Did Armageddon Arrive and I Missed the Announcement?

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH-Talk about depressing…you know it’s bad when you have to watch Blacklist in order to get a laugh. 

Between the Ebola situation, ISIS, Putin’s attempted revival of the Cold War; Stock Market gyrations; LA Schools without textbooks and kids waiting for classes two months into the semester; constant solicitation from political candidates; Postal workers getting hernias from all the campaign mail; ghost police patrols; severe drought problems; constant fear mongering from most TV news outlets; The LA Ethics Commission suggesting bribes or a lottery to get out the vote; it’s enough to make one return to bed and pull the covers over the head. 

Some of you may have noticed my articles in CW have been absent for a couple of weeks.  Added to the misery of all the things of which I have no control and no influence … my computer contracted a rare disease combined with Time Warner’s eternal brownouts. 

We are so dependent on this technology that it becomes almost impossible to function. 

While I was enjoying an enforced writing holiday interesting things were occurring. 

How many of you heard about The LAPD’s recent solicitation to Neighborhood Councils (NC) to contribute $1,500 for a Neighborhood Grant (NPG) to help with community policing and a myriad other things that their budget doesn’t cover?  After all, they only receive 49% of the City Budget.  The ninety-five NC’s receive $37,500 each for everything so they have funds to spare.  This request came from the 501(3) C Los Angeles Police Foundation on Chief Beck’s letterhead. 

This is what the letter is requesting: 

All the funds received will be utilized to produce Community Emergency Response Training, multi-bilingual and ADA compliant crime prevention brochures, training in social media, outreach, and events to promote civic engagement. 

The NPG is requesting: This NPG will help fund the Los Angeles Police Department's Community-Police Advisory Board (C-PAB), Annual Summit, Symposium, community outreach efforts, neighborhood watch, public safety and youth programs, and broaden the City's emergency preparedness programs within each of

the LAPD's 21 geographic areas. 

After several NC’s received the NPG package and inquiries were made by the NC Budget Advocates … the solicitation was abruptly withdrawn. In part the canceling letter said  I have been advised that because we are so close to the event and due to the numerous requests of our unit to give presentations, we respectfully withdraw our request for the Neighborhood Purpose Grant. 

I would guess that the numerous requests to find out what event and explain how they could solicit for the Fire Department’s Certified Emergency Response Team was more than they expected.  

There are several of these foundations that support the Police Department.  A recent one was formed to help Community Policing.  I am confused—if the LA Police Foundation is seeking funds for “community based” activities what is the new Foundation doing?  Are they in competition? 

LACP.org (Los Angeles Community Policing) says, “Participation from the entire community, civilian, sworn and government official alike, is encouraged and welcomed.  We've been asked about our motives in originally setting this up. This is entirely a grassroots effort ...       

“We created this forum as private citizens, independent of any other group or affiliation we have. Active community volunteers and community policing advocates, we have no vested interest in anything other than a sincere desire to be of service. 

“We're neither current nor retired LAPD officers, nor have we ever been in law enforcement. We have no affiliation with any political group, nor with any police entity or union. 

“In other words, we're just people who are very supportive of the police officers and those who serve our community. 

“There is a lot to be done. We only hope new thinking and new ideas can be heard. 

“Our sole motivation is a desire to be of service by providing this ongoing forum, through which we inform, invite sharing, and encourage participation in Los Angeles, area community based policing, and community involvement in government. 

“We invite you to join the LA Community Policing e-group and contribute to the C-PAB News sections. Feel free to send us an article or a Letter to the Editor. 

“Let the community know what's working, and what's not, in your area. 

“We've recently become a state of California 501 (c) 3 non-profit organizations, and your support is needed, as we empower Angelenos to participate in making their neighborhood streets safer ... 

“Our sole purpose is to seek paths to promote, encourage and share community policing and community government causes and ideas ... and, of course, to continue the web publishing of this LACP.org site.” 

To make it easy to contribute they use Pay Pal I was trying to find out how many 501(3) C’s support the LAPD.  I still don’t have an answer. 

In light of this … I think the Neighborhood Councils are missing a golden opportunity.  Some of the 95 NC’s do have a 501(3) C “Friends of” who pay for additional NC activities.  How about forming a City-wide Neighborhood Community 501(3) C. We can’t use the Neighborhood Council name because we are a quasi- City Agency. 

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Supposedly the Board of a non-profit can’t be the same people as the Board for which they are soliciting.   That is why it was confusing to have a solicitation for funds coming from a non-profit by the Chief of Police letter head---not the non-profit. If we have non NC Board members on our non-profit, they can solicit grants, funds, etc.?  

Right now NC’s can’t solicit funds or grants and any monies donated to NPG’s have strict qualifications.  The City Council in 2009 passed a resolution allowing NC’s to be able to take donations and apply for grants BUT Grayce Liu’s predecessor at the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment did not put it into effect and since it had a “sunset clause”, it expired in 2012. 

Some people have suggested that each NC have its own 501 (3) c but that is a little overwhelming.  Can you imagine what could be accomplished if there was a City-wide “Friends of Neighborhood Councils?” 

Comments always welcome.

 

(Denyse Selesnick is a contributor to City Watch focusing on activities, policies and foibles in NCLand.  She can be reached at [email protected]) 

-cw

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 12 Issue 84

Pub: Oct 17, 2014