A.H. "Thanks for posting the codes, Dan. However I guess I wonder if you mean homeless people should not be around children? If that is the case then children should be kept out of Target, the convention center, Southdale, Subway, the Target Center, the Metrodome, (the list goes on) because I know of homeless people who work at those establishments."
D.P. Allysen Hoberg's post fails to explain that the proposed overnight shelter for Cedar Riverside was a shelter for men. The male homeless population has a high percentage of chemical and mental health problems that must be considered. Her intentionally framing the issue under the general heading of "homeless people" is not fair to homeless families and children. The Children's Gospel Mission is a small facility and the incompatibility of the two groups is one of the reasons the proposal was eventually dumped by the Children's Gospel Mission Board. A.H. "I also will inform the Minneapolis Issues Forum that the city zoning board, on record, unanimously disagreed with Dan's interpretation. Furthermore, the lawsuit that was filed against St. Stephen's, the city, (there were others listed) was dismissed." D.P. As for anyone's interpretation of the Minneapolis zoning code, the language is clear that when there is a mission "Treatment for chemical dependency and overnight shelter are prohibited." That no city official would answer publicly as to how this could be ignored is a glaring example of how far the city is willing to exercise it's laws at whim. The city simply chose to "ignore" the code in this instance. Judge McShane in his ruling stated that "the city acted appropriately" and he made no comment on the code issue specifically. (Judge McShane was also assigned to the Lydia House case and ruled in favor of the city ignoring the 1/4 mile spacing rule. Citizen McShane it should be noted is also a shelter volunteer.) A.H. "One thing to add, the shelter we are referring to was for 25 SOBER WORKING adults. We also would have filled the empty beds that we may have with people who had tried (by a lottery at a different location) to secure shelter elsewhere." D.P. I would like to inform the Issues Forum that the original proposal for the men's shelter given to the neighborhood groups stated that all 25 men would be part of a higher expectation program requiring sobriety, employment, and savings, and that all men would be "hand picked by staff" AFTER receiving the cautious approval of the West Bank community the proposal was rewritten by shelter staff. The final documents filed with the city described the project as "an extension of the shelter at St. Stephen�s" with most beds given away by a nightly lottery. After learning about the misrepresentation by shelter advocates, the Business Association voted unanimously to withdraw its support. The two committee delegates from the neighborhood residential group who had recommended "not to oppose" the shelter, recanted, siting "deliberate deception and manipulation." I have their letters. The Children's Gospel Mission Board was also surprised by the revelation of the lottery and felt they had been deceived. The Children's Mission as property owner and landlord to Love Power Church had the final say and voted to drop the project. While I can understand the need to paint any proposal in the best light, lying outright about your true intentions doesn't win neighborhood trust or support. Dan Prozinski Cedar Riverside REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
