The After Work Chronicles: Improve Quality of Place: Be part of the community

Monday, February 19, 2007

Improve Quality of Place: Be part of the community

Two thirds of Americans ages 25 through 34 say they’re deciding first where they want to put down roots, and then looking for a job in that place, according to a report by CEOs for Cities, a national network of urban leaders.

This conflicts with the common misconception that young professionals will go anywhere for a job. Not true. Talented young professionals choose places to live based not solely on productive considerations, but on amenities and consumption opportunities, community, social and family considerations. What many people refer to as "quality of place."

Talented young people are choosing to locate primarily in the center of a region. A three-mile circle generally corresponds to the commercial heart and close-in neighborhoods in each metropolitan area. In 2000 they were 33 percent more likely to live in the close-in neighborhoods.

So the key is here young professionals, and community leaders, we need to make our close-in neighborhoods more appealing, clean and affordable.

Well how do we do that?

One way is to become active in your local block watch or adopt-a-block program. These are groups of concerned citizens who work to create a better, safer community environment. They can help create things like safe houses for children, keep streets clean, and act as crime watchdogs. In addition, they can be a great social outlet. It's a chance to meet your neighbors, find people who will keep an eye on things while you're away, and even meet a group of individuals who can organize things like block parties.

Allentown
Adopt-A-Block
Weed and Seed Program
Allentown's Weed and Seed strategy is to "weed" out drug trafficking, violent crimes and related offenses through coordinated law enforcement and community policing; and to "seed" the designated areas with prevention, intervention and treatment programs designed to meet the communities' needs for human services, employment and economic development, youth development and housing.
Weed and Seed Coordinator: Phyllis Alexander, (610)-437-7679
alexander@allentowncity.org

Allentown Neighborhood Information Exchange (ANIE) is a cooperative effort between the various neighborhood organizations and crime watch groups in Allentown and the City's Department of Community Development. The mission of ANIE is to preserve and improve the City's neighborhoods by fostering better communication among the neighborhoods and the City government. Members include:

West Park Civic Association
Center City Citizens Cooperating (4Cs)
Muhlenberg Area Community Watch
Midway Manor Community Association
8th Ward Neighborhood Block Watch
Neighborhood 7 Crime Watch
Franklin Park Civic Association
10th Ward Quality Neighbors
Keck Park Community Association
Residents of East Allentown - Community on the Hill (REACH)

In addition other community organizations include:

Easton
Block Watch Association

Bethlehem
Blockwatch Program

The City of Bethlehem Police Department currently has 23 active “Blockwatch” groups that work in partnership with the police department to preserve and enhance the quality of life within their respective areas.