He mentions that the meeting "bore a striking resemblance to September's town hall meeting"-- and I think that speaks to the heart of the issue at this point. Do you feel that some progress has been made, albeit slowly, or that our repeated concerns expressed to the mayor and his administration are falling on deaf ears after a year and three neighborhood meetings? The most common comment that I've been getting from readers via email and in person is a concern with a seemingly perpetual status quo. If that's really what neighbors feel is going on, then the next step is to start attending City Council meetings, writing letters to the editors of local papers, etc. A status quo can only be maintained if we allow it. It takes a steady determination of the people in a neighborhood to get policy changed for the better, and it takes time. We have to give credit where credit is due, but keep the pressure on until the West Ward is as beautiful and safe as we envision it.
Personally, I feel that the crime scene has improved a little (although warm weather is just around the corner, so we'll see what the streets bring then), and that police response is much improved over a year ago.
As for clean streets, I have seen it improve dramatically downtown, due to the Ambassadors of Easton who walk around in red shirts with garbage cans on wheels, and are paid by private funds to clean up to 5th Street. Aside from being great at their jobs, they are also just a very friendly positive presence on the streets, and it would be great if we could use some grant money--either urban ecology grant money or CDBG money (Community Development Block Grant--federal tax money in the form of a grant aimed at revitalizing low-income neighborhoods) to pay the Ambassadors of Easton to do the same in the West Ward. Laura is looking into whether some Weed & Seed grant money could be allotted to pay the Ambassadors, so stay tuned on that.
Dave Hopkins, Director of Public Works, spoke to me after the meeting about the possibility of arranging for a one-time clean up of particular blocks if we can convince all neighbors on a block to move their cars. I doubt this would ever happen unless street cleaning signs were posted like they do in New York, telling people they will be ticketed if they don't move their cars during a couple of hours in the morning on a particular day. This is a possibility that might meet a lot of resistance from people who hate having to move their cars, but they might find the payoff in regular street cleaning (rather than a one-time event) worth it.
What do you think? Please post your comments/ideas/concerns here.
By the way, the mayor has promised to send me both the breakdown of the CDBG budget, as well as information on the de-conversion incentive program that the City is looking at, and also housing incentives for police officers who buy in the West Ward. I'll keep you posted.
Posts
12 comments:
I find the West Ward a much better place to live. I loved the big raids - the one in my neighborhood has all but eliminated activity - and I like the tough stand the mayor takes letting the gangs and criminals know that we aren't bendig on the staunch position.
As for cleanliness, duh, must we rely on the city to clean our sidewalks and gutters? Let's promote some pride among our neighbors instead of relying on others to do it for us.
I have lived here a long time and I will say it -- the city is moving in the right direction and faster than I thought it would. I live neat one of the parks that became an under 14 park and I sent a thank you to the mayor - I had the quietest summer in more than 15 years.
Let's start talking about positives. If we keep talking negative only negative things will occur.
The striking resemblance to the other town meeting was I feel made because of the topics covered - not that nothing has been done since the last meeting. I agree with post before me, it's not great here but I love our West Ward and do see a real improvement.
The newcomers are welcome but you have no historic perspective like I do and others who were here for more than one to four years.
I would love to see one thing improved however, and thbat is the litter problem. The WWNP is joining others throughout city on April 25th for a city-wide clean-up being coordinated through the mayor's office -- why not volunteer and let's rally tgether to make it hap[pen.
If you want your comments to be taken seriously, it's important not to post anonymously and give no reference as to what part of the neighborhood you live in so that others that live near you cannot agree or disagree with your opinion of progress in the area. By posting comments in this way, there's no way of knowing you're an actual resident of the West Ward, or simply someone posting propaganda on behalf of the City. Being positive is one thing, but mocking the concerns of residents who believe that their tax money should cover services like street cleaning, as it is other most cities, is neither positive nor realistic.
I think the Mayor promised us alot. Fro crime to unused cable removal. It will take a long time to accomplish all these things and we ALL need to HELP. There has been a difference, but this city needs way more help. We need to be a bigger part of the change we ask for.I'm VERY happy to see so much proud new blood pitching in. Thanks to all of you who work so hard for us to have a better city, and thanks to all of you who continue to join us in our pride in this city of Easton. PITCH IN< PITCH IT IN< PITCH.
micki
I have been a resident of the West Ward for 33 years and have seen the good and bad through those years. I attended the mayor's summit last week and was greatly encouraged to see the new faces in attendance.
Micki is right when she says that things will only improve if we band together and do it ourselves. Our government will only help so much, the rest is up to us.
Thanks Noel for the blog.
Wanting improvements and asking pertinent questions does not mean that someone doesn't love their neighborhood. In fact, it seems to show a stronger commitment. I think regular street cleaning would be a positive step in the West Ward. Yes, we all need to take responsibility for the areas in front of our house. However, allowing the city to do regular cleaning of our streets would show a commitment from ALL of us for cleaner streets and neighborhoods.
Also, the amount of time someone has lived in the West Ward is irrelevant. As someone who has lived here for 3 years, we garner great knowledge and perspective from those who have lived here for many years. However, we are ALL neighbors, and ALL of our perspectives are important for a clear picture of where the West Ward is and the direction in which it is heading.
I must say that one MAJOR thing that bothered me was the statement by the mayor that CODE spent 1,000 hrs just enforcing violations at The Hub Cap store.
How can they condone so many hrs at one place????? Shouldn't they have just closed the place after maybe 50 hrs?...and perhaps used those other hrs enforcing elsewhere? Am I the only one that considers this unacceptable??? Shouldn't it be that we can hold CODE accountable for what seems to be a misuse of our tax money and their unacceptable amount of hours spent in one place?
micki -- not that I want to put myself in the position of defending the mayor here, but I don't believe he was talking only about code enforcement's time at the building.
I've seen the file; the city clearly documented the code violations at the Hubcap Store a long time ago. The problem is that the city has been very ineffective in getting it put out of business -- and the city continues to spend man-hours through police stings, lawyers and other city officials on this process. That's where Panto's 1,000 hours come from, I believe.
Clearly, the building's owner has become very skilled at using the system to his advantage (which is his right, of course).
Also, speaking of the CDBG spending, I blogged about this today over at The Morning Call's Easton blog.
Thank's for the info
I still think either way that 1,000 hrs is crazy...just condem the building no?
anyway
thanks
micki
I am a retired city code officer that knows exactly what the mayor is saying. The building is condemned but the owner is using all of the tricks in our court system to avoid responsibility. This owner is the lowest of low, he was that way wehen I worked for the city 20 years ago. Let's hope this mayor doesn't give up the way others have in the past 15 years/
so, if the building is condemed...how about a PADLOCK????
why not make him take the the city to court rather than this way???Wouldn't that have been cheaper?
I don't think he has the money to do that or the guts to say if his business costs were high. I have doubts that he would want to claim too much loss.
Post a Comment