What's in a neighborhood?

About 45 min ago I received a group email from a member of my neighborhood contact team, content pertained to pending council vote on occupancy limitations - message also makes brief mention of tenant registration and code compliance regs. Originator of message proposed a "neighborhood position" on the issue.

Not sure why, but email got me into "soapbox mentality," so here it is ...

What's in a neighborhood (position)? that which we call a neighborhood (position) by any other name would be as complex ... (pardon my Bard paraphrase)

If the entire neighborhood is truly in consensus, a neighborhood position is great. Rest assured, an "entire" neighborhood consensus may or may not be possible. How do you propose contacting all neighborhood residents re the issue? What resources are in place (or need to be acquired) to reach those lacking digital access/literacy, those who are not English speakers, and those who are not home/property owners?

As for any registration(s), as I understand it (and as I understand both Spelman & Tovo proposals) Rental Registration was never about tenants registering, it's about property owners/management. Apartment tenants are already held accountable via lease/contract (especially TAA leases), there is no need for them to jump through any more bureaucratic hoops.

Tenants need to be assured of their rights to a safe and affordable home, they need to know property owners/mgmt can and will be held accountable without fear of retaliation.

If a property owner (houses/duplexes) has issue(s) with tenant(s), it makes me wonder ...

• was a background check (credit, rental, and/or criminal) done and/or
• a solid lease/contract was put in place

If not, then perhaps the property owner needs to change practices. Just sayin'

Also, I can appreciate a home owner wanting to reside in a safe neighborhood, but that doesn't mean apartments/apartment dwellers are a bad thing. Many of us just cannot afford to own (or even rent) a house, so that leaves us with renting apartments. The quality of life in apartments goes back to responsibilities of property owner/mgmt and the rights of the tenants.

My 2 cents ... I felt the need to get on my soapbox only because I recently heard someone make disparaging remarks about apartments as if they are something heinous/evil. Apartments, what they have to offer, etc run the gamut - some are great, others are slums, and most somewhere in between. Also, I do my best to remind people that not all of us have digital access/literacy, not all of us speak English.

We, as community members, regardless our socio-economic status, need to leave egos, negative attitudes, and closed minds at the door. If we truly want a harmonious community, we need to work together. Grassroots efforts are the answer every time.

Affordable Care Act ...

The Affordable Care Act is great idea, but needs to be more. After all, members of Congress receive FREE health/medical care, so why can't we?

Let me explain ... I was going through my FB messages, notifications, checking on friends, etc. I came across a post on the Latino Healthcare Forum page, the post is about "As healthcare law rolls out, its effects will depend on your state" - an LA Times article.

Even though I had not yet read the article, I am already wondering about what it means for people like me here in Texas, ruled (eyes rolling) by his majesty James Rick Perry (aka guv goodhair).

Here's my response to article (specifically, the title) ...

No  kidding! Using HealthCare.gov, I've already found I may fall through the cracks! Will depend on Central Health's Eligibility Requirements.

After going through series of questions (some need to be better written - at least I think so) HealthCare.gov says my option is (drumroll please ...) Medicaid!

Problem is, Medicaid denied me because I am no longer able to bear children. (shaking my head) So, will Medicaid change eligibility regulations or does it mean turning to Central Health's Medical Access Program (MAP)?

When I previously had MAP (thanks to Medicaid denial), I had to argue with them about assets which could have rendered me ineligible but, for all intents and purposes, I cannot access them ... So, are they really assets?

I'm a smart person, have a graduate degree, am tech savvy (so can navigate websites) ... If I have to go through this much trouble, jumping through hoops, having repeated discussions (on verge of becoming heated debates), what does that mean for those who are not as fortunate (educated, have digital literacy/access, and speak English) as me?

*****

Post note: My assets? My state retirement account. I have 12 years state service, so I have a modest retirement account. Sure, it is accessible, but doing so also means being hit with approximate 30% penalty fees! Initial withdrawal (up to/including entire balance) means 20% penalty paid to state.

Example: I withdraw $10K, they pull $2K for penalty before issuing me payment + I'll have to pay 10% ($1K) to the IRS. Come spring, when filing taxes, pay $1K penalty PLUS report $10K as income!!

So, you can see, barring life/death circumstances, I'd be a fool to touch it. In the end, it becomes an asset to which I have no access. Try explaining that one with Central Health staff. It's not fun.

All our children are gifted & talented

I just read about an 11 yo enrolled at Texas Christian University! Wow! Isn't that amazing?!?!

I'd like to know ore about this kiddo. Not only was he (and his brother) steered in the right direction, in a good environment, he is still being allowed to be a child (games, friends, etc).

How many other children (anywhere) have a gift or talent but fall through the cracks due to lack of challenge, resources, etc?

Any child who is allowed/able to blossom to full potential is thanks to more than his/her parents ... credit (and responsibility) lays at feet of all: family, schools, and community as a whole.

All children have a basic right to such opportunities, yet we still exist in an inherently racist, classist society, denying the human right to a culturally competent, well-balanced education and the necessary resources/environment in which to flourish!

Clearly he went to private school, and that means being able to pay (an often) steep tuition. The average family cannot afford such an opportunity!

That's where the school district comes into play, investing in: students, appropriate/balanced training for teachers, provide wrap-around services, partner with other entities (public, private, nonprofit) to make it a reality, and most importantly outreach (aka community engagement) with students/families and community to learn what is needed/wanted and work on delivering the same ... instead of sinking money into exorbitant salaries for high-level administrators.

Finally, priority needs to be given to students in Title I schools, at least until there is true equality in their education.


