Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council to Spend $4,840 on Outreach

The Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council voted, 14-1, at its monthly meeting this past Thursday to spend a total of $4,840 on outreach merchandise ranging from water bottles, balloons and tote bags to council banners, refrigerator magnets and table covers for events.

In a sweeping, single vote, the HHPNC agreed to purchase a total of seven outreach-related products listed on the meeting’s agenda. Here’s a list of the merchandise, along with prices:

• Table covers ($200)
• Banner, 6ft x 3ft, to promote HHPNC meetings ($200)
• Helium tank capable of two refills ($200)
• 1,000 balloons, with HHPNC name and logo ($300)
• 1,000 eco-friendly, reusable tote bags ($1,020)
• 2,500 color magnets ($1,400)
• 500 water bottles ($1,520)

The only dissenting vote came from At-Large Director Gloria Trejo, who wanted the council to vote separately on all the seven items.

At-Large Director Aaron Salcido cautioned the council to be “cognizant of adding trash” to the neighborhood by encouraging the use of balloons—a concern that HHPNC President Monica Alcaraz responded wasn’t warranted because the balloons weren’t going to be the potentially hazardous and dangerous mylar variety.

A member of the audience asked the council if the tote bags it was planning to purchase would be U.S.-manufactured.

At-Large Director Terri Bonsell replied that the bags would indeed be made in America—and that both the helium tank and balloons would be purchased from Highland Park-based vendors.