Unity Team Platform

UNITY TEAM PLATFORM for CPCA
One Neighborhood/Many Voices

We have come together out of a love for Cleveland Park, its history and its uniqueness as a dynamic and varied village within the larger city.  As unaligned leaders of CPCA, we will preserve the best of what CPCA has achieved in the past and modernize the organization to ensure its successful future.

We are committed to making sure that CPCA represents us all, not just one interest group or perspective.   The diversity of our Cleveland Park community – singles, families, empty-nesters, homeowners, apartment dwellers, local merchants, and landlords – has resulted in tensions which can be harnessed as energy to craft creative solutions.   This takes mutual respect, active listening to all voices, and a commitment to realizing an emerging vision.   The Unity Team will  provide the needed leadership because we represent many different interests, rather than emerging from a single issue campaign.

We are committed to creating a revitalized Connecticut Avenue.  We will work to harmonize the need for neighborhood-serving shops and restaurants, while preserving our quiet spaces and residential neighborhoods.   Specifically, we will

• Make it a priority to find solutions to the parking problems that will benefit both merchants and residents, including promoting greater use of mass transit;
• Proactively investigate and analyze the causes of our empty storefronts and develop strategies to solve the problems by working with residents, merchants, developers, and landlords to attract and keep a diversity of businesses meeting the needs of our community.

We will work to keep Cleveland Park safe for all -- on our streets and in our homes.

• Increased traffic creates special challenges for pedestrian safety and for families with children.   We are committed to pursuing solutions through open dialogue and by working with DDOT, police and other agencies to promote safe streets and sidewalks for pedestrians, bicycles and cars.
• Increased crime is a concern to us all.   We will work with our elected representatives and with law enforcement and judicial officials to prevent crime and to facilitate enforcement of our laws.

We are committed to restoring Cleveland Park's historic reputation for civil discussion and civic involvement by encouraging more members to participate, and ensuring that CPCA is open and welcoming to the entire community.   Specifically, we will

• Greatly expand the use of standing and ad hoc committees on particular issues so solutions can be found that do not polarize our community.
• Consult members to determine the best times to hold meetings and ways to increase involvement;
• Provide a forum for community discussion on whether new development proposals are consistent with the nature of Cleveland Park and how they impact residents and businesses directly affected.
• Support and encourage sound management of parks, playgrounds, schools, libraries, conservancies, and green space of area institutions for the benefit of the whole community.

We will increase transparency within CPCA and modernize the decision-making process. 

• The Executive Committee, operating as a board of directors, will hold open meetings, and minutes will be posted expeditiously on the CPCA website and listserv.
• We will recommend by-law changes to our members that will enable CPCA to operate more openly, fairly and effectively.

• We will make full use of electronic media, including the CPCA website, to keep members and the community fully informed of activities and issues and to solicit input through our CPCA list serve to enhance essential  discussion and decision-making in face-to-face meetings.

We welcome the groundswell of interest in CPCA and look forward to working with you in the coming year.