Thursday: Neighborhood Council Candidates

CANDIDATES FOR the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council election March 20 are shaking hands and soliciting votes at Thursday's candidates forum. Check out the candidate statements (PDF file) and come ready with questions. Or just with handshakes. Refreshments will be served:

• AVNC Candidates Forum
• Thursday, March 11, 8:00pm
• Christ's Church Griffith Park
• 3852 Edenhurst Ave

Last Chance to Run for Neighborhood Council

THE DEADLINE to declare as a write-in candidate in the March 20 Atwater Village Neighborhood Council election is Feb. 18. Download and complete the AVNC candidate filing packet.

What's the difference between write-in candidates and the candidates who declared at last month's deadline? Basically, the City of LA won't post the statements of write-in candidates, and voters will have to, naturally, write the names on the ballot.

Learn more at the next AVNC meeting, Thursday Feb. 11, 7:00pm, Christ's Church Griffith Park.

Important 2010 Dates for AVNC Candidates

ATWATER VILLAGE Neighborhood Council (AVNC) elections are upon us, with deadlines coming for interested candidates. AVNC seeks:

• 2 North Atwater Residents
• 2 Central Atwater Residents
• 2 South Atwater Residents
• 2 Business Reps
• 2 Community Group/Non-profit Reps
• 2 Church/Religion Reps
• 1 School Rep
• 1 Parks & Recreation Rep
• 1 At-Large Rep

One way to declare your candidacy is by filing a form at the next AVNC meeting: Thursday Jan. 14, 7:30pm, Christ's Church, 3852 Edenhurst Avenue.

Registration deadline is Tuesday Jan. 19 and the AVNC election is March 20.

Download the entire AVNC candidate filing packet.

Friday: Trick-or-Treat on the Boo-levard

FRIDAY MARKS the 6th annual Trick-or-Treat on the Boo-levard, a fall festival put on by the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council and nearly 50 local businesses. Costumed kids hit the 3100 Block of Glendale Blvd., between Glenhurst and Revere, October 30, 2009, 4:30pm to 6:00pm. Might be the most villagey thing that happens in Atwater Village.

AVNC Forum Post Was Right! LAPD Map Underreports Crimes

EVEN AS WE appreciate full disclosure on this morning's Atwater Village gang raid, the LA Times finds not all's illuminated inside the Los Angeles Police Department.

The LAPD's online crime map excludes nearly 40% of serious crimes in the city. The LA Times credits one-time Atwater Village resident Jason Insalaco for shedding light on the map problem with his February 2009 post on the AVNC forum. "Numerous robberies, burglaries, homicides, and aggravated assaults have occurred in the village in recent months," Insalaco wrote. "You will not find such data on the LAPD crime maps."

Though it has better navigation and histories, the EveryBlock map of Atwater Village crime relies on the same misreported data as the LAPD map. Catch up with the developing story:

• Atwater Violent Crime is Not Fully Disclosed (AVNC Forum, Feb. 9, 2009)
• LAPD's Public Database Omits Nearly 40% of This Year's Crimes (LA Times, July 9, 2009)
• Bratton Blames Vendor for Errors (LA Times, July 9, 2009)

Is Atwater Village's Farmers Market in Danger?

ACCORDING TO a loyal Newbie reader, Wells Fargo Bank may try to put an end to the Atwater Village Farmers Market. Posted on the AVNC forum: "The general manager of Wells Fargo, who to date has been incredibly generous in letting the Farmers' Market open in their parking lot on Sundays, and who was a major sponsor of the incredible Tree Lighting this year, is threatening to terminate the FM's licensing agreement." The Wells Fargo bank location at 3250 Glendale Blvd. may want to open for Sunday hours, we're told, precluding the 4-year-old Farmers Market from operating in its parking lot on Sundays, 10:00am to 2:00pm. And even though it seems unusual in this ATM/Internet age that anyone really needs access to bank tellers on Sundays, this move by Wells Fargo may call for a letter or two. Address them to: Judy Fishman Vice President Wells Fargo Corporate Properties Group 333 South Grand Ave., Ste. 700 Los Angeles, CA 90071 Ricardo Villarreal MAC E2063-011 3250 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039 See an effective sample letter from Painkiller.org. Let's do what we can to keep the Farmers Market an integral ingredient in our Atwater Village kitchens.

