Unity brings residents clout

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published November 21, 2007

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There is power in unity.

That could be the theory behind a push to organize Largo neighborhood associations into an umbrella group that could fight for the interests of neighborhoods.

What is unique about this effort is that it is the city government, not the neighborhoods, pushing for what has been dubbed the Neighborhood Partnership Program.

Both St. Petersburg and Clearwater have organizations made up of representatives from neighborhood associations.

In St. Petersburg, it is called the Council of Neighborhood Associations, and it has existed for 50 years. A similar group was formed in recent years in Clearwater.

Such groups, here and elsewhere, often grow out of a dispute over local government's response to an issue affecting a neighborhood or several neighborhoods. Residents realize that they need more clout, and they join together so they can speak with a louder voice.

However, Largo's experience is a little different.

Earlier this year, the city hired a neighborhood coordinator, Darci Dore. She and other city leaders are hoping to link together more than 80 neighborhood associations and other types of groups into the Neighborhood Partnership Program. Such a program could be useful as the city government tries to improve the appearance of Largo neighborhoods and create a vision for the city's future. The city staff and commissioners could use the group as a sounding board.

The city also hopes having such a group will inspire more people to follow and get involved with city government. It could be one way to combat the apathy that Largo officials have bemoaned for years.

"We're giving neighborhoods the opportunity to define what Largo is to them and what they want it to be," Dore said recently.

It is an invitation neighborhoods should not refuse.