As a resident of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood – which has more than its share of supportive housing – it is obvious to me why they didn’t want to answer this question [Silence on safety question was frightening, Viewpoints, Oct. 3]. The answer is a resounding Yes – the type of housing proposed at the site will make the neighborhood less safe. Drug users and transient populations have a very noticeable effect on petty crime and neighborhood safety. I’ve seen the result over and over again – in which “housing activists” strongly lobby to just get it built, regardless of the effect on the surrounding community. Even if their intentions are noble, these activists have a one-track mind that blinds them to any criticism.
Ryan Dent
Submitted at WednesdayJournalOnline.com
