In today's edition of the Journal & Topics, we read about the upcoming City Council COW -- committee of the whole, for those unfamiliar with municipal lingo -- to be held on September 29th at 7:00 PM at Maine East High School.
The COW will be a discussion among the aldermen about the recommendations suggested by the Planning and Zoning Commission for issuance of a special use permit for temporary overnight homeless shelters. As we reported to PRU readers, the recommendations were made by the Planning and Zoning Commission in a final vote of 7-2; not 5-4 as reported by the Journal today.
The 5-4 vote the Journal reporter is referring to occurred when the commission voted on the restriction for allowing homeless shelters to operate within 500 feet of a child day care, nursery, or grammar school.
In reading today's Journal article, we were pretty pissed off about Alderman Dave Schmidtzkrieg's (1st Ward) regurgitating the PRMA and PADS propaganda that "the majority of homeless people are fine upstanding citizens that are just down on their luck". And we got really pissed off when we also read that Ald. Schmidtzkrieg said, "We need evidence."
We would like to suggest to Ald. Schmidtzkrieg and the rest of the Aldermorons that they make use of some of the technology available to them. It's known far and wide as "the internet". We fully understand the internet isn't a perfect resource, but that's where judgment comes in. And for any elected official unfamiliar with how to turn on and operate a computer, that would be you Mayor Howard, we would suggest city staff be asked to gather the evidence any of the Aldermorons claim not to have seen; though we're pretty sure they've received a pile of evidence already. By most accounts, the demographics of the homeless population fall far short of being folks merely "down on their luck." The only "sources" spouting that garbage are the PRMA and PADS proponents.
We sure do hope that while Ald. Schmidtzkrieg is considering a run for Mayor, he isn't also considering adopting a more "politically correct" manner of representing the concerns of the residents in Park Ridge. We've had our fill of the milquetoast bullshit that for too long has been allowed to get passed off as discussion and debate on issues in this town.
We're also told by our sources inside the city that acting Chief of Police, Tom Swoboda, believes that the State statute restricting sex offenders from residing within 500 feet of a school only applies when children are present. We can only assume that Swoboda isn't interested in reading the whole statute.pdf, or he is acting like a tool for his parish pastor, Fr. Carl Morelleon.
B.O.H.I.C.A!
Addendum -- A response submitted by Alderman Dave.
"Schmidt, David F."
3:47 pm
to: park ridge underground via email
date: Sep 24, 2008 3:47 PM
subject: Park Ridge Temporary Overnight Shelter Issue
Here is a response I wrote to a resident concerned about what he read in the Journal this morning:
I vividly recall the compelling testimony from the police officers, mainly because they appeared before the Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission fairly recently. I am glad you reminded me of the gentleman from Evanston and the other PADS volunteers and neighbors who have had negative experiences. I admit that was not so fresh in my memory.
I will ask the City Manager to include copies of the minutes from the PADS workshop held several months ago and the Procedures and Regulations Committee and City Council meetings dealing with the special use permit issue. You should understand that the Council is reviewing a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Frankly, I would have liked to see those individuals appear before the Planning and Zoning Commission, because we would have a better record upon which to base our review of the Commission's recommendation.
While I am sure it is frustrating to think that your message has not come across as you desire, you need to understand that there will be plenty of individuals who will tell the Council that there are no problems at all at these shelters. It is human nature for people to remember what they have heard most recently and most often. Aldermen are no different. So while I do not think it is necessary to "start over," I do recommend that those individuals having direct experience with PADS shelters be available so the aldermen have both sides of the story fresh in their minds when they make their decision.
September 24, 2008
In The News Today!
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40 comments:
.....and how long do you think it will take the "city" to put any related documents like the draft ordinance that came from P&Z or the licensing ordinance that they will also be discussing, etc...? Not really something the public needs to have in any reasonable amount of time I guess. We are after all just the tax paying residents we're merely on a "need to know basis."
BOHICA is right! The PRMA and PADS crowd will bend us over and shove this up our bums no matter how much anyone screams...and they will do it exactly as they please, without any real restrictions that might make them have to do anything more than open their doors to a secular organization, hired to pitch-hit in the ballgame otherwise known as carrying out their "ministry"... and it will be done with the aid and comfort of our elected officials...
