To all who helped with the outdoor Skid Row Townhall Meeting, thank you!
The event went according to plan and we were pleased with the turnout. We estimate at least 400 residents attended. Consistently hundreds were present. They were overwhelmingly respectful and polite.
Representatives from the Libertarian, New Law, and Constitution were present. Chelene Nightingale, a candidate for governor, was there for the whole time. We had one speaker after another, with Ted Hayes as MC making his own remarks and keeping things lively.
Representatives from several agencies, including Veterans Affairs
and American Black Shield were among the speakers.
No officials from the Democratic Party were present.
20 chairs were consistently filled with residents, with canopy provided for shade. All 500 bottles of water (16 oz) were given out, and people really appreciated them. They got in line for the snack bags which contained several kinds of fruit (a rarity in this area),a granola bar, and a Republican pamphlet. The water bottles and the bags all had labels "Courtesy of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County."
Everything was gone in an hour, including about 500 pieces of each kind of fruit, the snack bars and 2 cases of yogurt, which went very fast.
Volunteers prepared the snack bags and registered voters.
Later some of the residents performed, considerable talent. One accompanied himself on a keyboard. Elzie Anderson, coordinator and liason for the area, was dressed well spoke several times. A singer as well, he did a great impersonation of Louis Armstrong singing 'What a Wonderful World.'
Pledges and donations were enough to cover all costs, and the sponsors were recognized by Ted Hayes, as well as names being posted on the wall.
The event was amply photographed. The professional videotaping will be posted on YouTube. It had already been publicized in advance on KPCC, which has 2 sister stations
Volunteers attending came from 10 Assembly Districts.
Several residents assisted in keeping things orderly and pitched in to help. At the end, many of them volunteered to help us clean the street and pack up, so it didn't take long.
The weather was nice and residents were appreciative of our being there and thinking of them. A few wanted autographs or just to shake hands. We felt gratified by the response and our time was well-spent.
Ted Hayes was encouraged by the success of this townhall meeting and we plan to have more events like this which will reach out to the underprivileged and also to minority communities.
The sponsors were:
CONNIE RUFFLEY
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DR. JOHN A THOMSON
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NAVRAJ SINGH For Congress: District 27
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JAMES SPENCER
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LESLEY JORDAN
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JOSE AGUILAR
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TED HAYES
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ANDY GUMP WASTE MANAGEMENT
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VAN NUYS SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
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MID-VALLEY DENTISTRY
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NORTH HOLLYWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
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ROBERT VAUGHN
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ROGER ESHLEMAN
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SANDRA NEEDS
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WILLIAM MORRISON FOR SD 24
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JANET & KEN COSTELLO
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We deeply appreciate your making this event possible.
