White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Where are the Homeless Organizations on the Court Street Issue? Reader Cries

WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. January 11, 2006: A reader writes lamenting the lack of support for the homeless, and asks where the homeless support organizations are on the Court Street issue:

John, this issue of the homeless is not about caring for the homeless, it’s about crating the homeless, packing them up, depriving the less fortunate of any form of social dignity and human understanding and treatment.

The issue has become a political public relations media event, a circus of entertainment for all to watch. In my opinion, a disgrace to all of us, an embarrassment we should be ashamed of in our city and county.

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Using politics, the media and fear as the justification for finding a terrible solution for a problem no one really wants to address. So lets find a band-aid to a visually bad bruise in our communities and use surgical treatments attacking the cancer, rather then a successful long-term cure. Like any cancer remove it, get rid of it and keep it away from me. Fear, fear, fear!

What I find most disappointing apparently everyone has become the expert on the solution. The solution of transportation and transient housing and not a long-term positive productive plan to benefit anyone, let alone the abused homeless here. So whom are we benefiting here? The question is whom are we placating, what are we trying to justify and to whom are we justifying it to! Fear full citizens, the political vote, County vs. City, perhaps justified salaries?

This is not much different then the “failed Fisher Hill “residential group home for the Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Service. Remember that embarrassment to civil duties years back by Common Council Member, Mr. Bill King. If I re-call correctly his public statement was “that kind will bring down the neighborhoods” Where is that issue today?

It seems from the last public reading I did, White Plains Mayor Joe Delfino had an intelligent proposal on the table. “Let us all get together here in the county and cities and look at a long term plan and program before we act” I guess intelligent ideas are not worth exploring over an immediate TVmedia event.

Having been involved and very close to the homeless issues under Mayor Koch’s administration in NYC, one knows the severe damage bad political decisions can produce on the homeless populations. Having spent six years living with institutionalized children in a social worker capacity, I clearly can project a failed policy for our homeless population.

Anyone who has ever worked with the homeless knows the vast complexity of the problems and issues, especially one of this nature. Mentally challenged patients and long term objectives are virtually impossible to achieve without structured professional resources. Face the real dilemma here, all we are creating is a lean-to shelter, no more then a bad locker room with broken equipment. One of many more moves and bus rides. This program should be called “U Hall”

I guess the great thinkers and planners neglected to realize White Plains already has the best locations to hide the homeless here, out of view, out of the business district, away from restaurants high rise residents with confinement, security and a decent place to live with all the amenities required to care for this population of homeless.

St. Agnes Hospital grounds, one vacant dorm that housed young homeless mothers, the hospital with at least 100 vacant rooms, two levels of floors, with a room with a view, kitchens, bathrooms, private entrances, and a drive way for the homeless bus every night. I suggest we take taxpayers dollars and pay for the use of the hospital raise the consciousness of elected officials instead of salaries and taxpayer’s dollars would serve a humanitarian purpose full time, not part time. Alternate choices could be NY Presbyterian ‘s vacant houses, Burke, even an old fire station. White Plains and the County had many choices, what we don’t have is a plan with choices.

I’m curious to know why all the homeless coalitions and human rights organizations have been kept silent on this one!

A society can only be judged by the way it treats and cares for its less fortunate.

Carl Albanese
White Plains Resident


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