Boyle Heights leaders ask why their community continues being ignored

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Eastside residents and leaders gathered at Mariachi Plaza today in Boyle Heights to address their concern over lack of funding in the surrounding community. Their mission?-- To get the attention of elected officials to ameliorate the housing, education, saftey, and eceonomic problems in their community. 

The city of Los Angeles has selected certain neighborhoods to support for future federal resources and many residesnts were surprised to find that the neightborhoods most in need, including Boyle Heights and South LA, didn't make the list. 

"We are being left out and we need to bring our issues to light so that elected officials could look at our plans and bring them to fruition," said community leader Delmira Gonzalez. 

Maria Cabildo, from East LA Community Corporation, said the solution to these issues lies in education.

"We have developed a blueprint for our future to nurture our children from cradle to college," she said. "This plan will keep our children out of the streets by nurturing them into responsible adults." 

Boyle Heights resident for over 25 years, Antonio Sanchez, agrees that education is the solution and also adds that the high crime rate in Boyle Heights is attributed to gang violence and a lack of police patrolling the community. 

"I think we need more education for the kids. And programs for both adults and children." 

Sanchez, who is crrently looking for a job, also said adding jobs to the community would help stimulate economic growth.

But before Boyle Heights can receive all these resources, they first need the federal funds necessary-- funds which have not been assgined to them. 

Sherri Frankiln at Urban Design Center said the responsibility in applying for grants is in the community leaders themselves. 

"It is up to lobbyist and leaders in the respective communities to strategize their financial plaanning, so that when the time comes to apply for these grants, they are on time."