Historical November–December 2017 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
A recent, significant blip in the crime picture has shattered our complacency. Through the diligence of our safety co-chairs, aldermen, and 5th district personnel, the perpetrators have been apprehended.
However, this should be a continuing wake up call for all of us.
A 71 year old gentleman who was robbed on Westminster lamented what he perceives as a lack of neighborliness, a neighborliness that had been more prevalent in previous times. Block units were a critical feature of Skinker DeBaliviere’s regeneration. Many were trained to do neighborhood watch.
Some also provided outlets for social activities. Block units served as conduits of information and helped people learn who their neighbors were. Today, several block units are alive and functional but many are not.
The structure remains worthwhile as an information tree at the least.
It would help if residents of a block had a list of the block’s residents, with e-mail addresses or phone numbers.
They could share information about crime or various residential tidings. Several blocks have held street parties in recent years and these can certainly help to increase acquaintanceship.
We do have block captains but too often they just deliver flyers and this paper.
We need to know our blocks better than we do.
I moved to my present abode over 3 years ago.
I know my immediate neighbors and a couple other families. Not good.
When I lived on Pershing I got to know more neighbors but there were some I never knew at all. Our SDCC director, Brandon Sterling, is eager to work with emerging block units. Let’s recapture the neighborliness of a bye gone time, for security and for the feeling of belonging. Increased camaraderie can only make us more stable and successful.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2017.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2017_11.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
