For The Love of Highland Park
Rick Marquez, candidate for Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council.
At last night’s Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council a common tone could be heard from the candidates. They all expressed a love for Highland Park.
Some were younger, some were older, some moved here just a couple of years ago, and some have lived here all their lives. But their conviction to this place we call home was universal, they love it. –Love it with all its problems, love it with all its history, love it with where it is, who it is, and hopeful for what it can be.
Wanting to be on any neighborhood council takes a special love for and dedication to your neighborhood. With the recent history of HHPNC, especially so. The Highland Park Neighborhood Council turned sour with the last set of office holders. Infighting, accusations of racism, exorbitant wasteful spending of public funds, resignations, and a general dysfunctional state of operation has plagued the HHPNC over the past two years.
What struck me most about the slate of candidates in this latest cycle of NC Elections, was all the new faces. Whereas only two and a half years ago there only a few newbies, this group consists of only a few long-time or lifetime Highland Parkers.
The candidate forum itself was an organized, well-run and efficient affair, moderated by Coro Fellow, Sean Holiday. Franklin High School’s UCLA After School Leadership Program helped facilitate as well. There were about seventy people in attendance. A third being students and facilitators, a third being candidates and their families, and another third be interested citizens such as myself. Pan dulce was provided by El Super, and Stumptown Coffee was provided by Cafe de Leche. (The Stumptown alone made this candidate forum ten times better than the one two years ago!)
Candidates came up in groups of five, introduced themselves to the audience and were posed issue questions by a panel of stakeholders. Questions concerning libraries, recreation centers, land use, job creation, communications, and council cohesiveness were posed.
Most of the candidates seem to get the purpose of the council as a bridge from our neighborhood to the city council as a means to get things done. There was advocating for more volunteerism in lieu of funding. Scout Master, Richard Marquez said it well when he said, “It doesn’t take money, it takes effort and commitment.” I’m glad to hear there is a general consensus that the priorities for this next Neighborhood Council should be to rebuild the council, and focusing on areas of communication, participation, and volunteerism.
The better questions of the night were the two questions posed from audience members. The first one, regarding the candidate’s support of bike issues in Highland Park. Of which, many of the candidates had high praise for Matt Schodorf of Cafe de Leche and his efforts to get a bike corral in front of his shop. The second one, posed by FHS student Cesar was: “What will the Neighborhood Council do to help prevent kids from joining gangs and crews?” An excellent issue question that I was surprised wasn’t mentioned before. There were responses like, “Get the kids when they’re young…” “After school activities…” “The need to keep libraries and recreation centers open…” “Peace in the Northeast…” “Jobs not jails!” Which are all correct. But there seemed to be a bit of disconnect with the issue, which for kids growing up in 90042 IS the issue.
As I walked home along the broken and tagged up sidewalks and passed a hundred or so homes with TVs glowing in the windows, I couldn’t help but wonder what if they had gone tonight, what would they ask? Did they even know this event happened? And that is the biggest hurdle for the council, and democracy in general, the need for people to PARTICIPATE.
So do your part Highland Park. Look at the candidates, and participate next Thursday by voting.
Highland Park Neighborhood Council Election
Thursday, April 29 from 2:00-8:00 pm
Highland Park Recreation Center
6150 Piedmont Avenue, Highland Park 90042
–Bring an ID or something proving you own, work, worship, go to school, or live in the area.
Being a senior at FHS, this was my first time at such a meeting. It was rather interesting to see all these people running to become potential council members. I sat in the back with a group of friends and listened as they talked about the ways they wished to better the community and the goals and the direction in which they wished to take the council forward if they were elected. Although I believe some failed to answer the questions accurately, some seemed to have Highland Park’s best intentions at heart.
I felt a sense of shame though, as I sat there listening to these people praising the community which I despised growing up in. I felt ashamed for lacking the optimistic views that nearly every candidate shared with each other. I feel guilt not having participated more in such events and being on the verge of leaving for college in the fall, it makes me even more upset that I can not go back and fulfill my duties as a member of this community. And you ,Walter, summed it up perfectly at the end “…the need for people to PARTICIPATE” If we can get more people involved in the community, it will without a doubt, be a more enjoyable place to leave. See you all at Rec Center next Thursday.
Can you list your quick- list? your faves?
No list of faves. There are more office openings than candidates, so it’s not much of a contest. Like how the bar association rates candidates for judgeships, I rate all the candidates as “Well Qualified,” with the exception of maybe two I heard, I’d rate as “Qualified.” Some are not as articulate as one would hope for public office, but all the candidates seem to have important perspectives and concerns to bring to the council.
Who are you really Waltarrrrr? and when can we get you on the council? Always looking to you to find out what I’ve missed. Thanks so much for being a solid and inciteful participant!
Awe thanks. Politics are sports to me. But prefer to be a armchair quarterback at this time of my life. But maybe someday…
Cafe con leche..Hey Matt Schodorf you have some rude staff working for you,I’m sure if i was wearing my badge, service would have been better. 35 years in HLP, and totally supportive of the change but it seems your staff only is courteous to others who are not latino especially the little one with the shoulder tattoo. i will never spend a dime in your place of business and I frequently let others know of my experience.
Man in Blue, This IS NOT Yelp. Go seek attention elsewhere.