Well, I hoping to get a short and decisive answer to a ‘quick’ question about Monroe Park controversy, but then this is Richmond…The answer, judging from the overall comments (which I have since closed), is that Food Not Bombs will be allowed to serve in Monroe Park after renovations are done. Keep in mind that Michael Paul Williams raised the specter of a negative possibility in his newspaper column before the question was posed here. If anyone has new facts to share on the answer to that question, please do send them in.
Now, for a second question. Again, there are a lot of important questions in regard to this controversy, but the idea is to be objective and get to the facts.
Does Monroe Park have to be fully closed during all renovations?
Just a little background- Monroe Park Advisory Council (MPAC) has said that they invited Food Not Bombs to meetings on the renovations, but they did not take part. The City of Richmond says that Monroe Park must be fully closed while it is undergoing renovations due to logistics and expenses.
Food Not Bombs has demanded that at least two acres of the Park remain open during renovations in order to continue serving food there.
Based on previous posts by other commenters and who are more intimate of the details and logistics of park renovations, the park should be closed during the construction.
As I have stated earlier, there is nice two acre-ish park at 8th & Canal St. downtown known as Kanawha Plaza where the FNB gang can continue on with their Sunday feeding program.
Thank you to this blog for continuing to bring this issue up. It is a serious concern to the general public, VCU students and employees, city residents including the homeless, as well as visitors to our city. Renovations should be handled in phases like any work done in important public areas. The architects have said they are prepared to make plans for a phased approach once the city makes that request. As its citizens have requested, the city should go ahead and make a formal request for phased work.
MPAC as a body has not stated that the Park must be closed. Our job was to deliver a master plan (which does not specify whether it would have to be closed). The decision is up to the City and Parks and rec and the engineers as they would supervise the renovation.
Todd, I have adjusted the post to reflect that clarification.
Thanks.
It is false the FNB has never attended an MPAC meeting. I know of two older participants who went to several a couple of years ago, but felt they were not listened to or taken seriously, so they stopped going. I don’t know if MPAC is misinformed or is just not telling the truth. Whatever member made that claim may have not been on the council at the time FNB was attending meetings.
Just to back Nathan up, FNB folks have definitely attended MPAC meetings in the past.
A bunch of FNB people went to the MPAC meeting in OCtober, where Alice Massie tried to end the meeting after 45 minutes. Then she informed us that MPAC was having no more meetings. She also said that MPAC was disbanding, but that MPAC was NOT transforming into another entity that would be the nonprofit that wants to manage the park.
MPAC cancelled their November meeting 5 hours beforehand. So our ability to actual find out the when and where of all future meetings is a little in question.
From the Wingnut blog, http://thewingnutrva.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/renovation-of-monroe-park-can-be-done-in-stages/
I talked to the engineer for the project about construction in stages- and he said YES it can be done.
“However, I (Mo Karn) went up to Glenn Telfer after he spoke and asked him about the possibility of doing the renovation of Monroe Park in stages. He said it was of course possible, though potentially more costly. But plans for a staged renovation keepig a section of the park open the whole time could be made. He said if the City of Richmond wanted such plans drawn up he or his firm would.”
Here’s a solution…instead of spending extra money on a longer renovation, let’s take the difference and use it towards supporting different homeless shelters/facilities around the city…the park gets renovated faster and the homeless get the help they truly need!
I have made an open invitation respectfully to FNB on Facebook and any other groups involved in Monroe Park feeding to take a tour of the Conrad Center- No Hard Sell, No Lectures- You have my word on that- just a fact finding mission. Is that a possibility? Some info on Conrad Center:
• Program has been in existence for 27 years.
• they serve an average of 300 people 2 meals a day 5 days a week and provide other services as well.
• they will serve over 48,000 meals in 2010 alone.
• they expect over 800 guests for their holiday meal.
• they need volunteers.
http://www.freedomhouserichmond.org/html/ConradCenter.htm
Food Not Bombs, as well as many other service providers have been aware about the Conrad Center since before it was even constructed. They made a decision, by talking to homeless people and talking to people within their groups, that the Conrad Center is not the place where they want their activities to happen. All Food Not Bombs groups that I have heard of serve in public parks. Making a political statement inside a building is not thesame thing.
