HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-30-19 Public Comment - E. Culver - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:Eric Culver
To:Sarah Rosenberg; Agenda
Subject:Objection to Warming Center
Date:Wednesday, October 30, 2019 3:32:57 PM
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor of Bozeman, City Commissioners, Director ofCommunity
Development and Sarah Rosenberg
From: Wm. Eric Culver
Re: Objection to HRDC Warming Center
Date: October 30, 2019
I believe that one of the primary functions of government is to care for thehealth, safety and welfare of all of its citizens. These goals become thestandards for evaluation of any permitted use within the City’s jurisdiction andthe basis for zoning classifications
The application for permit to operate a warming center does not serve thehealth, safety and welfare of the existing residents or the nameless participantsin the purposed warming center. Numerous correspondence and documentationalready sent to you have demonstrated the lack of need for the warming centerin South Bozeman; and the absence of consideration of the existingneighborhoods and planning for this intended site. HDRC has intentionallyemployed a furtive and disingenuous strategy sub rosa to advance the permit,intentionally avoiding consideration of the opinions of the existingneighborhood. This approach continues as evidenced by the most recent limitednotice of another meeting sent only to those within the required distance fromthe proposed site, only to be cancelled when HDRC discovered the greatermajority of homeowners whose objections they wanted to avoid would attend.Rather than discuss the issues at hand, HDRC avoids discussion because it hasno rational basis for its action other than its own interests.
HRDC’s only argument in support of its permit is to appeal to a sense ofcompassion for these “poor homeless women and children” and “our neighborsand friends” This contradicts HDRC’s application and public statements whichadmit that they do not know any of the people who will use the Center. They donot and cannot know whether the people presenting at the site are Bozemancitizens, criminals addicts, etc. From its application and public statements, it isclear that the character of these individuals and their accompanying needs,dangers or problems are immaterial to HDRC. HDRC’s objective is establish adaily quota by importing up to 36 unknown and unvetted bodies to support itsfinancial plans to operate the Center. This unidentifiable group serves only as
the price of admission for HRDC to enter the private real estate market. Ineffect HRDC is doing something which is impermissible in our democracy. It ischoosing winners and losers in actions which detrimentally affect the health,safety and welfare of the citizens of Bozeman for its own geographic andeconomic expansion. It is the proper function of government to protect itscitizens from this proposed activity.
The real challenge for HRDC is to spend its time and money really helpingpeople in distress by establishing facilities to diagnose and treat the reasons forthe person’s need for a warming center at all. To ignore the causes ofhomelessness does these people a grave disservice as it will not help those inneed but merely increase their dependency upon HRDC --
Wm. Eric CulverAttorney-at-law
4122 Graf StreetBozeman, Montana 59715
U.S.A.Tele: (918) 625-2832
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