LOS ANGELES , CA -- Bernard C. Parks who is serving his second term as
Los Angeles City Councilmember for the Eighth Council District, is
seeking an elective post for the Second Supervisorial Seat on November 4th.
David Ryu, a deputy at the Supervisor's Office, Second District,
facilitated the meeting in collaboration with host committee members
comprising of David Yim, Richard Kim, Eugene Hwang, Ji Lee, Peter Jung
Ekwan Rhow.
Among the Asian American leaders who attended to give Parks full
support, were: Billa Imada, charlie Woo, Dr. Mike Hong, Ralph Ahn, Joel
Jacinto, Susan Dilkes, charles Kin, Craig Ishii, Mariko Kahn, Dennis
Arguelles, Tiger Kang, Vaka Faletu, Larry Lue, Dean Matsubayashi, Erina
Kwon, Adrienne Cedro-Hament, Mike Hernandez, James Kim, and Johnny
Pecayo, chairman of the Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCON)
Public Relations, a nationwide organization with over 50 different
organizations as members.
In an email blast released by Yey Coronel-Alcid, she wrote: "This
event is more than just a fundraising event for Councilmember Parks in
his bid for the Second Supervisoral District. It is an important
opportunity to gather the different sectors of the API community to
stand together and be heard as one huge voice and be seen as one body --
a political force to be reckoned with. Let us all be part of the
momentum to prove that we can stand on a united front."
Councilmember Parks area of responsibility covers one of the most
densely populated areas in South Los Angeles, representing over 250,000
people.
When interviewed by the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, Councilmember Parks said
that with a bigger budget in the Supervisoral post, "I will be able to
serve my constituents better."
During his first year in office he was appointed Chair of the Budget
and Finance Committee and to the Coliseum Commission where he has led
the charge to return a National Football League team to the Los Angeles
Memorial Coliseum.
Currently, Councilmember Parks sits on the Public Safety Committee,
where he is committed to improving community safety for the constituents
in South Los Angeles. It is Parks’ belief that public safety involves
preventing, reducing or containing the social and environmental factors
that negatively impact people's right to live without fear of crime.
In addition, Parks sits on the Claims Board, Ad - Hoc Stadium
Committee, Transportation Committee, Board of Referred Powers and the
Transportation Committee where he serves as Vice Chair.
Following the 2005 Mayoral election, he was appointed to the
Metropolitan Transportation Board of Commissioners by Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa.
As Councilmember, Parks has implemented many programs to enrich the
South Los Angeles area including the Prevention Intervention and
Education (PIE) program at Crenshaw High School. The PIE program works
to bridge the gap between black and brown students through various
school assemblies and noteworthy speakers. Parks has also created an
annual Youth Jobs and Career Fair where at least 20 youths were
interviewed for jobs during its first year.
On the Council floor, Parks has been extremely successful in delivering
legislation that benefits his constituents in the 8th district,
including the temporary closure of the cul-de-sac at 84th Place and
Flower Street. The cul-de-sac was a breeding ground for illegal
activity and was located in a residential area specifically impacting
families with small children. In addition, Councilmember Parks
spearheaded the effort that ensured that a portion of the gasoline sales
tax revenues owed to the city were explicitly used to improve the
quality of life for motorists by directing $800,000 to pave five miles
of dirt alleys and $200,000 to construct 90 to 100 additional approved,
but unfunded speed humps. Parks also created a city-wide ordinance that
imposed regulations on the issuance of permits that included the
following businesses: automobile sales, auto repair shops, junk yards,
and recycling materials and processing facilities.
Following Southern Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2006, Parks led the
effort in helping evacuees find long-term housing. As the FEMA voucher
deadline drew near, Parks worked with the City's Housing Department and
local landlords to construct a Rent Stabilization Ordinance. This
Ordinance allowed L.A. landlords to temporarily charge reduced rent or
offer other rent concessions to eligible persons displaced by the
hurricanes.
Before being elected to the Los Angeles City Council, Parks spent 38
years as a police officer. Beginning his career with the police
department at a time when patrol cars were just recently integrated, he
rose through the ranks of one of the nation’s largest municipal law
enforcement agencies to become Chief of Police in 1997.
As Police Chief, Parks implemented some of the most rigorous police
reforms ever proposed in the history of the police department, including
the institution of an Officer Accountability Policy. Parks also made it
easier for the community to file complaints against problem officers by
streamlining the Citizen Complaint System. Under Chief Parks the City of
Los Angeles saw homicides fall by 45 percent, rape assault drop by
nearly 20 percent and robbery decline by over 45 percent.
In his more than 40 years as a public servant, Parks has remained
closely tied to his community. Aside from patrolling L.A.’s street as
a young officer, Parks dedicated many volunteer years to youth
activities in the district. He coached Baldwin Hills Youth Football for
10 years and mentored the likes of National Football League
Hall-of-Famer Warren Moon and many other kids who grew to become
successful community and business leaders. During his Hall-of-Fame
induction speech, Moon described Parks as “a guy who instilled values
in me at a very young age, showed me discipline and taught me hard work
and dedication”. Parks and his wife, Bobbie, are involved in numerous
community groups, such as: the Challengers Boys & Girls Club, the Los
Angeles Urban League and the Brotherhood Crusade. He is also a life-time
member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP). Recognized as a longtime voice for minority communities, in
2006 Parks’ footprints were added to the International Civil Rights
Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.
Bernard C. Parks received his Bachelor of Science degree from
Pepperdine University and his Master’s in Public Administration from
the University of Southern California (USC). He and Bobbie have been
married for 40 years and are the proud parents of four children:
Felicia, Michelle, Trudy and Bernard, Jr. The 8th Council District
includes the communities of Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, Leimert Park , West
Adams, Jefferson Park , Chesterfield Square and other areas of South Los
Angeles.
His candidacy is gaining more and more support from political and
business leaders, among them is Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who officially
endorses him and vouches for his leadership and integrity as "the man
who is the right time, at the right place, and the right candidate for
the Second Supervisoral Seat."
