LANCC Chair Elections - Senator Jim Alger
Note: The Sister City has been featuring each of the named candidates this week leading up to the July 8th election. Each candidate was sent the identical questionnaire and in some cases additional information was found by us through readily available searches. Some questions may appear different because of either how the candidate answered the question, or even if the candidate answered at all. The selection of which candidate was placed on which day is purely random. On Friday there will be a roundup of all 3 candidates.
Candidate for LANCC Chair -
Senator Jim Alger, President Northridge West NC
Jim Alger first became involved in Neighborhood Councils as one of the original organizers of the Northridge West Neighborhood Council, an organization which he serves as President today. Jim has been heavily involved in many aspects of the NC system and is probably best known for his organization of 42 Neighborhood Councils against the DWP Rate Hike of 2004 and the subsequent creation of an MOU with the Department.
Jim has served as a Commissioner appointed by then Mayor Hahn on the DWP Green Ribbon Commission as well as Neighborhood Council Liaison for the California State Senate. Last year he led a civilian rescue and recovery mission to the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. He was awarded Outstanding Young Californian of 2006 by the California Jaycees. Most recently he was a candidate for the California State Assembly.
Question: Why do you feel you are the most qualified for the position you are seeking?
Answer: That is a difficult question because I believe each candidate brings an individual strength that will help the Congress. I would say that I have the most experience leading, be it dozens of pilots for an emergency mission to the Gulf or knocking down a DWP rate hike in LA. It takes a certain ability to get agreement from multiple individuals let alone Neighborhood Councils who seemingly have little in common. They must be united in purpose. With Neighborhood Council issues, in most cases I had to go directly to the NC meeting whether it was San Pedro, Empowerment Congress Southeast, Pacoima, Eagle Rock, Silver Lake or the countless other Neighborhood Councils I have visited. The issues ranged from the DWP rate hike to Sunshine Canyon to an Eminent Domain issue in South LA to promoting Neighborhood Councils involvement in Emergency Preparedness but the common thread was that I went straight to the Neighborhood Council regardless of where it was located. I believe we should expect nothing less from a leader in the congress.
Question: What are your top priorities if elected?
I will push for the moratorium on the citywide election procedures and assist Neighborhood Councils in getting this election mess fixed once and for all, outreach to other Neighborhood Councils and expand MOU's to include the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. They need to understand they exist to assist Neighborhood Councils, not control them.
Question: What role, if any, do you see the LANCC having in leading the Neighborhood Council movement?
Answer: I think it is important for the Congress to listen as well as lead. Many Neighborhood Councils are suspicious of the Congress, that will change with time but the Congress needs to show why it is there. We can do that by assisting Neighborhood Councils in local issues, but also identifying trends that a more regional or city-wide approach could fix such as the elections or a familiar theme of mine, local control over land use.
The Neighborhood Council System is inherently political whether we like to admit it or not. We are all elected, represent a constituency and our entire purpose is to effect public policy and sway decisions of public officials and politicians. A strong and united Congress can create an atmosphere that will help leverage the monied special interest groups we seem to be fighting every day, and that can only be good for the people of Los Angeles.
Blog away dum dums.
Candidate for LANCC Chair - Senator Jim Alger, President Northridge West NC
Jim Alger first became involved in Neighborhood Councils as one of the original organizers of the Northridge West Neighborhood Council, an organization which he serves as President today. Jim has been heavily involved in many aspects of the NC system and is probably best known for his organization of 42 Neighborhood Councils against the DWP Rate Hike of 2004 and the subsequent creation of an MOU with the Department.
Jim has served as a Commissioner appointed by then Mayor Hahn on the DWP Green Ribbon Commission as well as Neighborhood Council Liaison for the California State Senate. Last year he led a civilian rescue and recovery mission to the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. He was awarded Outstanding Young Californian of 2006 by the California Jaycees. Most recently he was a candidate for the California State Assembly.
Question: Why do you feel you are the most qualified for the position you are seeking?
Answer: That is a difficult question because I believe each candidate brings an individual strength that will help the Congress. I would say that I have the most experience leading, be it dozens of pilots for an emergency mission to the Gulf or knocking down a DWP rate hike in LA. It takes a certain ability to get agreement from multiple individuals let alone Neighborhood Councils who seemingly have little in common. They must be united in purpose. With Neighborhood Council issues, in most cases I had to go directly to the NC meeting whether it was San Pedro, Empowerment Congress Southeast, Pacoima, Eagle Rock, Silver Lake or the countless other Neighborhood Councils I have visited. The issues ranged from the DWP rate hike to Sunshine Canyon to an Eminent Domain issue in South LA to promoting Neighborhood Councils involvement in Emergency Preparedness but the common thread was that I went straight to the Neighborhood Council regardless of where it was located. I believe we should expect nothing less from a leader in the congress.
Question: What are your top priorities if elected?
I will push for the moratorium on the citywide election procedures and assist Neighborhood Councils in getting this election mess fixed once and for all, outreach to other Neighborhood Councils and expand MOU's to include the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. They need to understand they exist to assist Neighborhood Councils, not control them.
