Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Is This A Joke: Villaraigosa & City Council To END Poverty?

Although it sounds like a great "warm and fuzzy" campaign issue, you cannot END poverty. So, at least say, "reduce" poverty. Secondly, you have the power to end poverty every day, as the mayor and city council. You do it through policy and legislation that reflects this goal.

And from what I have seen the past year, the mayor and city council's actions are in direct conflict of this goal, when you factor in the way they are over-taxing residents who can afford it least and have caused rents to skyrocket. Plus, HUGE concerns of "fraud, waste and abuse". (Especially in the non-profit grant money area.) So, now -- after making it nearly impossible to afford to live in this City, they have to resort to another money wasting measure. "ENDING" poverty. Can't wait to see how much all the ad hoc committee studies are going to cost.

COMMUNITY SURVEY AND HEARING ON POVERTY: CAUSES & SOLUTIONS

in support of the

COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN

Mayor Villaraigosa and the City Council have stated their commitment to end poverty in the City of Los Angeles. Your thoughts, comments and recommendations are important as they make and approve plans for the City.

More immediately your comments are required as the City prepares its bi-annual Community Action Plan (CAP). The CAP is the application to the State for the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) that compliments our funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The plan also outlines the City's priorities for reducing and eliminating poverty for the next two years. Resources are dwindling. The Federal government reduces CDBG and other federal funds each year. The City of Los Angeles has about $5.5 million/year in CSBG to spend on services. Therefore, what should we focus on? What should we eliminate? What has helped people the most?

We need input from the public. We use this information to report to the Community Action Board, the Mayor and City Council and to make sure that CSBG is either providing the services or nonprofit organizations that we fund, know who provides the services and how they can be sure low-income residents know how to get the services.

Please take a few minutes to fill out one of the surveys linked below. You may submit either form by email (provided within the forms) or print and mail to CDD 6th Floor, 1200 West 7th Street, Los Angeles CA 90017.
Poverty Survey Press Release
Survey - 3 pages

The City of Los Angeles invites members of the public to a hearing on the causes and solutions of poverty in the City of Los Angeles. The hearing will be held on Wednesday June 20, 2007 at the Community Development Department, 1200 West 7th Street, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Two hour validated parking in the building will be provided for those attending the hearing. For more information please call 213-744-9700.

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