Shelter Meeting Cancelled--Media Uninvited

From Thursday's Times-Union:

Homeless Shelter Meeting Canceled After Media Interest

Jennifer Peryam
Times-Union Staff Writer

A meeting that was scheduled Wednesday night for downtown merchants to ask questions about a proposed homeless shelter in downtown Warsaw was canceled.

The Times-Union was originally invited to attend the meeting but was informed at approximately 4 p.m. that the meeting was closed to the media.

A sign was posted Wednesday night on the building where the shelter is proposed to be located at 110 E. Market St., the former Brennan Building. The building is next to Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

The sign read "The meeting has been canceled. Sorry for inconvenience, Fellowship Mission."

Signs also were posted on the doors of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation where the meeting was to be held from 7 to 8 p.m.

A sign read "A private meeting between downtown merchants and business owners and Fellowship Mission will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:45. No media please."

Another sign also read "Tonight's private meeting between downtown merchants and business owners and Fellowship Mission has been canceled."

During Monday night's Warsaw City Council meeting, more than 80 people packed into council chambers - with additional people outside - to hear a homeless shelter presentation by Eric Lane, Fellowship Mission director.

Attendees were not allowed to ask questions, as it was a time for Lane to speak about the shelter.

Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins asked Warsaw Community Development Corp. to organize a meeting between downtown merchants and Fellowship Mission so downtown merchants could learn more about the proposed shelter.

The Times-Union was contacted Tuesday afternoon by Lane who said a meeting was scheduled between downtown merchants and Fellowship Mission. He also said the Times-Union was invited to attend the meeting and report on it, and the newspaper agreed to run a story previewing the meeting.

Lane called the Times-Union three hours before the meeting Wednesday night stating the meeting was closed to the media.

The Times-Union called Cindy Dobbins, WCDC director, Wednesday afternoon. She said a television station had been notified and a film crew was in town. She said the meeting would be canceled because downtown business merchants did not want to go on camera during the meeting.

Approximately 10 downtown business owners showed up Wednesday night to find the meeting canceled.

George Brennan, president and CEO of Lake City Group, 118 A S. Buffalo St., located a half block west of where the proposed homeless shelter may be, said he came to the meeting to learn more about the shelter.

Brennan said he has no ties to the former Brennan Building where the shelter is being proposed.

"I think the shelter is a great idea and I wanted to hear about it. I think we have a responsibility to take care of the people of the community," Brennan said. "I can't imagine why anyone would be upset by having the shelter here."

Brennan said if people have concerns they should speak up, and he said he didn't know why the meeting was canceled and the media was not allowed to attend.

"I think the media should be here because if the issues are going to be discussed, the media should let the rest of the general population who are not able to attend know what is going on," Brennan said.

Mike Bergen, Alderfer Bergen & Co. partner, 116 W. Market St., said he came to the meeting to learn more about the shelter.

"I'm disappointed to not hear what the story is. I don't know what is going on and I don't have an opinion until I have more info," Bergen said.

Bree Oscallahan, employee of Take Action Tattoo, 938 N. Detroit St., said she came to the meeting to hear what the proposed shelter plans were.

Oscallahan said she is a coach for a local roller derby league, and they have started collecting items for the homeless.

"People need items who are homeless whether a shelter goes here or not," Oscallahan said.