Neighborhood Action in an Era of Fiscal Austerity. Issues in Neighborhood Control: Voluntarism and Governance

摘要

Describing the context in which neighborhood organizations operate, the two papers reviewed address the relationship of the neighborhood organization with neighborhood residents and with jurisdictions outside the neighborhood. As Davis points out, loss of government funding for these organizations cannot be wholly compensated by private support and self - help efforts. In the poorer neighborhoods, resources are fewer than in more affluent areas, and people must expend more effort in just meeting their daily needs. Hallman examines the meaning of neighborhoods and carefully differentiates between separately instituted power and power derived from some central authority. Both authors cite the development of new leadership as one of the primary benefits of neighborhood organization. Two elements are needed to help new groups succeed: a good technical assistance program and a small infusion of funds necessary to move the neighborhood group from an ad hoc organization to a more mature organization. The critique discusses specific ways to provide this support, such as the National Neighborhood Coalition's idea of a National Endowment for Neighborhoods and Federal matching funds. No references are cited.