Comments on: How Do You Save a Neighborhood?

By: Jeph

Jeph — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:42:12 +0000

Hey Mitch, thanks for your thoughts. I’ll make sure to let you know if anything comes of this. It seems like such a good idea, just need a company or someone to champion the program. The proof would be in measuring if in fact it improves on the terrible crime rate we have. If it does, well, we just created a framework for other cities to follow to lower crime rates.
Thanks again!
Jeph

By: Mitch Gallant

Mitch Gallant — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:05:54 +0000

I think this is a remarkable idea. I believe there are hundreds of local corporate sponsors who would be able to help with not only man power but stuff like marketing and branding, creating a documentary, vehicles, lunches and the whole 9 yards.

To piggy back off sean stefan’s comment, and take a page from Cloud 9 (or use them) is awesome. That got so much publicity and, I think, created an appetite for business to get involved with this type of sponsorship.

The difference is one time shot vs. ongoing revitalization.

If there’s anything I can do to help or you’re looking for sponsors we have a Capital Cares committee that I’m involved with, and that I’d be happy to pitch to.

By: Ryan Holota

Ryan Holota — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:10:30 +0000

Neat idea. I’m against government directly funding the idea as it would create competition against private enterprise, but there is ample room for industry to get involved. Not only would this idea spur economic development, it would also be an excellent recruiting project for the trades who are hurting for young people.

If government would support this by clearing red tape and supporting business in the right way, it would have an excellent chance of working.

By: Jeph

Jeph — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:21:06 +0000

Zink, I would love to go through with it but work is far too bust right now. I would like to be directly involved though. I would like to build at least a ten year plan for it though to ensure it doesn’t fizzle away like the last attempt. Smart idea with the garbage cans though!
Thanks for your comment.

By: Jeph

Jeph — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:18:05 +0000

Sean, definitely seems like a project Adam could tackle. I’m not sure if you’d want to make it “low” profit, non-profit would make it more legitimate and ensure that the person running this program wasn’t trying to get rich off high-school labour. HA! thanks for your comment.

By: Jeph

Jeph — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:13:42 +0000

Thanks for the comment Umbra, you bring up some great points that I will have to pass on if we can find someone to go through with this. Also, partnering with the justice system makes sense, I think the next step would be convincing them to get on board.

Cheers!

By: Zink

Zink — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:24:27 +0000

I was talking to my dad and apparently the fire department and The city of Regina got on board with this a while ago. Not necessarily “Broken Window” theory but still along the same lines.

They noticed that the North Central Population obviously had artistic kids that did a lot of Graffiti. They also had a huge problem with back alley garbage cans being burnt down.

The solution was to combine the two problems. They allowed the kids to spray paint the garbage bins. In turn what used to be a victimless crime of burning down garbage cans now possessed a human element which drove down garbage can burning and graffiti in the area dropped dramatically as well. Regina got it right. Now to bad that was years ago and we never really heard much about it.

It’s time for round two Jeff , and that’s you
.-= Zink´s last blog ..Dashboard Confessional – Alter the ending =-.

By: Umbra

Umbra — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:24:36 +0000

Good idea, but you still have to factor in the general reluctance among teenagers (in general, not picking on any one city or area of a city) to engage in such activities. “Pride” in one’s neighborhood does exist, but it is lacklustre among the younger population.

I’m not one to agree that coercion is a workable solution, but it seems to me that a partnership between the venture and the justice system would increase the chance of success for this idea. At present, offenders are allowed (and in most cases, “lovingly coerced”) to engage in alternative measures programs (many of which mirror the concept you are purporting)

I think funneling some of those youth into a venture such as yours would accomplish several objectives:

1) Provision of a certain level of manpower for the project

2) Fostering (hopefully) a sense of pride in one’s neighborhood at the completion of said projects

3) Repeat Volunteers – We want these youth out of the cycle of “destroy property, end up in court, repeat” and into “rebuild property, end up with life skills, repeat”

It’s not an easy task; you need the right person. As you’ve stated (and I agree), you need someone:

a) Committed and willing to help the neighborhood in question

b) With the skillset needed to effectively manage such a venture

Cheers.

By: Sean Stefan

Sean Stefan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:39:35 +0000

Simple idea with great potential. Maybe a renovation contractor like Adam at Cloud 9 could start a non-profit division of his company to do renovations like this, or maybe it doesn't even need to be non-profit, just low profit. .-= Sean Stefan´s last blog ..Permission Marketing Is Non Transferable =-.