by Cheryl Mathis on December 16th, 2008
I was so pleased to read that Aspirus had donated land to the Women’s Community for their new shelter. Good job, Aspirus!
I live about a mile or two from the first proposed site on Campus Drive. My neighbors freaked out and insisted that the domestic abuse shelter look elsewhere for a location. I was horrified. My first irrational instinct was to offer my backyard. It’s crazy and impractical, but I think it’s a decent impulse.
“Not in my backyard” is a complicated issue. I wouldn’t mind a women’s shelter, but I would probably get a little upset about a power station or a water tower in my backyard. I don’t think the shelter would be an eyesore, but the others would be.
I wonder if the neighborhood surrounding the Aspirus property will get out the pitchforks and cannons. It’s more affluent, and the layout allows much more privacy for each property. Time will tell.
What do you think of NIMBY? Is it horrible in some cases but understandable in others?
by Dino Corvino on August 21st, 2008
In case you missed it, over the past few days there has been a story in the Wausau Daily Herald about Wausau’s Plan Commission tabling a request for rezoning for a building project. The building in question would be a shelter, a shelter for women who were victims of domestic abuse.
I am trying to not editorialize here, but it seems nearly impossible to remain impartial. The Women’s Community worked to raise millions of dollars to build a place where women will be protected from domestic violence, AFTER they have become victims. Our fellow citizens (more than 170 “neighbors”) created a petition to block it from being built in their neighborhood. I find this sad, and an embarrassment.
According to the WDH, the Plan Commission “tabled a plan to rezone the site at 100 W. Campus Drive, thus allowing further discussion between residents and shelter officials. Joe Gehin, city public works director, said the signatures could be sufficient to require that the plan receives support from three-fourths of the City Council if passed by the Plan Commission.”
I would hope that the City Council exhibits more concern and respect for this project than the “neighbors” who feared they would be up to their yin-yangs in abusive spouses disturbing their quiet little spot of the world. It’s literally the NIMBY syndrome at work here. And, how this all shakes out will say a lot about how much we care about victims of abuse.
