Springfield Community Meeting - 11/05 @ 7pm

[Karl_Pilkington]

WRONG, i am thinking - hey Karl, it's time for BBQ

well looks like the fires lit, all you need is some nice hickory or oak, get a good smoke going.

[strider]

I went to this meeting intending not to talk but to listen.  To listen to what Louise and Company had to say.  To listen to what the residents had to say.

Someone earlier used the term “eye opening”.  It was, even for me.  I really didn’t think they would be so blatant about what they really believe.  Yes, “eye opening”.   Unfortunately for Louise and Company, it doesn’t seem like it was in the way they had hoped.

Like some are using various comments to deflect away from the real issues in this very thread, this entire meeting’s purpose, in my opinion,  was one of deflection.  Get the people riled up about the supposed illegal rooming houses, get them really pissed off at Joe and Gloria, among others that seemed to remain unnamed, and maybe no one will notice that we aren’t addressing the real issues.  Like why no elections … again.  Why Louise sent an e-mail stating that she was angry two historic homes did not get approved for demolition.  And, just for the record, I have checked out those houses and I agree they deserved a better look and probably be saved.  There are lots of unanswered questions.  And no hope of getting answers, at least not real answers, or so it would seem to be the case at the moment. 

Yep, and I learned a couple of things… Proton patients are much better people than most of us who live and work in Springfield and if you run an illegal rooming house but rent to proton patients, it’s probably OK.  Louise doesn’t seem to know the codes very well and Michael Trautman believes everyone should stalk anyone suspected of living in an illegal rooming house.  Then , even though this meeting was about rooming houses, they failed bring at least one copy of the  lists they were talking about with them.  Yes, a very interesting and informative meeting after all.

[fsu813]

"Yep, and I learned a couple of things… Proton patients are much better people than most of us who live and work in Springfield and if you run an illegal rooming house but rent to proton patients, it’s probably OK.  Louise doesn’t seem to know the codes very well and Michael Trautman believes everyone should stalk anyone suspected of living in an illegal rooming house.  Then , even though this meeting was about rooming houses, they failed bring at least one copy of the  lists they were talking about with them.  Yes, a very interesting and informative meeting after all."

- 2 notes and then i'm done talking about this issue for a long while:

1) you play the victim well.
2) your wild distortion/exaggeration of statements in the meeting is basically lying.

i'm taking a vacation from this issue on MJ.

[zoo]

Springfield is crawling with wolves in sheep's clothing.

And this may be a very unpopular sentiment, but it seems the owners who are trying to convert these homes to recovery uses DO differentiate b/w Proton Therapy patients or military/college roommates versus their clients recovering from dependency. If they truly didn't perceive a difference, they would be opening recovery houses right next door to their own homes instead of in others' neighborhoods.

[zoo]

I'd like it to end up like many of the other urban, non-homogenous, non-HOA, tolerant, walkable neighborhoods with great retail/restaurant, great transit, and great greenspace that I've lived in in other cities. Those places successfully came back b/c they took care of the trash (visual blight) and safety issues, then pursued balanced economics and tolerance in ALL directions. You believe it's ok for you to label me all day long (and just as inaccurately as your other posts and claims, of course), but that just shows YOUR intolerance. Right now, Springfield is proving that intolerance, in any direction and to which you contribute, doesn't work.

[Springfield Girl]

1) I don't understand why urban neighborhood is supposed to be synonymous with housing everything deemed undesirable in other neighborhoods.
2)Chris Farley is an awesome, wonderful person and her house and yard are beautiful!
3)I just wanted to clarify an earlier post that said some people were asked to leave. All of us who were hanging out afterwards were asked to leave. We were shooed out so they could lock the building and leave the cleaning person in peace to clean.
4)There are more than 16 illegal rooming houses in Springfield. That list is just a starting point. SPAR didn't make up the list or choose to pursue this on their own. The list was compiled using complaints from concerned neighbors of the properties. It's very easy to know that a house is being used as a boarding house if you live near it. It is also easy to find out if it is legal.
5)The list of legal boarding/rooming/halfway houses came from the city. Any house operating as a boarding/rooming/halfway house that is not on that list is illegal.

[zoo]

1) I don't understand why urban neighborhood is supposed to be synonymous with housing everything deemed undesirable in other neighborhoods.

Springfield Girl, many of the urban neighborhoods that I lived in other cities were all those things I indicated, including tolerant, without having a concentration of "everything deemed undesirable in other neighborhoods." The problem in Jax is an outdated, and threatened, social policy system that relied on Springfield and other urban communities remaining economically-challenged indefinitely, and, of course, contained.

The possibility that Springfield's revitalization could actually occur -- that the influx of people from other places who have seen and been involved in urban renewal before could really make it happen -- is shaking the social order in this City, and it's making many people very upset.

Ive proven in actions, investment and time spent what I think.
The only people trying to 'get rid' of their neighbors is you and your little bandwagon.

Stephen you have history in this neighborhood and I respect that. But what actual investment do you have? What home do you own, what business do you own/operate? So you're here anyway, and you're my neighbor, fine. I'm your neighbor, too. Wouldn't you like to 'get rid' of me?

[strider]

Hi Springfield girl

3)I just wanted to clarify an earlier post that said some people were asked to leave. All of us who were hanging out afterwards were asked to leave. We were shooed out so they could lock the building and leave the cleaning person in peace to clean.

