Randy,

The title of your post might be confusing to some readers. The violation alleged relates to a decision made by County Commission. The Ten-Year Plan isn't alleged to have violated the FHA.

Ray Abbas has been very supportive of the Ten-Year Plan. He was concerned with the needs of people who struggle with poverty and homelessness before we had a Ten-Year Plan, and I believe his strong sense of justice has led him to his decision to explore the possibility of legal action.

Robert Finley
Ten-Year Plan
215-3071
(link...)

Title adjusted.

Does Abbas have standing to sue?

An excellent question Rachel!

Can't agree with Abbas on this. Don't much agree with this type of ten year plan.

the cost of this particular location was not only prohibative, but there was no indication the land could in fact be used in this manner due to a sink hole being located on the property.

they should go forward, but with a plan done ahead of time, not after.....environmentally they had nothing and cost wise there were other adjoining properties that would better serve them and the community as a whole.

Is Ray running against Amy Broyles?

The odds are slim the ACLU will touch this. Where other than what Ray alleges is any proof? And what he alleges is suspect.

And the false headline at WBIR is suspect also. This isn't in Farragut or near it. This area is middle classed homes around thirty to forty years old with condos and apartments that are around twenty to thirty years old. It is not an upscale area.

The odor of politics permeates this. Is this supposed to inspire people? A half million dollar lawsuit against the taxpayers is a good thing?

You have a strange concept of public good Ray. You could be supporting the move to open back up Lakeshore where the land is available at no cost. But you would rather sue the taxpayers.

Good luck.

I completely agree with bizgirl. I think Mr. Abbas is taking the wrong approach and don't agree with him at all in this instance.

I have learned that Ray and Amy are close friends. So how rogue is Ray?

Looks perhaps like a proxy for a certain Commissioner who wants another trip to the well? We should reconsider this 15-4 denial because we "might" get sued.

So to be fair, if that is the case, expand the question to Commissioner Amy Broyles, why are you not supporting the move to reopen Lake Shore? There is no cost for the land. It is a vastly superior location. It will help the chronically homeless more than the site on Debusk Lane which is severely hampered with transportation, safety, and cost issues.

Or is this about some kind of other issue? If the priority is helping chronically homeless people, why not reopen Lake Shore?

It's no wonder that I am a two-time loser in politics. I either don't understand the many facets of the great science of politics or simply don't understand people. Let me make some quick points to place on the record.

First off, the Ten Year Plan found out that the ACLU and I are CONSIDERING a lawsuit the morning the story broke. With all due respect to the staff of the TYP, if you add their combined experience working with the homeless, I don't believe you would arrive at 18 years which is the number of years I have. The TYP does not dictate what I do. We have privately disagreed on more things than any one will ever know.

Secondly, it seems terribly convenient that someone that wants to criticize me suggests that I am the face of the Love Kitchen. I think we all know who the face(s) of the Love Kitchen is/are and that is Helen and Ellen. When I realized that the story was about to be reported on, I made the second hardest decision of my life. I resigned from the Love Kitchen that morning because I in no way wanted my personal decision to affect the work that those two ladies have done for the last 24 years of their life. I have been on the board for the last 16 years and served as the President for the last 6. I cried all the way home.

Next...Someone explain how you can read the articles and listen to the newscasts and both arrive at the fact that I am running against Amy or in cahoots with her. Amy found out the same way most people found out and that is by watching the news.

Lastly and most importantly, the land is PRICED at $250K/acre. However, the resolution states that the County was not going to pay more than the fair market value. That fact was stated publicly however the detractors don't want to be bothered by the facts. Furthermore, the contract had a clause that stated that sellers had to sell for whatever the fair market value was determined to be. If it had been determined to be $50K/acre, the sellers would have been contractually obligated to sell the land. The owner of 125 Debusk Lane inherited the property from her mother-in-law and doesn't have a dime invested in it. Those 19 commissioners knew they weren't going to pay $250K/acre. Unfortunately, the asking price was so high that it was convenient for them to use that as a focal point for the debate. (The property was originally listed at $300K/acre.)

