Want To Make A Difference In Venice? Run For Neighborhood Council

VENICE, CA — With all the bad news swirling around the country and the world, it is encouraging to remember that ordinary citizens can make a meaningful difference in their local communities by running for their neighborhood council. Neighborhood councils lead their communities and advise LA City Councilmembers on the needs of their communities.

You can run in any of the races if you are over 18 years old (or for a Youth Seat if you are between 14 and 17); live, work, or own property or a business within the defined boundaries of the neighborhoods, attend or have a child who attends school in the neighborhood, or have a "substantial and ongoing participation" with a nonprofit community organization located in the neighborhood for at least a year that has performed "ongoing and verifiable activities and operations that benefit the neighborhood."

Candidates are divided into several categories like "At Large Stakeholder," "Business Owner or Employee," "Property Owner," and more. Each category has a finite number of seats. Click on the "Declared candidates" link in your neighborhood to see if there are open seats in an applicable category.

This 2018 video from EmpowerLA, the city's Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, explains more about the history of neighborhood councils and what they do for their communities. This brochure from the LA City Clerk contains helpful information, and you can also watch this Zoom recording of a candidate info session. A comprehensive guide with information on candidates, how to run, and how to vote can be found on the elections page of the City Clerk's website.

Elections will happen between November 2020 and June 2021. See this chart of important election dates.

Applicants can apply through the EmpowerLA portal. Vote by mail ballots can be requested from Feb. 26 until April 20. Elections will be held April 27, and mail ballots must be received by April 30 and postmarked by Election Day. Voters can be 16 years of age or older.

Some neighborhood councils hold votes called "selections" that are held annually and run by the councils themselves, rather than the City Clerk.

In Venice, one board seat is open for a vacant position this month due to a current member resigning. That position will be held through June when the next board is elected. Visit the Venice Neighborhood Council website for more information about how to apply for the vacant seat, which the board will vote on this month.

Patch has assembled a list of neighborhood councils in and around Venice and Mar Vista that have races this year. If you don't see your LA neighborhood listed here, here's a map with helpful information and links about each council.

Venice

Neighborhood boundaries: Ocean Front Walk up to Marine Street, northeast to Walgrove Elementary School, Twain Middle School and Venice High School, near Venice Boulevard. From Zanja Street to south of Del Rey Avenue, along Washington Boulevard, and south along Dell Avenue.

Seats open: 15

Application deadline: March 23

Mail-in ballot request dates: April 9

Election date: June 8

Deadline to receive mail-in ballots (which must be postmarked by Election Day): June 11

Del Rey

Neighborhood boundaries: Marina (90) Freeway to Lincoln Boulevard, north to Washington Boulevard to Moore Street. From Neosho Avenue, connecting to Washington Boulevard, Corinth Avenue and Huntley Avenue to Saint Nicholas Avenue.

Seats open: 15

Application deadline: March 23

Mail-in ballot request dates: April 9

Election date: June 8

Deadline to receive mail-in ballots (which must be postmarked by Election Day): June 11

Mar Vista

Neighborhood boundaries: Southwest of the Santa Monica (10) Freeway, including area codes 90034, 90066 and north of Walgrove Avenue.

Seats open: 15

Application deadline: March 23

Mail-in ballot request dates: April 9

Election date: June 8

Deadline to receive mail-in ballots (which must be postmarked by Election Day): June 11

Westchester-Playa:

Neighborhood boundaries: West Jefferson Boulevard to West Centinela to South La Cienaga Boulevard, from West Imperial Parkway south to 187th Street.

Seats open: 15

Application deadline: March 23

Mail-in ballot request dates: April 9

Election date: June 8

Deadline to receive mail-in ballots (which must be postmarked by Election Day): June 11

Palms

Neighborhood boundaries: Venice Boulevard from the 405 Freeway to National Boulevard and the Santa Monica (10) Freeway east to Cattaraugus Avenue to Robertson Place, south to Washington Boulevard.

Seats open: 15

Application deadline: March 23

Mail-in ballot request dates: April 9

Election date: June 8

Deadline to receive mail-in ballots (which must be postmarked by Election Day): June 11

*Westwood and West Los Angeles-Sawtelle neighborhood councils are not participating in the 2021 elections.