State asks homeowners to choose new occupants of house

By John Sutter

Published: April 14, 2006

Prairie Queen Neighborhood residents have fought hard since December to keep a state-sponsored group home from opening in their back yard.

Now their campaign is in limbo. And while they wait to see what will become of the home, many neighbors feel comments from a few have tainted their arguments.

The state Department of Human Services said it will decide by the end of the month whether to use the home at 1329 SW 71 Circle in Oklahoma City for a program for teen moms and their babies or for developmentally disabled adults.

Moms in the foster care program said the neighborhood's angry reaction to them has been hurtful, said Anna Looper, the group home's director.

In March, Paula Hearn, the department's director of support services, sent a letter to neighborhood residents and asked them to choose between a home for teen mothers and one for developmentally disabled adults.

The department would have to leap city zoning hurdles to open the home for teen moms. The law protects the home for adults, and neighbors would have no recourse to stop it.

James Goforth, 78, called the letter intimidating and threatening; he chose neither option. Resident Paula Caves said the department has acted in secrecy since neighbors first learned of the home.

Fernando Deloera lives next to the proposed home, and, unlike many of his neighbors, has no problem with any of the people who may move in there.

"We don't know 'em -- they might be good people," he said. "They could be better neighbors than me."

He said his neighbors may disagree, but he only worries about traffic the home might bring. He said his three kids might not be allowed to roam the front yard as freely if the home opens.

Neighbors said a few public comments perceived as racist or backward have tainted their arguments against the home.

"One person made a comment that sounded like sort of a racist comment. I can assure you the neighborhood doesn't feel that way," said Harry Wilson, 72, referring to a previous public meeting where someone asked about the nationality of the girls.

Several neighbors have repeated a rumor about lewd conduct of those who would live at a home for developmentally disabled adults.

Those attitudes have sparked a backlash, and some neighbors want the focus of publicity to be their concerns about property values and traffic.

Ward 4 Councilman Pete White said in a recent city council meeting that the neighbors distasteful comments were causing their own property values to drop.

DHS has said the home would bring a minimal amount of cars.