FALL 2003

Community Relations - Mike Hilliard, Director

In my 27-year career in the Police Department, I was always told the most accurate barometer of your success as a post officer, a supervisor, a manager, and a commander was whether crime was going down in your area of responsibility.  The message imparted in this was clear; whatever you were doing it must move you toward the goal of reducing crime.  Since coming to HARBEL I have looked for, and believe I have found, a clear barometer of a community’s health.  If real estate values in an area are increasing, the area is sound.  If real estate in the area is escalating, it indicates the area is an attractive place for people to live.  They feel it is safe and secure, and they believe it will be safe and secure for years to come.

Real estate values in Northeast Baltimore have been steadily increasing over the last several months.  Houses are selling for or above the owner’s asking price.  It is my belief that several factors have contributed to this escalation of property values in Northeast Baltimore.  First, the NorthEast Citizens Patrol, a partnership of HARBEL, the Northeastern District of the Baltimore Police Department, and the citizens of Northeast Baltimore has sent a clear and consistent message to the criminal element that Northeast Baltimore is not a place for them to operate.  The Patrol’s members have sent a clear message to criminals considering operation in Northeast Baltimore that they are not wanted here, and this is an area that will persistently challenge them.  Second, when a neighborhood along with HARBEL takes a clear and understandable position opposing or supporting a zoning change in Northeast Baltimore, the decision makers listen.

The point is, it is my belief that the way to keep the neighborhoods of Northeast Baltimore healthy is to first ensure the continuance of the NorthEast Citizens Patrol. You can do this by joining the Patrol or continuing your participation in this fine partnership with HARBEL and the police.  It is easy to join, just contact me.  It is easy to continue your participation, just contact your community association’s coordinator to arrange a date you will participate.  Second, you can ensure that new developments and uses in your community will have a positive impact on your neighborhood’s stability by ensuring your community association takes clear and understandable positions on zoning issues in your area and apprising HARBEL of your position so that we can, in turn, support it.  I have found that when your community and HARBEL work together to ensure positive change in your area, good things happen, because decision makers appreciate the combined strength and integrity of Northeast Baltimore’s communities and HARBEL.

In an effort to develop and foster leadership within the communities of Northeast Baltimore HARBEL has sponsored a series of Leadership Forums this past spring and summer.  Two of the forums were facilitated by the Citizens Planning and Housing Association’s staff and dealt with building a sound organization and utilizing statistics from the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicator’s Alliance to evaluate your community’s stability and future.  In August the Director of the Community Law Center presented a seminar on how to deal with absentee landlords and problem liquor establishments.  The next forum will be held on September the 22^nd at HARBEL.  Lauren Abramson, the Director of the Community Conferencing Center will be conducting a seminar on how to build your organization and its membership through the resolution of conflicts within your community.  She will also address how through early intervention you can avoid significant conflicts between members of your community.  All the forums have been well attended by members of almost all of Northeast Baltimore’s neighborhoods.  Please contact me to register for this worthwhile seminar.

Since coming to HARBEL, I have been sending out a weekly E-mail entitled upcoming events, which enumerates the upcoming events sponsored by HARBEL or of interest to its members.  If you have not been receiving this E-mail and would be interested in it, please send your E-mail address to me at harbel.necop@juno.com.