Anyone join this?   What are the cons or downsides if any to being part of this and how easy is it to quit?   I know that they spread the word to neighbors of crimes committed in your area which is a good thing but I don't want to join something like fb, twitter or similar.
I just got an invitation to join my neighborhood's group, however the envelope did not have a return address and was postmarked from zipcode 56303 (St. Cloud, MN) instead of a local zipcode.

Anyone join this?   What are the cons or downsides if any to being part of this and how easy is it to quit?   I know that they spread the word to neighbors of crimes committed in your area which is a good thing but I don't want to join something like fb, twitter or similar.
I just got an invitation to join my neighborhood's group, however the envelope did not have a return address and was postmarked from zipcode 56303 (St. Cloud, MN) instead of a local zipcode.

Is it worth it?  All depends on how active the members in your neighborhood group are. 

There is an HPD crime map that you can filter for date, address, etc.  That's pretty much the same info.  The difference is, this network can get the word out much quicker, add details, and respond to questions. 

I've seen reports of unfamiliar cars cruising through nearby neighborhoods as if they are checking out houses or cars.  Others reported homeless walking down the street looking in car windows and pulling on door handles.

The company is based in San Fransisco.  If you're getting mail from MN, it might be a marketing company.  Only a  guess.

You can sign up and try it out.  It's only as annoying as number and timing of notices you set on your account. 

You can deactivate your account anytime, and if you linked to your FB account, you can unlink it anytime as well.

BTW, each neighborhood has a coordinator that verifies you are in the neighborhood you want to join.  Either you were invited by another member, or you contacted the coordinator when joining. 

That keeps the messages and replies among the members only.  No spammers or lurkers if the neighbors do their job to report accounts they suspect are bogus.

Here's a sample email I recently received.....

It's inoccuous. Interesting but not cumbersome.

I've been on it for a few months, but not active on it.  I get messages about people giving stuff away, lost dogs, etc.  Haven't seen anything about crime in Aiea.

I was on it till I met people who are cat lovers and maintain feral cat colonies in my neighborhood. Since I voiced my opposition against it they've been offensive on Nextdoor.

I was on it till I met people who are cat lovers and maintain feral cat colonies in my neighborhood. Since I voiced my opposition against it they've been offensive on Nextdoor.

....
Haha
I hook up my little dog to a long rope and launch him at the cats like a fuzzy brown tow missile.
...too much fun

I hate those feral cat breeding grounds. Fortunately most of the people in my neighborhood are against cat sanctuaries, but it only takes one or two. Laws regarding cats need to change. I've trapped many over the years but there are always some who don't go in. Thankfully there seem to be others in my neighborhood who remove them. I guess the cats have some value since they kill rats.

I don't involve myself in neighborhood watches but my neighbors are extremely helpful at watching out for crime and suspicious activity, I'm very thankful to them.

....
Haha
I hook up my little dog to a long rope and launch him at the cats like a fuzzy brown tow missile.
...too much fun

good strategy.
These women gather late Sat nights and hang out feeding several colonies. They admitted to a TNR a baby pig. I told them what they're doing is like littering. If you care so much about these animals take them home with you instead of leaving them in this neighborhood. They said they can't bring home the animals. Meanwhile some other residents voiced their concerns about toxoplasmosis. The feral cat lovers claimed that its not real.
There a at least two groups that come out and feed these colonies. I've seen a van who overtly parks on the sidewalk and open its doors to the feral animals. Too many cats.

Feral cats are a nuisance.  People feed em on the pearl harbor bike path and they multiply.  I ran over one with my bicycle once.  Bent both rims and it cost $250 to replace.  Cat ran away.

Got 1 stray cat I see by my neighbors home and on my wall at times, but not too much.  Lots of dogs on our street.   Got some feral ducks started hanging around our street from last year although no water sources nearby (unless they sense water that we can't see).
From the comments about Nextdoor, I'll give it a try and monitor the posts since I don't want to have a social experience. 

I was on it till I met people who are cat lovers and maintain feral cat colonies in my neighborhood. Since I voiced my opposition against it they've been offensive on Nextdoor.

Hawaii Kai Neighborhood?   

Who uses this app? Is it useful?

Who uses this app? Is it useful?

I'm signed up, but, after 2 years, I turned off the annoying notifications.  Became a rant and individual recommendation site.

"I can't stand the way our local representatives in [city council | government ] did "X"";  or

"Can anyone recommend a good handyman to fix my "Y?"

Lots of ferrel cat posts, missing pets, etc.  I was getting 2-5 notifications per day even after setting notifications to just one per day.

I'll log in every few weeks and catch up on the posts, but I don't miss the notifications.

Who uses this app? Is it useful?

I've been on 2 neighborhoods since 10/16.
Got this notice last...
Neighborhood Security Watch Sign Waving
All interested community members encouraged to participate in waving signs such as “Don’t Drink and Drive”, “Watch for Pedestrians”, “Don’t Text and Drive”, etc.

     Sooooooooo tempted to 2a  sign wave but no sense letting all of Koolau know that I may have a firearm. 
With one road in and one road out, it's a very small world here.   

   Option 2 is wear a mask and have a sign that says " Car Jacker's, Burglar's and Rapist's for Stricter Gun Control !   

   As for the cats, they have a purpose as they make great marlin bait with their fluffy tails dragging behind them as they "cat-paddle" behind the boat. 
Start walking your big dogs in the cat feeding areas while the feeders are there.

good strategy.
These women gather late Sat nights and hang out feeding several colonies. They admitted to a TNR a baby pig. I told them what they're doing is like littering. If you care so much about these animals take them home with you instead of leaving them in this neighborhood. They said they can't bring home the animals. Meanwhile some other residents voiced their concerns about toxoplasmosis. The feral cat lovers claimed that its not real.
There a at least two groups that come out and feed these colonies. I've seen a van who overtly parks on the sidewalk and open its doors to the feral animals. Too many cats.

There's a reason they call them, "Crazy Cat Ladies" Lol 

We need some common sense cat control!

There's a reason they call them, "Crazy Cat Ladies" Lol 

We need some common sense cat control!

they spread their propaganda. At the neighborhood security meeting they "educated" the members including the police officer on TNR. The officer then sent out an email to the rest of the community on how "we should get educated on TNR". Vets say TNR doesn't work and after these few years there are MORE cats and they are having kittens! How so?

I prefer TKF otherwise known as trap kill fertilizer