Comments for Belair-Edison Healthy Community Coalition's blog http://becoalition.org/blog welcome Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:14:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Investing in Belair-Edison’s Main Street by pawnmaster http://becoalition.org/blog/2008/10/investing-in-belair-edisons-main-street/#comment-19 pawnmaster Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:38:43 +0000 http://becoalition.org/blog/?p=9#comment-19 it's time to claim & even fight for what is yours. The community's neglect of this area has allowed things like this to have happened. It seems odd especially because this illegeal activity is within steps of Del. Talmadge Branch's District Office. I guess he has an office which he doesn't visit much so he hasn't noticed. iI am encouraged by trhe recent efforts to re-claim the area & help re-vitialize the areas businesses. The Wednesday evening 'Game Night' at "La'son's Bar & Grill" for instance has attracted a few more 'decent people' to the business for a midweek escape & evening of fun... Without supporting the local businesses, blight will occur & only encourage more questionable activity. Make your presence known to the businesses (buy something from the local businesses) just as the police who now regularly 'foot-patrol the strip. Thx Ede, keep up the good work!!! it’s time to claim & even fight for what is yours. The community’s neglect of this area has allowed things like this to have happened. It seems odd especially because this illegeal activity is within steps of Del. Talmadge Branch’s District Office. I guess he has an office which he doesn’t visit much so he hasn’t noticed. iI am encouraged by trhe recent efforts to re-claim the area & help re-vitialize the areas businesses.

The Wednesday evening ‘Game Night’ at “La’son’s Bar & Grill” for instance has attracted a few more ‘decent people’ to the business for a midweek escape & evening of fun… Without supporting the local businesses, blight will occur & only encourage more questionable activity.

Make your presence known to the businesses (buy something from the local businesses) just as the police who now regularly ‘foot-patrol the strip. Thx Ede, keep up the good work!!!

]]> Comment on Resident Leadership Key to Community Change by Karen http://becoalition.org/blog/2008/08/resident-leadership-key-to-community-change/#comment-9 Karen Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:02:31 +0000 http://becoalition.org/blog/?p=7#comment-9 When most people are looking to buy a home, they look for things such as a good community, pleasant neighbors, good schools, churches, etc. What people have to realize is that in order to have these things, you have to have strong committed residents who want to make sure their kids have a safe place to play and their families can feel comfortable sitting on their front porches and yards without looking at any unsanitary conditions or negative behavior. You have to want to get involved to help keep your neighborhood safe. We all have a busy daily schedules but we cannot use " I am busy, I don't have the time" as an excuse for not getting involved in our community. We cannot expect others to solve our problems while we sit back and watch. We must be part of the solution and not part of the problem. A lot of parents work long hours and get home late but have teenagers in their homes doing nothing but watching tv, playing video games or sometimes being a nuisance to society. I say " GET THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT YOUR HOMES, BUT A BROOM IN THEIR HANDS AND HAVE THEM CLEAN UP IN FRONT AND BACK OF THE HOMES IN WHICH THEY SLEEP EVERYDAY." We need to bring back the old days, when elders were able to say something to a young person if they heard them curse or acting disrespectful and that young person said nothing else but " I am sorry". With this new generation, the word respect means nothing and you have some young people who don't even have respect for their parents and these parents allow this type of behavior. We have men young and old walking around with their underwear showing, girls and women with their bodies exposed and skirts shorter than the young children they are carrying and they think that is cool. These same young people will go on a job interview dressing the way they do on the street. In addition to job training, a lot of these young people need job etiquette training. They need to be taught how to dress and act appropriately. When you know better, you do better. We need more programs that promote healthy self esteem so that young people can feel good about themselves and know that they do not have to be part of a gang to get whatever they are missing in their lives. Know that being cool means staying in school and getting that education to become successful. Know that ignorance is not fashionable and you do not have to disrespect yourself or others to be in control. We must work together to make a difference. We must not continue to sit back and complain and do nothing. We must say enough is enough and mean it. We must reclaim our community. When most people are looking to buy a home, they look for things such as a good community, pleasant neighbors, good schools, churches, etc. What people have to realize is that in order to have these things, you have to have strong committed residents who want to make sure their kids have a safe place to play and their families can feel comfortable sitting on their front porches and yards without looking at any unsanitary conditions or negative behavior. You have to want to get involved to help keep your neighborhood safe. We all have a busy daily schedules but we cannot use ” I am busy, I don’t have the time” as an excuse for not getting involved in our community. We cannot expect others to solve our problems while we sit back and watch. We must be part of the solution and not part of the problem. A lot of parents work long hours and get home late but have teenagers in their homes doing nothing but watching tv, playing video games or sometimes being a nuisance to society. I say ” GET THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT YOUR HOMES, BUT A BROOM IN THEIR HANDS AND HAVE THEM CLEAN UP IN FRONT AND BACK OF THE HOMES IN WHICH THEY SLEEP EVERYDAY.” We need to bring back the old days, when elders were able to say something to a young person if they heard them curse or acting disrespectful and that young person said nothing else but ” I am sorry”. With this new generation, the word respect means nothing and you have some young people who don’t even have respect for their parents and these parents allow this type of behavior. We have men young and old walking around with their underwear showing, girls and women with their bodies exposed and skirts shorter than the young children they are carrying and they think that is cool. These same young people will go on a job interview dressing the way they do on the street. In addition to job training, a lot of these young people need job etiquette training. They need to be taught how to dress and act appropriately. When you know better, you do better. We need more programs that promote healthy self esteem so that young people can feel good about themselves and know that they do not have to be part of a gang to get whatever they are missing in their lives. Know that being cool means staying in school and getting that education to become successful. Know that ignorance is not fashionable and you do not have to disrespect yourself or others to be in control. We must work together to make a difference. We must not continue to sit back and complain and do nothing. We must say enough is enough and mean it. We must reclaim our community.

