Letter: Homeless issue must be handled with compassion

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

Mayor Oscar Goodman, in his May 5 commentary on the homeless issue, confuses political will with political power. Political will is when a politician is willing to spend his political capital to forward solutions or programs. Political power is sweep after sweep after sweep. What comes next: sweep numbers four, five or six?

The mayor speaks of "national experts" and their beliefs to address the challenge effectively and realistically. He is putting his confidence in the wrong "experts" in the wrong government (federal).

All politics are local and the answer will be not only with local experts but also with compassionate, concerned citizens who bring their expertise and resources to comprehensively address the incredibly complex issue of homelessness.

Brother David Buer's May 5 commentary should provide the mayor with an honest, historically correct view of the problem we face as a region and community. The answer lies in charity. Not grants, but religious compassion and charity.

Meanwhile, the state should quadruple its budget from the existing $500,000 and provide adequate mental health outreach to service the approximately 2,500 mentally ill homeless.

FRANK PERNA