To begin with, any public money that is used to finance the project is not just YOUR money. It is my money, the people living with HIV's money, the low income folks money, the middle class folks money as well.
As I pointed out in a private email to another list member, I fully believe that a community should ask tough questions concering the way money is spent. And a neighborhood association should assess the real possible negative impacts on the community. But, when the justifications for not allowing a project to be built are expressed in terms of not wanting "faggots" with "HIV" moving into the neighborhood, then the issue becomes one of discrimination and bigotry. When a pre-assessment (prejudgement) is made about the character of those living in the building before they move in (for example assuming because some of the residents will be low income that there will immeadiately result in a deterioriation of the surrounding area, more trash, etc.) the issue is not livability but discrimination. The residents of St. Anthony East can hate, not like, or despise gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender folks. They can also hate low income folks. What they can't do is decide who gets to live in "their" neighborhood based on their likes and dislikes. You see, redlining and all that good jazz, we got rid of that. I have lived in places where people living with HIV/advanced AIDS are homeless. In Puerto Rico, our nation's lovely colony, the streets are filled with people living with AIDS. I've seen dozens whose bodies are rotting around them because they have no place to go. Oh, and by the way...the federal goverment says the project is well put together, including HUD who is financing the program through their Housing for Persons with AIDS Program. Even the St. Anthony East wasn't daring to argue that the project is bloated or fiscally unsound. As a matter of fact, the HUD representative at the meeting in no uncertain terms told the neighborhood organization that it was indeed sound AND met all of the requirements laid out by the RFP sent out by St. Anthony East. The RFP, among other things, REQUIRED that the project include street level retail/office space, green space,and mixed income housing . I know, Victoria, that you are not suggesting that Minneapolis has an overabundance of affordable housing. You've made some rather far fetched assertions in the past, so I will not make any assumptions about what you may be implying now. Here are the specifics on the Clare Apartments from the Clare Housing Web Site: To provide a solution to the affordable housing and care crisis for people with HIV, Clare Housing is developing Clare Apartments � an ADA accessible, thirty-unit building with 8 one-bedroom and 22 studio apartments. HIV positive residents will each have their own apartment for independent living, but support services will also be available if a resident chooses to access them. Services may include meal assistance, housekeeping assistance, support groups, recreational activities, job training, and coordination of appointments, medications, and transportation. A community room for tenant activities, laundry rooms, a private outdoor garden/yard area, and off-street parking will also be available. Clare Apartments will be near public transportation and major HIV health care clinics. Project-based Section 8 rental assistance will be available for all apartments, and 10 of the 30 apartments are specifically designated to homeless people with HIV. An on-site property manager, a resident services coordinator, and other staff will work on the first floor of the building. Clare Housing anticipates the need to fundraise roughly $4.4 million to complete the construction of Clare Apartments. We were honored to receive a $420,000 grant from the McKinney Supportive Housing Program to begin work on this project. Grants to other funding sources, including Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA, a project of HUD), and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) are pending (I understand that the HOPWA money has been secured, but I don't have access to the amount from HOPWA or MHFA). Clare Housing is also proud to be supported by private funding from foundations, businesses, communities of faith, and individuals from our community. As I understand it, the money has largely been raised (they are ready to break ground as soon as the green light is given to develop). And, as you can see, very little of YOUR money, Victoria, has gone to this project. There you have it. My emotion with facts. Cheers. -Brandon Lacy Campos -Powderhorn Park _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
