By Lisa Mortensen
Good morning Council members:
I am really shocked that you are wasting more time and resources on the failed Kettner and Vine Mega Shelter that you will discuss in ‘closed-door’ session on Monday December 16th. Why the ‘closed-door’ meeting? Why are you continuing to ignore the public and allow yourselves to be arm-twisted by the mayor?
Have you not been listening to all the cogent public testimony statements at prior meetings this year from those who have lived experience of homelessness as well as mental health professionals, and individuals who have dedicated their lives representing homeless advocate non-profits?
What part of this public record are you missing?
All have opposed this cruel and inhumane treatment of stuffing 1,000 homeless into a warehouse. We call it Todd’s Mattress Warehouse.
Those who are experiencing homelessness have become hardened to life on the streets in order to protect themselves. This leads them to develop a strong lack of trust and some mental and emotional challenges as well.
Most of these homeless individuals have said, they would not want to live in 65sqft of space in a high-density environment.
This project was one that was used by Todd to satisfy a promise he made last January on guaranteeing he would provide 1,000 beds for homeless individuals. This political promise also will put this city further in debt at a time we could be in peril of bankruptcy.
I believe we need to right our financial ship first and obtain private financing that is more solid than Todd Gloria’s behest payment program that he formed to obtain private funding to obtain his political goal.
Please listen to homeless advocates on the best programs and projects to assist those experiencing homelessness. Again, one that is humane and will get these individuals the individualized help they need to get their lives back to a sense of normal.
So once and for all, vote NO ON THE KETTNER AND VINE MEGA SHELTER. We can do so much better than inhumane treatment of our city’s homeless to satisfy a campaign promise.
Our voices must matter! Listen to us NOW!!
This Kettner and Vine Warehouse situation is a perfect example of how the hundreds of millions (maybe billions) the state has sent us to help with “the homeless problem” has gone into well-to-do persons pockets. This is a chance for the owner of this while-elephant property. We constantly hear cries about the poor homeless – but it’s turned into a scam. We don’t where most of the money went, but here’s a perfect example of it solving just one person’s problem – the owner of the property. But it does nothing to help the homeless.
‘
Why didn’t the voters get SD a new Mayor and new council members. They haven’t listened to the residents & tax payers for the last four years, and it’s the same-O-same-O with the sneaky behind closed doors it’s been for four long years. Are there that many voters that want to see SD quietly slide into bankruptcy? Toddler will be the ring leader for his crib mates to vote to raise everything they can to try to replenish the deficit in the budget. Four more years to further destroy SD.