One lesson I take from this encounter is that people in power define "compassion" differently than we commoners. The deputy mayor and others lauded themselves for showing "compassion" to the homeless, and rightfully so. Thanks largely to the former town manager, Jeff Mayfield, Destiny's Bridge became the first government-sanctioned camp on the east coast, and one of the very few in the country. With the knowledge that the land was earmarked for eventual auction, we set about creating a community that offered the otherwise-homeless residents a sense of belonging, dignity, and purpose.With the land now sold to Dr. Richard Roberts, a Lakewood resident (and, worth noting, a donor to Promoting Responsible Government, a Howell PAC run by Deputy Mayor Robert Nicastro's wife), Mr. Nicastro stated that "municipalities cannot solve the problem of homelessness." Attorney Jeffrey Wild responded by citing New Jersey's POOR statute, indicating that not only did local authorities have a responsibility to help the poor, but that our state has laws on the books that mandate it.
Mr. Nicastro also expressed the sentiment that the homeless problem merely shifted from Lakewood (which housed the original tent city) to Howell, disregarding the reality that homelessness exists everywhere - likely because local governments tend to ignore the problem or, like Mr. Nicastro, regard their well-being as less important than their housed, taxpaying constituents.
In this commoner's opinion, conceding to provide the bare minimum to those in need and then seeking to repudiate the issue when the opportunity arises is indeed a skewed definition of "compassion."
Moreover, the attitude of Mr. Nicastro and Councilman Robert Walsh towards the homeless and their supporters can best be described as patronizing at best, and blatantly hostile at worst. I was aghast at their repeated attempts to gaslight various speakers, including a Destiny's Bridge board member whose education and moral integrity they challenged with a false claim that they never gave a deadline for the homeless to leave the property. I was further appalled when they insisted that "no progress" had been made in the eighteen months that the camp occupied the land. In a year's time, upon finding a safe place to call home, residents obtained jobs, found solace in caring for their own as well as communal space, and formed a genuine community of neighbors and friends - a community that these "compassionate" council members see fit to tear asunder in the name of benefiting Howell taxpayers.
As one member of the community-at-large - my mother, Terry Ferrara - stated to the council, "We are sick of politics. These are human beings - people's lives. They have a garden, and chapel, and each other to lean on. You need to keep that in mind while you're making your decision."
That, friends, is real compassion - the sense of empathy she raised me to have for my fellow man. Real compassion is not watered down or relinquished in the face of challenges. It stands to unite and encourage, not mock or demean - and to remind us what really matters.
I thank each and every person who attended last night's meeting in support of Destiny's Bridge and the homeless individuals in our care, for YOUR compassion as well. And I continue to hope against all hope that the people we voted into office not only reconsider the true definition of compassion, but choose to demonstrate it to all people, no matter their economic status or circumstances.
