Not in My Back Yard!

New York City residents can attest, finding housing in the city is an enormously frustrating, costly and drawn-out undertaking.

The process is even more challenging for populations that are mentally ill, disabled or suffering from drug abuse. These high-need populations often need assistance and program support to insure they have a safe and affordable environment to deal with their personal challenges.

And who doesn’t understand that?

But how would you feel if one of those residences were opened on the block where you live? Perhaps, one such residence would not bother you. But what if a second one opened not long after the first? And what if you found out a third residence, three times the size of the first two combined was about to open on your small block? Then how would you feel?

On Saturday, June 2, residents of the Herking Alagantic Block Association are protesting plans by one private developer to build a 6-story building that will house mentally ill residents, the third building housing high-need residents in the area.

But what really upsets them about the building is the failure of any of the people responsible for its approval to give the block association members a voice or a choice in the decision.

But should they have been included? Should residents be able to have a voice in who can or cannot live around them when it comes to the planning of their neighborhood? Or does this set a dangerous precedent? Should the decision be left in the hands of the city and elected officials?

Take our poll, and tell us what you think in the comments.