Monday, July 9, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Renovating Millville Gardens
The meeting at Millville Gardens was held yesterday May 3rd at 6pm outdoors and consisted of the city, the developer and the housing authority who laid out the tentative plans for what's going to happen with the complex and the current residents. Even though the meeting wasn't heavily publicized, the meeting drew a nice crowd which included residents, the Mayor Quinn and other city residents.
Friends of Millville Meeting Thurs. May 10, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Mark Krull
Friends of
112
Phone: 856 327 9534
http://www.friendsofmillville.blogspot..com
mkrull@earthlink.net
Friends of
We support programs and strategies that will renew inner city neighborhoods, especially programs addressing neighborhood security and home ownership/maintenance.
We want to help build a healthy city and to involve more people in positive citizen action. We oppose negative nitpicking that wears down our elected and appointed officials and does nothing to help build a better
Join us! We are meeting
Please feel free to bring suggestions and ideas for future projects for our group!
Next Meeting Thurs May 10 at 7pm
Our next meeting is Thursday May 10th 7pm at the Neighborhood Resource Center 1011 Buck Street. Hope to see you there!Below is an article in the AC Press
Group forms to support Millville's march into future
By JOHN MARTINS Staff Writer, (856) 794-5114
Published: Thursday, May 3, 2007MILLVILLE — It appears that Millville First, a local citizens group that is often critical of this city's officials and their policies, will soon have another group to contend with at City Commission meetings.
Another local citizens' group, called Friends of Millville by its founders, was formed in March with about 20 members on its rolls. It has had two meetings so far, and the group is getting ready to go public with its mission next week.
Mark Krull, a founding member who works as a social worker in Philadelphia, said Wednesday the purpose of the group is — quite simply — to be positive about the progressive changes that are happening in Millville.
That includes, he added, being supportive of city leaders when they do good things.
“There are so many dynamic, energetic and hard-working people in this town,” Krull said. “Friends of Millville is not being political. It's more of a civic organization to promote a better quality of life.”
The gripe, Krull and others said, is that a contingent of city residents have somehow managed to sour the citywide conversation on how Millville should plan for its own future.
Millville First, led by former City Commissioner Emil Van Hook and former Superior Court Judge Paul Porreca, is perhaps the most vocal citizens group currently active in the Holly City's civic landscape.
The group's members are often critical of city policies, frequently calling into question the effectiveness of certain government programs and economic redevelopment projects that the current City Commission, headed by Mayor Jim Quinn, have undertaken.
These initiatives include the formation of a Revenue Allocation District, a tax-increment financing plan that allows the city to earmark property tax payments for neighborhood rehabilitation.
Other targets have included the expansive New Jersey Motorsports Park complex, a $100 million development that will transform 707 acres of woodland in South Millville into a sprawling sports and entertainment district.
Members have also expressed concerns about the future use of eminent domain, or the possibility that current actions might negatively affect future generations of Millville residents and taxpayers.
Porreca, a frequent attendee of commission meetings, has previously described the work of Millville First purely as a watchdog organization, adding that its stance is meant to create a candid, more transparent dialogue on how the city is governed.
Reached Wednesday night, Van Hook said his group's actions increase much-needed awareness of the way the city is being managed.
“If we recognize something needs to be corrected, isn't that a positive step?” he said. “We're for good government and good, responsible government.”
Members of Friends of Millville, however, described Millville First's actions as needlessly adversarial, adding that it is fracturing the city's unity when it instead should be focused on a single, concerted effort: the betterment of quality of life.
“We really want to encourage the people who are leading the change efforts,” said Linda Forbes, a retiree who moved from northern New Jersey with her husband to Millville about two years ago. “It's not to say everything's hunky-dory. Millville still has some issues. We'd like to focus attention on the right ones.”
The Friends of Millville group is composed mostly of merchants, artists and longtime neighborhood volunteers and activists who like the direction the city is going.
Members include Dottie Wilkerson, a well-known Center City volunteer who is frequently seen working in the neighborhood.
Rich deAlmeida, a Millville native who works as a community outreach coordinator for the city's Weed & Seed program, said the group started somewhat informally as a place where like-minded residents can express themselves.
“There are just so many positive things going on and a group of us just got disgusted sitting in those commission meetings,” deAlmeida said. “We didn't form to be opposition to any particular group in the city. We just felt we needed to try to clear up the half-truths and the rumors going around.”
