MamaJD: Anal Newcomers Ruin ‘Hood Friendliness

Issue: My (Bentwood) neighborhood is changing …” — MamaJD

I live in a centrally located neighborhood that I just love … Bentwood Park … and others are loving it, too. It seems new neighbors are moving in all the time. The Recently Localized have found our neighborhood and seem to be making their mark. And also creating some waves that ripple out among the streets in the subdivision. One new neighbor in particular, within 30 days of Localizing, began his campaign for a Property Owners Association, which is forbidden in our covenants. (The lack of an Association and its dues was a positive for my family, personally.) The neighbor enflamed the emotions of other neighbors, who up to that point, had remained quiet on hot button neighborhood issues or dealt with them privately. All of sudden, the Recently Localized rallied and began circulating petitions, setting neighborhood meetings with an agenda, and grilling City Officials. The major sticking points? First was the care and maintenance of the Bentwood perimeter fenceline (and swales) that were an eyesore on 15th Street. Second sticking point was enforcement of RV parking covenants and the requirement that boats/RV’s must be behind a fence on your property. (I have yet to see an RV parked on the street). Within two short months, the Recently Localized had us Long Timers scratching our heads. We never had problems before. Any issues seemed to get resolved eventually between neighbors without involvement from the Mayor, City Enforcement or attorneys — MamaJD .

DFO: Newbies can add energy and new ideas to a community. When the immigrants bring their anal retentive ways from their former homes, however, they force their nasty culture on others. On the other hand, Bentwood should do something about that fence that runs along 15th Street.

Question: Would you prefer to have an anal retentive individual policing your neighborhood to make sure everyone keeps up his yard and house? Or would you prefer friendliness and a few weeds?