Question: What role, if any, do you see the LANCC having in leading the Neighborhood Council movement?
Answer: I think it is important for the Congress to listen as well as lead. Many Neighborhood Councils are suspicious of the Congress, that will change with time but the Congress needs to show why it is there. We can do that by assisting Neighborhood Councils in local issues, but also identifying trends that a more regional or city-wide approach could fix such as the elections or a familiar theme of mine, local control over land use.
The Neighborhood Council System is inherently political whether we like to admit it or not. We are all elected, represent a constituency and our entire purpose is to effect public policy and sway decisions of public officials and politicians. A strong and united Congress can create an atmosphere that will help leverage the monied special interest groups we seem to be fighting every day, and that can only be good for the people of Los Angeles.
Blog away dum dums.
Posted by Councilman John @ 7/05/2006 12:00:00 AM
33 Comments:
I missed the earlier thread when you said that Alger was running. I think out of the candidates you have shown so far Alger is probably the best choice.
He has a history of leading, and he isn't afraid to take on the powers that be when he needs to. I am glad he didn't win the Assembly seat. I wanted him to win because he wanted it but truthfully he was always more about City Issues.
I am sure it will take minutes before the attacks on Jim begin but he has been there for NC's across the city.
Good luck Jim!
I like Jim's answers to the submitted questions. However, in my view, all nominees for this position seem well qualified.
I think attacks against individuals mentioned in this blog (on this subject or any other) are unfortunate and unnecessary.
I agree. To raise a point about a particular candidates qualifications or abilities is fair but some of the mean spirited attacks that have been leveled on here is beyond the pale.
It is nice to see qualified candidates running, and weighing the various qualifications will be a tough choice but we will have a stronger congress for it.
While personally I believe Alger is the stronger leader, virtually any of the candidates will do a good job. What does it for me is Alger's point about going to the Neighborhood Councils directly. He is the only one with a proven track record of doing just that. He came to Silver Lake on 3 separate issues that I know of. I am not even sure that any other candidate is even capable of doing that and in order to grow the congress, personal trips will need to be made.
SLNC Member = Rusty Millar? Why do you love him so? He's such a self-promoter. I'd rather see someone with less of a personal agenda.
Personal Agenda? Are you kidding? He has served the community and Neighborhood Councils for years and how does he get repaid? by people taking cheap shots like "self promoter."
His "Agenda" has been nothing but promoting empowerment of Neighborhood Councils and he has paid a heavy price for pushing that "Agenda."
Here is a news flash, OUTREACH is promotion, should we all do everything quietly so nobody knows what successes we have had? That way the perception that NC's are good for nothing can continue because the people who created the successes were scared of being called a "promoter".
Most of the high-profile victories Jim has had were borne out of necessity. The necessity to show the need, to show the battle existed... so the victory was public as well.
The fear of public humiliation does get people to the table and Jim Alger can master free press. That is how he led, and won, the Wal Mart fight in Northridge. Of course the press doesn't report the behind the scenes work he and others did as well.
Jim may get the glory, but he gets the grief and does the work. He also never misses an opportunity to share the credit so as to elevate everyone around him.
He would be an excellent choice for chair. In fact I can't think of one better, except maybe the new and improved Greg nelson himslf.
"Self promoter" what a juvenile cheap shot.
He is running for chair. Who should he promote? Someone else?
Jim is one of the people that entered public life for noble reasons... like most NC members.
The instant you attempt to ascribe some other motive to his many good actions you marginalize all of our work.
If it must be "us against them" -- I am very comfortable knowing that Jim is one of "us"
Go for it Alger. I support you!
I too am sick and tired of people on this blog criticizing people for being self-promoters. I agree with 10:59 pm and think it is nothing but plain jealousy that prompts those who do nothing try to tear down those who are out there (in a high-profile way) working to improve our city.
I support Jim Alger because I have seen him at work. He came to South Los Angeles to assist our Neighborhood Council with a land use issue. He spoke to our board and our stakeholders and really helped us. That is what he does.
Look what he did going out to New Orleans and Mississippi. He stepped up and did something when it needed to be done. For those people who are going to say Jim is another white guy from the valley, there wasn't many white folks in New Orleans who's lives he saved. Those were our brothers and sisters and he went when he didn't have to. Just like he helped us when we asked.
That is a leader, and just the kind of grab the bull by the horns attitude we need in this city.
Jim has been a big help to us in Sunland Tujunga. Too bad our NC isn't part of the congress.
"...dozens of pilots..."
Ha!
Alger, sadly, is a sociopath. This is just another lie.
Actually his trip was well documented. NBC did a story on it and it included over a dozen aircraft ariving at Jackson Airport... so actually he was telling the truth.
Does he think were stupid! Anybody but Alger!
Does he think we're stupid? We're back to that theme again?
Good Morning Mitch... been waiting for ya.
Yea, that is true. MS ran a bunch of stories last year about that. It was also on the news and in the papers. I remember looking it up during the campaign.
