LOCAL COLUMN: Why not Norman?
“Strong and successful communities share similar attributes that help everyone, bringing a positive impact to people from a wide range of ethnicities, political backgrounds, and religions.” These words come from The article suggests that successful communities often share similar attributes that help everyone, such as good governance, volunteerism, and the health of society. The author points out that the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in Norman, a national program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides affordable housing to low- and moderate-income persons. The city must develop a Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plans to address these issues each year, following a Consolidated Annual Performance Report (CAPER). The CDBG funds were used for housing rehabilitation, community development, and administrative costs. Additionally, the author notes that volunteerism plays a significant role in the success of CDBG programs.
प्रकाशित : 4 सप्ताह पहले द्वारा Bill Scanlon | Local Columnist में
“Strong and successful communities share similar attributes that help everyone, bringing a positive impact to people from a wide range of ethnicities, political backgrounds, and religions.” These words come from an article in the “Washington Examiner (March 19, 2024),” citing a 2014 Harvard study by economist Raj Chetty which combined Internal Revenue Service and Census Bureau data. The “Examiner” cites the Chetty study by way of introduction to its reprint of a “Denver Gazette” article by Stephen Wunderli, which examines Salt Lake City as a case study. My question: “Why Not Norman?”
I believe that “similar attributes that help everyone” are manifest in Norman. The Wunderli article identifies a number of attributes in Salt Lake, including good governance, volunteerism and the health of society. Let me offer some examples of how I believe Norman measures up. Decide for yourself whether you agree.
GOOD GOVERNANCE “... requires our best people to be involved with our most challenged communities.” I’ll give one example of a program here in Norman that meets this standard — the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program; mission: “...to promote the development of viable urban communities by providing principally for low- and moderate-income persons.” CDBG is a national program, administered at the Federal level by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
It’s intended to benefit persons with an income 80% below the median; its focus is affordable housing. Per Federal guidelines, Norman must develop a Five-Year Consolidated Plan, supplemented by Annual Action Plans. To accomplish this, public input is solicited at a series of listening sessions, followed by review by a CDBG Policy Committee review and approval by the City Council. Major elements of the Consolidated Plan include needs assessments (homeless, special needs, community development), market analysis (availability of affordable housing, shelters), a strategic plan and strategies (resources, priorities).
Each year, the city must submit a Consolidated Annual Performance Report (CAPER), which identifies what worked — and what didn’t. A recent staff summary (reflecting 2022 data) showed a total expenditure of CDBG funds of $1,267, 867. Of this total, 64% was invested in housing rehabilitation (29 projects), 17% to community development (tree project, Cate Park, Senior Kitchen), 6% in support of 233 households (including rental assistance), and 13% toward administrative costs. I realize that I’ve cited a lot of bureaucratic detail, but the point I’m trying to make is that this is a real program, which exists to help real people, administered at every level with citizen input. Our best people ARE involved with our most challenged communities. There’s a lot more to say about this program, and I’ll likely abuse the privilege to expand on this subject in a future column.
VOLUNTEERISM. As you’re probably aware, there are a number of committees which exist, per city sponsorship, to advise the City Council on matters of particular importance — parks, public safety, animal welfare, etc. The have been ad hoc committees formed to advise on such things as the management of the Senior Center (now the Adult Wellness and Education Center — AWE), requirements for the new Young Family Athletic Center (YFAC), etc. Most recently, the city has begun an initiative entitled AIM (Area and Infrastructure Master Plan) Norman.
Subcommittees have been appointed to help update plans in the following areas: land use, parks, housing market analysis and affordability, transportation, stormwater, water/wastewater. While there is contractor support for this project, these committees are made up of volunteers, eager to contribute to planning for our city’s future. Note that volunteerism plays a role in the success of CDBG programs. In the preceding paragraphs, I’ve noted how individuals have helped with city programs. That’s one type of volunteerism.
That’s only part of the story — and you probably know the rest through personal experience. Perhaps you volunteer at church, or in your neighborhood. Maybe you help coach youth sports or scouting activities- or spend time in support of various charitable organizations. Let me offer one example of how neighbors help neighbors.
Last Saturday, my friend Kim Fairbanks invited me to stop by a spay/neuter clinic for pets, sponsored by Hands Helping Paws. The event was held at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. I arrived around 9 a.m. — and saw a line of pets and pet owners that wound around the building. Inside, volunteers were doing their best to process all who showed up. It was obvious to me that these volunteers were working hard to help all comers. While I might have cracked under the strain, everyone there was smiling and cheerful, totally invested in the good they were doing. Thank you, Kim — and all who helped at that pet clinic!
HEALTH OF THE SOCIETY. This is an intangible attribute, but a necessary one. The Wunderli article makes the point that “Service is preventative medicine.” The article claims that “Volunteering heals the emotional scrapes ... inflicted by unrealistic expectations (of youths) through overexposure to social media.” (Form your own opinion on this point.) It’s been my experience that service to others is its own reward. And I recall a remark attributed to the late John Paul II, to wit: Let us keep the needy at the center of our lives. “Let us treasure them and recognize the debt we owe them. We begin by imagining that we are giving to them; we end by realizing that they have enriched us.” I believe this spirit is alive and well in Norman.
All cities have problems, and Norman has its share, but the point of the Harvard study and the Wunderli article is that we need not heed Dante’s admonition about “abandoning hope, all that enter here.” I believe that Norman reflects the attributes essential to a strong and successful community. I wouldn’t live here otherwise.