Neighborhoods United Against Shelter Move
DM City Hall and Downtown evict Churches United Shelter, yet term neighboring residents uncaring.
Des Moines, Iowa - October 30, 2006
Commentary and Response by Cheatom Park Association Resident-
The issue is not discrimination by insensitive neighborhoods against homeless citizens being given shleter or getting proper assistance. The larger issue is a select group of influential wealthy citizens and developers, who have decided to use local government to further displace the downtown homeless population. And then in turn, place the guilt, shame and blame on an already economically disadvantaged and stressed neighborhood of citizens that have been barely but successfully dealing with their own homeless residents.
The city can hardly supply the basic needed services and public safety for these disadvantaged areas, named the EC5 Area, where homeowners and working families are footing a heavy property tax load. Yet it has been deemed appropriate and just to add an even greater burden onto them. In contrast, those who will be expected to live in the projected condos downtown at a quarter million dollars and work in high priced office and entertainment developments, shouldn't have to deal with, see, fund nor pay for services to address that very same burden. They have chosen to pass the buck to someone else.
DM City Hall and Downtown evict Churches United Shelter, yet term neighboring residents uncaring.
Des Moines, Iowa - October 30, 2006
Commentary and Response by Cheatom Park Association Resident-
The issue is not discrimination by insensitive neighborhoods against homeless citizens being given shleter or getting proper assistance. The larger issue is a select group of influential wealthy citizens and developers, who have decided to use local government to further displace the downtown homeless population. And then in turn, place the guilt, shame and blame on an already economically disadvantaged and stressed neighborhood of citizens that have been barely but successfully dealing with their own homeless residents.
The city can hardly supply the basic needed services and public safety for these disadvantaged areas, named the EC5 Area, where homeowners and working families are footing a heavy property tax load. Yet it has been deemed appropriate and just to add an even greater burden onto them. In contrast, those who will be expected to live in the projected condos downtown at a quarter million dollars and work in high priced office and entertainment developments, shouldn't have to deal with, see, fund nor pay for services to address that very same burden. They have chosen to pass the buck to someone else.