New Yorkers
who routinely oppose homeless shelters in their neighborhoods "just
need to get over themselves," according to Christine Quinn, the former
City Council speaker now running a homeless services nonprofit.
Crime is
down and property values are up surrounding her organization's newest
shelters in Queens and Brooklyn, she said, countering common fears about
the effects of homeless shelters.
"People
have go to learn the facts and they've also got to dig down into
themselves and find the gratitude for what they have and realize they
need to help other people," said Quinn, the president and CEO
of Manhattan-based Win, at a press availability Monday. "And when the
politics gets tough and people are against it for no valid reason, then
the elected officials, and I say this as a former elected official, need
to plow ahead. 'Cause nobody's going to agree on everything in New York
City."
Proposals
for new shelters tend to incite local outrage akin to that triggered by
waste transfer stations and methadone clinics. Crain's routinely
receives press releases from politicians opposing homeless facilities
proposed for their districts but has never received one supporting such a
plan.
As a City
Council member, Quinn herself opposed one Chelsea shelter. She still
thinks it is too large for the population it serves, she said.
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Source: Crain's New York Business
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