After reading Betty Zech’s July 31 letter, “Prioritizing people,” I had to respond. I am a resident of SLO and an employee of the wonderful city of Santa Maria. I am also a supporter of the Santa Barbara County Humane Society and many local Santa Maria charities. But I am an even bigger supporter of the city’s wonderful homeless campus.
Unlike San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria has a successful and well-maintained homeless campus called the Good Samaritan Shelter. The shelter and many of its partners (including the city of Santa Maria) have succeeded in doing something that SLO seems unable to do — give homeless people a clean, safe, comprehensive and professionally run homeless services program. What continues to amaze me is how the residents of Santa Maria who have so little can give so much. No, Betty, it’s not about priorities, it's about love. May I suggest you check it out.
