N C N A

NORTH CAMPUS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

It’s time for our annual meeting! We will be meeting on Monday, May 23^rd at 7:00 pm in the Law School, room 2402, to have elections, discuss crime-prevention strategies, planting more trees on the golf course, and other matters.  If you wish to run for our board or have an issue for the agenda, please contact neighborhood president, Sara Koplik at: sarakoplik@hotmail.com.

Perhaps the worst news of the year is that our neighborhood has been targeted by very methodical, persistent thieves.  On some streets, every home has had a burglary or an attempted burglary.  It is crucial for all of us to work together to combat this issue in a safe (and legal!) way.  Many streets have formed revitalized neighborhood watch programs.  If you wish to start a program for your block, contact Lindsay Patterson at: lp.bourlatos@yahoo.com. 

CRIME PREVENTING TIPS

All too frequently, property crimes are preceded by ostensible “door to door salesmen” or knocking on the door of your home late at night.  Some neighbors have noticed that groups of people appear to be using our neighborhood as a staging area for illegal activities.  Please call 242-COPS if you feel that something is just not right, or that someone is trying to case your home.  Of course, call 911 if it is a real emergency.  Be sure not to place yourself in any danger, and do not directly confront anyone. But if you are able to take a quick photo (on your phone perhaps) or get a description and a license plate number, it could be very helpful.

 

Burglary:  If someone has broken into your home and stolen some items, you can report the theft to APD through the Telephone Reporting Unit (# 768-2030) or go to the APD Web site and fill out the form.  Make sure to print a copy AND make sure that you see a Tab # and Case # in the upper-right hand corner of the report before submitting it. Keep a copy of those numbers for future reference. If they do not appear, your report has not been received by APD. Alternatively, you can report a non-violent crime at the triangle substation (located at Central, Girard and Monte Vista). It is critical for us to report EVERY theft or act of vandalism, regardless of how minor it may seem,

Robbery: is defined as encountering someone in the act of stealing.  If you do come across a robber, or see one emerging from your neighbor’s home, or witness an act of physical violence (or an accident), or otherwise feel threatened, CALL 911.  Do not confront would-be intruders. Calling 911 triggers a high-priority response.

 

Door-to-Door Solicitors:    A legitimate business will get a license to sell in ABQ. They will be issued a printed badge with their picture, name, address and name of business. They are required to display the badge when arriving at your door. For your safety, it is recommended to have a storm or security door that is kept locked between you and the solicitor.  Do not let the solicitor enter your door even if they wish to demonstrate their product. Call the police (non-emergency) 242-COPS if the solicitor does not have any visible credentials AFTER they leave your premises.  Do not threaten to call the police while they are standing at your door.  If it is an emergency, always call 911.  These small steps of precaution and a cool head will keep you safe. If a panhandler comes to the door and you turn him away, but do not feel threatened, make the report through 242-COPS.

 

Home safety tips from APD's Sandy Martinez:

• Stand on your front walk and look at the approach to the house; do bushes, trees, other things make it easy for an intruder to hide? If so, trim. Bushes should be no higher than 3 feet.
• Are your outside doors (as well as the door from the garage into the house) solid core, able to withstand serious assault? Do they have deadbolt locks?
• If you want to have a light in the driveway or back yard, install one with a motion sensor, alerting you to the presence of an intruder. Do not use a light that is left on all night long.
• Don’t make it easy for someone to approach your house and see in to where you might have a flat-screen TV, a play station or a laptop – the three most commonly stolen items in home burglaries. Put such equipment out of sight when not in use.
• When you plan to be away, tell your block captain, who will notify APD, so that the address is put on a watch list.
• The ABQ Police website (http://www.cabq.gov/police/index.html) has access to crime statistics under “crime mapping” [graphic representations of the neighborhoods]. We are located in the Southeast Command, Beat 325.

 

JOIN THE TREE PARTY CAMPAIGN

We have started a joint effort with UNM to replenish the trees on the golf course, as they are quickly reaching the end of their life span.  UNM will help create a well-designed plan to enhance the current inventory of trees, add additional areas with habitat structures and improve the perimeter.  NCNA will co-chair a committee to provide design, tree and plant selections, prioritize planting areas, and will ensure that monies are spent effectively. There is no foreseeable state funding for this type of project.  Thus, we have set a goal of $25,000 to be raised over the next 4 to 6 months by our neighborhood. We will establish a link on our NCNA web site, www.neighborsforgreenspace.com, and also, we will be visiting to ask for your help in this effort. Our goal is to have the first of many plantings this winter, in order to show our deep commitment to preserve the golf course. 

For more information, contact Tim Davis, tdavis@pcs-nm.com.

