Winning Friends and Gaining Influence in East Falls
SEPA has had control of Redeemer’s property for nearly four years. It sits there unused— vacant with its paint peeling. Unused property in an urban neighborhood is quickly claimed by dog lovers.
Redeemer occasionally had to remind the neighbors that the yard is used by children. Mostly they respected that. No big deal. But now it’s different. When we worshiped this Easter on the sidewalk we watched one dog owner after another shortcut through the yard.
The people of East Falls were quite upfront at the Community Council meeting SEPA attended more than a year ago. SEPA was putting their best foot forward, trying to impress the locals with their concern for the neighborhood—something they failed to show their own supporting members in East Falls. Rev. Pat Davenport was all charm as she gratuitously asked the community what they would like to see on that corner. The members said, “a dog park.”
The absentee landowners are now peeved. Ever-accustomed to wielding a mighty arm without resistance, SEPA now resorts to signs on every corner. Signs on the signboard. Cardboard signs propped up on folding chairs (at least they haven’t taken ALL our folding chairs).
Clearly, they mean business!
They warn the neighbors that they don’t intend to clean up after their dogs.
That should make mowing the yard very interesting.
Their attitude toward dogs is similar to their attitude towards Redeemer’s people.
East Falls is not going to take well to it.
Sometimes neighbors just have to put up with neighbors. If SEPA ever wants to open a word and sacrament church in East Falls — as Rev. Davenport claimed, but we doubt — they should adjust their attitude. Fallsers have a long memory. As new owners of old East Falls land they are already, in East Falls vernacular, considered “squatters.” (And in SEPA’s case, they are squatters who showed no mercy on the people of East Falls in pursuit of our community’s riches for their gain.)
A little advice from Redeemer on how to get along with your neighbors:
The only thing that draws more flies than dog dirt is honey. 
It isn’t Redeemer members you are dealing with now. It is all of East Falls.