Dear City Council:

       As more evidence that the City staff is playing games with the
Council, the parents and Vanessa Carlisle. I heard from a reporter that
Ms. George confirmed that Vanessa would be moved to Burgess on Friday,
February 23. The children were not told, the parents were not told, and
most importantly of all Vanessa was not told. After 27 years of
employment, Vanessa Carlisle should be treated with more dignity and
respect then have to hear from third parties that she is never to return
to Belle Haven. After 27 years of being passed over for promotion and
raises, and after giving so much to her community, Vanessa Carlise
should be treated with more regard. The families of Belle Haven should
be treated with dignity and respect. Our children need to know about
the changes of the adults in their lives. We do not even get to say
"good bye" properly.

       We heard "slow the process down" and put faith in that, but it
meant nothing. When the Burgess parents demanded continuity of care for
their kids the City Council heard them loud and clear that changing
their care providers was not a personnel issue. We are merely a
personnel issue that City Council does not want to touch. Katrina has
showed us that communities of color do not matter. You can only ignore
Belle Haven and the needs of the children for so long before the area
disrupts in violence. As much as Ms. George has stated and believes
Belle Haven does not have a gang problem, she is dead wrong. It is
highly suggested for the sake of our kids she please speak with the
Menlo Police Dept.

       Some people have also made the very shallow mistake of
intertwining my personality with the facts in this issue. It does not
matter what you think of me the facts remain: Vanessa has been a
meaningful part of the lives of Belle Haven children for 27 years.
Dedication should be rewarded. MERIT SHOULD BE REWARDED. Our children
will have a break in continuity of care and currently have no
structrured program at Belle Haven. There is an unnecessary and
unproductive stand-off between the community and staff. It is a human
services issue and we are treated as an enemy. How human is that? And
everyone ignores these facts to discuss my temperment. I have every
right to be mad and frustrated. It is not your child, is it? You do
not have to live here and hear gun fire. Thank you for your concern.

- Marcia Dore Perez
Received on Thu Feb 22 12:43:14 2007