Many, if not all, of our neighbors around the California National Guard Armory are opposed to the City Council decision regarding the Homeless Winter Shelter and we have the following statement:

We are opposed because we think it is not secure for our residential area and will bring many problems to the city and we will see more homeless than ever before. It will bring criminality to our city and we will be facing drugs problems.

Providencia Elementary is only two blocks away from the California National Guard Armory, and Luther Middle School is only 4 blocks away from this facility; which makes a lot of the parents insecure and worried with this decision. Many children and teenagers walk by themselves to their schools every day because we know this is a safe city, but unfortunately it wont be any more.

We were not notified of the meeting with enough time in advance, most of us got the notice on Saturday October 25, 2008 only two business days prior to the meeting. One of us tried to get help from the school and from the School District on October 27, 2008 concerning this matter; but there was not enough time. Your office should be more organized and responsible in providing notices to every resident of Burbank; so we could get the notice at least two months in advance of the meeting. As it was, local residents did not have enough time to prepare their work/personal schedules to be present at that meeting.

Burbank has been distinguished for being one of the safest cities in the Valley, because the Mayor and the rest of the Council Members take care of the security, safety and make the best decisions for the community of this city. Unfortunately with all due respect we are not sure that you and your staff are taking care of this matter at this time. The day of the meeting one of your Council Members mentioned that Burbank cannot close the doors to any homeless from other cities; but you definitely can close your doors for children to attend Burbank Schools. To be able to enroll in Burbank Schools you need to be a resident of Burbank, is this not a little too contradicting? We cannot believe that you put before the children, the homeless with alcohol and addiction problems and may be a sex offender.

All of us are concerned about the health issues. We do not believe that every homeless to be part of the homeless shelter would be completely forthcomming about his/her medical condition. If any one of them has any contagious sickness, just by sneezing it can be spread to any one of us. We do not believe that they would be fingerprinted to find if they are sex offenders, because this is the only way that the staff in charge of the homeless shelter can be sure that they are not, just by registering is not enough, they can hide this information to be able to be at the homeless shelter.

If Burbank wants to aid homeless from another cities, we think that another location needs to be found. If you are really concerned with making the best decision, you should be thinking of opening a shelter for homeless from Burbank only and in a different location. We believe each city should be responsible for their own homeless, which we can assure, in Burbank, there is not very many.

We pay taxes in this city; and please understand that to have a homeless shelter in this area will reduce the value of our homes. Please do not forget that you are the Mayor of the City of Burbank; that you are there to hear what the residents need to say. The Council members are to take care of the Burbank community, and make the best decisions for the community, not to make them feel unsecured regarding their homes and families. All of us as residents of Burbank are aware of our rights, and we want to inform you that we know that the City of Burbank is liable for any damages or personal injuries that any of us can face caused by this decision.

We respectfully inform you the purpose of this petition is to request the City Council to please reopen this matter and schedule another meeting to reconsider the decision of the Homeless Shelter. We are the residents of Burbank and we will make sure that our voices are be heard. From this point forward, we will be united for any upcoming matter that affects our community. We want to live in a safe city for our children and us, the way many of us have been living for the past 15 to 30 years.

We all want to express how we feel about this matter and since there is no other meeting regarding this matter, all neighbors that oppose to this decision signed this petition. We want to demonstrate that all neighbors residing in Burbank near to the Armory, did not received the notice that you and the rest of the member of the Council mentioned the day of the meeting. By signing each of us this petition we are confirming that we do not want the homeless shelter in our city, near to a Park, schools, or any public location where children or any person can be in jeopardy.

Thank you in advance for your attention and cooperation from all neighbors.

Sincerely,

Burbank Community
Enclosures

cc: Garcy Bric / Vice Mayor
David Gordon / Council Member
Marsha Ramos / Council Member
Anja Reinke / Council Member