The State's editorial claim Sept. 28 that it will take only $2 million annually to run the proposed homeless shelter is wishful thinking. The Midlands Housing Alliance’s own study of the Miami shelter found that ongoing operations there cost over $11 million while serving just 130 more people than have been projected for Columbia. So let’s not kid ourselves. Columbia does not have the money to hire the necessary firemen and policemen, so why are we about to obligate the taxpayers for this unknown expense?

But, this is only part of the problem. We seem willing to let a group of unelected people from the MHA do irreparable harm to the main street of our capital city when there are alternative sites. It’s been suggested that the mental health land on the southeast corner of Harden Street and Colonial Drive would be a suitable location. This area is away from the main Mental Health campus and thus would not interfere with the historic buildings.

Further, the land is not adjacent to any residential area but instead is near mental health and medical facilities. I suspect that innovative minds could even figure out a way for the city to do a land swap. The point is, there are alternatives to the Main Street location. As citizens, we must demand that our city council become the good stewards we elected them to be.

City elections are coming up next year. I am looking for candidates who have the courage to back away from a bad decision and find another site for the homeless shelter.
Bill Adams
Columbia, SC