urbanSTL

^ At least he said "Sorry Sir"



Wait, so I dont quite understand. Are they allowed in the NLEC during the day to go to the bathroom?

There will be a news story tonight on channel 5 KSDK 8/15/2008 where they will be talking about the petition, NLEC, and Larry Rice.

We will see. I think that the interview went well, but the reporter wanted to get both sides of the story. So she went to talk to Rev. Ray.

Does anyone know if the board of public health is elected or appointed by the Mayor. Thanks.

Just got home and caught a story on Channel 11. Seemed balanced or maybe favoring the residents side. One man interviewed in the park said the young homeless men would not be afraid to kick the residents asses. That's a great way to make peace. This was after 3 men got arrested because a guy walked into the park with a case of beer during the interview.

Should be board of public service...

Oh and CW 11 had an interview as well...

http://www.cw11tv.com/News/Local/Missou ... ition.aspx

^ The proper course of action is to show how the community cares more about the homeless than Larry Rice and the NLEC. Who built a $40-50 million empire on the backs of the underprivileged yet forbids them from utilizing bathrooms during the day and does not feed them on the weekends? (If he did, he wouldn't be encouraging Church groups to feed the homeless in Lucas Park.) The answer is Larry Rice and the NLEC. Wouldn't a reasonable person find that dehumanizing and exploitative?



Who isn't aligned with the Mayor's ten year plan to end chronic homelessness? The answer is Larry Rice and the NLEC.



Many downtown residents volunteer or otherwise support effective homeless services in support of the homeless. Why does Rev. Larry Rice and the NLEC not promote respect for the entire community? Why does Rev. Rice divide the community by labeling downtown residents as insensitive who both care for the homeless and wish for clean and healthy public spaces? Any man of the cloth should bring unity back to the community -- not cause division.



It is not in anyone's best interest to blame the homeless. It is in our best interest to show how instead of giving hope to the homeless; how Larry Rice takes it away. And by Larry Rice and the NLEC taking it away, violence and murder is manifested at the very same place.



Why do countless homeless service organizations receive much public support whereas in every community Rev. Larry Rice is present, he brings discord and controversy? Above are just some of the reasons. All the public has to do is open their hearts and minds. For the sake of the homeless and community unity, I will help them.



Coming off like a spoiled child is ineffective. Above is the formula. Do not stray from it if you care at all about accomplishing your objectives in helping the homeless and cleaning up the park.

Any latest numbers on the signatures gathered?

Here are the latest numbers:

http://www.martello.org

online: 299 (and more each hour)

paper: 100+ (haven't received them all yet... as they are still coming in)

just heard on KMOX radio that Charlie Brennan will be discussing NLEC and Larry Rice tommorrow at 9:00 am



didnt see anything mentioned about this by anyone..



It seems like this should be posted by the troops leading this effort, and I wonder why it was missed?



How much attention and effort is really being put forth?



(maybe someone attempted to post but it took too long and they gave up)



anyway tune in and voice your concerns by calling into Charlie's show tommorrow at 9



also I will be tuning into Donnybrook to see what he has to say tonight, Charlie is usually a regular on the panel

Sorry,

I was on the phone with KMOX confirming for tomorrow.

Yes, 10:00am or so I'll be on with Rev. Rice. 1120AM



CALL IN and voice your opinions.



Also,

KMOV (Channel 4) should be airing an article tonight.

sign the petition and pass it around to friends if you haven't already done so...



http://www.martello.org

SWEET



thanks for reply and concern GOPHER



Hey do you know anything about forum system administration?



we have some slackers here that need to be set STRAIGHT



LOL



thanks again for the reply

Speaking of someone that needs to be set straight...

I plan to call in. Hope I get some time as I believe I can explain the issues fairly lucidly.

Here's the link to the KMOV article...

http://www.kmov.com/topstories/stories/ ... ccef3.html



Wish me luck tomorrow going up against Larry Rice face to face.



10:00am KMOX 1120am Charlie Brennan...



I'm just a lowly software programmer and a father who's had enough.

Best of luck gopher. May sanity and legality win over fake compassion for self preservation.

I'd like to begin by stating that the downtown community cares deeply about the plight of the homeless. I and many others volunteer or otherwise support strategic institutions in the homeless care continuum. Unfortunately for the homeless and the community, the NLEC is not one of them.



Rev. Larry Rice asks who was downtown first; the homeless or the community. That's a rant I'd expect to hear on a children's playground and not from a reverend who should work to bring unity and not division. The answer of who came first is moot, of course. In raising this argument, the reverend seems to suggest that only one part of the community deserves respect as opposed to the entirety.