The new group's planned role, however, is intended to be larger than just as a cheerleader for the officials currently sitting on the dais at City Hall.
Krull said that the Friends of Millville hopes to serve as a support organization for the myriad other nonprofit groups that currently work in the city. Members also want to do what they can to tackle problems such as absentee landlords, rampant crime and noncompliance with city codes.
Instead of just complaining about it, though, Krull said Friends of Millville hope to contribute actively to the transformative work currently under way.
“That's the bottom line,” he added. “The rest is just rhetoric.”
Friends of Millville has scheduled a meeting for May 10 at 7PM at 1011 Buck Street. For more information, call (856) 327-9534.
To e-mail John Martins at The Press:
JMartins@pressofac.com
By JOHN MARTINS Staff Writer, (856) 794-5114
Published: Thursday, May 3, 2007MILLVILLE — It appears that Millville First, a local citizens group that is often critical of this city's officials and their policies, will soon have another group to contend with at City Commission meetings.
Another local citizens' group, called Friends of Millville by its founders, was formed in March with about 20 members on its rolls. It has had two meetings so far, and the group is getting ready to go public with its mission next week.
Mark Krull, a founding member who works as a social worker in Philadelphia, said Wednesday the purpose of the group is — quite simply — to be positive about the progressive changes that are happening in Millville.
That includes, he added, being supportive of city leaders when they do good things.
“There are so many dynamic, energetic and hard-working people in this town,” Krull said. “Friends of Millville is not being political. It's more of a civic organization to promote a better quality of life.”
The gripe, Krull and others said, is that a contingent of city residents have somehow managed to sour the citywide conversation on how Millville should plan for its own future.
Millville First, led by former City Commissioner Emil Van Hook and former Superior Court Judge Paul Porreca, is perhaps the most vocal citizens group currently active in the Holly City's civic landscape.
The group's members are often critical of city policies, frequently calling into question the effectiveness of certain government programs and economic redevelopment projects that the current City Commission, headed by Mayor Jim Quinn, have undertaken.
These initiatives include the formation of a Revenue Allocation District, a tax-increment financing plan that allows the city to earmark property tax payments for neighborhood rehabilitation.
Other targets have included the expansive New Jersey Motorsports Park complex, a $100 million development that will transform 707 acres of woodland in South Millville into a sprawling sports and entertainment district.
Members have also expressed concerns about the future use of eminent domain, or the possibility that current actions might negatively affect future generations of Millville residents and taxpayers.
Porreca, a frequent attendee of commission meetings, has previously described the work of Millville First purely as a watchdog organization, adding that its stance is meant to create a candid, more transparent dialogue on how the city is governed.
Reached Wednesday night, Van Hook said his group's actions increase much-needed awareness of the way the city is being managed.
“If we recognize something needs to be corrected, isn't that a positive step?” he said. “We're for good government and good, responsible government.”
Members of Friends of Millville, however, described Millville First's actions as needlessly adversarial, adding that it is fracturing the city's unity when it instead should be focused on a single, concerted effort: the betterment of quality of life.
“We really want to encourage the people who are leading the change efforts,” said Linda Forbes, a retiree who moved from northern New Jersey with her husband to Millville about two years ago. “It's not to say everything's hunky-dory. Millville still has some issues. We'd like to focus attention on the right ones.”
The Friends of Millville group is composed mostly of merchants, artists and longtime neighborhood volunteers and activists who like the direction the city is going.
Members include Dottie Wilkerson, a well-known Center City volunteer who is frequently seen working in the neighborhood.
Rich deAlmeida, a Millville native who works as a community outreach coordinator for the city's Weed & Seed program, said the group started somewhat informally as a place where like-minded residents can express themselves.
“There are just so many positive things going on and a group of us just got disgusted sitting in those commission meetings,” deAlmeida said. “We didn't form to be opposition to any particular group in the city. We just felt we needed to try to clear up the half-truths and the rumors going around.”
The new group's planned role, however, is intended to be larger than just as a cheerleader for the officials currently sitting on the dais at City Hall.
Krull said that the Friends of Millville hopes to serve as a support organization for the myriad other nonprofit groups that currently work in the city. Members also want to do what they can to tackle problems such as absentee landlords, rampant crime and noncompliance with city codes.
Instead of just complaining about it, though, Krull said Friends of Millville hope to contribute actively to the transformative work currently under way.
