The volley continues - Westchester NC joins opposition

The Westchester/Playa Del Rey Neighborhood Council turned up the heat last night and not only opposed Measure R (Term Limit Extensions) but H (Housing Bond) as well.

I have to wonder out loud that maybe if the City Council would have -- FOLLOWED THE CHARTER -- and provided time for Neighborhood Councils to provide input this wouldn't be happening.

"NCWPDR opposes the bond due to the lack of input by neighborhood councils as required by the Early Notification provision in the City Charter"

Note to City Council: This action was both foreseeable, and preventable.

Below is the text of both motions passed unanimously:

To: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles City Council, and Los Angeles Congress of Neighborhood Councils

Re: Council File 06-1800-S3, Proposed $1 Billion Affordable Housing Bond, Measure H

Resolved, that the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa del Rey opposes Los Angeles City Measure H, the $1 Billion Affordable Housing Bond, on the November 7, 2006 general election ballot and encourages all registered voters in the City of Los Angeles to vote against Measure H. NCWPDR opposes the bond due to the lack of input by neighborhood councils as required by the Early Notification provision in the City Charter, the cost and the market timing of the proposed bonds.

NO ON MEASURE R- TERM LIMITS EXTENSION
Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa del Rey Resolution and Community Impact Statement on Council File 06-1800-S1
WHEREAS Ballot Measure R is entitled "Councilmember Term Limits Of Three Terms; City Lobbying, Campaign Finance And Ethics Laws. Charter Amendment And Ordinance Measure"; and
WHEREAS the Measure mixes two separate issues on a single ballot and obscures the largest reform, which is to give City Councilmembers the possibility of four more years in office; and
WHEREAS the City Attorney has advised that, as such, the Measure may not conform to State law and therefore makes the City vulnerable to costly litigation; and
WHEREAS the City Attorney has also suggested that the Measure may in fact weaken current City Ethics standards; and
WHEREAS the Measure was drafted by a law firm which represents the interests of lobbyists; and
WHEREAS the City Ethics Commission, an independent watchdog panel created by voters, was denied the opportunity to approve or reject the recommendations, nor even to review the proposal and/or to make recommendations for revisions before it was adopted; and
WHEREAS the Measure revises current standards and will allow lobbyists to remain hidden from public view until after winning favors for a client; and
WHEREAS the Measure was rushed through City Council hours after its arrival; and
WHEREAS there was no Early Notification to Neighborhood Councils, as required by the City Charter; and
WHEREAS our stakeholders were refused an opportunity for informed participation in drafting the Measure; and
WHEREAS the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa del Rey insists that Los Angeles city government remain open and transparent and include opportunities for public participation in all decision-making processes; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa del Rey opposes Ballot Measure R and urges its stakeholders to vote "No" on November 7; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa del Rey opposes extending term limits from two (2) to three (3) four-year terms for all Municipal offices.

Well... Ray Charles could have seen this coming.

-----------------------------------
UPDATE***BREAKING NEWS***

Judge O'Brien suggested that voters may be disenfranchised by being asked to decide two seperate issues on one ballot. He has taken the matter under advisement and is anticipated to issue a ruling in the next few days.