I wrote the check

Article 13 during the Special Town Meeting on Tuesday evening asked Falmouth to give $5,000 to “Operation In From The Streets,” an outreach program for the homeless.

Now, $5,000 doesn't sound like much, but every expense the town absorbs becomes part of the budget and it almost never goes away. Ed Schmitt, who put the article on the floor, estimated that this would cost taxpayers just "a couple of dimes" per person, but this is the reason why our expenses are out pacing our revenues; we're nickel-and-dime'ing ourselves into debt.

Some who spoke in favor of this article suggested that those helped by this program could be our relatives. But this got me thinking...

[stepping on soapbox]

Is this really what we think of our relatives? If it were my brother, sister, father or – God rest her soul – my mother, I would be out there helping them get off the street, not expecting someone else to do this for me. Yet some, apparently, would leave it to someone else.

What does this say about us that we would burden others - and society at large - with the care of our loved ones?

Rather than use taxpayer money, I suggested an alternative and offered to write a check. However, when given the opportunity to actually give of ourselves – right there, on camera, before the whole town to see – the vast majority of town meeting representatives voted instead to give away $5,000 of taxpayer money.

I'm far better acquainted with homelessness than most people realize, so I know that this is a worthy cause. However, with more than 200 people present, with everyone giving what they can – be it $5 or $500 – we could have raised the money without spending a penny of tax dollars.

Selectman Carey Murphy said, "we're a caring community" – and he's right, we are. However, I was dismayed at the response to this article. Not only did it pass, but not one other person stood up and offered to give.

It would seem as though we're a caring community only when it's other people's money.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

[stepping off soapbox]

All that said; I give credit to Ed Schmitt and Scoba Rhodes (who asked that the director of Operation In From The Streets be allowed to speak) - it's hard to stand up and ask for something when the answer may be "no." This is especially true when there are those - such as myself - arguing against you.

And for the record, I wrote a check.