City Council to AVNC: 'You Do Stuff'

BEHIND THE SCENES of the recent fight to keep funding for Atwater Village Neighborhood Council, as covered in the LA Weekly: Sitting inside the City Council chambers before last week's budget meeting, council member Tom LaBonge conceded to a concerned neighborhood council representative from Atwater Village, "You do stuff." But, he also told activist Leonora Gershman-Pitts that if faced with closing recreation centers and parks — to date, no such plan has been proposed — he'd cut neighborhood councils first. Gershman-Pitts nodded as LaBonge added, "Don’t worry, you're not gonna walk away with nothing."

Neighborhood Council Budget (Mostly) Spared

DESPITE FEARS that the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council annual budget would be slashed from $50,000 to $11,500,word is that LA City Council set AVNC funding at $45,000, just 10 percent off the top.

Tonight: Gang Violence Q&A

GOT QUESTIONS about recent gang-related carnage in Atwater Village? In lieu of actual gang members, these people might be good to ask: Who: LAPD Homicide detectives, City Council President Eric Garcetti's staff, members of gang intervention group Aztecs Rising What: Questions and answers at the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council meeting When: Tonight, Thursday April 9, 7:00pm Where: Christ's Church at Griffith Park, 3852 Edenhurst Ave.

Atwater Village 'Community Organizer' Takes on Palin

ATWATER VILLAGE Neighborhood Council rep (and Atwater Village is for Lovers blogger) Leonora Gershman slaps back: "One of the most infuriating aspects of watching the Republican National Convention, and there were many, was hearing the dripping and sour disdain that Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani apparently have for Community Organizers. I am a community volunteer here in Atwater Village. To hear Sarah Palin say that community organizers don't have responsibilities was a slap in the face to every public servant in America." Leonora politely allows Republicans to maintain their glaring inconsistency of preaching smaller government while praising government positions ("mayor of my hometown") over nongovernmental activism ("community organizer").

Cyclists, AVNC Take Fight to Wall Street Journal

FROM THIS MORNING'S Wall Street Journal: The community organizer [Stephen Box] says he and about a dozen bloggers drafted a Cyclists Bill of Rights in January that he is presenting for a vote at neighborhood council meetings around the region. But Lenore Solis, a council member in Atwater Village, says she voted against it because the assertion of a right to "full access" on "all mass transit with no limitations" is too broad, and could be interpreted as a legal right to bike lanes on freeways.

Bicyclists Have Feelings Too, AVNC Decrees

IN A LANDSLIDE last week, the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council voted to recommend the Cyclist's Bill of Rights. Among its notable aspirations: Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear. Cyclists have the right to the full support of our judicial system... Cyclists have the right to be secure in their persons and property... It's about time! Now, before some punk goes and smashes in more car windows in the neighborhood, what can we do to ensure the rest of us are "free of fear," "secure" in our "property" with "the full support of our judicial system"?

And, Isn't the LA River Depressing Enough As Is?

SOME QUESTIONS FOR those responsible for this week's island clear-cutting in the LA River, right here in Atwater Village, arguably the greenest, friendliest portion of what is primarily a concrete storm drain. How will LA River clear-cutting affect wildlife and wildlife migration? How will clear-cutting impact the ecosystem with neighboring Griffith Park? What will it do to the local microclimate? Will Atwater Village feel hotter when there's nothing to filter sunlight reflection off the concrete and water? Why couldn't the same resources be spent on just cleaning up the trash? Will the river dwellers need more sunscreen? Neighbors are talking about it on the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council forum.

