Community residents Robert Rice and Rosemary Valenti use signs to attempt to pull cars over to collect signatures for a petition against a proposed homeless shelter in Glendale. Forum Newsgroup photos by Natalia Kozikowska.
Although the future of a homeless shelter on Cooper Avenue still remains uncertain, community resistance is crystal clear. Nearly two dozen frustrated Glendale residents rallied in protest at the proposed site on Saturday.
The property in question, located at 78-16 Cooper Avenue in Glendale, is owned by Michael Wilner of Wilner Management Realty. Last month, residents were shaken when they heard an unnamed not-for-profit agency had expressed interest in renting the former knitting mill with intentions to turn it into a homeless shelter/half way house for ex-convicts.
Ever since the news broke, people in the community have joined forces to voice their concerns. The protest was the latest effort, with the group gathered at the location waving signs to passersby, soliciting signatures for a petition initially circulated by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village).
Opposition to the shelter was evident at the protest. Multiple cars pulled over to sign the petition and many more honked their horns in support of the message – no homeless shelter in Glendale. To date, more than 2,500 signatures have been collected.
With residents still left in the dark with any updates about the proposed shelter, they feel as though their only option is to let the city know how they feel about such an establishment in their neighborhood and hope their opinions are heard.
The opinions of Glendale resident Denise White reflect those of many neighbors.
“There’s schools, parks, and a mall here. There’s kids around here,” she said. “Having ex-convicts also living in this neighborhood would put our neighbors in fear. Fear for their lives, fear for their children’s lives and fear for the safety of their home,” she added.
White is not alone in her belief that a homeless shelter/half way house could be potentially dangerous to the community. Protestor Bill Cook expressed that he was worried about the type of people the shelter would bring into his community.
“People would leave the shelter and filter into the neighborhood going into the parks where the families are,” he said. “They’re [ex-convicts] not always the kindest people. A lot of them are very nice, but unfortunately, some of them are not. I don’t think bringing them to the neighborhood is a good idea,” he explained.
Residents vow this will not be the last time residents will rally at the property to protest and collect signatures for their petition.
By Natalia Kozikowska
