WizardMarks responds to my original post: >DP:Now imagine these folks trying to stay sober in the middle of 9 bars all >within 200 feet. That's the idea behind the proposed men's overnight >shelter for 7 Corners. Grandma's, Holiday Inn, Town Hall Brewery, Jewel
>of India, Bullwinkel's, Bob's Pizza, Noodles and Co., Chipotle, Sgt. >Preston's, they all have bars. Imagine the activity in the area on a >typical game day. Imagine the sounds and smells of a summer night at one >of our sidewalk seating areas. Imagine the appeal of attractive young >college kids bouncing down the sidewalk, laughing as they duck into >Bullwinkle's for a drink with friends. Now imagine a person struggling >with chemical dependency or mental illness left on their own in this >environment. > >WizardMarks: Anyone who is trying to stay sober is always doing so in the midst >of bars, liquor stores, friends who drink, advertizing for drink, etc. >Every recovering alcoholic will do so for the rest of his/her life. ______________________________________________ DP again: Ten years ago, when I quit my 2-pack-a-day cigarette habit, I didn't go anywhere that I knew I'd be tempted by smokers and the smells of tobacco. Now I can hang out in the smokiest place and I don't give it a second thought. When a person begins the struggle to conquer something as powerful as alcoholism surrounded by others' use in a festive atmosphere, they are bound for failure. >DP: It's time to stop imagining because this is exactly the picture that is >being composed for us at our own expense. At the expense of the >neighborhood, the taxpayers and the men it's supposed to help. > >WM: The entire planet has a drink to sell or offer. That's not something >we need to imagine. But recovering alcoholics are not going to create >problems for the neighborhood or the taxpayers. In so far as they >supplant the active alcoholics, they're an asset to your neighborhood. ______________________________________________ DP again: WizrdMarks is assuming these men are "recovering" alcoholics. As the StarTrib article shows us, chemical dependency is a chronic problem for much of the homeless population. The problem for the taxpayer is that we're getting less than a flophouse at skyline rates. ($716.00 per month, per man, for a spot on the floor.) The 7 Corners neighborhood, for the moment, is a pedestrian friendly area of theaters, sidewalk cafes, bars and restaurants. The people who come here are young and old, sports fans, theater fans, music lovers, students, diners, shoppers, workers and residents. Wizard is confused about which group is alcoholic and who will supplant whom. The figures again: $350,000 to rehab the building $180,000 annual operating expenses ____________________________________ 25 Men out of the cold 4 months of the year, salaries and operating expenses year 'round. We need to use our funding more wisely and see some kind of results. We are $4.56 Billion in the red. Here is another incredibly goofy project that will only add to our state budget troubles. Dan Prozinski Cedar Riverside _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
