quote:

Originally posted by JRPotts:

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
I, for one, could not care less as I stopped climbing the social ladder years ago...after I made it to the top.

Stopped Climbing?

Yes...stopped. That person has stopped. You don't see any continuation of the climbing process, do you Fan? That person is definitely no longer climbing. Neither is this guy.

"Chance encounter", makes it sound a little more interesting than the reality, but thanks for displaying your rapier wit - it led to my belief that you might be Clamato from the GEBB. And that is a raggedy street surface!

While I know you all are correct in stating there needs to be a unified effort to resolve some of the vagrant/loitering issues the community has developed, I'll still try to hear for myself the Village's stand on this growing problem.

I'd also like to talk to one of my neighbors who previously (several years ago)volunteered for PADS on a regular basis. I truly believe the nature of the population the program caters to has changed. PADS needs to respond to the changes, as well as respect the communities and residents that are hosting the program.

quote:

Originally posted by GEmom2:
I'd also like to talk to one of my neighbors who previously (several years ago)volunteered for PADS on a regular basis. I truly believe the nature of the population the program caters to has changed. PADS needs to respond to the changes, as well as respect the communities and residents that are hosting the program.

1) PADS has specific rules of their own to curtail loitering at their sites (from the PADS web site):

All sites will be based on volunteer support. To ensure that the site is open, you may call our toll-free number at 1-866-682-3846 or 1-630-682-3846 extension 235, and listen to the recording.

Shelter doors open at 7 pm.
Any guest arriving on the shelter property prior to 6:45 pm will NOT be allowed into the shelter for that evening.
Due to high numbers of guests, a lottery system may be utilized.
Dinner is served from 7 pm until 9 pm and no guests will be allowed to enter the shelter after 10 pm.
Guests will be awoken at 6 am, given breakfast and expected to leave the shelter by 7 am.
As guests at our sites, your cooperation is appreciated.

i would assume PADS (and their hosts properties) would readily assist any municipalities in helping augment and/or enforce their own city rules/laws. read: they'd want to be good neighbors.

2) Clam sez: "The only village involvement I see at this point is Chief Norton reiterating that he feels ANY thoughts and plans regarding changing PADS' gameplan in Glen Ellyn as perhaps being perilously close to a hate crime."

checking the PADS web site, i didn't see chief norton's name on their BOD or staff. from that i deduce, it's not up to chief norton whether or not PADS changes their gameplan. he only focuses on GE's gameplan. which , i assume, is why BB is asking for help from many sources/viewpoints to bring ALL sides to the table and find solutions. just curious, clam. are you in on this?

I was just visiting the PADS website and am familiar with the "specific rules." I also know that this does not cover the loitering near those same sites. As I mentioned previously - we passed GE Convenant around 5 pm recently and saw several people lounging on the parkway across the street. There is loitering near the Coldwell Banker office on Main well before the shelter doors open. Also interesting, PADS will refuse to serve lunch to a client who shows up at their Wheaton location without having participated in other services that day. Pity Starbucks for trying to respond to customer complaints (and then receive the resultant bad press) Apparently Einstein's won't even try.

I think this type of inconsistency is frustrating to people.

Of course PADS is providing a much-needed service - especially as winter draws near. As for wanting to be good neighbors, right now, a lot of people don't think that's the case.

And t.a., you know what happpens when you assume . . . .

Hey mom, do you think your neighbor may want to be part of our group? It would be great to have someone aboard with first-hand knowledge. I am really trying to examine this issue as if new. One of my goals is to try and eliminate any unjustifed bias on my part. Having someone who worked there answer questions would be awesome.

As of right now, I have many concerns. I don't want to discourage you from independently seeking answers from the village. They owe you/us that. Please do, and let me know how they respond.

I am not trying to suggest that this article is anyway related to PADS, but is does cause me great concern. We really need to know what our village is doing to ensure our safety as it relates to this article.

Sex offenders at large?

This articles points out a problem that resulted in a sick crime that occured on GE's own lovely Park Boulevard earlier this summer. At that time PADS said it does not screen its clients for sex offender status. Not very reassuring. I don't recall if there is any type of background check for admittance.

I would like the existing ordinances in effect to be enforced. It is really that simple. Why is that so hard for the Village?

Bboy - I will ask my neighbor when I speak to him. I'm more interested in learning about the population/volume when he volunteered regularly. I'll let you know what he recalls.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ItIsAllAboutMe:

I would maybe back off the censorship here and just let the people talk. this is not nazi germany.

QUOTE]

First one who mentions the Nazis loses the debate.

quote:

Originally posted by GEmom2:


And t.a., you know what happpens when you assume . . . .

lol. right. should have said "presume." then i make a "pre" outta su and me.

