Reading — Test 33

Reading passage

Our street's block party turned into a heated topic on the community Facebook page this week, so the newsletter asked residents to weigh in. Priya Nakamura, Elm Street: "I organized this year's block party, and I think people forget how much work goes into it. Getting permits from the city, arranging road closures, and collecting money for the bouncy castle took weeks. We had over eighty people show up, and most left saying it was the best summer weekend they'd had. If a few neighbours found the music too loud for three hours on a Saturday afternoon, I'd gently suggest that's a small price for a stronger sense of community." Devraj Oduya, Maple Crescent: "I don't dispute that block parties build goodwill, but organizers need to think about residents who weren't consulted. My elderly mother lives with me, and the road closure meant her home care nurse couldn't reach our driveway for two hours. Nobody had asked us in advance whether the timing worked. A simple flyer two weeks earlier, rather than three days, would have let us make arrangements." Fatima Al-Rashid, Elm Street: "I've lived on this block for eleven years, and I remember when nobody knew their neighbours' names. Now we have a phone tree for emergencies and a tool-sharing group, both of which started at block parties. Yes, the cleanup afterward is a hassle, but I'd rather deal with some stray confetti than go back to the isolation we had before." Tom Whitford, city councillor's office: "We've noticed a rise in block party permit applications across the ward, which is encouraging. Our office is now recommending that organizing committees notify every household at least two weeks ahead and include a printed schedule with start and end times, so residents can plan around road closures rather than being surprised by them." Whatever side people land on, most agree that better advance notice would solve much of the friction.

Question 1 of 9