To be or not to be—that was to be the question for neighborhood associations this fall.
Our bimonthly publication had done its best to stay on top of this issue from the inception of Commissioner Eudaly’s hand-picked Code Change Committee to BWNA’s resolution approved at Taste of Beaumont (arguing for retention and strengthening of the neighborhood association system) to the tour de force “Neighborhood Associations Rock!” exhibition that inspired neighborhood associations to organize and collectively fight back against the gutting of the neighborhood association system. The updated story is provided on page 1.
Reporting this story had been a challenge for me, mainly due to the early-on decision by the leadership at the Office of Community & Civic Life to disengage from communicating with neighborhood association leaders. The lack of contact fueled rumors about manipulation of the process by Eudaly, the predisposition of Code Change Committee members, and about a plan to weaken, if not destroy, the neighborhood association system. And lack of specificity in the code change proposal language only added to speculation regarding the demise of neighborhood democracy in favor of administrative fiat.
Fanning the flames of controversy had been public speeches by Commissioner Eudaly and Office of Community & Civic Life Director Rhee stereotyping neighborhood association leaders as older white elitist homeowners who don’t care about anyone else. BWNA’s response, and the approach of this newsletter, was to dispel stereotyping with the facts. To that end, the BWNA board submitted a letter to the City Council in July that contained a list of BWNA projects and activities that had served to enhance neighborhood livability and broaden civic engagement by residents:
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Wilshire Park enhancement: improved lighting; removal of graffiti from pavilion mural; construction of a NatureSpace area; replacement of worn out play equipment in toddler’s play area; utilizing park areas for National Night Out Picnic and Movie in the Park (co-sponsored by BWNA with Alameda NA).
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Business district enhancement: diagonal parking off Fremont; Good Neighbor Agreement to mitigate late-night noise at a pub; discouraging cell tower construction on business site adjacent to residential area; collaboration with Beaumont Business Association (BBA) to promote community events sponsored by BWNA and BBA; newsletter articles and ads publicizing local businesses.
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Beaumont Middle School enhancement: replacement of a worn out white board with a new one; sponsorship donation to “Sparrow” program (motivating students to engage in service projects for the purpose of raising funds to support children with special medical needs); collaborating with PTA, administration, and music program in hosting Taste of Beaumont.
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Traffic safety improvements: speed bumps installed on Wisteria Drive to mitigate speeding on inclines that had resulted in numerous accidents; modernized traffic light systems installed at two busy intersections resulting in greater pedestrian safety and systematic regulation of traffic flow; sidewalk extensions making it safer to cross wide streets; collaboration with PBOT to present proposed projects to neighborhood and affected residents.
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Advocacy for land use reform: preservation of neighborhood character (saving viable, affordable homes from demolition and replacement by out-of-scale, million-dollar-plus dwellings); regulation of teardowns with health concerns in mind (prior notification, deconstruction, inspection ordinances adopted); city-provided water for traffic island garden maintenance; engagement in zoning changes affecting the neighborhood and involvement in the Residential Infill Project.
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Dissemination of information: presentations at general board meetings by local speakers on topics ranging from emergency preparedness to crime prevention to bee pollination and honey production; BWNA newsletter coverage of local issues of interest, community events, neighborhood human interest stories, gardening and recipe tips, and much more; newsletter archives on website (www.bwna.us); announcements posted on BWNA blog (i.e., website).
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Volunteers lending a helping hand: assisting needy neighbors upon request with household repairs and yard maintenance; assisting the homeless with garbage cleanup; food collection for the needy; neighborhood graffiti cleanups; Alameda Street public stair cleanup and replanting of stair beds with native plants; 60-plus residents delivering newsletters to residences and businesses.
The letter in its entirety can be read on the BWNA blog at www.bwna.us.
Currently, the Office of Community & Civic Life (formerly named the Office of Neighborhood Involvement) provides money to district coalition organizations for staff salaries and funding of programs to assist constituent neighborhood associations with projects and community outreach. B-W’s coalition organization, Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN), distributes yearly “communication” grants of a little over $2,000 to each constituent NA, almost all of which BWNA uses to defray the cost of publishing this newsletter six times a year. CNN also offers small grants for enhancement projects; provides liability insurance coverage for NA events, such as NNO Picnic and Taste of Beaumont; and assists NA fundraising efforts, like the one currently underway by Friends of Wilshire Park, through its nonprofit tax status (making donations tax-deductible). All of this, if the proposed code change language were approved, would be subject to removal by Office of Community & Civic Life executive decision. It’s a wakeup call, folks. Stay Alert!
Concluding on a purely positive note, a warm welcome to our newest advertiser Evolve Performance Healthcare! (see their ad on page 9)