Dixon administration should be praised for shelter initiative
Dan Keenan
Issue date: 11/6/07 Section: Opinion
Their argument derives from the amount of people the shelter would house (which is estimated at 300 men, women, and children).
This is a number and group of citizens they strongly feel would contribute to a spike in criminal activity. This project, they also cite, is an initiative they aren't sure how long will actually be in their neighborhood.
It seems, however, that there have already been problems with the building in the current dilapidated state it currently is in. After speaking last week with Tony Bridges, of the mayor's Office of Neighborhood and Constituent Services, I was told there has been a high amount of illegal activity going on in the former schoolhouse.
The arguments of the residents, while very vocal, are not exactly on target. I don't think they have been able to completely see beyond their theorized cons of the situation and simply face the blunt truth: people cannot and should not have to spend the night freezing on the streets.
They are protesting a good-intentioned initiative that this administration is trying to implement.
So dedicated is this administration to this appeasing the critics that it has held meetings, or "cultural town hall meetings," as they have been referred to as, with the residents to enrich the dialogue between the two parties.
In fact, just last Monday, Baltimore's Deputy Mayor Andy Frank held one of these cultural town hall meetings at MICA, where he discussed the drafting of a letter the city was writing to the residents explaining how this shelter is only temporary.
As Mr. Bridges told me, the city is currently looking for a location of what will be a permanent winter shelter, while in the interim, the renovation of this building will proceed, as will the plans to take in the homeless this winter.
The city does want Cristo Rey High School to have this building eventually, but only when they have the money to purchase it. This time frame remains unknown at this point.
This is a number and group of citizens they strongly feel would contribute to a spike in criminal activity. This project, they also cite, is an initiative they aren't sure how long will actually be in their neighborhood.
It seems, however, that there have already been problems with the building in the current dilapidated state it currently is in. After speaking last week with Tony Bridges, of the mayor's Office of Neighborhood and Constituent Services, I was told there has been a high amount of illegal activity going on in the former schoolhouse.
The arguments of the residents, while very vocal, are not exactly on target. I don't think they have been able to completely see beyond their theorized cons of the situation and simply face the blunt truth: people cannot and should not have to spend the night freezing on the streets.
They are protesting a good-intentioned initiative that this administration is trying to implement.
So dedicated is this administration to this appeasing the critics that it has held meetings, or "cultural town hall meetings," as they have been referred to as, with the residents to enrich the dialogue between the two parties.
In fact, just last Monday, Baltimore's Deputy Mayor Andy Frank held one of these cultural town hall meetings at MICA, where he discussed the drafting of a letter the city was writing to the residents explaining how this shelter is only temporary.
As Mr. Bridges told me, the city is currently looking for a location of what will be a permanent winter shelter, while in the interim, the renovation of this building will proceed, as will the plans to take in the homeless this winter.
The city does want Cristo Rey High School to have this building eventually, but only when they have the money to purchase it. This time frame remains unknown at this point.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Greenmount Resident
posted 11/08/07 @ 9:53 AM EST
Dan,
It's nice to see that you interviewed the "City" for your article but didn't take the time to interview residents who would actually be affected by the shelter. (Continued…)
RODNEY DAILEY
posted 2/21/09 @ 5:09 PM EST
I HAVE A BOARDING HOUSE THAT HAS THREE ROOMS WITH 2BATHRMS
THAT RENTS FOR 50WEEK IF ON SS BUT IF THEY HAVE SSI OR SSDI
ITS A LITTLE MORE PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO THOSE WHO NEED A SAFE PLACE TO STAY. (Continued…)
Post a Comment