I think that Todd and others need to respect the decision of the people and groups who do NOT find the Conrad Center to be an acceptable location for their activities.
Food Not Bombs serves a free community meal. It is not a homeless service and it is not a charity. It is a political statement.
Todd, you are clearly already engaging in a hard sell and lecture approach to pushing the Conrad Center.
Thank you for your clarification that FNB is not a service for the homeless.
Thank you for your clarification that FNB is not a service for the homeless and for your commitment to your political cause.
Mo,
What, specifically, is this political statement you speak of? Would you elaborate?
Pingback: Oregon Hill » City Cold Weather Overflow Shelter Open Tonight - Richmond, Virginia
I will elaborate on FNB principles:
From wikipedia:
Food Not Bombs is an all-volunteer global movement that shares free vegetarian meals as a protest to war and poverty. Each chapter collects surplus food that would otherwise go to waste from grocery stores, bakeries and markets, as well as donations from local farmers and sometimes incorporating dumpster diving, then prepares community meals which are served for free to anyone who is hungry. The central beliefs of the group are:[citation needed]
If governments and corporations around the world spent as much time and energy on feeding people as they do on war, no one would go hungry.
There is enough food in the world to feed everyone, but too much of it goes to waste needlessly, as a direct result of capitalism and militarism.
Vegan food is both healthy and nonviolent.
Food Not Bombs works to call attention to poverty and homelessness in society by sharing food in public places and facilitating gatherings of poor and homeless people.
Anyone who wants to cook may cook, and anyone who wants to eat may eat. Food Not Bombs strives to include everyone.[1]
[edit]
Getting back to the question of the post, here is what I have heard (offhand, anonymously, and unofficial, aka- not from the City):
“The estimates I have heard for redrawing plans for Monroe Park to keep 25% open during construction along with the added time it would take to complete the renovation is north of a million bucks. I know whats been paid to draw the plans the city now has so im not doubting those figures.
Lets say a miracle occurred and it was found that they could cut that down $950,000.00 to only 50,000 bucks. Remember that the cost for drawing plans generally runs 10% of total project costs. Let’s also say that construction could be carried out in under a year- say 9 months. Also VERY VERY doubtful if not impossible. That would mean the taxpayers of the City would only have to pay an extra $1400.00 per FNB weekly feeding to accommodate their demands. $1400 hundred a week given to the struggling Food Bank (see yesterdays TD) would feed an AMAZING number of hungry people.
There is no current funding for the 6.2 million above the million or so the city has appropriated for utility/lighting upgrades. It is going to be a massive effort to arrange for the financing- public/private – in today’s economy.”
It would be helpful to get more exact figures and estimates in regard to the renovations, but that should give an idea about the challenges. (Again, like everyone here, I am in favor of this public park getting needed attention and renovations.)
On the other side of the coin, so to speak, does FNB really need 25% of the park to stay open to serve food? It seems like it would need room for four folding tables and trash/recycling . So would 10% of the park staying open suffice?
Scott,
Thanks for the info in 44. Not sure how much of a political statement feeding people is (especially when dumpster diving is involved) but whatever.
In regards to 45 though, I see absolutely no reason to keep the park open when it’s going to cost taxpayers more in the range of $18,296 a feeding for FNB to use the park. That would be using what it would using a more realistic expectations on what it would cost to redraw the plans. Given your Food Bank suggestion above, imagine how many hungry people could be feed with $18k a week!
Please just use another park and stop this madness! If FNB doesn’t see then sense in using another facility after seeing these numbers then they really are more nutty (pun intended) than I first suspected!
I agree with SEW.
Apparently being seen feeding the homeless is more important than feeding the homeless.
Why else could it possibly be worth $1400 – $18000 to serve one meal a week?
Emily,
Don’t forget…they are making a “political statement”
Clearly that’s what is so important to them!
Monroe Park use controversy aside, I appreciate FNB’s political statement.
The foreign wars and occupations are wasting tons of money that could go a long way here at home. Meanwhile the Obama administration switches wording on a slippery slope from withdrawal to ‘transition’- disgusting!
In terms of local homeless issues, I also witnessed first hand the ‘push for 17th and O’ by City “leadership” and was perturbed by it. The feeling was that rather than dealing with issues head on, Richmond hid its homeless under a bridge next to other ‘projects’.
