March 29, 2008 Saturday — Baseball practice, rest, and showing my appreciation for community.

I am so happy to announce the correction on ABC Ch 30 11 o’clock news last night! I can’t tell you how much it helps me to move forward with the fight against the sexual exploitation — the prostitution — of children.

Most of you understood exactly what I was getting at, especially Dr. Lois Lee with Children of the Night, a tireless advocate for children that have been involved in prostitution. (Please refer anyone you know who has been involved in prostitution as a child to Children of the Night, they give children hope for normalcy — an actual childhood — after the trauma. 800-551-1300. www.childrenofthenight.org)

I met Dr. Lois Lee towards the beginning of filming the documentary. I had already returned to the Villa Motel on Parkway Drive, where the nightmare began, and we had put together a few minutes of footage to share with the kids at Children of the Night. I sat in the living room with a dozen kids who were just like me. We all cried, first as I watched the Children of the Night video, and heard their stories, and then as they watched mine. Afterwards we didn’t talk about the trauma, we just talked about normal stuff. We had some lunch and I heard about their school days, their interests, and their outings.

That was the first day I met Lois. I remember so clearly that when we sat in her office at the end of the day she said to me, “the painful part was just starting. It is going to get worse.”

She knew what I did not…that there would be countless misunderstandings with the media, and with friends, and with family.

I get it now. And I can see why she does not recommend or encourage kids (or adults) to talk about what they have been through with the public. There are still too many misconceptions in the media, and in our own hearts.

I am so grateful to be in a community that has stood up for what was right. It truly does give me the courage and the determination to keep this fight up until we break down the barriers of misconception to get help to kids that are alone and afraid — and trapped — first by those that exploit them and then later by the public and their peers.

Thank you to all those that called and emailed, and thank you to ABC 30 Local for standing up for what is right!

***************

Yesterday I spoke at Lemoore’s West Hills Community College Leadership Conference! It was amazing. There was a great turnout and I enjoyed questions and comments following my presentation. I am encouraged by the number of people in the Central Valley that are survivors — keep up the fight!

And besides having to write this entry (to give you & ABC credit) I had a completely normal day today that included baseball practice, bbq, and rest! It’s taking time to settle in to the fact that life is so good, especially when you’re doing what you love! That said…I did make the big decision to take the bar exam this July. I’ll keep everyone posted. Expect that you might be getting some law review on these blogs as I plow through the thousands of pages and dozens of law books over the next two months!

March 27, 2008 — Thursday: What is wrong with the title?

I feel like the label that was recently given to me in a news story is a picture on the back of Highlights children magazine. You know the one that you circle all the things WRONG in the picture…or just out of place.

After hearing from tons of family and loved ones about the report on Channel 30 I decided to make the point here that there is a difference between a “prostituted child” and “a prostitute!”

It matters to people to know whether I was forced into prostitution when I was 12 years old or whether I was turning tricks on Motel Drive at 20! (Though I know the 20 year old and have empathy because according to research it probably started for her when she was around 14 or younger…after she was abused at an even younger age.)

I was involved in prostitution as a homeless kid on the street — where I was sexually exploited by adults. I was 13 when all of that ended for good!

I think my point is best made when you think about victims of sexual abuse in general. Would it make sense to say that someone who is raped or molested as a child became “sexually active at 8 years old?” It doesn’t make sense and it puts the blame in the wrong place.

To a lesser degree, I also do not believe that I am an activist in the everyday sense of the word. Even though I love activists, I don’t measure up to them. I am passionate, but I also love to relax and enjoy life. I go on vacation, I enjoy my free time, and I spend a ton of time with family and friends — chilling out. Maybe all “activists” do this, and it’s just my perception.

If I am an “activist” then after an MBA from UCLA Anderson, I’m not the usual one! I have invested time and money in learning how to participate in government and business. Besides, I guess what I truly believe is that activism in business sometimes means progress — it’s the difference between Steve Jobs and everyone else!

I guess that I could also be an activist because I care about the future of a community, and want to see the end of prostitution of children on Motel & Parkway Drives. But then again, are people that were molested by Catholic Priests truly “activists” when they file suit to bring an end to a once overlooked abuse? I don’t think you’d call them “activist” in the true sense of the word because they are fighting for their own justice.

