Thursday, April 13th, 7:00 at Graduate Hospital Room 2A.

It is upstairs in the Pepper Pavilion, enter from the Lombard Street entrance, up the ramp to the elevators, take elevator to the second floor, and look for a sign for Room 2A.

This is intended to be a brainstorming session to discuss what we can do to organize our crime reporting , and how to get rid of empty lots, vacant houses, and nuisance establishments.

I'm not sure if anyone is planning on attending, so please answer the pole, and please come out. I do believe that our letters and reporting have lead to increased patrolling and some of the arrests around the neighborhood over the last week, let's find a way to build on that momentum.

So far the agenda includes:

1: Community Reporting.

I know a lot of people are doing this, but I think we need an organized system. If one person knows about a problem, then 10-20 people should be reporting it. Part of this discussion will involve some "Crime Watch" stuff, or people getting together to walk the blocks and identify problems. Another part of it will be to discuss who to report to, and any allies we can make in this effort with businesses, government, and police.

2: Obstacles to development.

This is the part that I think would not go over well with SOSNA from what I understand. I think one of the most important things we need to do in terms of safety is to get some of our local problem spots cleaned up. Most of these spots have a lot of vacant properties or city owned properties that we need to get in the hands of developers. This will include:

A: LJLong’s description of the sheriff sale process.
B: Redevelopment agreements, and
C: PHA properties,

All are touchy subjects with SOSNA, but all obstacles to a safe neighborhood.

As I said, I don't intend for this to be anti-SOSNA, I plan on attending Wednesday’s SOSNA meeting as well since I think it’s a great agenda, but since a lot of people have shown interest in the Sheriff Sale process, I think this would be a good opportunity to teach the neighborhood how it works, and how to use it in an ethical manor.

So let me know if you will attend.
Thank
Mark

I can't make it this Thursday, but definitely would want to know what comes of it.

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I'm gonna try to get there.

Where exactly is Room 2A? More specifically, which entrance?

It is upstairs in the Pepper Pavilion, enter from the Lombard Street entrance, up the ramp to the elevators, take elevator to the second floor, and look for a sign for 2A.

I'll add this to the original post.

I've just learned that my mother is in the hospital, so I doubt I'll be able to make the meeting.

I would ask that when you consider certifying properties you also include a component of community sensitivity. I know of at least one case where a "citizen activist" mistook a group of active teenagers for a nest of drug users/dealers, with results upsetting to the elderly resident of the house and extremely annoying to the long-term residents who inevitably heard about it. I would hope that those who want neighborhood improvement do not want to drive out any decent folk who've temporarily fallen on hard times.

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I'm very sorry to hear about your mother.

I'm with you on the sensitivity part. I think the main goal should be to certify empty properties and lots. For example, there's an empty lot on my block and the owner lives no where near here. This owner owes thousands of $ in back taxes. I don't think anyone wants to displace people. I would not support that, but obviously because certifying properties is up to individuals I can't control what other people do.

Does anyone else think "Pepper Pavilion" is fun to say?

I'll echo both of JillyS's points, sorry to hear about your mother.

And yes, obviously anyone who is willing to put up their own money can certify any property they like, so my intent is to teach people how it is done, and how to do it responsibly. I'm personally of the opinion that no one should be allowed to live off of their neighbors (which is basically what you are doing by not paying property taxes), BUT…

I am also not interested in seeing good people displaced. I would like to have someone like yourself who's been around longer then I have point that out, but I certainly understand your situation, hopefully it will go well and we'll have a second meeting that you can attend!

I second the sensitivity part. Of course, it's one thing to fall on hard times and need some assistance. It's quite another to terrorize a neighborhood or have no regard for the health of it.