After reading several incredibly ignorant newspaper pieces about some citizens wanting to deny shelter to the homeless in Joplin’s First Baptist Church, I became hopping mad.
It was recently reported that 25 business owners and downtown residents met to discuss the negative impact it would have on Main Street redevelopment. Others believed it would lower their property values. Concerns were also directed to the close proximity of a middle school.
What should I say? First of all, throw out these biased views and toss them in the trash. Second, call out these individuals to find out where they were hiding when God passed out brains. Thus far none of these dissents have provided valid evidence to substantiate their stance.
Still there are a few prima donnas who want to segregate the poor and less fortunate from society as if they never existed. In reality the homeless are not an imminent threat to society or our schools. It’s the drug dealers and mentally disturbed students who are killing the classmates and teachers. The most violent crimes taking place in the local area such as rape, murder, family abuse, felonies, burglaries, etc., are being committed by those other than the homeless.
Thirdly, Nancy Morton’s lovely home isn’t exactly located in an upscale neighborhood. It’s primarily situated in the midst of less expensive homes — apartments, boarding rooms, rental houses, and fine homeowners’ residences.
Some of these properties are in need of TLC, and some desperately need renovation, while a few should be razed. However, it’s evident that there are a number of homeowners in the area who take pride in their premises which are well maintained.
I’ve yet to see any intelligent letters to the editor explaining how the shelter will tarnish the Main Street redevelopment and harm businesses and apartment owners. Moreover, the church is within walking distance to the Missouri Department of Economic Development for the homeless to apply for jobs.
The Annual Assessment Report to Congress on Feb. 7, 2007, conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development on sheltered homeless disclosed as many as 100,000 children live in these facilities on a daily basis, which excluded thousands of homeless children living in unsheltered areas — how degrading to our children and country.
Jim Williams
Joplin
Opinion
Voices: Hopping mad
- Opinion
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Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
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Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
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Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
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Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
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Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
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Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
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Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
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Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
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Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
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