News on Next PSN Meeting

I received this e-mail earlier today from Project Safe Neighborhood Coordinator Frank Cloyd and wanted to share so everyone knows what PSN is working on.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at the West Shelby Community Garden on McBrayer Street.


Good Morning everyone,

Our monthly Project Safe Neighborhoods meeting will be next Monday, August 27 at 6PM at West Shelby Community Garden on McBrayer St. The following issues will be discussed. As always, you are encouraged to present any issue important to you.

(1.) The drought and heat has mostly completed our first garden season. Let's plan for our next phase: fall planting, and preparation for an early start next spring. It has been fun getting to know all the people working in the garden this year. Julie and Joe Young are moving to Hickory, and Emily Killian will be the garden organizer. Please jump in and help Emily with organizing, planning, and work.

(2.) The house at 515 Gardner St. is underway. Last Saturday was the kickoff workday. All the carpets were removed, the bad flooring was removed, the bathroom and kitchen were stripped to the bare walls, and a door was knocked in the wall to make this a single family home. Joydonna Phillips (joydonnap@yahoo.com) 704-974-6154 is leading the continuing work, with another workday this Saturday. Please join the volunteers with New Jerusalem Rebirth & Restoration Ministries, Central United Methodist, Aldersgate United Methodist, and others to help restore this house.

(3.) Crime has returned to our PSN target area with shooting, stabbing, cutting, gunshots, and gang graffiti. We must continue to report these crimes, and all relevant information. Beware of this weekend with "Back to School" parties with no responsible parent to supervise, drugs, alcohol, guns, loud music, crowds blocking the streets. You may need to make repeated calls to police, and the police may need to respond repeatedly to keep control. These crime eruptions are what bound us together at first, and continue to make us bond together as neighbors.

(4.) Our Notification/Call-In Session last week was a moving experience for all involved. Thirteen recently paroled felons have a choice and a chance to be part of Shelby's future. Our community can make its own peace by helping these young men and women rebuild their lives.

(5.) There is much interest citywide in resuming our Neighborhood Improvement Project meetings. Positive results are the cooperative efforts at 515 Gardner St., eviction of drug dealers/gangs at 715 Blanton St., 409 Whisnant St., demolition of 4 "flophouses" on Gardner St., one on Clegg St., 2 on Calvary St. Need update on Chestnut St. We need to renew our cooperative problem solving with rental property owners, and to develop new techniques. Targeted addresses are determined by those of you who want to participate.

I want to thank all of you for working to improve Shelby. As none of our success has been easy, you have worked hard, taken risks, and shown courage. We are stronger than ever, and God willing, we will continue to build a unified, safe, and pleasant Shelby.

Thanks,

Frank