Leimert Park Has Its Challenges

The Vision

Last I wrote, I described my experience “Moving Black to Leimert Park.” This coincided with the formal launch of the Leimert Park Neighborhood Association (LPNA), its website and Facebook page as a way to increase community awareness and engagement.  The plan was to share my experiences in the neighborhood through a series of essays chronicling my wife and I’s journey moving back to, and getting involved in the neighborhood. Then introduce LPNA’s vision to other existing neighborhood organizations starting with the block club we are members of.

The Response

I was heartened and happy to see the essay got over 50 like/heart responses on Facebook, thoughtful positive comments and phone calls from neighbors offering help, support and guidance for the LPNA. It also led to some people visiting LPNA’s website and signing up to participate!  My wife and I were elated and looked forward to the next step of introducing LPNA to the block club we’ve been members of for the past two years. I asked to be on the meeting agenda and looked forward to presenting LPNA.  I choose the block club we were members of to introduce LPNA because I wanted to recognize and give thanks to the organization that assured and inspired us in our move to the neighborhood.

When I logged into the block club Zoom meeting, I saw a tableau of people, some from other block clubs and others from the local neighborhood council. I also recognized other members my wife and I had spent many Saturdays serving coffee and donuts to at many block club meetings.  I thought how great and how lucky, that I could present the LPNA to these community leaders and members and answer any questions, all at the same time. Hopefully after the meeting I would be able to schedule more Zoom meetings with each group’s membership to get the word out! 

The Tribunal

Unfortunately, my expectations were a little off, well not a little off, but a couple of neighborhoods off! The reception LPNA received, felt like a tag team wrestling match where a wrestler enters a ring and takes on all comers!  After waiting my turn to present during the 15-minute slot I was given, I started my presentation.  I began by thanking the president of block club for the opportunity to present. I then described Leimert Park Neighbor Association’s mission.   

As I began, I could not help but notice frowning faces, stern looks, and furrowed eyebrows. There was a palpable disengagement and negative body language (the folding of arms, the looking down, around and away). Five minutes into my presentation I paused and immediately the floor was opened for questions.  The first question was in the form of a long accusatory charged statement that had nothing to do with what I had presented, but rather a full-throated defense of the person this questioner felt I was describing in my essay.  The second question continued this trend, in fact I got the strong impression by most of the questions asked, that the majority of the audience was not there to hear about the LPNA, but to litigate what I had wrote. This continued for a while until others were allowed to ask questions. These too took on negative undertones i.e., Why was there a need for another organization? Why I hadn’t checked with them first before establishing a new organization? Why couldn’t we just work inside the block club or work through the council? That it was “very interesting” LPNA had launched a website, Facebook page, and gasp, printed business cards before informing them first! It was suggested, that there be a vote on the name and scope of the LPNA and maybe a name change! It was also suggested that the LPNA was trying to take-over the neighborhood and that there was an existing hierarchy of organizations. I was told I and LPNA could not be trusted with neighborhood information, I was asked repeatedly how long I lived in the neighborhood, and even though most knew we’d lived here for two years and been active, “they” didn’t know us!  Then I was told the history of one block club and how another community leader had rose to their position only after being asked 15 years after living here.

In response, I reminded them of LPNA’s mission and that LPNA wanted to work with them, and that my wife and I were still going to be members of the block club and that surely there was room in the neighborhood for more good works.  I also explained the difference between LPNA and the other organizations including, no dues being required to make sure there was no barrier to participate and that no money would be taken from the city or elected officials to maintain its independent voice. After an hour of answering every question and statement, I thanked everyone for their feedback, positive, neutral and not so neutral and looked forward to working with them.  To that, I was told “good luck with that.”

The Sheet

My impression of the negative and sometimes hostile posture displayed during the meeting was that it was out of character for the participants.  Why do I think this? Well, I’ve attended various neighborhood group meetings and have seen each one of them conduct themselves on multiple occasions with decorum.  With further reflection, I chalk this experience up to individuals acting out of a natural resistance to change.  Although resistance to change can be a formidable opponent, the LPNA will continue its efforts, working even harder to communicate its positive intentions.

In fact, after the block club meeting, the LPNA shared an invitation to LPNA’s first meeting which would host City Controller, Ron Galperin.  It was a great opportunity to learn more about an elected official and his organization whose primary job is to audit and track where all the city’s money is spent.  The invitation went out to all the neighborhood block clubs, the neighborhood council and other neighborhood groups. 

The Verdict

Although the block club I’m a member of and the neighborhood council declined to send the invitation out, other neighborhood groups did and the response was great! Over 40 neighbors attended the meeting. Everyone in attendance benefited from a professional in-depth presentation from the City Controller. The presentation included:  A review of the city’s budget, its allocation between city agencies, how its distributed to communities, a discussion on its equitable distribution internally and externally, the management of city contracts, how the budget can be better spent, Mr. Galperin’s role and responsibilities, his office’s relationship with the Mayor and City Council and finally on-line tools, resources and links that could be used by neighborhood. Mr. Galperin provided a clear window into how the City of Los Angeles conducts its business and spends our money!

The LPNA, Stacy and I are very grateful for the neighborhood’s support and participation and look forward to hosting more meetings, growing the organization, sharing information and neighborhood good works.  We will continue to reach out to other neighborhood organizations and groups and develop actionable plans that will improve our neighborhood!  Our next meeting will be April 17, 2021.  Please look for an invitation in the coming weeks. Thank you again for your support and helping LPNA get the word out.  Hope to see you at our next meeting!

To have a conversation on this topic go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/635205060446674