HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 UDO Text Amendment Public Comment (2)June 29,2023
Dear Ms.Barden and Planning Board Members,
Despite my address,I am a significant stakeholder regarding the proposed amendment to the UDO
regarding a 1,000 ft buffer between schools and homeless shelters.My children,10 and 12,who
attend school in Saratoga Springs,spend more of their waking hours in Saratoga Springs than they
do in their own home.
Growing up in,out of,and around homelessness nearly my whole childhood raised by those
suffering from mental illness,drug and alcohol addictions,I can speak to how that experience and
environment impacts a child.This first hand knowledge is presented to consider the voice of the
child who doesn’t seem to be represented in this very important decision.
I am also a public school teacher turned stay at home mom.I understand when schools will need to
be put on hard and soft lockdowns as well as how students with disabilities may be put in harm's
way based on the manifestations of their disabilities if a homeless shelter were to be next to a
school.
Attached,please find my packet of information which is a compilation of all my comments and
documents provided at City Council and Task Force on Homelessness meetings.I presented this
packet at the 5/15/23 Task Force on Homelessness meeting.There are no minutes or video of the
aforementioned meeting which would provide you with this valuable information,so I am submitting
it formally to the planning board.I would ask that you thoroughly review it as it absolutely supports
the amendment to the UDO to include a 1,000 ft buffer between schools and homeless shelters.
Thus far,all Task Force on Homelessness members,City Council members,the City Attorney and
Aneisha Samuel-Sanford were provided with this packet of information (5/15/23).I am pleased to
be able to share it with the rest of the planning board as you make important decisions for the
children attending schools in Saratoga Springs.
Additionally,I have attached a separate file which includes information on what kinds of activities
would put a school on a hard or soft lockdown as well as a definition of those terms.As it relates to
the types of calls received at homeless shelters in Saratoga,a school would experience these types
of lockdowns on a regular basis if a homeless shelter were to be located adjacent to a school.
Included in this file are also specific weapons calls and arrests at the homeless shelter this spring
that occured during times the children would be in classes or afterschool activities.One trespassing
arrest was for a known and convicted drug dealer who served multiple prison sentences for his
dealing of drugs.
If the Planning Board is going to provide a consult to the City Council,it is essentially acting as an
advisory to all the residents in Saratoga Springs and to anyone who has children attending schools
in Saratoga Springs when reviewing the UDO amendment of a 1,000 ft buffer between homeless
shelters and schools.I ask that you please find in favor of the proposed UDO amendment.
Respectfully,
Dina Henke
June 29,2023
Dear Ms.Barden and Planning Board Members,
Despite my address,I am a significant stakeholder regarding the proposed amendment to the UDO
regarding a 1,000 ft buffer between schools and homeless shelters.My children,10 and 12,who
attend school in Saratoga Springs,spend more of their waking hours in Saratoga Springs than they
do in their own home.
Growing up in,out of,and around homelessness nearly my whole childhood raised by those
suffering from mental illness,drug and alcohol addictions,I can speak to how that experience and
environment impacts a child.This first hand knowledge is presented to consider the voice of the
child who doesn’t seem to be represented in this very important decision.
I am also a public school teacher turned stay at home mom.I understand when schools will need to
be put on hard and soft lockdowns as well as how students with disabilities may be put in harm's
way based on the manifestations of their disabilities if a homeless shelter were to be next to a
school.
Attached,please find my packet of information which is a compilation of all my comments and
documents provided at City Council and Task Force on Homelessness meetings.I presented this
packet at the 5/15/23 Task Force on Homelessness meeting.There are no minutes or video of the
aforementioned meeting which would provide you with this valuable information,so I am submitting
it formally to the planning board.I would ask that you thoroughly review it as it absolutely supports
the amendment to the UDO to include a 1,000 ft buffer between schools and homeless shelters.
Thus far,all Task Force on Homelessness members,City Council members,the City Attorney and
Aneisha Samuel-Sanford were provided with this packet of information (5/15/23).I am pleased to
be able to share it with the rest of the planning board as you make important decisions for the
children attending schools in Saratoga Springs.
Additionally,I have attached a separate file which includes information on what kinds of activities
would put a school on a hard or soft lockdown as well as a definition of those terms.As it relates to
the types of calls received at homeless shelters in Saratoga,a school would experience these types
of lockdowns on a regular basis if a homeless shelter were to be located adjacent to a school.
Included in this file are also specific weapons calls and arrests at the homeless shelter this spring
that occured during times the children would be in classes or afterschool activities.One trespassing
arrest was for a known and convicted drug dealer who served multiple prison sentences for his
dealing of drugs.
If the Planning Board is going to provide a consult to the City Council,it is essentially acting as an
advisory to all the residents in Saratoga Springs and to anyone who has children attending schools
in Saratoga Springs when reviewing the UDO amendment of a 1,000 ft buffer between homeless
shelters and schools.I ask that you please find in favor of the proposed UDO amendment.
Respectfully,
Dina Henke