July 22, 2003

Portion of the Appeal of Northridge Neighborhood Council against BONC.

You People

DONE said in a public hearing, on the record, "You People, aren't the Right People to lead Northridge" and saddly BONC chose not once but twice to repeat that phrase:

"You People, aren't the Right People to lead Northridge."

I and hundreds of others were morally outraged at that phrase. And well we should have been.

"You People, aren't the Right People to lead Northridge"

You People, Would that be, African Americans are Not the Right People to Lead Northridge?

You People, Would that be, Jews are Not the Right People to Lead Northridge?

You People, Would that be, those elected by the stakeholders, are Not the Right People to Lead Northridge?

You People, Would that be, Republicans, Democrats, Secessionists, Anti-Secessionists, Short People/Tall people/Overweight People, those of us born in another city, another country. Are we Not the Right People to Lead Northridge?

The enabling legislation for Neighborhood Councils calls for: "our city’s neighborhoods to form their own neighborhood Council, which in turn selects its own leaders and determines its own priorities...each neighborhood council will adopt its own by-laws and procedures for selecting its representatives. Government officials would not appoint representatives and their structure would not be designed by City Hall. Instead, the Councils’ mandates would come directly from their neighbors."

"You People, are not the Right People to lead Northridge"

DONE may say that, BONC may say that, even though they are specifically prohibited by the City Council's own ordinance, by your own words. The City Council said it is up to the people of the community, and ladies and gentlemen the community has spoken.

We are the right people to lead Northridge.

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