Neighborhood leaders who come to the quarterly Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) meetings represent you and the concerns and progress in your neighborhood. It is an avenue whereby we can request change and create a healthier community.
Neighborhood leaders are designated from the neighborhood association in each neighborhood. The volunteer board of directors for each NA are those who live in, or own property in, the boundaries of the neighborhood. Board members are voted in by neighbors who are members of the association, and they can be homeowners or renters. It doesn’t matter if you rent or own. It just matters if you live in the neighborhood. Building friendships with those who live near you is vital to creating a safer and friendlier neighborhood.
There is work to be done in our neighborhoods. The Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan talks about “complete neighborhoods” (info at forwardsgf.com/core/). Each neighborhood needs to start taking an inventory of the assets you already have and the development you want. We also need to start taking an inventory of where the problem properties are and identify the chronic nuisances and crimes you deal with in your neighborhood. With this information documented, we can start an action plan. We will set goals and remind each other to be realistic. Start a conversation with your neighbors and identify the “inventory-taking” volunteers.
I was recently at a conference where one of the speakers, Mara O. Shaw, said, “When the response to doing something different is, “but that’s the way we’ve always done it,” this indicates a sense of loss if there’s a change.”
If that feeling of loss comes up when we talk about changes in our neighborhoods, we can sort it out. Because, it will be necessary to create some changes for our community to grow and thrive.
Mara Shaw also shared a quote with us, “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin
Our city is nearly 60% rentals. This has created challenges on multiple levels. As they are the majority of our population, we need to work with our neighbors who rent (and occasionally their landlords). This is one of the areas where we need to make some changes and elevate the quality of life in our neighborhoods. The City’s recent Housing Study and Building Development Services quarterly nuisance property reports to City Council confirm this.
Here’s your homework, should you choose to accept it: Meet with your neighborhood association and share your ideas and concerns. Discuss the inventory lists your volunteers created as mentioned above. Then, those leaders will meet with the NAC and we will brainstorm solutions. Those brainstorming sessions will also come to each neighborhood so be sure you watch for the meeting schedule and connect on social media to stay informed. Feel free to email me your list of assets and list of problems as well at nac.sgf.658@gmail.com. This will help us create some priorities.
Remember, the way for you to be heard is to get involved. Share what you are dealing with and what you need. There is always a solution, even if it’s on the horizon!