New neighborhood group rises from OPCO's ashes

by Carolanne Sudderth
Ocean Park Gazette

Long a hotbed of activism, OPCO became the city's first neighborhood group. But, after almost three decades, debates about accountability and the disposition of cash, led to lawsuits resulting in the virtual disappearance of the group from the political scene.

Although OPCO claims to still exist, it has ceased to hold public meetings and has not held the requisite annual convention in at least three years. OPCO simply petered out and the new group has arisen in its afterglow.

A number of OPA's board members double as city officials including Recreation and Parks Commissioner Lori Nafshun; Nina Fresco, who sits on the Landmarks Commission; Arlene Hopkins, Vice Chair of the Planning Commission; and City Councilmember Mike Feinstein who has been very involved with the new group.

Others are members of the old guard who grew dissatisfied with OPCO. Joel Brand got involved with politics while he was trying to restore his historic home on Fraser Avenue. Brand said he saw services and maintenance programs in other neighborhoods that he wanted to see in Ocean Park. "I joined OPCO but it never really happened for a variety of reasons," and when that group fizzled and died, he began talking with his neighbors about forming an alternative.

Nina Fresco said the turning point was the city's pending revision of the General Land Use Plan. "We decided we needed representation."

"Joel and I talked a lot about it because we're concerned about getting all the Landmarks," Fresco said, "and [as a parks commissioner] Lori has issues of her own."

From those first meetings the word spread via grassroots and grapevine, "and then we had a group of 12 people and now it's up to 30," Fresco said. But the work isn't done. "We've got to get it up to a big enough critical mass so that every person in Ocean Park will have something in there for them -- and do it in such a way that you don't have to be one of the 'In Crowd.'"

Brand added that OPA is community rather than item oriented. "We haven't come together around some particular issue. We have come together around loving our community and the desire to have a neighborhood group. Ocean Park has a rich history of
community activism, and it's been wonderful to give people a place to come together and make the neighborhood an even better place to live."

The city is being "very responsive," Brand said, as has the Main Street Merchants Association whose Executive Director, Gary Gordon, said has felt the vacuum left by OPCO's disappearance and is excited about the new group.

"I know some of the folks, so it's very encouraging. We had a good working relationship with OPCO, and we're looking forward to having that and more with this group."

Main Street has two projects of its own to bring to the table - free parking in the beach lots for Sunday attendees of the Main Street Farmers Market - "It wouldn't impact city revenues because those spaces are empty anyways." Gordon said -- and crosswalks spanning Main Street at Ashland and Hill Streets.

OPA's next meeting will be held on Oct. 17 at a location to be determined. All Ocean Park residents are welcome. Additional information about the group can be obtained at www.opa-sm.org.