On Monday, January 15, 2018 the Friends of Jessica Renslow volunteers gathered on the corner of 6th and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Gary’s Emerson neighborhood to kick off a different kind of campaign initiative. Covered in snow, eight hardy volunteers secured boards on a structure that had seen better days.
(Gary residents Aldwin Livingston and Katie Bohn creating a decorative board.)
Indiana House District 3 democratic candidate, Jessica Renslow stated, “We have so much potential in Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart, opportunities for tourism and investment, but we also have a blight and illegal dumping epidemic.
Unfortunately perception matters. When people drive by and see a blighted building predominantly situated, or large pieces of furniture laying in a ditch, they make assumptions. They usually don’t notice that the majority of the block is occupied. They don’t know that the ditch is a globally rare ecosystem. They don’t stop and chat with the neighbors who have been voluntarily mowing abandoned lots and maintaining their block. Outsiders see blight. Across House District 3 our cities are trying to strum up money to demolish structures, and keep up with people trashing our byways. It’s not easy. They are making strides, but they need all the help they can get. As a community builder I’ve always focused on blight reduction and beautification, this is just a natural progression for me as a candidate. I would rather raise funds to secure blighted buildings and conduct community clean ups than pay for billboards. Public safety and curb appeal are two of the main reasons we started our Decorate District 3 Initiative. We love our hometowns. We want them to flourish. We chose Martin Luther King Jr. Day as our kick off because naturally it’s become a day of service. It’s a great way for folks across the US to honor an American hero and give back to their communities. We started here in Emerson but this is just the first of many service projects.”
(State Representative candidates Jessica Renslow and Chris Chyung securing a blighted building.)
What is a decorative board up?
When a blighted building has its windows and entrances secured by boards that have been painted.
(Before and after of the MLK Block Club House in Gary's Emerson Community.)
Why do a decorative board up if the building is just going to be torn down?
- It secures the building which promotes public safety.
- It aides in curb appeal.
- It can uplift community spirit.
- It can help create a community space.
- Sometimes the buildings get purchased and end up getting a new life.
(Last summer, an estimated 500 people attended the first annual Outdoor Adaptive Escapade at the transformed blighted Ralph's Grocery Store in Gary, Indiana.)
With the corner brick home on 6th and MLK Drive secured, the volunteers completed their first Decorate District 3 project. They have plans for more in the up and coming months.
Do you know of a structure that needs to be secured, or a spot in need of a community clean up? Please email renslow4rep@gmail.com.
(The Ken Parr Build a Bike volunteers are repurposing the blighted Ralph's Grocery Store in Gary, Indiana and tending its grounds.)
Interested in joining the Decorate District 3 volunteer corps?
You can sign up Here.
(Renslow4 Rep volunteers working on the MLK Block Club House in Gary's Emerson Community.)
Have you taken our INHD3 community survey yet?
(It’s just 4 questions.) https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/renslow4rep
If elected Jessica Renslow will fight to:
- Protect our environmental jewels and promote public safety/curb appeal by focusing on properly managed blight reduction/beautification efforts across of all of Indiana House District 3.
- Advocate for green jobs that produce goods and/or provide services that benefit the environment, or conserve natural resources.
- Work with state and local officials to ensure that all community environmental and health concerns are addressed at each stage of a bill's implementation cycle.
- Foster sponsorship relationships between area businesses and industries to help infuse tourism initiatives, support active transportation, improve infrastructure and protect our environment, so that the burden of funding is not on INHD3 residents.
- Promote private or environmental groups to develop preserves, solely funded via their revenue sources, on the edges of our already protected areas. This approach will benefit INHD3 by retaining our scenic beauty/ wildlife, reducing our blight situation and it will better guarantee our environmental jewels be allowed to retain their value.
- Create and implement an INHD3 tourism strategic plan and marketing campaign that will give our area presence on the national/international level.
- Pursue partnership opportunities between public school systems and aligned non-for-profits to help develop programming and stewardship of facilities. This approach will benefit INHD3 by lessening the burden of maintaining all of our school facilities on the taxpayer, while reducing our blight situation and better guaranteeing our residents receive meaningful education opportunities at all ages.
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