A Must Read

First and foremost...circle the date Wednesday, April 18th on your calendar!

On April 18th at 9:00 AM, at City Hall the Council will vote on the proposed moratorium.  They need to hear your support! Please be there early!

Saint Matthew's House (SMH) is urging all of its supporters to come out and show their support at the City Council Meeting.  They want to impress the Council with their presence and put pressure on them to NOT vote for the moratorium.

SMH is even asking the members of local churches to attend and show their support against the moratorium.  It is important that everyone who supports BSAFE Bonita and a safe Bonita Springs in general attend the meeting!

Whats is a Moratorium you might ask?  To explain it simply, it is a holding pattern... a delay or suspension of an activity.  BSAFE Bonita is asking for a moratorium to allow for a proper amount time to research the needs of our community.  The purpose of the moratorium is to give the city time to get appropriate regulations in place, regulations that are standard already in many cities in the US, regulations that would allow a shelter to fit into the community appropriately. We want  true and accurate numbers regarding the homeless, not just numbers made up from vague unrelated sources. The moratorium is not to stop Bonita from helping people in need, it will allow Bonita the time to find out the best way to do just that! Bonita Springs currently has over 30 programs in the city to help people in need.

Many people and media outlets have branded BSAFE as "Homeless Haters", "Fear Mongers", etc.  We are not against the homeless and we strive to only present the facts. The fact is that St. Matthews House can only control what happens on their property. The problem with a shelter is that it becomes mecca or gathering point.  Many homeless will come on their own by foot or on bicycle.  Others will be dropped off by law enforcement.  Regardless of the size of the shelter, it will become full and those people who are unable to gain entry will hang out nearby.  They wait around for the next opportunity to eat and shower.  A shelter is not a group home.  They must leave each day without a guaranteed bed when they return.

This planned shelter is very real.  Van Elison (SMH President and CEO) was quoted in the News Press saying...."St Matthew's plans to apply for a development order before May 18th."

Shelter? Group Home? Whats the difference?
Be really careful in reading and understanding comments from SMH.  They are very slick in promoting the areas where they have not had problems while ignoring the facilities with problems.  They talk about how they have not had any problems at their original site...now home to Justin's Place.  Justin's place is a substance abuse facility whichhouses clients during a 9-month program.  Justin's Place is not a shelter...they act more like a group home by providing a living space for 9 months.   Yes, it is located next to a daycare center and the reason they don't have a problem is because they are not forced out each day... their clients are not roaming the streets.  With a shelter arrangement, they must leave each morning and only hope to get a bed at night.  The are forced back out on the street.  They don't mention how one of their shelter visitors was arrested for kidnapping after taking a child from a woman at a nearby supermarket.  In another story Collier Deputies arrest a homeless man after he attacked laundromat patronwho declined his help.  http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/feb/07/deputies-homeless-man-attacked-laundry-mat-who/  Collier Deputies arrested another man for stealing brass and copper from Home Depot http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2012-04-03/Man-arrested-for-stealing-brass-and-copper-from-Home-Depot   The facts are there!  Just simply Google "Naples Homeless Man Arrested" and view the stories for yourself.

The Million Dollar Question?  Why is Collier County opposed to St Matthews expanding their facility?  If they have been a good neighbor for 25 years... why would it be a problem?  Here is why.... build it and they will come.  Fact..Collier County has over 60 homeless encampments near the East Naples Saint Matthews house location.  People come to the area because they know they can get free food and a shower.  It becomes an attraction..like Disney World or Busch Gardens..build it and they will come.  Why be homeless up north in the snow?  Why not travel to sunny Southwest Florida during the winter and enjoy the cool gulf air.  When it gets too hot just head back north to cool off.  Collier County is so opposed to expansion that they are even considering purchasing an empty car dealership to prevent SMH from purchasing it.

So what to do now?

#1 Support your council members and remind them that they are to represent you... a resident of Bonita Springs.
#2 Encourage them to vote YES on the Moratorium.
#3 Encourage them to only listen to the opinions of the residents of Bonita Springs....not the Naples residents who want to tell us how to run our city.
#4 Talk about this...spread the word!  Get on your email, your Facebook, your Twitter!  Educate your friends, neighbors and fellow residents!

Please remember...

• Donations for the legal defense fund can be sent to
  BSAFE Bonita PO Box 367441 Bonita Springs FL 34136-7441.
• There will be a City Council Meeting Wednesday April 18th at City Hall on Bonita Beach Rd. at 9:00am to vote on the proposed Moratorium on homeless shelters construction.  Please come!! We need as many people in attendance as possible, we want them to know BSAFE Bonita is a strong group to be taken seriously!
• GET YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS TO SIGNUP FOR THE EMAIL LIST !

Thank you all for you participation and attention to this matter.

Please...BSAFE and BFACTUAL !

Sincerely,

BSAFEBONITA, INC. FOUNDERS
Email: info@bsafebonita.org