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Attendance:
- George Jones, Sonda Thompson,
Don DeVivo, Kim
Jayne, D.J., Sarah Green, Diana Green, Pam Talley, Sr. Leah
Holzum, Dan Scott, Carmen Long, Saundra Moss, Ida
Roundtree, Robert Boyle (Justine Petersen Housing),
Elizabeth Robinson, Bob Babione, Joan Botwinick, and Tyrone
Bowden. Also present: Elina Pamanova and Tehani Burnett
from Washington University.)
- Announcements, community concerns
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Phil Bogear has transferred from Lighthouse Community
Outreach Center to a position in Chrleston, IL.
Brandon Sterling has resigned from Urban Strategies.
Don Bell has taken a position with Sustainable
Neighborhoods.
Saundra Moss announced: (1) that the Annie Casey small grant
awards will be distributed soon; (2) that National Night Out
will be providing security lights for 4300 Vista; and (3) that
the third Healthy Kids at Play park will be built soon in
Ranken East.
Ida Roundtree, ARCHS coordinator, announced a St. Louis for
Kids meeting for September 30 at 5:30 at ARCHS, 4232
Lindell, 4th Floor.
- Super, super security?
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The Mainstreet Committee reportedly has plans for a
"super super security committee,"
with Esther
Shin seeking grants for it. Details were uncertain.
Others
observed that the neighborhood still has crime but the
Post-Dispatch does not print crime statistics for FPSE or
the Central West End. The
Evening Whirl, available at N&M and other places,
has more information than the Post.
Several present commented that
buildings, particularly in the 4500 block of
Manchester, across from the assisted living center were being
used for drug selling and prostitution.
Upon motion unanimously approved, the Council will send a letter
to the owners asking for a response within two weeks. If
there is no response, follow up letters are to be sent to
the Security Task Force, NSO Brian Wilson, and Assistant
Circuit Attorney Rachel Smith. See
list of owners.
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Housing opportunity for present residents
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The panel at the Adequate Housing for Missourians meeting
on redevelopment and displacement of low income families
showed a consensus that neighborhoods had to work together
to get a mass of citizens who would oppose what is
happening to low income families who cannot find affordable
housing and are being moved out of their neighborhoods.
Rob Boyle spoke about Petersen's partnership with the
FPSE Housing Corporation. They each have committed $300,000
to a revolving loan fund for rehabbing houses. Rob's
approach is moderate rehab while the HC favors gut rehab.
Rob thinks some families can own a home with just a $15,000
income and can pay a $500- or $600-per-month mortgage
(depending on other debt and credit rating).
The issue of employment of neighborhood people was brought
up. Rob said he wanted to do that and quality of work was
more important than license status (except when required
for code). For families interested in home purchase,
Petersen will get a credit report without charge. Families
with poor credit can repair it in a year or two. Petersen
works with families to do that. They also have openings for
IDA accounts (savings that get matched contributions).
If there is dissatisfaction with what the HC is doing, it
should be brought to the Board, which meets on the first
Monday of alternate months. The lack of communication and
sharing of information with the community is a big problem.
There may need to be use of Missouri's open meetings
law to get documents or a request to Claire McCaskill for
an audit.
A motion was
passed to endorse Petersen's efforts with the HC.
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