Letter: Goodman fails on homeless issue

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 | 8:56 a.m.

I voted for Oscar Goodman. But the images of the homeless, told they must leave but having no place to go, is haunting. It reminds us of scenes in the very types of governments we hate. The mayor's lack of planning and lack of leadership about the homeless makes me doubt whether I will vote for him again.

The whole idea that we are doing enough for the homeless is impossible to defend. The idea that we shouldn't bother because "some are service resistant" is a cop-out.

How many teams of mental health counselors does this city have actively going out to the homeless? How many drug or compulsive gambling counselors does this city have actively going after the addicted? How many beds for the mentally ill? How many shelters for the homeless or the homeless family?

Goodman, you cannot morally say we are doing enough for the homeless. You can only say we don't have the resources to allocate for the homeless ... so we will discuss a trust fund which has no funding. Goodman, you have failed us in leadership.

BARBARA HALL

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