Have just found out a "group home" is in my neighborhood.

[firebrand]

The word "NIMBY" is a discredited term, because it is used by people whose neighborhoods are not affected to keep undesirable facilities where they are or are planned to be. People who never have to fight these fights love the word.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

Does your neighbor have a right to own property and do what he likes with it?

[FITZ]

then the person has likely been deemed not a threat to the public.

We know that's a joke --- most child killers, rapists, etc have raped and molested children in the past. When it comes to pedophiles --- if they reform before they abuse a child fine --- but once they've crossed that line and committed their violence against a child, they should never be freed from prison --- except possibly those willing to be physically castrated.

[firebrand]

Good reply. I am also a veteran of these wars--in fact, it's where I cut my political and protest teeth.

It's much harder to get something out once it's in. That's why everything is done in as much secrecy as possible. I'm glad you were successful.

[Aracelis]

Being a Sex Offender used to mean a lot, it's meaning less and less as more and more not-so-serious crimes are qualifying people for the status. I'm not saying not to be worried; I'm just saying maybe slow down and get more information first.

Another voice of reason on this thread, but I fear your efforts will be ignored, Laz. Actually meeting with the group members requires effort, and it's SO much easier to simply react negatively.

[1rudeboy]

I recommend one per registered sex offender:

[Nov3]

I want to slap around all the republicans who voted for this section 8 housing BS. It is ruining whole tracts of neighborhoods here in Memphis. What a great idea move the concentrated trash out of public housing and spread it into stable lower middle class neighborhoods. Good way to ruin the tax base.

[Graybeard58]

The word "NIMBY" is a discredited term, because it is used by people whose neighborhoods are not affected to keep undesirable facilities where they are or are planned to be. People who never have to fight these fights love the word

My son "fought the fight" in his neighborhood, only he was on the correct side in the debate about a home for the developemently disabled.

I guess you could call him an "ITGLAP".- I Think God Loves All People

[firebrand]

We had many serious problems here before a woman named Kendra was pushed onto the subway tracks and killed by someone from one of these homes who wasn't taking his meds. Kendra's Law now enforces the monitoring of medication in New York State, something we had been pushing for for years before it was enacted by the shameless, lazy, self-interested Albany legislature.

Things are better now but not perfect. At least we have a law to threaten the facility management with if a person is acting crazy.

[FITZ]

It seems one problem with the word "group home" is that it lumps too many types together --- no one wants a friendly group of women with Downs syndrome to live in the worst neighborhoods --- they don't deserve to live in fear and most are perfectly happy if they can work and earn their own living. They need to live where they can be safe. Same goes for Alzheimers people who are still not ill enough to be in a nursing home --- they aren't generally a problem for any neighborhood. All non-criminals needing group homes should be classifed differently than those living in drug and alcohol half-way houses who have committed crimes, or released from prison sex offenders. A group home for serial rapists is certainly different than one for mildly retarded but completely harmless working people.

[firebrand]

Maybe it depends on whether the people are developmentally disabled or mentally ill, homeless crack addicts. Your son had the former, we had 72 of the latter, with the barest of supervision.

[Lazamataz]

Another voice of reason on this thread, but I fear your efforts will be ignored, Laz.

I *HATE* voices of reason. DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM ALL TO HELL!!!!!

DDDIIIIEEEE! DIE YOU VOICES OF REASON!!! DIIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!!!

[Nov3]

I say we move them to your back yard.

[Graybeard58]

Maybe it depends on whether the people are developmentally disabled or mentally ill, homeless crack addicts. Your son had the former, we had 72 of the latter, with the barest of supervision.

Thank you for your civil reply, I don't feel well today and am not up for a fight.

Your situation appears to be different from the original poster because she was talking about mentally disabled adults, one of whom is a sex offender.

I dislike sex offenders as much as anyone else does without calling for them to "be shot" as some posters do.

Sex offenders can live pretty much wherever they want to as long as they can afford it and register their address with the proper authorities. I don't want them in my neighborhood either but there's nothing I can do about it.

One lives about a block from me. She's female and I think about her the same as a male offender.

Mentally disabled people are like little children depending on their degree of retardation. I am a Christian and think about what Jesus said about little children. "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven". I just want "The little children" to greet me with open arms when I get there.

[Lazamataz]

I like you.

[Melas]

NIMBY

[Sofa King]

Perhaps you missed the "sex offender" part.

[Lazamataz]

I say we move them to your back yard.

Sex offenders in my back yard?

Good. That'll increase the chance I might get a little.

[Melas]

The group home was gone a couple of months later.

No, that's what you and those like you don't get. The group home wasn't gone at all. All you managed to do was move the percieved problem a littler further from your personal residence.

[Melas]

Well said