Over the past 6 years, we have watched the Northeast Los Angeles Little League deteriorate under the leadership of Eric Horn.  It's become increasingly clear that he is not prioritizing the needs of our players, parents, and community. There is a lack of equity, transparency, and fairness.  No explanation for the serious and ongoing issues facing the league has been provided.  To the contrary, when concerns have been raised, the only response has been retaliation.  

The following issues have not only persisted, but have gotten worse over time:

1. Fees have gone up while resources provided have gone down.  Jerseys are low quality and provided late.  Families must provide their own uniform pants, belts, and socks.
2. It does not appear that any money is going into maintenance of the field.  There is no shade, no drinkable water, and porta-potties are poorly maintained.  
3. Despite increasing fees, teams are not given any equipment—no balls, catcher’s gear or practice nets.  League-provided equipment, like pitching machines, do not work and are not repaired or replaced.
4. There has been no accounting from the league to explain where the money from the fees is going.
5. It has been years since the snack shack was operational; we are lucky to often be visited by a local fruit cart vendor and ice cream truck, but our league is losing out on the opportunity to fundraise by selling snacks to families who attend games.
6. Furthermore, teams are not allowed to fundraise for equipment or training specialists without giving a portion of the fundraising to the league which again, does not provide transparency on how the funds are disbursed.
7. In recent seasons, teams have not been given game schedules  in a timely manner, and when schedules were finally provided, games have been repeatedly cancelled or rescheduled last-minute, and frequently, teams from our own league are “no-shows” to their scheduled games in order to attend other tournaments outside of Little League.
8. Only a few select teams are allowed to use the scoreboard. Clarity around usage has not been provided.
9. Teams are not given the same amount of games.  And practice time is not distributed equitably.  
10. The number of other leagues that agree to play us has rapidly dwindled, and those that will accept games often will do so only at their home fields, not at NELA, putting further strain on our families as we are forced to travel significantly farther away.
11. In the summer of 2024, Eric Horn started his own travel program called Five Tools, and ever since then it seems clear that the travel program is the priority. The teams that have a majority of Five Tools players on them seem to get preferential treatment. 
12. Of late, it has also become obvious (via social media even) that our Little League fields are being used to host travel tournaments, meaning that weekend games are few and far between for little league teams. It's also being done without clear explanation about how the funds raised for these tournaments are allocated or what benefit the games are to the league.

We need a league where every player has fair access, and where the needs of families are considered.  A change in leadership is crucial to achieving this vision. We need a president who can address these concerns efficiently and transparently, ensuring our league thrives and grows in a positive direction.

We call upon the community to stand together and demand accountability from those who should be serving us, not utilizing the league for their own ends.  Removing Eric Horn from the presidency and electing a leader who truly cares about the kids’ and the league’s futures will lead to better management and a more rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Join us in making a difference. Sign this petition to call for the immediate removal of the president of the board of NELA, and to commit to joining the annual league parent/board meeting on August 1st, location TBD, where a vote to change president will take place.  Every little league player's family commands a vote, so all our voices are needed. Let's work towards a brighter future for our league.

Signed…