South of Sunnyside

Band of Neighbors, an alert system that distributes a voice message to neighbors in case of emergency, recently launched out of incubation, with a kickoff in Tulare.

I haven’t tested the system out, but it seems like a great idea, and one I’d like to research for our neighborhood. As I understand it, however, the system is targeted at crime and emergencies, and I wonder if our neighborhood couldn’t benefit from something a bit more broad.

For example, as I road out onto California tonight, on my way to Starbucks, I noticed four marked police cars clustered just to the right of our street (it was hard not to notice them). I have no idea why they were there; perhaps they’re targeting drivers who speed down that road. Or perhaps they were on the lookout for wire thieves. Or maybe they were just passing time waiting for a call. Whatever the reason, a simple messaging system would allow me to alert the neighbors, and/or question their knowledge of a potential situation.

Okay, so maybe that fits within the crime/emergency alert model—I’ll use another example that doesn’t involve the police. Across California Ave. was a large gathering, likely a birthday party. Several tables, dozens of chairs, and a bounce house. When events like this are planned, the host could send the neighborhood a note asking for patience with parking and noise (or inviting them to join the fun).

If this sounds complicated, it doesn’t have to.

As I’ve explained Twitter to a few people lately, I’ve noted that its purpose varies from person to person, and among different organizations. Many people post useless information, though many of their "followers" consume such information with vigor. I think that for neighborhood communication, Twitter (or FriendFeed, for that matter) could prove quite valuable.

So, any takers? You can find me here, and here.

Similar Posts:

• Your curb or mine?
• ___ fences make ___ neighbors
• Merry Christmas, and Happy New Neighbor!