The effort to claim recognition for Barnstable as the All-America City was truly not a wasted effort. It's was simply another "last ditch effort".
As Alan Burt of the Salvation Army/Coordinator of Overnights of Hospitality always said...desperate times call for desperate measures.
Letters from long ago on problems that still remain...
Mary Clements
241D Stevens Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
March 29, 2004
Gary Brown, President
Barnstable Town Council
Barnstable Town Hall
Hyannis, MA 02601
Dear Mr. Brown,
Research from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance demonstrates sizable campaign contributions that may present a conflict of interest in regard to public safety in downtown Hyannis. As you can see donations contributed by the human service organization Housing Assistance Corporation and Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and Islands may have influenced policy in regard to recent developments with services provided to the indigent and homeless.
Mr. Michael Princi, Esq. Representing Housing Assistance Corporation at the Sandwich Zoning Board of Appeals in regard to Dana’s Fields increased the size of his campaign contributions to The Committee to Elect Michael O’Keefe during HAC’s effort to acquire a comprehensive permit to build the experimental farm project off Victory Drive in Sandwich. The effort to pass the Mildred’s Chowder House coincided with this effort. As you are aware, Mr. O’Keefe supported the effort to move the NOAH Shelter to the property at Barnstable Airport/Mildred’s Chowder House. Mr. Princi indeed bragged and boasted in a fit of rage at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting that he had made a sizable contribution to an influential elected official and suggested that the Dana’s Field Project would definitely be pushed through whether I “liked it or not!”
Mr. Princi was angry because I suggested that HAC/NOAH/Duffy did not rehabilitate the criminal offenders in downtown Hyannis. He was not aware that I recognized him from election night where he was a late arrival to Michael O’Keefe’s Victory Party at the Cape Codder. I attended the function with my sister and her friend Keith McManus, Esq. Keith once worked in the internship program at the District Attorney’s Office. This particular attorney who donated heavily to Mr. O’Keefe’s Campaign had provided me with legal advice in regard to NOAH. He is indeed the local attorney who suggested that the conditions at NOAH and the threat it presents to the community warranted a court injunction. He offered to file the motion in Barnstable Court roughly three weeks before I met Mr. O’Keefe and the decision to dismantle the camps was virtually made.
As you know, I have suggested and maintained that the Mildred’s Chowder House is a necessary component of the expansion project proposed by Housing Assistance Corporation. Mildred’s was intended to be used to warehouse clients that cannot meet the stringent applications process supervised by Chief John Miller in Sandwich. Mr. Princi promised the residents of Sandwich that clients that failed at rehabilitation at the experimental farm would be driven promptly back to the NOAH Shelter/Mildred’s in Hyannis. He also stated that Housing Assistance Corporation maintains a good working relationship with the Barnstable Police Department. Several of the uniformed officers that responded to frequent calls at 72 North Street were upset by this suggestion.
Mr. Presbrey has also stated that the Barnstable Police Department would verify that there were no more dangerous sex offenders living at NOAH than in any other sect of the community. He stated that I was “irresponsible” for suggesting otherwise. I have enclosed the SORI of pedophiles and rapists that have been traced to NOAH. Five of the sex offenders are known to the NOAH campus. Two pedophiles have been reincarcerated and are not available for publication, and Jose Correira who has assaulted me offended prior to 1989. Once again, these clients are only a sampling of recidivist offenders that live at or about NOAH and do not include offenders that were incarcerated before Megan’s Law was enacted.
Senator O’Leary maintains an unwavering commitment to NOAH and is aware of the public safety issues presented by this negligent and substandard organization. I have forwarded a copy of this to Nancy Paccia whose daughter was accosted in Ways News and Philip Tracy, Esq. who represents Julie Donahue, the mother of Jonathan Wessner.
The shelter staff has informed me that they have no record of Leon Quick living or working at the shelter. I have requested a copy of a check paid to him by The Duffy Clinic and cashed by me on a local bank account. They also say they don’t remember Paul Nolin. There is a credible source that remembers him well and identified him from a picture. She remembers him mainly from the Salvation Army Outreach Ministry Program. A woman named Rita who served on The Duffy Clinic Client Advisory Board stated Jean Bauer was recently seen shredding and burning documents. Arlene Crosby stated that this was “normal” as the clinic often shreds and burns “old records”.
I realize that the Barnstable Police Department works in collaboration with the District Attorney and that Chief Finnegan may have been instructed to sign off on the shelter initiative accordingly. I am unsure whether the Chief’s intent was to reassure an unsuspecting public that the clientele at the shelter was indeed “safe”. The uniformed police officers that attended to narcotics problems at 72 North Street appeared fully cognizant of the recidivist sexual predators living at NOAH.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Mary Clements
cc. Chief John Finnegan
Hey folks! Give us an indication of how you're feeling about homeless services!
