The Broken Windows Theory and what it means for improving a neighborhood

I interviewed Vice Mayor David Sander of the City of Rancho Cordova to talk about the "Broken Windows Theory" and how it is relevant for neighborhoods.

What do you think about the content? Do you buy into the concept of the "broken windows theory"? Why do you think so many of us check out of the community instead of get involved?

* interview by Ryan Lundquist

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• City
• of
• Rancho
• Cordova
• Broken
• Windows
• theory
• blight
• improvement
• decay
• neighborhoods
• ghetto
• fix
• community
• interview
• change
• hope
• problems
• window
• small
• steps
• Sacramento
• California
• neighborhood

[macrochronic]

yes good discussion. ive grown very suspicious in my later yrs.lately what i see is people with their own agenda pushing it on others.

[lundquistco]

@macrochronic Yep, lots of that going on. Trust is really hard to build in a climate like that. Thanks.

[macrochronic]

well if you dont do what i say the boogie man will come getcha,lol. we disagree i guess. to each his own. err

[lundquistco]

@macrochronic Uh oh. :) Hard to tell if we disagree all that much. This theory is like a window in my book in that we can focus on issues that are really the on the outside surface of the community. But we must go way deeper and hope for strong resident connections in order to really see change. Those that embrace this theory as an end-all need to readjust their thinking and focus on deeper things for the end-game. It has its place, but it's not the end-all focus for sure. Good discussion.

[macrochronic]

sry if you found that demeaning.im just so tired of people telling others how to live. once upon a time this was a free country with individual will. i spent 3 yrs in the army protecting your rights to be free. now , 35 yrs later i find it was a waste of time with money and propaganda determining the fate of those who are not in power. keep your yard nice and tidy, do as you like but trying to con everyone else and scare them into doing as YOU like.just more scare tactics

[lundquistco]

@macrochronic Thanks. I appreciate your comment and thanks for your service in the army. I don't like people to tell me what to do other, so I'm not in the habit of doing that to others. I don't point my finger at others, but rather toward a vision for what the neighborhood can be. I think many of us these days have forgotten that a neighborhood is a community. We all need to rely on each other and it's not up to the government to do the hard work for us. No fear at all. Just reality.

[lundquistco]

@lundquistco Let me continue. The Broken Windows Theory can be a really helpful framework to think about improving a community, but THE most important thing about a neighborhood is residents. People need to connect like they used to. The notion of "loving your neighbor" is not something to be left on the shelf untouched. I work tirelessly to advocate for others, especially homeless students, and anyone involved in community building should have no hint of greed as their motivation. Take care.

[lundquistco]

@macrochronic I may not be communicating clearly. I am not concerned about my image. When I use "image" I am really talking about the way the community perceives itself and the way others perceive it. That is monumental for consideration and can often be a great beginning point to bring change. Beginning with focusing on cleaning up basic things can make a huge difference. You don't know me, yet you demean me. You have no idea what I do my community. Congratulations on your success.

[macrochronic]

so its the image you seem to be concerned about. your image?the mayors image?

.greed and dishonesty got the usa where it is today. this is just another example of self serving propaganda put forth by political intertests. where i live the homes are 100 yrs old . not one burglary in the 20 yrs ive been here.you and pat braseil share the same shallow veiwpoint. do it the way we say! 

[lundquistco]

@lundquistco We live in such an isolated society, so residents often believe that what they don't do to their properties has little bearing on others, but it actually has a dramatic bearing on the image of a community both internally and externally (and property values). Either a community cares or it doesn't. It's sad when a neighborhood gives up and usually low property values are a result of that too. It's all intertwined, but people are always placed above property values in my book.