I am similarly fighting for my own justice by organizing a community!

PLEASE COMMENT ON THE DISTINCTION IN AN EMAIL AS THE STATION HAS ALREADY RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/feature?section=resources/inside_station/station_info&id=5793938

In case you can’t email: 559-442-1170

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6041865

March 26, 2008 — Losing the attitude means you can laugh at yourself…and have the capacity to enjoy you!

When I was in law school I visited my “adopted” parents over the holidays and some weekends. One of my favorite things to do was to have coffee and read my horoscope in the Fresno Bee. The scope helped me laugh at myself! I loved the bee-scope so much that I’d get back to school and Barbara would call to read it to me.

I woke up this morning to this bee-scope…

Virgo: You might not realize the impact of your attitude on others. You could be making a situation or interaction much heavier or difficult. Look at why you assume the attitude.

Laughing at myself is important. Do I have attitude? YES!

And don’t confuse my attitude with my persistence, passion, determination, or confidence — those are qualities! “Attitude” has a negative connotation because it is somehow unjustified and usually results when a person feels frustrated, either by their own limitations, or the situation they are in.

Simply admitting the attitude is just the beginning. I really need to know “WHY I ASSUME THE ATTITUDE” in order to get rid of it. Maybe I feel like the community got a raw deal, like as much as we tried to rationalize and explain our elected officials did not get it, and maybe I just feel tired and frustrated at the process — one that was broken from the start. In any case, just talking about those reasons makes me feel 100% better!

I’m cool with losing the “attitude.” I don’t think it sets a good example and I also don’t think that “attitude” gets anyone anywhere. That said, my persistence, determination, confidence, and passion still remain!!!

March 25, 2008 — Tuesday is the day of the week when the City Council meets!

I am making a transition to weekly journals. The daily blogs were wonderful, but I felt a bit raw after writing them on a daily basis. And — honestly, my husband missed me when I’d stay on the computer every night until wee hours in the morning.

In the interest of work-life balance Tuesdays are now the day for weekly journaling!!! I had thought about weeklies before but Saturday or Sunday wouldn’t be any good because I want to be with the family. Monday or Friday would suck too because no one would read them. Now, because tonight, Tuesday night, was monumental (or at least institutional!) — with the city council’s vote on the Hacienda — I decided that Tuesdays would be perfect!

Tonight we heard a vote of 5-2 in support of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application by San Diego Mental Health Systems, Inc. to run a private correctional center (”prison”) within Fresno city limits. We are the first city to approve a Female Rehabilitation Community Correctional Center (FRCCC) in California, where residents will be affected.

Bakersfield has approved a CUP application by MHS, but that FRCCC facility would be located next to a juvenile hall. It would not impact the neighborhood in such a negative way…the way that this FRCCC would!

San Jose and Redding saw the light and refused to allow the state to run prisons inside their city limits. The entire state should be fighting these facilities. It’s simply prison expansion, and it’s happening at the same time that we are losing elementary school teachers in the same neighborhoods!!!

Why should children in kindergarten suffer when prisoners get luxury treatment? Even as a former juvenile hall inmate, I’d choose to help the small kids first, and then I’d figure out how to let non-serious, low-risk offenders take care of themselves — outside of prisons!

I wish that all of you could have been there tonight for the vote by the council. One council member, Mike Dages seemed to have had a revelation. With 550 signatures in his hand he asked that the council meeting be open to public comment from those that had not yet been heard — you could have heard a pin drop when his motion to open to public comment waited for its second. It never came!!! Without a second the motion died and the crowd booed in disbelief at the other council members.

Dages was making the profound point to his colleagues that an approval of this CUP would set a precedent for the entire city. Any other vacant building in Fresno, including the soon to be vacant IRS building (next to his home), would be up for grabs to the state. Dages is right!

So now that Fresno citizens are beginning to realize just how important it was to fight against this CUP, what can be done? Are we destined to have an FRCCC in the Jane Addams community, and another earmarked for the city by 2010? The lawyer in me says NO — at least not without a fair fight! We have recourse.

Besides asking for the entire process to be reviewed the community plans to initiate a recall against Cynthia Sterling. I would definitely support the effort whole-heartedly.

