Edmonton-area NIMBY ###### opposes Habitat for Humanity

[MarchHare]

Did you know that building a Habitat for Humanity housing development in your neighbourhood will result in drugs being sold in your kids' elementary school, gang fights in their high school, unruly families at the community's parks and movie theatres, and speeding drivers running over your children?

You didn't know that? Don't feel bad, I didn't either until recently. Thankfully Chris Perry and his wife Karleena wrote to the St. Albert Gazette to warn us decent, hard-working upper middle class citizens of these and other horrors that surely await our communities should we allow Habitat for Humanity to build homes within the confines of our gated suburban neighbourhoods.

http://www.stalbertgazette.com/artic...lberts-appeals

At first I thought this had to be an April Fools' joke that was published a few days too late, but apparently it's quite real. I could quote a few sections, but the entire letter is worth reading -- every last paragraph contains at least one "did he really just say that?" remark.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

This was the lowlight of the letter IMHO....

When we first moved to St. Albert our teen had a hard time fitting in because of money and it was hard on him. Now he is good, but it did not go away with just a loving hug — his status was accomplished once his friends saw our house and other possessions. It sounds cruel but that is how it is; ask your children, they will tell you.

Apparently St Albert is a couple days away from a 'Real Housewives of St Albert' franchise?

[flip]

Think how popular their kid will be when all the other kids in town find out his dad's moronic letter is being reported all across Alberta.

I already saw a link to this on the Herald website. These people are going to be so very popular in St Albert.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/al...465/story.html

[frinkprof]

Yeah, I've been following this story for a couple days.

He actually did some backpedalling and apologizing for his letter after there was a huge backlash on several internet forums, radio shows, Facebook, newspaper comments pages, etc. Apparently the husband and wife had to take down their personal Facebook pages because of all of this.

Here's an Edmonton Journal article that came out a couple days after the letter where he apologizes and tries to explain his position.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Albert+...465/story.html

On at least one forum, someone even tracked down the name of the couples' company, which seems to be two separate businesses, one which is oilfield consulting, and another which is office cleaning.

http://www.canpages.ca/page/AB/st-al...g/5047816.html

Personally, I don't have much sympathy about the public shaming over what was written in the letter, up to the point where people started going so far as to attack their business. I think the backpedalling the guy did over the days following the letter was just that. He laid out his thoughts and feelings pretty well in that letter, and saying that his real problems were traffic and parking is just a poor attempt to save face.

Apparently Habitat for Humanity has been receiving a number of donations over the last few days that are made in the name of Chris and Karleena Perry.

[3 Justin 3]

I don't understand, is this one family think that by HaH building homes, a bunch of gangsters are going to movie in and sell drugs?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I don't understand, is this one family think that by HaH building homes, a bunch of gangsters are going to movie in and sell drugs?

Yeah, that's pretty much what they are saying in the letter.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I don't understand, is this one family think that by HaH building homes, a bunch of gangsters are going to movie in and sell drugs?

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Yeah, that's pretty much what they are saying in the letter.

Yes, because clearly all poor down on their luck people who get a home built are low life drug dealing gangsters who try to run down kids with their cars.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Swarly

Yes, because clearly all poor down on their luck people who get a home built are low life drug dealing gangsters who try to run down kids with their cars.

I knew it.

[Shazam]

Well, it is Edmonton.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Personally, I don't have much sympathy about the public shaming over what was written in the letter, up to the point where people started going so far as to attack their business. I think the backpedalling the guy did over the days following the letter was just that. He laid out his thoughts and feelings pretty well in that letter, and saying that his real problems were traffic and parking is just a poor attempt to save face.

My thoughts as well, if his only issue was with the size of the project and traffic implications there would be no way he wrote the letter he did in the first place.

Grade 'A' BS.

[burn_this_city]

I saw this in the herald a couple days ago. Its kind of sad this is the kind of thing people get bent out of shape over.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Well, it is St. Albert.

Fixed.

If St. Alberta wants to consider itself above the rest of the Greater Edmonton Area because of its positives, let it also stand alone with its ######y-ness

[Byrns]

Yet its ok for people in Calgary to oppose a Methadone clinic in a strip mall for the same reasons...

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Yet its ok for people in Calgary to oppose a Methadone clinic in a strip mall for the same reasons...

That's odd, I don't recall anybody writing that here, do you?

I absolutely loved the part about the children and being unpopular at school. That was truly hilarious. The real problem the children have is that they are being raised by uppity ######bags who likely influence their attitudes and perceptions. If son is anything like dad, I gaurantee he is unpopular and it isn't because of "fitting in".

If your top reasons for opposing HaH are over-the-top whining about gang violence, "unruly families" (what is that, by the way?) and tough luck popularity contests for your bratty spoiled children than maybe you need to take a step back and re-evaluate things a bit.

[Locke]

I believe they are confusing Habitats for Humanity with Habitats against Humanity.

HfH is for people who need a hand up, and HAH is for the ones that will gun down your babies after spoonfeeding them cocaine nonstop for 8-10 weeks.

Easy mistake.

[pylon]

This is obviously a fake story. Everyone knows there are no upper middle class people in Edmonton.

[bcb]

Good thing he doesn't live in Regina. His letter would earn him a yard full of manure.

[CaptainCrunch]

As long as they keep the damned Irish out of my neighborhood we'll all get along ok.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

That's odd, I don't recall anybody writing that here, do you?

I absolutely loved the part about the children and being unpopular at school. That was truly hilarious. The real problem the children have is that they are being raised by uppity ######bags who likely influence their attitudes and perceptions. If son is anything like dad, I gaurantee he is unpopular and it isn't because of "fitting in".

If your top reasons for opposing HaH are over-the-top whining about gang violence, "unruly families" (what is that, by the way?) and tough luck popularity contests for your bratty spoiled children than maybe you need to take a step back and re-evaluate things a bit.

Try this thread to jog your memory...
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=76518

[krazycanuck]

So some folks on twitter have taken an extra dislike to this guy and his wife. Including posting his address and business name...which just so happens to be a Oilfield/property maintenance company. The best part is his business profile:

http://www.canpages.ca/page/5047816.html#mapdirections

Having money apparently does not mean you can use spell check.