Knot In My Backyard

I don’t have cable and don’t read the Newspress, only the NY times. Instead I rely on my friends, including the Independent, to tell me what’s going on Santa Barbara. As such, I’m fairly clueless as to what is going on around me, (what film festival?). Today, in  a peaceful moment I sat down at the computer to check my e-mail and was ambushed by the following………..  Subject: Homeless Shelter approved near Peabody-Come to mtg next Wed, 6:30 To: X Date: Friday, January 28, 2011, 11:23 AM Peabody Parents and San Roque neighbors:Please pass this on to everyone you know….San Roque neighborhood/Peabody School needs a voice…Read below…. From: X Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 1:00 PM To: X Cc:  X Subject: RE: homeless housing approved around corner from Peabody !!!! Everyone, I have already spoken to Kate Ford and we scheduled the meeting for next Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Peabody auditorium. She will be sending email to all the Peabody parents. It is our job to alert non-Peabody parents and anyone else we feel is necessary at the meeting. I have also spoken to Rob Pearson, Executive Director of the SB City Housing Authority. He will join the meeting and bring representatives from Willbridge, the non-profit who will manage the project. I have also invited Helene Schneider, the SB mayor and all city council members. X From: X Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 12:49 PM To:X Cc: X Subject: Re: homeless housing approved around corner from Peabody !!!! I talked with my friend Dave about this.   He said the following We need to have a town hall meeting at the school.   He said to have the press (TV and print) at the meeting.  make sure that we have a PACKED house of upset parents.   He said it would be a good idea to have a couple of council members and invite the mayor.   I told him that Das Williams is on the board of the school.  He said to make sure he is on board.  It also can’t hurt to put together a petition and have as many families as possible sign it. On Jan 27, 2011, at 12:03 PM, X wrote: Yes, we’d like to participate there as well.  We support these initiatives, but also would like to see these facilities further than walking distance from elementary schools. On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 11:14 AM, X wrote: I called Kate Ford. I am hoping we can have the meeting at Peabody next week. As soon as it is scheduled I will make sure everyone is aware of time and place. X —–Original Message—– From: X Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 11:10 AM To: X Cc: X; X Subject: Re: homeless housing approved around corner from Peabody !!!! I have met the mayor a few times.   She is also good friends with Dave Mullinax (who is a lobbyist with the California League of Cities).    I would be happy to talk with both of them about this.    I am not a big fan of having this facility across from the school. -X > From: X > Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 10:49 AM > Subject: RE: homeless housing approved around corner from Peabody !!!! > > Everyone, > I just got off the phone with Rob Pearson. Rob is the Executive Director > for the Santa Barbara Housing Authority (www.hacsb.org). He called me > after he received a call from Helene Schneider. His group is in process > of purchasing the complex at 2904 State Street (escrow is supposed to > close on 2/15). They will be leasing it to Willbridge, a local not for > profit organization that focuses on the homeless > (http://www.willbridgeofsantabarbarainc.org/). Willbridge will be > managing the project. > > After a lengthy call we both agreed that it would be best to organize a > meeting for next week where everyone can come together to discuss this > issue. Rob will be attending this meeting along with representatives > from Willbridge. I will reach out to Kate Ford to see if we could > possibly host this meeting at Peabody . > > Since I do not know how everyone feels about the project I do not want > to be the voice of the group. However, I will gladly act as the > facilitator to get everyone together to discuss this issue. > > As soon as the meeting is scheduled I will make sure everyone is made > aware of its time and location. > > X> > > > —–Original Message—– > From: X > Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 8:51 AM > > Subject: homeless housing approved around corner from Peabody !!!! > > Not sure if you all heard about this last night on the news…. but > thought > I should pass it on. > > > http://www.keyt.com/news/local/City-Approves-Purchase-Of-Housing-for-the > -Hom > eless-114685279.html > > Not just homeless, but chronically homeless drug abusers that usually > end up > in jail!! >

 

Shocked, I reread the e-mails wondering if I was really living in 2011 and not transported back to the time of lynchings and backs of the bus. I responded;

On Jan 28, 2011, at 3:23 PM, “Nichol Des Jardins Clark” <ndesjardinsc@earthlink.net> wrote:

What a great opportunity for  temporarily undomiciled people to reach for a better life! I’m sure that the Peabody community will be supportive, blessed as most of us are to have a roof over our head, clear minds, hot water for hygiene, food on our plates, and a safe place to sleep!

I hope that people who attend the town hall meeting search for solutions to make this work. Solutions that will enable the temporarily undomiciled, many of whom have children of their own, to have this chance while at the same time keeping our children in a safe environment.

What a great chance to show our children empathy, to role model a cultural mindset that cares for each member of this community including the disenfranchised and struggling . We all get protective when thinking of our children and at times like these it’s good to remember that each homeless person is somebody’s child too.

If you feel like the new project is going to be unsafe, think of what “safe” would look like. Be solution oriented. Think for yourself. Avoid mob mentality. Make a difference.

nichol

I got one response;

Nichol,

X and I discussed this last night and we agree. 

Bravo for speaking out about this.

X

and now, somehow, I am off of the distribution list. Go figure.

More fodder for indignation at

http://www.keyt.com/news/local/City-Approves-Purchase-Of-Housing-for-the-Homeless-114685279.html

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