RELEASE: NCRC TO PRESENT NATIONAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AWARD TO LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMEMBER RICHARD ALARCÓN

April 20, 2012

Jesse Van Tol, jvantol@ncrc.org
202-413-5614

Eric Hersey, ehersey@ncrc.org
914-466-5720

MEDIA ADVISORY

NCRC TO PRESENT NATIONAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AWARD TO LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMEMBER RICHARD ALARCÓN

Washington, DC -- Tonight, as part of its National Achievements Awards dinner, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition will present its National Community Reinvestment award to Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcón.

The National Community Reinvestment Award recognizes the individual who through their work over the past year has best exemplified the ideals and values of the community reinvestment movement and economic justice.

NCRC President and CEO John Taylor made the following statement:

“Councilmember Alarcón is a true champion for community reinvestment and bank accountability. By leading the efforts to pass a responsible banking ordinance in Los Angeles, the Councilmember has stepped up and set an example for public officials at every level of government across the nation. We commend him for his efforts, and are pleased to present him with the National Community Reinvestment Award.”

At this gala awards dinner, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President of Bennett College, will serve as special guest host and master of ceremonies. The dinner will also feature remarks from special guest John Trasviña, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This conference is open to the press. For more information, please contact Jesse Van Tol at 202-413-5614 orjvantol@ncrc.org, or Eric Hersey at 914-466-5720 or ehersey@ncrc.org

Councilmember Richard Alarcón to Receive National Honor for His Landmark Responsible Banking Ordinance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2012

CONTACT
David Graham-Caso
213.393.9196 (cell)

Councilmember Richard Alarcón to Receive National Honor for His Landmark Responsible Banking Ordinance

National Community Reinvestment Coalition Will Award Alarcón the Highest Honor Bestowed by Organization

(Los Angeles, CA) – Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcón will be in Washington, D.C. on Friday, April 20, 2012 to accept the “National Community Reinvestment Award,” the highest honor bestowed by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). The award, which will be presented to Councilmember Alarcón during NCRC’s annual conference in Washington, D.C., is awarded annually to “the individual who through their work over the past year has best exemplified the ideals and values of the community reinvestment movement and economic justice.”

Once formally adopted, Councilmember Alarcón’s Responsible Banking Ordinance will create a public, transparent process for gathering information about banks’ history of service in communities in Los Angeles when considering which financial institutions to award future City contracts. The Ordinance would not preclude any financial institutions from doing business with the City of Los Angeles, but would rather require banks interested in doing business with the City to provide specific information about their work in Los Angeles.

Earlier this year, Councilmember Alarcón’s Responsible Banking Ordinance, which has served as a model for other responsible banking ordinances in cities across the country, was unanimously supported by the Los Angeles City Council when the Council voted to instruct the City Attorney to draft official language for the Ordinance. The Ordinance language will be voted on by the Council in the coming weeks.

The progress of Councilmember Alarcón’s Responsible Banking Ordinance in Los Angeles has added to growing national momentum toward increased social responsibility in how banks operate. Similar responsible banking ordinances have recently been approved or are being considered in cities including New York, Seattle, Berkeley, Boston, Portland, Kansas City and San Francisco.

More information about the Responsible Banking Ordinance, which was first introduced by Councilmember Alarcón in 2009, can be found at www.responsiblebankingLA.blogspot.com.

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