Atwater Chatter: Pre-Thanksgiving Edition

THE LAST REMNANTS of pre-holiday business for our little corner of northeast Los Angeles: On the Market: Whole Food for Life - $4.7 million ($479.69/sq.ft.) for Los Feliz Blvd. building shell sans inventory [Curbed LA] Scenes from Arthur Magazine's LA River Beautification Meeting - Music performance by NO AGE [Nature Trumps] Neighborhood Walkthrough of DWP Lights in Griffith Park - Wednesday Nov. 21, 6:30pm [AV News] Four Vacancies on AVNC Board - Deadline to apply is Thursday Dec. 6, 5:00pm [AV is for Lovers] Rent Check! $1,800, $2,500, $2,800 [Craigslist]

Election Over, Forum Returns

NOW THAT THE COUNCIL election is over, the online neighborhood forum - unceremoniously stripped from the Internet a few weeks ago - is back. It looks like the offending, election-related comments have been removed. Check out the first post after hiatus, and peruse the rest of the forum. Glad to have it back. Now let's try to behave.

Now, Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Neighborhood

AT LAST, IT'S OVER. Barring any meddlers from Reseda, these are your Atwater Village Neighborhood Council election winners (with vote totals): Resident North Atwater - Fernando Dejo-Grundy (203), Leonora Gershman (258) Resident Central Atwater - Phillip Alexander (85), Jenn Hoffman (88) Resident South Atwater - Nancy Mejia (106), Ken Osborne (158) Business Rep. - Jeff Gardner (236), Diane Serafino (249) Religious Rep. - Bruce Fleenor (132), Lenore Solis (205) Community/Non-profit Rep. - Christine Anthony (227), Luis Lopez (188) School Rep. - Tim Warner (268) Park & Rec Rep. - Roberta Javier (190) As one of today's 398 voters, I'm pleased to see most of the people I chose on this list. But there are some I didn't choose who also made it. Term limits, anyone?

You Don't Even Have to Live Here

INTERESTING ELECTORAL TRIVIA: Los Angeles neighborhood council elections are open to all "stakeholders." Who exactly are these stakeholders? The list: Homeowners Renters Property owners Business owners Employees of neighborhood businesses Members of cultural institutions (theater group, art gallery, etc.) Members of religious institutions (churches) Members of service or community non-profit organizations (animal rescue organization, historical society, etc.) Students of neighborhood schools (16 years and older) Members of park and recreation centers (soccer teams, etc.) So basically if you spend more than a few hours in Atwater Village, you might be able to vote in tomorrow's AVNC election. The entire council could be controlled, for all we know, by Costco employees. The election is Saturday, Oct. 6, 9:00am to 4:00pm, Holy Trinity Church, 3716 Boyce Avenue. Candidate statements here.

Atwatergate: 'Blunted by Infighting'

SPEAKING OF THINGS NEWSPAPERS might be sniffing for, our Atwater Village non elections could catch the eye of the LA Times reporter behind this piece about neighborhood councils being "blunted by infighting, poor community outreach and a lack of influence with key city departments." Particularly newsworthy since the mayor appointed Carol Baker Tharp as LA's new Department of Neighborhood Empowerment general manager. A hundred bucks says AVNC is already on her list.

Atwatergate: Tits for Tat

MORE FALLOUT FROM LAST WEEK's canceled election for Atwater Village Neighborhood Council. The candidate accused of breaking election rules responds. The council co-chairs respond. See if you can follow the bouncing balls. My eyes are... beginning... to... glaze... over. Accused Candidate Luis Lopez Responds (PDF) - "I revised my statement to clean up typographical and grammatical errors... This did not constitute 'an unfair advantage.'" [Friends of Atwater Village] AVNC Co-Chairs Ken Osborn & Jeff Gardner Respond - "The existing AVNC board will continue until a new election can be organized..." [AVNC] The usual suspects will suss it out March 8, 7:00pm, at New Hope Chapel, 2861 Los Feliz Blvd. Do they ever say fourth time's a charm? If so, good luck pulling it off.

Atwatergate: Quote of the Week

FROM AN ATWATER VILLAGE forum post: "They really did a good job getting the word out on the day. Sucks to see that someone didn't get it together to make sure it went through. I ALMOST participated this time. Now it seems like they lost my/our attention or will."