Jarred Simmons: Homeless center not exactly a welcoming site
Instead of a welcome arch or signs welcoming people to the City of Merced, “The Gateway to Yosemite,” a multimillion-dollar Merced County Mental Health center dubbed “Regional Transient Homeless Center” is proposed for the former county hospital between 14th and 15th streets. The county is declaring the site excess property. Why not allow the private sector to devolp the site as a regional hotel and conference center, or allow UC Merced to use the property as part of a downtown campus, or use it to support companies at Castle Airport, or create something to do with Yosemite tourism that would compliment a planned high-speed rail station just three blocks west down the street.
Passing motorist on Highway 99 will no doubt be treated to scenic views of the Sierra’s to the east, and Merced’s own “Transient Center” to the south, welcoming the mentally ill, transients and homeless. How do you want your community to look? Merced area leaders leave no doubt.
Jarred Simmons, Atwater
This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Jarred Simmons: Homeless center not exactly a welcoming site."