CROSS TALK - Denyse Selesnick may feel the need to defend Tarzana Neighborhood Councils actions or lack of action by touting all their latest efforts but this Johnny-Come-Lately has been wrong on more than one occasion. (See CityWatch article “Ms Cerda is Behind the Times”)
She was wrong to suggest, “As one can see from Ms. Cerda’s group name, they have a singular focus, which is AGAINST change.” Lisa Cerda is against poorly planned development, and against destroying zoning protections, and against destroying agriculture areas for another commercial site, another parking lot, another apartment building, and apparently Denyse doesn’t care about those issues. She votes to approve it all.
Fortunately Neighborhood Council land use input is a fraction of the process and once you get out of the muck and mire of some really bad decision-making you can find justice if you’re willing to push through, and fight every step of the way.
There is a limited supply of rural properties left, and though the General Plan demands that agricultural areas be protected, they are under perpetual due to the short sightedness of a people in decision making positions.
She was wrong to suggest, “TNC is FOR building an inclusive community” Unless she is referring to TNC trying to “include” dozens of projects in north of the boulevard agricultural areas, and keeping the community members in a perpetual battle to survive, then she is right.
But if she is talking about “including” community members interested in serving on TNC or listening to the majority of a neighborhood, or engaging the community and respecting the feedback, she is wrong.
Ms. Selesnick was wrong to tell the community at the earliest meeting fighting the 75,000 sq. ft. eldercare facility that they were “NIMBYS”, a fast judgment by a woman who never attended meetings of TNC prior to her placement on the board. Not exactly the type of community representative we deserve.
We would be quite comfortable placing her approved projects next door to her and claim she is a NIMBY and AGAINST change. Her hypocrisy is clear,
Ms. Selesnick was arrogant and misleading to suggest that her role in the list of events TNC participated in was in any manner, a primary role. TNC is known for its miserly contributions to local events.
The surrounding CD3 neighborhood councils have consistently been the primary organizers of events and the success of the events has relied entirely on their expertise and legitimate efforts in outreaching. Kudos’ to them.
Woodland Hills/ Warner Center, Encino, and Reseda neighborhood councils are great at engaging their community.
Denyse is partially right about Lisa Cerda’s attendance at TNC. She only attended meetings relevant to land use issues that impact the community. But she did attend several of them.
And, she did spend a year fending off TNC land use decisions, by organizing, petitioning, and learning the legal protections we have, fighting top land use lawyers who lobby endlessly and winning her case. It would be lovely if she could go to a council meeting and not have to fight to protect Tarzana from our neighborhood council.
I, myself, have not seen Ms. Selesnick at many of the meetings I have attended. Ms. Selesnick had also stated that Lisa Cerda was ‘heading a group’ who wish to keep their small Tarzana enclave rural. Is it wrong to preserve the quality of life in our neighborhood?
At a meeting one evening, one of the board members had stated that our areas need, “to get ready for change.” Why? When we bought in our neighborhoods and purchased our family homes, we did not say, "Gee, I can't wait for change. I hope some neighborhood council members come along and find a better use of our big lots." We are paying for our homes for 30 years, is it too much to expect to keep what we paid for?
I guess Lisa Cerda’s seven years of serving on the Tarzana Neighborhood Council board and at least 6 Committees is easy to overlook when she tells a few uncomfortable truths about changes that need to be made.
South of Ventura Blvd is a lot different than North of Ventura Blvd. We have continually fought to save our properties from speculators, violators, and bad neighborhood council decisions, to keep the rural areas as they are.
Southerners never have to stress over the future of their communities.
Northerners go through the same dog and pony show month after month, and I would estimate that 90% of all projects are north of the blvd. With only 3 north side representatives, and 21 seats, there is an obvious disadvantage for northerners. If this was in reverse, things would have changed.
At least Ms. Selesnick didn’t try to lie about the facts, she simply ignored them.
According to TNC By-Laws I was not given a fair shake, and they did not follow protocol. See By-Law excerpt below:
Vacancies. Any vacancy on the Governing Board may be filled by a representative from the appropriate stakeholder group by a majority vote of the Governing Board. Notice of the vacancy shall be publicized and names of persons desiring to serve on the Board shall be solicited from the appropriate stakeholder group. The Board shall fill the vacancy from the stakeholder names submitted. Members so appointed shall hold office until the expiration of the present term of the position to which they are appointed.
I, myself, was asked by some of the TNC board members to talk to the president and join the board and fill a vacate seat. I was told that 3 board members have either resigned or stepped down, until the next election.
I called and spoke with the President, as well as attended the next board meeting. No action was ever taken, in filling these seats, nor have I or other stakeholders that have shown interest, have been contacted.
I am perplexed that I and other volunteers have not been accepted. Perhaps the Board President would prefer to cherry pick board members instead of complying with the By-Laws.
My primary interest for serving the community of Tarzana, and on the TNC Board, is that I am involved with all Equine issues in the RA areas and also serve on an Advisory Committee. I have also been the president of our Neighborhood Assoc. for many years. I felt that I had a lot to give to this board and to Tarzana, but felt that I was shunned by TNC board members. If this is “inclusive” as Ms. Selesnick stated, it explains why there are vacancies on this board.
When considering the upcoming elections, I am forced to ask myself … and ask you Ms Selesnick … would you run for a seat on this board?
Do you believe that neighborhood council members should be allowed to have no term limits?
TNC board members recently bestowed no term limits on themselves. I would like to see CityWatch survey that question. Do your readers believe that any elected officials should have no terms limits?
And if yes, WHY?
(Jill Haber, former President of MANA, 40 year resident of Tarzana, and community activist.)
-cw
Tags: Ventura Blvd, The Valley, Tarzana, Tarzana Neighborhood Council, TNC, North of the Blvd, Denyse Selesnick, Lisa Cerda, Jill Haber, NIMBY’s
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 51
Pub: June 26, 2012