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REGULAR MEETINGNOVEMBER 14, 2005 <br />laws, without discussing what they were doing with their immediate neighbors. <br />Admirable motivation but bad planning. They were informed of the zoning infractions <br />months ago. They have not moved towards compliance nor has the city taken further <br />action. Zoning has been a key way for South Bend to create strong neighborhoods. <br />Letting go of zoning unfortunately asks for exploitation by those trying to aggrandize <br />their bottom line. We know this from sad experience in other neighborhoods in South <br />Bend. What can be done? The Catholic Worker group would make gesture of healing <br />and good will if they would divest themselves of the rental properties on Washington, <br />bring the house they own on Washington Street into compliance, and use the properly <br />zoned house on Thomas for larger numbers of individuals. The city and agencies <br />working in the area could help the Catholic Worker group find appropriately zoned <br />buildings to replace the rentals in the areas of the West Side that need their influence. <br />The group would be able to provide the family sized households, which are part of their <br />goal rather than presenting the institutionalized framework of four adjacent households <br />on Washington. With good will, this can be done. <br />Ms. Cindy Lewis, 702 W. Colfax Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, advised that she is <br />speaking tonight to respond to the illegal occupancy of the Catholic Worker in the 1100 <br />block of West Washington Street. She stated that since becoming a Near West <br />Washington Street resident, she has admired the intense commitment of the neighbors to <br />make it a better place to live. There have been several new young families on the Colfax <br />block since she moved in. This trend toward urbanization is very heartening to her, and <br />should be welcomed by the city. Single-family zoning promotes home ownership, which <br />in turn promotes pride in your home and needed improvements. This can turn a <br />neighborhood around and have a big influence in the total betterment of the city. Even <br />though the Catholic Worker has no secular ties to the Holy See, she is not opposed to the <br />good works that they do. She stated that she is a practicing Catholic and a member of St. <br />Pat’s Parish, as a community, do good works and yet still abide by the rules and <br />regulations of the city. She stated that she is not opposed to the Catholic Workers <br />mission on 744 Main and the exception to serve food that was granted to them. The <br />zoning is appropriate there and it is a totally separate issue. The Catholic Worker <br />“movement” is flagrantly, deliberately and quite arrogantly breaking the law, period. It’s <br />as simple as that. What’s so hard to understand? Why is this being allowed by the city <br />for as long as it has been? Is the City afraid of the way it’s going to look to the press? <br />Does you avoidance stem from this issue being considered as “too delicate”? If this is the <br />case, then shame on you for turning your heads and not standing up for what is right and <br />fair. This “movement” is operating in single-family zoned homes, they known that, yet <br />they don’t seem to care. They have come to our meetings, contend that they want to be <br />accepted into the community, but don’t acknowledge our requests to reside in the proper <br />numbers for single-family residences. Do they think because they do good works they <br />are above the law? This must be the case, because they are still operating without any <br />fear of the consequences. On the Internet, under “Catholic Worker Frequently asked <br />Questions”, it states, “Check out the zoning, occupancy and public health laws of your <br />community. Whether or not you comply with them is up to you, but it’s good to know <br />them in case you run into difficulties.” This exemplifies their arrogance! They are <br />literally advising on-line that it doesn’t matter if they choose to disregard zoning laws! <br />Zoning isn’t the only violation that is possibly occurring in the Catholic Worker houses. <br />What about health and fire hazards? With that many people coming and going, there <br />needs to be some sort of accountability for their safety. Ms. Lewis adamantly object to <br />being accused of NIMBY mentality! The injustice of these comments (i.e. Voice of the <br />th <br />People, July 10) is outrageous and ridiculous. These accusers do not live here, and are <br />not vested in this neighborhood. How dare they make such accusations! Until they buy a <br />home in this area, and invest their hard earned money and sweat equity, do they earn the <br />right to make such comments! She is certain that they would be opposed to the trend that <br />violation of proper zoning would inflict in their backyards! On a personal note, I have <br />recently opened a Bed and Breakfast in this neighborhood, and ascertained the <br />appropriate zoning before purchasing the property. The permits and licenses that I was <br />required to obtain were crucial to insure the safety and well-being of my guests. She is <br />very proud to be a new member of this community, and plan on being here for quite some <br />time. She is involved in two committees for the betterment of her neighborhood, thus <br />improving the environment where we live and work. She strongly feels that this issue <br />sets a precedent for further violation of zoning, and therefore stunting the growth of this <br />18 <br /> <br />