In 1998, the citizens of Los Angeles were told when the new city charter was up for a vote, that the purpose of NCs (Neighborhood Councils) as described in the charter was to promote "...more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs..." The preceding is a direct quote from Article IX of the city charter "SEC. 900. PURPOSE" (Neighborhood Councils). The word "citizen" was used. To any reasonable thinking voter, citizen means "American Citizen." There was no label attached in the sample ballot that said "by citizen, we mean that absolutely anyone living in the community is a citizen."

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I believe it was no accident that after the voters voted for the new charter in 1998, that the city attorney (then James Hahn) used nearly the exact wording from Article IX of the charter to draft Sec. 22.800 of the new city ordinance, except the word citizen was changed behind the voters backs to "public." In fact, the word "citizen" isn't even mentioned in the ordinance. The voters didn't get what they voted for. The city attorney rationalizes this with an incredible spin.

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Article IX of the city charter says that anyone who, lives, works, or owns property in the neighborhood is a stakeholder, and may vote in the NC elections and even run for a seat on the NC Board of Directors if they live in the zone.

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So does this really mean that "anyone" can vote in the NC elections and even run for a seat on the NC Board of Directors even if they are not a citizen. Yes, not only does the city allow a non-citizen to vote in the NC elections and run for a seat on the NC Board of Directors, but according to the city attorney, sex offenders and felons can also. In fact there are no restrictions at all.