from the forest?

Legislative action is required to right this inherent wrong so that the neighborhood council process can truly represent and prosper versus intentionally die on the vine by incompetent municipal bureaucrats nestled like squirrels in City Hall.

Nick Antonicello is a 32-year resident of Venice who exclusively covers the actions and deliberations of the Venice Neighborhood Council. Have a take or a tip on all things Venice? Contact him via e-mail at nantoni@mindspring.com.

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