Letter: Quality of life depends on us

We get the kind of neighborhood we deserve. A good New Year’s resolution all good citizens should consider is one that contributes to quality of life for all.

It only takes a short phone call or email to report problems. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to be extensions of the police, the streets/sanitation departments, the water deprtments and all the rest. Today, make a resolution to report problems so that those who fix the problems can know about them.

Report criminal activity or suspicious goings and comings of your shifty neighbors. Report potholes. Call in water leaks that waste precious natural resources. Report burned-out street lighting to the power company that maintains them. Request cleanup of abandoned lots that are fouled by illegal dumping.

As good citizens, we must assist. The agencies that repair public problems and protect us from harm do not have employees roaming the streets checking for water leaks and burned-out lights, nor are there street cops at your corner scoping the activity in your block

Do your part, my friends! Resolve to be an extension of the municipal/state departments who stand ready to serve — if they know what needs fixing!

I care about my quality of life. Do you? Do your civic duty! Thank you for being a good neighbor.

Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki

retired school teacher/administrator

New Orleans

Comments

1) Comment by prbeav - 27/12/2012

I meant "too far."

2) Comment by prbeav - 27/12/2012

Carried to extremes, Ms Bezou-Hojnacki's point goes to far. But I like her call for intolerance of potential harm.>>>>Here's an old story to support my concern about my own tolerance of bad behavior.>>>>The guy next to me was diligently working on his laptop, which was cell-phone-connected to the Internet. He drank three beers in forty-five minutes then asked me to watch his backpack, bicycle, and laptop while he went to the Gazebo john. >>A lady on the next bench, absorbed in her book except to occasionally look over her glasses, seemed like a resident. Several Japanese couples, apparently tourists, were there with baby in stroller. Three bums each holding beer in brown-paper bag occupied three benches, perhaps making it their park.>>A fourth lone bum was sleeping in a sitting posture the entire time. Suddenly, he started impetuously fooling with his pants. As he pulled out his member, I was bemused thinking at age sixty-four after umpteen visits this was my first infamous New Orleans scene people write about. I turned to the laptop jock and said, “Look at this guy exposing himself!”>> Then I turned back to see the bum urinate on the park slate from his seated position. He cared not for his pant legs--just let urine splash. The john was a step away. The laptop jock yelled disturbingly, “You lazy jerk! Get out of Latrobe Park before I call the cops.”>> Everyone cheered as the bum zipped up and hurried away yet left the puddle. I wanted to hose the place down but could only hope for rain. Passersby gingerly, unknowingly stepped between rivulets. A bagged-beer newcomer took a seat near the puddle. I could not resist alerting him, and the park patrons cheered as he moved.>> If I see a suicide bomber/shooter preparing to execute his/her evil, I hope to be alert and decisive and appropriately intervene. However, I fear my incredulity and tolerance.

3) Comment by Ivy - 27/12/2012

Ms. Lydia, the only quality of life that seems to matter around here is the right to bear arms. many, many arms. Also, some of your suggestions come right out of those sci-fi movies that were all the rage in the late 80's and 90's. Now, I know, just know you read that book, Fairenheit 451 (scuse my spelling, fellow posters), and having read that book, understand that we humans have a penchant for going overboard on what could be a good thing. So your suggestions come from a good place, but could end up in a bad situation for us all.

4) Comment by 8point6 - 27/12/2012

"Thank you for being a good neighbor." Lydia. Do you work for State Farm? All three previous comments are correct.

5) Comment by Bighug - 27/12/2012

Are you kidding? Many people around here are too rude and lazy even to return shopping carts to their proper place.

6) Comment by Being_Stupid - 27/12/2012

You are the eyes and ears of Big Brother. Monitor the activities of every person on your respective block. Keep an individual file on each of your neighbors. Reveal the internal dynamics of each household to the Government. Counter-Intelligence is key! Perhaps if we try hard enough to spy on each other, we can become a model city like Fidel Castro's Havana, or Mao Tesung's China, Hitler's Berlin, or Stalin's Moscow.

7) Comment by Being_Stupid - 27/12/2012

Join the Neighborhood Gestapo. Report your neighbors. Big Brother is watching you.