Posted to the LANCissues e-group:

DONE leaves GRVNC waiting

by Daniel Wiseman, M.D.
Van Nuys

July 27, 2004

Last night, the possibly-elected (?) Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council (GRNC) held is second meeting since its elections of June 27. That's right, it has been 30 days now.

The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) did not approve the GRVNC election procedures and has not approved the results of the election. DONE has removed all the credits from the GRVNC funds so GRVNC cannot pay any of its financial obligations.

The funds issue became particularly obvious when they passed a motion to pay about $ 650 to their Election Administrator. It should be noted that DONE had not approved the Election Administrator, either. (GRVNC & the Election Administrator will have to wait until they, again, have some money to disburse.)

These actions by DONE must be compared to the frequent protestations of Greg Nelson, the DONE General Manager, when he says, "DONE has no power to interfere with the activities of the Neighborhood Councils."

No action or delayed action certainly interferes here in Venice.

In the face of DONE's delayed response, this Board continues to meet and act as if they were really GRVNC. Some GRVNC Stakeholders would disagree but they were not at last night's meeting.

The Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council is a remarkable, brave and important Neighborhood Council. DONE seems to be denying their existence ... but they do indeed exist.

GRVNC's problems include:

1.	a major split between two factions (the "Old Guard" vs. the "Progressives"),
2.	conflict between retaining the peculiarly free-wheeling, laid-back, "60's - hippy" life style of the 20th Century vs. the high-tech, high-priced emerging "re-gentrification" of Venice in the 21st Century.
3.	recognition of the needs of the homeless and poor who have always (and continue to) live amongst them vs. the solutions to homelessness and poverty.

Their determination to serve their community is undeniable whether or not you agree with the "political agenda" of these or past Board Members. These Board Members are unhappy to lose the active participation and, frankly, the "balancing" opposition of those who have resigned from Board activity and/or withdrawn from their meetings.

They share the frustration of many NCs who have looked to DONE for acceptance, approval and guidance and have not received it.

GRVNC waits for DONE's pronouncement on their elections. They wonder if decertification is a possibility. If not they wait for DONE to re-open communications. They hope DONE will reinstate their funding.

GRVNC waits for their DONE Project Coordinator to attend their meetings. Are there enough Project Coordinators in the new re-organization of DONE? Are they doing their job maintaining the essential two-way communications between and the NC's they are assigned to serve?

In law, there is a saying: "Justice delayed is justice denied." This principle could be restated for GRVNC and many other NCs, to say that, "Action (by DONE) delayed is DIS-empowerment of the involved Neighborhood Council."

• Where is the supervision and policy-making of the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners?
• Where is the promised Blue Ribbon Grievance Group?
• Where is the guidance of the Mayor's Office?
• Where is the expressed concern and legislation of the City Council?

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if you'd like to share just send an email to: Daniel Wiseman, M.D. dwisemanmd@yahoo.com (please include your name, email address, and Neighborhood Council) .