Loco for Local

Every weekend I’m home in Baltimore, I find out something new I love–and all of it has to do with the reverence to local commerce so many in Baltimore seem to embrace.

I live 5 blocks from a year-round outdoor farmers market and a 20 minute walk from a fancy indoor one.

I can get free books from a local guy who decided to start a free store after collecting so many books from patrons at the pub where he bartends.

I can drink cheap and dance till I can’t stand at a very local and very lively Melba’s.

And I can have what is supposedly the best Thai in town just 8 blocks away.

I can eat a great meal at a gazillion local restuarants that do not have that “this restaurant in Albequerque looks just like one in Cleveland” feel.

I can buy every single one of my friends and family a gift for any holiday without ever stepping foot in a big box if I wanted.

I recently realized, even before deserting that great city of NY I have always had penchant for local stuff–sure you will have to go to a big box at some point to buy paper towels and other things, but local is lovely.  And local is paramount to helping communities remain stable and pushing transistioning neighborhoods toward continued good growth.

Research has shown that for every $100 spent in a chain only $13 on average stays in the local community.  That number goes up to $45 when you buy local.  That’s jobs, thats good bought and sold to other businesses. Thats community development.

And with the continued growth of social media and the maturing of the “Internets”, there is no excuse to not be able to buy some things local.  Some might argue that buying local costs more–and that might be true if you live in a community who’s only close by shopping options are the big boxes–but thing about all the charges that are added on to flying your apple from Washington when there is an apple orchard a county away.

Start with some of your groceries. Sites like Edible Communities have links to several cities and regions where listing of local grocers, producers, and even restaurants that only serve local food can be found.  At Sustainable Table you can find additional “buy local” resources and lots of great data on the benefits of doing even just a little bit.

Looks like I will be home in Baltimore this weekend. Lets see what else I can find!

Questioning Your Motivation

So, a couple weeks ago, Ms. Deborah Gore Dean, a former HUD official under the infamous Samuel Pierce reign was kind enough to pay the Crib a vist.  She left a hefty behind a hefty comment that I decided to give its own post.

And of course, that comment led to another comment. A comment that has been sitting in the “approve” que for more than a week because I was going to write a post about it–since ACORN seems to not be able to get off the hot seat.

Instead, I’d like to know what you think, and  hope that all of you knowledgeable folks who read this blog will take some time to leave a comment in the comment section (BTW–YOU CAN LEAVE AN ANONYMOUS COMMENT IF YOU PREFER) Here it is:

I, for one, would encourage people in any party, to revisit the late 1990’s reasons for abolishing HUD. They are all still good reasons. And if that is not an option, then how about radically reducing its budget? If that is not an option, then regulate it and the abusive housing agencies it sponsors with our taxpayer money?… Why do I, and others feel that way? Because HUD is perceived by many to be “Federally Sponsored” thugs.

Why is it that year after year, the American public is floored by what happens in leadership there? The corruption, the waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars.

·         http://theeprovocateur.blogspot.com/2009/01/inside-story-of-acorn.html

“Whenever ACORN receives any money, be it from the federal government or other resources, it first goes to CCI. Then, CCI filters that money to anyone of ACORN’s affiliates. Of course, this creates all sorts of room for malfeasance.”

 I have actually personally heard from from leadership at ACORN that wants change, that ACORN “pimps its own people” to line their own pockets – with OUR taxpayer money. HUD and these same sponsored agencies are out shaking down realtors, lenders, mortgage brokers, and banks. Not to help actual hosuing victims, but to line their own pockets.

There is a prevailing attitude by HUD and these so called “Housing Advocates” that actually scream “victim” and then they victimize by bending the law, bullying, and coercing “donations”. And where does the money go? Well, not to the alleged “housing victim”, if there even was a victim…but back into the coffers of organizations like ACORN.

Hmm…what say you?

An innovative and influential group you’ve never heard of (unless you are in housing)

So, over the last two weeks I have been playing catch up with my reading. Ever since I left behind my beloved (in hindsight) PATH and Subway commute in NY/NJ and traded it in for a 30 mile one-way 40 minute trip in the car, I have been slipping.  One of things I have been missing out on is reading my favorite business rag–Fast Company, which describes itself as a place ”Where People and Ideas Meet”.

As I was skimming over the covers of the issues from the last four months, lo and behold, what did I find but one of my favorite actors (and secret crush though he’s a bit on the short side for me) Ed Norton and reference to his “$9 billion dollar housing project”. * Being as keenly in tune with housing as I am (or purport to be) I knew the statement could only be about Enterprise Community Partners (Eprise)–his family’s business.  (You see ’ole Ed is the grandson of Enterprise’s founders the late Jim Rouse and is dynamic and wonderful and very much living wife Patty,)

So, as you have probably guessed, I put the article about the fastest growing dating service in another issue aside to read the article. I have to tell you, seeing all the things Eprise does to “git ‘er done” when it comes to community revitalization–and housing specifically is astounding.  And since I am such a nice person, I thought I’d break some of the coolest stuff down for you and include some nifty links that will keep you occupied for hours.

It May Not be Easy Being Green–but they sure try!

With the first nation-wide green criteria for building residential units, Eprise was ahead of the curve. Green Communities not only helps developers figure out how to build green but also encourages it by providing small grants as well.

Through the Solar Neighbors Program with BP, famous folk and others who are interested have installed solar power systems on their homes and for each installed system BP donates a system to a low or moderate income homeowner.

And of course no Green outreach is complete without a Carbon Footprint Counter (as you would guess, mine is not small–I wish I could get someone I know to encourage telecommuting–but that’s for another day).

And if  you want more,  Enterprise purports that its National Conference earlier this fall was carbon neutral. (though I am quite unsure of how that is possible.)

Holding the Hill’s Feet to the Fire

None of the Green Communities stuff, or the various financial tools (like did you know that the former Chairperson Bart Harvey was instrumental in bringing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to life)  if Enterprise did not consistantly rally the troops and  lobby the Hill (which for you non-political types is Capital Hill). The past 8 years has not been for the faint of heart in this business–and Enterprise has demonstrated its “Terminator” like strength frequently. With the prowess of its public policy team, and the leadership of the affable and “way smarter than your average bear”, Doris Koo, Enterprise has fought the good fight–and often won.  From Ms. Koo’s testimony and presentation of a $10 billion dollar request as  a part of the Housing and Economic Recovery act to fund a program to help stabilze communties rampaged by foreclosure, came the $3.9 billion dollar Neighborhood Stabilization Fund. (How it will work is a conversation for another day) And with a change in the wind,  Enterprise is poised to go back and ask for that $6.1 billion that was left off the table.

Here’s hoping they can get some fixes to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit or who knows if any affordable housing projects will get done!

As a matter of fact, how ’bout we all write are Congress person or Senator and help them out?

Innovation Station

These days, whenever I here the term “innovation”, all I see is the dude dressed up like a superhero with an “I“ on his chest.

Eprise might as well be a hyper 18-year old with an iPhone and Mac Powerbook in its messenger bag.  If you want to know what’s up with Eprise, not a problem.

They Twitter.

They FaceBook.

Not One…

Not Two…

But Three Times. (In three different ways)

They are LinkedIN.

They Podcast from time to time on the nonprofit channel  (you have to check out the podcast of Donna Brazille–brilliant!)

And whatever “Squiddo” is? They do that too.

Wheew! That made me tired. They’re a busy little bunch aren’t they?

Now, go forth and be productive…or don’t and spend some time fiddling with the links I just gave you!

* K Nicole is an employee of Enterprise-but she is not writing this for her job. She just thinks they are cool! ( Most of the time!)