I would like to thank all of the community members and businesses that supported ECHO Homeless Shelter’s Long Walk Home event on Saturday, Aug. 25. It was a great turnout and show of support for an organization that is helping people who are less fortunate than ourselves.
I was surprised, however, that the candidate for Atascadero City Council tried to turn the walk into an hour-long commercial for her campaign. Susan Funk brought 20 people in campaign shirts, wagons with bubble machines, and an extra-large campaign banner to announce that she was in attendance. This kind of political self-promotion was not right and can jeopardize ECHO Homeless Shelter’s nonprofit status with the IRS.
I did notice that the other Atascadero City Council candidates and local elected officials who participated were respectful and made it their priority to remember they were participating to support the ECHO Homeless Shelter.
Vicky Morse
Atascadero
This article appears in Sep 13-23, 2018.
In her September 13 letter to the New Times, Vicky Morse expressed displeasure that the twenty-plus men, women and children supporting Susan Funks independent run for a seat on the Atascadero City Council visibly participated in the annual community-wide fundraiser and downtown march, Long Walk Home, benefiting the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO).
Ms. Morse, an activist for pro-Trump Republican women, needs a reminder that candidates running for city council are non-partisan, and serve the people of Atascadero, not local party factions or self-perpetuating civic cabals. To that end, Susan Funks campaign from the beginning has sought out residents to listen to them, learn what is working in our city and what is not, and asked their input on how Atascadero could be improved. As a result, she has drawn support from independents, Democrats, Republicans, and even those who have not voted in previous elections. Moreover, Ms. Morse neglected to mention other groups who announced their supportive presence via banners (Kiwanis and Rotary), signs and the official ECHO t-shirt that listed commercial, media, medical and religious organizations, as well as the SLO County Board of Supervisors.
At the barbeque lunch at ECHO following the march, our jury-rigged, garage-resurrected campaign bubble machine delighted children and families who took advantage of our bubble wands to make their own soapy orbs. One memorable family of five that Susan met that day is temporarily residing at ECHO. They told Susan about the challenges facing a family that cobbles together three jobs, faces landlord discrimination, and remains homeless because of the difficulties in accumulating first and last month rent, plus security deposit. This poignant encounter inspired Susan and her supporters to brainstorm additional ways to assist individuals and families just looking for a fair shake.
Gordon L. Fuglie
Atascadero
Susan is a strong supporter of ECHO. This was not a one-time event for her. She is a donor, and regularly cooks and delivers meals. The event organizers encouraged team registrations, with identifying t-shirts, banners, and walking together. The other candidates for city council were also there, but Susan was the only one who took the time and effort to inspire others to join her in their support of ECHO, resulting in more money raised for ECHO than if she had only gone by herself. Many of those Funk team members are also long-time supporters of ECHO, but some, like me, are newer residents, and she converted us into ECHO supporters as well. Susan actively supports involvement in the community and she will be an active council member working hard for everyone’s interests, as she’s working hard for ECHO.