Jim is a pretty straight up guy. He calls things the way he sees them, which ruffles some feathers but ya know what? He gets the impossible done. That is what the NC'S need so I say more power to him!
Yes, the CD 12 cut and paste crew will undoubtedly kick into overdrive soon... If you ask me the more they attack Jim the more it shows their fear of him and more reason to vote for him.
But kick up your feat, prepare the popcorn it is going to be a day of cheap shots, lies and innuendo as the inevitable day has arrived.
Jim... you really need to kick these guys asses!
feet
Alger can do the impossible? Except avoid going to jail, hold down a job, avoid bankruptcy, and earn a college degree.
Alger is a fraud. He bullies everyone in the NC and abused his access to its funds and resources.
In his picture he looks too much like Lt. William Calley for my comfort.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/graphics/photos/notorious_murders/mass/lai/12b.jpg
Spooky Huh
Interesting that the exact same wording from the AD campaign is being used here. We know its not Hilfenhaus cause they're done with Jim it has to be someone who still fears Alger probably Stuart or Mitch.
Yep. The same old unsubstantiated allegations. He actually HAS a degree in Constitutional Law.
My favorite is the charge of misappropriating NC funds... Alger doesn't even have access to NC Funds and his NC was highlighted in the Daily News as NOT spending their money.
You guys who attack him don't even try to be honest. You just flat out make it up.
The only thing Alger has done is put himself out there to help people and advance Neighborhood Councils. If you google his name it is page after page of positive news stories. So give it up!
Alger is clearly the best choice in my book. He has proven he can get things done, and has proven he can tale the heat.
11:13 I agree with you. It would be counterproductive for Hilfenhaus to attack Jim. Even they know he is going somewhere in the party and making an enemy doesn't make sense. Last I checked Jim had no problem with Stuart although Stuart THINKS Jim has a problem with him.
That leaves the 5 foot nuthin' twirp from CD 12 who is terrified Alger is going to run for CD 12 in 4 years. I heard a rumor that Alger is considering running in CD 2 in four years but he is happy where he is for now.
Children, lets play nicely. As one of probably a few guys who is friends with both Stuart and Jim, I can tell there have been some moments, but neither hates the other. Both are working hard for their community and should be respected, compared to the most of the rest of you dum dums who don't do shit.
Alger vs. Shaw
Alger vs. Stuart
Alger vs. Smith
Alger vs. Englander
Who is the common denominator in mudsling between these folks, Alger! Are these folks really as bad as Alger and his mudsling bloggers suggest? I do not think so. Most of these folks have served the community long before Alger burst on the scene. All have list of accomplishments that far exceed anything Alger has done.
"Alger vs Shaw" - Opponent for State Assembly, race is over and we're on the same team.
"Alger vs Stuart" - I am presuming you mean Waldman who supported my primary opponent but I am not so childish as to hold that against him. He is a fellow Democrat who himself is seeking higher office, that takes courage and he has my support.
In other words there is no "vs".
"Alger vs Smith" - Doesn't exist. I am not nor will I run against Councilman Smith.(what will you guys talk about all winter?)
"Alger vs Englander" - Also non-existent. Englander has denied that he seeks any elected office and I take him at his word. He is the Chief of Staff to my Councilman and nothing more that I am aware of.
My beef with Smith's office was almost 6 months ago and over 2 issues. I don't hold grudges and feel pity on those of you who seem to be trying to egg on a manufactured rivalry.
Perhaps I should take Stuart and Mitch to lunch, take a picture and you guys can knock this off.
Jim could not even deal with a small group yet he should deal with all yea fucking right
senator alger? jim is a nice guy who just might be able to help our nc movement. his trip to the south following one of the hurricanes was a nice gesture, but only that. he didn't save lives in new orleans. everything his friends flew there in their little airplanes was nice but available in quantity up the road. jim has to do less posing for photos and build more bridges.
It is hard to build bridges when you run around with a torch in your hand.
Anybody but Alger.
Didn't save lives? So when he flew people out f there that didn't save lives? OH and what "up the road"??? THERE WAS NO ROAD.
Only a decrepit individual would try to minimize the heroism he showed.
Must be a CD 12 ASSHOLE.
Jim is the most qualified and HAS built bridges... it is just that some fools in City Hall dont like where those bridges lead because it means your days of screwing us over are numbered.
GO JIM GO!!!
How do you know? Were you there? Are one of Jim's multiple personalities?
You know; bully, statesman, convict, victim, heroic pilot....
you're an idiot
For the most part, Mr. Alger seems like a fella that does care about his community. However, from personal experience he is not necessarily a man of his word. In October of 2006 he had an auto accident in Arkansas and hit a deer. His car was towed to a shop. Mr. Alger called my courier company to pay the auto shop for their service and to pick up his belongings and equipment from the car and ship them to him, At which time he would reimburse us for our expenses. That was a year ago. We mailed, faxed and emailed the invoice and he continues to ignore us. I sincerely hope all you California fellas don't act this way.
Tish - Border Express Co., Inc.
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