I guess we call it "the signal"!
Mary Clements
241D Stevens Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
April 26, 2004
District Attorney Michael O’Keefe
Barnstable County Office of the District Attorney
PO Box 455
Barnstable, MA 02630
Dear Mr. O’Keefe,
Please note the correspondence to several public officials and attorneys with interests in regard to Dana’s Fields and NOAH. In addition I have enclosed documentation of campaign contributions made to you from Community Action Committee and Housing Assistance Corporation. During your tenure on the Barnstable Human Service Needs Committee a decision was made to dismantle the makeshift camps. The police action executed per the directive of Town Manager John Klimm was a clean maneuver that obviously required sound legal skill and judgment. The evidence that law enforcement collected demonstrated a compelling case requiring the necessary action to protect public health and safety. Moreover the legal expertise met all legal precedents preempting challenge by opposing parties. This was an exciting time for those following the controversial politics of the local human service establishment and its ardent supporters. For a short time it seemed that common sense might prevail in Hyannis.
Unfortunately there must have been sufficient pressure on you to accommodate the “homeless industry” in the downtown area. As the organizations involved lobbied for your support local law enforcement provided increased support to problem crack houses and wooded areas around the shelter. There was a concentrated effort to provide assistance to the homeless in downtown Hyannis. Police, fire and rescue personnel were used as human service workers while Rick Presbrey of Housing Assistance Corporation pursued his $11.5 million dollar farm project in Sandwich. The majority of applicants would be precluded from applying to the project because of significant criminal backgrounds.
The intent of the organization was to warehouse serious offenders at Mildred’s and return failed clients to Hyannis according to a guarantee provided to the residents of Sandwich. As I have explained, the majority of these clients that may potentially fail at rehabilitation and be transported to Barnstable will not originate from NOAH. This means an expansion of the industry and attraction of more homeless clients to an already saturated market. Because of the negligent operation of HAC/Duffy the community and local law enforcement have perpetual offenders running circles around them. After the killing of Jonathan Wessner, there was an increased effort to notify the public of sex offenders living and working in the area despite the organizations efforts to protect the privacy of recidivist offenders. This occurred shortly after Chief John Finnegan directed his public relations agent to sign off on the Mildred’s Chowder House Project. Police and rescue personnel continued to respond to “human service calls” while Alan Burt pressured the Council of Churches to resist the “slick and deceptive action” of law enforcement.
Please review all documents that pertain to criminal activity in Barnstable County and in particular offenses against children. I am particularly concerned in regard to a known child molester accosting an innocent child in Way’s News and the rape and murder of Jonathan Wessner. Past clients who remember him from several years ago have traced Paul Nolin to the shelter. This was confirmed by a uniformed police officer. Both men performed handy work for local organizations. I indeed cashed a payroll check drawn on The Duffy Clinic for Mr. Leon Quick. You will note him continuing to leer at women in front of The Hooters Restaurant in the photographs provided. He frequently imbibes at Hooters and The Duck Inn Pub adjacent to the Sturgis Charter School despite state mandated alcohol rehabilitation counseling. Bob Lindsay of the Duffy Clinic provided transportation to Lowell for his treatment.
You may recall Rick Presbrey publicly referred to me as irresponsible for stating that there are a significant number of criminal offenders residing at NOAH and surrounding properties. He did not respond to my suggestion that most parolees are homeless when released from incarceration.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Mary Clements
cc. William Henchy, Esq.
Jason Talerman, Esq.
Paul Niedzwicki, Esq.
We could have told you there was just sort of a little problem with corruption! Homeless, as pictured above, after the All-America City Parade. Clearly, not too impressed with the services. Finally the homeless and the Main Street merchants are seeing eye to eye!
Why are we always taking grief? At least we tried! It's the All-America City Crowd.
The All-America City Award is presented to communities who overcome challenges with creative solutions that involve civic engagement. Yes, we celebrate achievements, but the problem solving process is just as important.
In order to apply we were required to select just three of the challenges we have overcome and focus on those. Of course there are more than three challenges that have been or are part of the daily lives of those who are operating this town government and its infrastructure, but the three challenges the team who applied chose to focus on were our:
economic stimulus plan, namely the zoning changes and the creation of the growth incentive zone in the Main Street and waterfront areas of Hyannis, and the addition of museums and public arts programs.
affordable housing plan that includes the accessory affordable housing program and several other initiates.
