08-22-05 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETINGAUGUST 22, 2005 Worker is doing a very valuable service on behalf of the neighborhood. He is perfectly happy to have the Catholic Worker House as his neighbor and he intends to help them with their work in any way he can. He hopes that some of the other neighbors will also do the same. The Catholic Worker staff has brought a new energy and social commitment into the neighborhood and that they are helping in a very practical way to be a more caring and compassionate community. He has heard many poignant stories from residents of the Catholic Worker House of how with the help of the Catholic Worker they have moved from self-destructive lives to construction lives, from alcoholism and addition and homelessness to being responsible citizens and beginning once again to go to school or to work. Mr. Ludwig urged the members of the City Council and the Mayor Office will do whatever can do to help the Catholic Worker to continue their valuable work in the neighborhood. Zoning is a useful tool to help neighborhoods get rid of nuisances, crack house, and irresponsible landlords, but it should not be used as a club to bully those who are trying to do good in our community as well at the same time causing it no harm. Mr. Ludwig further urged the Council to use their good will and creativity to find a way to make the zoning code work for the Catholic Worker for the community and the people in need whom they are serving. Ms. Lauren Kimbrough, 738 W. Marion, Mishawaka, Indiana, advised that she was a resident of the Catholic Worker House, two days before she gave birth to her now 8- month-old daughter. Ms. Kimbrough did not have anywhere to go, until she found out about the Catholic Worker House through a woman at the Women’s Care Center. Mr. Kimbrough stated that they did not have much room for her or her other two children; however, they made room for them. The catholic worker provided her with diapers, babysitting, until she could get back on her feet, found a job, and the Catholic Worker House helped her with childcare expenses. She was able to move out into a place of her own. The staff was wonderful, they are caring, helping people who provide help to those in need. Ms. Kimbrough stated that she visits the Catholic Worker House with her daughters on a regular basis; they are like family to her. She urged the Council to support the Catholic Worker House. Mr. Arthur McGinnis, 1125 W. Jefferson, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he lives directly behind the Catholic Worker House. He stated that he has observed the Catholic Worker House for the last two years during the day and in the evening hours and wanted to give his 110% support for what they are doing and the way they conduct themselves. They are friendly, kind, and gracious toward the neighbors. They have been model neighbors and he has never seen any disturbance that would cause fear for anyone. They improve the neighborhood and the work that they do is courageous wonderful work. Mr. McGinnis thanked the Catholic Worker House for moving into the neighborhood. His concern for the neighborhood is the vacant houses that are boarded up. He would like to see those boarded up vacant eyesores disappear not the Catholic Worker House. Mr. Verge Gilliam, 1013 W. Washington, South Bend, Indiana, Co-Precinct Committeeman for the District of West Washington and have lived there for approximately ten (10) years. The one thing that amazes him is how people say that the Catholic Worker House brings peace to the neighborhood. There are many people who have stories about peace prior to the Catholic Worker’s House being there. By evidence of properties being redone by South Bend Heritage Foundation, Community Oriented Policing, Center for the Homeless and the Hope Rescue Mission. The rules and regulations of those institutions exist and we know of no rules like that. There are families that have concerns in the neighborhood regarding some of the people who come to the homes and verbally have attacked them and approached them. There are many different things that have happened in the neighborhood that are a direct result of the Catholic Workers House that they are quite upset with and the neighbors would like to commend the City of South Bend for making certain that no violations have taken place, code and law are enforced, because they work to see to it that other individuals in the neighborhood had to leave so our neighborhood could build and develop very peacefully. Mr. Gilliam stated those individuals as the Naptown Riders, some of the other device organizations that were there at one time. Many neighbors are not in favor of the Catholic Worker House because they do not have an open door policy, and many of the neighbors have experienced this. 22