|
REGULAR MEETING July 24, 2017
<br /> parts of our community that have maybe been ignored or blighted for so long. This money allows
<br /> for that process to begin. It's definitely a time for the northwest side and the southeast side
<br /> regions to be looked at. This money allows for the people of the community to actually get a
<br /> survey study done to actually know what the needs of the full community are.
<br /> Karl Nichols, 2806 Lincoln Way West, South Bend, IN, stated, I stand in support of this
<br /> ordinance, hoping that the additional allotment to the fund will help assist in the funding of a
<br /> study that will allow community members to really speak to community members who have
<br /> suffered the biggest blight from the"1,000 Houses In 1,000 Days" initiative. Any typical market
<br /> study is going to cut off at a certain salary and we are going to miss a whole population of people
<br /> we need to hear from. I have submitted a funding request to Indianapolis for$20,000 to be able
<br /> to send trained data collectors from the community into the community they live in to get that
<br /> information from the people that the market study won't speak to. I would ask that the City help
<br /> support that initiative so we can help expand it to all the impacted areas.
<br /> Jose Arevaldo, 105 East Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, IN, stated that he echoes Mr.Nichols'
<br /> statements, and that what he is looking for in this study is an inclusion of the status of the current
<br /> housing situation in South Bend, especially in areas affected by the "1,000 Houses In 1,000
<br /> Days" initiative. Mr. Arevaldo stated,Also,this study should include vacant lots,because within
<br /> those vacant lots is the plan to build some of the one-hundred(100)houses that have been
<br /> discussed for so many months. It is important to include this because there are many houses that
<br /> need repair or rehabbing. That's why we need to take into account the current housing stock. It is
<br /> important to take into account those community members and neighbors and citizens of the city
<br /> who have been supportive of the city, and I think it is time to give back.
<br /> Jorden Giger, 61455 Druid Lane, South Bend, IN, stated that he echoes Mr. Arevaldo's
<br /> statements. Mr. Giger stated, I think that we should include a community engagement
<br /> component. We have had ongoing conversations with the City since last September about doing
<br /> some kind of community needs assessment, and we have assembled a team of folks, in
<br /> partnership with Karl Nichols. We have students from IUSB, students from Notre Dame, and we
<br /> have a bunch of neighborhood folks who want to be involved in doing door-to-door survey work.
<br /> I think that that has to be a part of it,because as we talk to a lot of residents in the area, they are
<br /> concerned about the fact that we have all these plans in place across the west side and different
<br /> parts of the City, but they don't really feel like they have been engaged. Mr. Giger also suggested
<br /> having focus groups and citywide forums. He stated, You can crunch numbers all day long, but
<br /> that won't really tell you what real impact you have on these lives.
<br /> Jesse Davis, P.O. Box 10205, South Bend, IN, stated, I think this is a good idea. I think it's great
<br /> to get some community members involved and some thinking minds, instead of going to the
<br /> normal everyday company that we spend$100,000 on to do a study.
<br /> Those wishing to speak in opposition to the bill:
<br /> Sharon Banicki, 3822 Ford Street, South Bend, IN, stated, We have all these people on the City
<br /> staff making six(6) figure digits a year that are so highly educated—why do we have to keep
<br /> paying people to tell us what everybody should already know? Why do we have to keep going
<br /> out to the east coast to bring in one of these brainstorms? You've got community people that are
<br /> willing to do it at a fraction of the cost that are going to put in the labor. They are going to get to
<br /> the people that need to be sought out, not your brain trust that is going to tell you what you want
<br /> to hear. Keep the costs down, do the study,work with what you've got.
<br /> Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street, South Bend, IN, stated that he feels mixed emotions
<br /> regarding the bill. Mr. Brown explained that he was in favor of potential improvements coming
<br /> as a result of this bill but that he wanted to make sure that the money was going where it needed
<br /> to go.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, I want to thank the City Administration. I feel
<br /> as if a lot has already been said by community members themselves, in terms of just being able
<br /> to engage and go through the process. Whether we agree or we disagree, I feel like coming back
<br /> to the Council and making that increase has really shown that we are ready to be responsive to
<br /> what the community needs and ready to listen. It simply opens the door for more conversation
<br /> 7
<br />
|