Steven Poe: Why we need neighborhood associations

Let me preface this response by admitting that I have lived here only since 2015, I moved from an Arizona city with no recognized neighborhood associations, and I hold the “office” of secretary in our local association.

The first fallacy in Chuck’s complaint is the funding. The city of Tucson pays for one newsletter per year at the expense of the taxpayers. It does not give the mailing list to the association, it does not provide the weekly/monthly updates (we fund our own e-news with local fundraising and business donations), and it does not provide funding for anything else done by the neighborhood associations.

The things our association does fund with local private and business donations include: maintenance of the intersection roundabouts and pocket park, funding for the annual 4th of July parade, collecting needed items for the nonprofit Youth on Their Own, postcard greetings to new area residents, and expenses for the annual meeting, which is advertised and open to all neighborhood residents each fall.

Regarding the comments about “like-minded neighbors with common interests,” I respectfully disagree with his assessment. Having lived in another Arizona city for 30-plus years with no neighborhood group identity, the city never knows who to turn to in cases where disagreements arise.

Our Tucson associations have open meetings (monthly, except in summer) which are advertised in our weekly e-news. The city is currently dealing with our neighborhood over the poorly resurfaced streets, among other maintenance issues.

Most of our residents know this fight with City Hall is being done by people who care about the quality of life in our neighborhood, because we live here and face the results daily. There is no need to create a new organization every time a new “perceived neighborhood concern” crops up. We really don’t need to look to Chicago for this kind of solution.

If the author does not like the party of most of the Tucson mayor or council, or does not like the way his neighborhood association operates, there are ways to become active as a candidate or supporter or both. I happen to know of vacancies on our board available for filling in the fall.