Vernon Neighborhood Association
February 14, 2006
Meeting opened @ 7:00 by chair Lindy Cicada
Round of Intro’s and welcome! Lindy explains what board members are missing. Deidre, Judge, Lance, Tara, and Arif.
Our chair asked for new attending members to introduce themselves.
and then she announced new our new board members, Robert
Milesnick and Muriel Wentzien. (Robert was not present)
There was discussion with Muriel about taking over the Treasurer position and she
agreed.
Minutes were read and approved.
Announcements and correspondence, by Oma
1) Marcia Dennis, (Graffiti Abatement Coordinator with the Office of Neighborhood
Involvement) letter saying she will join us at next month’s meeting.
Portland Community Vision Project Update
Letter \from Office of the Ombudsman
Letter from News Editor, Amy Jenniges, Portland Mercury
Letter; Popular Education
Guest Celest Carey gave us a 15 minute talk on Crime prevention and answered many questions. Basically she informed us that no place is really safe. We were encouraged to get territorial, and assert ourselves. Establish neighborhood watch in our neighborhoods. That information is power, and being connected to Neighborhood watch puts us in the chain of valuable information. If we have a need to know “Who is who, the primary phone number is 823-4000 (also known as) the “know it all’s”. She highly recommends the Crime Prevention training for help in organizing communities, getting moral support, education, connection to police, and trainings that will empower us. Call 503 823-4764 Celeste Carey.
The crimes in our neighborhood are the basic crimes of larceny, (stealing from porch and yard or car) Drug use is deeply entrenched. It’s all about Location, location location! She suggests we invite NRT response officers Joe Hurley 503-823-5700 to meeting. We should call him to report any suspected crime. We should also take the training and start organizing for foot patrols.
Anna Ruby reports on Gentrification Task Force and asks the name be changed to Gentrification Work Group. They are still looking for a diversity training workshop.
There was discussion on the Garbage Issue
Amy Robbins volunteered to study and see which business are the garbage offenders and to follow up with speaking to them.
There also opened up discussion on recent violence and upswing in gang activities in certain areas of the neighborhood.
Roslyn Hill talked about the changes in the neighborhood. She has lived here for many years, and she owns some of the business property along Alberta and lives in the neighborhood. She wants to see more diversity. She sees most issues are that the new people assume that the neighborhood hasn’t been doing things. Also that the Alberta Arts District is being created by relators. She is sorry that the % of African American is getting lower and lower. That we are getting more isolated. She suggested that we get printed notices about the VNA meetings up in all the business along Alberta.
8:00 Items to be added to the next agenda
Block parties in the spring
Alberta Arts Walk?
More organizing around Clean up day
