RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT CONGRESS IN RESISTING THE TRUMP AGENDA
WHEREAS, the Republican and Presidentʼs agenda is to quickly and completely as possible end hard fought for policies and laws; such as the social safety net (social security, medicare, the ACA, etc.), privatize and monetize institutions and services (prisons, schools, highways, federal lands, etc.) eliminate protections for our citizens (environmental laws, workers rights, human and minority rights, voters rights etc.), put forward less progressive policies (tax structures, class actions, consumer protections, etc.), and establish policies that make people less safe and secure (gun control, police reform, immigration reform, etc.); and
WHEREAS, Democrats have fought long and hard to champion these values and institutions, and believe they are the bedrock of our values; that all citizens deserve having a government that is behind them, to protect and serve them, to give them opportunities and to even the playing field no matter oneʼs age, gender, race, religion, wealth or abilities; and
WHEREAS, we stand with, support, and acknowledge our Democratic elected officials who have stood strong and spoken out against these Republican attempts to dismantle everything we Democrats stand for; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Valley Grassroots for Democracy urges our elected officials to continue resisting this agenda and continue to point out what the Republican agenda really is; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Kamala Harris, Representative Adam Schiff, Representative Brad Sherman, Representative Julia Brownley, Representative Tony Cardenas, and Representative Maxine Waters.
Written by Adrienne Burk, President, Valley Grassroots for Democracy
March 7, 2017
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RESOLUTION TO FIX THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN LA
WHEREAS, the approval process for construction and development in Los Angeles has a number of problems that make it opaque, arcane and inconsistent; 1) inherent conflicts of interest in that developers hire their own consulting firms to do the Environmental Impact Study, 2) outdated Community Plans and General Plan For L.A., and 3) lack transparency in the approval process resulting in environmental impact, infrastructure stress, traffic congestion, and changing the nature of neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Democrats believe in transparency, accountability, value quality of life and stakeholders input, it is important that certain procedures in the approval process be changed: 1) have developers pay for Environmental Impact Study but contracted
through a blind system and managed independently from the developer, 2) every effort must be made to speed up the Community Planning and General Plan For L.A. process so that a cohesive, with updated city zoning framework, with a long term plan that takes into account stakeholders, the environment, traffic, infrastructure impact, and neighborhood character, and 3) that an approval process be established and made public that is both clear in its requirements and its steps to approval, so that
stakeholders, developers, the planning commission and the city council are clear and transparent about what is being done and that all requirements are being met.
WHEREAS, the needs of new housing while maintaining quality of life are great in our community it is vital that these issues be addressed quickly and comprehensively; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Valley Grassroots for Democracy urges our elected officials in the Los Angeles City Council to treat the approval process and city zoning with speed care and transparency; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to Mayor Eric Garcetti, all 15 City Council Members and Planning and Los Angeles City Planning Commission President David Ambroz.
Written by Adrienne Burk, President, Valley Grassroots for Democracy
Patricia Dexter, Valley Grassroots for Democracy
March 16, 2017
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