Last night’s neighborhood meeting went very well, I think. It’s been challenging getting the group together, and I would imagine it’s going to be an even greater challenge to keep us all together, but I hope the group serves the neighborhood well for many years to come. Francie Johnson from DOVE came to speak with us and did a very good job explaining how to form a neighborhood group and answered many of our questions. I uploaded a couple videos from the night to the Decatur Navigator’s YouTube Channel.
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13.7% is now Decatur’s official unemployment number – the highest since 1983. We have to remember that the real number of unemployed is always higher than the official number. It’s going to be scary when benefits run out because I don’t know what people are going to do for jobs in Decatur, if things don’t turn around soon.
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Lincoln is having their balloon festival this weekend. I’ve never been to it before but I think I’m going to go over this weekend and check it out! The weather is going to be great. What a wonderful Summer we’ve had – unless you happen to own a pool.
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And I still haven’t gotten an answer on the bike trail that was supposed to built near the Home Park and Ravina Park neighborhoods. I drove down Center Street a couple days ago and it looks like a bike trail is being constructed in a field near Stevens Creek but I don’t know if the project has been stopped or what. I’d really love an answer and I don’t know why it’s so hard to get one from our Park District.
Great video – looks like you all have some really caring folks! That is exactly what you need. Actually exactly what WE need Those types are the treasures of our community – cause the quality of YOUR neighborhood effects the quality of MY city.
And Francie did a good job too bringing up the prevention aspect…. I agree there -unfortunately many of us need a near crisis situation to make us act. Including yours truly.
I’m so glad that your neighborhood group is so proactive in your area. We really don’t live that far apart. Parts of Ravina Park are facing the same issues that you guys are. We have two abandoned houses on my street alone. My husband keeps the one next to our house mowed but the other one down the street is kind of wild and woolly.
And it’s true a lot of people don’t feel the need to get involved until something awful happens – but it can be too late then.
But I’m also looking forward to the fun stuff the neighborhood can do. For the most part our area is doing very well. We haven’t had major crime issues and people still feel safe to go for walk in the evening. (It would help if some areas had more sidewalks though…) I’m hoping we can put together a weenie roast for October for the area. You’re welcome to come on over too. We’re all in this together. This isn’t Forsyth!
Well, Bill Clevenger from the Decatur Park District gave me a call this morning and cleared up some of the “bike path is it gonna happen / is it not gonna happen” mystery. The state rejected the bids that came back because they were too high but hopefully the new bids will be more to the state’s liking and the path can begin construction in 2010.
He also reassured me about the Nelson Park development plans. The park district is currently trying to find the right planning firm to give their expert guidance for whatever Decatur plans to do. Clevenger also reassured me that public input will be sought and I’ll be holding the park district to that promise. He also would like to have someone from the park district come to one of our neighborhood meetings and I hope that someone comes. The biggest problem this city often has is the lack of face-to-face communication residents have with our public leaders.
He called me at 8:30 this morning and I was still half-asleep, so I’m sure I sounded like a dope. Now I want a phone call from the governor and President Obama. I’m sure they’re reading this blog too.