Will Your Name Be on the UNNC Ballot?
Act Now! Eleven of 23 Governing Board seats on the United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council (UNNC) are open for a vote. The countdown clock is ticking because the window for you to apply closes on February 6.
Are you interested in being part of your local government and wish to make a positive impact in your community’s quality of life? If so—
Please do run for office on the UNNC Board — Candidate Filing Is Now!
If you are at least 18 years old and live, work, own property, own a business, go to school, worship, or participate in a nonprofit community organization in the UNNC area, you can be a candidate for election to the UNNC Governing Board.
What is UNNC?
UNNC is the United Neighborhoods of the Historic Arlington Heights, West Adams and Jefferson Park Communities Neighborhood Council – United Neighborhoods for short. UNNC is your Neighborhood Council – an elected board of 23 people who come from many backgrounds but who all care about the community, representing our neighborhoods to L.A. City Council, agencies, and departments. The UNNC Governing Board helps make decisions about trees, parks and green space; land use; youth and community activities; keeping neighborhoods clean and safe, helping bring beneficial shopping and business services to our area; and maintaining our historic neighborhoods. UNNC gives members of the community a voice in making decisions.
Help us LIFT ALL OF OUR VOICES!
UNNC Election Day is April 22, 2023 ~ Candidate Filing continues until February 6.
The deadline to apply (online) is 11:59 p.m., Monday, February 6, 2023.
This season, 11 seats are up for election:
- 6 Resident representatives
- 5 At-Large representatives
- The 2023 election will be hybrid, meaning In-Person and Vote-by-Mail.
To learn more, including how to apply, please visit:
https://clerk.lacity.org/clerk-services/elections/nc-elections
or www.UNNC.org/elections
Unlike other city, state, or federal elections, voting and being a candidate in Neighborhood Council (NC) elections is open to more than just the residents of a community. Participation is open to those who live, work, or own property, or a business, within an NC’s boundaries, as well as to “community interest stakeholders,” such as church members, local students (or parents of students), or participants in local nonprofit organizations. Candidates and voters need not be US citizens or legal residents to qualify. Participation is also open to the formerly incarcerated, and those who are unhoused. The minimum age to vote is 16; the minimum age to run for NC seats is 18.
* For UNNC specifically, An At-Large Representative must live, work, own a business, go to school, worship, or participate in a community organization that has continuously maintained a physical street address within UNNC’s boundaries for at least a year — and that organization must perform ongoing activities that benefit our UNNC neighbors and neighborhoods. A community organization can include, but is not limited to, educational, non-profit and/or religious organizations, parks, recreation areas, public safety organizations, environmental organizations, medical/health organizations, libraries, religious institutions, service organizations, or other at large entities.
What is a Neighborhood Council?
Neighborhood Councils are the closest form of government to the people. They are advisory bodies, who advocate for their communities with City Hall on important issues like development, homelessness, and emergency preparedness. Neighborhood Councils are part of the Los Angeles City government, and have annual budgets funded by taxpayer dollars. Neighborhood Council board members are City officials who are elected by the members of their local communities, but they donate their time as volunteers. The Neighborhood Council system was established in 1999 as a way of ensuring that the City government remains responsive to the different needs and lifestyles of Los Angeles’ rich variety of communities. There are currently 99 Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles, each serving an average of 40,000 people. (NOTE: Although for the past few years NCs have been meeting virtually, due to the COVID pandemic, as of March 1, 2023, it is likely that most neighborhood council board meetings will be in person.)
What does it mean to be a Neighborhood Council candidate? Watch this short video by Empower LA:
https://youtu.be/U3S6CAM-bmI
Candidate Info Sessions:
Join the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment on Zoom to learn tips for candidate filing, running a successful campaign, and connecting with voters. RSVP to get information to join the February 4 session online or by phone:
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/empowerla-11891498859