Lastly, (oh wait I already said that) it has been suggested that this is personal for me and that I stand to gain something from it. My answer to them is a resounding thank you for pointing that out. You are darn right it is personal. I have sat across from homeless people with tears streaming down their face when they realized that the only option they had left was to sleep at KARM or the streets. I have also seen the tears of joy as they entered my office with the keys to their new apartment. It is personal. My parents taught me not to stand by why others are suffering and even if I wanted to sit back and do nothing I wouldn't because that would disrespect them and everything they ever taught me.

Ray Abbas

P.S. I am not familiar enough with this blog to know if it will indicate that this post is "verified". Randy, call me if you feel it necessary to verify this post.

Is this debated supportive housing unit supposed to be temp or perm?

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PROGRESSIVE (n.): An "outside-the-box" thinker who refuses to think outside of their own box.

"First off, the Ten Year Plan found out that the ACLU and I are CONSIDERING a lawsuit the morning the story broke."

Ray, why are you considering doing this? This is misplaced activism. I am trying to think of who will be inspired by this. The message this sends is that County Commission discriminated against the homeless by voting this down. Where is any proof of that? This was a very poor location for the mentally ill homeless people. Compared to many other sites it is much more expensive and doesn't house many people. Compared to other sites it is worse for the homeless. All you have is your opinion that this was discrimination. What other than your opinion do you have to back it up? I don't recall seeing you at the Strang Center. Were you there?

You lament your lack of political skills. It is more than that. Neither you nor the TYP is elected. Yet you are telling everyone you will be the decider. I can't think of anyone who will appreciate or support this tactic.

Again, the land is at no cost at Lake Shore. Why are you not showing some leadership on the clear and obvious solution to use Lake Shore for a center for the mentally ill homeless?

It looks like your priorities are all mixed up.

Do yo have anything meaningful to add? Or is ad hominem all you can muster?

Same question to both of you. Why not go to Lake Shore first and build some good will instead of ACLU threats?

Lakeshore is the perfect place to house the homeless. The city already owns a large chunk of the land and the state owns the rest.

Have Jim Clayton deliver some furnished mobile homes and we could begin housing people within weeks. Why pay inflated prices for land down west when we already own considerable acreage at Lakeshore? A while back even Rob and Jon thought Lakeshore was an excellent place to relocate many of our homeless. What has changed?

Citizen X and $9:
That makes two of you.
Sounds like a movement.

The employment program in essence was driven by the business community. I helped place chronically homeless participants in jobs all across the city. In an ironic and disturbing twist, I discovered that the chronically homeless were usually not good enough in the eyes of the Salvation Army to be considered for their available positions. That is a reflection of the character of the Salvation Army and not the participants.

Secondly, I always get a good laugh when I hear those that argue against PSH while basing their argument on the fact that it is yet unproven. The mere fact that so few people know that it already exists in Knoxville should be evidence of it's effectiveness. Do you know where Walter P. Taylor homes is located? How about Ridgebrook apartments? Townview Terrace (formerly Townview Towers)? Most people either know where they are or their reputation for crime. How about the Jackson Avenue Apartments? Aside from those of us that routinely debate the merits of helping the homeless, I wonder how many Knoxvillians are aware that the apartments have existed as PSH for years? Why haven't we heard horror stories coming from the 16 units located in our downtown? Where are the stories of violent crime and sexual exploitation against innocent citizens? The next time you read or hear an account of a crime being committed in our community take note of their home address because it is more likely than not they will have one.

Is it possible that one location should be completed and determined if the idea is successful before the powers that be continue attempting to buy up land for an unproven idea.

Many of rocketsquirrel's comments should be considered seriously.

I agree (and a working model is always beneficial to any plan).

It seems to me that initiating a lawsuit over an inappropriate location (DeBusk) defeats and delays the purpose of developing an appropriate location (Lakeshore) where these currently homeless individuals may permanently reside. The DeBusk location choice was woefully inept for many reasons, the main reason being that no bus service exists in that area. Unless the TYP plans to issue all residents a personal vehicle along with their housing...