OUR MESA NEIGHBORHOOD

Mesa Street Watch

Mesa Street Watch will be our own way of dealing with public nuisance in our neighborhood.

California state law defines public nuisance as those that are injurious to health; indecent to the senses; unlawfully impeding free use of the streets and obstructing free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.

Many of us have experienced these in garbage, noise, graffiti and vandalism, speeding motorists, burglary, drug and gang houses, or violence in our neighborhood.

California’s nuisance abatement law affirms the residents’ right to fully enjoy the use of their homes in peace. Neighbors can and should come together to set certain standards of conduct within their area. It is a proactive way of policing one’s neighborhood and an empowering tool.

A nationally recognized Oakland, California-based program Safe Streets Now! (SSN) provides guidelines on how residents in a neighborhood can effectively address the public nuisance problems, in partnership with our police, city staff and other local neighborhood organizations.

Mardena Waller, our activist neighbor at Hope Ranch Annex, who is originally from Pasadena, shared with TMP how the city has adopted the well-tested SSN program. The city’s Human Services, Recreation and Neighborhoods Dept. sponsors the local program.

According to the Pasadena SSN fact sheet, the program has a prescribed process of dealing with public nuisance, as follows: 1) identify the property that creates the nuisance; 2) take detailed notes on the nuisance activities; 3) report every incidence to the police (take the case no.!); 4) write a ‘demand letter’ and warn the property owner that if the nuisance remains uncorrected, you will take them to court; and 5) when necessary, take the property owner to Small Claims Court, with the neighborhood residents as plaintiffs.

To file a joint suit, each neighbor plaintiff pays $75 fee (which can be waived) and can sue up to $7,500. Swift and inexpensive, small claims court cases do not need lawyers and court hearings are set within 30 days and judgments, within another 30 days.

SSN shows that the ‘demand letter’ is usually effective. Of 800 SSN-targeted properties, 90% was closed down without going to court and the cases that went to court were settled in favor of the neighborhood.

Adopting the SSN method of dealing with public nuisance is safe, non-violent and non-confrontational. There is no direct contact between the neighbors and those creating the nuisance. The report is done by phone, the ‘demand letter’ and documentation by affected neighbors are sent directly to the defendant with the city’s address and a city-designated contact person.

Our Mesa Neighborhood (and every neighborhood in our city) can do the same.

Mesa Street Watch is now in the process of forming in our neighborhood. Let’s get this working. Volunteer in the committee work. Call: 845-6870.

A DAY AT LA MESA PARK 2009
Photos

In Sunday’s heat wave- it was the coolest place to be - La Mesa Park was really cool... a fun place for A DAY AT LA MESA PARK, where our Mesa neighbors met more new neighbors...

The early birds who came promptly at noon knew just what the shaded area, closest to the bridge to El Camino de la Luz, felt like- cooool, refreshing and relaxing...

... Thanks to the potluck dishes from everyone... salads, pizzas, cookies, pies, extra hot guac, tabouli, pasta casseroles, lots of summer fruits and fruit drinks.

Plus the generous donations from: Albertson's - water and ice; from Lazy Acres: cucumber and turkey, raspberry tea sandwiches; and from Cliff's & Co. garlic bread bruschettas with brie, roma tomatoes, garlic, basil and parmesan!

BIG Thanks to Dean Mead (and Chris) of Albertson's; Jason Dew of Lazy Acres and Justen Alfama of Cliff's &Co.

The Gentrys, John&Fely and son C harlie Sanders again brought a feast of FIlipino “pancit palabok” (a rice noodle dish) and lots of fried rice.

Aside from the food and eating... there were chats... playing cards, frisbees, bocce ball.. and simply relaxing together under the shade of the canopy (courtesy of Bob&Joanne Boslough again!), umbrellas and the huge and beautiful park trees.

And there was music.... Joan Petit, Sue Meier and Abi strummed the guitars and led the singing of sing-alongs while Dinorah Molina-Phillips haad her romantic Spanish love songs - "Besame Mucho"... ”Cuando Caliente El Sol” y "Historia de Un Amor."

K. Brendi Poppel recited her beautiful poems and a humorous monologue called "Transformational Journey" with some suggestions on what to do on a bad hair day.... Our big supporter Fr. Ludo de Clippel, Holy Cross Pastor, came too. At the end of the day, Jim Garland presented a movie (Three Days to Las Vegas) at the village hall in the parish compound (with only a few people making it though).

Some of those who came: Bill Canfield and pet Lucy, Neil& Marie Chu, Mary Freericks, Irene Presley-an honorary Mesan; Erin Williams & Casey Crawford, Rozie Larson and her granddaughter Erica Herman, Kevin Young & Berni Bernstein with daughters Amber and Kimber and friend Nari, Cathie McCammon, Liz Ponko and her dad Ed Schulz, who is visiting from Phoenix, Mary Erhmann, Ree Ann Stepp, Dr. Trevor Denny, John & Estelle Foster, Ron & Susan Green, Terry Fountain, Liz Greenwald, Arjun Sarkar and son Abhi and friends, The Pinnocks, Samantha and parents Richard and Chona, John & Fely Gentry and son Charlie Sanders, Joan & Barbara Petronis, Liz Wilson and pet Peggy, Joyce Zarling & pet, Dr. Jack Dawson, Bruce & Grace Peterson & daughter Dionne, Shail & Joanne Mehta, David Pritchett, Jeannette Sackett& Lenny Kanner, Alissa & Jamie Shattenberg, Tracy Fernandez & Hyla Fetter.

Lynn Seigel-Bottner, Dennis Thompson& Lois Phillips and Dr. Jack Dawson came by briefly too.
Thanks everyone for a memorable day with neighbors. This year’s event is definitely bigger than last year’s first .. and hopefully it will grow bigger through the years..... our end-of-summer get-together of Mesa neighbors at our central park... La Mesa Park.

It was indeed- A (fun) DAY AT LA MESA PARK!

Jill Zachary and Santos Escobar of the city’s Parks and Recreation Dept. announced recently the volunteer opportunities for some of the Mesa Parks:

Shoreline Park - 1) landscape renovation and care: main sign landscape, eastern end of the park, torrey gate; steps to the beach, playground area; 2) signage: repaint park sign, redesign interpretative sign; 3) picnic areas; 4) shoreline steps: sweeping off sand and debris; 5) playground: groom sand; 6) graffiti abatement, trash cans and signage.

Escondido Park - 1) landscape renovation and care: hillside; 2) signage: repaint park sign; 3) picnic areas: clean-up; 4) basketball court and asphalt sidewalk: sweep debris; 5) playground: groom sand; 6) graffiti abatement.

La Mesa Park - 1) landscape renovation and care: hillside between parking lot and sidewalk, landscape care, right of parking lot exit; 2) signage: repaint park sign; 3) picnic areas: clean-up; 4) playground: groom sand; 5) graffiti abatement

Hilda Ray Park - 1) landscape renovation and care: planter beds below upper turf; 2) picnic areas: clean-up; 3) playground: groom sand