Bethesda Residents Fight Plan To Let Homeless Live In Park Hous...

Residents of a Bethesda neighborhood are fighting a county plan to turn a large house on future parkland into a home for a needy family.

[Mary]

Sounds to me like the one that goes "I'm not prejudice - I have a friend that's black!" :<(

[Hahahaha]

Typical Upper Class White Liberals!!!!! Oh suuuuure they are all for helping the poor and under privilaged - AS LONG AS THEY DON'T GOTTA LIVE NEAR THEM!!!!!!!!!!
Same mindset as Ted "The Whale" Kennedy claiming to be a "Green Energy" supporter but not wanting windmills to interfere with his waterfront property view.

[germantown md]

I agree 100% with Mary. Can't understand why they feel they need to be involved in every thing that goes on in Bethesda. It's always the same not in my back yard. Let me guess it will cuase the market value of their house to go down. Wake up BETHESDA THERE IS NO I IN TEAM.Just because someone needs a little help doesn't make them poor and don't forget they may not have money but their father is rich in houses and land and he holds the power of the world in is hand. See others have too and they don't live in Bethesda they live in places higher up.You might want to pull that bible out and give it another try.

[Wasteful]

It has nothing to do with allowing poor people in the rich Neihborhood. I cant afford to live in Bethesda either, but with a $400,000,000.00 Budget shortfall should the county be:
A. buying a million dollar property at this point
B. Turning it over to any family for free.

Give me a break. A $65K bathroom at the beging of the week and a million dollar property to a someone as a hand out. I bust my ass to live in my part of the county which is nothing close to Bethesda. There is plenty of other section 8 housing that can be filled up. When is the county going to hand me something other than an increase in property tax, sales tax, gas tax. Maybe if I did less I could get more in Montgomery County. IKE SUCKS! I never thought I would say it, but bring back Duncan.

[David Hankins Jr]

I guss thing's don't change in Bethesda-Chevy Chase. If this was a Silver Spring, Wheaton, or Takoma Park situation their would be no problem what so ever.

Silver Spring MD

[Residents have the right]

If I lived in Bethesda, I would not want some idiot city council making decisions who moves next to me either. The neighborhood has every right to not let them move in if they are not going to be able to add value, both financially and socially to the existing people that live there. Why would a family that is having financial struggles want to live in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S anyway. Makes no sense.

[WTF]

A 14 member homeless family living in a hotel? Who's paying for that? Take the stupid idea of rewarding bad behavior(free has no value) out of the story and it still makes no sense.

Why does a 14 member homeless family need to live in one of the most expensive areas in the country? In a million plus dollar house no less.

Why not sell the house and a portion of the land not being used for the park for 1.5 million and give the family 30k for a down payment on a house in western maryland or western virginia? I know you can get a house on 3 acres in Fredrick County or Green county for about $125,000. Or let them rent a place for $1,000 a month...that should give them 2 good years to get it together. Then put the rest to better use for schools or whatever.

And before anyone whines about there being no work out there...
1. Plenty of good people call that area home, have jobs, and would love a free 30k handout.
2. Even if you there weren't any jobs, it's not like they're working now. And the change would do them good.

[alexander]

This is nonsense. People pay alot of $ to live in these neighborhoods- they do not need some liberal MoCo Politicial forcing homeless to live in their neighborhoods on taxpayers $. I bet the people of Southeast DC wouldn't even allow this! People work hard, get educated, etc to move away from homelessness + other problems. Hello- Unfotunatly- homelessness brigns about problems, drugs, violence, etc. Not to mention an eyesorre. Rent them a plce in PG County.

[Moco Resident]

What a joke. Well, that is probably one of the more expensive neighborhoods in the county, state, and probably top 100 in the country. White Upper Class liberals of MoCo made this bed by electing these ultra liberal politicians- now they must slepp in it! I feel bad for the family, I really do- but c'mon. Give me a million dollar house, or sell the house and lower everyone's property taxes. Everyone that reads this is laughing away- seriously.

[Interesting]

[Typical Upper Class White Liberals!!!!! Oh suuuuure they are all for helping the poor and under privilaged - AS LONG AS THEY DON'T GOTTA LIVE NEAR THEM!!!!!!!!!!

