Is SMOC really a good neighbor?

Is SMOC really a good neighbor? Friday, July 8, 2005

Harold J. Wolfe, Framingham Metrowest Daily News

I've heard that SMOC wants to be a good neighbor in Framingham. Do good neighbors secretly buy real estate in residential areas to create wet shelters for drug addicts and alcoholics? Do good neighbors help to reduce the value of your house? Do good neighbors endanger your children and reduce neighborhood security? Do good neighbors increase your tax burden by bringing in children from other communities into our schools and then not pay any real estate taxes to compensate for this?
SMOC claims that only properties used for educational purposes are tax exempt. SMOC claims that that teaching people to not use drugs or alcohol (wet/dry shelter) is an educational purpose. This is stretching the term "educational" beyond recognition.
Mr. Desilets claims that non-profits give back to the community and SMOC most certainly does, by giving us more drug addicts, alcoholics, the mentally ill and higher taxes. What a wonderful spirit of giving.
Mr. Desilets keeps talking about being respectful but is he respectful of our neighborhoods? Is placing a wet shelter in a residential neighborhood a sign of his respect for us, or is it just about his $90K-plus job which he can safely abandon for six months and get it back? You decide.
Lastly, Why does SMOC's annual report hide all of it revenue sources and expenditures? Is this part of the good neighbor syndrome?

Is SMOC really a good neighbor?	Friday, July 8, 2005
Harold J. Wolfe, Framingham	Metrowest Daily News
I've heard that SMOC wants to be a good neighbor in Framingham. Do good neighbors secretly buy real estate in residential areas to create wet shelters for drug addicts and alcoholics? Do good neighbors help to reduce the value of your house? Do good neighbors endanger your children and reduce neighborhood security? Do good neighbors increase your tax burden by bringing in children from other communities into our schools and then not pay any real estate taxes to compensate for this? SMOC claims that only properties used for educational purposes are tax exempt. SMOC claims that that teaching people to not use drugs or alcohol (wet/dry shelter) is an educational purpose. This is stretching the term "educational" beyond recognition. Mr. Desilets claims that non-profits give back to the community and SMOC most certainly does, by giving us more drug addicts, alcoholics, the mentally ill and higher taxes. What a wonderful spirit of giving. Mr. Desilets keeps talking about being respectful but is he respectful of our neighborhoods? Is placing a wet shelter in a residential neighborhood a sign of his respect for us, or is it just about his $90K-plus job which he can safely abandon for six months and get it back? You decide. Lastly, Why does SMOC's annual report hide all of it revenue sources and expenditures? Is this part of the good neighbor syndrome?

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