Only the Wealthy wrote on Jan 10, 2007 11:46 PM:sad day for the poor people,what kind of people turns their backs in on helping the needy? Gallo and Abed are for reelection soon!

Nice going Marie, Sam, Ed wrote on Jan 11, 2007 3:23 AM:... a cold front is expected to bear down on North County today bringing rain, wind and perhaps snow, frost and thunderstorms through the weekend, the National Weather Service reported. About a half-inch of rain could fall today and Friday, with daytime high temperatures in the 50s and nighttime lows in the 30s, the Weather Service said. By Friday, a cold, unstable air mass combined with daytime heating could spark thunderstorms, hail, lightning and possible waterspouts and funnel clouds.

Randy wrote on Jan 11, 2007 4:18 AM:Is there is any human compassion left in Escondido? Compassionate residents should immediately begin recalling the council members opposing the winter shelter for the homeless. The stench of their selfishness is a blot on all of North County!

gimmeabreak wrote on Jan 11, 2007 5:20 AM:Kudos, ignorant triumverate! Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses? The poor law and the tread mill are still in full vigor? For those who post on these threads with the frequent drone of "why-don't-you-take-them-in" - as if the issue were asking the City for $$ for a shelter and not merely permission, I say this: If you won't let the churches use their own money and facilities to house the homeless in this community, why don't you pay for their illnesses and their funerals when their bodies prove less than up to the task of sleeping outdoors in the cold and rain? Clueless and compassionless, what a gravely dangerous combination for us all.

Ben wrote on Jan 11, 2007 5:28 AM:I am impressed with the ongoing courage of the council! They have rightfully taken a stand against the continued abuse of the city of Escondido! The city should call upon the churches to open their doors if they feel the homeless should have shelters. It would be interesting to see if they were happy to have the trash, urine, and damage to their facilities that occur because people are their that do not have a vested interest in protecting the facilities. This council's courage to take a stand is a model for other councils who face tough issues about the homeless and the illegal immigration issues. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Stick to your Guns wrote on Jan 11, 2007 7:11 AM:I applaud the 3 city council members who refuse to bend to pressure to make it easier for homeless people to live in Escondido. If you don't think this is a problem, try taking your children to the formerly beautiful Grape Day Park or to the Public Library, where the entrance hallway is a homeless hangout and smoking area!

Martha in Poway wrote on Jan 11, 2007 8:01 AM:I attended this Escondido City Council meeting and was so very dismayed by the outright hostility of Councilmembers Abed, Gallo and Waldron on this subject. One of them referred to a handful of the people who made use of the Salvation Army's rotational shelter around Christmas having very short-term residency in Escondido, ranging from a month to a few days. Well, if these Councilmembers' position is that Escondido should only service people who have lived in Escondido for some time, then I guess everyone who doesn't live there better stop shopping, eating, doing business and recreating there. I'm certainly going minimize my patronage there, and encourage everyone I know to do the same -- UNTIL Escondido's City Council majority grows up. I once again applaud Mayor Pfeiler for her leadership and maturity in dealing with these stubborn, willful, self-absorbed and petty colleagues. And I want to cite Councilmember Dick Daniels for his strength of character in reflecting on his previous decision and expressing his change of decision to support this cold-weather triggered shelter so eloquently.

More News wrote on Jan 11, 2007 8:26 AM:The article leave out that Abed supported allowing the Salvation Army to operate an emergency winter shelter for the next 30 days. His motion failed for lack of a second. Remember that Mayor Pfeiler and Councilman Daniels refused to support the emergency winter shelter for the next 30 days when the temperatures drop or the rains come.

Winter Games wrote on Jan 11, 2007 8:31 AM:I watched the meeting last night and listened to the arguments last night. I had mixed feelings until Mr. Abed's motion failed to get a second. I was left with the impression that this was more about getting a zoning change for the Salvation Army property than taking care of the homeless this winter. Otherwise, it made no sense for not to support Mr. Abed's motion, or last least offer a motion that Mr. Abed could support.

Jennifer wrote on Jan 11, 2007 8:41 AM:Kudos to the Escondido council for putting their foot down and saying "Enough is enough". Those who cry foul should instead ask other cities to stop busing the homeless into Escondido, an activity I have witnessed first hand.

Jennifer wrote on Jan 11, 2007 8:49 AM:Kudos to the Escondido council for putting their foot down and saying "enough is enough". Those who cry foul should instead insist that other cities stop busing their homeless to Escondido, something I have witnessed first hand.

to Only the Wealthy wrote on Jan 11, 2007 9:39 AM:Did you read the article? Did you see that Escondido is doing more than any other North County City? It is time for other communities to step up and take responsibility. When other cities have as many beds as Escondido and Oceanside then you can open this back up for debate.

Recall them! wrote on Jan 11, 2007 9:57 AM:they don't deserve to be part of this community.

Stop The Lies wrote on Jan 11, 2007 10:05 AM:The homeless will be just as warm, dry, and well fed in Poway for the next ten nights as they would have been in Escondido. This isn't about caring for the homeless, it's about building up numbers for Interfaith at the expense of the community.

Give them what they are asking for wrote on Jan 11, 2007 10:43 AM:Yes, give the majority on the council what they think is right- drop them off in Grape Day park with a blanket and have them spend the night tonight....good riddance to this bad garbage that got elected in Escondido!

