tbgalileo, Tulsa (11/9/2009 10:12:42 PM)

Wow.. did those folks' nostrils start bleeding from having their noses so far up in the air? Seriously... what snobs! There is never a guarantee what kind of neighbors you may have, and just because you live in south tulsa doesn't mean that you don't already have addicts living next door to you (they are probably the yuppie neighbor's kids, anyhow). These people are trying to get thier lives together, and this is just one thing that is going to make it harder for them to do so. We all love to preach that addicts need to get clean, but then stuck-ups like this think that they are just "too good" to be near them.

Webmeister, Tulsa (11/9/2009 10:13:38 PM)

Tried Euthanasia, anyone??

Long-term cost savings at minimal operational costs.

Zum Befehl, Herr Obersturmbannfuerher A. Eichmann!

Herr Obersturmbannfuerher, meet ObamaCare.......Transforming Amerika like no one's ever seen before.

makimo, Broken Arrow (11/9/2009 10:15:54 PM)

I will lean towards the families, I will lean towards the children......does this disregard the families and the children of those being served in the group home, these people are fathers and husbands too! Or maybe Mr. Chistiansen is only leaning towards those families that haven't been caught for the mistakes they've made?????

fredsdad, Tulsa, OK (11/9/2009 10:55:34 PM)

This is no "unknown risk". There have been group homes serving recovering addicts/alcoholics for several years with no ill effects on their surrounding neighborhoods. If you drive through a neighborhood where one is located now, you will not be able to pick it out, and most of the residents of the neighborhood probably don't even realize it is there. The landscaping, paint, and general maintenance are usually superior to surrounding properties.

I can't think of a single instance of any neighborhood kids being boiled. It takes all the flavor out of them. They are much better grilled.

setters R us, (11/9/2009 11:17:25 PM)

Where is the Oak Leaf neighborhood?

irwindale, Tulsa (11/9/2009 11:24:31 PM)

...and you have to know code and enforcement will be right on top of it.

irwindale, Tulsa (11/9/2009 11:29:03 PM)

sr71v3

Begs the question. 10 N Yale

irwindale, Tulsa (11/9/2009 11:30:38 PM)

add a g

Gramps, (11/10/2009 6:31:59 AM)

Group homes should move to Patrick and Gomez districts...they don't care about your children.

Observer3, (11/10/2009 6:41:59 AM)

Shouldn't an article cover the who, what, when, and WHERE? WHERE is this home located? South Tulsa (a rather large area) doesn't even come close to describing the WHERE. How is anyone supposed to know WHERE the Oak Leaf addition is located? Just a couple of cross streets would suffice. Hoping for better reporting next time.

Gramps, (11/10/2009 7:31:06 AM)

Reporting like this is why the TW is dying.

Ray, (11/10/2009 9:38:30 AM)

Where IS IT? Lousy reporting but what else is new at the TW?????? No wonder you're going out of business.

allie, (11/10/2009 9:49:36 AM)

Its 91st between Memorial and Mingo. The neighborhood where the Hardesty library is located.Used to live on that very street. Nice neighborhood until the city opened the back section up to Memorial. Then cars started cutting through to avoid the 91st and Memorial intersection. Then it became a speedway.Put in a stop sign but people just blow through that at 60 mph.

leapfrog, (11/10/2009 1:27:04 PM)

So let's see here... We have recovering alcohol / drug users and criminals trying to be placed back into society... Most of us realized the consequences of living outside the standard boundries of society. We made a conscience decision to "do the right thing" and have a job we go to everyday, saving enough money to buy a home, buy a car and be a responsible member of society.

Some however, messed up and went a different path. They allowed drugs, alcohol or crime to rule their lives. Or should I say ruin their lives? Now they suddenly see the errors of their ways and are trying to make their way back into society... Well, when you have finished your journey through recovery, have saved enough money to buy a car or a house - possibly mended the broken relationships caused by your previous decisions, then you are welcome back into our neighborhoods.

But don't ask the hardworking citizen for more sympathy at this point in your life. We worked hard to get where we are. Why should we pay the price for your mistakes by allowing you into a group home in our neighborhood? Potentially bringing down the value of our property, potentially endanger our children, and disrupting our ability to get a good nights sleep.

If you need a group home - where is your family support system? Could it be that your previous actions destroyed those relationships? Could it be they know all too well that it is only a matter of time before you revert back to your old patterns?

Why should innocent people have to be witness to your train wreck?

NTS, (11/10/2009 2:37:18 PM)

Leapfrog-

Thank you for demonstrating your ignorance.

HomewardBound, Tulsa (11/10/2009 4:51:54 PM)

A far greater "unknown risk" results when people are not in a group home, are isolated, with no one caring about where they are or even "if" they are. People trying to leave their past, the bad choices they made, and trying to make a new start deserve the benefit of the doubt. I would far rather know that people with problems are in a group home, with food, shelter, and accountability, than to risk the unknown because they're on the street. If problems arise at the group home or in the neighborhood because of the group home, then police can be called and the neighborhood can appeal to the courts. But, give people a chance to change first.

xlr8, Tulsa (11/10/2009 6:02:15 PM)

I would like to start by saying I live in the Oak Leaf housing edition that is located on 91st between Memorial and Mingo. I was appalled to learn that a foreclosed house in our neighborhood was bought by an individual who is renting it out to ABBA Homes & Ministries. I was also appalled to learn the city's recently amended ordinance governing group homes. The ordinance permits as many as eight people who are unrelated by blood, marriage or adoption to live together in single-family residential neighborhoods. The home at issue is operated by Abba Homes and Ministries for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. This type of home needs to placed in a commercial area or a secluded area that will not bother neighbors and cause them to worry about their safety or decline their home value. I went to the meeting on Monday night to listen to the discussion from both sides. What I learned was that the group home for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts will have no in house supervision. Are you kidding me. Now from my personal experience of my own relatives going threw drug rehab programs , a non supervised program invites trouble. Each of my relatives going thru a non supervised Faith based drug program has inevitably relapsed and become a far worse addict that loses job after job and has to steal to get their choice of drug. One relative has ended up in jail again and the other is on the fast track of killing themselves or innocent others. That’s because friends that got them in the home in the first place were allowed to come and visit them and inevitably get them hooked on drugs again. The people in my neighborhood have every right to be concerned. The gentlemen living in the group home may be fine citizens but its their friends on the outside that I am also concerned with . They may be drug addicts, or dealers wanting to start trouble in the neighborhood or with the individuals living in the group home for debts still owed. I spoke with Pastor Buddy Davis after the meeting . He assured me that he personally screens every resident in the home and would not allow a resident in the home that he thought would be a problem. He also assured me that even though his program is relatively new but it works because it is faith based. Are you kidding me Pastor Davis. I know for a fact that you can do all the screening you want and your still going to get a bad seed in the house. for the reader
tbgalileo, since your such a kind person ,let the addicts live in your parents home. Its obvious to me that you are to young to own your own home or to be concerned about a
Childs safety.

1804fan, Tulsa (11/11/2009 8:05:39 AM)

classical NIMBY attitude! these types of homes need to be spread throughout the community -- share the joy, share the wealth. Eric Gomez was villified for getting one in his neighborhood but it was exactly the right thing to do and would have proceeded in spite of neighbors protests! get off your sanctimonious high horse and quit insisting on concentrating homes such as these in one area