The dust has settled since the Sept. 1 City Council decision rejecting Mayor Sharon Tucker’s proposed Anchor Resource Center. I am still profoundly disturbed by the 5-3 council vote that doomed this project purporting to resolve our local homeless dilemma.
Tucker deserves credit for even tackling such an important but intractable issue.
She could have done nothing, allowing the can to be kicked down the road. Instead, for a full year and half, the mayor’s office studied all relevant issues from every conceivable angle. That due diligence produced an exceptional, comprehensive plan distinguished by three factors.
One, as the site for the proposed center, the city painstakingly identified an available vacant building at a location that proved to be more ideal than any other possible location: 333 E. Washington Blvd., on the near-east part of downtown.
This site assured the center would be meeting its homeless, largely immobile clientele where they resided, an absolute prerequisite to any possible success.
Two, the city would limit its investment to $2.75 million, the amount estimated to purchase this building and renovate it properly. The operation of the center would be conducted and paid for by a competent partner, the nonprofit Anchor Resource Center, headed by Meg Distler.
Three, the center would provide so much more than a 24/7 low-barrier, short-term shelter.
Amenities included showers, laundry, small storage for valuables, mail slots, and telephone and computer access. These basics would be complemented by individual case management, with referrals to no-cost nearby mental health and drug/alcohol addiction programs within walking distance.
Thus, the plan provided a real, viable path forward, allowing transition to permanent housing elsewhere for those wanting escape their homeless plight.
Tucker’s plan was extraordinary. Was it perfect? Almost certainly not. But she also had every reason to believe, where the proposal proved to be deficient in practice, the center and community would have the smarts, the heart and the money to rectify any miscalculation.
The community, by a large margin, embraced and supported the center.
In short order, many corporations, hospitals and individuals raised enough private money to pay, not for the two years of operations that City Council insisted, but for the first three years. That is how solid the support was for this plan.
Yet, when it came to vote on the mayor’s initiative, City Council rejected it by a 5-3 vote.
The due diligence had been thoroughly and competently conducted and had been enthusiastically supported by some of the brightest business minds this city boasts.
So, it is difficult to believe that any reasonable person operating in good faith could disagree that 1) the proposed center was badly needed and 2) its proposed location was the best of all possible sites.
Why, then, the five negative votes rejecting such solid evidence of support — including constituent support — for the center at its proposed location?
Is it coincidence that all five votes were cast by the only Republicans voting? Not one or two “no” votes, or even three. Five out of five. Such unanimity suggests premeditation, in concert.
Their prepared letter presented after council’s vote explaining their negative votes was signed by all five. Very curious.
And the tone and tenor of that missive — such completely unwarranted animus and viciousness toward Mayor Tucker. Why?
As much as I hesitate to impute bad faith to any one, and as cynical as it may be, I can come to only one conclusion: Those “no” votes came from Republican members of City Council who were hellbent intent on denying Tucker a high-profile, hard-earned, richly deserved victory that would enhance her record and voter appeal in next year’s mayoral election.
They completely perverted an issue that should be and is characterized by its pure humanity into a purely political means to a political end.
If I am correct, watch out, Fort Wayne. They will lock step refuse to hand Mayor Tucker a victory for any other initiative or proposal she advances for council’s approval, no matter how badly needed or meritorious, for the rest of her tenure.
It’s hardball, partisan politics at its worst, while our homeless suffer. I might expect such from City Councils in certain other cities, but here in my hometown, Fort Wayne?
We — especially our homeless — deserve better.
Larry Lee of Fort Wayne is president of Leepoxy.