The Portland Press Herald’s July 12 editorial misrepresents the thoughtful objections of most Nason’s Corner residents to a proposed homeless services center near the Barron Center on Brighton Avenue.
Few are demanding that the service cluster in Bayside remain intact. Instead, most residents are advocating either for a scattered shelter model or for locating Maine’s largest shelter on other city-owned land not situated next to a large residential neighborhood.
Moreover, nobody is arguing that the Oxford Street Shelter is the sole source of increased crime in Bayside – nor are most asserting that “all the crime” will follow.
Instead, folks are concerned that this proposal will result in the formation of a new service cluster (which already seems to be happening with a 12-bed shelter being contemplated next door) and a meaningful amount of crime will follow. The Barron Center is located in a complex, vulnerable neighborhood that many believe will be difficult to police and manage.
It is also located near a public elementary school and, given the high rate of reported substance abuse in the shelter population (84 percent), there are legitimate concerns as to whether the size, scope and location of this proposal are appropriate.
Finally, there are also significant concerns regarding the process. This proposal was essentially presented as a fait accompli without any substantive outreach to the Nason’s Corner community.
The city had previously identified numerous areas for shelter development during a multi-year analysis – and this location was not one of them. In fact, the Planning Board report to the City Council suggested that siting a shelter in a residential zone would be inappropriate – and yet this proposal is in a residential zone, adjacent to a residential street.
If the Press Herald Editorial Board wants to take issue with these objections, it should be attentive enough to accurately describe them, instead of propping up an editorial with straw men.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