In regards to respect I ask you to read St. Louis City Code 11.72, titled "Roominghouse or Hotel Detrimental to Neighborhood." Most if not all the determining factors listed in the city code apply in and around Lucas Park as a result of those that frequent the NLEC. This includes but is not limited to lewd and indecent conduct, public urination and defecation, sale of illegal drugs, littering, harassment and other ills. A reasonable person would likely come to the conclusion that the NLEC is clearly in violation of this code.



If these ills are unacceptable in St. Louis County, why should they be acceptable in a family park and within 500 feet of Lyle Elementary School? They shouldn't. And when local residents speak of this inequity, they are attacked venemously by Rice's supporters as insensitive yuppies. That is simply unjust and only distracts from the issues exacerbated by Larry Rice.



So why does so much ill behavior occur in Lucas Park, directly across from Larry Rice's NLEC? Why have there been two murders in his facilities within the last year and incessant reports of violence? I believe it comes down to human nature. When you exploit people and treat them like animals, they will behave like them.



Larry Rice has built a $40-50 million media and real estate empire by focusing on the plight of the homeless and underprivileged. (Although surprising, this financial information has been obtained from a federal court filing in 2004 submitted by Rice.) So how does he repay the homeless in our community? Regardless of the elements, he bars them from his facility from the hours of 6am - 5pm. During this time, they aren't even allowed to enter the NLEC for a glass of water or to utilize the restroom. With all his abundance, what does he feed them on a regular basis? Bologna sandwiches. Wouldn't providing a hot meal in his facility every now and then lift the spirits of those that need it most? The homeless are only allowed to stay at the NLEC for 14 days in a 30 day period. How does this provide the continuity necessary to help a man or woman get back on their feet? With his millions in assets, is this how a man of god should provide dignity and support to the underprivileged? No.



All of this begs the question, where are Larry Rice's millions going? According to a recent report, it doesn't go to pay his homeless employees -- employees that work 12 hour shifts with only one day off a week. Unfortunately, audits that could show financial impropriety are not possible because Larry Rice hides behind a church exemption and publicly refuses to disclose the NLEC's IRS form 990.



I spoke with an older, homeless gentlemen in Lucas Park yesterday and asked him to describe the conditions at NLEC. He said he would no longer stay there because it's dirty and he feels unsafe. I then asked him how he would improve conditions for the homeless downtown. He told me he wished for a new shelter to be created; one run by a more caring and effective provider.



I asked another individual about his experience with the NLEC. He stated, "When I was in need of shelter and food I was flatly turned away by NLEC, who openly told me after a profile survey that their donors were not interested in helping couples. Not quite as directly, I learned from several channels that receiving assistance from Rice would require I quit my job and agree to spend my time on the streets increasing the visibility of the poverty problem."



Although a very clever and industrious businessman, Larry Rice has proven to be a detriment to the community and the homeless he claims to serve. Sadly, his actions are aligned in creating a spectacle of the homeless in order to gain attention and expand his multi-million dollar assets. To emphasize this point, he's recently requested to set up a one acre shantytown within the city.



This man's exploitation of the homeless has got to stop. Respect for the community needs to start. Due to the many circumstances of this case, I ask that the St. Louis community support the Board of Public Service in enforcing its code and rescinding the NLEC's hotel permit in lockstep with a transition to a separate shelter. This would result in a win-win situation for both the homeless and the downtown community.

Good job on KMOX today Andy; you kept your cool which is hard to do when dealing with Larry Rice.



I love how the people from the county call in and ask why people would move Downtown when they know that's where the homeless are??? Really? That's your argument? I guess maybe we could just all move to the county and fence in the city and let all the homeless and criminals just do whatever they want. Out of site out of mind; that sounds like a much better idea.



I bet the mayor would love to see everyone leave and take their tax money with them.

Looking forward as to future locations for a new homeless center, why doesn’t the city utilize the old greyhound station property off of Cass that will soon be vacant due to greyhound moving to the multi purpose transit center? The location would be ideal because it has good public transit access, it’s still centrally located in the Downtown Core, and lastly the City I believe owns the property.



Secondly if the New Life closes the same strategy should be employed to actively also be used to force other properties to close down as well including the Ford Motel, the Harbor Light, and property located near the intersection of Olive near Jefferson that is clearly a flop house.

Thanks for the support.

Larry said he's going to be opening up his books. That should be very enlightening.

Here's the link to the audio this morning from KMOX



http://www.kmox.com/topic/play_window.p ... Id=2846529

Listened to the conversation. There were some obvious plants plugging in "I have donated $5000 to NLEC...blah blah blah".

Good Job Andy.



I have to say that Rice had some good points, but NONE that he was trying to resolve or will ever resolve.



Once again. We know there needs to be a solution, but more importantly, we have to get rid of THE MAIN problem....NLEC.