Remember that Cynthia refused to speak to community leaders during this entire process. Also remember that it is because of her misdeeds that this CUP made it through the planning commission on the first try without any question whatsoever — even though it had not received comment by the police department!

Cynthia voted to approve the CUP tonight. She obviously does not want to engage a community that employs her, and she has repeatedly refused to stand up for what is best for Fresno and District 3. It’s time that we remind City Council about what their job is exactly — not serving the needs of developers, but answering to the community.

What I am personally looking forward to next with regard to this issue:

#1) Fighting AB 76 for its negative impact on communities like Jane Addams (a “concentrated pocket of poverty” according to the Brookings Institution, with the majority of residents living well below the poverty line!)
#2) Asking for a formal review of the CUP decision
#3) Supporting community members in their efforts to recall Cynthia Sterling, and establishing a Community Benefits Agreement for their neighborhood
#4) Which comes as a surprise to even me…Taking the bar exam and joining (or perhaps leading) the legal action against the city for its faulty process and final decision tonight (the nonprofit development of Motel & Parkway Drive will still happen — there are now champions in place in the community that will have support)

Overall, I don’t want to give the impression that I don’t want to work with the City. I know how important it is to have city and county support, but we all need to remember who puts elected officials in place and that is the community. I am here to answer to the community first, and they are not happy. Several community members were in shock tonight — they were wondering just what would happen to their neighborhood, and their neighbors.

It seems that over time elected officials in Fresno may have forgotten who they serve. Cynthia was way too comfortable when she said to me that she “didn’t think people in that neighborhood had a voice and that’s why she was speaking for them.”

I’m not sure if she was interested in developers, or just incompetent, but either way she has now caused some permanent damage on the city AND showed little concern with respect to tax paying, law abiding citizens! The vote tonight gives the community the opportunity to let all elected officials in Fresno know who they need the most! The voters!

All that said…I do have passions outside of politics and my family. Kids are the real reason that I am back.

My focus on youth homeless issues brings me to paying a great complement to the City and the PD. I will continue to go out of my way to pay my respects to Chief Dyer and Mayor Autry when they protect the homeless. I fully appreciate the recent crack down on crimes against the homeless. To the Mayor and Chief: Keep up the good work and I am looking forward to helping direct the efforts to protect homeless and runaway youth next!

Daily Journal: Day 46 is March 20, 2008 — Thursday and we’re almost through another week!

Thursday and we’re almost through another week! It happens fast, the days, the weeks, the years, and with this time and lots of patience the work gets done!

We had a very successful advanced screening of the documentary on Tuesday night in San Francisco. The film has taken time. It was 2 years in the making, with 150 hours of footage that resulted in a 23 minute picture of a transformational period of my life.

Thanks to ABC 30 Local for covering the evening by sending the SF team to The Letterman Theater on Tuesday night!

It was also so great to meet so many blog readers in person!

Apologies for having some technical and personal difficulties in posting lately. I love to write daily, and honestly I have been paused by community members’ responses to the Hacienda. It is a difficult project to explain because so many women and children need Fresno First in order to rebuild their lives. I have never been against Fresno First. I think that has been clear. I am opposed to building a project along Motel & Parkway drive that does not contribute to the community. Fresno First, on a small scale, will contribute. However, a state prison, the FRCCC does not contribute. A prison, no matter how dressed up, is not good for the community. It’s long lasting effects will hold the community back.

It has also become apparent that after locking up too many people of color for too many years, the state is saying “whoops, that was a big mistake,” and this is their answer. Their answer is a prettier, more home-like prison. Shouldn’t the answer be NO PRISON!

Before I get started down that route again, I need to lean toward the positive once more. I have so much gratitude for everyone involved in Tuesday nights event. Especially the volunteers that made it all possible! YOU WERE ALL AMAZING AND I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT!

Thanks to Lucasfilm!!! Your venue made the evening with alumni, sponsors, and friends of the project just perfect!

Thanks to UCLA Alumni for supporting this project and supporting a cause that in you may not have even known about before Tuesday night!