 

North Campus Garden, Egg and Honey Shares, a message from Patrik Schumann

I'm no expert, but they say honeybees pollinate 80% of crops and without them we'll have no more food.  What I do know is that my fifty fruit trees had a great bloom this year, but because the bees have largely disappeared, there won’t be much of a harvest.  We have immediately started an emergency pollinator program for orchard and honey bees, and we are now offering a Honeyshare program.  
If you have a neglected back yard in which you'd like to see fruit trees, vegetables, foraging chickens, and/ or bees working a flower meadow, we would be pleased to negotiate a multi-season fair exchange to cultivate it into sustainable organic production, including providing you a part of the harvest: fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs, flowers, and/ or honey.  Also, we ask that you think of food for a future before running to the store to buy neo-nicotinoid pesticides, which appear to be wiping out honey bees. For more information, contact Patrik Schumann, of EcOasys High Desert/Institute for RADICAL Sustainability, at info@CommunityGardenshare.net or 255-1933. 

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JOIN NCNA OR RENEW YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP! IT’S ONLY $5 PER YEAR!

 

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Send your check to the North Campus Neighborhood Association

c/o L. Patterson, 1417 Princeton NE, 87106.  Thank you! 

For all kinds of information, check our website, www.northcampusna.org

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We continue to face a drum beat of development plans which will impact life around the North Campus.  Much of our activity this year has been consumed with providing feedback for iterations of UNM’s new proposed Master Plan.  It has been a long process, and yet we have noticed a willingness on the part of the university to respond to our concerns positively.  Despite a great deal of development planned, we are grateful for this new spirit of cooperation.
 
Here are some of the changes which we expect to occur on the North Campus:

• Moving the adult psychiatric hospital (Mental Health Center) to the southwest corner of Yale and Tucker.
• Adding 50,000 sq. ft to the Domenici Mind Institute on the Barren Fairways.
• Filling in the M (Medical School) parking lot with buildings.
• Developing the parking lots west of the AMAFCA channel, and covering the arroyo to create another road which would extend Camino de Salud.  While the road would border the golf course on the west, it would not go into the Barren Fairways.

For the most part, new building would occur on parking lots, which is precisely what we have requested since 2007.  We encourage the university to:

• Move the bike path to the east of this new extension of Camino de Salud, as this would provide a buffer between development and green space.
• Build the expansion of the Mind Institute on a reclaimed, existing parking lot or add another level to the current building, thereby minimizing its footprint.

 
On multiple occasions, UNM has stated that the Golf Course and the remainder of the Barren Fairways will be set aside as reserve lands. Our understanding is that there is no development planned on there for the foreseeable future.  However, we will continue to be vigilant, advocating for the permanent preservation of this cherished green space, preferably as a conservation easement.
 
Golf Course Etiquette
We are very fortunate to be able to enjoy the golf course.  It provides so much for so many groups of people.  However, in order to preserve this community resource, we must follow some simple rules.

• Keep your dog on a leash at all times.
• Pick up after your pooch.  Not only is it courteous, but it helps protect underground water supplies as well.
• Do not walk on the putting greens at any time, as they are delicate and expensive.
• Even in the early evening, after the flags are down, the course is still open.  Please be considerate and respectful of golfers.
• Lastly, be aware that golfers really have little control over their shots. A golf ball can move over 100 mph.  Do not place yourself, your children or your dogs at risk.  Please stay on the perimeter path.

 
Crime
Due to the poor economy, crime has been increasing in our neighborhood, particularly auto and home burglaries.  APD conducted a successful operation here recently, but we must continue to be vigilant.  One of the best and easiest ways to decrease crime is to get to know your neighbors and BE NEIGHBORLY.  The better we know each other, the less space there is for criminals to intrude, and having a friendly community simply makes life more pleasant for everyone.
 
Property
Take a look at your yard and house. Could it use a little sprucing up? How about the neighbors? Maybe they just need a hand with a project, or like many of us, they may be a little strapped for cash at this time.  An offer of an extra hand can make a project easier, and it’s a reason to get to know your neighbors. If you are like your neighborhood president, you might not be able to grow anything except for weeds, but next door there might be a master gardener!  A kind word can address most issues regarding our properties. In the event that this does not work, then we recommend that you call 311 for ordinance reviews. We all live different lives, but common courtesy always benefits everyone. 
 

Our Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, May 16th at 6:00 pm at the Law School in room 2401.  We will hear an update on the University’s new Master Plan  and have elections!  If you are interested in running for office or actively participating in the neighborhood association, don’t be shy! We can always use your help! Please contact Sara Koplik, president, at sarakoplik@hotmail.com .

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Don’t forget to send in your annual dues, it’s only $5 per household.
Please make your check payable to the North Campus Neighborhood Association,
and send it c/o A. Chakerian, 1004 Vassar NE, 87106
 
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