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November 28, 2006
Homelessness Forum Draws Crowd, But No Mayor
An audience of 175 anticipated hearing both sides of the debate on a proposed homeless shelter Monday evening at UTC. Instead, what they received was a presentation from Citizens for Real Homeless Solutions – and a written statement from Mayor Ron Littlefield's office on Chattanooga Community Resource Center stationery.
The forum, sponsored by UTC’s Student Government Association, originally was supposed to include Littlefield or a representative from his office. A statement issued by Littlefield's office through the Chattanooga Community Resource Center, distributed to the audience before the program was set to begin, said the mayor was unable to attend because “he is interviewing police chief candidates from out of town.”
Students who attended the forum said they had hoped they could receive information simultaneously from Littlefield and Citizens for Real Homeless Solutions. “I was disappointed that no one was able to come from the mayor’s office, but I was pleased that so many students attended,” SGA President Lydia Grafton said. Grafton said she did not know there was a potential scheduling conflict until Wednesday, Nov. 22. Assistant Dean of Students Dee Dee Anderson was not certain whether a representative from the mayor’s office would be appearing until about five hours before the forum began.
The initial format would have allowed both sides to present an opening statement, followed by questions submitted from students only; the questions would have been screened for repetition by Anderson and an assistant, Anderson said. Following the Q-and-A segment, Littlefield and Citizens for Real Homeless Solutions representative Mari Mai Williamson would have time for closing arguments.
Instead, the forum began with UTC representative Chuck Cantrell reading a letter sent by the mayor's office, outlining the reasons for not attending and assertions on homelessness in the city. Williamson then was allowed to give a five-minute opening statement by means of a video presentation. She then answered student questions from the audience, issued a closing statement and answered questions individually from students who approached her afterward.
In the statement Cantrell read to the audience, the letter stated “the opposition continues to try to manipulate UTC student opinion to further its own agenda by meeting privately with students and providing questions for the students to ask during the debate.” Included with its letter to the audience was a list of questions the center charges were given to students to ask, accompanied by answers to each. Those questions and answers also were distributed to the audience. A copy of this can be found at http://www.chattanoogacrc.org/faqs2.htm.
The following is the letter the mayor's office submitted and Cantrell read:
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to meet with you again about the Chattanooga Community Resource Center.
Mayor Littlefield could not attend this evening as he is interviewing police chief candidates from out of town. However, he did enjoy speaking to the SGA two weeks ago and hopes his insight into the growing problem of homelessness in Chattanooga and how employing innovative strategies to alleviate suffering for the homeless was helpful.
The CCRC team has elected to abstain from today’s community forum for several reasons:
1. We first heard about the “debate” in a news release written and issued by the opposition dated November 2, 2006. At that point we (the CCRC) had not been invited to present in front of the SGA. We therefore called Dean Anderson to get equal time which was granted for November 14, 2006.
2. The opposition has dictated the terms of this debate even calling for a vote by the SGA.
3. The opposition continues to try to manipulate UTC student opinion to further its own agenda by meeting privately with students and providing questions for the students to ask during the debate. We believe this approach presents a false sense of concern for the topic of homelessness in Chattanooga.
4. Trying to “win” a debate on homelessness trivializes the issue. This is not a game – the lives and wellbeing of homeless women, children, and men in Chattanooga are at stake. We will not be party to perpetuating stereotypes, or placing homeless families and children as political pawns in a public debate.
Here are the facts on Homelessness as they relate to UTC:
In closing:
The real solution for homelessness include access to supportive services and permanent housing that will help homeless families and individuals become more self sufficient.
They also include a respite care facility and resource center that will collect data to measure outcomes and identify opportunities for improvement of services; and above all, treating Americans with compassion and dignity.
We believe the opposition speaks for a small contingency whose viewpoint is based in fear and prejudice against those who are less fortunate. It seems that some want to drive out the homeless, who in their minds should no longer be part of the fabric of the very community they chose to move in to because now those original residents might impact their property values.
Rather than debating over the unfounded beliefs about the impacts of locating services for the homeless in any one neighborhood, we choose to direct our energies to develop real strategies to prevent homelessness and to help the homeless transition back into permanent housing with supportive services.
The opposition has provided the attached 24 questions about the proposed development. We have provided detailed answers. Please feel free to consider these points as you review this issue and its impact on UTC. We encourage everyone to visit http://www.ChattanoogaCRC.org for more information. We welcome any and all comments, questions, or concerns regarding the CCRC.
Mayor Ron Littlefield said, “As students you have the privilege of higher education and a responsibility to use your talents to make the world a better place. Accordingly, you have the obligation to not simply [sic] appose the plans but become involved in seeking a better solution.”
BlogBeats | By pulseblogger | 07:48 AM
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