In the zone
Letter to the Editor
Your article "Broadway Youth Center has zoning hearing" made it seem that the opponents of the Broadway Youth Center ( BYC ) voiced legitimate, rational concerns at the zoning hearing.
They did not.
I would like to share some crucial points your article neglected to mention, namely the fact that a stack of 1,100 heartfelt letters supporting BYC was brought forth to the Zoning Board during the hearing. It was a moving moment. The room was packed with compassionate people, many of them BYC volunteers, all showing support for BYC's mission of helping LGBTQ youth.
Conversely, the paltry opponents cobbled together by South East Lake View Neighbors ( SELVN ) made repeated, disparaging remarks against BYC and the LGBTQ community as they complained to the Zoning Board.
During their ridiculous testimonies they warned BYC would bring marijuana-smoking transgender people to the neighborhood, bloody fistfights spreading HIV, and used syringes strewn about. A key SELVN speaker even claimed that locations offering STD/HIV testing, such as BYC, are infectious-disease hot spots and should be isolated from residential areas.
These absurdly offensive statements elicited loud gasps of disbelief from the audience.
Our community must not tolerate or acknowledge any credibility of such people and their nonsense. BYC, its caring staff, volunteers and the countless youth they serve belong in OUR neighborhood. Transphobia, stigmatization of HIV/AIDS and bigotry do not.
Regards,
Matt C.
Reporter Matt Simonette responded: Windy City Times stands by its story. While the article indeed does not mention the letters of support, it does mention that the audience at the Zoning Board of Appeals hearing Jan. 17 was overwhelmingly in support of Broadway Youth Center. Additionally, WCT articles about SELVN meetings in the months leading up to the hearing gave coverage to the viewpoints of both SELVN members as well as BYC officials and clients.