Dear Planning Commission,
I am writing in support of the RSS Supportive Housing Project, Solstice Commons, on 164 River Street (vacant lot on West Broadway). I believe that this project will benefit our community and provide much needed affordable housing to Onetonta.
I urge you to approve this project as it is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, housing study and zoning code. The site plan complies with zoning code and has been designed with robust public feedback in mind. The project will have minimal negative environmental impacts. In fact, it’s sited on already disturbed/developed property, as opposed to a greenfield. Please move forward with this project.
[Other Key Points to mention (pick the ones that you feel strongest about):
Lack of Affordable Housing - We are facing a housing crisis, and there is a lack of available housing. House prices and interest rates are rising. Most apartments in Oneonta are above a fair market rate. Housing availability is disproportionately set up for student rentals and vacation homes.
Lack of essential workers - Oneonta is in great need of medical personnel, social workers, mental healthcare workers, and other professionals. People in these fields cannot afford to live in Oneonta and need affordable housing.
Homelessness Prevention - Recently, 35 unhoused local people were displaced during a storm with nowhere to go. The city needs to be proactive about preventing homelessness, rather than waiting until people are in crisis.
Reducing Crime Rates and Policing Time - Studies show that supportive housing reduces crime rates and saves police significant time annually by reducing the number of offenses associated with homelessness.
City Tax Profit Will Increase - A common misconception seems to be that Oneonta residents will see increased taxes, however since the site being developed is a vacant lot, the city would actually see an increase in revenue.]
On a more personal note, [include any personal feelings or connection you have to the need for supportive housing and/or RSS.]
Thank you for your time and consideration on this important matter. Oneonta is a certified Pro-Housing community in New York, and approving this project is fully in line with our values as a city.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Full Address]
—
planningcommission@oneonta.ny.com
cityinfo@oneonta.ny.us
The City of Oneonta Planning Commission meets on the third Wednesday of each month, at 7:00 p.m., in the Common Council Chambers.
Letter Template:
Dear Commissioner Winne,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the handling of the recent winter storms and cold weather advisories. As I’m sure you are aware, many unhoused people in Oneonta were stranded during dangerous extreme weather conditions. I do not believe that DSS is being compliant with Code Blue requirements.
Despite PIT counts, it seems that DSS is not equipped to provide shelter for the growing number of unhoused people in Otsego County. A single warming station with 10 beds that is only open in the evenings is not enough for the City of Oneonta.
Amazingly, local community organizers were able to open their church as a temporary shelter. However, that burden should never have fallen on kindhearted individuals. It should have been handled by DSS, Otsego County, and the CIty of Oneonta.
[Feel free to share your personal connection or feelings about what the folks at the First United Methodist Church did during this crisis.]
Several times throughout the last week of January, there were weather advisories telling people to stay indoors as much as possible and warning that the cold could cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes. Despite that warning, one of the solutions offered by DSS during that time was to require people to travel to designated locations to pick up bus passes, and then travel from Oneonta to Cooperstown. It seemed that only after public pressure that alternative solutions were offered in Oneonta, such as extending the Chestnut Street warming station hours.
It should not take this kind of public pressure for shelter to be provided during a Code Blue emergency. DSS has an obligation to ensure that everyone is provided shelter, and to prepare for cold weather advisories. DSS needs to take action as soon as advisories are released, not days later.
The unhoused population will not have to advocate for themselves alone any more. The residents of Otsego County are seeing what is happening and demanding better. We demand quicker response times to weather advisories, extended warming station hours, and more shelter space for the 40+ unhoused people in Oneonta.
Thank you for your time and consideration on this vital matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Full Address]
[Your Email Address]
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DSS Commissioner Lisa Winne
140 County Highway 33W
Cooperstown, NY 13326
winnel@otsegocountyny.gov - DSS Commissioner Lisa Winne
purdys@otsegocountyny.gov - Deputy DSS Commissioner Sarah Purdy
steelel@otsegocountyny.gov - Secretary to the Commissioner Linda Steele
wilsons@otsegocountyny.gov - County Administrator Steve Wilson
martinia@otsegocountyny.gov - Otsego County Board Representative Adrienne Martini, Head of DSS Committee