]]> Comment on Resident Leadership Key to Community Change by Cath http://becoalition.org/blog/2008/08/resident-leadership-key-to-community-change/#comment-8 Cath Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:39:20 +0000 http://becoalition.org/blog/?p=7#comment-8 I hate to say this but lately a word that pops up into my head about this community - is APATHY. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - 1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement. 2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting. 3. Stoicism. freedom from emotion of any kind. [Origin: 1595–1605; (< F) < L apathīa < Gk apátheia insensibility to suffering, equiv. to apathe- (s. of apaths) unfeeling (a- a-6 + pathe-, var. s. of páthos pathos) + -ia -ia] It seems to apply to the majority of the community. There are a few people that are doing what they can by volunteering with the community association, the coalition or just doing small projects on their blocks. However these people are running themselves ragged and in some cases just burning out, too much is expected of them. There is too much to do in our neighborhood with only a few fighting the cancer permeating through the community. Remember that many of these community leaders have jobs and other life issues too. Unfortunately the majority of the community just seems to want to have things done for them - as Mr. Crider said, and not work for improvement. I do not believe it is a matter of poverty or race. It is more a matter of ignorance and yes - Apathy. Maybe I am wrong - it could just be something as simple as a lack of communication and people in the neighborhood not working together. I hate to say this but lately a word that pops up into my head about this community - is APATHY.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source -
1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.
3. Stoicism. freedom from emotion of any kind.

[Origin: 1595–1605; (< F) < L apathīa < Gk apátheia insensibility to suffering, equiv. to apathe- (s. of apaths) unfeeling (a- a-6 + pathe-, var. s. of páthos pathos) + -ia -ia]

It seems to apply to the majority of the community. There are a few people that are doing what they can by volunteering with the community association, the coalition or just doing small projects on their blocks. However these people are running themselves ragged and in some cases just burning out, too much is expected of them. There is too much to do in our neighborhood with only a few fighting the cancer permeating through the community. Remember that many of these community leaders have jobs and other life issues too. Unfortunately the majority of the community just seems to want to have things done for them - as Mr. Crider said, and not work for improvement.

I do not believe it is a matter of poverty or race. It is more a matter of ignorance and yes - Apathy.

Maybe I am wrong - it could just be something as simple as a lack of communication and people in the neighborhood not working together.

