Good Neighbor Policy a “Total Failure”

February 26, 2007

Dear Editor,

Reporter Olin Eriksen failed to do proper research in writing the article concerning the St. Joseph Center move in Venice. (see story)

He quotes Rhonda Meister: "If we are not meeting and talking we are not going to get anything done." Nice words. It would have been nicer if Ms. Meister and St. Joseph had talked to the community when they sneaked the new homeless facility into the neighborhood.

NO notice was given to the community and St. Josephs only agreed to meet with the community when there was an uproar of protest. Mr. Eriksen might have mentioned this in his article.

As far as their alleged "good neighbor" policy. It has been a total failure at the Rose Avenue facility. Members of that community testified to that effect at the too-late, too-little public hearing held in February at Penmar clubhouse. It might have qualified as reporting if Mr. Eriksen had mentioned this fact in his column.

Lastly, there was no mention of the fact that St. Joseph obtained a building permit for an "office." The homeless facility is most certainly not an office. It will be open 53 percent of the time so that the "clients" will be on the streets and alleys of this residential neighborhood 47 percent of the time with NO supervision. The one-man security patrol will only cover the St. Joseph facility and is totally inadequate.

Arthur Kessler