| |
-
Attendance
-
Ida Roundtree, Sarah Green, Alan Rowlson, Kim Jayne, Don DeVivo, Bob
Babione, Ernestine Isaiah, Diana Green, Pam Talley, Joseph Roddy,
Sr. Leah Holzum, George Jones, Annie Thompson, Joan Botwinick, and
Dan Scott.
-
Fixx-up Fund for FPSE
-
Joan passed out a Fixx-up Fund brochure.
She is the volunteer coordinator of the not-for-profit effort that
has helped sixty families stay in FPSE since January 2000 by
providing small grants to fix problems that make living in a home
dangerous. The current balance in the fund is $554, so contributions
are welcome. A $10,000 grant
from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund will be available after
October, 2002.
- Debate Scholarship Fund
- As part of the Gateway Classic Weekend
(September 26-28 with a game at the Dome between
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff v. Kentucky State University)
George's father will be honored with
the initiation of a scholarship fund for a debate program at UAPB.
George J. Jones, Sr., led the debate team as a student and then served
as debate coach for nine years at UAPB. For information,
contact Dr. Margaret Martin Hall.
-
New ARCHS Coordinator
-
Ida Roundtree is the ARCHS Community Coordinator for the cluster
that includes Forest Park Southeast and Tower Grove South. Ida's efforts
in FPSE will be focused at Adams School and in TGS at Fanning and
Mann Schools. Before coming to ARCHS, she was a site coordinator for
Caring Communities at Shenandoah School. You can reach Ida at 534.0022,
x286 or
roundtreei@archs.org.
-
Neighborhood Showcase and Housing Issues
-
The Council discussed the Neighborhood Showcase scheduled for September
14. Bob began by noting that the Showcase originated with the funders
for the Park East efforts: the Washington University Medical Center
Redevelopment Office, RHCDA, Sustainable Neighborhoods, Urban Strategies,
and the FPSE Housing Corporation.
Members' comments centered around
the relative neglect of the interests of a majority of the neighborhood
families, given the very low incomes of a majority of FPSE families:
FPSE residents are not getting jobs in the building being done; it
is difficult to pay for home repairs; and health issues have gotten
worse. Members felt that jobs for local residents were required because
of the roll of federal and state tax support for the HC and Park East
development. It was also felt that the HC was spending without
accountability as 3 or 4 people run the organization. Some felt that
the State Auditor should be asked to do an audit.
Public relations people say that everything is wonderful in FPSE, but
many residents think the majority of neighborhood households,
especially south of Manchester, are being ignored.
A member proposed asking that 30% of the new and rehabbed housing be
reserved for those with annual incomes under $15,000. That proposal
failed because the HC's response to the Council's earlier request
for such consideration was that the deal would not work if very-low
income families were served.
Another suggestion was that we start a community land trust. Land trusts
allow an organization to own the land, build housing, sell it, but
control the profit when the property is resold so that it remains
for low-income people. The process is complicated and may require
501(c)(3) status.
Two committees formed to prepare fact sheets and picures
for distribution September
14 and afterwards, and to have Council members present, both
inside Adams School and outside, with information, so that guests will
get a balanced picture of the FPSE community.
-
Adjournment
-
The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.
| |