p5, v8.01 — Around The San Gabriel Valley

Around The San Gabriel Valley

Mountain Views News Saturday, January 4, 2014

MVNews this week: Page 5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 4, 2014

CONSIDERING HOMELESSNESS

By Christoper Nyerges

[Nyerges is the author of “How to Survive Anywhere,” “Self-Sufficient
Home,” and other books. He works with the non-profit WTI to find solutions
to our problems. He can be reached at www.ChristopherNyerges.
com.]

“What’s Going On?”

News and Views from Joan Schmidt

In June 1987, I moved
to my current home in the
MONROVIA County area.
My daughters graduated
from Monrovia High
School and I attended several Wildcat (Monrovia
HS) football games. I am a proud MONROVIAN!

However, I need to say upfront that
Duarte is also MY Kind of Town and I have many
wonderful Duarte friends-both in the
city and county areas. For ten years I
wrote about the City of Duarte for the
San Gabriel Valley Examiner. I served
on the Duarte Education Foundation,
Selection Committee for the Habitat
for Humanity Duarte site and am
currently on the Board of the Friends
of the Duarte Library. What I am going
to write about is NOT a putdown of
the WONDERFUL city of Duarte, but
it a matter of principle and ending the
misidentification of a county area.

From March-June 1993, I
was on the Town Council Formation
Committee, which purpose was to
form a Town Council serving the
unincorporated areas bordering
the cities of Arcadia, Monrovia and
Duarte. My first task was to identify the
county areas. The Thomas Guide used
pale yellow for the unincorporated
areas for easy identification. The maps
were reproduced and used to explain
our county area and the upcoming
election.

Not long after the election,
I remember shootings on Euclid
Avenue, Duarte. The paper and Sgt.
Sammy Jones said, “Monrovia County
Area”. I was flabbergasted. THAT
AREA is DUARTE COUNTY! After
a few more incidents, I brought up
the matter to Temple Station Sheriff’s
Department. They have a contract
with five cities, one of which is
Duarte and specific vehicles are assigned there.
There was one “COUNTY” car that works the
Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte County Area. So the
Sheriff’s Department dubbed our entire area,
“Monrovia County” so their personnel wouldn’t
be confused! It is MIND-BOGGLING to me that
LASD cannot distinguish between a “County”
and “City” area.

This problem of MISIDENIFICATION
has gone on for TWENTY YEARS and MUST
STOP! Shortly after the Town Council formed, we
met with Supervisor Antonovich and Los Angeles
County Community Development Commission.
There was MUCH excitement over a parcel of
“county land” on Euclid Avenue, Duarte. Habitat
for Humanity homes were to be built. At the
ground breaking and all ceremonies after, Duarte
Mayor and city officials were present, as this was
the DUARTE county area. ALL press releases
that were issued spoke of these homes in Duarte,
which they should because this is the DUARTE
County area. However, ANYTIME a crime
happens in this EXACT AREA, it is dubbed,
MONROVIA County!

Eleven years ago, Martha and Samuel
Flores suffered a terrible tragedy that NO parent
should endure. Their beloved eldest son Francisco
was killed in Iraq. His family lives in the Duarte
county area, on a street off Euclid. Of course it
was announced that a “Duarte” man died in Iraq.
He was a graduate of Duarte High Not long ago,
I stopped at Maxwell School on Euclid, and his
awesome mom, Martha was a volunteer!

Several months ago, the County put
new street signs in our county areas on the main
streets, so there would be NO CONFUSION!
They are AWESOME! The west side of California
Avenue in the County area is “Monrovia” and the
signs say so. The east side of California Avenue up
to the west side of Mountain Avenue is “Duarte”
and the signs also say that.

Two days ago, “PATCH” misidentified
Van Meter as MONROVIA. I was furious. Then
I received a “Correction” Press Release from
The Duarte Public Safety Office saying Malcom
Mency was killed in MONROVIA COUNTY. I
was LIVID! I couldn’t believe what I read! When
you drive south on Mountain Avenue, the “Euclid
Avenue” street sign has DUARTE on it! Euclid is
Duarte!

I love Duarte and it IS “My Kind of Town,
but I am SO TIRED of people saying “Monrovia
County” when it’s “Duarte County”. NO AREA is
immune to tragedy. A fruit vendor was shot less
than two blocks from my home, and Samantha
Salas died at the Apartments on Peck Road. What
I am saying, is this MISIDENTIFYING AREAS
MUST be stopped. After twenty years, it’s time
to send Supervisor Antonovich and Sheriff Baca
letters to correct this error!

