The Budget - BHNC in Review

[Update @4:07pm, June 8th: There will be no Special Meeting Monday, June 13th.  Budget decisions will need to be made by Ethics and Funding trained Newly and Re-elected Board Members.]

[Correction @11:50, June 8th: According to the training video "NC Board Training Orientation," The Board approved budget is due by June 30th, for the fiscal year starting on July 1st.]

[Update @7:37pm: Pending confirmation, a Special Meeting will be held Monday the 13th of June.  Location and time unstated]

"Account Balances, Community Impact Statements, and Agendas

As of 05/31/2016, your current checking account balance is $16,272.62, and as of 06/01/2016, you have $3,861.92 in your city account

As of 6/1/2016, you have filed 0 Community Impact Statements, and 2 agendas have been posted for your Neighborhood Council for the current month."

Total: $20,134.54
Document: Boyle Heights Monthly Profile

The problems with the BHNC budget are not the sole fault of the Treasurer, and Budget & Finance Committee chair, Fanny Ortiz.  Those who were unwilling or unable to attend share the blame.  With 20,134.54$ allocated and awaiting a BHNC vote.  The outgoing Board does not have long (June 10th is my understanding) to meet quorum and approve the Budget.   Else any NPG (including: memorial flowers, Proyecto Jardin's Earth Day, and the Wolf Pack) or pending items will not be approved and the funds revert back to the City. 

This has been hindered by the last three attempts to hold quorum at two General Board Meetings and one Special Meeting, attempting to resolve these issues and goals.  10 Board members are required to meet quorum.  Further attempts to hold a Special Meeting have met resistance, bitterness, spite, and a "fuck 'em" attitude.  This "do unto others" attitude has cycled to the point of being disruptive. 

May 25th Agenda Item 6c.  Budget and Finance Committee

Problems with the Budget and Fiance have been ongoing throughout this past fiscal cycle.  Potentially, leaving it up to the new Council to be left to correct the mistakes made.  Some of whom may not be able to vote on budgetary items due to DONE requirements.  Further delaying resolutions by months.

DONE (the Department Of Neighborhood Empowerment) requires that each Board member complete an Ethics and Funding training course prior to being able to vote on budget items.  With the new Council being installed on June 22nd, it is speculative to say how many will have completed training and be able to cast a vote.

The budget allocation for this coming cycle 2016-2017 will [should] be $37,000.  Covering the function of the BHNC (translation services, possibly snacks, printed documents such as agendas,website maintenance) as well as providing "community promotion" (events, flyers/banners, Ads) and NPGs.

May 25th BHNC Agenda -- Canceled: Quorum Failure --
May 4th HBNC Special Meeting Agenda -- Canceled: Quorum Failure --
April 27th Agenda -- Canceled: Quorum Failure --

Bill Clinton Fails in Boyle Heights

Clinton fails in last ditch attempt to win Boyle Heights

When people heard that Bill Clinton was coming to mariachi plaza, they laughed.  The immediate response was a cold wtf tone of, "why."  People in the neighborhood, don't dislike him.  Not like his wife.  They find the fact that he got a blow job in the oval office quite humorous and something they would do if they had that kind of power.  His infidelity struck a cord with the more traditionalist who saw it as something to be expected.


But it makes little to no sense for him to disrupt the area, for no other reason then to promote his  wife.

Speeches made by all presenters showed a deep lack of connection with the Boyle Heights Community.  [From their words to the lack of advertisement of the event.]  With Clinton just repeating himself.  As he has done at other rallies.  Music played prior to the presentations, were some of the stereotypical whitest music ever played at Mariachi Plaza.  Leaving spectators going "what the fuck is this shit."  and at times wondering if they were in a truck commercial.

Total sum of Hillary supporters.  Very few BH resdents

The event today was an apparent failure.  Scheduled from 11-3pm.  There was little crowd throughout the event averaging about 50 or so.  Speakers not arriving on stage until 2pm to a lack luster crowd.  Barely cheering as the announcer tried to rally them.  Comprised, in a sudden jump to just over 150, most were imports from the campaign trail, or media crew.  Very few Boyle Heights residents were in attendance, or even knew that this was scheduled.  Passer-byes, locals, asked what was going on. 

Comments from local residents passing by laughed when they heard that it was Bill and not Hillary, that was at the event.  Stating that she "would have never made it out of BH, if she had came."  There is some love for Bill within the community, but in that buffoonish, look at him as a joke sorta way.  [i neglected to say, "the drunk uncle."]  Potential love for Hillary in Boyle Heights turned on her during her campaign trail, when she hired a Monsanto rep.  This quickly turned the growing pro-organic anti-Monsanto groups to look at Hillary in shame.

Crowd cheers for celebrities rises above cheers for politicians.

Mayor Garcetti made puns about Trump.  And that's about it.  De Leon said something.  I dunno.  No one was really paying attention at this point.  It wasn't until Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson were announced, that people seemed to be genuinely cheerful.  Kareem forgot his lines and had to be coached by Johnson.

Clinton heckled Bernie Sanders supporters whom were among the few Boyle Heights residents in attendance.   In fact, there were only about 12 Hilary supporters from BH.  This can be seen as speakers shouted "Boyle Heights" in various ways, only to about a few cheers.  [This was matched or was over shadowed by the amount of Bernie Sanders supporters from BH, in protest of the event.]

Bernie & Hillary supporters wait peacefully for Billy to arrive.