I wonder if these parish priests and PADS supporters "outsource" any other acts of faith...? Do they hire people to go to confession for them too...?
They have received plenty of evidence that we have given them all - books and books of articles, facts, cases etc... if they would just take the time to ACTUALLY READ them it is in front of them... including arrests of hoeless people because of their attacks on others, indecent behavior and more. Shameful that they are not only not listening at times but also not reading... READ THOSE BOOKS ALDERMEN and maybe you will get a true glimpseof what lies ahead....
Bean:
With regards to confession, while not a Catholic, I look at that issue as it depends on how it is used. The way some people seem to use confession, they may as well outsource it.
With regards to your question on outsourcing in general, it would appear that the Catholic Church does this on a regular basis. Please see the below link.
http://www.archchicago.org/news_releases/news_2008/news_090808.shtm
It would seem the church is giving money to all these organizations to furthur what they believe to be their "ministry" rather then starting grass roots organizations of their own to address these causes. I guess I would call that oursourcing.
Pass it or don't pass it.
Let's stop beating ourselves up over this issue.
Thank you.
I am not sure what you are referring to when you criticize Chief Swoboda about the statute's interpretation. It clearly states it is unlawful for he sex offender to be near the school when children under 18 are present in the building. What don't you get about that?
Anon@1:03 --
What you don't get is that if you read only that part of the statute that discusses when children under 18 are present in the building as being the totality of the law, you are ignoring the facts that --
1. -- the rest of the statute is more specific; that sex offenders may not reside within 500 feet of a school, regardless of whether or not children are present. A homeless shelter provides residency, even if that residency is temporary.
2. -- that sex offenders often do end up in the shelter system.
3. -- that reading the statute to say "when children are present in the building" allows for potential sex offenders to be in or near the building before children are present; making the likelihood of their crossing paths outside the building greater.
We trust our source inside the city on this, and our citicism of Swoboda's sloppy work stands.
Exactly what are the people who oppose PADS afraid of? I was taught, as I belive all who are raised in the Judeo-Christian religions are that I am to love my neighbor. Has anyone read the New Testament story of the Good Samaritan lately? Even most athiests I know believe we have a duty to help the less fortunate among us.I suppose if you are a pure athiest you might subscribe to a "survival of the fittest" philosophy and let all the homeless people die. Do you really think it is possible to help our fellow man without taking any risk at all? Maybe you just want to give .2% of your income to charity like our deomocratic vice presidential canditate and let "The Government" take care of the problem? Or maybe just hide all these places in less well to do towns and neighborhoods? Do you really think you can keep your kids free from all risk until they graduate from HS? Have you heard about the drug problems at Maine South? I suppose it must be the children of homeless people who sell drugs to our kids.
OK Lets not pick on Slowboda took much, he’s running out of people to push out of the department.
I think you folks should look hard at what your officials are about to do, once open and you find that the main stream of “guests” are dependant on alcohol or drugs or mentally impaired or have nowhere else to go cause there a child predator, or for that matter a sexual predator, or what about using this shelter for all the illegals floating from town to town or state to state. If it turns into a nightmare, (which in my opinion it will), your going to have one hell of a time putting the toothpaste back into the tube without a fight in court.
Just like the youth home on Canfield years ago, nobody had a clue until they started asking why all the police cars are always their, and on many occasions it was the whole shift.
HP
PRken --
Are you saying that the only way to help the less fortunate among us, specifically the homeless, is to open a homeless shelter inside a school gym or within 500 feet of a child day care, nursery, or grammar school?
I have been trying to figure this out since I read it this morning. Forgive what is probably a stupid question, but what exactly is B.O.H.I.C.A???
Bend Over Here It Comes Again.
Honestly..... If I hear one more time the phrase "what are you afraid of?"..... Right back at at you.. what are you afraid of? If everything is all moonbeams and puppy dogs then what the heck are a few regulations and a license? I mean really... if the risk is so minimal and PADS is an upstanding organization why is there sooooo much fear in a little city oversite? Should be no problem right?
I don't believe a one-night a week shelter establishes residency in the eyes of the law.
As for "what am I afraid of".