Barnstable Youth Commission the creation of a youth commission that gives input on issues and projects that involve this town’s young people.
"The problem is that not everyone agrees with our methods in going about our self-appointed globalized neighborhood watch and beautification project. Just as one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, so to one government's foreign policy is another people's attack on their way of life."
The homeless community has "confirmed" that Level III Sex Offender Perry Bell is indeed one of the "Freedom Fighters". Teddy "Bear" Kennedy, you might want to think about resolving this issue. A travesty of justice. The confusion about the right to one's identity. and the right to one's life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is at the point where constituents no longer care how the Kennedy family feels.
Working for safe and appealing communities
Demetrius has fulfilled his campaign promise to revitalize Main Street in Hyannis, securing a $3 million public works economic development grant to renovate and upgrade the road and sidewalks, and $200,000 to renovate and upgrade the JFK Museum. He was also on the forefront to get the Town of Barnstable to duplicate Boston's outdoor dining policy to help give more open, relaxing and attractive atmosphere to Main Street. Demetrius also works hard to make sure our streets are safe, securing funding for a community policing program and bike patrols for the past five years.
Once again, My sincerest apologies to The Barnstable Town Council, Office of the District Attorney, and Chief Finnegan's Office for the proponderance of evidence that human services are operating at an unsafe standard! The photographs taken just last summer show sincere improvement in the quality of services!
COMMUNITY POLICING/REVITALIZING MAIN STREET
More police in the community equals a higher quality of life. It is a tried and true formula and one that Rep. Atsalis has fought for and once again made a reality.
The town of Barnstable and Yarmouth, the first and third most populous on the Cape, have been growing into a "cities" for a number of years. With that growth comes many of the attendant problems of any heavily-settled area. One of the problems is a rise in crime. Rep. Atsalis has secured $900,000 for Barnstable over the past four years, and $200,000 for Yarmouth.
The Community Policing program is designed to combat rising rates by breaking down the barriers that can exist between the police and citizens. It creates situations where police officers and citizens can get to know one another and work together to bring about safer and healthier communities. Some of the programs include:
Another crazy letter complaining about the quality of homeless services. Isn't that right Mr. Klimm?
Mary Clements
75 Pearl Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
May 19, 2009
Mr. John Klimm, Manager of the Town of Barnstable
The Barnstable Town Hall
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Dear Mr. Klimm,
I appreciate your words of encouragement to colleagues of the Barnstable Town Council in regard to homeless services. There is not double that the problems created by a negligent and substandard human service industry have become a substantial problem, not only for elected officials entrusted with the development of policy and the allocation of resources. Homeless individuals are often exploited and are considered to have no credibility. Many clients are compromised due to mismanagement of public funds.
Please continue to monitor www.welcometobarnstable.com . It is unfortunate that public officials and law enforcement agents have been unable to understand the convolution of factors that have caused this issue by now. I am grateful for the efforts of some members of the Barnstable Police Department to resolve these matters, in particular, Sergeant Sean Sweeney.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Mary Clements
cc. Sergeant Sean Sweeney
Homeless Camps cleaned up in 2002! Still a little bit messy in 2008!
Obviously not an indicator of malfeasance! Why, Everybody in Barnstable, I'll just send you a few letters, cover up the problem, so get yourself a better jobs! You're not too self serving, are you? Peace, love and justice issues. You belonged in jail for this along time ago!
Assistant Town Manager Tom Lynch, with great work like this being done at the Barnstable Housing Authority, don't you think you deserve a better job? Why settle for a lousy state rep seat if you can mismanage the Barnstable Housing Authority? Why give a rats ass about political corruption that jeopardized the health, welfare and safety of the innocent if you can be the Assistant Town Manager? Hey, maybe there really were a few sex offenders on the street. Cover the whole thing up now! ...and don't forget to sign Taryn Thoman's nomination papers for charter commission, you fool! PS. Don't you owe me a thank you note for the efforts I made at the assembly of Delegates? Wouldn't want you to aknowledge my correspondence and have to wipe that smug, arrogant smile of your face!
Mary Clements
75 Pearl Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
May 19, 2009
Mr. John Klimm, Manager of the Town of Barnstable
The Barnstable Town Hall
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Dear Mr. Klimm,
I appreciate your words of encouragement to colleagues of the Barnstable Town Council in regard to homeless services. There is not double that the problems created by a negligent and substandard human service industry have become a substantial problem, not only for elected officials entrusted with the development of policy and the allocation of resources. Homeless individuals are often exploited and are considered to have no credibility. Many clients are compromised due to mismanagement of public funds.
