Now it has come to pass that the story of the Wayside Christian Mission's move to Hotel Louisville, and to operate as a hotel, has become a political issue. And one Mayoral candidate has come out swinging against another over the proper action to take.
On Friday, the local paper published GOP Council member Hal Heiner's thoughts on Wayside, calling for all parties to get behind Wayside's master plan to bring together services at 2nd and Broadway to help the organization. He's even organized a "penny" drive to raise money for the group.
But his GOP opponent in the Mayor's race, Chris Thieneman, is calling out Heiner, a member of the Council's Planning and Zoning Committee, for not taking action on the zoning case.
Thieneman wrote a letter in response for publication in the paper, but says he doesn't expect the newspaper's editors to publish his letter, since he says they never have in the past.
So Mojo, in the interest of stimulating debate, has agreed to publish Theineman's letter, which criticizes Heiner and Metro Government for their handling of the entire issue. It calls out Heiner, specifically, for using Wayside as a political issue.
Here's the letter from Thieneman:
First I want to applaud Councilman Heiner for the good words written in the CJ concerning Wayside Christian Mission. Wayside, and organizations like them who provide shelter and opportunity to our community's high-risk women and children, should not be victims to the bureaucratic process of our Metro Government. This is an issue that could have been resolved months ago, and the inaction of our elected officials have led us to this moment, most notably you Mr. Heiner.
Councilman Heiner sits on the powerful Planning and Zoning committee. He is the Vice-Chairman. He has the authority to place planning and zoning issues on the agenda for the committee, which then could push the issue before the full Metro Council. The issues faced by Wayside Christian Mission could be resolved in this committee. This issue could have been resolved, before the holiday season, before the cold set in, and before Mr. Heiner announced his candidacy for Mayor.
Having courage means taking difficult stances on issues and seeing the plan through. It does not mean taking a politically calculated step in the right direction only when political gain is on the line. Courage is a word not to be thrown around as political rhetoric. Courage is getting the job done for the right reasons at the right time; not months down the road while running for public office.
Mr. Heiner, you have had every opportunity in the past 6 months to attempt to rezone the old Louisville Hotel for Wayside, and you have done nothing. There have been zero, 0, attempts by the committee since June to rezone this property. Not one agenda proves a proactive approach to solve the problems facing our at-risk and homeless families.
I congratulate and whole heartily support the actions of Wayside Christian Mission in providing a much-needed avenue to care for the homeless in our city. But in them having to find an alternative means to provide this care proves Metro leadership has failed.
In the letter, there was mention that “We should invite…” a host of community organizations to the table to help the individuals once they are at Wayside. No, they should have already been invited and working to a solution. This does not rest on the shoulders of Wayside; it rests on us as human beings and as members of this community. The city has failed its people if these services are only provided when there is no other option and the family is homeless. This idea addresses a symptom. To change this environment and to show the true compassion of our city, we must treat and cure the cause.
I do not believe in reactionary leadership. I believe in tackling problems when they arise; not sitting around and letting the scene play out and hope it goes away or solves itself. I believe when a man uses the word courage to describe himself he steps up when the pressure is on, not when it makes for a good photo opportunity.
The Metro Council and Metro government have had their opportunity to solve this problem. They have failed. Wayside has been hindered and terrorized by the bureaucratic red tape of city hall. Wayside is caring for the city's homeless and at-risk women and children, and Mr. Heiner and his committee cannot even make an attempt to rezone the Wayside Hotel.
Our great city must provide these families with opportunities and jobs before Wayside becomes their only option. We have to attract jobs and corporations to our community who will provide our citizens with an opportunity at a better standard of living. Private citizens and community organizations should be involved in the process and leading the way. I am not saying that Metro Government should not have a seat at the table, but I believe community interests would best serve such an effort.
Mr. Heiner's campaign is doing a penny drive and mine will be doing a clothing drive for Wayside. Both are righteous outreaches to help and support such a pillar of our community. However, Mr. Heiner has been in a position of power to solve this problem, and now a solution comes only after he announces he wants to be Mayor. I question the sincerity and courage behind such an action. The solutions to the problems facing our community should not only come about when political gain is on the line. For Wayside, I am glad action is finally being taken. For Metro Government, I believe the time has passed to be called a leader on the issue.