Welcome to Paradise wrote on Jan 11, 2007 10:50 AM:At least they are trying to protect the city of Escondido and bring about the change that most property owners want. Keep the pressure up on the surrounding cities to do their fair share. Why isn't the Salvation Army approaching Rancho Santa Fe, Poway, or Carlsbad? Because those cities have relied on the Third World Bario City of Escondido to take their poor and homeless. Now, we are getting ready for a top drawer hotel to open and we just cannot have homeless people urinating in the stairwells and doorways, can we? All of those business travellers won't pay $300 a night to have a homeless person begging them for money on their way to the hotel from the parking structure!

I think people in Escondido wrote on Jan 11, 2007 10:52 AM:are tapped out. We have a HUGE illegal immigrant problem, a HUGE drug and id theft problem (primarily at the swap meet) and we are just TIRED of doing everything for all these lazy losers. Let San Marcos, Vista and Oceanside take care of some of these people.

Mark wrote on Jan 11, 2007 11:12 AM:I am very impressed with Sam, Marie, and Ed. These guys aren't caving and that is very impressive. If every politician would follow their lead, oh, the things we could get down.

one more thing... wrote on Jan 11, 2007 11:39 AM:I actually volunteer in Oceanside, but tried to do outreach in Escondido for 2 months and couldn't find many homeless people. Homeless tend to go towards the coastal cities, unless they have been in Escondido for years and for some reason want to stay. If Ed, Marie, and Sam really think we have a homeless problem they should visit the coast.

Chubton wrote on Jan 11, 2007 12:12 PM:Jesus would kick the homeless to the curb.

Jesus wrote on Jan 11, 2007 12:46 PM:You will all be judged.

Fellow Escondidoan wrote on Jan 11, 2007 12:48 PM:Looks like Dick Daniels finally realized he can vote himself and doesn't have to do as instructed by Abed, Gallo or Waldron. Way to go Dick. Take a bow.

Silent Majority wrote on Jan 11, 2007 12:48 PM:Most of us Escondido citizens don't have time to monitor the daily idiocy of our city council. But you can be sure that we will turn out to vote the current losers out.

The Irony... wrote on Jan 11, 2007 12:52 PM:...Martha from POWAY... How many Poway residents are coming to Escondido city council meetings to help insure the homeless do not end up in their city?

To Martha in Poway wrote on Jan 11, 2007 12:57 PM:You are just protecting your pocketbook, house values and suburban way of life. Poway should step up and do its part. Why not open a 1,000 bed shelter in your community? I think there is a lot more vacant land in Poway than there is in Escondido!

Yes but those wrote on Jan 11, 2007 1:32 PM:with TB, it is nice to be in warm places as hospitals, universites, librarys, restaurants, senior citizen centers, city council buildings, businesses, police dpeartments, fire stations and art gallerys all over Escondido. We need your support as the hospitals won't give us free medicine because we are not illegal:(

A voter wrote on Jan 11, 2007 2:46 PM:Mr. Abed's comment, "We are sick and tired of making Escondido a sanctuary for homelessness, for illegal immigration, for poverty, for low-income housing, for crime, for gangs," is a serious over generalization that makes strange bed partners even for a politician.

Taxpayer wrote on Jan 11, 2007 3:21 PM:The homeless should not have to sleep in parks, under the 78 bridges or in alleys while Abed, Gallo and Waldron have their spitting contest with other local governments. Other communities should step up, but who's suffering while all the spitting goes on? Not the council members.

Frisco's Homeward Bound wrote on Jan 11, 2007 5:00 PM:SF Mayor Newsom started a program named "Homeward Bound" that helped homeless persons return back to their place of origin by giving them bus tickets and travel expense money. The City of SF estimated that it only cost about $150 per homeless person. What a deal! Then Humboldt County complained when the SF "Homeward Bound" homeless starting showing up in their county!

A Matter Of Degree wrote on Jan 11, 2007 5:39 PM:In Seattle, emergency shelters are opened up if the temperature hits 32 degrees or below, if it snows or if it rains two days in a row. A homeless shelter in Fredericksburg operates when the outside temperature falls below 32 degrees. In Milwaukee, 'the homeless are around all year, but the problem becomes more acute when the temperature drops below 20 degrees.' In Boston, overflow shelters open once the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. In Daytona Beach and Long Beach, shelters open to warm up the homeless when the temperature dips below 40 degrees. In Austin, the homeless are sent to shelters if the temperature is at or below 32 degrees or at or below 35 degrees wet, which includes any kind of precipitation, mist or ice. In Tucson, emergency shelters are opened on nights when the temperature drops to 35 degrees or to 40 degrees with precipitation. In Louisville, emergency shelters are opened when winter temperature or wind chill is 35 degrees or lower (however, you must show proof that you have been tested and screened for TB).

Escondido Library wrote on Jan 11, 2007 5:40 PM:The homeless find the couches near the newspaper rack to be quite comfortable. They will often sneak in food and eat it at the tables.

To Martha in Poway wrote on Jan 12, 2007 4:17 AM:How important are you that you feel the right to dictate to Escondido? Clean up your own house first. You embarrass yourself and your pathetic city.

Renee wrote on Jan 13, 2007 1:41 PM: Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Escondido. An elderly homeless couple came to me the other day at 4:00 pm. They are homeless because of unplanned illnesses. I gave them a backpack filled with food and blankets, and sent them walking to the closest homeless shelter (which is located in Vista.)I'm sure that they will both end up in the Palomar Emergency room if they have to withstand this cold weather much longer. Just because someone is homeless, doesn't mean that they are a degenerate. The Society is located in 143 countries and was formed 200 years ago to help the poor. The poor with always be with us. Please find it in your hearts to open a shelter soon. It is the right thing to do.

John wrote on Jan 16, 2007 5:30 AM:Selective posting.Ya send in a comment and it doesnt get posted. Sounds way to PC .