[Mpls] "No Longer the Giveaway County Board"

[m1r3201]

  As preparations for a second campout re:homelessness takes shape for early March (this directed at the County Commissioners) I was wondering if people on the list have any information about county funds that you would consider to be "give aways" to developers, or other entities.
    I would guess some of the responses to my question will once again talk about those bad non-profits that house poor people... and everyone is entitled to their opinion but-
   My question is prompted by a quote from County Commissioner Mike Opat that I came across in a City Pages article dated Dec.16, 1998.
   Commissioner Opat is quoted in this article talking about  homeless shelters in Mpls. saying:
   "We are no longer the giveaway county board...The people there don't qualify for assistance. They are able-bodied. We don't want people to feel comfortable..."
   I also am curious if commissioner Opat is equally as tough on people of wealth and what is that word? Largesse? (spelling).
    One note to Commissioner Opat--- since the most recent campout cost the county nothing, there was no give away involved at that action.
    Also, I want to assure Commissioner Opat that I and my companions were totally and completely not comfortable that night... freezing cold does have a way of sucking the heat out of one's body and robbing you of sleep and energy. Needless to say, I would not have been able to go to my job... so I hope he thinks what it is like to have to do that every night, go sit at some day labor place hoping for a crappy little job and then have Mr. Opat call that state of affairs being "able bodied."
                      Margaret Hastings-Mpls.-Kingfield