I'm convinced this transaction was shaddy from the begining. It will only serve as a vehicle to benefit to certain influential individuals in our city. They will exchange their righteous donations for tax shelters. This purchase was so shaddy, the press couldn't even get to the bottom of it. No one loves the homeless that much ! Everyone involved in this purchase has a personal agenda. A key player in the downtown business community orchastrated this shaddy business arrangement from the start to benefit himself. This city is full of shaddy characters like him that unfortunately hold a good portion of the wealth in this community. These individuals didn't acquire their wealthy by being honest! They preyed on others for years to get where they are now. Face it! You live in a big little city full of business predators.
"Services" for the homeless, jobless, and/or downtrodden come from for-profit entrepreneurs, who seem to gravitate toward areas where this population is most often found. Day labor companies seem to provide less-than-dignified systems of employment; and then they reduce the worker's paycheck with "charges" for transportation, work apparel, and/or equipment. And the businesses that "use" the services of day-labor workers are often circumventing traditional wages & benefits. Conveniently near these day labor operations can be found little "stores," (often operated by Middle Easterners) whose primary income seems to be derived from the fees they charge to cash the day-laborer's check, along with the extra-high mark up on tobacco products. With little private transportation, and no bank account (often due to past insolvency problems), these practices seem quite predatory. The kicker is that many of the homeless shelters have attendance rules that preclude the homeless & the jobless from securing day-labor gigs that may call for irregular working hours.
It's no secret by now, that a certain high profile downtown businessman is the Catalyst behind Wayside Missions most recent purchase of the Old Louisville Hotel Landmark. I'm thoroughly convinced that the recent purchase of this property was intended for personal financial gain only, for a certain high profile downtown businessman. I can assure you that the recent purchase of this property immediately entitles that individual to enormous government substities and benefits. Good intentions were never intended from day one in this particular situation. It's obvious to see by anyone with half a brain that the recent acquisition of the old Louisville Hotel by Wayside Mission is a sham. Good Will to man kind was never the real intent here when the property was purchased, no matter what kind of image they try to Portray to the public. What the news press discovered during their initial investigation is a front or a disguise for something more financially beneficial,rather than someones good intention to serve their fellow man.
Their mistake during this investigation was not appointing a more professional spokes person to deliver their lies to the public. In my opinion, and from what I believe, Wayside Mission Organization is not in business because their that adamant about helping the homeless.Instead their real mission is to serve a Privilege few who choose to hide behind their door's of that organization as an outlet for financial gain and to enjoy substantial right offs.
The comments Thieneman has made are ON TARGET!!!...Good ole HAL, should have Maned up way before now.
However the Mission has sccomplished acquiring the Hotel & what they had to do to make it happen....SO WHAT!?....If thats what they had to deal with and they got it done, they have surely paid the price to have the oppurtunity to get there and be there.
Theineman is RIGHT!....they surely haven't gotten any real help by the Metro Council like they should be getting....And did he mention Good Ole Hal is the Vice-Chairman....I to applaud Hal for stepping up now, but he like all the others that serve on the Council seem to oblivious to the real wants and needs of the community, and worried more about just themselves, and what they get out of it.
If Wayside truly wishes to operate out of Hotel Louisville, why are they still appealing BOZA's decision to not allow them in the old Mercy campus? Wayside has an appeal in circuit court right now requesting to overturn that ruling so they can operate at the old Mercy campus. I won't believe they're in earnest about the hotel location until that appeal is dropped.
The Hotel Louisville location is perfect for Wayside as it's zoned commercially. If every other city's zoning rules and regulations are any precedent then the ultimate re-writing of our Land Development Code is going to allow large shelters to operate only in commercial zones (and possibly with buffer zones between them and adjacent residential zones). They ultimately will be treated like hotels and motels of similar size.
ROFLOL. This is so like the Pot calling the Kettle black. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Election time once again. I am amused. Chris, Have you forgotten about that piece of property out in the 14th District that is located on Dixie Highway? You know, the one where you were negotiating with cricket communications trying to lease the land to build a new tower but the deal was cancelled and they chose to set up shop less than a mile away of your land? My advice to you Sir is to speak softly and to choose your words as well as your battles carefully. I'll see you on the campaign trail. Good Luck!!!
Now it has come to pass that the story of the Wayside Christian Mission's move to Hotel Louisville, and to operate as a hotel, has become a political issue. And one Mayoral candidate has come out swinging against another over the proper action to take.
3
Rick Redding