Open Thread for Monday
Bernard Parks (born December 7, 1943 in Beaumont, Texas) is a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 8th District in South Los Angeles and former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.Parks attended Los Angeles City College, received his B.S. from Pepperdine University, and holds a Masters in public administration from the University of Southern California.
Appointed chief on August 12, 1997, Parks oversaw a significant drop in violent crime throughout the city and especially in South Central. However, during his tenure, the LAPD was rocked by a corruption and police brutality scandal involving the elite C.R.A.S.H. anti-gang unit of the Rampart Division in the overwhelmingly Latino Pico-Union and Westlake districts. Parks's generally inflexible and high-handed leadership during the crisis led to severe morale problems among the rank and file, and his public relations efforts were generally regarded as poor. Some commentators, including former officers, have noted that the activities involved in the Rampart scandal dated back to when he was head of LAPD's Internal Affairs division and have accused his office of covering up the brewing scandal. His term ended on May 4, 2002, then-recently elected Mayor James K. Hahn opting not to retain him. Parks was replaced by former NYPD chief William Bratton. (Hahn's lack of finesse in handling the firing of Parks, who was beloved among the African-American community that propelled Hahn to victory in the 2001 mayoral election, is generally considered to be the primary factor in his defeat in the 2005 elections.)
Soon after the end of his tenure as LAPD chief, Parks capitalized on his popularity among South Central's black population to win a vacant seat on the City Council, where his relatively pro-business orientation and unconcealed enmity for Hahn made him a colorful media figure. He ran for mayor in the 2005 elections, but lost in the primary election, placing fourth.
According to a January 14 2006 Los Angeles Times article, Councilman Bernard Parks is in the middle of land scandal in his district. Property condemned by the city of Los Angeles to be sold to Parks contributor Cisco Furniture Company. The owners of Cisco Furniture have since contributed to Bernard Park's campaigns a $500 donation for his original campaign for city council
(Source: Wikipedia)
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 7/10/2006 12:00:00 AM
4 Comments:
ELECTION INFORMATION
YOUR VOICE IN YOUR CITY!
After successfully representing downtown Los Angeles since 2002, the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) is about to elect its third Board of Directors.
WHAT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL?
Neighborhood councils are non-partisan organizations that allow each neighborhood to influence decision-making at City Hall. DLANC is officially empowered by the City of Los Angeles to represent Downtown Los Angeles.
WHO CAN BE IN DLANC?
If you live, work, own property, or participate in organizations or institutions in Downtown Los Angeles (see enclosed map), you are automatically a stakeholder in DLANC – and you can vote in DLANC elections and attend DLANC meetings. DLANC’s Board of Directors consists of 27 seats that represent the diversity of communities and interests in Downtown.
HOW CAN I VOTE IN THE SEPTEMBER 12th ELECTION?
Just complete and return a Voter Enrollment Form (available at www.DLANC.com or call 213-473-6451). Forms are also available at 305 E 1st Street, LA CA 90012. Spanish, Korean and Chinese translation versions are available. This will allow you to vote in the Sept.12th Board of Directors elections, and you will receive notices of all DLANC meetings.
Sept 7th * Candidate’s Forum
Meet fellow DLANC stakeholders and listen to statements from candidates for the DLANC Board.
LOCATION:
John A. Ferraro Building (DWP)
“A” Level Cafeteria
111 N. Hope Street
* Free Parking
TIME: 6:00 PM
Sept 12th * Election Day
Cast your vote for the Board of Directors candidates in your stakeholder district or category.
LOCATION Macy’s Plaza Courtyard
700 S. Flower
TIME Noon to 8:00 PM
HOW CAN I BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR THE DLANC BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
If you want to be a candidate for one of the 27 DLANC Board seats, please complete and return BOTH the attached Voter Enrollment Form AND a Candidate Filing Form (Call 213-473-6451 or available at www.dlanc.com) You must choose only ONE stakeholder category that best reflects your involvement Downtown. (See map in this packet). You can also name an alternate as your running mate. All relevant information will be explained in the two Candidate Information Sessions held on July 19th and August 8th at John Ferraro Building (DWP). Deadline to file for candidacy is August 12th at 5:00 PM
WHAT IF I CAN’T VOTE ELECTION DAY?
If you want to vote-by-mail, mark the absentee ballot request on the Voter Enrollment Form. (available at www.DLANC.com or call 213-473-6451). A ballot will be mailed to you by Sept. 5th. You will not receive an Absentee Ballot unless you submit a completed voter registration form by the deadline date of August 21st, 2006. Vote by mail ballots must be returned by mail by the deadline or returned to the Election site on Election day. You can also register and vote on the day of the election.
OTHER DATES TO REMEMBER:
June 13 6:30 PM Announcement of Election
June 29 Vote-by-mail applications available
July 19 7:00 PM Candidate Information Session DWP
Aug 8 5:00 PM Candidate Information Session DWP
Aug 12 5:00 PM Candidate Filing Period Ends
Aug 21 5:00 PM Deadline to register Vote-by-mail
Sept 7 6:30 PM Candidate Forum
Vote Don Garza - Homeless Homecoming Queen!
Remember I am on vacation .
Please do not vote for me....
Wait a minute, Garza.
Is this a chance to unelect Westwater and replace him with someone with a properly functioning brain?
Do tell.
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