Editorials
Commentary: Help your neighbors help you
- Details
- By Gary P. Custer
- Tuesday, November 29, -0001
- Hits: 407
The obstacles have always been the same.
Residents have had to battle the commercial interests that feel their right to make money is a right that supersedes residents' right to live in a clean quiet, safe neighborhood.
They have had to fight government officials who find it easier to satisfy the immediate requests of well-heeled interests than to listen to neighborhood residents who want the officials to enforce the ordinances enacted to protect them.
They have had to battle the criminals who prey on them and irresponsible neighbors who do not feel bound by the commonly accepted rules of behavior that make life in an urban neighborhood tolerable.
And most importantly, they have had to deal with apathetic neighbors, the "absentee residents," who enjoy the amenities in a good neighborhood, but are unwilling to help those who work to create and maintain them.
Good neighborhoods do not just happen.
The quality of life in every Flint neighborhood is directly dependent on the residents' willingness to contribute their time and skills to maintain and improve it.
Government officials can either help or hinder residents' efforts through their power to enact and enforce laws to govern behavior.
But only the residents can create and maintain safe, clean and quiet neighborhoods by establishing and enforcing standards for acceptable behavior in their neighborhoods.
Because each neighborhood is different the standards of behavior will vary. But there are certain activities that are unacceptable in every neighborhood, including threats to personal safety, trash, excessive noise, public drinking, prostitution, drug sales, property theft and speeding automobiles.
Every neighborhood group we have ever had contact with, regardless of its members' socio-economic status, has had to deal with these problems on some level.
Those that succeeded did so because they were effective in getting short-term government support to deal with specific problems, such as neighborhood drug pushers and rowdy residents.
Then they worked to solved the underlying problems, such as bad absentee landlords, deteriorated housing and neighborhood apathy.
Those that expected government to solve their problems for them or that focused only on a specific threat eventually failed even if they were able to eliminate the immediate problem.
Some of the groups we cover are doing an excellent job of maintaining the quality of life in their neighborhoods. But they could do much more if they had your support.
At most meetings we cover there are only a dozen or so people trying to improve the quality of life for thousands of their neighbors.
Those that succeed do so primarily because they are skilled at getting government officials to solve specific problems by enforcing local laws.
Because of their size these groups are unable to compel voluntary compliance with the commonly accepted social norms of your neighborhood, so they are limited to short-term solutions for long-term problems.
They have the knowledge and skills to solve the underlying problems, but they cannot because they lack the support of the people who will benefit.
We urge you to spend a couple of hours a month to make it possible for them to do even more to maintain and improve your neighborhood.
In each issue of East Village Magazine you will find reports about what your neighborhood group is doing, when they meet next and a phone number you can call for more information.
Why not plan to spend an hour or so next month attending your neighborhood group's meeting?
—GPC
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