25 January 2009
Our Commentary published in the Burbank Leader
Jan/28/2009 12:42
Some misconceptions arose after our City Council visit on Nov. 25th. Robert Melling wrote a nice article for the Burbank Leader to clarity our points. The paper published his article in today’s edition. Link
Sex Offender found at Homeless Shelter
Jan/28/2009 01:40
An OUTRAGEOUS report from the Burbank City Council Meeting. Over a period of four nights, from January 9-12, an unscreened sex-offender was staying at the Winter Homeless Shelter at the Burbank Armory. The individual was only discovered after he registered with the Burbank Police Dept. and listed his address as that of the shelter. Shelter staff was immediately notified and the individual was move to another facility.
This verifies the serious concerns mentioned by neighbors in the Armory area before, and after, City Council approval of the Winter Shelter Program. In previous meetings, Shelter staff and Council members assured us that individuals were ‘screened’ before being allowed to stay in the shelter. No details were ever given about how the screening was done, only that ‘they are screened’. In fact, Lorena Garcia specifically asked how could they be screened without using fingerprints? The homeless person could simply not tell the staff his/her status and get through the ‘screening’ done by the shelter.
It has become clear that security is severely ineffective at the shelter and what I find most disturbing is that had shelter personnel simply asked this man, they probably could have found out his status immediately. Unlike the many sex offenders who do not register, and hide behind fraudulent social security numbers, this individual did the honest thing and registered with police as required by law.
More details will follow as I review notes and hopefully receive a summary/report of the incident. Read More...
This verifies the serious concerns mentioned by neighbors in the Armory area before, and after, City Council approval of the Winter Shelter Program. In previous meetings, Shelter staff and Council members assured us that individuals were ‘screened’ before being allowed to stay in the shelter. No details were ever given about how the screening was done, only that ‘they are screened’. In fact, Lorena Garcia specifically asked how could they be screened without using fingerprints? The homeless person could simply not tell the staff his/her status and get through the ‘screening’ done by the shelter.
It has become clear that security is severely ineffective at the shelter and what I find most disturbing is that had shelter personnel simply asked this man, they probably could have found out his status immediately. Unlike the many sex offenders who do not register, and hide behind fraudulent social security numbers, this individual did the honest thing and registered with police as required by law.
More details will follow as I review notes and hopefully receive a summary/report of the incident. Read More...
Our Letter to Councilman Gordon
Jan/28/2009 00:46
Dear Councilman Gordon,
I am writing to you seeking your help in getting information on what is happening with the Winter Homeless Shelter at the Armory. My neighbors and I have been noticing an increase in homeless people around our neighborhood. It is our understanding that the homeless are bussed-in in the evening and bussed-out in the morning, and that they are not allowed to loiter around the neighborhood and nearby park.
We would like to verify our feelings and observations by reading the Winter Shelter Program weekly Reports that are prepared according to the city council. On Friday (Jan. 23rd.) I tried for a number of hours to obtain copies but was unsuccessful.
(Pictures Added, See Below) Read More...
I am writing to you seeking your help in getting information on what is happening with the Winter Homeless Shelter at the Armory. My neighbors and I have been noticing an increase in homeless people around our neighborhood. It is our understanding that the homeless are bussed-in in the evening and bussed-out in the morning, and that they are not allowed to loiter around the neighborhood and nearby park.
We would like to verify our feelings and observations by reading the Winter Shelter Program weekly Reports that are prepared according to the city council. On Friday (Jan. 23rd.) I tried for a number of hours to obtain copies but was unsuccessful.
(Pictures Added, See Below) Read More...