The Power, Money and Glamour of Being on the Neighborhood Council—NOT!

For two years as the Studio City Patch editor, I’ve had a chance to intimately observe the Studio City Neighborhood Council. I’ve also seen how this group is one of the most misunderstood community groups I’ve ever come across in nearly four decades of reporting.

This Thursday, Sept. 20 is the first election of the Council that Patch has covered. Elections in the past have generated more than 1,000 voters. Expectations are that this year can be more—and that is great for the community.

While I will not be endorsing any candidate, or slate that is running, I’ll give you an overview of our local Council, and what they’re all about.

First of all, what the heck is it? Los Angeles started this unique Neighborhood Council system as a response to angry and disenfranchised citizens who felt that their tax dollars weren’t coming back to their community—particularly in the more wealthy communities like Studio City. That resulted in the Valley Secession movement.

About a decade ago, these advisory committees were formed as a touchstone for community concerns, and as advisors and sounding boards to the elected fulltime Los Angeles City officials. Now there are 95 councils across the city, and they control about $45,000 that they can distribute to the community, for outreach, for events, to schools and more.

For the past two years, I’ve heard criticisms and concerns, as well as hundreds of emails, from people who have accused those on the Council as benefitting from their positions and being power hungry. I find these accusations baffling—and they’re usually coming from people who haven’t attended one of the council meetings. 

First of all, there’s no money involved for any of the Council members. They don’t get paid, they don’t get a stipend, they don’t get a free car. In fact, their reimbursements for Council expenses are all public, they are rigorously screened and pre-approved, and in many instances they are simply donated out of the Council member’s own pocket. 

Then, there’s the perceived “power.” Well, maybe a city councilman will recognize you because of your position on the Neighborhood Council, but it doesn’t get you any chance to cut corners if a city building inspector comes knocking at your door. If anything, they’re more stringent about making you follow the rules.

Power? Their Council badge and 50-cent may get them a cup of coffee. Actually, no, it won’t, that would cost them $3.25 for a Tall Latte.

There’s no “power” being on the Neighborhood Council. Maybe you know better where to go in the city for help, maybe you get hints about cutting through some red tape, but there’s no particular advantage. So you may get an occasional free parking space at City Hall. But you don’t get to go to movies for free. You don’t get in free to George Clooney’s house when President Obama comes to town.

What about the glitz and glamour? Well, there is a little of that. The Studio City Neighborhood Council has the clout of attracting every person running for Los Angeles Mayor, as well as city, state and national politicians.

One of my favorite photos is of Council President John Walker in a sea of legendary actors taken during the 75th anniversary of Republic Pictures (the site of the CBS Studio Radford lot). Jane Withers came up to ask me, “Who is that nice man over there, he’s cute!” 

There’s no secrecy—everything is covered by the Brown Act. How you vote is public, and often scrutinized. There’s little privacy—emails, phone calls and house visits come to each of the members at all hours of the day or night as they become the sounding board for complaints from everyone in the community.

I’ve personally witnessed the mounds of reports, research and data that Lisa Sarkin has collected at her house after years of being on committees and regional organizations. She’s not only seen as a respected local historian, but she is thoroughly connected to city departments, and her work on the response to the Universal Evolution Expansion Plan was considered impressive by everyone who bothered sifting through it.

Running on an uncontested seat, Scott Ouellette was instrumental in hammering out a Residential Floor Area plan with former Council member Alan Dymond that is not only being looked at on a citywide level, but by other communities across the nation.

Two eminently qualified people are running for the At-Large seat. Lisa Cahan Davis has usually played a behind-the-scenes role for major Outreach projects such as the Republic Pictures 75th Anniversary, the street banners along Ventura Boulevard and getting the word out about many other local community events.

Sam Humeid has put a face on the people who run medical marijuana dispensaries. He spent hours explaining the Council how his business helps community members, and he was on a committee that helped hammer out a palatable way for those businesses to work in communities like Studio City. Unfortunately, those plans and proposals were scuttled as the city and national officials intervened.

And don’t think the people on the Council are all reflective of the stereotyped liberal Democrats that make up a majority of Studio City. Former Council Vice President Todd Royal was a conservative Republican who moved out of the area, and Ben DiBenedetto, who recently decided not to run again for the Council, is also a Republican. 

Former Council member Michael McCue, route: {:controller=>"articles", :action=>"show", :id=>"michael-mccue-moved-thats-why-he-left-the-neighborhood-council"} --> may have been a thorn in the side for many of the members, but he remained a vocal voice for environmental issues, and is now a leader in the Green Party. Former member used his expertise with the city Los Angeles Fire Department to educate the Council, and