Personally, I'm afraid that a PADS shelter will attract criminals and drug addicts into my town. I'd rather they not be skulking about, even one night a week.
Are there PADS users that aren't criminals or drug-addicts? I bet there are, and I'm sorry for throwing them out with the bath water but there are a bunch of other homeless shelters out there for them. I live here and I'd rather not have a homeless shelter here. That's all there is to it.
I'll admit to the selfishness. I don't see Kennilworth lining up a PADS shelter, either.
Private Citizen --
If sex offenders are allowed to register as homeless, and they are, then shelters become their defacto residence.
We are way off base here..lets all come back to center and work together.
The cold weather will be here before you know it and we don't want these
folks sleeping at the train station - do we!
I can hear the Metra conductor now...just get off at Park Ridge and walk back east the PADS site at the church.
Thank you.
I KNOW I am repeating myself...but I will say it AGAIN:
please please please invite a city/ village official from some of the towns that host homeless shelters to a city council meeting (Arlington Hts, LaGrange, etc). Have them talk about the homeless sleeping in their parks 24/7, using their library restrooms as bathing facilities, the use of additional police and paramedics. It will be an eye-opening experience.
AND FOR GOONESS SAKES--WHERE ARE THE PADS PEOPLE??? They are soooo absent, it is painfully obvious.
The good folks of PR are very generous, but don’t be so generous that you put your children or neighbors children at risk, in addition to over 20,000 plus calls of service for your PD, it will go up, which means more officers needed to handle the BS.
So save your money for now, because our corrupt politicians in Washington have a great deal for you, we’ll all be able to pay for them falling asleep at the wheel.
Such a deal, $160,000 a year and all the benefits you can fit in your pockets.
I need another scooter pie…
Park Ridgians - if you want to live in Oak Park or Evanston, then you should just move there. Once upon a time, those communities also thought they were too gorgeous and lovely to come to any harm from the ne'er do wells they welcomed in by the trainload. Was it hubris? Was it guilt? I don't care - all I know is I don't feel safe walking down those streets in those towns at night for a reason, and the reason is those places have turned to sh*t.
Save yourself, Park Ridge, then find another way to save the world that doesn't ruin an entire zipcode.
and private citizen - like kenilworth, winnetka won't be facing the prospect of a shelter either, because the word on the street is that what was supposed to be fr carl's new parish, sts. faith hope and charity, caught wind of this PADS nonsense and doesn't want him anymore.
I love it when they trot out the Good Samaritan parable. You can always cite the moral of the story. Of course, we should do unto others as we would have done unto us. But what usually falls through the cracks is the premise of the story. A seemingly normal, unsuspecting person who is travelling along the road falls victim to the ills and evils of the world (in the form of robbers).
Question here is: Which part are we going to play in this scenario??? Everyone always view themselves in the part of Samaritan. I contend that thinking the world is all gumdrops and rainbows is setting us up in the part of the traveller...if we continue to walk this road without being aware of our surroundings or without caution regarding those we don't know, we may find that the people that we thought were travellers to our Samaritan may actually be the robbers...
Looks like the cat's got PRken's tongue...
PRken, I would like to hear your answer to PRU's question...
BEAN & PRU: Sorry i have been slow to respond, I have four kids to feed, help with homework, drive to youth group, pick up from swimming practice etc etc.
No i don't think a shelter HAS to be in a school or within 500 feet of a daycare facility, but I am also not aware of a good alternative site. Do you have a place in mind? Do you have a better idea of how we can care for the homeless among us in PR? It is easy to criticize someone else's plan but not so easy to come up with a better plan. I think we have a duty as a community to at least attempt to help those among us who for whatever reason are homeless. It is just the decent thing to do. One poster admitted to being selfish. Well we don't have to be and I don't think we should be. What kind of world to we want to live in? I prefer to live in a world where kindness, generosity, and faith are held in higher esteem than selfishness.
I would like to pose a question. It is going to require a leap of imagination so I would as that you refrain from shooting holes in why it won't happen (there are many) but instead focus on end question.
Lets assume a senario where there were facilites that were able to address a significant portion of the homeless.
Let's assume that there was a VA that was able to step up to the plate with programs that would assist the homeless vetrans (23% is what it says on the page you linked to).
