Mayor Parks's Response On Shelter

The Desert Sun has published Mayor Yvonne Parks response to the recent brouhaha about the shelter on Mountain View which she says should be called a "cold weather shelter," not a homeless shelter.

The lack of available space in Indio and the worsening economic condition has created the need for more room than they had in previous years. This is a critical problem and was discussed thoroughly at CVAG’s Homeless Committee beginning in October 2007. I am a member of that Committee. At one of these meetings Judy Shea offered her Sober Age Center as an available site. The Chair referred Judy to work with DPSS and Jewish Family Services to see if something could be worked out.

Subsequently I met with DPSS and Jewish Family Services at the facility. They seemed happy with the site and said they were working out the details of sub-letting from Judy. I advised my City Manager of the County’s plan.

This was not an action item for City Council. I only recently have been advised that Judy was portraying to the County and Jewish Family Services her facility had all of the approvals necessary for the use. County officials know full well that no Mayor or individual City Councilor has the authority to issue land use permits. That is strictly the pursue [perview?] of the City Manager, Planning Commission, and the City Council as a whole.

There will be a special meeting of the city council on Friday night (February 1) at 6 PM to deal with the issue of the shelter.