February 1, 2012

Gloria Molina
LAFCO Commissioner and Los Angeles County Board Supervisor
856 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

PHONE: (213) 974-4111
FAX: (213) 613-1739
EMAIL: molina@bos.lacounty.gov

Dear Ms. Molina:

I am writing as a supporter of the East LA incorporation effort.

On January 25, 2012, you heard from members of the East Los Angeles community during a span of almost four hours at a Los Angeles Formation Commission (LAFCO) special meeting.  As you may recall, multiple proponents and opponents of East Los Angeles’ incorporation said they would love to see East L.A. become a city, but are concerned about the financial shortfall the new city may face; this is where we need you.  I urge you to find the Gloria Molina who worked towards making East L.A. a city during the 1974 incorporation effort.  You believed then, as I do now, that a local government would be best for East L.A.  Please work to make it happen this time.  Let’s not wait another 40 years.

Today, I ask that you act not only as a LAFCO Commissioner, but also as the L.A. County Supervisor that represents East L.A., and work towards revenue neutrality making the proposed City of East Los Angeles financially feasible.  Action by LAFCO and the County of LA is key to find terms of feasibility and ensure procedural due process, and you, Ms. Molina, are an influential member of both parties.

I ask that you support LAFCO and the county convening a revenue neutrality committee composed of representatives from the county, other affected agencies, and the proponents of East L.A.’s incorporation to develop a mitigation agreement.  If the negotiating parties do not reach an agreement, I ask that LAFCO staff draft appropriate terms and conditions to assure revenue neutrality between the County of Los Angeles and the proposed City of East Los Angeles.

I believe that there are feasible options to achieve viability and all options should be explored before your constituents, the residents of East LA, are denied a local voice and the opportunity to vote on the incorporation of our own community.

I strongly urge the Los Angeles Formation Commission (LAFCO) to approve the Negative Declaration and direct staff to work with the proponents to develop a plan for terms and conditions of feasibility.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

[Your name and any contact information you wish to provide]