IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU WORK TO UNITE THE EAST AND THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY?

By Kelly L. Keagy

WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO EASE THE PERSPECTIVE OF THIS EAST SIDE/WEST SIDE MENTALITY BY ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT UNITE ALL OF THE CITY'S CITIZENS AS OPPOSED TO DIVIDING US.

THE ENTIRE CITY EXPERIENCES ISSUES SUCH AS PERIODIC CRIME AND VANDALISM THAT AFFECTS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ENCOURAGING CITIZENS TO GET INVOLVED IN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUPS AND TO PARTICIPATE AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AT COUNCIL MEETINGS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HELPING THE CITY AND GALT POLICE DEPARTMENT BECOME MORE AWARE OF SPECIFIC NEEDS. THE CITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND OUR LOCAL COMMMUNITY-BASED ACTIVITIES.

COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE ENGAGED AND PROVIDE NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS RECOGNIZE THE BENEFITS OF MULTI-NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY. WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE HOLD A COMMUNITY TOY DRIVE AT THE SCHOOLS AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN ALSO PROVIDE DROP OFF LOCATIONS.

WE ALSO NEED TO INFORM RESIDENTS OF RESOURCES AND RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CITY BY STEPPING UP OUR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING EFFORTS.