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Community Corner

FORMER CANDIDATE FOR HISTORIC HIGHLAND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL PRESIDENT POSTS VIDEO ADDRESS

Margarito Martinez, Neighbor
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Margarito Martinez, who ran to replace Monica Alcaraz as president of The Highland Park Neighborhood Council will post a video addressing the lasted developments regarding the effort to have DONE over turn Highland Park's Neighborhood Elections. below is a short excerpt.

Hello again. My name is Margarito Gabriel Martinez. If you believe in justice, equality, and democratically elected public servants; dedicated to policies designed to fulfill the public good, stakeholder’s needs, wants, wishes of everyone in Highland Park, or at least the majority of us; especially working for the good of our children in this perilous age we find ourselves in, and in particular for so-called Dreamers. Who demand nothing less than their full rights of Americans. If you believe in these things, then I was your candidate to replace Monica Alcaraz as the President Of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council in last April’s neighborhood elections.

   Two months ago voters in Highland Park was treated to the spectacle of a stolen election. The travesty of flagrant disregard for the people’s right to the franchise. The right to vote in a fairly held election. free from intimidation, etc.

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    This serious crime, of election fraud, and ballot rigging, confessed to me by Aracli Lozano, former HHPNC Board Member, and one of the ballot counters in last April’s election. . The election was stolen by outside interests that do not have the the will of the people in mind. Consequently they do not represent the electorate in anyway.

   Highland park, home to more places of worship per capita, than any other district in Los Angeles; Highland Park, home to 47% foreign born stakeholders (3% higher than the entire City of Los Angeles) now has a Neighborhood Council comprised of a ALL WHITE ALL GAY & LESBIAN MAJORITY> MAKE NO MISTAKE, THESE INDIVIDUALS VOTE AS A BLOCK.

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   Now these are the ones who through Real Estate "Investment" schemes: negative equity, leveraged debt, are then forced to sell their property at above market value; to cover loses and incurred debt ( all the while using the roof over their head as their personal ATM) The result is that in the end, only people like them can offered to be "new homebuyers" in our neighborhood.

    Their motivations are purely selfish, self aggrandizing, and completely foreign to what Highland Park, and her people are truly all about. And who we really are as a community of friends and neighbors.

    Last week, Steven Box of the Department Of Neighborhood Empowerment sent out a voters survey. I invite you to express your feelings as honestly as you are able, in taking this extremely important survey. Because I am now asking you all to please participate in this survey:  This is a copy of Mr. Box's request

Neighborhood Council Leaders and Stakeholders:

 

The 2014 Neighborhood Council elections had more volunteers, more candidates, and more voters than in 2012 and now is the time to celebrate!

 

It's also the time to evaluate what worked and what can be improved so that the 2016 elections are even better.

 

Please take a couple of minutes to answer 5 simple questions about your experience as a voter, as a candidate, and as a volunteer. 

 

Your feedback is the essential ingredient as we begin planning for the 2016 Neighborhood Council elections.

 

Thanks for all you do!

 

Stephen

 

Stephen Box

Director of Outreach and Communication

Senior Project Coordinator

 This is Mr. Box's contact info: Steven.box@lacity.org
The following is a copy of the survey

EmpowerLA - 2014 Election Survey

  • The 2014 Neighborhood Council elections are behind us and the numbers are encouraging:


    • 2169 Candidates (up 24.9%)

    25529 Voters (up 28.9%)

    659 Volunteers (up 44.8%)

    But the most important thing is your experience, as a volunteer, as a candidate, and as a voter. Please take a couple of minutes to give us your feedback on the things that you liked and your recommendations for improving the Neighborhood Council election process.

  • What did you like about the 2014 Neighborhood Council elections? Location Hours Volunteers Ballots Registration Signage Candidates Outreach
  • Comments:
  • What would you like to see improved? Location Hours Volunteers Ballots Registration Signage Candidates Outreach
  • Comments:
  • The 2014 Neighborhood Council election took place over a 13 week period, resulting in new Boards being sat in the three months preceding the end of the fiscal year 2013/2014. Do you think the seating of the Boards should be adjusted so that all Boards are seated when the new fiscal year begins? Strongly in Favor Mildly in Favor No Opinion Mildly Opposed Strongly Opposed
  • Comments:
  • Online voting is an innovation that is being explored as a strategy for registering voters in advance of the elections and then offering voters a secure opportunity to vote from their computer or smartphone. Do you think that online voting with pre-registration should be offered as a tool for engaging voters in the 2016 Neighborhood Council elections? Strongly in Favor Mildly in Favor No Opinion Mildly Opposed Strongly Opposed
  • Comments:
  • In the 2014 Neighborhood Council elections, what was your experience?   Great Good So so Not so good Bad As a Candidate As a Volunteer As a Voter
  • Comments:
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  • Submit             
  • _excerpt continued-
  • My campaign was not based on personalities or personal attacks. It was based on LGBTQ EQUAILTY. I strongly advocated for a Q-High. 1 in 10 students identify as LGBTQ. They are most likely to succeed in schools of their own. I strongly advocated for LGBTQ SENIOR HOUSING, for those who have borne the battle and scars of equality.
  •     I strongly advocated for free Muni-WiFi. Which is free Internet Service. It is estimated that fully 43% LAUSD School children have no access to internet at home. Currently 57 Cities, including Austin, and Kansas City enjoy Muni-WiFi. Many, if not all of these kids without WiFi are immigrants, or the children of immigrants. That is why I advocated for an IMMIGRANT CENTER. To help make life easier for our foreign born friends and neighbors. To help them succeed in the US. And to assist them in obtaining their citizenship and human rights.
  •    The City Of Los Angeles now owns the Old Pacific Savings Bank Building on 57n & Fig. Currently it's use has been limited ti Film Production. I campaign to have this site dedicated as a City Hall. Akin to what Eagle Rock enjoys.
  •    After last April's Elections the  tally was M. Alcaraz 227 to M. Martinez 44. Ms Alcaraz won the election by over 4 times as many votes as my platform received. Saddam Hussien and Basshar Assad did not enjoy such lop sided victories!
  •    The choice was between what I presented. Against what Ms Alcaraz presented. Which was more "projects" and "events". DONE would like people to believe that Highland Park overwhelmingly rejected LGBTQ EQUAILTY & THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS! And instead overwhelmingly voted for more projects and events. All which have a price tag, BTW.
  •    If that is true, then Highland Park residence should be happy. Because that is what Pres. Alcaraz has filled the remainder of the fiscal year with!-
  • I will post the complete text of my remarks later on. In the meanwhile go to my Facebook Page. www.facebook.com/electmargaritomartinez

  • The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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