(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man running for mayor feels low-income housing for the homeless should not go in a residential area.

 

A 16-unit housing development facility for the homeless is currently planned in the 200 block of Rumely Street, following the approval of a zoning change last night by the City Council.  

 

Nearby residents are upset, fearing an increase in crime in their neighborhood and feeling the Mayor and City Council have ignored their concerns.

 

Democratic mayoral candidate Ron Zimmer said the residents shouldn’t have it in their neighborhood if they don’t want it.

 

“I’ve always said if I was the mayor I would listen to the will of the people,” he said.

 

Zimmer also said his ear to the public would be open as much as humanly possible. 

 

“I’m going to listen to the people like no mayor has ever listened to the people before. I’ll listen to them because right now it seems like this is going through the whole country.  People feel like they’re not being listened to, right?  Like they don’t matter, ok. I’m not trash talking Mayor Dermody. He’s got his reasons for doing what he’s doing,” he said.

 

Dermody supported the proposal, saying it meets a local housing need and puts to use a recently abandoned structure that could attract criminal behavior if left vacant. 

 

Zimmer also noted that he would prefer the housing facility be placed at the old La Porte Hospital site. He says the ground is more out in the open, which could encourage residents to take any wrongdoing elsewhere.

 

Zimmer ran for mayor two times previously, with his last attempt in 2011.

 

He and his wife, Pat, were outside City Hall during the council meeting last night listening to the concerns of residents with a sign urging the council to vote against the facility.