Hi all,
Seems, like Lucy in the old ''I Love Lucy'' show, that I ''have some 'splainin' to do!''
I fear I've hurt some feeling and created some misunderstanding with my ''Are we becoming too yuppified'' two posts.
Let me just clarify two things, one about codes enforcement and the other about the issue of loose animals in our neighborhood.
On codes: Anything I said about an attitude and direction I perceive us to be taking as an association or as individual neighbors regarding codes enforcement was not directed at anyone personally whom I may disagree with philosophically on the best way to proceed. I know it was taken that way by a few on the board who have been part of discussions on this and therefore might perceive that I was directing my posts at a person or people who have differing views than mine, but honestly, it was nothing personal towards anyone. I was just expressing concern about a direction I perceive us taking. The ironic thing is, we all want the same thing--it is just, how do we best get there from here while building community in the neighborhood and avoiding creating bad feelings among neighbors? I respect the opinion of those who feel we need to be pro-active and take the offensive in making sure all homes in our neighborhood at least meet minimum codes. My only concern or comment or whatever is: Let's make sure we really focus on those homeowners/properties that really are a problem, instead of on the ones that may have one relatively small visible problem. I just don't ever want to be seen--individually or for HK as a neighborhood--as being the kind of neighbor/neighborhood that has any kind of super-agressive/lynch mob mentality about codes. It is tricky to take a pro-active stand on codes while simultaneously making it clear that we are the type of neighborhood that would rather lend a hand and pitch right in to help someone bring their property up to codes, rather than the type to take a confrontational stand. I simply want us to be and demonstrate a ''work-with-you/helping-hand'' type of attitude as opposed to a ''go after you'' type of attitude. I do agree, though, that in some cases homeowner's simply don't care, and that is why we have codes laws and we certainly should use them to keep our neighborhood the shining example of revitalization that it is! It's just a fine line, is all I'm saying. Sometimes, on the internet, I've noticed that a person's words can seem harsher or more angry than they are meant to. It is a flat medium without the benefit of tone of voice, inflection, sense of humor, etc. As a very verbal person who relies on my humorous (or so I delude myself into thinking!) ''delivery'' in person, I notice that sometimes my words can seem rather harsh in a written medium. Anyway, all that was intended was an honest, frank discussion of issues of perception and how we as neighbors, as an association, and as a community are going to be perceived if we go in a certain direction. It was absolutely not a personal thing towards anyone who has a different view. I was hoping to start a discussion on what people think is the best way to walk that fine line of enforcing codes while at the same time building bridges to our neighbors.
Continued in Part II :D
Seems, like Lucy in the old ''I Love Lucy'' show, that I ''have some 'splainin' to do!''
I fear I've hurt some feeling and created some misunderstanding with my ''Are we becoming too yuppified'' two posts.
Let me just clarify two things, one about codes enforcement and the other about the issue of loose animals in our neighborhood.
On codes: Anything I said about an attitude and direction I perceive us to be taking as an association or as individual neighbors regarding codes enforcement was not directed at anyone personally whom I may disagree with philosophically on the best way to proceed. I know it was taken that way by a few on the board who have been part of discussions on this and therefore might perceive that I was directing my posts at a person or people who have differing views than mine, but honestly, it was nothing personal towards anyone. I was just expressing concern about a direction I perceive us taking. The ironic thing is, we all want the same thing--it is just, how do we best get there from here while building community in the neighborhood and avoiding creating bad feelings among neighbors? I respect the opinion of those who feel we need to be pro-active and take the offensive in making sure all homes in our neighborhood at least meet minimum codes. My only concern or comment or whatever is: Let's make sure we really focus on those homeowners/properties that really are a problem, instead of on the ones that may have one relatively small visible problem. I just don't ever want to be seen--individually or for HK as a neighborhood--as being the kind of neighbor/neighborhood that has any kind of super-agressive/lynch mob mentality about codes. It is tricky to take a pro-active stand on codes while simultaneously making it clear that we are the type of neighborhood that would rather lend a hand and pitch right in to help someone bring their property up to codes, rather than the type to take a confrontational stand. I simply want us to be and demonstrate a ''work-with-you/helping-hand'' type of attitude as opposed to a ''go after you'' type of attitude. I do agree, though, that in some cases homeowner's simply don't care, and that is why we have codes laws and we certainly should use them to keep our neighborhood the shining example of revitalization that it is! It's just a fine line, is all I'm saying. Sometimes, on the internet, I've noticed that a person's words can seem harsher or more angry than they are meant to. It is a flat medium without the benefit of tone of voice, inflection, sense of humor, etc. As a very verbal person who relies on my humorous (or so I delude myself into thinking!) ''delivery'' in person, I notice that sometimes my words can seem rather harsh in a written medium. Anyway, all that was intended was an honest, frank discussion of issues of perception and how we as neighbors, as an association, and as a community are going to be perceived if we go in a certain direction. It was absolutely not a personal thing towards anyone who has a different view. I was hoping to start a discussion on what people think is the best way to walk that fine line of enforcing codes while at the same time building bridges to our neighbors.
Continued in Part II :D
