Neighborhood Councils, EmpowerLA face more budget cuts
Photo: SEIU - Workers respond to budget cuts (2010)
Civic LA
October 14, 2012
LA City’s budget woes threaten funding cuts in the city-wide system of neighborhood councils and staff layoffs at EmpowerLA, the department
overseeing the councils.
EmpowerLA is looking at a 10% cut in staffing funds, approximately $230,000, which could slash 3-4 jobs from a staff of 19 said Grayce Liu, the department’s Interim Manager, in her weekly newsletter. Liu plans to hold web conferences with NC leaders in the next few weeks to work out coping strategies.
The department had its staff of 38 halved in 2010 while city officials grappled with a massive deficit of $218 million. At the time, the department also came in for heavy criticism that it was doing a poor job of overseeing spending by the NCs.
The NCs have already undergone budget reductions with their modest $45,000 annual operations budgets now whittled down to $35000.
“In the last few years of budget cuts, I've seen our staff and the Neighborhood Councils really dig in and create a system that is evolving into something better,” Liu said.
Meanwhile, the councils are being encouraged to target federal funds LA City receives for community development from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The department develops and implements a 5 year Consolidated Plan summarizing the status of housing conditions and access to non housing services
such as health/social services, public facilities/infrastructure and economic opportunities for low and moderate income persons.
EmpowerLA is urging NCs to identify their development needs in areas such as job creation, neighborhood improvement projects, and affordable housing and provide input to the Consolidated Plan which will be submitted to HUD as well as to LA City.
The City is holding public meetings to solicit recommendations for the Consolidated Plan. For more information on the upcoming meetings, to be held in the San Fernando Valley (Oct.
17), South LA (Oct. 18), and Watts area (Oct. 23) click here: cdd.lacity.org.
Related stories
·Mayor's proposed budget - The Mayor of the City of Los Angeles
·Los Angeles approves $7.2B city budget - ContraCostaTimes.com
October 14, 2012
LA City’s budget woes threaten funding cuts in the city-wide system of neighborhood councils and staff layoffs at EmpowerLA, the department
overseeing the councils.
EmpowerLA is looking at a 10% cut in staffing funds, approximately $230,000, which could slash 3-4 jobs from a staff of 19 said Grayce Liu, the department’s Interim Manager, in her weekly newsletter. Liu plans to hold web conferences with NC leaders in the next few weeks to work out coping strategies.
The department had its staff of 38 halved in 2010 while city officials grappled with a massive deficit of $218 million. At the time, the department also came in for heavy criticism that it was doing a poor job of overseeing spending by the NCs.
The NCs have already undergone budget reductions with their modest $45,000 annual operations budgets now whittled down to $35000.
“In the last few years of budget cuts, I've seen our staff and the Neighborhood Councils really dig in and create a system that is evolving into something better,” Liu said.
Meanwhile, the councils are being encouraged to target federal funds LA City receives for community development from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The department develops and implements a 5 year Consolidated Plan summarizing the status of housing conditions and access to non housing services
such as health/social services, public facilities/infrastructure and economic opportunities for low and moderate income persons.
EmpowerLA is urging NCs to identify their development needs in areas such as job creation, neighborhood improvement projects, and affordable housing and provide input to the Consolidated Plan which will be submitted to HUD as well as to LA City.
The City is holding public meetings to solicit recommendations for the Consolidated Plan. For more information on the upcoming meetings, to be held in the San Fernando Valley (Oct.
17), South LA (Oct. 18), and Watts area (Oct. 23) click here: cdd.lacity.org.
Related stories
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