The Neighborhood Council Review Commission, also known as the 912 Commission, was established by the City Council in April 2006 and is entrusted with the task of evaluating the neighborhood council (NC) system and making recommendations for possible improvements. The Commission is currently discussing what it might mean to have an ideal NC system. Within the next year, it will examine NCs in relation to the following topics: roles and powers, outreach, community participation, the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE), funding, training, stakeholder definitions and elections.

The Commission will be soliciting input from NC boardmembers and stakeholders in the form of a detailed questionnaire, but in the meantime, you can submit your ideas and suggestions at the website www.NCRCLA.org or speak at the Commission’s semi-monthly meetings. You can also participate in a townhall discussion with me on Monday, January 29, 2007, 7:00 pm, at the Marvin Braude Center (Room 1-B) located at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA, 91401.

Tell us how well your NC representing you, whether NCs have the proper roles and powers and how the overall system can be improved.

This short piece was published in The Bridge in December 2006.