May 16, 2013
Local News & Culture
Marina del Rey
Westchester
Free S a n ta M o n i c a
P l aya d e l R e y
P l aya V i s t a
M a r V i s ta
Del Rey
VenicE
No Parking RESIDENTIAL PARKING BATTLE HEATS UP
Page 6
NOW WE’RE MAD! - Westchester homeowners who live near Loyola Marymount University held a peaceful protest outside of the university’s southern entrance on LMU’s undergraduate commencement day May 11 after they were told that the university would not rescind its decision to charge students and faculty for parking.
Neighborhood council to consider potential changes to ‘special interest’ seats
•This Week•
Amendment to remove ethics training scofflaws after 3 months passes By Gary Walker The Neighborhood Council of Westchester-Playa revamped what one high-ranking board member thought was an integral part of its bylaws May 9. Vice President Mark Redick’s motion to amend the council’s bylaws that would allow the board president to remove a member who has not taken ethics training within three months after being sworn in passed unanimously. “If we’re not compliant with the training, we shouldn’t be voting… period,” said board President Cyndi Hench. The Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, as well as the City Council, mandates that all members of neighborhood councils pass conflict of interest training every two years.
The rules change is not retroactive. In addition to the restructuring of the rules pertaining to ethics training, another board member spoke of additional changes to some of the seats on the council, which some feel were created specifically for certain local and business interests when the board was certified a dozen years ago. Craig Eggers told the council that he believes some seats cater to businesses interests. “I think that as an advisory council we have an obligation to periodically review our bylaws and standing rules,” Eggers told The Argonaut after the meeting. “I see advisory councils as a living organism and sometimes things change.” Redick said few if any of these representatives (Continued on page 8)
Page 13 The 34th annual Venice Art Walk & Auctions, benefiting the Venice Family Clinic, will feature a silent art auction at Google’s Venice offices and tours of artists’ studios Sunday, May 19.