Article: TCU admits 11-year-old boy genius to study quantum physics

City of Austin's Code Compliance ...

... perhaps someone needs to file compliance complaint on them?

Two articles (below) about Hyde Park facing $2,000/day fine for hanging colorful, international flags (and has been for 5 yrs), must now remove them thanks to an anonymous complaint.

Yet, Code Compliance will not do enough for real issues.. Issues leading to unsafe living conditions, leading to emergency tenant displacement (w/no transition plans).

The pending proposals/ordinance not only need teeth for real enforcement, they need to be clear on the concept of prioritization!

Since when are flags more important than hot/cold running water, safe buildings, air/heat, no insect infestations? Did it get attention because the complaint came out of Hyde Park (aka $$$ (better/higher than low-income residents) and/or non-minority)?

___________________________

Hyde Park Market removes iconic international flags from storefront awning

by Gene Davis

August 26, 2013

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In August, Hyde Park Market, Deli and Organic Grocery removed about 20 international flags that hung from the storefront awning after the city found the flags to be out of code.

A code violation has forced Hyde Park Market, Deli and Organic Grocery to remove about 20 international flags that have hung from the store's awning for the past five years.

The international flags had hung down from the storefront awning for five years before being removed.

An anonymous citizen's complaint about the flags on June 17 led the city of Austin to investigate whether the flags at the eclectic convenience store, which sells everything from craft beer and chocolates to tools and hardware, violated city code. An investigation found that the flags were out of compliance, "as the only sign on the property that has a permit is the Shell sign," according to city documents.

Hyde Park Market owner Tony Hooman said he disagrees with the city's claim that the flags should be classified as "signs." However, he took down the flags in August after the city threatened him with a $2,000 per day fine if he did not remove them.

"The city has so much to mess with, and I can't believe they spent the energy, time and tax dollars to come after me for this," Hooman said.

Hooman said he is meeting with an attorney over how to proceed with the issue. Also, an electronic petition is being circulated among Hyde Park and Hancock residents showing support for the flags.

"This is another example of Austin getting a little less weird," Hyde Park resident Tom Schneider said. "Soon enough, every store will be the same and there won't be anything special [about Austin]."

Meanwhile, Hooman is looking to add between 200–300 taps of beer and a beer garden at Hyde Park Market. Hooman has been meeting with local neighborhood groups about the expansion plan before filing paperwork with the city, he said.

"It's crucial that we are all in one boat and able to communicate so no one has feelings that they weren't involved," he said. "If it wasn't for [neighborhood residents], nothing would be here."

Related article: Daily Texan "Hyde Park Flag Store forced to take down all of its flags"

EDUCATION: Community Responsibility

I am writing in response to a KUT article about AmeriCorp working with two local high schools:


Regardless what community we may live in, it behooves us all to pay attention to what happens in our neighborhood schools.

Schools/school districts have their policies - policies with statutory foundations (state/federal laws) - but responsibility also falls to the community-at -large.

As a community we want ours to be socio-economically successful. Successful businesses, well-funded nonprofits, and not-so-bureaucratic governmental agencies (at all levels). In order for that to happen we need a well-trained, well-educated workforce - that means colleges/universities and trade schools need to be within (financial) reach of all of us. In order to be able to compete there must be a solid educational (pre-literacy, PreK-12) foundation for children, including the necessary supports and resources. Supports and resources such as up-to-date, historically accurate and culturally relevant texts and curriculum, state-of-the-art technology, wrap-around services, professional development, and true community engagement.

Community engagement including students/families, staff/educators, neighborhood communities, private business, nonprofit organizations, and all levels governmental agencies.

I'll restate the issue as a question: Do we want an economically successful society? Well of course the answer is a resounding YES!!

How do we make it happen? GET INVOLVED! Everyone in the community, parent or not, educator or not, plays a role in what happens.

Remember, we (adults) are the decision makers, policy writers, service providers, and so forth. Depending on what we do (or don't do), we are taking care of the children (pre-natal to 18yo). Some day the children will the decision makers, policy writers, service providers, etc  .. Depending on what they do (or don't do), they will taking care of us.

Who do you want deciding your future? I don't know about you, but I want those decisions, policies, and actions made by people with a well-rounded, solid education/training.

AmeriCorps Working for Turnarounds at Reagan, Travis High Schools

By Hector Perez

Picture 90 educational volunteers: That’s the number of AmeriCorps members the Austin school district is placing at two of its high schools for the next three years. 

It’s all part of the School Turnaround AmeriCorps initiative, a new program aimed at placing AmeriCorps members in some of the nation’s lowest performing schools. AISD was one of thirteen school districts that were chosen nationwide.  

“The schools served by this program are very specific,” says Elisa Gleeson, Grants Management Specialist with the OneStar Foundation, which administers AmeriCorps Texas. “They had to have the capacity to be able to administer the program, but also had to qualify as low-performance institutions according to the U.S Department of Education.”

In Austin, only Reagan and Travis High School met the criteria.

Each school will be given 15 AmeriCorps members each year for the next three years. The work they perform will not only focus on helping students in math and literacy, but also providing emotional and social support through various individual and group sessions. The primary goal is to improve graduation rates, test scores, and the overall performance of each school.

What happens after the three-year period is uncertain. The future of the program depends on funding, which is currently supplied through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

“Ideally no one will need the help after three years, but if help was still needed, then both entities would run another application process much like they ran earlier this year to select the school,” Elisa said. “Also, they would need to make sure they have the funds allocated to support the program moving forward.”

This grant is one of 22 other similar programs supported by the OneStar Foundation, currently distributing more than $12.3 million AmeriCorps state grants to organizations across Texas.