Strong, diverse neighborhoods key to safe city

The following is an excerpt from Sean's viewpoint in today's Kalamazoo Gazette:

All our streets must be safe, and part of ensuring that lies in keeping the roots of our community strong. Empowering citizens and neighborhoods to engage in these matters is critical to securing both our economic and social futures. This is a fundamental way to begin addressing some of the illnesses at the cause. There's no quick and easy cure, but there certainly is a need to bring all our resources to the table. One broken window in a building quickly becomes many if left unattended.

Safe, inclusive and successful communities are created from the bottom up, not the top down. That was Jane Jacobs' message more than 40 years ago, and it is no less true today. Diversity sparks creativity, the seed from which all great social and economic enterprises grow. Investing resources in strengthening our neighborhoods and empowering our residents is never wasted.

To read the whole article, go to:
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