I have a feeling this family probably won’t receive the greatest welcome.

[Just because someone needs a little help doesn't make them poor…]
True

[Give me a break. A $65K bathroom at the beging of the week and a million dollar property to a someone as a hand out. I bust my **** to live in my part of the county which is nothing close to Bethesda. There is plenty of other section 8 housing that can be filled up.]

I’ve got an idea: let’s quarantine all poor people!{sarcasm!}

[If I lived in Bethesda, I would not want some idiot city council making decisions who moves next to me either.]

If the city owns the property, then yes, the “idiot city council” can make that decision.

[The neighborhood has every right to not let them move in if they are not going to be able to add value, both financially and socially to the existing people that live there.]

Do you know your neighbor’s income levels? Do they recycle? Do their children run for class president? Do they organize community parties?

[Why would a family that is having financial struggles want to live in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S anyway. Makes no sense.]

I imagine they did not request to live in a million dollar home. Any home would probably do for their needs.

[A 14 member homeless family living in a hotel? Who's paying for that?]
Does that matter?

[Take the stupid idea of rewarding bad behavior (free has no value) out of the story and it still makes no sense.]

How does homelessness = bad behavior?

[Mark JM]

I can understand wanting to take care of homelessness, and yes everyone needs to do their part. The residents of Bethesda may feel upset about this, but that's what they get for electing Ultra Left Leaning Liberals. So I have no sympathy for the constituents. They say they want to help, then complain when help comes in certain shape or form.

However, What I don't understand is giving them a Million Dollar house. That is taking it beyond the extreme. So in that case, I think other ideas are needed. Why should the homeless people all of a sudden get a Million Dollar house while people who do work hard for their property (valued less often times) is beyond me.

Final point, I agree with Interesting on one thing: homelessness does not necessarily equal bad behavior.

[Interesting]

Million dollar homes are the norm in this area. Let us not forget that.

I doubt that this home is a mansion, just a big house (that would have been torn down) that can have 14 people live in it.

Perhaps it is a family that homes foster children, or kids with needs.

[WTF]

Interesting wrote:

[Typical Upper Class White Liberals!!!!! Oh suuuuure they are all for helping the poor and under privilaged - AS LONG AS THEY DON'T GOTTA LIVE NEAR THEM!!!!!!!!!!
I have a feeling this family probably won’t receive the greatest welcome.
[Just because someone needs a little help doesn't make them poor…]
True
[Give me a break. A $65K bathroom at the beging of the week and a million dollar property to a someone as a hand out. I bust my **** to live in my part of the county which is nothing close to Bethesda. There is plenty of other section 8 housing that can be filled up.]
I’ve got an idea: let’s quarantine all poor people!{sarcasm!}
[If I lived in Bethesda, I would not want some idiot city council making decisions who moves next to me either.]
If the city owns the property, then yes, the “idiot city council” can make that decision.
[The neighborhood has every right to not let them move in if they are not going to be able to add value, both financially and socially to the existing people that live there.]
Do you know your neighbor’s income levels? Do they recycle? Do their children run for class president? Do they organize community parties?
[Why would a family that is having financial struggles want to live in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S anyway. Makes no sense.]
I imagine they did not request to live in a million dollar home. Any home would probably do for their needs.
[A 14 member homeless family living in a hotel? Who's paying for that?]
Does that matter?
[Take the stupid idea of rewarding bad behavior (free has no value) out of the story and it still makes no sense.]
How does homelessness = bad behavior?

You can't take credit for your successes without taking blame for your failures. So giving someone a free house for failing, is by definition , rewarding bad behavior. Giving someone a 1.5 million dollar house for doing nothing is insane.

Theres been no mention of who will maintain the home,take care of the grounds, pay the utility bills, food, insurance, etc. Based on their track record, I'm sure it will be the tax payers. That should run about $4,000-$5,,000 per month.

If they can afford to pay that, then they can afford to pay for their own place and not be on welfare and public housing.

Now why don't you rent a house in your neighborhood for 14 people to live?

The idea of paying to keep a family in an area they can't afford today and won't be able to afford tomorrow, reminds me of something Sam Kineson said in reference to sending food to starving people in Africa...:

"It was a desert 100 years ago, it will be a desert 100 years from now. Don't send them food send the UHAULS."