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Community Development Block Grant Info

Community Development Block Grant Info

Last night we tried something new and live-tweeted the public hearing on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for 2013. The hearing was arranged by the newly amalgamated Community, Housing and Human Services megadepartment in the city bureaucracy, and its aim was to address changes to both the amount of available funds and the application process.

This was our first live-tweet attempt, so we overlooked some of the etiquette (a #CDBG2013 hashtag, for instance), but we hope we nevertheless managed to convey some of the more interesting facts and figures as they came to light.

We realize that public hearings aren’t as exciting as, say, an Apple product launch, but we thought live-tweeting would be a good way for everyone to take part and stay informed. It’s easy to lose steam about neighborhood events when it seems like all anyone does is attend meetings.

Some of the more relevant highlights:

  • Total tentative CDBG funding for 2013 is $2,844,749. Of that, the total allocation for neighborhoods is $652,800.
  • The top recipient of that neighborhood allocation is Hillyard with $113,139 (not East Central, as we tweeted last night; the slide had no order to it). Emerson-Garfield is fourth on the list with $57,250.
  • Public service activities get a pot of $426,712. Community centers have to share $250,000 for operations. Nonprofits have a pot of $176,712 for operations. For the first time, neighborhoods also have access to a supplemental grant pool of $100,000.
  • There have been 42 applications received so far for public services money. These applicants include organizations like the Corbin Senior Center, Second Harvest, COPS. A total of $773,027 has been requested.
  • Many Spokane neighborhoods have used community development funds — or a combination of CD funds and others — for projects that improved their neighborhoods’ safety and beauty (some examples are shown above). Except for some street tree replanting, Emerson-Garfield was all but absent from that list.

The PowerPoint presentation with all these figures and more is available for download here.

If you represent an organization that is based or operates in Emerson-Garfield and have questions about the application process, please get in touch with us using our contact form.

To contact a city representative, please address your queries to the following people. They can all be reached on (509) 625-6325:

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween lights

Here’s wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween!

Once you’ve loaded up on candy, please leave a comment and let us know the best places to trick-or-treat in Emerson-Garfield!

Materials for Tonight’s Meetings

Materials for Tonight’s Meetings

The agendas for tonight’s Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council and planning stakeholder meetings are available for download. Save paper and grab your copy here:

Remember: the meetings start at 6pm (planning) and 7pm (neighborhood council) at the Corbin Senior Center.

As much as we wish everything was always sunshine and rainbows in the world of Spokane neighborhoods, there are some pressing issues to consider on both of these agendas. Many of those issues stem from decisions made by various departments within the city bureaucracy.

Tracking Crime in Emerson-Garfield

Tracking Crime in Emerson-Garfield

At the neighborhood potluck at the beginning of this month, we were pleased to be told by our resident Spokane Police officer that Emerson-Garfield had one of the city’s lowest neighborhood crime rates this summer.

But that doesn’t mean crime doesn’t happen here. The image below shows crimes that have taken place in the last month in the general area of our neighborhood. Darker areas = higher reported crimes.

Crime Map

This isn’t top-secret information — it comes from City of Spokane’s very useful, interactive, up-to-date crime map. You can find it here. (And, by the way, many more informative maps can be found on the city’s GIS page.)

On the crime map, you can view a street or satellite map of the entire city with colored overlays that represent the relative number of reported — and the key word is reported — crimes. You can view problem areas (i.e., hot spots) within the past month or the past year. You can also view crimes according to category: assault, burglary, drugs, malicious mischief, robbery, theft, vehicle prowling, and vehicle theft.

If you’re experiencing problems with crime, we encourage you to call the police and report it, regardless of whether or not you think they will do anything about it. As we are often reminded, the police can’t address crimes that we don’t report.

Once you’ve reported your crime, make a point of attending the next Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council meeting (as of this posting, the next one is scheduled for September 12). That’s where we can come together as a neighborhood — and likewise rise to any trending problems as a neighborhood too.

Project Joy Orchestra Needs a Percussionist

Project Joy Orchestra Needs a Percussionist

Project Joy is an organization of volunteer 50+ entertainers who bring music into care/retirement homes, schools, assisted-living facilities, and more. It’s also one of Emerson-Garfield neighborhood’s nonprofit beneficiaries. Last year our neighborhood allotted them $1,000 out of our Community Development Block Grant funds.

Project Joy has a volunteer orchestra called, fittingly, the Project Joy Orchestra. As with any volunteer organization, their success relies on the right people stepping forward at the right time to donate their time and energy.

At the moment the PJO is in need of a percussionist (and they could always use a few other instrumentalists too). The following call for volunteer musicians has gone out:

Ever just wanted to hit something?

We are a group of retired folks, students, and fun-loving amateur musicians who enjoy weekly gatherings and making music. As it turns out, we are down to one percussionist. Anyone who has musical experience, reads music, and enjoys being around those who are so inclined, are welcome.

Our normal rehearsal times are 9:30am to 11:45am every Tuesday morning, and concert times are usually Thursday afternoons. Now would be a great time to become a part of the orchestra so we can plan our fall schedule. Come sit in on a rehearsal and perhaps even come to one of our concerts with an eye toward joining one of the finest and most fun volunteer musical organizations in the region.

There is always room for another string player, selected winds, and a cheerleader or two in addition to percussionists. Sometimes it is fun to come with a friend. Better yet, what would happen if you offered to carpool with them?

We actually have a party (with goodies) at every rehearsal! Everyone loves a party! And it doesn’t cost anything to join.

To look us over, go to http://pjorchestra3.eventbrite.com.

For more information, and/or to contact an orchestra representative, write to music@projectjoy.org, or call the Project Joy office at 509-535-0584. So, please come hit something! We will be glad you did! We think you will be glad, too.

The PJO is on summer hiatus right now, but they will be starting up again around Labor Day.