Use permit for Flathead Warming Center Public Comment from Jesse McFarlandHello Mayor Johnson and City Council Members,
I am writing in response to the board work session on 5/13/24 regarding the continued approval of the Flathead's Warming Center use permit. I would have loved to give a public comment,
but with family responsibilities, it ran a bit late for that. However, I really appreciated the council's points made, as well as most of the public comment on either side.
My background / community roles include a current Assistant Principal at an Elementary school in Kalispell, a CASA volunteer / advocate / GAL for CASA for Kids Flathead, and a board
member with Community Kitchen - Feed the Flathead. I have been in education for 10 years, and have held these particular volunteer roles for the past 7 years. My wife and I have 5
kids in Kalispell public schools, and are both born and raised in Kalispell.
With all of these experiences in volunteer work, education, working with youth as a teacher / coach, and watching the area change over the past 40 years, I am writing in full support
of maintaining approval of the Flathead Warming Center's use permit. I completely agree with Mr. Hunter's statement about some members of the committee and of the community confusing
the important terms of "correlation" and "causation".
Since the Flathead Warming Center has moved in, there has been an increase of homelessness, mental health issues, crime / vandalism, and unsafety in our beautiful town. This is all
true. However, this is not only city / state - wide, it is nation-wide. Kalispell, in 2020, was a very different place. The high-rate of immediate growth into our valley changed
many things, and brought about major changes. What has also increased since 2020 are student behavior issues, trouble getting parents involved with their kids' education, student attendance,
crime across the valley, etc. At Feed The Flathead, we have had more "behavior concerns" and suspensions / removals since 2020, than we did in the prior 20 years. These occur in different
buildings / churches throughout the valley.
Notice we are not discussing the idea of shutting down schools because behavior is on the rise, or entertaining the idea of shutting down Feed the Flathead because our guests have grown
and there are more issues arising surrounding mental health and well-being. The majority of stories I heard regarding vandalism and causing trouble in our neighborhoods, are from people
that have been suspended / removed from the warming center. They do not meet the standard that the Warming Center holds them to, and are not welcome there. The Warming Center cannot
be reasonably held responsible for the decisions these individuals make once that determination has been made.
I don't like the disturbing behavior(s) stories that were shared in that neighborhood, they are awful and sometimes horrifying. I was a child from birth until 2nd grade in that very
neighborhood. I miss the days where kids can ride their bikes 3 blocks down the road to a playground and be home by dark, and be safe. But these concerns are not exclusive to this
neighborhood. They are everywhere. Between 2015-2020, I would go jogging in the evenings, as this was the only time we had. I used to go through the East and West sides of Kalispell
and around Woodland park. I don't feel comfortable jogging in Woodland Park after dark anymore. I am sad about my community changing from the safe place I've always known, to a place
where we need to be more careful. With all this said, the Warming Center is only playing a part in the solution, not the problem. We don't need fewer services for the hungry, disabled,
ill, etc., we need more. We need places for people to go to receive services if they are mentally ill or trying to rid themselves of a disabling addiction. We need places to go when
people are hurt, sick, hungry, dirty, tired, or unwell. We need more places and people serving, to be a part of the solution, and together, we can make our town a better place.
Today, the majority of our elementary schools have between 45-95% free and reduced lunch. The poverty rate in Kalispell continues to climb. Families are uncomfortable, under tons of
pressure, and mental health and addiction is more and more prevalent every day. Yes, we need more boundaries, more accountability, more clarity when it comes to expectations in our
world, but most of all, we need more love for our neighbors and for our brothers and sisters across the world, we need more grace for those working tirelessly to get on their feet and
make life better for them and their families, more people who want to get away from blaming, hating and complaining, and instead want to be part of solutions. If we have people and
systems in place who want this, and are willing to give, our small town will become better, as well as all of the areas around it. And when it comes to talking about solutions or serving
our community, I'm all in.
Please don't make things more challenging for those attempting to be a part of the solution. Please, instead, get more involved with the programs that are trying to help, more involved
with our school and kiddos, more involved giving a hand up to those willing to take it. Please do not revoke the use permit for the Flathead Warming Center.
Thank you so much for your time,
Jesse McFarland
140 Kinshella Rd
Kalispell, MT 59901
mans 16:2 For Christ’s sake, which is proper to the Christians, for the heathen Philosophers have resemblances of the same virtues.
Romans 16:5 The company of the faithful, for in so great a city as that was, there were divers companies.
Romans 16:5 For he was the first of Achaia that believed in Christ: and this kind of speech is an allusion to the ceremonies of the Law.
Romans 16:7 Ingrafted by faith.
Romans 16:16 He calleth that an holy kiss, which proceedeth from an heart that is full of that holy love: now this is to be referred to the manner used in those days.
Romans 16:17 As by namely describing them, which were worthy of commendation, he sufficiently declared when they ought to hear and follow, so doth he now point out unto them whom
they ought to take heed of, yet he nameth them not, for that it was not needful.
Romans 16:17 Warily and diligently, as though you should scout out for your enemies in a watch tower.
Romans 16:18 The word which he useth, signifieth a promising which performeth nothing, and if thou hearest any such, thou mayest assure thyself that he that promiseth thee is more
careful of thy matters, than of his own.
Romans 16:19 Simplicity must be joined with wisdom.
Romans 16:19 Furnished with the knowledge of the truth, and wisdom, that you may embrace good things, and eschew evil, beware of the deceits and snares of false prophets, and resist
them openly: and this place doth plainly destroy the Papists’ faith of credit, whereas they maintain it to be sufficient for one man to believe as another man believeth, without further
knowledge, or examination what the matter is, or what ground it hath: using these daily speeches, We believe as our fathers believed, and we believe as the Church believeth.
Romans 16:19 As men that know no way to deceive, much less to deceive in deed.
Romans 16:20 We must fight, with a certain hope of victory.
Romans 16:21 He annexeth salutations, partly to renew mutual friendship, and partly to the end that this Epistle might be of some weight with the Romans, having the confirmation
of so many that subscribed unto it.
Romans 16:22 Wrote it as Paul uttered it.
Romans 16:24 Now taking his leave of them this third time, he wisheth that unto them, whereupon dependeth all the force of the former doctrine.
Romans 16:25 He setteth forth the power and wisdom of God with great thanksgiving, which especially appears in the Gospel, and maketh mention also of the calling of the Gentiles
to confirm the Romans in the hope of this salvation.
Romans 16:25 That secret and hidden thing, that is to say, the calling of the Gentiles.
Romans 16:26 Offered a힘⎊≰⎏