$417,000?
The original Neighborhood Improvement District or NID proposed for downtown Easton to maintain the Main Street Initiative and Easton Ambassador program is "dead in the water" according to Mayor Panto, as quoted in Jim Deegan's article in the Express-Times. As a result of a few public meetings than rendered not just protest, but creative resident feedback, the Greater Easton Development Partnership (GEDP), headed by Gretchen Logenbach, will be making revisions to the original proposal, and then presenting the revised NID at the next public meeting which will be held on Aug. 10, 6 p.m. at the Two Rivers Landing auditorium at 30 Centre Square.
For those unfamiliar with the Easton Ambassadors, they are the people in red shirts and hats that go around with brooms and garbage cans on wheels, keeping downtown clean and answering questions from passers-by. They are incredibly popular with just about everyone I've talked to, because they have done a great job of cleaning up Easton's downtown, which has seen shabbier days. The Main Street Initiative is responsible for reviving our historic Farmers Market--the oldest continuous farmers market in the United States--from near extinction, in addition to providing a lot of great marketing for downtown businesses. Many credit these two organizations with the recent renaissance of Easton's Centre Square restaurant district. Funds for these programs are administered by the GEDP.
No one debates that these efforts have had an important positive effect on our downtown, but what they do debate, is how we should be paying for it. In the wake of recent state budget
cuts, the GEDP is short on money to support these programs, and so is proposing a NID, which is essentially a tax on downtown residents to raise funding to for the programs.
The immediate response was a general outcry against the tax hike, and concern that raising taxes on downtown residents might inspire a residential flight, rather than attracting more residents to invest downtown. But other questions have been raised as well. Some residents want to know why we can't find a solution for cleaning up downtown that costs less than $417,000/year. Some want to know how much it would cost for city workers to do the job. One resident, at the last public meeting, asked why we couldn't emulate New York's successful welfare-to-work program and have the distribution of welfare be tied to street sweeping as a community service. Some suggest that a BID (Business Improvement District) would be better, while others say it would discourage businesses from investing downtown. City Councilmen Mike Fleck and Ken Brown proposed creating a new fund that would take money from the general fund to support the programs (which would eventually result in a tax increase for all Easton residents, to replenish the general fund). And then there's Mayor Panto's challenger for the November election, Mike Krill, who wants to know why everyone can't clean the streets in front of their buildings themselves and save money that way.
Planning Commissioner Dennis Lieb proposed creating Neighborhood Parking District instead, so that downtown residents could use the revenue from parking meters on their blocks to support the programs if they wanted to, without raising taxes on anyone anywhere.
We'll all have to all show up on August 10th, 6pm at the next public meeting at the Two Rivers Landing auditorium at 30 Centre Square to see whether or not the GEDP will follow his lead.
Posts
19 comments:
I'm no Krill supporter, but he is 100% right.
Why can't we expect people to clean up in front of their own homes and businesses?
Why do we have to depend on a government entity to improve the quality of our lives?
Get up off your ass and do it yourself.
I agree. But, most property owners in the downtown area do maintain their properties...sometimes, the rental properties seem to be the ones without activity for garbage and litter removal. This can be expected as the tenants expect the landlord to do the cleanup. Perhaps engage them to be more conscientious about doing this type of thing.
Regardless of occupant status (owner or renter)or any specific arrangemnet between landlord and tenant, the occupant is ultimately responsible for proper maintenance of property...including trash in gutters and sidewalks.
This concept seems to be lost on most tenants with responsibility for first floor units - both downtown and especially the West Ward.
If they are not complying then the fine structure, aggresiveness of enforcement and focus of attention towards the landlord must be increased proportionately.
Totally aside from the ulimate resolution of the downtown NID/BID funding scheme; this attitude of complacency requires an adjustment via city intervention in a big way.
As I've said over and over before, we over-emphasise police manpower and under-estimate code manpower when it comes to dealing with these issues city wide.
As quality of life issues are addressed through stricter code enforecement we will see diminishing need to deal with the criminal element that seems to go hand-in-hand with nuisance activity and bad property maintenance.
I am going to do whatever I can to make this point - over and over as necessary - until it sinks in.
