The Downtown Area Neighborhood Association took a field trip for their February gathering and left their Fairmount park enclave at the Izaak Walton Boat House. Instead, Dr. Jungmingwha Bullock hosted the group at The Downtowne Bookstore, at 3582 Main.
About twenty-five Downtown residents interfaced with police and city officials, expressing their concerns for the neighborhood. It may sound like a NIMBY convention, but the Riversiders in this meeting had not shown up to complain. There were some public safety concerns regarding the apparent lack of stop sign enforcement and parking regulations, but overall, the meeting stayed positive.
Dr. Bullock closed out the meeting by telling the story of her unplanned investment into the downtown community after buying the Downtowne Bookstore a couple of years ago. This event feels at home in the bookstore. Dr. Bullock runs her business with the intent to create small communities around the shop and to enhance the greater community in Riverside.
The members seem empowered by their association with the group. In a time where people feel helpless to affect politics at a national level it is refreshing to see this micro-democratic institution where people feel heard and as if their participation is impactful. In the context of a nation few people rise above the crowd but in a group as small as a neighborhood association you are heard and assuredly by people who know your concerns well.
There are several of these neighborhood groups around the city. If you would like to put some effort into something that can be very impactful to you and the spaces you occupy it can be an effective outlet.
Here is a list of some of the local neighborhood associations. If you know of one that we missed please let us know.