The entire team is now looking forward to an upcoming screening in Fresno in April! All of these venues, and screenings will generate awareness and people are already beginning to ask what is going on with the kids on Motel & Parkway Drive that are currently being exploited.

My answer is that I hope that everyone who is currently providing service will continue, and my vision is that we will build a coalition. Once we have funding for it, I will propose an ACTION Network for the entire region. This will get Dept of Children & Family Services talking to the Fresno PD, and everyone talking to the judges and the community members. The model was successful in bringing an end to street prostitution in an entire city in San Diego County, and we can learn from the model and do the same. At the heart of the model is the victim. The children are identified, and treated with care, instead of being harassed, arrested or stuck into a broken system.

I learned from a very wise Community Economic Development practitioner and trainer that awareness building is the first step needed for change! BUT nothing happens with awareness alone. The next step is deploying resources.

If you were at the screening on Tuesday night, or saw the report by ABC 30, you know I said this is a long process. And it should be. Street prostitution along Motel/Parkway/Belmont (and other areas well-known in Fresno: Downtown & Blackstone) has been going on for decades.

We don’t want to just stop it temporarily. We are looking for sustainable transformation in the community, without displacement, and that includes ensuring that the victims are able to reach their full potential in the community!

I’m going to keep the message simple in an effort to make change happen: We need #1 AWARENESS and #2 RESOURCES for the transformation of Motel & Parkway Drive to begin.

I am grateful for Fresno’s commitment to this project by both generating awareness & recognizing that it takes time, creativity, and energy to deploy our resources.

March 11, 2008 Tuesday — Which today feels like the first day of the week.

I think everyone agrees that last night was a total disaster, as far as outcomes are concerned. It was so bad that I decided to start the week fresh today. Kinda like when you have a 3-day weekend.

Why was last night’s community meeting a disaster?

It is becoming increasingly apparent that community input on the FRCCC project is not going to take place without a strong coalition and a clearly outlined process. The meetings have proven that the coalition will emerge, and once organized, the community will have the tools and resources to have their voices not only heard — but to possibly have them count.

Whether community voices will count depends on whether the correct process is in place.

More and more community members are only now learning about the project. It has been an uphill battle to educate community members because MHS and the City of Fresno have effectively clumped a state run correctional center (FRCCC) together with a reputable program (Fresno First), which is more of a rehabilitation center.

The confusion over which part of the project community members were against was not the worst part of the meeting. The lowest had to be when a 73 year old community member was expressing her views on the project. She was saying that she had spent decades buying her home. She was told to be “be quiet” by someone on the MHS panel. It was embarrassing for MHS, who has no idea how to engage the community.

So, what about tomorrow night? If MHS really wants to do well by the community they would sit down with a coalition of community leaders to come up with a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).

The CBA is not much different from the agreement MHS has entered into with the police. It’s a plan that would ensure that MHS helps the community protect property values, increase positive economic activity, decrease criminal activity, and improve the lives of children and the elderly living in the community. It might be agreements to support staff positions in community centers, after school programming, money for teachers at Jane Addams school, as well as drainage and sidewalks, so kids in the neighborhood could safely walk to school.

LAST NIGHT WE FOUND OUT THAT KIDS IN THE PROGRAM WOULD BE TAKEN TO AND FROM SCHOOL IN A BUS. THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO WALK ON THE DIRT ROADS, OR THROUGH THE FLOODED ROADS, SO WHY SHOULD MHS CARE ABOUT THE KIDS THAT DO HAVE TO TAKE THOSE DANGEROUS ROUTES TO SCHOOL? That is the point of the CBA. Most developers do not care, until they are asked to care in order to make a project work.

If MHS is serious about community benefits, and truly believes they will have a positive impact on the community, then they will engage in talks to establish a CBA with a coalition of community groups. That will probably take more than 2 weeks, which is why these community meetings should have taken place well before MHS got this far into the project.

By the way, CBA’s are not rocket science. There are many examples and experts in CBA’s that can help this process along. Without contractual benefits for the community the CORRECTIONAL CENTER portion of this proposal (the FRCCC) guarantees that the neighborhood will not be revitalized.

Parties that benefit from this development need to make an offer to do good by the community. It hasn’t happened yet.