Whether or not this current controversy is settled to everyone’s satisfaction, FNB can take pride in that it has served so many meals and made its statement for so many years.
Emily, I dont believe it would cost more to renovate the park in segments vs. doing it all at the same time. Why would it? Even if it did, the city isnt going to use the money saved to fund programs for the homeless. Theyll spend it on stuff like Quoits fields. Clearly FNB is more than a political statement.
Todd Woodson, if you really believe FNB is simply a political statement you should come to Monroe Park any Sunday around 4pm and look at all the grateful faces.
SEW, making a political statement is not as important in my opinion as feeding hungry (mostly homeless) people. FNB prepares and serves nutritious vegan food that otherwise would be discarded. FNB serves a free community meal. It is not exclusively a service for homeless people. We have enough food for everyone who shows up.
Does anyone have a problem with the political statement? FNB raises awareness of homelessnes in the community by serving in public. Is that a bad thing?
Todd Woodson, a climate controlled shelter should be built in Monroe Park on the Quoits field. i dont see how that would detract from the “historical importance” of the park. If anything, it would honor the homeless people who have used the park for many years now. As for the “lack of urban greenspace”, its a big park! Dont act like this isnt your fault when as a member of MPAC youve made plans for a new park that accomodates the wants of everyone but the most vulnerable: the people that now use it! Youll owe Richmond’s homeless a lot of meals if Monroe Park is closed for renovations and nothing is built there for their sake. How will you reimburse us?
Darek did you read Mo’s post: “Food Not Bombs serves a free community meal. It is not a homeless service and it is not a charity. It is a political statement”? Are you saying this is a mischaracterization of the organization?
Scott,
Agreed that FNB can take pride in the fact that they have served so many homeless. How that ties in with their political statement…not sure and I don’t agree with that part. Anyway, in regards to the city hiding its homeless under a bridge next to the other projects…I disagree again. I happen to live in that area of town and while there are a few projects over there (that probably would be better off being homes for the homeless than the mooches that currently inhabit most of them), it certainly isn’t a dump. It’s a place that can shelter them, feed them, and provide them with showers etc.
Darek,
“a climate controlled shelter should be built in Monroe Park on the Quoits field” Really? I really think you’ve lost your mind now! Yeah, let’s take the money and build a shelter right in the middle of the park…bonkers! That would really show those MPAC folks won’t it?
Derek, do you propose we put the homeless shelter between the playground and the carousel? Perhaps where the concert space is planned?
Since nobody goes to Monroe Park now, maybe FNB would prefer a more public place like the Capitol Grounds or Maymont. That would get everyone’s attention.
SEW, FNB raises awareness of homelessness in Richmond by serving in Monroe Park. Projects are not places where homeless people can be sheltered, fed, and provided with showers. They are places where people already live. If you had “the mooches” evicted, they would be homeless too. Society has a responsibility to provide basic shelter and food to everyone. We do this for animals and prisoners. Why not the homeless? Ive never met anyone able and unwilling to work for stuff thats necessary for their survival. Its instinctive. Homelessness threatens the lives of the homeless. Your comment threatens the lives of the homeless. It has already been decided that money should be spent to renovate Monroe Park. I support the idea that a shelter be built in the park because theres a lot of homeless people already living there, the money is there for construction projects, there is no place in Richmond that can shelter all these people, and its inhumane to spend money on Pentanque/Quoits fields and hiring people to teach parkgoers (mostly homeless) to play the games when these people are suffering and dying from not having a place to sleep. Its bizarrely cruel. Your suggestion that Id like a shelter in the park to “…really show those MPAC folks” is completely wrong.
Paul, Id like MPAC to revise their Master Plan and find the most suitable place for a shelter in the park. Building a shelter there should be a priority. It would be if parkgoers could vote on the matter. A petition will be going around. There are more homeless people in Monroe Park than any other park in Richmond. Thats why FNB feeds there. Since VCU is already ignoring the Master’s Plan by building a new sidewalk( see Todd Woodson’s Instead of Another MP Question…), it would be in the interest of Richmond’s taxpayers to revise the plan anyways.
Paul, Nobodys stopping you if you want to go feed the horsees.
