Comments on: Revitalization is a dirty job http://livingonthenet.com/wordpress/revitalization-is-a-dirty-job What would an Economist recommend for Trenton? Tue, 18 May 2010 13:53:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David http://livingonthenet.com/wordpress/revitalization-is-a-dirty-job/comment-page-1#comment-584 David Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:14:10 +0000 http://livingonthenet.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-584 The Philadelphia Streets Department actually recognizes organization in support of "clean blocks" as a core mission (see http://www.phila.gov/streets/PMBC.html). The Department actually provides tactical support to community associations that want to organize networks of block captains. Typically, a block cleanup coordinated with the Department citywide program is one of the key seasonal activities of any functional community association in Philadelphia, and there are many that meet that test. For example, here's one I used to be affiliated with: http://www.sprucehillca.org/activities.html#block. Often there is also coordination with the "green" projects of the horticultural society (http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/community.html). Your point on data gathering is important. As I've previously posted in other comments here, Trenton is not part of the national "national neighborhood indicators project" (http://www2.urban.org/nnip/) and that might help. More broadly, the major center of intellectual heft in the region -- Princeton University -- has never received a Community Outreach Partnership grant from HUD (http://www.oup.org/programs/aboutCOPC.asp -- no funds available this year) and so community engagement remains fragmented, on a project basis rather than aimed holistically at Trenton's challenges, and is split between a center for engagement (http://www.princeton.edu/pace/community/) and one for service learning (http://www.princeton.edu/~cbli/). It would be worth approaching either or both center to discuss the ideas you have mind. Dan, I send you sincere condolences on the sad personal news carried in your previous post and have signed the Legacy.com guest book made available through the online Trenton Times. The Philadelphia Streets Department actually recognizes organization in support of “clean blocks” as a core mission (see http://www.phila.gov/streets/PMBC.html). The Department actually provides tactical support to community associations that want to organize networks of block captains. Typically, a block cleanup coordinated with the Department citywide program is one of the key seasonal activities of any functional community association in Philadelphia, and there are many that meet that test. For example, here’s one I used to be affiliated with: http://www.sprucehillca.org/activities.html#block. Often there is also coordination with the “green” projects of the horticultural society (http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/community.html).

Your point on data gathering is important. As I’ve previously posted in other comments here, Trenton is not part of the national “national neighborhood indicators project” (http://www2.urban.org/nnip/) and that might help. More broadly, the major center of intellectual heft in the region — Princeton University — has never received a Community Outreach Partnership grant from HUD (http://www.oup.org/programs/aboutCOPC.asp — no funds available this year) and so community engagement remains fragmented, on a project basis rather than aimed holistically at Trenton’s challenges, and is split between a center for engagement (http://www.princeton.edu/pace/community/) and one for service learning (http://www.princeton.edu/~cbli/). It would be worth approaching either or both center to discuss the ideas you have mind.

Dan, I send you sincere condolences on the sad personal news carried in your previous post and have signed the Legacy.com guest book made available through the online Trenton Times.

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