Friday, March 21, 2014

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,


A. The Council is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

B. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article Third hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

mAry, stay out of politics. Thank you.

Weetha Peebull said...

Will of the Council
or
Will of the People?

"No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation".

It's in Plain English, no?

Anonymous said...

Mary has many good intentions and cares about the city and making it better, but she is very political and has a hard time separating all of this from her organizations, both NA and NAPC and others. She is a hard worker though doing a lot for this city, sometimes more than the mayor of comm.

Anonymous said...

It is just hard for anyone or organization to not get political or take a stand on things. The NAPC is really a waste though, they just need all NA presidents at comm meetings voicing for their areas ever meeting getting more done. Mary cares and wants our city better, she is a hard worker. She just does not represent us or should speak for anyone, but herself and not use NA or the NAPC to influence.

Anonymous said...

I agree Mary is remarkable and tireless in her efforts to improve the city but in this instance, there is overreach.

Anonymous said...

Well Lynn you are consistently down on people and organizations that try to do good for our city.

Lynn Anderson said...

I take positions on issues and elected officials. So, it has nothing to do with being "down" on people or organizations--it just means that I DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO.
The last time I checked, freedom of speech was alive and well in this country--just not too cool in Lake Worth it seems.
Thanks for your comment.

Anonymous said...

I'm 100% in favor of gay marriage and gay rights. And, I'm 100% in favor of our neighborhood associations and NAPC. I remember when I moved to this city back in 1999 and there were just a couple of active neighborhood associations, now that are associations throughout the city, fund raising, friend raising, cleaning up, socializing, making this city better and better.

But, I'm not sure its appropriate for the NAPC or the individual associations to take positions on issues where many people have divergent views. Its a quick way to alienate people.

Anonymous said...

doncha worry, keep reading this blog. lynn gives a daily dose of trying to keep people at odds. she calls it freedom of speech. i call it misguided attacks. it works sometimes as evidenced by the recent pouting of an napc president.

Anonymous said...

Lynn @11:56, you certainly do not take criticism well, even if it is respectful. But face facts not one person who supports your positions ran for office. No disputing that.

Lynn Anderson said...

thanks, Pete.

Lynn Anderson said...

One of these days we will have ethical people running here anonymous at 5:19.

Anonymous said...

Lynn, I live in an NA on the other side of town from yours and I am opposed to John Prince Park as a ballfield. Many people are opposed to this. How come you get so many jerks on your blog? Thanks for giving the other side of the discussion. Keep it up.

Lynn Anderson said...

This is a political opinion blog. I guess some people still don't get that. I don't mind debate. I just have a low tolerance for snide remarks. There is nothing misguided about what I write. Only the political opposition would even think that, which is a snide remark. :)