Community involvement and the media

Greetings all:

I would like to hear more about the Crow Hill Community meeting I missed last week, and I did find some info on a post, so thanks to everyone who contributed there. I said I would be there, and I'm sorry I missed it. (I was taking in a stray kitty cat my friend had rescued, and I thought that was an ok excuse...). But I'd love to hear more details about what was discussed, "calls for action" meeting new neighbors, etc.

I also want to inform everyone that I just got a call from NY1. Molly at 212-379-3456 questioned me about community organinzing. As was suggested on a thread (I'm sorry, I don't remember who said this, and I haven't been keeping up, and these boards are SO active, I can't find it now), the media needs a hook to be interested in a story of what's been going on recently. Below is the text of the email I sent to NY1. Has anyone else heard from them? I couldn't actually describe "community organizing" that is going on, other than to redirect Molly to this forum, and the meetings I described in the email to NY1. I was actually hoping they would come to the Crow Hill meeting, but they most likely didn't.

Any ideas on how to take this furthur to show that we are concerned, we are talking to each other, and the online forums combined with face-to-face meetings are "galvanizing" our neighbors to continue to act like good neighbors to each other, like we already do. I think we should invite them to the next precinct meeting. Can someone help me find when/where it is? And it would be awesome if a bunch of us from this forum showed up (I will not flake this time like I did with Crow Hill).

Let me know what you all think!

Meg

from the email to NY1 (sent Sep 16):

Greetings:

I am writing to urge coverage on violence this week in Crown Heights. Over the past week, there have been FOUR shootings. I almost witnessed the one on Wednesday, September 12 on Franklin Ave near Sterling. The victim was shot in the face. To my knowledge, this was an incident b/t Bloods and Crips, and the shooter is still at large. The other shootings I know less about. Also, there was a fire on September 15, on St. Mark's b/t Classon and Franklin.

What may make this newsworthy, is that the community is coming together, thanks to blogs, forums (http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=4) and community meetings ( 77th precinct community council meeting: 2nd Monday of each month at 7:30 and crow hill community meeting:http://www.brooklynian.com/for.....php?t=5188 ). Recent incidents are scary and heartbreaking, but this does not make me want to leave. This neighborhood is hands-down the most friendly place I've lived, and in contrast to the violence, knowing your neighbors will make you safer. We HAVE GOT TO talk to each other, and we do.

Media coverage will help bring attention to this resurgence of violence, and will awaken local government to the need to act for the safety of its constituents. Come to these meetings (next one this coming Tuesday http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5188)! Visit our online activities. Call or email me if you have questions.