By John Harlow | Editor-in-Chief
Palisadians have many ways of connecting: from social media and phone trees, to group texts and the more low-tech dog walking rendezvous and coffee shops.
But maybe, think some representatives on the Pacific Palisades Community Council, this unique community deserves something more special—maybe its own online “PaliWeb.”
The prospect was raised at the last council meeting of the year on Thursday, Nov. 16, when representative Lou Kamer quizzed colleagues on how they listen to townspeople.
And, as Chris Spitz, president emeritus, asked, how they reach out to the many Palisadians who still don’t know what the council actually does.
The only representative who appeared to have a complete database is Realtor Sue Kohl, who blasts emails to the Alphabet Streets about local and city decisions on a regular basis.
Peter Culhane, who represents The Highlands, said there was an alert system that alerted neighbors to earthquakes but it was a fee-based, “opt in” system.
They were wary of social media platforms such as Nextdoor, “the same thirty people talking to each other” as representative David Kaplan put it.
The council has experimented with live streaming its twice-monthly meetings, but so far draw little attention.
Maryam Zar, PPCC chair, said she and Kamer have been talking about setting up a “surveying” system by which representatives can reach their constituents more easily.
Zar and Kamer gave their blessing to a new face attending PPCC meetings, Jenny Hopecote, PR advisor and Marquez Charter Elementary School activist.
Hopecote said she could draw upon experiences in outreach programs to create an easy-access community based website. “It’s all about looking after each other,” she said.
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