Washington Park Neighborhood Improvement Group

I was contacted by KCRA Channel 3 News wanting 3 or 4 members from our association to participate along with other neighborhood associations in a project about neighborhood issues. There is a tenetive meeting date of March 16th at 6:30. I will update as more information becomes available.

Invitation

KCRA 3 Community Action Meeting
Wednesday March 16, 2005
6:00 p.m. ? 7:30 p.m.
3 Television Circle
Sacramento, Ca 95814

KCRA 3 is proud to be part of the Sacramento community for 50 years. In
2005 we look forward to strengthening the lines of communication between
KCRA 3 and active members of the community we serve. We would like to meet
with members of Sacramento neighborhood associations and response teams,
churches-mosques-&- temples, community service groups and members of our
viewership.

That's why we are inviting your organization and four of it's members to
join us for an informal Community Action Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday
March 16, 2005 at the KCRA Studios. We are located at 3 Television Circle
(Next to 10th & D Streets) in downtown Sacramento. Please come prepared to
discuss issues such as crime, education, health , parenting, problem
neighbors, the challenges of small business ownership, etc.

We want to hear all of your comments on these topics, as well as what you
would like to see covered within our local newscasts.

Please call me if you have any questions.
Millicent Ozdaglar
Special Projects Producer
KCRA News
3 Television Circle
Sacramento, CA 95814
Wk: (916) 325-3288
Cell: (916) 717-7934
mozdaglar@hearst.com

Attendees and discussion

Jessica Barraza and Ron Brasel represented our association. We met members of the Freeport Manor Neighborhood Association and Hollywood Park Association who also were represented.

On the topic of crime it was a common perception that the fear of crime was worse than reality. This was greatly attributed to the news sensationalizing the bad news stories and ignoring the good news. It was felt that it was the stations responsibility to ballance bad news with good and report on stories that helped enpower people to make a difference.

On the topic of education there were several educators speaking on making the schools a central part of the community. Getting people involved whether they had kids attending the school or not. Emphasizing that kids with involved parents did do much better in school.

On the subject of health the major local issue was the poor air quality. Limmitting urban sprawl and encouraging alternative transportation were felt to be issues that needed more news coverage.