Mark April 22 as the official kickoff for the Community Based Services (CBS) program expansion into the South End and Eastside neighborhoods. As part of the expansion, City staff are hosting a kickoff meeting for residents to help set priorities for the area. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on April 22 at Stewart Middle School (5010 Pacific Ave.).

If you live or work in the new CBS area, you are encouraged to attend to learn more about CBS and to offer feedback on area-wide priorities. The new CBS area will include most of the non-CBS area in the South End and Eastside, which runs from 43rd to 64th streets and Sheridan to just west of McKinley Avenue. This meeting will also include participants from the Lincoln West, Whitman and Jennie Reed neighborhoods.

The expanded area will now have a dedicated code enforcement officer, community liaison police officer and program development specialist who will work directly with the neighborhood. Together, they will strive to eliminate blight, reduce crime and increase community awareness.

The other five CBS areas include the Bryant, Tacoma Avenue, Jennie Reed and Edison neighborhoods as well as much of the Eastside including the Lincoln South, Dome Top and First Creek neighborhoods. For more information about the program, visit http://www.cityoftacoma.org/cbs .