What neighborhood do you live in? Have you ever had your CDC or Block Club or Council Rep mail or email you a survey about a neighborhood issue? I’m genuinely interested, because it’s an idea I can’t get out of my head. We all live in neighborhoods that need things; take a look at most strip malls and there is usually at least one vacant storefront. Yes, some of this is a natural part of retail or business life, but wouldn’t it be great for an entrepreneur who decides to open a storefront if she or he knew the neighborhood peeps felt they had been missing their services…and needed or wanted it.
This is the second part of my musings, for what they are worth, on solutions for cities, big and small, and the need for connectivity between those we elect to represent us and those of us who live and work here (wherever here happens to be). This was Part One.
I have seen schools do it, through PTA’s, asking for comments about possible cuts in services like sports programs, as an example. But I have yet to see surveys that seem to want our opinion about how to solve any problems. The other day I wrote about the possible explanations for why there can be a disconnect between those of us who live in a neighborhood and what happens there. And I am including the businesses who operate in our communities….they can feel disconnected as well.
We’ve seen the new Master Plan and it was dog and pony’d at community meetings last year. It was called Connecting Cleveland. People came out to see what was going on, what was proposed; at least at the three I attended. Here is my premise: the more you ask for involvement and show you care what people think, the more willing people are to try to be part of the solution.
I found this survey on line; I think it’s a Bellingham, Washington survey, done by an area neighborhood association, and the comments are good. They run the gammut of interests: some want a walkway and the addition of one or two shops in the neighborhood (maybe this is from a home owners assn). The comments at the end of District 6 are wonderful:
“….I never knew there was an Edgemoor website. Another: I can’t wait to see the survey results! Thanks for sending this out, I don’t have the Internet. Thank you for all your hard work!….”
Here is a survey conducted by the Sociology and Anthropology Dept at Portland’s Lewis and Clark College. They got responses that dealt with things like air quality, asthma, development, traffic congestion. They seemed to be seeking information on who was connected (Internet) and who wasn’t. Respondents worried about energy costs, gentrification, soaring rent values.
I had an idea that maybe our CDC’s and City Ward leaders could hire high school interns to conduct some surveys to get us involved in our neighborhood life in a positive way. You know how many people have talked about a need for national service. (I heard Jim Lehrer talk about this too, and he’s an old military man). Well getting our high school students involved in the neighborhoods would show them that they don’t have to disconnect, they can be a part of the solution as well.
Two things caused me to write about this now. First, Sharon from New Urban Mom wrote a great post on the mortgage crisis, among other things. Like any good post that generates discussion, the talk turned to the ‘turning around of her community’ and how that was done with initiatives, hard work, and a mayor with vision. (This is all starts in the comments) She was really positive about her Mayor’s efforts in the community, and I asked her if there was one attribute she could transfer from her mayor to ours, what would it be? (and yes she used to live in Cleveland).
“….The Mayor I’m speaking of is Don Cousens, former mayor of Markham….if there was one attribute I could transfer it would be his collaborative approach to management.
He pulled upon community development advocates and international thought leaders on relevant issues for advice. He had national market research companies involved in helping to engage and poll residents here on so many plans, initiatives and proposals that not only did we feel respected but we understood that we had a stake and say in the future development of our city….”
Does this idea excite you as much as it does me? Couldn’t this happen here?
(post getting long so more later, I guess there really is a part three) Peace Out – 3C
0 responses so far ↓
1 Christine Borne // Apr 14, 2008 at 11:10 am
Are you going to the OCNW annual meeting this month? Is this an idea that we could bring up? (I don’t know how these meetings go….)
If OCNW asked me what I thought Ohio City needed, you know I would say “a drug store.” Even if it is just Marc’s!
2 Carole Cohen // Apr 14, 2008 at 11:40 am
Hi Christine and yes I am going to go to the annual meeting next week too – I think it’s a great idea to bring up! If they don’t have a Q & A then I’m sure we can talk about it with a board member or two afterwards. OC is one of the better organized groups but as you and I have talked, still no surveys in a formal manner about this kind of issue. I agree it would be so helpful to have a drugstore.
3 BrooklynRes // Apr 15, 2008 at 11:12 am
Declining property values in Cleveland and other parts of Northeast Ohio should equal commensurate declining property tax assessments.
Some say 30% 40% or even 50% of average house value has been wiped out recently.
Given the fact that property values will continue in these historic lows for the foreseeable future, and also given the glacial speed renown in tax offices to adjust tax rates down, there’s no time like the present to beat the bushes and start demanding that Northeast Ohio politicos and their administrators do the right thing: We need mass, blanket property value reassessments, and revised, seriously reduced property tax rates.
If my mortgage company can send me a letter indicating that “seriously declining property values” are causing them to suspend my ability to draw against my home equity line of credit, then we too, as taxpayers should be able to demand immediate fair market reassessment of our property, stopping the cities and counties from drawing taxes from us based on currently grossly over-estimated property values
4 Carole Cohen // Apr 15, 2008 at 11:22 am
Brooklyn Res, the deadline for appealing your current tax amount this year was March 31st I think, and I wonder how many people even knew they could do that. I agree and think this would be an area where cohesive neighborhoods could get the word out about this issue. Short of that maybe a reopening of the appeal process would be good.
Is your equity loan held by a bank in trouble in our area ? If not, I’m wondering if a lot of people are getting these letters. Thank you, very informative.
5 BrooklynRes // Apr 15, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Countrywide holds the mortgage and HELC. I tuned-in only too late to learn about possibility of assessment appeal. I agree: Grassroots neighborhood-based action (opening up the appeal/ reassessment process, extending deadlines predicated on the exigency of the real estate market situation) might be in order. Besides this blog, what other resources might we have to try to generate interest and support for a write-in campaign/ public, media and government relations blitz?
6 Carole Cohen // Apr 15, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I’m already asking some questions, BrooklynRes, regarding official methods, but you mention good ideas right here – I’d say btw that a petition drive in the neighborhoods couldn’t hurt either? I’m thinking this is a very worthwhile effort (which might need broad based community support because Cleveland does need our tax money). Let’s keep talking and working on this.
7 BrooklynRes // Apr 15, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Agreed: there is downside to consider if tax receipts were to be threatened to extent that true market value reassessment might cause. However, there are serious consequences for individuals continuing to pay high taxes on property worth substantially less than 6 or 12 months ago (with no return to those values in sight). A creative solution is called for that gives individuals/families some relief while not totally decimating the tax base.
8 Carole Cohen // Apr 20, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Brooklyn Res (and e1 else for that matter), booth at Earthfest Day for County Auditor! I talked to the gentleman manning the booth who said a revision of the Ohio Code would have to be made in order to change the length of time for the tax appeal dates. I’m going to do short post about it as well.
9 Tax Appeals For Cuyahoga County..Info from Earthfest Day No Less | Cleveland Real Estate News // Apr 20, 2008 at 6:04 pm
[...] County Auditor’s staff. I had to go over and talk to them because Brooklyn Res commented on my post about surveying of neighborhoods….regarding changes to the property tax appeal [...]
Leave a Comment