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June 2006 Boise Newsletter Articles:
This years board hasn't had a chance to adequately introduce itself to all the neighbors that come out to the BNA Meetings, we’d like to thank you for coming to the meetings and participating in your neighborhood and give our introductions through the Voice so you can have a better understanding of who we are and our reasons for being involved.
BNA Co-Chairs — Justin Arnhalt: I have lived in the neighborhood for 5 years, as a renter. I like long walks through alleys, playing basketball at Unthank, growing food in my yard, and hanging out with my neighbors. I originally got involved with the BNA in 2004, unhappy with the direction the neighborhood was heading. I felt this way because most of the new commercial development on Mississippi was geared towards white middle class entertainment without regard to Boise's diverse cultures. Over the last year and a half I have learned how racism and classism have kept many in this community powerless for many years. I want to use what I have learned to educate those who felt like I did in 2004 and give back to the community that has taken me in and helped make the last 5 years of my life the best I’ve had.
Emily Kearns: I have only lived in Portland for a short time, but I am setting my roots in the Boise neighborhood. I participate with the BNA’s board of directors for the same reasons that I originally moved to this city: there are so many opportunities to nurture the systems that work, and there are just as many opportunities to fix the things that don’t. Over these next few months, and into the future, I will work to bridge the gap between neighbors and development, work with city officials to improve the Neighborhood Association project, and advocate for resident empowerment. I’d like to thank and praise all of my neighbors who have helped with these goals.
Land Use — Brian Bailitz (bht): I moved into the Mississippi Co-op over 3 years ago because I liked the house ideals and the folks that lived there. I started attending BNA meetings sparsely in 2004, I got more involved as I saw more important decisions made without engaging the existing community. I am really excited about doing outreach to my neighbors and repairing relationships with longtime neighborhood residents to find a way of representing all the diverse voices in our community decisions. Some of my other volunteer endeavours include: Portland Collective Housing (a low-income housing project), the Blackrose Community Resource Center, and portland indymedia.
Safety Co-Chair — Nicole Williams (also NECN rep.): I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, became involved with the BNA in the role of safety cochair in 2004. My motivation to do this was a direct result of a shooting in front of my home on N Borthwick Avenue. After being told by a city employee that I should move out of my "low-income" neighborhood if I wanted to be safe (a statement I found offensive), I facilitated conversations among many old and new neighbors in Boise focused on crime prevention. My crime prevention philosophy is that each individual is responsible for creating a crime free environment and that if everyone does one tiny thing to help prevent crime, we will all benefit from streets where children can safely play and neighbors can safely walk.
Treasurer — Karis Stoudamire: I have lived in the Boise Neighborhood for 22 years! I am a native Oregonian, and I love my neighborhood. I have been here through the good and the bad and am here to stay. I am looking forward to working with you all!
NECN Rep — Kay Newell: I have been involved with the BNA for 15 years, as an officer, sponsored National Night Out, represented BNA in the Urban Renewal, and was the Signing partner to develop the Target Area, a program that jump started the development of the business district and brought improvements to the neighborhood. I raised my sons in the community. When we bought the Sunlan building every business on the street was operated behind bard windows or was boarded up. There were 2 businesses open to the general public. Drugs and crime was the business of the street. Today it is commerce and people. It took a lot of us working together to bring about all the change. I am happy to have worked with so many to make it so.
Grievance Chair — Martha Wright: I have lived in the Boise neighborhood for five and half years. I have been involved with the Boise Neighborhood Association in one form or another since moving here. I became involved as a way to meet people in the neighborhood and to be part of helping to create positive change within the community. In the time that I have been involved I have seen tremendous changes in the neighborhood – both good and not so good. While I am not personally happy about all the changes – particularly the rising cost of housing and the increasingly less ethnically diverse community, I realize that I, too, am part of this gentrification to some degree and that change is inevitable. I stay involved for the same reasons that I originally became involved – to get to know different people, keep abreast of changes in community and to have a voice in what happens in the neighborhood.
Safety Co-Chair Tara Hiegglke and Secretary Genevieve Moore weren't available to contribute to this article. Gen generally takes notes at the BNA meetings and handles official correspondence. Tara had been working with the Safety Committee until the recent birth of her son, Soren. Congrats to her!
After the Mississippi Avenue Lofts (MAL) was appealed by an individual, the development went before the Historical Landmarks Commission (HLC). That Commission suggested the appellant and the developers meet with the Land Use committee to help make the development blend into the neighborhood. Two meetings were scheduled. The first saw developers taking suggestions on how to help the building blend into the neighborhood. The second was smaller where the architects showed us how they incorporated the Commissions and the communities concerns. The changes included adding 72 sq ft of sidewalk, reducing the 4th floor trellis, and speculative alternate staining of the ipe siding. The MAL will go before the HLC July 10th for final approval or disapproval.
The site at 810 N Fremont is seeking rezoning, which we will hear about at the general meeting. At 528 N Ivy two identical four-plexes are slated to be developed as condominiums.
This years Spring Cleanup was on of the trashiest in recent years. We loaded 7 dumpsters to the brim! Thank you to all the neighborhood business that pitched in with refreshments: Fresh Pot, Grand Central, Mississippi Pizza, and Dalo's for the huge spread of Ethiopian delight. Special thanks to everyone who donated their time to help folks unload their garbage and clean alleys, and extra special thanks to everyone in the neighborhood who brought in your trash and donated. Don't forget that all that money goes to the National Night Out party in Unthank Park on August 1st!
National Night Out (NNO) is a nation wide event held the first Tuesday of August in many neighborhoods across the country. The Boise neighborhood NNO event will be held at Unthank Park on Tues. August 1, 2006 from 6-9 pm. It is a family event with food, children’s activities and raffles for all ages. We are looking for volunteers to help out with all aspects of the event. We need people to help set up and cleanup, to help with children’s activities and help with the raffle.
If you have a Food Handler’s Card we could use your help with food prep. We also need help from individuals that have time to distribute flyers in the neighborhood the week before the event. We could also use help from people willing to pick up food and donations the day before and the day of the event. If interested, contact Martha Wright at (503) 249-8817.
Marching and crawling
indifferent, efficient
they hurry and scurry
and move in precision
removing the mortar
from concrete foundations
They work without resting,
they hustle and bustle
to loosen what's fastened
and causing to crumble
what meant to be lasting,
those tiny marauders,
the agents of time.