"The report of our death was an exaggeration," to paraphrase Mark Twain's famous telegram. The City Council's cutting Neighborhood Support Center funding has left many residents thinking your Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition has been disbanded.

Truth is, we're more active than ever, without City money or office support. We're holding open meetings at least once a month, here in our neighborhood, and developing an increased program of workshops and activities.

"The City funding provided to the W/MNC created the framework that makes it possible for neighborhood groups to take the next step into adulthood," notes Mayor Pam O'Connor (herself a former W/MNC Chair).

A community consists of neighbors, and in the Wilshire/Montana district bounded by those two thoroughfares and by the beach on the west and 21st Street on the east, the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition has a nine-year history effectively organizing discussion and resolution of local problems. We've increased safety, reduced crime, combated parking problems and improved conditions in our neighborhood parks.

In June, we held our Annual Congress at Lincoln Park, and heard from our neighbors that parking is a growing concern, particularly near the beach, the Promenade, and St. Monica's Church. Our first project as a totally independent volunteer citizen group will be an informative workshop on preferential parking, bringing together a City traffic engineer and local residents experienced in the pros and cons of petitioning for parking permit zones.

So... when the W/MNC puts together a panel, reserves a hall, and makes sure everyone who comes has access to timely and accurate information on preferential parking... how do we let our community know about it?

With renewed energy, we're tackling the challenge of staying in touch with local residents without the convenience of City financial support. The time is right... changing demographics and lifestyles have made some old models of community organizing difficult to sustain, and new technologies promise to make communication among neighbors easy and affordable.

The City of Santa Monica is embarking on an ambitious plan to provide free Internet electronic mail to residents and others. Also on tap is an improved computer conferencing system, where Santa Monicans can share their opinions and solutions any time, day or night. Home computers won't be needed: free terminals will be installed at libraries and other public places.

As we develop electronic mailing lists, it will be possible to distribute timely information to just those neighbors who've indicated interest in a particular issue. If you'd like to get a head start on this, send your existing email address to me now at kevin@mckeown.net.

Unlike printed mailers and flyers, electronic communication is extremely low-cost. Messages arrive immediately, but can be read and answered at your convenience. This magic combination of affordability, immediacy and convenience will let us hold the electronic equivalent of ongoing town hall meetings. Neighbors with limited access or difficult schedules can participate equally.

The Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition has already accepted a City invitation to host a continuing neighborhood conference on PEN, Santa Monica's Public Electronic Network, as soon as the new features are available later this year.

Also coming very soon is the most convenient access ever to those old-fashioned face-to-face community meetings of City commissions and boards, including, for the first time, School Board meetings and full gavel-to-gavel coverage of City Council meetings. Free Radio Santa Monica will be on the air this fall, broadcasting all these events to your home or car with clear FM sound.

Change is always a challenge, but the changes happening right now in Santa Monica neighborhood organizing promise to bring us into a new era of involvement and participatory energy. New technologies won't replace old-style community dialogues, but will add exciting options and capabilities.

Now, as the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition grows into its own, is a great time for you to step up to voice your opinions on the issues you care about. By grass-roots organizing with your Wilshire/Montana neighbors, you'll be empowering yourself and helping to make our community more healthy, safe, affordable and livable, through effective, positive action.

W/MNC membership provides you with a regular newsletter, and timely notices of public hearings and notices that affect you. The cost is nominal... as low as a dollar a year for seniors.

To join the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition, jot down a list of the issues you care about in our neighborhood and send it to us at P.O. Box 607, Santa Monica 90406. Individual annual dues are $5; $8 for a family; and for seniors, just a dollar. For more information, please write or email me!

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