ARTICLE
Deborah Elston Mary Miller Michael Bethke John Davis Kathryn Tobisch J.D. Sotelo Cities throughout the U.S. have come to rely upon neighborhood organizations to develop the cohesion, involvement, and community spirit necessary to build and sustain stable and sustainable neighborhoods. When effective these neighborhood groups facilitate the relationships and communications the bond neighbors together in efforts to improve and protect the quality of the community. Santa Cruz Neighbors grew out of a few of these grass-roots community groups to become to support these neighborhood associations, to encourage communication and shared efforts on common issues, and to link them together into a social and political force dedicated to building a cohesive voice for our community. Begun as a committee to increase the effectiveness of several neighborhood associations, Santa Cruz Neighbors has grown into a nonprofit corporation linking the more than fifty neighborhood groups in the city of Santa Cruz. Administered by a board of six volunteers Santa Cruz neighbors continues to evolve as organization, expanding its connections with neighborhood advocates and other organizations in the community who share their interests. Santa Cruz Neighbors’ primary focus remains working with individuals and neighborhoods on complex issues such as neighborhood safety, dangerous and illegal behavior in neighborhoods, and the array of other issues shared by many or all of the neighborhood groups. Over the last few years Santa Cruz Neighbors has expanded its focus to include business neighborhoods and business associations. By becoming a neutral, non-political platform, providing a safe forum and a common voice to Santa Cruz residents, the Neighbors have succeeded in linking much of the community together to address shared issues. As the Santa Cruz Neighbors organization grew it developed strong relationships with key agencies and organizations in the community who share its dedication to the community and its improvement. The Neighbors has developed working partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, the City Manager’s Office, the Neighborhood Services Team, the Downtown Association, and the Locally Owned Business Alliance, among others. Achievements of Santa Cruz Neighbors include: Development of community-wide forums related to specific law enforcement concerns related to issues such as the safety of women and gang violence and incident-specific situations of particular concern to residents. Facilitating the collaboration of neighbors and Santa Cruz City Council that resulted in the Unruly Gatherings Ordinance, addressing loud parties and other nuisance activities in neighborhoods. This ordinance provides for a process of identifying the locations that repeatedly host gatherings that become unruly and providing enforcement measures necessary to insure quality of life in those neighborhoods. Addressing shared opportunities and perceived conflicts between UCSC and neighbors through informational forums in affected neighborhoods. Engaging with their Santa Cruz Police Department in the implementation of its Community Oriented Policing (SCPD COPS) initiative, providing city-wide participation in this model program. The Neighbors use their network to distribute crime warnings and law enforcement information including activation of “crime watches.” And they host monthly meetings, open to all residents of the city where the police department both provides and collects information. The Santa Cruz Neighbors mission is to facilitate community. Their work is at the center of sustaining and initiating efforts to maintain and improve the quality of life in Santa Cruz. BACK
Deborah Elston Mary Miller
Michael Bethke John Davis
Kathryn Tobisch J.D. Sotelo
Begun as a committee to increase the effectiveness of several neighborhood associations, Santa Cruz Neighbors has grown into a nonprofit corporation linking the more than fifty neighborhood groups in the city of Santa Cruz. Administered by a board of six volunteers Santa Cruz neighbors continues to evolve as organization, expanding its connections with neighborhood advocates and other organizations in the community who share their interests.
Santa Cruz Neighbors’ primary focus remains working with individuals and neighborhoods on complex issues such as neighborhood safety, dangerous and illegal behavior in neighborhoods, and the array of other issues shared by many or all of the neighborhood groups.
Over the last few years Santa Cruz Neighbors has expanded its focus to include business neighborhoods and business associations. By becoming a neutral, non-political platform, providing a safe forum and a common voice to Santa Cruz residents, the Neighbors have succeeded in linking much of the community together to address shared issues.
As the Santa Cruz Neighbors organization grew it developed strong relationships with key agencies and organizations in the community who share its dedication to the community and its improvement. The Neighbors has developed working partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, the City Manager’s Office, the Neighborhood Services Team, the Downtown Association, and the Locally Owned Business Alliance, among others.
Achievements of Santa Cruz Neighbors include:
The Santa Cruz Neighbors mission is to facilitate community. Their work is at the center of sustaining and initiating efforts to maintain and improve the quality of life in Santa Cruz.
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