Publication Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Having a voice
Having a voice
(March 31, 2004) Question about neighborhood representation takes center stage in Southgate
by Jocelyn Dong
Despite the bevy of neighborhood associations that have sprung up in Palo Alto over the past year -- including three in response to the Downtown North traffic controversy -- not all residents support such representation.
That much became apparent last Saturday, when approximately 50 residents of Southgate -- located across Churchill Avenue from Palo Alto High School -- gathered around a backyard swimming pool to discuss whether to form a neighborhood association.
Hailed by some as making great neighborhoods even better and vilified by others as sparking division between formerly congenial neighbors, associations draw strongest opinions from people for the political role they potentially play.
Even before three guest speakers could talk at the meeting, resident Harry Press pointedly asked whether the organization of a neighborhood group was a political move by Jennifer Hagan, a Parks and Recreation commissioner whom some have said has aspirations to City Council. Press also questioned the need for an association, given that Southgate has an active Neighborhood Watch group in place.
Hagan, who started organizing the association last fall, replied that her intent was to have a group that could benefit the residents -- not her political aims, although she did not rule out a run for council someday.
Several residents spoke to the political advantages of having an association.
"Every other neighborhood has a standing of sorts with the city," said John Klinestiver, one of four residents who organized the neighborhood meeting. What affects one neighborhood may well affect another, and to not be represented before the city is to lose out on having a say, he said.
Another resident spoke of his frustration with the city over a broken lamppost he said he's complained about years.
"A single voice gets nowhere," he lamented.
But others felt uncomfortable with having an organization that would represent them.
"I'd have no problem with a neighborhood association that was informational only, but if it's issue-based with people going to council saying, 'We're representing Southgate,' I'd have a problem with that," Marion Krause said.
She expressed concerns that the group would represent residents on issues for which there was not a clear consensus, she said.
Taking the democratic process seriously, one resident came to the meeting with his own petition for residents to sign -- requiring that any vote about forming an association include the option of not having one at all.
"I feel we're a neighborhood association desperately seeking issues to raise our voice in ire over," Michael Reynolds said, charging that associations create neighborhood division.
At the same time, Reynolds commended the ad hoc group for soliciting community input.
Southgate residents in general acknowledged they have fewer problems than other neighborhoods, but some cited traffic, parking and a lack of storm drains as possible cases for city action.
A few residents advocated for expanding the scope of the existing Neighborhood Watch program, which has been in place for about 4 years. The program has block captains for the neighborhood of 230 homes and disseminates information from the city about safety.
Jim McFall, who heads up Neighborhood Watch, said he would consider the idea of expansion, though he preferred to have a more socially oriented group that could organize block parties, he said. In the past, he said, political issues have been handled just fine on an ad hoc basis, he said.
Three leaders of Palo Alto neighborhoods -- Annette Ashton of Midtown, Doug Moran of Barron Park, and Karen White of Duveneck/St. Francis -- joined the Southgate meeting to give residents an overview of each of their associations. They emphasized that each neighborhood runs its association according to the area's needs and goals.
Regarding the issue of political representation at the city level, Moran said of his group, "We don't try to represent the neighborhood. We make sure the neighborhood gets represented."
His board members facilitate meetings between neighbors and city representatives and providing information to both sides.
Members of the Southgate organizing committee include Hagan, Klinestiver, Bob Stillerman and David Vick. A poll of the neighborhood is planned.
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