]]> Comment on Resident Leadership Key to Community Change by vernon crider http://becoalition.org/blog/2008/08/resident-leadership-key-to-community-change/#comment-6 vernon crider Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:43:58 +0000 http://becoalition.org/blog/?p=7#comment-6 The primary reason that residents of Belair-Edison & 4x4 do not participate in community based activities is because many residents overwhelemingly do not vaule their commnity and want to someone to do things for them intstead for themselves. Many city residents throughout Baltimore ( especially in majority black communities) demonstrate an "lassire faire" (leave things as they are) attitude and want government to "give" them something. The role of government is to support the community when the community collectively comes together with a mission and vision to enhance the quality of life for all who live there. When is the majority of the black community going to stand for something? Instead of being reactive- become proactive! There are FEW african-american members who care about the quality of their neighborhoods and schools which surround them ( I stand firm on this position). Many blame poverty as a leading issue, but poverty is not an excuse for deviant behavior by many of our childen and parents ( the blind cannot lead the blind). The lack of vaules and morals has corrupted the african-american community and it is like a plague; only a few people (such as programs like Belair-Edison Healthy Coalition) are fighting back as though they were an anitboitic, fighting this disease. The question is: are we winning or losing? Years ago as a child growing up in Berea, I would look at Belair-Edison and see a tranquil neighborhood and I hate to state this, (but it's true) it was majority white folks who resided there, demonstrating an affinity and appreciation of their community. Years later, it has become majority black and the community has declined. By looking at these comparisons, is it saying that black people cannot appreciate their surroundings? I surely hope not; but, it makes one think...as blacks...WHAT DO WE VALUE AND WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANTTO BLACKS AS A WHOLE? Respectfully Submitted, Vernon E. Crider Former City Councilperson 13th District The primary reason that residents of Belair-Edison & 4×4 do not participate in community based activities is because many residents overwhelemingly do not vaule their commnity and want to someone to do things for them intstead for themselves.

Many city residents throughout Baltimore ( especially in majority black communities) demonstrate an “lassire faire” (leave things as they are) attitude and want government to “give” them something. The role of government is to support the community when the community collectively comes together with a mission and vision to enhance the quality of life for all who live there.
When is the majority of the black community going to stand for something? Instead of being reactive- become proactive! There are FEW african-american members who care about the quality of their neighborhoods and schools which surround them ( I stand firm on this position). Many blame poverty as a leading issue, but poverty is not an excuse for deviant behavior by many of our childen and parents ( the blind cannot lead the blind). The lack of vaules and morals has corrupted the african-american community and it is like a plague; only a few people (such as programs like Belair-Edison Healthy Coalition) are fighting back as though they were an anitboitic, fighting this disease. The question is: are we winning or losing?

Years ago as a child growing up in Berea, I would look at Belair-Edison and see a tranquil neighborhood and I hate to state this, (but it’s true) it was majority white folks who resided there, demonstrating an affinity and appreciation of their community. Years later, it has become majority black and the community has declined. By looking at these comparisons, is it saying that black people cannot appreciate their surroundings? I surely hope not; but, it makes one think…as blacks…WHAT DO WE VALUE AND WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANTTO BLACKS AS A WHOLE?

Respectfully Submitted,

Vernon E. Crider
Former City Councilperson
13th District

]]> Comment on Resident Leadership Key to Community Change by Sharon http://becoalition.org/blog/2008/08/resident-leadership-key-to-community-change/#comment-5 Sharon Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:22:27 +0000 http://becoalition.org/blog/?p=7#comment-5 From experience in working in the "4X4" COMMUNITY there is not a lot going on in the community to volunteer. They seem to be afraid to step outside the box. I asked a recent widow to come to New Pleasant Grove to help with the kids for movie night and she showed up. I was surprised because she has no little ones. I guess it starts from being neighborly. Some just don't want the "whole village raising their children". From experience in working in the “4X4″ COMMUNITY there is not a lot going on in the community to volunteer. They seem to be afraid to step outside the box. I asked a recent widow to come to New Pleasant Grove to help with the kids for movie night and she showed up. I was surprised because she has no little ones. I guess it starts from being neighborly. Some just don’t want the “whole village raising their children”.

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