The Influence of the Neighborhood Association Council

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As I have stated on many occasions, the Neighborhood Association Council is way too political.  Do you remember when our commission years ago had the big controversy over Arizona 1070 and took a vote supporting it and how so many in the neighborhoods were appalled?  The neighborhood council is doing much of the same--a different name--a different and political national issue. Sometimes we manage to get out of our realm of authority...out of our domain and take stands on issues that are politically and religiously charged, not the business of neighborhood councils. The views of everyone in the community should be respected.

This is an action to support gay marriage and is being taken by Andy Amoroso, a gay commissioner who has a one-sided view on a highly controversial topic. He is now Vice President of the League of Cities gay group so we will be hearing more from him. As we have a large population of gays in our city, and a city that is liberal and left leaning in its politics, there are many who do support this action. But there are many who do not including gays. Do the leaders of the neighborhood associations as well as our city commission represent all of the people in the neighborhood(s) or just some of them? Should the NA's even be getting into politics?

Following is the President of the Council, Mary Lindsey's e-mail sent out to the NA member council:

Members of the Council, The NAPC has been asked to speak at the "Celebration of Love" event at City Hall on March 23rd at 2pm in support of equal rights for our GLBT neighbors. Please read the press release: http://www.lakeworth.org/files/files/special%20events/Marriage%20Equality%20PR.PDF 
I don't think an emergency meeting of the Council is called for, but  I am prepared to speak enthusiastically in support of the effort on behalf of the NAPC if that is the will of the Council. Please reply to all. I would appreciate the clearest and most unequivocal approval or denial of this request. If consensus from the Council Representatives to approve is not unanimous, I won't say it is.

Awaiting your decision,
M 

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