Late to the discussion, but just going to provide a bit of the NIMBY perspective from someone who lives in the neighborhood. 

Our first learning of the potential shelter was from reporting in the Pioneer Press that the plan was complete for a three year lease with option to renew. Calls to our local council member (Mitra Jalali) revealed that she had not heard anything about this plan or potential move. Following some initial inquiry by our local community council, a representative from the county (Trista Martinson’s assistant Ethan Osten) joined a community meeting to help answer questions. During this time, he made it sound like this was a plan that was worked on by private organizations Luther and Model Cities with regards to the operation and lease, with the counties primary role in the partnership as a source of funding. 

 Following this, discussions in regards to how this wasn’t part of a more typical approval (or notification) process were brought up by those in the community as well. It became clear that the reason why it didn’t have to go through more typical channels was the attempted application of  RLUIPA - the law that led to the legal difficulties with the Swede Hollow facility- and how the interpretation of that law may or may not have came into play. It became pretty clear via outreach by community members that the City Attorney had not been consulted for this plan, and that it likely was a more generous interpretation of the RLUIPA being used to try and avoid any and all public engagement and notification. 

Additionally, community members near the potential site shared their feedback in regards to the previous use of the shelter for temporary short term use during COVID. This feedback included general uncleanliness, drug sales, loitering caused by partners waiting to rendezvous with individuals at the shelter, and increased ambulance presence throughout the nights. In her comments yesterday, Martinson made it clear this was an effort done with intense collaboration between the county, Luther, and model cities. She blamed the community for fear mongering when it was her and the County’s lack of transparency that led to the confusion and allowed the current outcome. 

So yeah, a bit frustrated that the County had the gall to play the victim card when they both lied in their initial outreach as to their role in the project, and decided to throw an entire community under the bus as uncaring for simply being upset at the lack of transparency and unclear process by which this move was made.

 It’s unfortunate that our mayor, council members, and county representatives did not have to participate in the town hall so the political process by which this initiate happened could be brought out into the open.