CommentsNC PROVIDES A REAL VOICE FOR COMMUNITY--Neighborhood Councils who count strategic, long-term thinkers among their members can be important players in regional and local land use and transportation matters – both on their own and as partners with other community leaders and organizations.
In the northeast San Fernando Valley, we’ve forged a large grassroots community organization, the SAFE Coalition, consisting of community non-profits and Neighborhood Councils, to oppose proposed high-speed train routes that would damage densely populated communities and cherished open space. In addition to taking on the Governor’s pet project, we have worked hard to convince local elected officials to do more to represent the Valley, as well. Collaborative Neighborhood Councils and community-based non-profits are essential!
At the March 22, 2018 Sylmar Neighborhood Council meeting, four different motions were overwhelmingly passed affirming Sylmar's opposition to high speed trains throughout the region and their desire to work closely with the SAFE Coalition. In addition to opposing routes E1, E2 and SR14 as part of a formal comment submission on the currently pending 2018 Business Plan, the Council voted to request a CHSRA board meeting in the NE San Fernando Valley, to designate several representatives to participate in ongoing SAFE Coalition meetings, and to submit a Community Impact Statement (CIS) calling for City Council action and amended wording on a long-stalled City Council motion. This vote followed several outreach presentations and question and answer sessions by the SAFE Coalition to the Board and its Land Use Committee.
These recent actions formally bring the Sylmar Neighborhood Council into the "United Front" of community organizations (Foothill Trails District Neighborhood Council, Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, Kagel Canyon Civic Assn., Lake View Terrace Improvement Assn., and Shadow Hills Property Owners Assn.) and elected officials opposing currently proposed high-speed train routes.
Recalcitrance or abject failure of elected officials to represent the will of their communities is another important reason for Neighborhood Councils to step up to the table. Case in point, at the recent Sylmar NC Board meeting, the SAFE Coalition was able to thank LAUSD School Board Member Kelly Gonez who was in attendance for her recent excellent staff work and unequivocally strong position paper opposing the high-speed train project.
Unfortunately, Councilmember Rodriguez did not attend the meeting, nor did she appear at the recent “Unity Meeting” attended by about 1,000 people on February 22, 2018. Rodriguez continues to reject all ofSAFE Coalition's overtures to meet and work together, despite receiving more than 400 emails, letters, phone calls and written meeting requests. The result is an isolated and poorly informed Councilmember, whose stated position of promoting an old, previously rejected and delay-inducing route alternative, without DEMANDING removal of damaging existing routes first, is completely out of touch with her constituents and keeps her District “hostage” to the high-speed train boondoggle.
One would think that any Councilmember or elected official, beset by time and staffing shortages, would welcome and trust the input, knowledge and expertise of community leaders, including Neighborhood Councils, on an issue as important as the over-budget, oft-delayed and misleading high-speed train project.But some elected officials will ignore the community’s will and instead pursue their own agenda. This is what we are seeing with Councilmember Rodriguez, who is NOT fighting hard enough to remove existing proposed routes…the clear priority for residents in her District.
Instead, the local Councilmember is trying to save the planet and save the high-speed train project by backing a “Metrolink Alternative” that has already been rejected by the high-speed train Authority and is a long-term, long-shot at best since it is doubtful it can comply with Proposition 1A, which was approved by voters in 2008. Our Councilmember also has blocked efforts to improve and move a long-stalled City Council motion that would oppose the high-speed train project. We have been clear with her that proposing new alternatives will create an additional delay as any new alternative will need to undergo years of environmental review and obtain funding.
We can only speculate that the Councilmember’s lack of action is due to her desire to appease special interest groups such as unions and contractors (and the Governor and other elected officials) benefiting from the high-speed train Authority’s largesse. Imagine, trusting the California High Speed Train Authority, given its track record! Who in their right mind would do that?
By filing its Community Impact Statement related to a pending City Council Motion opposing high speed trains, the Sylmar Neighborhood Council will be notified automatically of any actions or changes to the official city file on the Motion, and the Neighborhood Council is assured of a 15-minute block of speaking time whenever the Motion is being heard in the City. Combined with other Neighborhood Councils, this opportunity to be heard by the busy City Council members in a public forum provides tremendous leverage.
Several Sylmar Neighborhood Council board members have been networking with the SAFE Coalition for some years and have championed the process of greater Sylmar participation. SAFE Coalition continues to encourage and assist the Pacoima and Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Councils to follow in Sylmar's footsteps. We welcome their participation in this fight to preserve our neighborhoods, business districts and open space.
So, as the grassroots SAFE Coalition grows in numbers and clout, elected officials such as Councilmember Rodriguez, who is breaching a major campaign pledge, may finally realize that meeting, talking and working with constituents transparently is good public policy. If not, the community’s voice will still be heard by Neighborhood Councils exercising their influence and power. The lesson learned once again is, if we are to keep our elected officials accountable and transparent, community leaders such as those heading our Neighborhood Councils, need to be proactive and collaborative with others to create the balance and leverage to effect change in local government.
(Dave DePinto is President, Shadow Hills Property Owners Assn. and a member of SAFE Coalition.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
