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 [ LOS ANGELES ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312)

#  Power Outage at City Hall: Mayor’s Panel is Secretly Removing the ‘Power’ from ‘EmpowerLA’!

**GUEST COMMENTARY**--More than two weeks ago, a group of over 50 neighborhood council leaders sent a letter to the Mayor and to the City Council asking to have a citizen’s interview panel created to do pre interviews of new general manager candidates for the Department of Neighborhood Councils.

Written by Jay Handal.

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June 13 2019

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**GUEST COMMENTARY**--More than two weeks ago, a group of over 50 neighborhood council leaders sent a letter to the Mayor and to the City Council asking to have a citizen’s interview panel created to do pre interviews of new general manager candidates for the Department of Neighborhood Councils.

Not one of the 16 elected officials responded.

BUT, secret interviews are being held as I write this article. Interviewers include Grayce Liu, current GM. Joy Atkinson, Commissioner for BONC (A mayoral appointment), Greg Goode, a mayoral deputy, Holly Wolcott, city clerk and two more.

Those being interviewed are all insiders such as Mike Fong, Leyla Campos, Tom Soong, Julian Antelin, Seeme Park (All city staffers) and Eli Lipman, a current mayor-appointed commissioner.)

So, it is now clear why the name EmpowerLA is being removed from the branding of the department … BECAUSE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS DO NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM US, THE STAKEHOLDSERS!

*(Jay Handal is Co-Chair of the LA Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates committee.)*

*-cw*

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