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meeting dates and times left some waiting for the doors to be opened only to learn that the meeting occurred on an unpublished date, location, or was canceled without notice.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.