Letter To The Editor:

With regards of using the armory as a homeless shelter (“Burbank holds reins for shelter,” Saturday), it is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a long time.

I cannot believe that this could seriously be even on the agenda to be considered.

First of all, the armory is mere feet away from Pacific Park.

People use this park from dawn until dark. Pacific Park has a children’s program funded by Park, Recreation and Community Service. It is used for children’s birthday parties, softball, tee-ball, soccer, basketball and tennis. It is very rare to go by this park without some activity going on.

One block away is Providencia Elementary School. Children walk to and from school along Pacific Avenue; some are supervised, and some are not.

I feel the plight of homeless people, and everyone in life has hard knocks. But common knowledge shows the vast majority of homeless people are drug addicts, alcoholics and people with mental health issues.

I am fearful of what the children and park goers are going to be subjected to, and of course of what element will be introduced into our neighborhoods.

They claim people will be transported in and out of the armory but cannot guarantee that they will stay inside the armory.

We are introducing people that do not belong in our neighborhoods.

Will Burbank guarantee that our neighborhoods will remain drug-free, our property and houses will not be burglarized, and our residents will be safe? What will it take to stop this? Unfortunately, the only way we’ll find out is when a child/person is hurt, attacked or worse. I am not using the “sky is falling” rhetoric; this will happen.

I hope that the Burbank City Council will seriously consider the ramifications. If this goes through, I fear that our quality of life, our little slice of safe suburbia as we know it, will be gone.

STACY ANDREWS

Burbank