By now, you've probably heard that the second sector of Tampa that will undergo a community revitalization is Sulphur Springs. While it is disappointing that Forest Hills wasn't second on the list . . . I have to admit that Sulphur Spring needs it worse than we do. Sulphur Springs has been shut out of the loop since probably the 70s, and it shows.They can't even have an active Neighborhood Watch program there, for fear of retaliation. They do have Rich House for the kids there, which is heavily maintained through TPD volunteers, but they don't have much of anything else, anymore. They used to have a Alcalde/Alcadessa (an honorary mayor) for the Sulphur Springs community, but I can't even remember when they had that last.
So, we in Forest Hills will patiently wait our turn.
What will happen to the folks who may be displaced from Sulphur Springs as a result of this revitalization?
What will happen to the 1800 people who will be displaced from the demolition of the housing projects closer to downtown?
If we don't take control of our community . . . NOW . . . we will become another "Suitcase City", because we are the next logical place to be overtaken. But we can put a halt to it before it begins. There are steps we can take . . . little steps, but steps that will make a big difference.
Here's where we start:
---APPEARANCE: begin by keeping the entire community neat and clean. Keep litter picked up everywhere, but especially on the main streets leading into our neighborhoods. Keep the weeds from getting tall enough to where they catch litter as it blows by; that just encourages people to throw more litter into that area. Keep yard sale signs, party signs, etc picked up as soon after the event as possible.
---LIGHTS: We need to light up our yards to keep derelicts and would-be burglars from approaching our property. Motion sensor lights are recommended, but if you want to use outdoor lights that remain on, that's great. If you use motion sensors, I recommend using the shortest time setting available. My thought is that a light which continues to come on over a short period of time gets attention better.
---PLANTS: Keep your shrubbry trimmed and away from your windows and doors where burglers can hide.
---WATCH: The purple sedan that drives around the block 5 times in 15 minutes? It isn't just checking out your paint colors on your house. Watch bicyclists, as well. Some neighbors have reported pairs of bicycles cruising past slowly, and the riders are carefully checking out the side yards of houses as if casing; among other things, for an escape route. These are know in police jargon as "suspicious vehicles" or "suspicious persons" and should be reported to TPD's non-emergency number (231-6130) immediately. You can make an anonymous call if you like. Try to give as accurate a description of the people or vehicle as possible, and if possible, get a tag number.
You don't have to say a word to these people, but don't be shy about letting them see you watch them. Just knowing that they have been seen, and that someone could possibly identify them, is often times enough to prevent them from returning -- at least for a while. And if the police are seen to show up in the neighborhood right after they pass by, they will have no doubt that this is not the neighborhood to stick around in.
---REPORT: If you have speeders blasting down your street . . . or a nearby street . . . report them. Just call TPD and tell them there are vehicles speeding on "X" Street now, and they will send an officer or two out to check things out. Again, if the police show up right after they have raced down the street, they will know that people aren't going to tolerate such activity, and it will cease before long. If you have people walking, especially teenagers in a group, either late at night or acting suspiciously, report them to TPD. Let the word get out that . . . it's our best defense against crime..
