Challenge for you...

[mrhaskellok]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

We pick up illegal signs.

Is there a way to take pictures of the signs then make a citizens arrest?  The police should be able to present you with a ticket to sign.  I don't know that much about it, just a thought.
Sid

[mrhaskellok]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael


Let me see what I can do to help...the art teacher at Eisenhower is a good friend and my company has adopted that school.

I could buy the paint and supplies and the kids could come up with the design...

That would be great!  I'm not picky on what goes up there, with the caveat that it is of course nice enough that jerks don't want to graffiti over it.  I'd be happy to help pay for the paint, help paint/prime (not an artist, well, not a good one or even decent anyway), help clear the wall/scrap, petition the school, city... whatever I can do (I'm not rich and have no idea of the cost, so I don't want to stick my neck out too far.  Artist: what would be a material cost guess?).

I'd love to be more involved in things, I just really don't know where to start.  And those two elements of my neighborhood reminds me of downtown Detroit (not the area itself, just those two elements).  I would very much appreciate your help and would do what I can to carry the weight of the project.

We painted two huge murals in my community and both times the paint was donated by a local paint supply store...harder to get it from corporate chains but not hard at all from locally owned stores.  I will post a picture of our murals later.  Best of luck on this...murals are a great way to clean up a wall!

Sid

[PonderInc]

Thanks mrhaskellok for the terrific thread topic.  Your pragmatic approach brings us all back to earth and reminds us that "small things make a difference."  It's a terrific challenge.  And just imagine if everyone who reads this forum takes one small action...and invites others to join in...and one thing leads to another....

My typical small thing is picking up trash when I'm walking.  I used to carry a plastic grocery sack just for this purpose.  You've reminded me that I need to do this more often.

[mrhaskellok]

quote:Originally posted by PonderInc

Thanks mrhaskellok for the terrific thread topic.  Your pragmatic approach brings us all back to earth and reminds us that "small things make a difference."  It's a terrific challenge.  And just imagine if everyone who reads this forum takes one small action...and invites others to join in...and one thing leads to another....

My typical small thing is picking up trash when I'm walking.  I used to carry a plastic grocery sack just for this purpose.  You've reminded me that I need to do this more often.

Thanks!  I agree with you, one small step at a time is how we will solve these larger issues facing our community, our state, our nation.  This is the genius of the Republic, breaking down a society into little bite size pieces that are manageable.

Trash is a huge one...Mike, are there programs out there for people like Ponder to get bags and pick-up service for trash pickup projects?

Best of luck to each of you!

Sid

[Gaspar]

quote:Originally posted by booWorld

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

My in-laws live in midtown and are always a little unnerved when they come over and we sit on the porch.  The neighbors always stop by during their walks to say hi or let their kids play with the dog.  My mother-in-law says it's like the neighborhood from "Leave it to Beaver".  They've lived in Florence Park for 31 years and only know a handful of their neighbors.  She calls the city action line every-time the neighbor across the street lets his lawn grow over 6 inches.  It's funny.  When she walks her dog she has a little red plastic ruler with her. [}:)]

I thought the height limit on grass was 12 inches.  Your mother-in-law's neighbor might be wasting time and gasoline keeping his grass at 6 inches...what's the response from the City when your mother-in-law calls?

You're right, it is 12 inches!  


(please read the above posts before just responding to this message.  Thank you!)[:I]

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

Trash is a huge one...Mike, are there programs out there for people like Ponder to get bags and pick-up service for trash pickup projects?

I will provide free trash bags and gloves for any group who wants to pick up trash anywhere in the metro area.

[mrhaskellok]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

Trash is a huge one...Mike, are there programs out there for people like Ponder to get bags and pick-up service for trash pickup projects?

I will provide free trash bags and gloves for any group who wants to pick up trash anywhere in the metro area.

Define "Metro"  []

[cannon_fodder]

I'd define it as anywhere I might end up going that trash would bother me.  Particularly the Ranch Acres area. []

When we walk I make my dog wear a backpack and use it to put trash it.  Also make him carry her own toys, food, and water wen we hike.  And if that sucker drops one in someones yard and I have to bag it, you better believe she's carrying it.

[mrhaskellok]

Hows your project coming?  Did anyone else decide to join us?  

Seems like there are a lot of people on this forum interested in doing good deads in our neighborhoods.  

I saw an elderly couple picking up trash in our park.  Made me grateful to them.  If anyone needs help with the Murals I have a great contact for that.  Like I mentioned, we have painted a couple and they look great.  One lady in our organization really headed it up and did most of the work.  

Any takers on Murals in Tulsa?  Can we get a city-wide mural project kicked off this year?  There is some money in the Oklahoma Arts Council (I think that is the right org) for this kind of work.  

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

Being a "newbie" in this forum I hesitated to post this "challenge" but a wise man once told me never to be afraid of being right.   I digress.

I challenge everyone to locate one issue in their NEIGHBORHOOD (not the entire city) and work to solve it.

I have been doing this for 20 years.  The one big issue to me in my Tulsa neighborhood is code enforcement.  Trash in the yards.  Overgrown and unkept landscaping.  Junk cars on the streets and in the driveways.

My neighborhood does have a neighborhood association, but "the powers that be" in the association seem to think that code enforcement is very low, or a non-existent priority.  A pity, and rather naive point of view, in my opinion.  So I drive the streets of my subdivision about once a month, make note of code enforcement violations, and report them online myself to the City of Tulsa.

