Changing of the Guard at BCC

The Brentwood Community Council voted in a new slate of officers, which is the custom at this time of year. Nancy Freedman will take over from Ray Klein as chair; Larry Watts is the new vice chair; Roz Gamble is secretary; Bryan Gordon is treasurer. Mary Sidell of Brentwood School serves as a non-officer member.
There were “no hanging chads,†said Rabbi Morley Feinstein, who helped count votes.
Bryan Gordon said Ray Klein had done much to legitimize the BCC, empower the executive committee and to spearhead the BCC’s website project (see www.brentwoodcommunitycouncil.org).
“It was fun,†said Klein. “Thank you for your confidence and support.â€
Nancy Freedman promised an active pace in the year ahead.
A group of local veteran activists gave the BCC an American flag and asked people to attend a celebration on March 6 at noon on the grand lawn of the VA. The event is to commemorate the original deeding of the land in 1888, transferring title from private owners to the federal government.
Brentwood Federation, a forerunner to the BCC, officially closed up shop, recognizing that BCC was now the official voice of Brentwood civic matters. $15,000 that had been sitting in a bank account was given to Brentwood Green, the park built on the grounds of Brentwood Science Magnet School.
Sue Casamassima said the draft master plan issued by the VA was “inadequate†and lacked specifics. The plan, as put forth by the VA, just lets the VA “do whatever it wants,†she said.
She is drafting a letter from the BCC giving its point of view. The public has till February 19 to comment on the draft plan (see page one).
Jay Handal urged fellow Brentwoodians to go to www. LABudgetChallenge.lacity.org and undertake an online exercise to balance the Los Angeles City budget. The city will take public comments under advisement as it struggles with fiscal matters. The deadline is February 27. The site is quite interactive. As the user suggests budget cuts, the site keeps tabs on how much more is needed to go till the $350 million deficit is erased.
On March 29 there will be a meeting of several Westside community neighborhood associations, either at the Felicia Mahood Center on Santa Monica Blvd. or at the Stoner Recreation Center. If interested in attending, check www.brentwoodcommunitycouncil.org to learn details.