“All that said, I agree with *you* that both sides in this screaming match should come down off of their high horses and see what can be done for homeless veterans in a way that won’t alarm many members of the community.”

…and so with THAT in mind:

“Council actually adopted as the only new legislative priority that we had for 2008, was to seek support from the state and federal government for additional veterans services in our community.” - Mayor Pro Tem Gary Deaver at the February 25 City Council meeting.

There is much talk about “moderate” compromise during this election season. Let’s watch and see if it’s possible that it be taken out of the talk category and put into the action category at our local level.

The differentiations you draw between the principles behind socialism and fascism are all well and good. But they meant little or nothing even to the Nazis and Fascists themselves, who were hardly what I’d call “men of principle.” The specific Nazi actions Zeniewicz referenced in his letter are of a sort for which the Nazis are best known and deservedly loathed: elimination of Jews and other so-called “Untermenschen.” He was clearly accusing the City Council of wanting a “Final Solution” of the homeless problem. Regardless of how angry Zeniewicz was - I know that he was once homeless himself, and I respect how he has made something of his life - that was absolutely uncalled for.

All that said, I agree with *you* that both sides in this screaming match should come down off of their high horses and see what can be done for homeless veterans in a way that won’t alarm many members of the community. Easier said than done, I’m afraid.

The reason for mentioning the nationalist/socialist party(nazi) is because it was brought up in the article and that the opinion of the person writing the blog was that it was a moronic statement. The statement wasn’t uttered under the essence of killing jews, it was mentioned in a manner that local government wants to have control of the entire city which is completely truthful.

As for a party platform determining how the country is going to be governed I might mention that the republican party has as part of their platform for being all about fiscally responsible government and liberty and freedom. Nothing could be further from the truth when they get placed into positions of power politically.

“The worst part on all of this is that those supporting Veterans and the homeless are causing more harm to their situation than good. Their radical statements (like the Nazi comments to the News-Leader) do nothing but make them appear to be extremists who want to force their will on the community with little regard for the impact it may have to anyone else around them. They really don’t even talk about helping the Veterans or homeless as much as demonizing those who disagree with their views”.

And this statement is different from those try to block the shelter in what manner.

Both sides want to control the debate and both sides are hell bent and determined to FORCE their will on the other side and the community with no regard on how it will impact anyone else around them.

It is time that the sides come together and hash out the differences for the benefit of those that could be assisted by this shelter and those that live within or attend school near this building.

“…let’s not forget the nazi party was a bunch of socialist that wanted government to control the state and here in Springfield we have a city council that seems destined to try to duplicate that effort in as many areas as possible.”

What was the point of mentioning the Nazis, if not to imply a comparison between the Nazis and Springfield City Council?

And no, Hitler did not campaign for elective political office on a platform of killing Jews. But the creation of a “judenfrei” (Jew-free) Germany had been an important part of the Nazi Party platform since it was founded in 1919. By the time Hitler ran for the German presidency in 1932, everybody in Germany knew what it would eventually mean for German Jewry. A pity that so few of them cared.

Yes they have except those that don’t want to hear will only listen to those that believe on the one side of the issue.

Why is the City involved in this decision at all?

Because the city is the imperial arbiter of everything that happens within the city just ask the numerous people that have tried to do something within this city. If the planning, development & zoning department doesn’t like what you want to do with YOUR property Nick Heatherly and his department will stomp on you like a bug

Is it a zoning issue?

It is quite possible that it falls under such, however I would assume the building is currently zoned G/I which would allow such establishment to be there.

Does the City own the property?

They would like to except federal law usurps their authority to proclaim such much to this dismay of the city.

Are the City Council members directly entangled in this property?

Since it was a federal building I would have to say NO !!!!

Why doesn’t Larry Rice have the right to establish this private operation wherever he chooses?

Because there are members of this community that believe they should have a say so on what you do with YOUR property and the city council and city leaders believe they have the same authority. Just read the ordinances that exist on what you can and can’t do with what you thought was your property.

Is Larry Rice asking the citizens of Springfield to foot the bill for this operation?

As of this point we aren’t aware of where the funding is going to come from, but I would bet much of the money is tax money. Considering these individuals are veterans we as a society owe it to them to establish a place where they can receive help

Group think mentality, we see this at every city council meeting since the “NO” button doesn’t seem to work under that table. Now I know NO one on our city council has requested the killing of the jews, however the container ordinance is a business killer here within the city limits.

You have such a decent blog don’t ruin it by trying to put words into peoples mouth or make some far fetched meaning that isn’t even implied when stretched out to the furthest degree. You seem to want to suggest the nazi party was only instrumental in killing the jews, however before this started the nazi party was quite instrumental in cleaning up the streets, keeping crime to a minimum and appeared to be a decent governemnt. Just because you were taught at Shippensburg High that the nazi party only killed jews doesn’t mean you couldn’t do a little research on what transpired before the government went nuts. After all Hitler didn’t campaign on a platform of killing jews, had he done that history would be quite different from what it is now.

If the City owns the property, then they should sell it at a fair price. If the debate is whether the City should fund the operation, then I say no, absolutely not. If there is charity work to be done, then it should be funded by voluntary charitable contributions.

Sorry for my ignorance of the issue, but it doesn’t seem that the rhetoric should enter into the decision at all.

I don’t despise government like you try to portray, in some instances it is a necessary evil, however with the recent container ordinance, spending increases, money laundering, and various other schemes designed to bilk the taxpayers it isn’t difficult to see that the city council wnats to control everything at all cost.

You can continue to believe this city is wholesome and non corrupt, but then you wouldn’t being facing the reality that is city government.

You want to raise those issues go right ahead. They have nothing to do with the Rice situation.

And I know you despise the government but our city council isn’t anything like the Nazis. Not even close.