The Empowerment Congress Central Area NDC is a city-certified local group made up of people who live, work, own property or have some other connection to our neighborhood. Neighborhood Council Board Members are elected or selected to their positions by the neighborhoods themselves. Neighborhood Council Board size varies across the City from 7 to over 30 individuals depending on what the neighborh
ood believes will meet its needs. Currently, the Empowerment Congress Central Area NDC has 15 Board positions. We hold a regular monthly Community Meeting on the 4th Monday of each month and a Planning Meeting on the first Thursday of each month. We hold special meetings periodically and have working committees as well. Neighborhood Councils receive public funds of $40,500 each year to support our activities. This may include creating events and programs that respond to the unique needs of the community or advocating on behalf of the issues we care about such as crime, roads and streets, the creation of safe spaces for children, gangs, and economic development. Representatives from Neighborhood Councils:
■Meet with the Mayor to discuss priorities in the annual development of the City budget, prior to its submittal and approval by City Council.
■Receive advance notice of issues and projects that are important to them and their neighborhoods so they can understand, discuss them, and voice the opinions of the neighborhood to the City before final decisions are made. Neighborhood Councils represent neighborhoods with a minimum population of 20,000 people. The average population represented by a Neighborhood Council is 38,000 people. There are currently 90 Neighborhood Councils across Los Angeles with more in development. Councils must establish bylaws and go through the certification process with the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment before they can operate.
