Vitelle Webb

This blog is sure to pose much controversy!  People will hate me for this!

Do you really think I give a rat's ass??

I'm Vitelle! 

Too many people love me for me to worry about the ones that don't!

Now I'll warn you this is a long one, but it's probably the best I've ever written!

This is a story about a Library that was built in Lexington, KY and opened just this past week!  I don't know the exact figures but hundreds of thousands and probably millions went into creating a custom Library to "meet everyone in the communities" needs.

There was a huge open house in which the mayor and governor gave speeches, which I will share my opinion on latter....

Hundreds of people showed up and there were tons of refreshments.  Hundreds of dollars must have been spent on the open house alone.

This Library was built directly next to what used to be the North side Branch Library!  It is twice as big and some of the new facilities include.  A cafe, a teen room, children's area twice as big as the old one, four more restrooms, 60+ more computers, several meeting rooms, and a quiet room!

There are six other large libraries in Lexington!

So why am I so upset?  First of all I was forced to drive three times as far to the Central Library everyday for the past few weeks to pick up a wireless signal because BOTH Libraries needed to be closed for the building of the new one!  With the price of gas I would have been better off getting Insight again.  (Which, by the way, is a big rip-off).

Anyway, can someone explain to me why a LIBRARY would possibly need a QUIET ROOM???  IT'S A FREAKING LIBRARY!!!  I'm sitting in that "quiet room" right now and some Mexican guy is graciously talking on his cell phone... IN SPANISH!!! 

So not only is he disturbing me but he could be talking about me and I wouldn't know!

As for this teen room?  Is this supposed to keep them from dropping out of school?  Because half of Lexington's teen population HAS DROPPED OUT, or has some plan to drop out in the near future!  Why the hell did we just spend several thousand dollars to give them a TEEN ROOM for them to lounge around in?!  With custom made couches, by the way.

Can someone explain why we need this giant sign?  You can't tell it's the Library by the other 3 big ass Library signs on the building!

They say this place is twice the size of the old Library but I've noticed while walking through here that the book shelves are only half as full!  So did we really need this much more space?

And what's with this Cafe???  If I wanted to eat something... WHY THE HELL WOULD I COME TO THE LIBRARY???  GO TO A FREAKIN RESTAURANT!!!

I can't get any work done here!  It's like a freakin mall!  As for the QUIET ROOM.... AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Now normally I wouldn't complain so much about the way these rich people spend their money... but let me explain why I've so cordially made it my business.

I met a man today, right before the "Grand Opening" of this new Library! 

He sits by Taco Bell almost every day, holding a sign stating he's a homeless Vet and needs help.   Most people don't help him.  

Today I decided to stop and talk to him.  I didn't have any money to give, but I had love!

  Plus they told me the Library would open today but when I got there at 9am to work they said,

"Oh we won't open until after the Governor does his spill at 11". 

So I was mad, mainly at rich people, because I wanted to get online and find some work and they were in my way spending all their money on unnecessary things.

So I stopped and talked to this man by Taco Bell... his name is Gary.  My anger grew as I learned how many homeless people there where in the area.  Gary told me all about his life and how he lives now and his "friends" that live, homeless, with him.

I recalled being homeless myself; twice since moving to Lexington.  The fact that there are so many agencies and places that are supposed to assist you, but when I called or went to those places, none of them ever did! 

The fact that there is ONE Salvation Army in Lexington and when I needed them, they told me there were no rooms open.  They said I can try the one in Garrett County or something.  Yeah... what homeless person do you know is going to take her two children to some foreign county to find shelter when there should be one right here for her and people like her.

Plus, I don't know how many people know this, but the Salvation Army only accepts women and children.  THERE IS NO HOMELESS SHELTER IN LEXINGTON FOR MEN!!! 

I learned a lot on the day I met Gary.  I learned that most of the homeless men were Veterans who fought for our country and some of them even had sons in Iraq fighting now.  I can't help but wonder if their sons will end up in the same situation as them after America has chewed them up and spit them out!

I learned a lot that day, but I had so many questions! 

Why is there no shelter for homeless men?  Why is there not enough room in the shelter for homeless women and children?  Why are all these programs, designed to help, always "out of funds"?  Why are the people who risked their lives for our country sitting on the corner with no food, money, or a place to live?  Why is there a "camp" with 15+ homeless men huddled together under tents made from old sheets, tarp, and sticks trying to keep warm???  AND WHY THE F*% DID WE JUST BUILD A MILLION DOLLAR LIBRARY JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY FROM THEM????????

I got an idea on the day I met Gary.  I got that feeling in me that I get all the time?

like I'm about to do something huge and make a difference.  

I made a deal with Gary.  I told him I'd take him to the grocery store and get him what he wants with the little bit of change I had if he would do me a favor.  I asked him to accompany me to the Grand Opening of the Library.  I tried to explain to him that the mayor and the governor would be there and perhaps if they saw first-hand the reality of the homelessness in Lexington, the least they could do is make it their next project.

