I posted before about the hopes to build a homeless shelter in Bellows Falls. One voice opposing that shelter is that of Stefan Golec, who has no actual facts, but has a lot of opinions. Per today’s Rutland Herald:
Bellows Falls Village Trustee Stefan Golec spoke strongly against the shelter, questioning the wisdom of placing it in the downtown business district and whether there was a need for such a large shelter.
“Once you build it, they will come,” said Golec, who said he was representing the entire Board of Trustees.
…and…
…Golec said the shelter would place “an undue burden on services,” provided by the village, “particularly police.”
“The character of the area will be unfairly affected,” he said.
Did Golec present any evidence? No. Did he show any data that would support his claims? No. But, gee golly, it sure sounds good.
Could it possibly be that this shelter isn’t there to attract new homeless people to the area but instead to try to help those who are already there to survive the winter?
Seriously: is anyone willing to make the claim that there’s anything about New England which will attract homeless people to the area?
“Well, it’s colder than you can possibly imagine, but I hear they’ve got a decent shelter up there. Let’s hop a train!”
Here’s the simple truth of the matter: Bellows Falls has homeless people. If we don’t find a place for them to stay at night, it places them at undue risk. A place for them to stay from dusk through dawn is the very least we can do to help them, and I do mean the very least. The arguments against this shelter are not based on reason or risk analysis. They’re based on fear and prejudice.
UPDATE some interesting history on Golec after the fold
I got a tip after writing this piece about an old Ruland Herald piece on Golec:
Village trustee Stefan Golec forwarded at least two Internet jokes and messages this month to town officials and community leaders that contain derogatory terms for Muslims and are critical of their culture and religion.
One e-mail he forwarded labeled Muslims as “brutal and uncivilized” and another referred to them as “Towel Heads.” The e-mails were sent to friends, community leaders and this reporter.
But it’s homeless people that will damage the community.
Classy!
Someone should remind this man of what members of his own family undoubtedly suffered in the Great Depression. Everyone has heard their parents or grandparents talk about those hard times. My Dad, who was a farm boy in southern Illinois, came to adulthood smack dab in the middle of the Depression. He took any casual job he could find and ate any food that was offered to him. His most vivid memory was eating Limburger cheese on donuts. In romantic hindsight, people always think it WAS noble and necessary to help the poor and distressed; but somehow nobility melts away for some folks when it’s in their own time and their own back yard.
Don’t you understand the point? It’s not that anyone wants them to starve, freeze, or something…if Golec doesn’t SEE them, they don’t exist. If he sees them, then, by definition, they are “attracted”…to his attention.
My heavens, what a dope.
Gee, I would have thought the whole state was already a magnet for homeless people and welfare queens, what with our notorious liberalism. But I do have a couple pieces of advice for Mr. Golec, if he’s interested in eliminating “homeless magnets” from his community…
— Homeless people often squat in unoccupied buildings. I suggest an ordinance calling for the destruction of any dwelling or commercial property that remains vacant for more than three months.
— Undesirable types often hang around diners. The Miss Bellows Falls has GOT to go!
— You should also consider the full Mayor Rudy as a prophylactic measure. Ban squeegeeing and loitering, implement police roundups of anyone sleeping outdoors, and crack down on minor crimes such as “disorderly conduct.”
Then, and only then, will the good people of Bellows Falls be protected from an influx of… you know… them.