So Eva Ayes angrily came up to you and said that you were not allowed to be there, you were banned?  Then when you pointed out that Doug V had asked Louise about it for the Shadco meetings, Louise had said you were welcomed to go to any public meeting you wished, you got told that was a lie and that Louise and Claude sent her over to throw you out ?  She did all that to you too?   Wow, feisty old lady isn’t she.  Of course you have to wonder why Louise or Claude didn’t do it themselves….At least I did when Eva came up to me….

4)There are more than 16 illegal rooming houses in Springfield. That list is just a starting point. SPAR didn't make up the list or choose to pursue this on their own. The list was compiled using complaints from concerned neighbors of the properties. It's very easy to know that a house is being used as a boarding house if you live near it. It is also easy to find out if it is legal.

So there is a list … again?  Or is it not really a list, just a list that exists somewhere….
We get told both…there is not a list but then again, there is a list ... which is it? It is going to be released?

5)The list of legal boarding/rooming/halfway houses came from the city. Any house operating as a boarding/rooming/halfway house that is not on that list is illegal.

Not really correct…see the thread about the “Special Uses”…a few were missing on that list provided by SPAR Council.  I have to ask, is that the “list” that was e-mailed from Sean Kelly?  Because it was wrong and out of date….and you forgot the ALF’s and other group care homes…if they are licensed, they are legal and were grandfathered in right along with the others.

Joe

[Debbie Thompson]

I went to this meeting intending not to talk but to listen.  To listen to what Louise and Company had to say.  To listen to what the residents had to say.

Yep, and I learned a couple of things… Proton patients are much better people than most of us who live and work in Springfield and if you run an illegal rooming house but rent to proton patients, it’s probably OK. 

Strider, I've only included part of your quote, because this is the part I wish to address. When the question of renting rooms to proton patients first came up, and someone questioned whether or not that was legal, Claude Moulton very clearly and very quickly made the point that, if it was determined that wasn't legal, then that couldn't be allowed either. That we have to be fair and treat everyone the same.  There were a couple of comments made later that sounded otherwise, and I didn't like those either because of the way they were presented, but it was my impression that almost everyone in the room felt as Claude did...the same rules should apply to everyone.   The President of SPAR said that as soon as the question of the proton patients came up. 

[Springfield Girl]

I and a group of other business owners have been planning a cluster in the neighborhood.  A cluster, I might add that has become less likely because of the posted attitudes of you and your fellow travellers. The rest of them arent as familiar with the neigborhood as I am, and arent aware of how few people you guys represent.

Well I don't get this post. I and my neighbors who live in Springfield are basically called a$$holes for having an opinion about what we would like to have or not have in our neighborhood but you and a group of business owners are planning a cluster. Wow, who knew. How stupid of us to worry about our neighborhood when some business owners and non residents have it all figured out.

[strider]

I went to this meeting intending not to talk but to listen.  To listen to what Louise and Company had to say.  To listen to what the residents had to say.

Yep, and I learned a couple of things… .

Strider, I've only included part of your quote, because this is the part I wish to address. When the question of renting rooms to proton patients first came up, and someone questioned whether or not that was legal, Claude Moulton very clearly and very quickly made the point that, if it was determined that wasn't legal, then that couldn't be allowed either. That we have to be fair and treat everyone the same.  There were a couple of comments made later that sounded otherwise, and I didn't like those either because of the way they were presented, but it was my impression that almost everyone in the room felt as Claude did...the same rules should apply to everyone.   The President of SPAR said that as soon as the question of the proton patients came up. 

The president of SPAR Council also said FIRST that as the patients from the proton institute probably wouldn’t cause any problems, then renting to them (as we are talking about an illegal rooming house here) illegally wouldn’t be a problem.  He waffled a bit once he saw the reaction it got from some in the room.  Gerry Troy also agreed and so did a few others.  Claude’s first reaction was, hey, that’s OK because those are nice people.  While I may be paraphrasing a bit, I didn’t make this up, it is simply a fact.  So, I can justify my statement: Proton patients are much better people than most of us who live and work in Springfield (in the minds of some residents of Springfield) and if you run an illegal rooming house but rent to proton patients, it’s probably OK (in the opinion of some residents of Springfield) - as being accurate.

I am not the only one who got that impression . Others made statements about it at the meeting. Others have posted about it here. 

[fsu813]

Springfield Girl,

yes, the messiah and great leader of the "true" springfield has a plan for us all, didn't you know?

only certain people are allowed to have opinions about businesses in thier neighborhoods....and if they should try to act on thier shared opinions with fellow residents, well.....you clearly don't know what you are talking about and are a hinderence to all that is good.

you read the manifesto, right?

=P

[Debbie Thompson]

How silly of me to try and inject some reason and common sense into the discussion. <head slap> That isn't the way I remember it, but I won't argue further with you, Strider.  The way I remember it is that later in the discussion, Claude made that comment after Gerry said what he did.  I could be wrong, but that's the way I remember it. As I said, I didn't agree with what Gerry said. I thought the same as Claude...fair is fair, treat all alike. I thought (and this is my opinion only) that Claude made an ill-advised comment about the proton patients being "OK" after he had established his thoughts on fairness.  That said, I won't argue further on this point.

[hanjin1]

Just received the SPAR Weekly Update and it states

"The petition that was at last night’s Community Meeting WILL NOT be used. Petitions will be available to be signed at a later date."

[Springfield Girl]

I didn't see it that way at all. I was totally caught off guard when the proton beam patients were brought up. I'm sure others were also, so it took a little while for the info to sink in. I think the concensus in the room was that everyone should be treated the same and that an illegal rooming house is an illegal rooming house no matter who the people renting rooms are.