Blog: Why Our Neighborhood Council Needs 'Progress & Collaboration'

Over the years, Eagle Rock has faced many issues, some more contentious than others. Many times, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council and its board members have been at the forefront of these contentions. Unfortunately, this has been cause for a divide amongst the residents of Eagle Rock and has taken up valuable resources from an otherwise Collaborative Community.

So far, seven Candidates have stepped forward to move beyond hyper-focused issues and to bring a new era of True Representation to the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council. Nelson Grande (President), Tim Ryder (Public Safety Director), Mark Haskell Smith (Sub-District 5 Director), Erykah Grande (Business Director), Cecilia Ryder (Treasurer), Anthony Freeny (Business Director), and Eddie Ramirez (Civic Director) have signed a Joint Statement pledging to promote a Neighborhood Council that truly represents the Residents of Eagle Rock and, rather than contention, promotes Collaboration.

We aim to revitalize Eagle Rock by focusing on outreach. Only then, will we have a true sense of what Eagle Rockers anticipate for our Community’s future. With more Eagle Rockers involved, innovation is certain to occur. Whether it be Education, the Local Economy, Self-Sustainability, Quality of Life, or any other Community-wide issue, we will work together to find rewarding solutions for all.

We would like to include discussions of local business development, economic restructuring, and aesthetic reevaluation. Done right, we will keep our invaluable businesses open while attracting new entrepreneurs. This will pave the way to stimulating the local economy. Eagle Rock is ready to reassert itself as a hub for robust local business presence.

Eagle Rock’s residents deserve to have a Council that takes into account everyone in the Community equally. They deserve a Council that avoids allocating precious resources to single ‘hot button’ issues. They deserve a Council that will look to the big picture; rebuilding our Community by empowering each and every Citizen of Eagle Rock.

We, aforementioned candidates, formally release this Joint Statement:

Let's Try Something New

We are proud to live in Eagle Rock—It is one of the most highly diverse neighborhoods in the city of Los Angeles and a vibrant community of hard-working residents. We live here because we love Eagle Rock’s small town charm in the middle of a great metropolis. Whether we win or lose, we are excited and encouraged by the outpouring of candidates running in this election. It’s fantastic to see people getting involved to make our neighborhood great. 

Our main goal is to open a dialogue, to start a conversation with all the residents of Eagle Rock. Tell us your concerns. How do you feel about where our neighborhood is going? What can we do to improve it? How can we help you?

It’s Time to Look Beyond Medical Marijuana—The banning of medical marijuana dispensaries has been the single-minded focus of the previous neighborhood council and has caused rifts and divisions in the Eagle Rock community. But no matter which side of this issue you are on, it is now out of the ERNC’s hands. The Los Angeles City Council has banned the dispensaries and now the issue will be decided in the courts and in a city-wide referendum. We can now look beyond this one issue and begin to deal with the multitude of other concerns of our community. 

Economic Development—We understand that times are tough. But there are too many empty storefronts in Eagle Rock. New businesses that would like to open here are choosing Highland Park and Glassell Park instead. We want to work to resolve some of the issues. Colorado Boulevard should be a robust retail environment, with attractive aesthetics and easy access, a place where residents can stroll, chat with neighbors, and shop. We want to help the businesses that are already here grow stronger and examine what’s keeping new businesses from opening by revisiting the 20-year-old Colorado Specific Plan. Today's Eagle Rock is vastly different than it was in 1992 and our ordinances should reflect that.

Public Safety—The empty storefronts are not just an economic issue, it’s a public safety concern too. Empty storefronts attract crime and graffiti, while businesses that create pedestrian traffic lower crime. We will empower Neighborhood Watch in order to provide safety at home as well.

Progress & Collaboration—We are a diverse community with many different issues and concerns, but we feel that everyone deserves to be heard and to have their concerns addressed in a respectful and constructive way. We hope you vote for us!

Signed:

Nelson Grande - President

Tim Ryder - Public Safety Director

Cecilia Ryder - Treasurer

Erykah Grande - Business Director

Anthony Freeney  - Business Director 

Eddie Ramirez - Civic Director

Mark Haskell Smith - Sub-District 5