A Loud Open Letter To L.A. City Hall

[Note: Since no one in City Hall has written me back, I thought I'd share this sarcastic letter with the rest of the virtual world. If I'm gonna whistle in the dark, it might as well be as loud as I can.]
----
Dear L.A. Elected Official & City Hall Personnel:

I read the L.A. Times article, "Miles to Go for L.A. Justice" juxtaposed against the Daily News piece, "L.A. proposed anti-gang tax taking its hits," which points out that right now there is no cap on this expenditure and it is exclusively a property tax.

If you'll take a couple of minutes to read the Daily News article you'll see a number of things Councilmember Janice Hahn doesn't mention in her news release. Excuse me, but gangs are every one's problem, not just property owners. Do you really think that in November, voters (who are fed up with pouring money into studies that chastise and programs that are microscopic or programs that fail altogether) will stand for this?

Please consider that nearly 1:5 homeowners in our city are in foreclosure or pre-foreclosure. [Let's throw some more straw on that fire, Mrs. O'Leary!]

Game over. It's time for change! A new strategy. A new way to think. This is the 21st Century, yau'll. We don't need another meeting to discuss where we're going to hold the next meeting. We are living in a very real paperless, virtual world. Councilmember Hahn is among other city officials who have not had the courtesy to respond to various e-mails sent to them regarding building the world's first all inclusive, user-friendly, Juvenile and Criminal Justice Internet portal.

Here's the prototype: 2 Late 4 Time Out, and an earlier version of 2 Late 4 Time Out, in the open-source format. [It's cumbersome, I'll certainly admit, but just click on the illustration of a kid in chains and enter as a "Guest."] Here, you'll find 10-years research and tons of very original content. While the City continues to search for effective ways to reduce crime, I would suggest to you that one way is right under their white linen napkins.

Following this e-mail I am forwarding you an e-mail sample of our one-way communication with Ms. Hahn and other City officials. Perhaps you can help me answer these questions:

Does the city re-e-e-e-ally want to reduce the violence in our communities; are they really trying to save our youth, or is the objective to have law enforcement, Department of Rec. and Parks and the Community Development Department dole out the money to programs they see fit or find worthy? What happens if you've got a program that is wonderful and worthy, like Mama Hill's Help, Inc., but it hasn't been anointed by the departments with the money? [Can you say bankruptcy, foreclosure and poverty, anyone???]

To Councilmember Hahn's invitation, "Come One, Come All!!!," I say to you, with all due respects, lip-service paid to this pandemic is not service. ["Good job, Brownie."] Certainly if we are going to pay for it, we, the people, deserve and need more. Can we do better? It is my sincere belief that "Yes We Can."
Yours in humility and service,
Valerie Shaw, M.PR
Youth & Gang Violence Consultant