One thing to mention is that MHS does have the financial ability to put resources back into the community that they will negatively impact. The costs for implementing the 17 requirements the police have put on MHS will quickly reach the millions. Again, why not put those dollars into the community for the harm that is being done to the community?

I doubt that MHS will agree to meet with a community coalition to establish a CBA at tomorrow’s meeting at Jane Addams, but I know that someone will be there to ask them.

The next community meeting:

March 12th, Wednesday
Jane Addams Elementary School
Stop by at any time, but best to get there early for parking.
6:00 - 8:30 PM

March 10, 2008 — Monday

What: Community Meeting
When: TONIGHT! MARCH 10th 6 PM - 9 PM
Where: Golden Palace
The facility has a black iron fence around it. It’s Gold in color. Located between Fresno Inn & The Hacienda.
The street is Vassar, a small side street just south of Clinton off the 99
Who: Anyone in Fresno that has questions about the FRCCC — community correctional center portion of this project. The Fresno
First program is NOT being opposed by most residents in the community.

Other news related to The Carissa Project: NY Governor admits to being involved in prostitution ring!

Spitzer admits to being involved in prostitution ring.

March 9, 2008 Sunday — Everyone needs time to reflect.

It’s been great being home, and in bed by a decent hour. I just wrote the most eloquent explanation of my absence and lost it. I’m cool with that and hope you are too! Trust me that I needed the rest and reflection or I was leading to classic burnout.

I actually really need to get back to blogging because I know that many locals are reading. I’m encouraging anyone who feels a prison at the old Hacienda will have an impact on the neighborhood to show up to 1 or 2 of the upcoming meetings. They are taking place tomorrow and Wednesday and it’s the only way that the City Council can hear your concerns.

I recently learned that there was A GAG ORDER ON THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THAT NO ONE CAN SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT THE HACIENDA!!! NOT ME, NOT MHS, NOT PR PEOPLE FOR MHS, NOT ATTORNEYS, NO ONE.

The only word they will get from the community will come from these 2 meetings.

If you’re in Fresno, I hope that you’ve already heard about the meetings with a flier, an online notice, or a letter from the city. If haven’t heard yet here are the details:

Community Meetings March 10 & 12

Date: March 10 (Monday), 2008
Time: 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Place: Golden Palace Banquet Facility
Address: 2625 West Vassar Avenue Fresno CA
(Access off-of West Clinton Avenue, west of State Route 99)

Date: March 12, (Wednesday), 2008
Time: 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Place: Jane Addams Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room
Address: 2117 West McKinley Avenue, Fresno CA

►NOTICE OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS◄
REGARDING THE FORMER “HACIENDA” MOTEL SITE

On February 26, 2008, the City Council of the City of Fresno conducted a public hearing regarding the conversion of the former “Hacienda” motel site on the north side of West Clinton Avenue, west of North Parkway Drive (2550 West Clinton Avenue) to a group home facility that will include a Female Rehabilitative Community Correctional Center (FRCCC), the Fresno First Program, and the Transitional Supportive Housing program. Many persons who attended the Council meeting indicated that they were not adequately informed of the project proposal and they wanted to have their views taken into consideration during the Council’s deliberations on this matter. Council continued their deliberations and decision on the proposed project until the March 25, 2008 (5:30 p.m.) Council meeting to allow further input from the community. In order to provide you with information concerning the project proposal, and also provide you with the opportunity to indicate your interests to the Council, the Planning and Development Department has scheduled two public meetings. Since the content of both meetings will be the same, you may attend either one of these meetings on the dates, times and places indicated below. Public comments will be forwarded to the City Council for their consideration prior to the March 25, 2008 meeting.

