It keeps getting worse. The group trying to build an enormously expensive shelter (see previous post "The Government Is Just Made of Money") wants more money and more money from our cash-strapped city government--and that means you and me. CP has already referred you to one article in The Capital and now the Sun covers it at: www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.lighthouse30jan30,0,6482672.story
We have to ask ourselves a bunch of questions: Why are there homeless people? Of course the corollary question is, why do most people have homes? The next question is, why should public tax dollars go to make "permanent" shelters? Another question is why did they originally need $6 million? The next question is why do they now need more-especially as homebuilding and borrowing costs are falling? (The Sun article claims costs have jumped--but construction is waaaay off--which ironically, and admittedly may mean more jobless people. Builders should be lining up ready for work) Another question is don't we already have enough--in fact way more than enough tax-supported public housing? Are the nice brick, waterfront homes at Bloomsbury Square not enough? If it costs millions to build this, how much will it cost to operate? Who will pay for that?
And finally, the really big question which must be asked is this:
IF WE CAN SPEND millions of dollars to build a "shelter" why can't the organization behind this work to eliminate homelessness and instead build community, create jobs and economic and educational opportunity?
By building a "shelter" we are clearly saying there will always be homeless people and we can never solve that problem but we can devote huge resources to give them a bed...
OVER EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS WORTH AS REPORTED!!!!! A public private partnership that can raise millions can also work to create jobs and hope. Otherwise we just get beds.
Bay Daily on Hiatus
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Congratulations to Bay Daily creator, Tom Pelton, who has accepted a
position with another organization working to make the world a better
place. In his ab...
10 years ago
1 Comment:
If we figured out how to solve homelessness than we wouldn't have to give government contractors $8M to build the homeless shelters. I mean, common, think of the contractors. What on earth would they do!? And what about the politicians that support these efforts, I mean they need campaign contributions just as much as the next guy/girl. If these types of contracts (rich ones at that) aren't awarded to contractors, then those same contractors can't contribute to the election campaigns. Its a vicious cycle but someone has to do it. I guess that makes me in favor of homelessness for the betterment of our local political economy!? I wrote about this ridiculous situation here.
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