[Clinton attempted to dismiss Boyle Heights resident Bernie supporters with some off-handed remakes akin to calling them tin-foiled hat conspiracy nuts.  With the comment: "They say that everybody that disagrees with them is part of some nefarious establishment."

And with "There are more of us then there are of you..." showed that the  event was staged so that the community, who are mostly pro-Bernie , wouldn't show up.  Inflating the audience, and shutting out the BH community.]

Small group of (~70) Hillary supporters ready for speeches

As Clinton's rally seemed to fall on so many levels.  The question still arises as to whether it was due to poor organization and notification of the event.  Or secrecy and fear of opposition from the majority of Boyle Heights, who are Bernie supporters.  That resulted in this failure to make it look like the Mexican community supports Hillary.  And feeds back in to the "wtf what he even doing there" of it all.

Video of the [full] speech portion of the event will uploaded Monday June 6th. 


[Speech YouTube link:  https://youtu.be/A11wzkvN0Po


[I'm just a dick with a camera and a platform.   No one pays me to do this shit.  Not like the guys listed in the links below.

Various links to media outlets who covered event:
I didn't actually see CNN there.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/05/politics/bill-clinton-bernie-sanders-protesters/

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/06/05/bill-clinton-stumps-for-wife-hillary-with-2-legendary-lakers-by-his-side/

She was cute.
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-trailguide-bill-clinton-shouted-down-by-bernie-1465168102-htmlstory.html

Commitment - BHNC in Review

[Note: This article is being submitted to Comunity Beacon Newspaper for publishing]

by Jason Gallegos

For the past two years, I have pushed for one thing - Commitment. If you can't make the commitment, then you shouldn't be on the board. This stance stems from showing respect to your fellow community members and the faith of trust embowered by the position.

While BHNC Board members Vera del Pozo, Rafael Chagoya, Beatriz Ochoa, Steven Almazan, Philip del Pozo, Joe Diaz, Carlos Montes, Maria Ocampo, and Marisol Marquez were in attendance at the May 25^th General Board Meeting. Missing were candidates: Fanny Ortiz, Mynor Godoy, Nicole Martin, Marisol Sanchez, and Margarita Amador (Mago). Each of whom had run for another term. Mago was seen across the street at the Hollenbeck police station, prior to the meeting. Aside from Mago, each of these candidates ran with the promise of commitment to the community.

This failure of commitment not only lead to a failure of quorum, but pending budgetary approval of flowers for the yearly event at Cinco Puntos honoring fallen soldiers for Memorial Day weekend. Purchase of functional items, a microphone, pop up banner, podium, timer, batteries for translation units and NPG items. Proyecto Jardín, Lummis Day Festival among them. The now notorious Wolf Pack [NPG], having met road blocks within the Budget and Finance committee for well over a year.

Communication has also been an issue within this term. Complaints come from both online and off, regarding notifications of events and developments within BH. As well as from outside the neighborhood. The Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council has gained a reputation for being “a mess.” Members of various online groups often complained about being left in the dark. Stemming from late updates to the bhnc.net website, or lack of outreach. Random changes in committee meeting dates and times left some waiting for the doors to be opened only to learn that the meeting occurred on an unpublished date, location, or was canceled without notice.

Overall, the BHNC is a force that brings more people from within the community, from simple complaining to instead partake in community discussion and become more aware. Regardless of your stance the choices made will affect everyone at not just one, but multiple points. It is a matter of keeping your ears and eyes opened to what is going on around you. It is a “messy” process. The Council is not a place where everyone will agree. It is rallied behind multiple causes and perspectives with one theme: To bring the voice of Boyle Heights.

The new and re-elected board members are: Joe Diaz, Vera del Pozo, Beatriz Zaragoza, Mynor Godoy, Jason Gallegos, Carlos Montes, Sol Marquez, Hector Huezo, Claudia Hernandez, Jared Hamil, Daisy Chavez, Marisol Sanchez, Alessandro Negrete, Lizzette Perez, Fanny Ortiz, Maria Ocampo, Kmberly Arazo, Margarita Amador, and Ofelia Carillo.

The PLUC - BHNC in Review

The final Boyle Heights Planning and Land Use Committee (PLUC) for this term met May 10^th to a full crowd. Students from Cal State packed the audience on their final assignment. Making it one of the biggest crowds. Though the agenda was lite, the students received a impromptu Q&A session after the meeting with committee members who have served on the PLUC for the last two years.

The one item on the agenda was regarding a special permit request by Stanley Szieto regarding a conditional use permit to continue an auto alarm, stereo installation and window tinting at 314 Soto St. on the cornet of Soto and Chavez, near residential properties. The presenter was a “no-show” so the PLUC elected to table the Item until the next meeting or when the presenter could attend. Shortening the committee meeting.

Students came in interest of another subject that the PLUC handles, though. This lead to the after-committee meeting Q&A. The points of interests from the students were regarding the function of the PLUC, affordable housing and specifically current Metro developments. Mynor Godoy, the committee chair, lead the Q&A, while Jason Gallegos and Bana Hafar provided additional commentary.

With the elections now having passed, and official results pending, the PLUC will see a new membership. The new Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council (BHNC) will nominate and elect representatives. Unlike other committees, all PLUC members are not just volunteers, but elected. Electing a chair from the BHNC board, two supporting board members, and four community stakeholders.

The Boyle Heights Planning and Land Use Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Providing advisory recommendations based on community input to the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council and our CD14 representative regarding land use issue, special permits, and developments in the Boyle Heights area.