April 23rd Press Release Submitted to the Jamestown Post Journal

Northside PRIDE, an acronym for Partnerships, Responsibility, Investment, Development and Encouragement continues to forge ahead into 2014. This year, PRIDE has developed a three year action plan that focuses primarily on community outreach, road and sidewalk repair, and the rehabilitation or demolition of several “Zombie” houses that haunt the neighborhood.  Since its inception in 2006, PRIDE has worked to improve its north side neighborhood; it has partnered with the City, BPU, DPW, Jamestown Renaissance Center, CHRIC, COI, BOCES, community volunteers and other organizations to rehab several houses, improve landscaping, fix roads and sidewalks, beautify, and install an attractive community garden, where an abandoned, burned house once stood.  This spring, PRIDE will complete the final phase of its community garden project, adding two more raised beds and two Italian Plum Trees to its existing twelve gardens and mini orchard. “I can’t say enough about the benefits of having a community garden in our neighborhood,” says Carlson, the interim president of Northside PRIDE. “It’s really nice to share stories and concerns with my neighbors while we pull weeds together or harvest our green beans.”  Carlson says he is looking forward to getting more young people gardening this spring and summer.  He says that PRIDE is planning to offer a few gardening educational activities as well as two open air harvest dinners. “My hat goes off to the City’s renewed commitment to work with the JRC and Chautauqua County Health Network to expand the “Community Gardens” program throughout the city.” Notwithstanding these improvements, Carlson points out: “there is a lot more work to be done; infrastructure problems have reached the breaking point, literally” says Carlson. “Broken curbs are contributing to significant soil runoff; busted, uneven sidewalks are resulting in unsafe thoroughfares for pedestrians, particularly the elderly and disabled; and severe dips and deviations in the road are resulting in hazardous driving/biking conditions, not to mention the formation of large pools of filthy, standing water.”  Yet, Carlson says, he is encouraged with the recent discussion by the Dept. of Development regarding the mitigation of these areas of concern:  “I think we are starting to see the energy of downtown improvement migrate into the neighborhoods.  I am also encouraged with the expansion of “Mini Sweeps” by the Housing Inspection Program.  It’s a visible queue that The City is making a concerted effort to improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods.”  Carlson goes on to say that he is optimistic with the momentum to adopt a new citywide landlord registration policy. “ By internally inspecting a dwelling and  giving public access to the real name and physical address of a landlord, as opposed to the anonymity of an LLC and PO Box, Carlson says, “the community will be able to see just who the responsible landlords are and who the slumlords are.” I hope this leads to physical improvements, but more importantly, I hope the registration process will lead to safe dwellings and greater accountability. Everyone should be afforded a clean, safe place to live and prosper.” Northside PRIDE will be participating with The Lillian Dixon Park Build Day on May 31^st as well as Hands-On Jamestown Community Clean-Up Day on May 17^th, kicking off their annual Trash Bash with coffee and pastries @8:30 A.M. at the Northside Pride Park on corner of  Grant and 8^th St.  Anybody interested in participating or learning more about Northside PRIDE’s initiatives can call 450.7616 or visit their blog or Facebook page http://northsideprideofjamestownnewyork.blogspot.com;  Northside Pride of Jamestown New York.