Santa Cruz Neighbors named Chamber of Commerce group of the year

In the past year, many in Santa Cruz turned to the Santa Cruz Neighbors group as the community's tolerance for drugs, gang crime and downtown panhandling waned.

[Stray Cat]

Id like to see future City Council candidates emerge from their ranks with only one little caveat: Let's see some more political diversity in the way of ideology - just like our greater community exhibits.

[Sum Dim]

A buncha nut cases....

[Eating]

Lynn Robinson helped start this group, got elected, and then did nothing. Ever.

[Great Job]

Santa Cruz Neighbors has worked very hard organize and educate our neighborhoods. Kudos for all of their hard work!

[self serving]

These people are self-serving yuppies. Lynn Robinson used Neighborhood Watch meetings as campaign stops. They are no help with real problems. They just want to raise their own property values and pad their resumes.

You do not need these people to introduce yourself to your own neighbors. Just do it. Take a walk, say hi. Keep an eye on things and ask questions as needed.

[Alan Parsons]

Eating wrote:

Lynn Robinson helped start this group, got elected, and then did nothing. Ever.

There is value in helping to start something, even if you have to move on.

[FedUp]

Anyone have any direct experience with the "Group of the Year", it's my understanding that the City Council is just using this group as a buffer between themselves and the community.
Tired of transient bums sleeping in your parks, talk to the Santa Cruz Neighbors.
Tired of transient bums pilfering through your recycling to raise money for meth, talk to the Santa Cruz Neighbors.
But if someone has any direct experience with the group please post it.
We need new leadership in Santa Cruz, the current city council is unable to administer tough love. Change - Yes We Can!

[Kudos]

SC Neighbors works very hard and is constantly improving the community . . . unlike a lot of folks who can't be bothered to get involved and improve things, like the pathethic whiners on this forum. Keep up the good work neighbors

[Warning]

Be very careful of ANY Chamber of Commerce. They will sell you down the drain in a second for bigger profits.

[Parker]

Kudos wrote:

SC Neighbors works very hard and is constantly improving the community ... unlike a lot of folks who can't be bothered to get involved and improve things, like the pathethic whiners on this forum. Keep up the good work neighbors

Yet here YOU are whining away.

[counterstrike]

When I lived near lower Ocean St. about 16 years ago, N.O.L.O. got a problematic bar closed and murder alley near Canfield St. cleaned up. That was terrific, but the onslaught of societal problems continues.

Excellent organizations. Funny how many annoyed with that slum bar shutting down and that scummy alley hangout seem be right here on this board. Fear of being found out I guess.

With homeless vegetables by choice taking a leak in our reservoir to roaming gangs in residential areas, to hideouts along the levees, to loitering downtown and in West Cliff parking areas, to constant panhandling, et-c., et-c., et-c; some people have a lot to hide.

[Kudos]

Parker wrote:

<quoted text>
Yet here YOU are whining away.

Not whining. Just pointing out how there is a lot of big talk and no action among the regulars in this forum

[west Santa Cruz]

This group is a joke, in bed with the city and the developers. Most of those neighborhoods are not part of their group, notice all the email addresses are theirs?

[alan]

Their "tools" is telling people to have block parties? Citizens of Santa Cruz, you've been duped by this absolutely ineffective group. I have spoken with all three of these people on various occasions and it's very obvious they are clueless. We need a real neighborhood watch program, with background experience, with real tools!

[Peter A]

"Board members stressed that Santa Cruz Neighbors does not take advocacy positions but instead helps residents to speak up on their own issues."
Bulltwang! They advocate for Barry Swenson and Slatter Construction which Bethke owns! Non-profits can be very profitable. Pretending to be the voice of the neighborhoods is something they could easily get sued for!

[Kudos]

alan wrote:

Their "tools" is telling people to have block parties? Citizens of Santa Cruz, you've been duped by this absolutely ineffective group. I have spoken with all three of these people on various occasions and it's very obvious they are clueless. We need a real neighborhood watch program, with background experience, with real tools!

So Alan are you organizing a city-wide neighborhood watch? Can you give me your home number to give out to neighbors with concerns? Put up or shut up.

[alan]

Kudos wrote:

<quoted text>
So Alan are you organizing a city-wide neighborhood watch? Can you give me your home number to give out to neighbors with concerns? Put up or shut up.

Yes my neighborhood is already organized and has had block parties for as long back as I cant think. I can't remember the name of the police officer who got us going.

[Westside]

Kudos wrote:

SC Neighbors works very hard and is constantly improving the community ... unlike a lot of folks who can't be bothered to get involved and improve things, like the pathethic whiners on this forum. Keep up the good work neighbors

Can you name even two things they have done they can call their own besides support the party ordinance? One?

[Don]

self serving wrote:

These people are self-serving yuppies. Lynn Robinson used Neighborhood Watch meetings as campaign stops. They are no help with real problems. They just want to raise their own property values and pad their resumes.
You do not need these people to introduce yourself to your own neighbors. Just do it. Take a walk, say hi. Keep an eye on things and ask questions as needed.

What's wrong with raising property values? You want them to decline?

[Fluff Jobs]

"Those tools include town hall meetings with public figures, from the chief of police to UCSC chancellor; online resources to track crime statistics in individual neighborhoods; and tips for connecting with neighbors and setting up events, from block parties to barbecues, within smaller Santa Cruz communities. Some town hall meetings have drawn hundreds of residents."

Those tools are not provided by SC Neighbors, but they are quick to take credit for them. Their "town hall meetings" never attract more than 20 people, same people every time.