Please continue to monitor www.welcometobarnstable.com . It is unfortunate that public officials and law enforcement agents have been unable to understand the convolution of factors that have caused this issue by now. I am grateful for the efforts of some members of the Barnstable Police Department to resolve these matters, in particular, Sergeant Sean Sweeney.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Mary Clements
cc. Sergeant Sean Sweeney
Hey Tom Lynch, Isn't that your smug smile with the All-America City Crowd, trying to pass off your fine work? Hey, thanks for acknowledging my correspondence! Wouldn't want you to have to come up with your own ideas for social improvement! By any chance, are you related to Judge Joan Lynch? What's going on with the whole O'Keefe Investigation anyway?
Hanging in the woods is no picnic party. John Julius made the call on this homeless camp in August after reports were that the campers were concerned about what do with a non-moving body.
Claire Goyer Executive Director of the Duffy Clinic, still delusional at $103,000 per year. Read her hallucinations that quality of services for this population is improving. Review photographs and judge for yourself!
May 01,2009
Main Street homeless initiative: from Raucous to Responsive
Written by Heather Wysocki
May 01, 2009
Six-month-old advocacy group sees progress despite financial frustrations
Despite a decidedly difficult time getting on its feet, the six-month-old Main Street Initiative for Homelessness is now confidently striding forward, representatives reported to town and county officials, business groups and the general public on April 28.
“We… had a divisive meeting,” said Initiative co-chair and Community Action Committee of the Cape and Islands director Estelle Fritzinger of the group’s first meeting in October 2008 that dissolved into accusations and arguments. “But this is a good program, and it’s going to work.”
Since then, social services and business groups from around Barnstable have come together with a cohesive goal of “working for and with” the homeless population of Main Street, Hyannis, said Mary LeClaire, Fritzinger’s co-chair on the initiative.
Fritzinger explained that the group has identified approximately 95 homeless individuals residing on or near Main Street. Of those, she said, more than 67 percent have lived in Hyannis for six years or longer, a surprise to the group that believed many of the area’s homeless were overwhelmingly from outlying towns.
Twelve individuals have already been placed with a case manager who will oversee their treatment and placement in housing, with three already housed. Each month, the initiative will assign 12 more people to one-on-one help.
Organizations including the Main Street Business Improvement District, Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce, Barnstable Police Department and several social services groups are involved in the efforts, a move that’s been praised by several regional organizations.
“The most important thing I’ve seen in the last six months is partnership,” said John O’Brien, Northeast regional coordinator of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. “I’ve really seen that…on the Cape.”
So far, said Barnstable Police Chief Paul MacDonald, the approach seems to be working. “From our point of view, this is really community policing at its best,” he said. A walk down Main Street the day of the meeting, he said, revealed only a handful of visible individuals. But, he added, “The true telling is as it gets warmer.”
According to O’Brien, the number of homeless individuals has decreased 61 percent since 2005. “We want to make sure that continues,” he said.
The Initiative still faces several challenges to its goal of addressing and housing every homeless individual in the area, including one that nonprofit groups across the Cape are dealing with.
“The budget situation is deteriorating so rapidly,” said state Sen. Rob O’Leary, original organizer of the Initiative, fresh from budget discussions on Beacon Hill. “The House budget is maybe half a billion dollars out of balance.”
“All groups are looking at significant budget cuts,” Fritzinger confirmed.
However, said O’Brien, there’s hope that the next few months will see additional financial support at the state level. Though Cape Cod received none of the federal stimulus funds allocated for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing program, the state has $18 million it can allocate based on guidelines it, not the federal government, sets. “You can bet the Cape will apply,” he said.
In addition, said Fritzinger, the Main Street group expects to receive funds from a state Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness grant in the next few weeks.
The Initiative also expects that plans for a Barnstable County-wide homelessness outreach program will come together within the next 12 to 18 months. The program will include a 24/7 telephone number for individuals needing aid to call, plus “will allow a history established… on what has been done and what needs to be done,” said County Commissioners chair Mary Lyons.
Fritzinger said that some of the ICHH grant monies “could provide some of the regional network needed.”
Between Main Street and regional efforts, the last six months have seemed productive, said Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District Executive Director Scott Lajoie.
“I was really, really impressed,” he said about the efforts already underway when he joined the BID in February. “They have their boots on the ground, [they’re] getting out and engaging these individuals… There’s progress, and there’s a vision to make more progress.
Claire is doing some really great work, playing clean up batter for homeless services! Lucky thing Judy Best was fired after Obstructing justice in the Homicide Investigation of Jonathan Wessner! You got yourself a better job, and then called me "certified"!
