In light of recent events, I feel (and so do many others) that there is a great need for us to come together and discuss how to make our North Portland neighborhoods safer and more livable for everyone.
I realize we cannot solve all the problems, but I know there is vast potential if we can get together as a community and take some of the emotion seen on this site in the last few days, then organize it, delegate it, and turn it into action and solutions.
I’m not satisfied with blog comment activism and I’m curious if we can take this outpouring of online energy and turn it into real-life action. We cannot sit back and expect the city and law enforcement to take care of everything for us.
The idea of a community meeting would be to simply come together, get to know one another, discuss safety and livability issues, and then form plans for action. I would hope for a representative cross-section of the community to attend as well as representatives from the city, law enforcement personnel, and other neighborhood leaders.
Regardless of who shows up, I will be there.
I don’t have a date or location yet, but ideally it would take place near the Vancouver/Williams Corridor and I think a church or community center would the best place to do it.
So what would we talk about? Here are a few of my ideas…
I would like to discuss the formation of a volunteer, community bike patrol club that would be mentored and/or trained by existing bike patrol officers. Another idea might be to establish monthly neighborhood bike rides and walks that get people out of their homes (and cars) and into the streets in constructive, productive ways.
I’m sure you have your own ideas.
What do you all think?
Would you show up?
Would you be willing to help make North Portland a better place to walk, bike, drive, live?