I planned to wait until the time to ask questions and ask the board myself why so much money was spent on redoing one of the many Libraries in Lexington, yet there is only one Salvation Army that does not have enough rooms.   

I planned on stepping up to the front and introducing Gary and myself and telling a brief description of our stories.  I had it all planned out and as I stood there with Gary listening to the bullsh** the mayor and governor were blabbering about, I worked up all the courage and adrenaline inside of me to do one of the bravest things I'd ever done.

Well? the time didn't come.  They never got to the part were they ask questions.  So right before they were about to cut the ribbon and I knew it was my last chance I ran up to the front and waved my hands and yelled out... "I have a question!"

Funny how everyone in the audience heard me and reacted but the mayor, governor, and all the little rich people went on with their ribbon cutting and completely ignored me! 

They were putting on a show for the cameras and they wouldn't let anyone ruin it. 

Well, I refused to be ignored!

I went up to the mayor myself and asked what I'd come to ask!  If you could have seen the look he gave me, like I was the scum of the earth!  How dare me accuse him of not doing his job!

He said to me, "I just came from the Salvation Army this morning"!

"So what do we plan to do about the fact that it is too small?"

"Are you going to expand it? 

"Make a bigger one?" 

I commanded my answer! 

I didn't like the way he responded to me!

"We've given them plenty of resources for them to use what they've got!"

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!  I COULD HAVE SLAPPED HIM IN HIS F*%&@** HEAD!!!!

I WONDER IF HE'D HAVE TALKED THAT SH*% IF I HAD GOTTEN A CHANCE TO ASK HIM PUBLICLY?!

Was there nothing more I could do?  Nothing else I could say?  I looked for one of the news crews on the way out.  I wanted everyone to know what just happened.  I'd seen them there earlier but they had probably snuck out before the end.  I can't blame them considering this speech was worse than listening to McCain!

"We are rich and we should be richer and we don't have enough money but look what we did and we've done so much and made such a difference and changed the world with our money! 

Oh there's poor people out there?"  

I left feeling defeated trying to come up with another plan, determined to make a difference! 

As I rode in the car to drop Gary off along with his groceries, he looked at me with the biggest grin and a glow on his face and he said...

"I GOT TO MEET THE MAYOR"! 

He was sooo happy!  All of a sudden I felt accomplished and his smile melted my defeat away.

He told me I did a big thing today and he told me I was very brave, even though I felt like a coward and like I had failed.  I gave him the groceries which I bought with all the change from my children's' piggy bank, and I gave him the rest of the change that was left.   As he walked away I spotted another homeless man in the place were I'd found Gary.

I got another idea? 

I called up my friend Daniel Roberts who I'd known to be a good photographer and filmmaker.  I told him what had happened so far and that I wanted to make a homeless sign for myself, only instead of mine saying, "I'm homeless, please help", it would say,

"I'm ready for change, please vote for Obama"!

I planned to stand behind that homeless man and hold up my sign so people would see one of the many truths that I believe Obama can make a difference with. 

I had questions for the mayor, the people on the board of this Library, the homeless people, and the people who are supposed to help at the Salvation Army and other programs! 

And I was going to ask them all... and get it all on tape! 

I don't know what I planned to do with the footage exactly but I know that people need to see this.

Dan the Man was in and we had a plan and rolled with it!

I interviewed these homeless men about how they got there, how they live now, and what they want for their future.  

Most of them had some kind of talent.  One was an artist, one was an author.  He told me how he's going to write a book and make millions. 

These were people who were all the way at the bottom yet still had the biggest dreams. 

It reminded me that if they can still dream there is no reason for me to doubt my own when times get tough, and I believed in their dream as much as I believe in my own. 

I'll never forget when I came back to interview all the homeless men in their "camp", Gary said to me, "I feel like I've ripped you off.  Was I really worth all that change?"

I had tears in my eyes as I answered...

"You are worth WAY  more than that and if I had it I would have given you much more!" 

And I will keep that vow as I make my way to Hollywood.  As soon as I get my hands on that "movie money" you better believe I'll be putting up homeless shelters all over this country!!! 

Maybe I'll call them...

"Gary's Home"!

In the mean time... I'm not waiting for my millions to roll in before I do something.  I'll be sending my footage to all the news channels and talk shows I can get my hands on to see

how much help I can get to make a difference. 

Now that I know where Gary and all his friends lay their heads, the place they call "camp", I'll be dropping off blankets, food, whatever I can get my hands on through the programs that help women.  I even have plans to teach Gary how to read!

I'll teach them all how to go out and apply for jobs so they can possibly get back on their feet!

I'll let them know someone cares and they have not been forgotten!

The man in the photo with me was arrested a few minutes after I left... 

...FOR SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK!!!

This is the America we live in. 

This is why I want to make a change!