Date: March 10 (Monday), 2008
Time: 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Place: Golden Palace Banquet Facility
Address: 2625 West Vassar Avenue Fresno CA
(Access off-of West Clinton Avenue, west of State Route 99)

Date: March 12, (Wednesday), 2008
Time: 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Place: Jane Addams Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room
Address: 2117 West McKinley Avenue, Fresno CA

You may view the February 26, 2008 City Council staff report and related information on this project at the following website address: http://www.fresno.gov/CouncilDocs/agenda2.26.2008/530.pdf

A “Powerpoint” presentation of key facts about the proposed project can be accessed at: http://www.fresno.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D99429F3-D254-4DB1-887B-8EE8CD5CB0F8/8528/HaciendaPowerpoint.pdf

For additional information regarding the above project or meetings, contact Donn Beedle, Planning and Development Department, Planning Division, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, California 73721-3604, by phone at (559) 621-8037, or via e-mail at Donn.Beedle@fresno.gov.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■

► NOTIFICACION DE JUNTAS DE LA COMUNIDAD◄
SOBRE EL SITIO ANTERIOR DEL MOTEL HACIENDA

El 26 de Febrero, del 2006, el Consejo de la Ciudad de Fresno condujo una audencia pública tocante a la conversión del sitio anterior del Motel Hacienda situado al lado norte de la Avenida Clinton y oeste de North Parkway Drive (2550 West Clinton Avenue) a un grupo o facilidades de hogar que incluyen Un Centro de la Comunidad Rehabilitativa y Correccional para Mujeres (FRCCC), Fresno First Program y el Programa de Servicios y Apoyo de Vivienda Transicional.
Muchas de las personas que atendieron la junta del Consejo indicaron que no se les informó adecuadamente del propósito del proyecto y pidieron que sus puntos de vista se les tomaran en consideración durante las deliberaciones del Consejo sobre este asunto.

El Consejo continuará sus deliberaciones y tomará una decisión en el propuesto proyecto el día 25 de Marzo del 2008 a las 5:30 p.m. Antes de esta junta, se llevarán acabo dos audiencias públicas para dar información tocante al prosupuesto del proyecto y al mismo tiempo, se le dará la oportunidad a la comunidad de expresar sus intereses o commentarios al Consejo de la Ciudad de Fresno. El Departamento de Planificación a programado dos juntas. El contenido de las dos juntas será lo mismo y se puede atender cualquiera de las dos juntas en las fechas y tiempos y sitios indicados abajo. Los comentarios públicos serán presentados al Consejo de la Ciudad para su consideración antes de la junta del día 25 de Marzo del 2008.

Date: March 10 (Monday), 2008
Time: 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Place: Golden Palace
2625 West Vassar Avenue
(Access off West Clinton Avenue, west of State Highway 99)

Date: March 12, (Wednesday), 2008
Time: 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Place: Jane Addams Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room
Address: 2117 West McKinley Avenue, Fresno CA

Se puede ver el Reporte del Consejo de la Ciudad de Fresno de la fecha 26 de Febrero del 2008 y toda otra información relacionada sobre este proyecto en el siguiente domicilio de la internet: http://www.fresno.gov/CouncilDocs/agenda2.26.2008/530.pdf

Una presentación de “Powerpoint” presentando la información que se va a discutir sobre este proyecto se puede obtener en el siguiente sitio de la internet: http://www.fresno.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D99429F3-D254-4DB1-887B-8EE8CD5CB0F8/8528/HaciendaPowerpoint.pdf

Para más información sobre el proyecto mencionado o sobre las juntas, por favor comuniquese con Donn Beedle, Planning and Development Department, Planning Division, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, California 73721-3604, by phone at (559) 621-8037, or via e-mail at Donn.Beedle@fresno.gov.

Every concern matters. Read what happened in Shasta County with a similar project last month!

Similar Community Correctional Centers rejected in Shasta County — and it Started with Community Meetings!

RE-ENTRY SITE REJECTED IN SHASTA COUNTY

February 27, 2008 Wednesday — Back from the wedding & family moon!

Last night the council voted to have the Hacienda conditional use permit decision postponed until March 25th to give the community, the planning commission, the city and the county government more time to weigh in and learn more about the proposed use. This is good news! http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/425058.html

Other good news: This morning the USATODAY article was in the paper and I really liked it, but couldn’t help but comment on it after I read other comments. It’s probably because I haven’t blogged in forever, and I really needed to get some things out. Especially needed to say how fantastic it is to be married to such a wonderful human being. Cole really is genuine and friendly, and he cares. And what I realized this week on our “family moon” is that this is the first constructive & romantic relationship I have ever been in — he really does build me up and I love him for that. I think I do the same for him and that’s why it’s special, and it probably has a lot to do with us being friends for so long and having a great deal of respect for each other.

