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During the past four months, the country has been fiercely divided over the bid for the presidency.

After coming to an uneasy conclusion, President George W. Bush and his Republican allies have installed themselves into key decision-making positions in the new administration.

But while half the nation is protesting the election results, NPA members all know one thing: the presidents may change, but NPA stays the same.

While one administration turns power over to the next, NPA is always going to be setting the goals for the neighborhoods.

From our newest president, to former presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan - it's become clear that their political party doesn't matter , or how long they've been in office or even how much power they think they have. The only issue is what they do for the people and how they plan to help our neighborhoods. NPA's aim is to know the communities' agenda, roll into Washington with our demands, keep our wins and continue building onto them. The most important step is seeing these victories change our communities.

From countering foreclosures and redlining in our neighborhoods to improving the quality of education and job opportunities-NPA has always gone to head to head with the top players in Washington.

In the past few years, NPA has tracked down both Republican leader Sen. Phil Gramm and targeted Democrat Andrew Cuomo, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development because both ignored demands from NPA. More importantly they ignored the needs of the neighborhoods, which resulted in hundreds of NPA members on their front lawn.

But many people are concerned that the new administration will backtrack on the many commitments NPA has won during the past 30 years. But this is a worry that pops up every time a new administration is put into place.

NPA will fight with or work with any administration-no matter who's in charge. The key is finding the Washington representative who is critical to the campaign. And if there is no response, we will go into Washington and continue the 30-year tradition of kicking them in the ass until our demands are met. The fight between political parties has also become erased once faced with the more important needs of the neighborhoods. I've worked with presidents from both political parties including Jimmy Carter on his National Commission on Neighborhoods and George Bush (the first) on his committee, Barriers to Affordable Lending.

And with the eve of NPA's 30th annual conference dawning, this tradition will continue. On March 24, NPA leaders will come from all over the country knowing what the neighborhoods want and the wins they need.

The past year has re-energized issues that have dominated past NPA conferences such as: keeping wins on FHA, demanding passage of the school construction legislation, problematic skyrocketing utility prices and last but not least the tireless and necessary reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act. The discriminatory and predatory lending practices by loan sharks that force individuals into foreclosures and devastate communities is a new issue that has been spreading like wildfire through NPA groups.

We will take our demands for our communities to those "in charge" in Washington and show them who really has the power. Let's remind them that they work for us.