The New Localism

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Category: Community News

Published on Monday, 05 April 2010 18:32

Written by Renee Montgomery

Driving home every night after a hard day’s work, I breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing this fellow. He’s standing there every evening at La Brea and San Vicente Blvd., welcoming me back to my Mid-City neighborhood.  With his outstretched arm, he defines the entrance to my ‘hood, as if gesturing “Here you are again, Renee, your community.”   And I think “Thank you Mr. Mid-City VIP Automotive Man.  It’s good to be home.”

In the 1970s a number of sociological studies were initiated concerning the psychological effects of “community.”  Professor Seymour B. Sarason’s 1974 book is regarded as the seminal study in establishing the idea that a sense of community “is one of the major basis for self-definition.”  Several further academic investigations ensued, confirming that a healthy sense of community translates into, not only greater social bonding and participation, but also into feelings of physical safety, self-control, self-purpose and self-confidence.

Thirty years later, in reaction to the growing fragmentation of urban society, especially in megatropoles like Los Angeles, we have a social movement dubbed “The New Localism.”  The New Localism encourages us to shop farmers’ markets, patronize mainstreet, walk, ride bikes, and know our neighbors, in order to derive those same health and social benefits defined in the 1970s and 80s by Dr. Sarason and company.

 

The Neighborhood News is distinctive from other newspapers by being produced and written by residents who have not only lived in the community for years, but have actively engaged with it.  The editor has resided in Mid-City for 30 years. As President of her Association she found ways to put money accumulated from filming permits, back into immediate neighborhood projects. TNN covers local news events, places and people in the 90018 and 90019 and encourages accountability from those in service to the community. We also relentlessly encourage readers to support our shopkeepers, restaurants, arts organizations, libraries, each other.  To date, 98% of TNN ads come from local businesses.

TNN shouts “Go Local”  and the way to go local is by staying put,  like the iconic Mr. Mid-City VIP Automotive Man who’s been staying put for years. . . and he just keeps looking better.