Johnson County Homeless Service Center

​Last night I listened to the Johnson County Homeless Service Center presentation at the Prairie Village City Council Meeting. The presentation lasted approximately 1 hour. I then listened to 3-minute statements in support and in opposition to the center after the presentation. Most were in opposition, and most were very informative. After the meeting I read a comment on social media from an elected Prairie Village City Council person that stated opposition to the center is "not the kind of leadership the county needs or deserves". I completely disagree. What we need is more discussions and debates, on both sides of the issues. And longer than 3 minutes.

​Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate. - Hubert H. Humphrey

​I would say that true leadership provides an equal opportunity for both sides of a proposal, issue or argument to be presented.

During the meeting, I heard that it is a social responsibility to help the homeless. I completely agree. It is a social responsibility not a government responsibility. My family helps fund Mobile Loaves & Fishes. If the Johnson County Homeless Service Center had proven to be a better designed project, it would get our support. Currently it does not.

One comment that caught my attention was that the Prairie Village commitment would only be $17 thousand dollars a year. Not a big deal. I've heard this same augment with giving extra money from the City of Prairie Village (resident's money) to a local charity and to a high school party. My response is, if the Mayor and City Council would like to fund entities/projects outside of the core responsibilities of the City of Prairie Village, they should bring their own check book.

At some point we are going to need to cut back on local and federal government spending, because at some point you run out of other people's money (yes, I stole that last line from Margaret Thatcher).
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Thank you.