CALLING DUARTE AREAS MONROVIA

When Will the 20+ Year Error End?

Though homelessness isn’t a large problem in Sierra Madre, it is a
problem if you look at the County of Los Angeles as a whole. Several of us
recently had a conversation at Bean Town, and we discussed the problem
of homelessness.

Perhaps I feel real empathy for the homeless because I know what
it’s like to be adrift in the urban sea with no house or home. I know that
with determination, and with the help of loving friends, it is possible to overcome this very real threat
to survival.

I was once asked during a radio interview what advice I’d give to someone who was homeless
in order to assist. My response: I would first take the time with the homeless person in order to determine
precisely how they become homeless. We would look at each point by uncomfortable point in
order to see how their thinking, their actions, their inactions, led to homelessness so we could chart
a path to changing those habits. Determining the cause is of paramount importance, since each and
every homeless case is unique.

It has been well-demonstrated there is no actual physical shortage of places for people to live,
even in the big cities. In fact, especially in the big cities.

The problem is complex, but we can state that homelessness is the result of one or more of
the following: rapidly rising cost of living, unemployment, psychological problems, drug and alcohol
use. If you are an alcoholic or a drug user, you need to do whatever is possible to stop those habits.
Period. The alcohol and the drug use is a threat to your basic physical survival.

The solution to homelessness involves the cooperation of local community organizations,
and the homeless individuals themselves.

Though there is no shortage of people willing to assist, never forget that “assistance” is a two-way
street.

Mark Holsinger, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Mission, wrote a "Letter to the Editor" in
the March 14, 1992 Los Angeles Times. He said, "As frustrating as it is that not all homeless people
accept help, we should not forget that many gratefully accept the opportunity to change their lives.
The problem for most of the homeless isn't a lack of services or affordable housing or jobs. Their
problem is their lack of desire to change [emphasis mine] -- to get off drugs, to function in a way
that is acceptable to society, to respect others and themselves.” He adds that it’s not easy to get off
the streets, but certainly possible to become a productive citizen because he works daily with those
who’ve made that change."

Let’s assume you have lost your home, you have no job, and you aspire to get back to work
and find a home. What do you do? Where do you start?

Number one: If you are taking drugs, or drinking alcohol, stop! If you know you cannot stop
without help, do whatever it takes to get that help.

Number two: Do whatever it takes to change your attitude. Quit viewing yourself as a victim
of circumstances. Quit blaming anyone else. Quit feeling negative towards anyone.

Next, wherever you are, improve it. Make it better. If you are with others, teach by your example.
If they ask what you are doing, explain to them that you are practicing the uplifting Principle
of “making every place better for my being there.” This is known as true Appreciation.

Also, do not steal or take that which is not yours, regardless of your “very good justification.”

Begin to give to the charity, non-profit, or church of your choice.”Giving” can also be of your
time. Give without the expectation of “getting” anything back. Don’t give foolishly, but give intelligently
to help further the work of a charity. The principle at work is “AS ye give, so shall ye receive.”

As you practice these simply principles – which some people will ridicule as “simplistic” –
you can expect Miracles to occur.

DON’T GO HOME WITHOUT IT

These days, particularly with so many foreclosures on the market, ordering an inspection when you've
made an offer is not only recommended, it's critical. Otherwise, you're relying on the seller (in some
cases, the bank) to provide you with a list of defects.

An inspection provides an objective report about the home's exterior, interior, and "internal organs" -
the wiring, the plumbing, the heating and cooling system, etc. While your agent may supply a list of
recommended inspectors, you are free to select any professional you wish.

The seller and their representative will not see the report without your permission. The inspection of
a 2,000 square foot home should take two to three hours to complete, and once the report has been
delivered to you, you can discuss the findings with the inspector.

Expect your home inspector to walk the roof and explore the attic and crawlspace (if present). Electrical
panels, outlets and switches will be
tested. Drains, water pressure, toilets and
pipes will all be checked in the plumbing
system. Walls, ceilings and floors will be
inspected and all the doors and windows
will be checked for functionality.

All the items in the report will depend on
the particular home's features, but the findings
give you an opportunity to estimate repair
costs and renegotiate your offer. Never
bypass this critical aspect of a purchase.

What’s
on
YOUR
Mind?

We’d like to hear from
you!

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