I saw this place from 1996 until now, and the only constant thing there was the one person that never missed work. All of the folks in need downtown know him, and he is an unsung hero. He never wanted recognition for his work, because he knew that he was doing what needed to be done, and that was all. He hasn't called in to work sick for 16 + years. He had a knack for being able to handle people no one else could. He was the director, the manager, the dietary/nutritional director, the counselor, the social worker, and the security staff. He was the safe haven for the lost and weary, the light in the darkness for the lonely and abandoned. Because of my respect for him, he shall go unnamed, as shall I and others who work tirelessly with these folks. I worked there as a volunteer for a long time myself, and this center didn't just serve seniors and homeless folks, it served everyone who came into its' doors. I would like to see what happens to the businesses downtown now that there are going to be so many more folks with no where to sit and "hang out". They didn't just serve coffee. The small amount of food that the senior center was able to provide these folks might have been the only thing between them and the cold grasp of death. I am not exaggerating, this is true for some of them. No one likes to admit that there are so many people who are mentally ill, convicted felons, sex offenders, child molester, not to mention the actual senior citizens and many many homeless veterans right here in the middle of our beautiful shining state capitol, but there you have it. They are here, they are hungry, and now they are going to have to pay for "lack of funds" through their own additional suffering. You drive by them every day on your way to work, or on the way to Raley field to watch a ball game. They are often emotionally unstable, and many of them drink and take drugs. But when I am confronted with this harsh reality, I remember that this person before me is someones' son or daughter, sister or brother, father or mother, aunt or uncle. They had a place to live, and their world crashed down around them. They had a life, they had a job, they had a car, they could be you. So many people think that if they don't think about it or look the other way, then it isn't a reality. Others believe that if they are charitable and give them hand outs, that they will go and buy some food. Maybe, but most likely it will be a pint of vodka. I know.....I have been watching them for a long time. But no matter where you stand, do not forget that these are our people, our social blight which we have helped to create somehow by saying it's not our problem. These are our veterans, our mental health patients, and our homeless whom the system has failed to safeguard. They are the ones who fell through the cracks, they are the untouchables. The senior center was the last house on the block for many of these folks, when not even Loaves and Fishes could help them because of their emotional outbursts and tendency to be physically confrontational. Where will they go now? To the park? To the river? To the morgue? One more thing.......I sure am glad that the Catholic Church is willing to spend more than $80,000.00 on an ad campaign to "Bring Catholics Home" and more than $2,000,000.00 on the revitalization of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and yet couldn't afford a measly few thousand dollars a year for these people. What complete and total hypocrisy! Talk about serving the folks who are in the most need. Being a good samaritan! They say we sould give the shirts off of our back for someone who has none, and share our food and drink with those who are hungry, and yet they cover their church leaders in velvet purple robes and buy them rings to wear. They are not "practicing what they preach". Anonymous