“That's the bottom line,” he added. “The rest is just rhetoric.”
Friends of Millville has scheduled a meeting for May 10 at 7PM at 1011 Buck Street. For more information, call (856) 327-9534.
To e-mail John Martins at The Press:
JMartins@pressofac.com
Monday, April 30, 2007
Slumloards
HelloAfter all the emails sent about This slumlord's properties, Linda Forbes and I decided to take a walk to see these properites up close. It was not pretty. We went to 6 of his properties and none had current rental sticker issued by the city!
Some had stickers from years gone by but half had NONE
This is not acceptable and we are going to send Mr. Wayne Caregnato of the city's
zone enforement one of the sample letters
This is where the form letter comes in! All you have to do is to visit
each property, they are all within walking distance. Look for the
sticker in the window. No sticker? Write a letter with that address -
one complaint per address. It doesn't matter if the property is registered, if it has no sticker it is not in compliance and we must demand compliance on every single issue!
And the benefit of a walk by is that you get to see the condition of the properties. If the house needs paint, make a note and we will file a complaint with the city to ensure that it gets painted within 30 days.
Here are the properties we looked at. The red lettering with white background are the appartments that are in complience with City Code. You can look them up at this link
here
You can look up by CITY, STREET AND LANDLORD. Check it out yourself
| | | Residential | | | No Sticker | Trash, loud noises | |
| | | Residential | | | No current Sticker | | |
| | | Residential | | | No Sticker | | |
| | | Residential | | | No Sticker | | |
| | | Residential | | | No Sticker | Broken Windows, Boarded up, Trash. | |
| | | Residential | | | No Sticker | INGRALDI, DENNIS P. |
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st, which is a nuisance. He also owns the following in Millville: 816Remember, our next meeting is Thursday May 10th at 6:30pm
Archer St, 301-303 Green St in the 3rd Ward; and 309 S 3rd St. It would
be interesting to target 2 or 3 slumlords at a time.
Is anyone interested in taking a walk to 309 S 3rd? Just walk by and take notes
and get one of Carl's forms. If you do not have a copy one can be made.
http://www.c-n.com/specialsections/datauniverse/propertyowners.html
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Meeting Thursday April 12 6:30
Friends of
Friends of
We support programs and strategies that will renew inner city neighborhoods, especially programs addressing neighborhood security and home ownership/maintenance.
We want to help build a healthy city and to involve more people in positive citizen action. We oppose negative nitpicking that wears down our elected and appointed officials and does nothing to help build a better
Join us! We are meeting
Statement of Purpose
Friends of
Vision
In ten years,
The mission of Friends of Millville is to involve citizens in a partnership with city government that has as its goal revitalization of the city, especially through economic and residential development of the downtown and older neighborhoods.
Goals
1. To advocate for and support city government strategies and programs aimed at revitalization of inner city neighborhoods, with a special focus on neighborhood security and home ownership/maintenance.
2. To educate the public about the need for citizen action to build and maintain a healthy city, and to involve more people in citizen action.
3. To identify and support candidates for municipal office who will continue the forward-looking agenda of the current administration.
Potential Projects
1. Citizen action for community safety
publicizing how/encourage people to report crime
possibly Neighborhood Watch
improving police-citizen communication
advocating for stronger police response to all violations impacting quality of life (e.g., loitering)
support center city walk – good citizens visible in neighborhoods will make a difference
2. Citizen action for quality neighborhoods
research/understand property maintenance laws; educate others
publicize how/encourage people to report code violations, illegal rentals, poorly maintained properties (825-UGLY), house numbers not properly displayed.
advocate to city for limitations on rental permits
work with city to promote home ownership in downtown area
publicize/promote development of positive activities for children and young people
Strategies
1 Publicize Friends of
– print and electronic media, website, blog
-- develop several message points that we consistently repeat
-- come up with a catchy slogan, e.g.
Forging a Better
2. Stress benefits of downtown revitalization to the entire city. Downtown revitalization will preserve open space on the outskirts of the city and use existing infrastructure, so that taxpayers will not have to fund new utilities. All residents will benefit both financially and through enhanced quality of life when all of
3. Research issues and educate citizens on what they can do to make their neighborhoods safer and cleaner, and to increase home ownership
4. Contrast our positive approach to the city’s most critical issues to nit-picking negativism of others
5. Advocate for our positions – at city commission meetings, via letters to the newspaper, developing news articles
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