Barbara Bush says: “It’s not the government that has made this country great, it is the people.”
The same can be said about East Dallas. What makes us truly unique and a great neighborhood is the caliber of East Dallas residents and business people.
East Dallas residents are community-minded and anxious to be part of the solution – not part of the problem. Volunteers and activists are everywhere.
What are the avenues of action open to us that will make our homes and our community a better place to live? Let’s each start with our very own house. Have we taken the obvious precautions against break-ins and burglars, vandals and prowlers?
Is the outside well-let at night? Do we always leave cars in a locked garage or a well-lit area? Do we have double locks on doors with panes of glass near inside latches or hand bolts?
Co we have burglar bars in vulnerable windows, such as those near the ground, or in a dark spot, or hidden behind bushes? Do we keep our alley clear of bushes or brush that might make good hiding places for criminals?
I must confess that I procrastinated in implementing some of these basic precautions until I realized they also helped those around me. That was enough to prod me to action, as I hope to prod you!
Do we call 911 and report any suspicious activities, including gunshots? Even if this sometimes seems a bit futile, the number of such call-ins helps the police department determine where and how patrols are assigned. And are we active in our neighborhood crime watch?
Do we support community services in East Dallas that offer aid to those without jobs?
The fewer people who are hungry, poorly clothed and jobless, the safer each of us is. And if those in need know where they can find essentials for themselves and their families, the temptation to resort to crime is diminished.
Do we try to patronize merchants and services in East Dallas? It is so convenient to be able to get to the doctor, the dentist, the drugstore, the hardware store, the grocery, the bank and to a good restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner within less than 10 minutes.
If our neighborhood retailers generate enough business, they’ll probably stay right where they are. Each of us can help provide the volume of business that will keep our favorite merchants and services nearby.
Strong neighborhood services and shopping is essential to the success of East Dallas. They deserve your patronage and financial support.
By the same token, our business associations know that strong residential neighborhoods are necessary to the success of our shopping areas.
The Lakewood and East Dallas chambers of commerce play a significant role in our enjoyment of East Dallas. United we stand!
A really strong neighborhood also needs active churches and schools that are enhanced by neighborhood support. Does your neighborhood organization support our local schools?
Support can be both financial and by helping provide a pool of prospective volunteers. Your organization might not even realize it can help the school. If not, you can play a valuable role by creating a project – and then considering acceptance when your organization suggests you chair the effort.
Of course, don’t let that chairmanship deter you. If you are simply too busy, help recruit someone else to take charge or share the project with you.
Building and keeping a strong neighborhood school is a part-time job for hundreds of residents. We must occasionally ask ourselves if we are doing our part.
Hollywood Heights is just an example of a great East Dallas neighborhood association with active volunteers – full of promotion, activities and communications. Their property values actually have been going up recently.
So don’t ever tell me that you are bored or have nothing to do that interests you. Simply taking a walk with your eyes open will suggest many areas for improvement.
For example, some of my neighbors’ walks along Swiss Avenue revealed that many of the trees were overcrowded and stunted, and that the soil was washing away in some areas.
So Mary Ann Howells, Marianna Green and a group of others have been working together to solve the problem. First, they sent letters to neighbors to get approval and financial support for the project. Then they searched for affordable (or free) plant materials.
They sought planting help from the Dallas Park Department, found individuals who would remove excess trees for free if they could have them, and raised money to get rid of the rest.
All of Swiss Avenue’s walkers, joggers, neighbors and even drivers will enjoy the fruits of these efforts for many years.
Or your walk may reveal a bit of gang graffiti. Now you can hunt up a bit of paint and enlist a scout troop or church youth group to help you do some painting.
Keeping our neighborhoods attractive and safe requires much more than fighting intrusive zoning and destructive street widenings. And every one of us must play a role in protecting our neighborhoods.
