Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council: Where the youth vote is exploited for adults personal agendas

The LHNC "Action Slate Flyer" promoting the youth vote for later exploitation. BTW, how do you protect the personal information of minors who voted in Neighborhood Council Elections?

The infamous memo of former LHNC Treasurer and Lincoln High School Faculty Member and current LHNC Member Vera Padilla. Can you find the "Conflict of Interest"? Note how much taxpayers money Lincoln High School reaped from the LHNC, by exploiting their students.

It seems that the current LHNC, dominated by Action Slate Candidates, don't care much about public comments at their meetings.

Just when you thought that the formerly dysfunctional Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council, under the leadership of USC Chief City Hall Lobbyist David Galaviz (former winner of the Mayor Sam "Ass Clown Award"), had change their exclusive way with the positive, open leadership of President Elena Popp and Vice-President Erika Gallo. Along comes the Action Slate with the likes of Sevin Riley, Frank Wada, Ben Wadsworth, Esther and daughter Nanci Rojas, under the direction of chief puppeteer Vera Padilla, to return the LHNC to its former place as the exclusive tool of the Lincoln Heights Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement District (BID).

For those in the dark about the past doings of this little club, take your time to link to the past actions of the likes of David Galaviz, Vera Padilla , the Las Villas Controversy, and the exploitation of the youth of the Lincoln Heights Community, so that this little club can push their personal agendas.

For David Galaviz, it was pushing the USC Capital Building Projects around the USC Health Science Campus, where many former middle class family homes have met their demise, at the blades of USC financed bulldozers. For Vera Padilla, the pursuit of personal gain (financially), is her motive. And for the likes of Ben Wadswoth, Frank Wada, Sevin Riley, the Rojas Mom and Daughter and newcomer, Legacy LA's Lou Calanche, it is the sense of empowering their personal agendas and egos that makes them mutual partners.

But one must stop and wonder what the cost of these personal agendas will have on the Lincoln Heights Community. Just this summer, the community saw its popular Fourth of July Fireworks Show and festivities at Lincoln Park cancelled, this was due to a lack of communication between the new LHNC, CD 1 Councilman Ed Reyes and the community activists who have planned and executed past events. But then according to one source, current LHNC Treasurer Frank Wada was heard stating that he rather finance band uniforms for Lincoln High School, than give money for an inclusive community fireworks show. (refer to Vera's memo for past expenditures to Lincoln High School)

But a bigger concern for the community, should be the ties of the Action Slate Members of the LHNC, to the Lincoln Heights Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement District. Both of these entities are control by longtime Lincoln Heights Business and Property Owner Steve Kasten. For those with longtime ties in the community, they will know that Kasten has close ties to former controversial CD 14 Councilman Art Snyder, who is currently the parliamentarian of the Lincoln Heights Chamber of Commerce. Thus, many in the community are concern that the current LHNC, will put Kasten's and the BID's agenda before other community concerns.

This can be readily seen with the 7-11 Store on Broadway and Eastlake, application for a beer and wine license. Last year, this store open without the sale of beer and wine. This was due to community concerns over the large amount of liquor stores near schools such as Gates Elementry, Little Flower Pre School and Lincoln High School. It was these same activists who stopped the proposed Las Villas Project a block away.

Now with the Action Slate and its Chamber and BID allies in control, the LHNC is now attempting to usurp community opposition and quietly support a motion to approve the 7-11 request. This issue was tabled at the last LHNC due to a lack of quorum. A rep for LAPD stated that despite the good relationship with the store owners, that they would oppose the license request. But the outreach of the 7-11 Store Owner found a supporter in the Lincoln High School Varsity Football Coach,. who's team has benefited from donations from the store, and now wants to support more beer and wine sales near the school.

This issue is schedule for consideration on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at the Lincoln Heights Library, at 6:00 PM and one might want to ask Vera Padilla why the LHNC meets now in the basement of the library?? But most important, who will speak for the youth 13 and older who will be expose to more alcohol sales, with the support of the Lincoln High School Football Program?

Your thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14