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PARTNERS FOR A BETTER PALMDALE
Palmdale's Neighborhoods Partnership

Neighborhood Empowerment, Strong Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Partnerships, Sustainable Neighborhoods, and Quality Neighborhoods are all community initiatives by similar names, but with a common goal; neighborhood empowerment and partnerships with local government.

ThereÕs a number of successful examples out there, some of them have gained national recognition and awards, and have been modeled after by other communities. One of the most famous is the ÒHamptons Neighborhoods ProjectÓ. IÕve brought back materials from a number of national presentations on the application of thses principal, and have been proposing a return to a formal adoption of these concept for a number of years.

Ironically, we have applied it, on a limited basis, in our initial ÒFocus NeighborhoodsÓ. Unfortunately, it fell apart after we moved our focus house out. WeÕve learned that create sustainable neighborhoods, we need to provide a sustainable presence and PARTNERSHIP with those neighborhoods. To work, we must engage the neighborhoods, defined by common factors, usually geographic and demographic.

Neighborhood leadership to partner with local government representatives must be identified, usually from Neighborhood Watch groups and Homeowner Associations. Community policing, code enforcement, and public works would partner with the community to identify THEIR priorities, and address them. And a commitment from city leadership, in the form of line item budget allocations, is imperative. These neighborhood partners could eventually identify a core group as a sort of community wide steering and advisory committee, much like the old Palmdale Community Association did, acting as a conduit between city hall and the neighborhoods and neighborhood councils.

Over the years, is I have proposed an effort called the PALMDALE NEIGHBORHOODS PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE. This would be a LOCAL effort, with LOCAL residents and LOCAL government.

We may be able to apply some of our CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) or other state and federal grant funds to specific neighborhood capital improvement projects or programs, BUT within the limits of the grant restrictions.

With support from teh entire City Council, Mr Williams has made this a priority. Called PARTNERS FOR A BETTER PALMDALE. or PBP, it was introduced at the March City Council Meeting.