Hats Off to Our Mayors!

Posted on 21. Jan, 2010 by Karl Garlid in Agents of Change

Shortly after we moved to Clinton Hill in 1983, I was introduced to the late Elizabeth Grant, “The Mayor of Clinton Hill”. In the years since, I have been continually impressed by the number of people in our community who give tirelessly of their time, energy and experience to make our neighborhood a better place to live. It has also become clear that, in the best sense of the truism, “All politics is local”, many of us are blessed with neighbors who serve as “mayors” of our blocks. They have not been elected by any organized body, but have assumed their roles because they are who they are, and by dint of longevity, personality, commitment, experience or just plain grit have become recognizable as someone who truly makes a difference in the short space between two cross streets. Their interests and passions vary, but their impact is keenly felt.

Some organize us and inspire us. Think new trees and tree pit surrounds, sidewalk repair, block watch programs, block association organizing and other activities that simply would not happen were it not for that one person on the block who plants the seed for change or action and then continues to urge us on and takes the lead to see things get done. Somehow, when the rest of us get too tired, they manage to keep going.

But perhaps most importantly, these “Block Mayors” watch our backs and serve as a resource so that all of us can be better neighbors. “Knows everyone on the block” is an attribute applied to the men and women who have assumed these roles. They are aware of what is going on and who needs an extra bit of help. When many of us were in “sweat equity” mode, they were resources for fix-it and repair people, sources of materials, and often just a helping, encouraging hand or word.

Robert T. Ridley, “The Mayor of Cambridge Place”, was such a man and a presence on the block since 1961, at first as superintendent of building numbers 110 and 116 and then as a resident, with his family, of a house across the street.  He did know everyone on the block it seemed. He had the respect of the two generations of children he watched grow to maturity. They knew him to be a straight-talking no-nonsense guide and mentor.

As new residents moved in, he got to know them too, as it was not unusual to find him perched atop the metal garbage can next to his stoop greeting those who walked  by, or having extended conversations with a various neighbors. Even in recent years, as his health failed, he continued to hold court, moving his wheel chair to the shade of a neighboring dogwood tree when the sun got too warm.

Mr. Ridley was one of the first people we met when we moved onto Cambridge Place; the sellers took us next door to meet him the day we took possession of our home. We learned that earlier he had been responsible for fencing in his, ours and two other adjoining back yards. The fences were sturdy, not particularly beautiful, but provided good security. Their most endearing quality however, was that each had a gate leading to the adjacent yards. ”That’s in case we need to help each other,” Mr. Ridley said.

Good fences do make good neighbors. Block Mayors make good neighborhoods.

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