5 January 2022
Dear Mayor Jones:
It’s going to be 8 degrees tomorrow night.
Despite the American Rescue Plan, there is no permanent shelter set up for the chronically unhoused. Five people died last year. How many will die this year? This weather forecast has been available for over a month. Why weren’t the necessary arrangements made? And why does funding on matters of the unhoused remains opaque? Why does everything take so long to approve?
What can I and other residents do to facilitate things? We need you to tell us what you need, and we need you to reach out to us.
I feel like there needs to be a lot more transparency. Is there a problem with staffing shortage? Or is that there aren’t enough trained and skilled workers and supervisors? Is there a disconnect between the different divisions and agencies handling things?
How about setting up a feedback line or send people out into the community to find out what residents both housed and unhoused need and want? Not everyone can attend Town Halls, and very few people vote in local elections. Please make sure you are communicating with all of your constituents.
And I must ask, what are your priorities? I have a draft of another letter to you that addresses the Loop trolley and Metro public transit in detail, but I must say now, you need to resign from the Loop Trolley transportation district immediately. As the City of Saint Louis’s most public representative, it is not appropriate for you to serve on that committee. Joe Edwards is too powerful, and there is far too much opposition, particularly from city residents (who are not necessarily property owners). There are far more pressing matters that need your attention.
Like our homeless.
No comments:
Post a Comment