DRL
Very good point Dennis - stick with that point. We are already paying the salaries of the city to enforce codes - they need to do it. Landlords will screen their tenants more carefully if they know they are going to be fined for taking the whoever and not holding out for good tenants. Many landlords in Easton do not believe they can get good tenants to live in Easton. This is simply not true based on my own experience. But you may have to wait and not be tempted by persons who waive cash in front in your face. Cash up front ends badly cause usually they are dealers and/or will fill the house with friends and wreck it. Not worth it. Wait for the right people to come and you will make out better.
Dennis:
Do you have concerns that the city has swung so far in the "do nothing if anything at all" direction that if they attempt to crack down they'll be risking lawsuits or accusations of discrimination?
I personally agree with you; let code handle (and I mean *handle*) most quality of life issues, and let the police handle crime. The two *should* meet in the middle with a positive result.
UT
UT...
I lived through the three Goldsmith terms so I know what "do nothing" means. I wouldn't put this administration under that definition. And in fairness I would point out that the current code staff amounts to four people (if you count director of codes Cindy Cawley). What I am stressing to you - and to the city in other, less public forums - is that there is a symbiotic relationship between the West Ward and downtown.
With all the emphasis on Downtown as Easton's economic engine over the years, you would think there would be some measurable long-term, city-wide change. But each of the mayors in the majority of my lifetime have tried this approach; Schultz, Ashton, Mitman I, Panto I, Goldsmith (with relief pitching by McFadden), Mitman II and now Panto II have all made it their baby.
Between the 70's and today we've gone from HUD urban renewal/cash-for-demolition fiascoes to plans by DIG (Downtown Improvement Group - bad acronym) that were all about parking to a half-assed National Historic District with pretty handbooks and no teeth to TRACC (Two Rivers Area Chamber) to a local historic district designation (finally!) to a turf war by the two chambers resulting in the current LV Chamber configuration and now Main Street/Ambassadors and a potential BID....Oh, and with a handful of downtown managers thrown in at various points along the way.
Are we better off than ten years ago? In many ways yes. Are we robust and resilient to weather the long-term? I'm skeptical. Over those years have we done enough to engage local entrepreneurs (including funding) that builds redundancy and diversity into the economy rather than supporting home run projects that either fail, never materialize or concentrate activity in a small area with minimal spillover effect? We are certainly no where near the level of commercial health of the late 60's - before all these plans were hatched. So when does the emphasis shift elsewhere?
Today the talk is about re-populating downtown with new residents. I'm all for that - the city's peak 1950s population was 10,000 people higher than today. But even if we repopulate downtown that customer base is still insufficient to support a city economy. The West Ward is the critical mass of 11,000 people needed to make the city thrive and it is directly physically connected to downtown via the street grid and especially Northampton Street. The main business street is perceived to be (as ex-mayor McFadden has stated) the beginning of "downtown" for those who drive into Easton on it from the west.
It isn't treated that way.
End Part One (Fingers crossed that Prt Two shows up.)
DRL
Part Two...
So, our resources and manpower are down. I say we re-prioritize our emphasis towards code and away from more police. I say we allow the force to shrink by attrition and transfer that budget savings to code enforcement because no new money is coming anytime soon. I will have more to say on the parking benefit district aspects of this issue at council but for now I'd say we should be thinking fresh; perhaps dedicate a portion of parking revenue to code enforcement focused on downtown and minimize the Ambassadors role to just those things the downtown citizens desire from them. I'm sure all kinds of options can be discussed once the funding is right.
But back on point; the West Ward makes or breaks the city and right now it is breaking it because you can't build a local economy on a neighborhood with a significant percentage of lowlifes, deadbeats and bums. I feel justified in making a statement like that as a 50 year resident. I see things everyday that would make my parents sick. I know many hard working, intelligent people living here who deserve better. But dumping all our hopes into a large police force, untrained for such community policing issues - when gutters are falling off houses, grass isn't cut, trashcans sit on the curb all week and gangster wanna-be's degrade livability of neighborhoods with boom-cars and front porch stereo rap concerts - ain't helpin.