Pingback: Oregon Hill » National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day Candle vigil on Tuesday - Richmond, Virginia
Are you kidding me? Members from Food Not Bombs attended the MPAC meetings. We even went to their last meeting that was “canceled.” They obviously have no idea what they are talking about.
And all of you are missing the point. Monroe Park not only is a space for FNB to serve food, but also other churches and organizations. The Really Really Free Market is at the park the last Saturday of every month. It is also the only green space centralized in the city. The park is an open and public space for not only services, homeless, and working poor, but for all citizens. Students frequent the park. Non-students frequent the park. There will even be a huge party in the park on Jan. 15th from 12-4pm with organizations and businesses from all over Richmond showing their support of the park and keeping part of it open during renovations. Closing the entire park is NOT only a disservice to Food Not Bombs. If any of you believe that then perhaps you should go to the park yourselves sometime and speak to people there. It’s a community space that we will all be losing if the park closes.
Azi – the “only greenspace in the center of the city”?
Not true. The point is there are many other greenspaces in the Central city.
1. Kanawa Plaza
2. Capital Square
3. Byrd Park
4. William Byrd Community House
5. Abner Clay Park
6. Brown’s Island
7. Randolph Park
To name a few.
The homeless and others come to Monroe Park because that is where the food is being served. There are easily a dozen churches within walking distance of the park with INDOOR facilities, bathrooms and kitchens. All the services can continue just as they have, only somewhere else. The arguments for not closing the park and doing a complete and thorough renovation don’t hold water. We are not losing anything. We will be regaining a historic park that people will actually want to come to.
Paul
The argument for needing to have the entire park shut down for a complete and thorough renovation is pretty non-existent aside from the completely not backed up idea that it might cost more.
A complete and thorough renovation could be done for less than 6 or 9 million dollars anyways.
People do actually come to Monroe Park.
Why don’t yall admit that you are just trying to gentrify a section of the city and push out the homeless because you don’t care about them?
This IS Class War.
Why don’t YOU go hang out in one of those other parks you mentioned? Shuffling people around to appease one’s aesthetic and ‘historic’ sense makes you an asshole. Fuck off.
Mo: You’d probably be happier in North Korea or Cuba where everyone is treated “equally” and the standard of living is “high”. Move there.
Also, you have lots of anger. And when you use foul language, you lose whatever little credibility you clung to previously.
I am not interested in censoring, but I will do so if there are reoccurring problem with personal attacks and profanity.
I get complaints on all sides and it would be easier for me to administer this site if I just disallowed comments altogether, but I really do not want to that.
Mo:
From what I’ve seen not shutting the park down completely WILL cost more. Perhaps you haven’t seen the information that I have. I believe it’s been right on this site or another…I can’t remember where, exactly, I saw the info. Additionally, a complete renovation could be done for less than 6M…so what? The folks planning this would prefer an even nicer job than just a renovation. Nothing wrong with that IMO. It seems befitting of such an historic park that so many people will see as they come to visit VCU or other areas of the city.
Please help me to understand why you’re calling this gentrification when it’s been said that the homeless WILL be allowed back in the park once renovations are complete or are you just spouting gentrification to get a reaction. Also, I don’t see how you call this class war. You’re poor homeless people are not the only ones losing use of the park…everyone is until the renovations are complete. Then, once complete, they can come back
As Paul mentioned above there are other parks and I HAVE hung out in Kanawa, Capital Square, Byrd, and Brown’s Island. There should be no reason you can’t move to one of those parks while Monroe is renovated. All of these areas are just a nice as Monroe and would be fine for your purposes during the renovations.
Quit it with such nastiness…it makes you seem ridiculous!
Mo,
Find all the people in these pictures taken during some of the finest weather this fall.
Monroe Park Diary: Look Ma, No Kids!
Monroe Park Diary: The Exception That Proves the Rule
Monroe Park Diary: Sunday In the Park
If I merely wanted to gentrify the park, I wouldn’t qualify to go there. Right now the park is virtually unused except for special occasions and political purposes. As Carl Sagan used to say, “What an awful waste of space.”
Where was Food Not Bombs for the Forest Hill Park Lake renovations? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7IQoJECNa8&NR=1