;^p

i have a close acquaintance who's very active in PADS (napervillive area). retired now and may be interested in offering insight and/or advice. i'll give him a call.

quote:

Originally posted by ItIsAllAboutMe:
oh gosh, did I just hijack this important thread by pointing out that Ted is censoring posts?

actually, i'd define TE's actions as monitoring/facilitating vs. censoring. in this case, very smooth move, i'd say.

but, i hear ya IIAAM, power to the people. down with hitler. genocide is WRONG!

That looks a lot like me.

You win. It's back.

To save others from having to go back a page or so, it was...

quote:

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but we are talking about downtown.

Ebay has a bonanza of old postcards up. None of which I'm selling or buying, but worth looking at.

Here' one

Here's another

quote:

At that time PADS said it does not screen its clients for sex offender status. Not very reassuring. I don't recall if there is any type of background check for admittance.

Based on what I read, PADS does perform background checks and the only class of people that they turn away are pedophiles. Part of my concern is that the background checks are not done through the GE Police Department and that Police have no idea who or what agency they are done through. I was also told that they are doubtful that background checks are performed in all instances and when performed that they may not be thorough. This is what worries me.

My concern also was with the types of identification clients use to register. Someone had pointed out that they use the same types of ID which would be required when obtaining a driver's license. However, I was told by our PD, that chances are no meaningful ID is required.

Personally, I think our village is afraid of being sued if they elect to enforce ordinances dealing with homeless. I also believe Clam when he stated:

quote:

The only village involvement I see at this point is Chief Norton reiterating that he feels ANY thoughts and plans regarding changing PADS' gameplan in Glen Ellyn as perhaps being perilously close to a hate crime.

.

One of trustees is also a PADS donor, so this whole issue is ultra-sensitive and warrants many opinions and thoughts. TA is right when he said this is why I think its important to include everyone, or at least those who think it's a problem regardless of opinion as to who's at fault.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bitterboy,

Hey Ted,

Thanks for your support on this issue! I have no problem if someone digresses, it's healthy for the mind. You want to be part of our group?

quote:

Originally posted by bitterboy:
Hey Ted,

Thanks for your support on this issue! I have no problem if someone digresses, it's healthy for the mind. You want to be part of our group?

I agree with Ted on this one. Avoid the thread ADD. Start a new thread if you want to put historical society connections to EBay.

Now, pictures of Clam's doppelganger, that's different.

This is where the line gets fuzzy for me. I have a hard time associating homelessness with criminal activity. I really do. I really believe we have some legitimate issues in Glen Ellyn with regard to the homeless and the manner in which they are being assisted by PADS, but to continually post scare tactics and frightening stories like this really does no one any good. The vast majority of solicitation of underaged girls is done by those who live in homes. The vast majority of those carrying concealed meat cleavers are those that live in homes. The vast majority of playboys live in homes. I could post my feel good story of the day, the story about a Florida prosecutor who flew to Michigan thinking he was going to have sex with a 5 year-old girl, but does that mean that prosecutors are predisposed to being interested in pedophilia? Of course not.

What we should be doing is looking at this problem not as a way to boot the "unclean" off of our lily white streets, but figure out a way for other communities to share the "burden" that we face. And also figure out a way of helping these people break the cycle of receiving, from what I hear from a couple of volunteers, "kick @ss" dinners and breakfasts...warm beds...and get them the training and resources they need to get their lives turned around.

That's why your fears are unfounded. Next time I see you I will thump your ear...again.

I deleted that post.

You do have a good point. I am not trying to say every homeless person is a bad person, and I am not trying to use scare tactics. I am merely trying to piece this thing out for myself using both constructive criticism and others thoughts about the issue. The thing I guess I am hung up on is the increase in risk that PADS poses. I just keep coming back to this. So you don't think its any more likley to have bad things happen when we are importing an at risk population? Sure, my neighbor the CEO of a fortune 500 company could be a pedophile, but this kind of risk is spread out across the board. Everyone who has a neighbor stands an equal chance of living next door to a whacko. But when adding an at risk population to the norm at a rate that exceeds most other suburbs, don't we increase our risk?

Maybe you are right, we need to come up with a solution that eases our burden. I think once I get over this, things will sail more smoothly.

Thump away!

Also, this is why its good to have Amy on this. She'll keep me grounded. What's with you? Why don't you get involved?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bitterboy,

quote:

What's with you? Why don't you get involved?

I think you know that I don't like you very much.

Clam, you crack me up. Do you like ANYONE very much?

And Bitterboy, I will refrain from commenting about whether the PADS population causes us to have increased risk...we can discuss that at the Tap on the 28th.

quote:

What we should be doing is looking at this problem not as a way to boot the "unclean" off of our lily white streets, but figure out a way for other communities to share the "burden" that we face. And also figure out a way of helping these people break the cycle of receiving, from what I hear from a couple of volunteers, "kick @ss" dinners and breakfasts...warm beds...and get them the training and resources they need to get their lives turned around.

I couldn't agree more with your statement. As well intentioned as they are, groups like PADS become enablers.