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To: Scobert Park Advisory Committee February 1, 1997 <br /> C ir From: Cheryl Reinhart <br /> As a participant on the Scobert Park Advisory Committee, I want to share some <br /> of my thoughts with the committee, the neighborhood, and the city. The city defined <br /> our mission and directed us to limit our discussion and recommendations to the <br /> problems specific to Scobert Park. We accepted this and attempted to narrow our <br /> focus. We came up with a vision of a safe, welcoming and beautiful park and identified <br /> the problems we'd need to solve in order to achieve that vision. We have some good <br /> ideas on community involvement and preserving the aesthetic nature of the park. <br /> However, too many of the proposed solutions focus on ridding the park of problem <br /> behaviors and/or the people associated with those behaviors. In focusing on law <br /> enforcement and imprisonment, we have failed to address the probable <br /> consequences of pushing drug dealing around. We are not going to get rid of heroin- - <br /> let's face it. If we do get "tough on crime" in Scobert and the drug dealing moves down <br /> the street, will the city appoint a Maurie Jacobs Park Advisory Committee to shove the <br /> drug dealers out of that park? If we can afford to spend $15,000.00 for this committee, <br /> can't we afford to investigate some real solutions? <br /> In figuring out how to strengthen and improve our community, we can't simply <br /> resign ourselves to controlling a small piece of land and the activity within its borders. I <br /> realize that many people on the committee feel hopeless that our efforts will make any <br /> difference. And when we consider the cuts Measure 47 may bring, we question <br /> whether any of our recommendations will be adopted by the city. As a result, many of <br /> Air our recommendations are for actions that would be simplest (like stepping up law <br /> enforcement or putting up a gate) and most likely to make at least the smallest <br /> mark(changing the name to "Scobert Gardens "). I suggest that instead of thinking <br /> small or giving up at this point we expand our vision. We can recommend that the city <br /> work harder on the problems that affect not only Scobert Park but our neighborhood <br /> and city. Tackling big problems on a park by park basis is not an effective approach. <br /> Let's ask for more research and clear thinking on solutions to homelessness and <br /> substance abuse. We need a needle exchange to reduce the health hazards <br /> associated with heroin use and dicarded syringes. Public toilets that people are more <br /> likely to use(i.e: a location other than the Whiteaker Public Safety Station) would keep <br /> people from using the bushes. And how about that car camp for the homeless? <br /> I will continue to hold out my highest expectations for our city. I hope to find <br /> support in people who can push aside their nagging feelings of powerlessness. On a <br /> personal level, I will commit to supporting people of our community who willingly and <br /> intentionally address these issues. We all need to look at our own roles in <br /> perpetuating racism, classism and all types of oppression. If we continue to blame <br /> younger generations, addicts, and economically disadvantaged people as our <br /> problems, we are denying our common humanity. Denying the real problems by <br /> pushing them out of our sight doesn't solve them, it only creates more animosity and <br /> serves to divide us as people. So why don't we help each other face the tough issues <br /> and see If we can make some real change? <br /> fhe <br />