Statement of Purpose

Friends of Millville

Vision

In ten years, Millville is the best place to live in New Jersey. A partnership of residents and municipal government has resulted in a thriving downtown arts district, prosperous retail malls and flourishing light industry. Poorest neighborhoods are redeveloped, resulting in an increase in owner occupied housing and minimal levels of crime. Citizens actively support a city government that serves residents through a variety of health, social, and recreational programs. Residents of all ages and in all neighborhoods enjoy a high quality of life.

Mission

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 Millville

– 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 Millville Through Leadership and Compassionate Community Activism

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 Millville becomes a desirable place to live.

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