 However, as with any function where the prize is political power, there are forces at work that have a different agenda than the residents. Most of these forces are all about business and profits, rather than quality of life or fair representation. For these commercial groups, Wilshire Park is tempting prey. Wilshire Park is being eyed by the Wilshire Center-Koreatown Neighborhood Council for inclusion into the City Council District to the east, currently CD1, which will be broken up into several Council Districts. The various business interests, federations, chambers of commerce and even the churches have launched a very energetic campaign, and are far ahead of us in lobbying and outreach. The boundaries they are seeking reach far beyond the official Koreatown boundary, stretching to Crenshaw and beyond, all the way to La Brea. Most of us are owners of single family homes, as distinct from the area east of Western. We are not a commercial area, and carefully control and discourage the variety of commercial enterprise that the current CD1 eagerly promotes. We have gone to extraordinary lengths to retain our quality of life and property values with carefully thought-out planning tools: the Park Mile Specific Plan, the Wilshire Plan, and our HPOZ. Being represented by the area to the east will destroy all support that we current enjoy from our current Council District. As is too often the case, we are late to the game. The City of Los Angeles Redistricting Commission has already held 15 meetings, one in each Council District, to hear testimony from residents. Our show rate was, to put it politely, weak, while the commercial interests organized mass attendance. But not all is lost: the
Redistricting Commission is still accepting public input, but the draft maps
are going to be rolled out next week. We have very little time to act.
Fortunately, ReDrawLA.org has provided mapping tools and a direct connection to
the Redistricting Commission. To read their flyer, view the attachment below. PLEASE GO TO ReDrawLA.org AND SUBMIT YOUR MAP FOR OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT. Whether you feel we should lobby
for inclusion in CD10 or CD4, please consider this: if Greater Wilshire
Neighborhood Council is all in one City Council District our representations by
both entities will be enhanced. Neighborhood Councils have the ear of their
Councilman - they are a conduit from the individual to the City Council itself.
We have the support of our Neighborhood Council in matters of zoning and land
use, and much more, and it's vitality is important to us. ReDrawLA.org has
actually provided a function that allows you to add your Neighborhood Council with
one click. If you agree and want specific instructions for including an intact Neighborhood Council, please follow these instructions. You can also email your public comments to mailto:redistricting.lacity@lacity.org. This is a matter of great urgency that will have a long lasting and permanent effect on Wilshire Park. Please step up and help preserve what has taken over 100 years to create. |