Let's assume that there were mental facilities and addiction facilities to handle those issues in the homeless population.
Let's assume these facilities met what ever criteria you have in your mind about what makes a "good" facility (call them the anti-PADS if you want).
Let's assume that these facilities would mean that all of these homeless issues could be addressed without requiring a facility in Park Ridge.
Would you be willing to have your tax dollars go to support these facilities? Ignore for a moment that our tax dollars are misspent on so many things. What if it required an increase in taxes?
If every one of you self-proclaimed good Park Ridge "Christians" and "Good Samaritans" would walk the walk rather than just talk the talk, you would take one of these PADS-approved homeless people into your own homes rather than complaining about zoning restrictions on warehousing them in St. Paul's gym one night a week.
So how about it, Fr. Morello, Rev. Larsen, Rev. Carruba and all you PRMA people? Why aren't you taking these people into your own homes? The same goes for all of you other PADS supporters who have been so outspoken in your support of the PADS shelter. If all you big talkers volunteered to take in one homeless person one night a week, those homeless could sleep in a Park Ridge home 7 nights a week!
I guess I fall a little short of the idea that when a "person or persons" feel it's their calling,religion,or other to "help those less fortunate than us" that it becomes the calling for "ALL" to do and feel exactly the same way. News flash not everone feels the same way! No one is trying to stop you from helping, we're just asking that you don't try to turn a personal issue into a public policy. Just because your ideas make
YOU feel good doesn't give you the right in impose or insist than EVERYONE ELSE adopt them, and it certainly doesn't make or you "right". Listen I like roses, they are a beautiful flower, they smell lovely, and they brighten up a room. does that mean that I should insist than everyone in town have a vase full of roses in their living room? No... People have a right to choose how they feel about this issue and it is NOT your obligation to change their minds. Keep your eyes on your own paper and don't worry about those who don't have the same answer as you. It's America we are free to decide for ourselves.
The great irony here, imo, is having participated in the Archdiocese "Virtus" training which seeks to educate adults to prevent sex abuse of children, many of the theories and rules fly in the face of hosting a shelter at SPC. Additionally, one of the state laws require that all employees of the school submit to fingerprint background checks.[par,] Hmmm, isn't that the same issue at debate with PADS? That without a fingerprint id the background check is virtually worthless?
The problem here is.....most believe that they outflank the devil and make heaven despite the guards and well - before noon!
I didn't know that there was a back door!
Prken,
Yes – I think a more convenient and conducive location would be in proximity to the CTA El station, along the “Higgins Corridor” area. I think it would serve needy individuals well because they would have access to 24 hour transportation. A site would have to be close to the Cumberland and Higgins so they wouldn't have to walk too far in the cold.
The SPC site will inadvertently use the Uptown area as a “hang-out”, which is not conducive to PR’s attempt to create a thriving area of economic development. The PR Uptown is far more compact than other towns, and there are more residences per sq foot than most NW sub communities – the point is the impact between residents, business, and shelter guests will be very intense if a shelter must locate in the Uptown development area.
Opening a PADS shelter in PR is not the same as “care for the homeless among us in PR” Homeless individuals in Park Ridge have had PADS as an option for years, it’s been offered to them again and again and they don’t wish to participate. I am concerned that you are generalizing about homeless individuals which indicates a lack of knowledge and exposure – PADS clients and PR homeless folks are separate issues.
Maybe PADS supporters can take this challenge: PADS shelters will in open soon, so go out into the streets Park Ridge and see how many homeless people you can convince to join PADS. Document your encounters and successes; this will prove your point and hopefully help a few folks get a place to stay and dinner. See if your theory works.
anon 11:22:
May I ask do you live anywhere near the Higgins/Cumberland corridor??
When the site was at St. Mary's (no school there) the neighbors objected loudly. What on earth makes you think the neighbors around Higgins will not object? There are neighborhoods and apartments/condos all along Higgins. There are many children in that area. My daughter has play dates with a friend from school who lives right there. All those objections that have been used about saftey and kids related to St. Mary's apply to Higgins/Cumberland as well.
Nice to see that NIMBY is not just from town to town but also applies to individual areas of PR. It is OK if it is near PR families and PR kids or in a PR neighborhood as long as it is not your neighborhood, your family or your kids.