I feel I have invested my hard-earned money to purchase my home, and I don't want to see my historical Tulsa subdivision (Lortondale) go to pot due to trashy renters or trashy homeowners.  I also walk the streets of my neighborhood about once a month and pick up man-made trash and refuse from the curbs and front yards.  It always amazes me how residents ignore the trash on their own property; but then maybe they just count on me to pick it up.

[mrhaskellok]

Steve,

You are awesome!   The reality is what you are doing, will ALWAYS be the best and most efficient way to accomplish something like code enforcement.
FYI, New Orleans is doing something like what you are doing on a city wide level.  They are, instead of ignoring citizen calls, placing them highest on the priority list.  This is empowering people like you to actually  make a difference while encouraging more people to get involved in their neighborhoods.  

Somewhere down the line, we were misinformed about how to grown and sustain a neighborhood.  At some point, we got convinced that "the city" was 1) responsible  2) actually capable and 3) always going to use their knowledge and capabilities to do the right thing.

I am not bashing municipalities, just simply making the statement that WE [The People] can do great things if we can convince ourselves to take a little time each day to see to it these issues are resolved.  

Thanks again Steve for what you are doing.  Now, in retrospect of my reply, I only ask that you teach at least three more people what you are doing and inspire them to help/continue it.  We are after all mortal.  []

Sid

[Emily]

I love this thread. THANK YOU! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am sick to death of people who whine and gripe and moan about everything that's wrong with their community but won't do a bloody thing to make it better.

I'm big on mowing other people's yards. If a neighbor can't or won't do it himself, I'm happy to help.

When we lived in Illinois, our next-door neighbors had an uneven patch in their front yard where a tree had been taken out and the stump partially burned. It was difficult to mow and frequently looked overgrown and unkempt. I finally got sick of looking at it and asked if they'd mind if I spaded it up and planted California poppies there, as I'd filled up all my own flowerbeds and still had a lot of seeds left.

As it turned out, they were tired of trying to mow that spot and just weren't sure what to do about it -- so they were more than happy to let me turn it into a flowerbed. And unbeknownst to me, the girl who owned the house had been eying my California poppies enviously for a couple of years, so she was thrilled when I shared them with her.

The house next to me is empty. The guy who was planning to move in there started clearing it out and stripping the siding as part of a sweat-equity project, but he passed away recently, and the house is basically abandoned. Maybe I'll adopt it.

On the other side of me, there's a house that really needs a paint job. I've wanted to scrape and paint and replace a couple of pieces of siding since we moved in, but I can't figure out how to offer to do it without hurting my neighbor's feelings. Maybe I'll think of something clever by the time I've saved enough money to buy the paint and materials....

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

Steve,

You are awesome!   The reality is what you are doing, will ALWAYS be the best and most efficient way to accomplish something like code enforcement.
Thanks again Steve for what you are doing.  Now, in retrospect of my reply, I only ask that you teach at least three more people what you are doing and inspire them to help/continue it.  We are after all mortal.  []
Sid

The leadership of my neighborhood association chooses to make the group mainly a social organization, sponsoring social functions and not be concerned with code enforcement.  I accept that.  But I refuse to let my neighborhood deteriorate, if I have anything to say about it, I take it on as a private Tulsa citizen to report code violations and clean up the streets myself.

I bought my home 21 years ago, own it free and clear, and refuse to let my investment tank without a fighting chance on my part, regardless of the poor habits or laziness of my fellow residents.

[mrhaskellok]

quote:Originally posted by Emily

I love this thread. THANK YOU! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am sick to death of people who whine and gripe and moan about everything that's wrong with their community but won't do a bloody thing to make it better.

I'm big on mowing other people's yards. If a neighbor can't or won't do it himself, I'm happy to help.

When we lived in Illinois, our next-door neighbors had an uneven patch in their front yard where a tree had been taken out and the stump partially burned. It was difficult to mow and frequently looked overgrown and unkempt. I finally got sick of looking at it and asked if they'd mind if I spaded it up and planted California poppies there, as I'd filled up all my own flowerbeds and still had a lot of seeds left.

As it turned out, they were tired of trying to mow that spot and just weren't sure what to do about it -- so they were more than happy to let me turn it into a flowerbed. And unbeknownst to me, the girl who owned the house had been eying my California poppies enviously for a couple of years, so she was thrilled when I shared them with her.

The house next to me is empty. The guy who was planning to move in there started clearing it out and stripping the siding as part of a sweat-equity project, but he passed away recently, and the house is basically abandoned. Maybe I'll adopt it.

On the other side of me, there's a house that really needs a paint job. I've wanted to scrape and paint and replace a couple of pieces of siding since we moved in, but I can't figure out how to offer to do it without hurting my neighbor's feelings. Maybe I'll think of something clever by the time I've saved enough money to buy the paint and materials....

Perhaps if you can find a "Sponsor" organization or church THEY can approach the property owner and let them know that THEY want to lend a hand.  After they get started, just offer to help.  Kind of a round about way to do it, but maybe it would work.

As for the poppies, great choice!  They will last some time for your neighbor and they will always remember your kindness.  

If you need any help on a project you know what to do...just ask for it!  There are (obviously) people on this forum (including myself) who would be happy to lend a hand if your project needs an extra pair.

Sid

[cannon_fodder]

Yes, hell yes on the murals.

That one particular area has bothered me for years (28th St. and Pittsburgh) and I would love to help get the ball rolling.  I just need a point int he right direction as far as who to contact.  Correct my to do list and fill in the blanks!

1) Contact ? at Eisenhower Elementary
2) Contact ? at the City
3) Contact someone with art skills
4) Contact someone with paint

I've got the general idea, but have never done anything like this.  Hand holder, I need a hand holder!