To Matthew Titone: Defend The Less Fortunate

We the undersigned are shocked that Staten Island Assemblyman Matthew Titone would seek to prevent St. Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York from providing appropriate housing to persons suffering from mental illness. We are distressed to see one of our community leaders - someone who presumably has encountered bigotry in his life as an openly gay man - not address fear and intolerance in his constituents. We are distressed that you, acting as our Assemblyman, have chosen not to promote compassion and understanding for the less fortunate. The "Not In My Backyard" syndrome that has raised its head in our community should be addressed by responsible civic leaders. Assemblyman Titone we believe it is incumbent upon you to educate the public about the issue of mental illness rather than allowing real estate and other interests to foster a climate of fear and ignorance in order to keep property values high.

It is regrettable that you have chosen to threaten litigation rather than move forward with education. We would hope that you, Assemblyman Titone, as an attorney, would inform your constituents that not only is NIMBY ugly - it is illegal. Under the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act, it is unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten or interfere with any person seeking to establish housing for people with disabilities. 42 U.S.C. Section 3617 (Fair Housing Act); 42 U.S.C. Section 12203(b) (Americans With Disabilities Act). As an assemblyman, you are doubtless aware, these laws are also applicable to municipal entities and government officials that seek to block housing for people with disabilities - thus we urge you to educate your colleagues and your constituents as we all move forward to a world free from intolerance.

We the undersigned, urge you, Assemblyman Titone, to support SVCMCNY and others in their efforts to provide low cost housing and support services to the less fortunate. We urge you to put human rights before property rights - thus we have drafted this document, on this, the anniversary of the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Assemblyman Titone, we urge you to stand up for ALL of your constituents - including, and especially, the less fortunate.