"Signal Hill Community First," a New Local Non-Profit Organization is Launched

Working together to put the interests of the community first

Working Together

We all share a responsibility to keep city governments accountable to local residents and businesses. Working together we can keep Signal Hill an affordable, pleasant, and safe place to live and do business.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2011

Mission Statement

Working to put the interests of the community of Signal Hill, California first in the decisions that affect our Quality of Life, Property Values and the Cost of Living in this small city.

We do this by making our voices heard through increased public participation in city affairs to:

• Achieve greater transparency and open government.
• Achieve greater fiscal responsibility to keep public service costs down and create new revenue sources.
• Ensure that all impacts of development be included in project costs.
• Ensure fairness, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness in city operations.
• Inspire and empower residents to participate in city affairs.

Community Policing: One Small, Encouraging Example

The City of Signal Hill Police Department has a reputation. For us residents, it is very positive, and shows the value of a small city having its own force. The "bad guys" probably have a different view.

It is no easy task to sensitively respond to citizen needs and concerns while, at the same time, being prepared and willing to use the full force of the law to protect those same citizens. Call it a delicate balancing act that especially challenges larger city police departments.

In our 20 years in Signal Hill, we've personally seen several instances where the quality of the SHPD has shone through. Today we saw another. A single woman, living by herself in our neighborhood discovered small holes in her front window pane, and began to worry.

She called the SHPD who responded within minutes to take a report. The responding officer did not dismiss her concerns as mere vandalism, but talked of the need to resolve the problem before it escalated into something worse. He took a small BB he found below the window to another neighbor up the hill, where a teenager lives. The father immediately owned-up to his son's probable vandalism, met with the woman, and resolved to make repairs and promised his son would apologize.

This is not compelling material for "Law and Order" or the evening news. It is an example of good community policing.

--- RCH