Neighborhoods Mobilization
Increasingly neighborhood organizations are having a stronger role in this city, in being able to lead and mobilize its residents. This St. Pete Times article below highlights an example of that.
Should this role be made more official? Should neighborhood leaders have more of a official consultative role within city government? In the Philippines the smallest local government unit is the barangay and is similar to a villages and urban neighborhoods. "The unit comprises approximately 2,000 people (usually a few city blocks), is self governed by a council consisting of 8 councillors headed by a captain and is responsible for local projects and controls" Could some elements of the barangay be brought over here? For example. Community Development Block Grants. These are doled out based on recommentations by neighborhood representatives. What if this group could actually make the finally decision on the spending and a certain percentage could actually go back straight into each neighborhood? What if a certain amount of tax money could go the same way? A resident of Toronto had the same such an idea and posted some commentary on it.
Getting involved was only way to go
Inspired by one community association leader's Katrina relief efforts, others are jumping in.
SHERRI DAY
Published September 16, 2005
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Watching countless images of destruction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina finally got to Maureen Uhlig.
Rather than sit by and do nothing, Uhlig, president of the Swann Estates Neighborhood Association, decided to try to help.
She sent an e-mail to more than 100 neighborhood and civic organizations around the city, detailing her association's intent to donate $500 to the Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts.
Uhlig challenged other groups to do the same.
"I felt so compelled to do whatever I could," she said. "It could happen here, and we'd want the same support to go to us if, God forbid, we should ever be in their shoes."
Within hours, neighborhood groups responded.
Palma Ceia West agreed to donate and joined Swann Estates in issuing the call for help. The Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association raised $500 and is continuing to seek funds, Uhlig said.
Other community groups around the city are responding in other ways.
The Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Watch Association is collecting clothing and personal care items for police officers in New Orleans.
In North Tampa, the New Tampa Community Council issued a challenge of its own. The civic group pledged to raise a minimum of $5,000 for the Red Cross. Its leaders asked all New Tampa and citywide groups to join them.
Uhlig mailed Swann Estates' contribution to the Red Cross last week. While she continues to press other organizations to donate, she's also putting together another hurricane fundraising event.
Swann Estates, along with homeowners in Palma Ceia West, created Dining for Disaster. On Sept. 24, Uhlig is asking restaurants and entertainment venues to donate a portion of their profits to hurricane relief efforts. So far, Moe's Southwest Grill and Mama Fu's Asian House on Neptune Street have signed on. The restaurants plan to donate 15 percent of their profits to the Red Cross.
Uhlig is confident that her efforts will aid Katrina victims.
"There's a lot of love out there," she said. "People are doing it."
- People or businesses interested in participating in Dining for Disaster may contact Maureen Uhlig at 758-6243. Sherri Day can be reached at 813 226-3405 or sday@sptimes.com
3 comments:
For every dollar contributed to the Red Cross - OR the Salvation Army - a certain percentage goes to "administration" which includes salaries, lunches out, phone bills, etc. This is based on the "charity's" cash flow. Many of us would like to donate a dollar and know the whole dollar goes to help the people who need it. If anyone is willing to go out and purchase the needed goods, Angel Flight SE (www.angelflightse.org) will fly it to the designated area and make sure it is delivered to those who need it.
Yesterday Angel Flight SE flew 3 10-man, 3-room tents to Biloxi to help house people who "didn't meet our criteria" according to the Red Cross. Thus, these people had been living and sleeping in a field for over 2 weeks. We got them a roof over their heads before Rita hit. We also flew a plane full of fresh produce into Bay St. Louis, MS. The people had eaten only MRE's for over 2 weeks. All these goods were purchased by the Krewe of Pair O Dice. But all the Krewes (www.interKrewe.org) have pitched in to help.
If you are interested go to www.pairodice.org and check out the needed items. They can be dropped off at any of several locations that can be found on the web site. Angel Flight will fly the goods into the Gulf Coast at no charge.
Also, the Salvation Army was one group "outed" when the President first started giving social help money to churches. Apparently they had a special meeting with the President and asked if there was any way they could use religion to exempt them from requirements not to discriminate against sexual orientation.
The Salvation Army may do wonderful things for their fellow christians--and that's cool. But if you want gay men and lesbians to donate too, we aren't going to be too happy about giving money to people that hate us.
That's likely why WMNF found different organizations ot donate to, that have no or less than 1% admin costs and are not discriminatory.
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