Posted by Martin Zelin, a resident of the Tiburon neighborhood, on Oct 30, 2009 at 2:16 pm

Separation of church and state is a basic principal of this country. I think the impositions of fees and difficult conditions on the use of churches, synagogues and other religious buildings to hinder them from fulfilling their roles as places of sanctuary and refuge is disgraceful. Congregations ought to be able to use their special status to promote helping people regardless of what the San Rafael City Council does or does want. I also think citizens should exercise their votes in elections for City Council to express their beliefs on this issue.

Posted by Pat, a resident of the San Rafael neighborhood, on Oct 30, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Regarding the comment from a Tiburon neighbor: It seems that folks throughout the county come out of the woodwork to speak their minds regarding what issues affect San Rafael and its residents. Maybe they ought to keep their noses out of our city's business especially since the impact of these certain issues DO NOT AFFECT THEM!

The protocol that is in place with regard to use permits in San Rafael is the norm in most communities and must be adhered to in order minimize illegal activities. We are NOT NIMBYS but more like concerned citizens!

Posted by Chris Highland, a resident of the San Rafael neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2009 at 1:37 pm

I appreciate the article, and the comments. Interesting thing about this "issue" of homelessness, is that once a "housed neighbor" gets to know an "unhoused neighbor" perceptions change, fear begins to dissipate and relationships form. In my mind, this marks the end of homelessness as an "issue" to debate and react too. Our very efficient and safe model of sheltering is innovative and creative, based on cooperative compassion. Pretty radical idea! (see www.marinshelter.wordpress.com to learn and get involved). And it all starts with the simple, courageous act, of opening a door to a stranger, a fellow human being. Regarding the shelter's impact in one city or another, I might simply quote Pablo Casals: "Love of one's country (city) is a good thing, but why should love stop at the border?"

Posted by Another TIburon Neighbor, a resident of the Tiburon neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2009 at 10:19 pm

The legal principal of separation of church and state makes it impermissable for the sate to advocate religion. It does not preclude government from imposing the same restrictions and laws on religious institutions that are placed on any other citizen or instiution. TO exclude religious institutios violates violate the very principal tow which Mr. Zellin refers.

Posted by Robert C. Singler Jr., a resident of the San Rafael neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2009 at 8:02 am

It's misleading to call $4,000 permits standard procedure for non-profits. While I can respect San Rafael Mayor Boro's interest in various other cities sharing the burden of social services, a burden which San Rafael is carrying more than any other city, I also understand the homeless when they view such fees as what they call 'povety pimping.' As somebody who is intimately aware, perhaps more than anyone other than SRPD Officer J. Martin, of the threat to public safety our diners pose, I feel that catering to the largely negligble fears of rich people with the fees while ignoring the needs of the homeless, is more like money-laundering than municipal backbone. There is the front, which is all about catering to the public's interest but behind closed doors, there's leeching on homeless people. We should be setting the National standard with Marin not paying politicians for prejudicial disinterest. I was speaking with a former organizer from the South Bronx and they had too many shelters, so he was astonished to find out that here we can't even meet basic emergency needs. The county is rich enough that it does not need to take from the homeless; and if we have pay fees, that's somebody's rent, their medications or a bus-ticket that frankly we can barely afford already at the various Vincentian Conferences.

Posted by San Rafael Voter, a resident of the San Rafael neighborhood, on Nov 2, 2009 at 11:40 am

This is a little like the other post about the county charging $800 for a permit to build a deck and defending it by saying it covers their expenses. Bureaucrats will be bureaucrats, but the people we elect are supposed to understand actual problems that actual people have and make the system responsive. In this case churches shouldn't have be charged $4,000 or more for wanting to shelter the homeless on a temporary basis. If the regulations are a problem, change them to deal with this issue. What happened to common sense and compassion?

Posted by LCBL, a resident of the Lucas Valley neighborhood, on Nov 3, 2009 at 8:11 pm

I totally agree with the San Rafael voter that mentions that if the "regulation" are a problem ($4000.00 from a church, for crying out loud) , then change the regulations to meet real, true, crisis need. 'By the grace of God, go I'.