O.C. PLATFORM : A Plan That Works

I think that neighborhood preservation starts with the community itself and that the most successful programs are enacted within the neighborhoods themselves. If someone comes in and slaps on an ordinance, it’s probably doomed to failure because there’s a certain resentment within the neighborhoods.

But if someone comes in and says, “We’ve gathered information on your community and its needs and we’re willing to work together with you,” then there’s a buy-in on the part of the neighborhoods and you’ll have a marvelous spirit of community.

You don’t have to describe a bad neighborhood to someone living in a bad neighborhood, you have to offer solutions. Government cannot provide clean neighborhoods; neighborhoods provide clean neighborhoods.