DATE: Wednesday, September 24, 1997         TAG: 9709230358

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: NEIGHBORHOOD EXCHANGE

TYPE: PUBLIC LIFE

SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER

                                            LENGTH:  101 lines

FORUM TONIGHT: TENANT RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES

On a drizzly mid-September evening, police crime-prevention officer Trudy Richardson renewed her long-standing opinion of Norfolk tenants.

Many renters want good communities as much as homeowners.

Richardson had come to Nottingham Apartments in the Norview section to talk about starting an anti-crime block watch.

The complex has no community meeting rooms. So despite the rain, some 40 tenants gathered outdoors with Richardson.

``When I saw the weather, I said, `Awww, geez. Nobody is going to be there,' '' Richardson recalled. ``When those 40 people came out, that was a true sign that they care.''

For two hours, tenants sat on the curbs by the laundry room, discussing the ideas. ``They wanted to learn,'' Richardson said.

Yet, there are many tenants not involved in their communities. They don't know how. They don't feel welcomed. Or, like everyone else, they're too busy dealing with everyday life.

Police, city hall and landlords must do a better job of letting tenants feel they are full-fledged citizens, she said, adding: ``Ignoring this fact is really ignoring folks who have something to contribute.''

That's why Richardson helped plan a ``Tenants Town Hall Meeting'' for 7 to tonight. It's the first renters-outreach effort of the Five Points Partnership - a coalition of citizens, businesses, schools, churches and public-safety officials in Norview and nearby neighborhoods.

The session will focus on rights and responsibilities and other landlord-tenant relations. Panelists will be Chris Caswell of WAVY TV's ``Renters' Rights'' feature; Diane Kelly, supervising deputy clerk of Norfolk General District Court; attorney Kirk B. Levy; city officials Ron Milbourne and Jeff Graves; and landlord Jack Jacovedes.

But Richardson hopes both sides also listen beyond any immediate complaints and understand the long-range stakes.

``I don't look at this as two hours on who should do what if a drain stops up'' but a step toward more community building, she said.

Tonight's forum brings to mind ideas from another neighborhood. In 1993, rental manager Peggy Cowan set about enrolling tenants in the Park Place Civic League, even paying their $5 dues. She also encouraged her renters to form a tenants association.

One inspired tenant, Jamal Akbar, came up with the name, ``Colonial Hall Association of Tenants,'' or CHAT, highlighting the idea of residents talking with each other.

Akbar wrote a poem with these words: Chatting need not be about who or what didn't follow the law to the letter. It's mostly about neighbors talking about ways of making Colonial Hall Apartments even better.''

The ``Tenants Town Hall Meeting'' will be from 7 to 9 tonight in the Wellington Oaks Multi-Purpose Room, 1251 Bunsen Court, Norfolk. For more information, call Bev Sell, 857-1794.

On a rainy-drizzly mid-September evening, police crime-prevention officer Trudy Richardson renewed her long-standing opinion of Norfolk tenants.

Many renters want good communities as much as homeowners.

Richardson had come to Nottingham Apartments in the Norview section to talk about starting an anti-crime block watch.

The complex has no community meeting rooms. So despite the rain, some 40 tenants gathered outdoors with Richardson.

``When I saw the weather, I said, `Awww, geez. Nobody is going to be there,' '' Richardson recalled. ``When those 40 people came out, that was a true sign that they care.''

For two hours, tenants sat on the curbs by the laundry room, discussing the ideas. ``They wanted to learn,'' Richardson said.

Yet, there are many tenants not involved in their communities. They don't know how. They don't feel welcomed. Or, like everyone else, they're too busy dealing with everyday life.

Police, city hall and landlords must do a better job of letting tenants feel they are full-fledged citizens, she said, adding: ``Ignoring this fact is really ignoring folks who have something to contribute.''

That's why Richardson helped plan a ``Tenants Town Hall Meeting'' for 7 to 9 tonight. It's the first renters outreach of the Five Points Partnership - a coalition of citizens, businesses, schools, churches and public-safety officials in Norview and nearby neighborhoods.

The session will focus on rights and responsibilities and other landlord-tenant relations. Panelists will be Chris Caswell of WAVY TV's ``Renters' Rights'' feature; Diane Kelly, supervising deputy clerk of Norfolk General District Court; attorney Kirk B. Levy; city officials Ron Milbourne and Jeff Graves; and landlord Jack Jacovedes.

But Richardson hopes both sides also listen beyond any immediate complaints and understand the long-range stakes.

``I don't look at this as two hours on who should do what if a drain stops up'' but a step toward more community building, she said.

Tonight's forum brings to mind ideas from another neighborhood. In 1993, rental manager Peggy Cowan set about enrolling tenants in the Park Place Civic League, even paying their $5 dues. She also encouraged her renters to form a tenants association.

One inspired tenant, Jamal Akbar, came up with the name, ``Colonial Hall Association of Tenants,'' or CHAT, highlighting the idea of residents talking with each other.

Akbar wrote a poem with these words: Chatting need not be about who or what didn't follow the law to the letter. It's mostly about neighbors talking about ways of making Colonial Hall Apartments even better.'' MEMO: The ``Tenants Town Hall Meeting'' will be from 7 to 9 tonight

in the Wellington Oaks Multi-Purpose Room, 1251 Bunsen Court, Norfolk.

For more information, call Bev Sell, 857-1794. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Trudy Richardson

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