I’m not planning a relationship book anytime soon, so I’ll stop there, but just wanted to take a chance to say how happy I am being married and having a family.

MY COMMENT TO THE USATODAY ARTICLE:

I know that an article can never say it all, and to those who have commented, thanks for taking the time.

There is one thing I’d like to clarify — The Hacienda project is a not just a halfway house. It includes a prison, with California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation running & paying for the facility.

The applicant for the Conditional Use Permit, Mental Health Systems, Inc did a “bate & switch” on the planning commission and was not clear about what they were building. The fight has been to ensure that the community has a say when the city decides to allow a 400 person facility to come into the community. It’s a fight for process and for facts. I agree that prisoners, and parolees will need a place to receive treatment, but research says that smaller is better — so why 400 and why in this neighborhood where prostitution is the #1 form of employment for women?

This push back from the community has been about getting a service provider and the state to work collaboratively with a community that has been disenfranchised. In my limited experience in life, and in this field, when people tell the truth and work collaboratively there are better outcomes.

I have been talking to the applicant for the CUP for about a month trying to find out why they needed to have the prison component. The halfway house was not opposed by the community, but the prison needs to be evaluated separately. It’s a different use than what the applicant originally asked for and told the community they were getting — the “bate & switch.”

*****

There are other nuances in the story, like why I “disliked” the first group home “instantly and ran away.”

There is a great study (found it on Providence After School Alliance website www.mypasa.org) that basically says given a choice kids will choose “no program” over “a poorly run program” almost always.

I didn’t know much at 12 about the streets, or about how to protect myself, but I think that report says it all and puts the pressure where it belongs — on society. We’re already spending the money and now we need to be sure to spend it wisely on programs that actually work — not just the ones we like but the ones the kids like INSTANTLY!

If you’re a solution oriented person and would like some quality improvement strategies visit: http://www.mypasa.org/index.php?id=1083

Finally, my favorite comment to respond to is the one that I won’t have time for my family. I love and cherish my family over everything else. Anyone who knows me knows that my heart belongs at home…I just hadn’t found one until now.

Carissa

p.s. I LOVE YOU COLE CLEMENT. You’re my best friend, and you know I tell you all the time that you make it possible for me to do everything I do. It’s true! I am here for you and for our family always b/c without you I wouldn’t have a safe place to be me.

February 19, 2008 Tuesday - Meetings and packing up for Florida!

I get the feeling that Monday was busy. I was exhausted but didn’t sleep much on Monday night because I was honestly a little nervous about a meeting I had this morning. It wasn’t nervousness I guess as much as simply being curious about who I was going to meet. It turned out to be more than wonderful and as far as trust and circles of trusts go mine just grew a little bigger. That’s a very cool and a very rare feeling for me, so it was a great meeting and a great morning.

Later in the day there was the debrief of the meeting and the preparing for vacation. I’m off to sleep now because our flight is out of LA and we have a long drive tomorrow morning. Everyone has been so great and is wishing us well on the journey! Hopefully we’ll be back and all ready for catching up with friends on a regular basis soon.

I’m surrounded by joy and peace and love and happiness…and I’m going to Disney World!!!

I’ll post pictures when I can as my dailies and if you visit to read the blog and I’m not around for a few days just know that I am having the time of my life and starting our new family!

Speaking of family…

My baby brother will also be on a flight to Florida tomorrow! He’ll be giving me away on Thursday thanks to a friend who mentioned it and then I just couldn’t let the thought go!!! Also thanks to Continental vouchers and allowing me to get a ticket for him!

We’ll miss my baby brother’s GF — (Good luck on your exams BB!) She’s going to CSUF to be a detective. She’s super great and I’m so happy for my baby brother. (He’ll miss you for sure and I know he is sacraficing to be by my side.) What a great man!

xxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxooxxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxox

I’ll miss my other siblings and especially my nieces & nephews. I can’t wait to see and talk to you AR & you’re always on my mind. I know times are tough right now, and you know that I am here for you always. When I’m back we’ll get together and just have some good auntie and niece time together. That goes for the rest of the kids as well. I really miss ya and you know I love you ALL so much! XOXOXO. aunt Carissa!!!