Special Shelter Snubbed

By Shannon in News on Feb 4, 2007 6:26PM

No doubt you've heard of NIMBYism - that "not in my back yard" philosophy that causes concerned communities to turn away that which is controversial enough to have been turned away elsewhere. The concern in question could be anything from nuclear power to adult entertainment. In suburban Lisle's case, it's a proposed shelter for immigrant children.

Heartland Alliance Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the impoverished, wants to convert a 2.5-acre estate near Naperville into a shelter that could house up to 30 undocumented Indian and Chinese children. Sounds like a good deal for the kids - 11,000 square feet, tennis court, swimming pool. But Lisle Township next door doesn't like it one bit. Opposition has risen against the shelter, reasons being increased traffic, lowered property values and increased strain on water and sewage services. The recalcitrant group also distributed a flier, claiming the shelter itself would be worse than a halfway house. Their main concern seems to be the mingling of the immigrant children with their own spawn.

Right now voting is stagnant; deadlocked at 3-3, the issue will be taken up by the County Board. In the meantime, Heartland Alliance has to deal not only with the disapproving neighbors in Lisle, but also fake 911 calls concerning another shelter in Chicago. Coincidence? We think not. At any rate, we hope the shelter proposal goes through, if only so the plucky kids can hone their tennis skillz and beat the Lisle kids on their own terms.

Image courtesy of swanksalot.