DRL
As a WW resident I can say that I see more Code Enforcement officers than ever before. They are here and there and everywhere. I also know that we finally have an admininstration that doesn't play favorites and doesn't have selective enforcement.
However, more than all of what was said here, we need stronger state laws that allows a city to enforce the codes and do sonething with owners that don't maintain their property.
PA law protects property owners and the lwas make it onerous and time-consuming to affect change.
But at least we now have a department that is working the system to make a difference.
Anon 11:32--you sound like you are from the city, so if there is a way that readers can help pressure the state to change these laws, please post how so that we can write letters, call, etc.
Anon@11:32..
With all do respect to your opinion, I can't agree. I talk to people every day who say the exact opposite...and I mean a lot of people. And in pure mathematical terms, there is simply no denying that there are only three code people on the street and one of them does exclusively rental inspections - not maintenance code issues.
I can take you to locations today, right now, that have been in violation of multiple codes for years and have been reported multiple times and nothing has changed.
Exhibit A) My street; at the corner of Chidsey and S 13th is a rental property that - among a long list of chronic violations - leaves trash on the curb 7 days a week, despite numerous complaints by me. Another neighbor on N 12th has a backyard that resembles the Sanford and Son TV show and yet another was allowed to build an illegal deck without permit or inspection (and despite me reporting it before it was completed) that now dumps water into my backyard and undermines my patio.
Exhibit B) The church on the corner of Walnut and Ferry has a vacant lot behind their building that is heaped with trash of every kind that has been there for ten years without arousing the code office's ire, but they seem to have no problem putting $1000/day fine warnings on the doors of responsible surrounding property owners if their grass is a few inches too long.
Exhibit C) Probably the poster child for blatant disregard of code and simple respect for fellow residents is the Armory. As I speak, there is yet again a dump truck parked on the sidewalk in front of the building, full of debris. Previously it was a fire truck. Before that, stockpiling dirt, junked vehicles and other debris on the vacant lot, which doesn't even meet any requirements for a legal parking lot in the city. Before that, cutting down city-bought street trees without a permit and filling the tree wells with concrete.
Having this going on right in the heart of the busiest intersection in the West Ward is the equivalent of giving the city the finger every single day and them turning around and saying "please sir, may I have some more?"
DRL
Here's hoping:
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2011/08/easton_mayor_sal_panto_jr_to_t.html
UT--your link didn't connect to an article--were you going for this one on the mayor's press conf today at 3pm on the 6th floor of the alpha building?
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2011/08/easton_mayor_sal_panto_jr_to_t.html
the mayor is announcing a new program targeting 40 blighted buildings, 20 of which will be part of a new "Clean It or Lein It" initiative. Should be interesting!
That's the one, Noel - thanks for the good link!
UT
I saw the list on the Express site. The Armory is on, and one (only one?!) Frank Marra property.
UT
I will be posting about the press conference soon--it was long and a lot of ground was covered.
According to the mayor, most of Larry Marra Jr.'s properties have brought up to compliance now...
Several properties were in the West Ward, close to the cluster area where the Redevelopment authority has been doing the green rehabs, Pine, Spruce, Ferry, etc.
Larry Marra's properties have been sold. He has been dead for about 10 years I believe. It proves the point that you need to change ownership if you want improvement
do you mean sold to someone other than his son, Larry Marra, Jr?
it gets confusing, since there are two Larry Marra's, and both are purported to be slumlords--like father, like son, I guess. I have heard that one of the local colleges actually teaches a class on slumlords and blight, featuring Larry Marra, Jr...
There's also a Francesca Marra - Larry Sr's ex-wife. If you Google, you can find scads of alternately hilarious/sad information on the family real estate saga.
Here's an example:
http://articles.mcall.com/2000-11-15/news/3332523_1_superior-court-slumlord-easton
UT
wow--that's a really interesting article--thanks for the link UT!
it seems to reiterate the point that the real problem is at the state level.
we need to push for more self-governance under Home Rule Charter. we should be able to make our own laws and process and penalties on blight in our community, without having our hands tied by the mandates of the state, who clearly doesn't care about our community.
Post a Comment