If St. Mary's was a bad site, then the area you suggest is bad as well.
If PRKen thinks we have "a duty as a community to at least attempt to help those among us who for whatever reason are homeless," let's see if a majority of Park Ridge voters agree. Put it to referendum in April and let the chips fall where they may.
The idea of a vote on this PADS issue is a good one and not unprecedented.
Out south in Chicago at St. Barnabas parish they had a very similar experience not so long ago. PADS housed in the gym one night a week and folks were up in arms. Somehow the Pastor of the parish was cajoled into asking / allowing parishioners to vote "yea" or "nay" on the matter.
They voted "nay".
Guess Mr. Moello doesn't care too much about how badly he divides the SPC parish... as long as he gets HIS way. Nice.
HIS way and then he leaves and moves on to another parish. Nice mess left in HIS wake.
There is currently a PADS shelter at St. Barnabus in Glen Ellyn on Tuesday nights.
Anyway, that is a very enlightened approach the pastor took. When are the votes on contraception? I would be very interested to see those results!!
Doofus, I said at St. Barnabas out on the south side in Chicago.
And if you cannot see the difference between voting on bringing shelter into a school gym and voting on the use of contraception then you are a dope.
Let them have the Pads shelter,and it should be 7 days a week with no background checks, all we have to do is have daily prayer vigils that everything will be OK. But G-d forbid if something does go wrong or some child or person has something happen to them we can get a Lawyer and sue the Archdioses and go for a new record settlement payout. The Catholic Church just will love that!
You are not the first one to call me a dope. So explain this to this simple minded non-catholic. What exactly is the difference? The church decides, actually ultimately the pope decides what their mission is (he is the one with the direct line to God, right?). The Archdiocese and various parishes decide what are expressions of this mission of charity. It is NOT a freakin' democracy. You don't get to vote on issues related to what the church perceives as their mission - right or wrong. Their are AA meetings at SPC. Did they come to you for a vote on that? I am shocked with all the screaming about risk and protecting our kids that some of the parishoners haven't made noise about people who might even be drunk going to meetings, possible in their cars to the Church and through uptown.
You certainly have a right and an obligation to voice your opinion within the parish. You certainly have the right to withhold money from the basket. You certainly have the right to (Heaven forbid!!) leave. But for you to expect to have the right to vote is not based on the past history or behavior of the church.
The difference, as I have said before, is that on all the other issues you mentioned you can disagree and it has no affect on you at all. You don't need to have a vote on these issues. If you disagree with the churches position on abortion or contraception, it is between you and god - just confess it away. Unfortunately that model does not work on this issue.
Where the problem comes in is that the entire PR community is not Catholic. The conflict is that a PADS shelter will have a variety of issues for the community. There will be risks and costs that all (not just Catholics) have a right to be heard on. PR is a democracy.
But I am facinated at the outrage from people who are members of the parish. With 5 minutes of research you can see that there are homeless shelters and soup kitchens in various Catholic parishes and, yes, even schools all over the country. Look at the Archdiocese website. Look at the churches position on poverty.
As a citizen of PR I look at this and say wait a minute. SPC does not exist in a vacuum. I get a say too! But even as a non-catholic I am not shocked that SPC has taken this position and wants to do this. It is completely within their past history and behavior.
So keeping in mind, as you pointed out, that I am a dope, how is it that a person who is a member of SPC and has been listening to what they have been saying and writing all these years (and apparently was not offended enough to raise their hand or leave) could be shocked that they would want to do this??
What do Fr.Carl and Moses have in common? Moses parted the Sea, Fr. Carl is parting the Parish and community!
I HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THE HOMELESS IN PARK RIDGE!!!!
All those White Shirts at St. Paul, Mary Seat, St. Lukes, etc. take them in. You have enough people to solve the problem yourselves, SO WHY don't you do it uhhh??? The truth is you're like every liberal--all talk, no action, and you want everyone else tp pay the bill.
If Fr. Carl cares so much for the homeless and less fortunatae, why doesn't he ask the Cardinal for a transfer to Cabrini Green. That's where he can really help out on this issue. Put your faith into action Father. I suspect there aren't any Country Club parisheners there to help you do whatever you want uhh??
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