Gil Cedillo Mt. Washington Town Hall Brainstorms a Mountain of Issues

At least 125 people gathered Tuesday night at Mount Washington Elementary School to participate in the first of many scheduled stops along the "2013 Listening Tour" that Gil Cedillo, the newly elected member of the City Council from District 1, has launched.

The turnout at Cedillo's so-called Mount Washington town hall may well have been greater than 125 people, which was the number that registered for the event, held in the elementary school's multipurpose room.

The attendees flocked together in 10 breakout groups, each facilitated by a CD 1 staff member and devoted to developing ideas and priorities along four themes: public safety; the environment; economic development; arts and culture. 

The issues generated in the breakout groups spanned the gamut from patrolling hidden streets and speeding on the hill to underground power cables and alternative energy rebates. Saving the Southwest Museum was an issue raised in just about every group.

Although the town hall was aimed at Mount Washington, a significant number of people from Highland Park and adjoining communities attended the event. This was clear from some of the "plains" issues raised in the breakout groups. Among them: Gang shootings, Gold Line access, affordable housing, L.A. River revitalization. 

"I am so very proud to be a member of this community not only because it has such a strong voice but because we also share a voice with our neighbors," Mount Washington Association President Pilar Buelna said in a brief speech before the breakout groups began brainstorming. Buelna, who is also a parent at Mt. Washington Elementary, said she hoped Cedillo will "really be instrumental in hearing our concerns and what we envision for our future here in Mount Washington."

Looking dapper in a dark suit and silver-colored necktie, Cedillo mingled with the attendees and praised the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department, eight of whose officers were on hand throughout the evening.

Cedillo pledged to clean up streets and communities because "one of our top issues is a concern for the environment," he said. That, he explained, partly means putting an end to bulky items on the streets—"a practice that the city has supported for too long." 

Describing Mount Washington as a "very bohemian, artistic community," Cedillo said he would continue to support its artistic aspirations. "Today, I led the fight for a motion to end the ban on the [city's] mural ordinance," he said, referring to his presence on the City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee, which voted for a new ordinance that would allow murals to flourish once again in Los Angeles. 

"Economic development will be very important to us—but economic development that is authentic, organic and driven by the nature of our communities," Cedillo said, without elaborating and ending his short speech somewhat abruptly.