The clock is ticking on the drive to make East LA a city - supporters have until April 29 to come up with $134,000 for a study needed for the cityhood process.
With just a few weeks to spare, they are still about $35,000 short, so they are turning to their friends in Washington for help. Local reps Grace Napolitano, Judy Chu, and Lucille Roybal-Allard, along with Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva, are teaming up with the movement to host a fundraiser in DC Wednesday.
"Elected officials always come to this community to get the blessing of Latinos. Now we are saying, we need your help to have our own local government," said Benjamin Cardenas, president of the East Los Angeles Residents Association, which is leading the movement.
Supporters have gone the local fundraising route as well with car washes, menudo breakfasts, and a bus tour of East LA murals.
The money is needed for an analysis to determine the fiscal viability of the potential city. If viable, the issue would go before voters.
If their incorporation effort succeeds, East LA would become one of the region's biggest cities, with about 140,000 people in a 7.5-square-mile, boot-shaped area.
No one has gotten this far in the process since an East LA cityhood movement failed efforts in the 1970s.
