Citywide Clean-up

Now that I am on the Neighborhood Association, I get information about events being hosted by the Department of Community Development.  So, I was more than happy to get our crew together and show up to support beautifing the neighborhood.  And guess who was the represntative at our site.  None other than "the-man-himself", Joe Dulin.  

What a bit of luck on my part, as I was able to talk to him.  There were only a handful of us there, and so it wasn't like I was stopping him from anything, but you could tell I made him very uncomfortable.  Well he should be.  He should be totally uncomfortable.  He receives a huge paycheck, and after our conversation, I am pretty sure he knows NOTHING about developing community.  He was dismissive, lied and made excuses, never once acknowledging or even considering what I had to offer regarding alternatives to the punitive measures in place.  

So I decided I should write an open letter.  I may even submit it to the Journal Star.  Who knows.  

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Subject: An Open Letter to the Department of Community Development

To:  Joe Dulin

Re:  Community Development


I am writing this letter to share some of the ideas that I have generated through conversations and connections with community members in the Altamont neighborhood and surrounding areas.  First I will share what our community is currently doing.  Through the generous neighborhood mini-grant we have been able to purchase lawn equipment that are being used by our local teenage boys to help neighbors who for whatever reason may be unable to care for their lawn.  Some of them are able to pay, many of them are not.  Nonetheless, we are building goodwill and helping relieve some of the stress of our community members, while at the same time giving our at-risk teenage boys something constructive to do with their time.   We are extremely grateful to the Department for making this possible.

This letter is about what we feel the department itself can do to build positive connections with the members of our community.  Right now, there is a great deal of animosity within the neighborhood towards what is referred to as the “Grass Police”; those employees who go around and measure the grass with yardsticks, not acknowledging the individuals who may even be standing in the yard.  This aspect of the Department is the most notorious in our neighborhood and others.  A ticket from the Grass Police causes a great deal of distress, and serious financial hardship for our community members who are on a fixed income.  A 100$ ticket, even reduced to 50$ could mean the inability to make rent, or buy food for the month.  This truly is a social justice issue as poor neighbors are more severely burdened with these policies.  One of the first lawns we serviced was a neighbor who is an amputee.  She had a mower, but it broke, and she had no money to pay someone to help.  We have many examples of neighbors in similar situations.

Today at the Citywide Clean-up event,  I had the opportunity to meet Joe Dulin face to face. Although I have had several conversations with him by phone, face to face is usually more effective.  This was not the case today, however, as I shared with him the ideas of our community.  Rather, I was met with a complete dismissiveness, and a denial of the experience of both myself and my neighbors.

When I talked about our community members being afraid of getting tickets, he stated that according to his statistics, for the most part only landlords are getting tickets.  I have direct experience and knowledge contrary to this statement.  As I continued to share some of our ideas, I was repeatedly met with denial and dismissiveness.  I asked him to consider that the focus of the department could be shifted towards one of service rather than punishment, and this would build goodwill rather than the current fear that is associated with the department’s actions.

I am writing this letter in hope that someone will consider alternatives to the punitive measures in place.  It is clearly possible to do better, building connections with residents rather than simply ticketing them.  Joe Dulin said, there was no way they could just fine landlords and not homeowners, or tenants, which seems to demonstrate a complete lack of imagination and ability to understand what it means to create healthy community.  

Community requires connection, and relationship.  Those existing staff who measure grass, could get to know the residents.  Information about those who are high-risk, could be gained through conversations with other organizations.  There is plenty of information out there, for those who want to know.  Or even better, they could just go door to door and get to know people.  

My hope is that this letter will not be dismissed, but be seen as the call to evolve towards a greater service to Peoria communities in need. 

With great hope and in service.

Always,

Abigail Larrison, PhD. EdD.
President:  The Thrush Avenue Neighborhood Association