For the past year and half I have been active with the residential zoning advisory committee. That process is now winding down and (hopefully) close to a positive resolution. The report from the committee has progressed through several standing committees and received the support of all them. By the time this newsletter is published the common council should have made a decision on whether or not to make the zoning ordinance changes proposed in the report.

Thanks to the persuasive powers of the TLNA council, I have agreed to chair the community services committee, though I have only a rough idea of what the role of the committee is. At this point I am looking for any and all suggestions regarding community needs that the community services committee could address and, of course, am eager to hear from people who are willing to be active members of the committee. I am particularly interested in hearing from those of you who have been with the committee in the past.

One community concern that seems appropriate for the committee to address is the growing problem of graffiti in our neighborhood. While this is a problem with no easy answers, there is evidence that quick removal is the best deterrent to further graffiti. The community services committee could both assist in and coordinate cleanup efforts in the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood.

As you may be aware, the city recently allocated funds to develop a "graffiti clean up crew." While this is certainly an encouraging step, it should be clear that the problem is much bigger than anything that can be solved with a couple of additional city employees. Besides that, the situation calls for more strategies than mopping up after the troublemakers, though the importance of this step should not be minimized.

Public awareness, education, and observation are all needed. With effort and communication it may even be possible to rechannel the creative but misplaced energies of some of those producing the graffiti. There are a lot of unknowns and uncertainties surrounding this whole issue, but the one thing that is certain is that if concerned citizens don't take the time to sit down and develop an active and coordinated intervention, the problem will only get worse. If you are willing to be part of such an effort, or if you have other ideas for the community services committee, please call me at 251-1358 or e-mail me at rjkinder@students.wisc.edu. Your participation is needed and appreciated.

Bob Kinderman

Chair, TLNA Community Services Committee.


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