Tenants. Transparency, Trust, Light

This blog post is written in a spirit of holding a specific person as well as general problems in the Light. RantWoman wishes to acknowledge that the specific person being held in the Light has made steps and gestures that RantWoman considers important evolution; RantWoman notes that evolution is an option for many other Friends as well. RantWoman is still clear to post how the world looks through her wonky eyeballs, with concern to hold all in the Light.

RantWoman's brain is currently afflicted by a new twitch: the ability to hear many messages as "Just shut up and trust us." In RantWoman's experience, sunshine, space to ask honest questions enhances trust. Does RantWoman consistently succeed about holding such space for others? Ummm

Anyway, consider Friend who regularly reminds RantWoman of need to be faithful to her Light no matter who says what.

Friend who.... before one of our Meeting's annual sexual abuse / let's talk about ... presentations, in response to something RantWoman said but now does not remember "RantWoman, go talk to your counselor."

RantWoman, to herself, with a twinge in her gut: "Um NO. RantWoman HAS a counselor. There is something here for this specific event." In the actual event, four different people had on their minds the same issue as RantWoman: kids who for whatever reason cannot talk to their parents.

Friend who... "RantWoman WHY do you keep bringing up this moment?"

People keep asking RantWoman why she does not automatically trust the community's discernment. In this case "Go talk to your counselor" was unhelpful; RantWoman being true to her Light resonated with others in the audience.


Latest Question from same Friend: RantWoman why do you not just trust...?"
One really terrible Meeting for Business moment that sticks in many people's minds has to do with a Finance Committee report about new tenants.

One tenant is a homeless shelter operated by Operation Nightwatch. The service model is different from SHARE/ WHEEL. The service model includes case management and ability to pay appropriate rent. What is not to like?

The second tenant is an organization called Facing Homelessness. One of the services Facing Homelessness operates is something called a "Window of Kindness" that distributes socks, coats, and other supplies to homeless people. The problem as RantWoman understood it at the time: besides relentless networkers like RantWoman's little sister who use wheelchairs, there are LOTS of homeless people who use wheelchairs and have various other mobility impairments. The space rented by Facing Homelessness is NOT wheelchair accessible. So RantWoman tried to ask some kind of question about wheelchair accessibility of Facing Homelessness services.

The ask did not go so well. It was the end of Business Meeting. People wanted lunch. People have used the word "ranting" to describe RantWoman's behavior. RantWoman did not realize the Clerk just left the room [vexing blind person reality, sigh]. RantWoman clearly did not hear a request to be silent but also has no idea what actually made it out of her mouth.

RantWoman offers the following links for current reference.

https://www.facinghomelessness.org/programs
Wheelchair accessible?????

Volunteer at the Window of Kindness
Volunteer through United Way at the Window of Kindness

Check box for Is wheelchair accessible  is checked ?!?!?

RantWoman offers the following photo of the courtyard used by Facing Homelessness and the Window of Kindness. Please note the extremely wheelchair accessible stairs.

In Business Meeting RantWoman was thinking of Little Sister. RantWoman was thinking of all the people she rides around on the bus with, people she might like to refer for resources.

RantWoman was also thinking something along the lines of "well, yeah, Facing Homelessness gets no government money and probably has too few employees to be required by the ADA to do anything about wheelchair accessibility. And landlords have no obligation about accessibility for tenants' services. But even if legally there is no issue, from RantWoman's perspective something sucks. RantWoman does not want to rain on the new lease parade but does want to register concern!"

RantWoman has NO memory of any response in Business Meeting to her comments. RantWoman does remember conversationS afterward first of the form "RantWoman why don't you just trust...?" and then "OH, I see your point. We need to add the issue to points to consider about our property, and should the tenant ever ask we could think about modifications...." RantWoman thinks it could be extremely productive for the Friend this post is holding in the Light to repeat her comments in public in ways that MIGHT appear in minutes.

RantWoman has no memory of whether her comments in Business Meeting were even phrased as a question which might, MIGHT--if all Quaker process stars align--have been referred back somewhere for followup. Followup might have included information such as "well, wheel chair users can call and Facing Homeless staff can meet them." OR "Facing Homelessness goes out to many wheelchair accessible locations in the neighborhood (RantWoman has since learned that this is true.) RantWoman has also learned that Facing Homelessness organizes work parties to clean up trash around unauthorized encampments partly to help maintain accessibility on affected sidewalks. In other words, RantWoman is happy to support and Encourage the work Facing Homelessness does. RantWoman still would be entirely grateful if someone could report SOMEHOW about how Facing Homelessness addresses the needs of wheelchair users.

RantWoman also STRIVES going forward to try to be clearer when she is called to be true to her Light about questions in Meeting for Business. And RantWoman firmly dissents from the view that all this conceptual tangle will go away if RantWoman is just banished from Meeting for Business.

In FACT, the world is owed another post about how the ADA is embodied in many building codes and about the value for rental purposes of recognizing ADA-accessible spaces. And to everyone who things RantWoman should just chill out and stop caring, WHAT?

In Light and Faithfulness.

RantWoman