Wong questions Dalton on kitchen sublease and culinary school access

My question is this.

Let's start with the kitchen.

The kitchen is now being subleased to a culinary cooking school.

Instead of being a facility that's available for veterans to cook their food, to heat up their foods or do their own cooking.

This is happening right under our eyes.

And it's my understanding that whole site should be a shelter.

Why is it part of it is being leased to a culinary school?

Can you answer that?

Sure.

Thank you for the question.

I testify to this, right?

I agree.

We see that same commercial kitchen and think it could be a better use to the people that are staying there.

And so we are pursuing changes and looking at the opportunities that that kitchen could provide.

So I agree with you.

I heard concerns about the food.

I see the opportunity with the kitchen.

We see the provider, ICL, also sees that opportunity.

And those things take a little bit of time.

But we are looking at the food.

I will say I don't think it's a problem to sublease parts of the kitchen to other training programs.

There are spots reserved for ICL residents.

These are programs.

These are workforce programs that give people a skill.

And so I think there's not a problem with that.

But veterans cannot sign up to the culinary school.

That's what they told me.

That is not correct.

In fact, there are spots saved.

It is a long program.

My understanding is it's a six-month program.

It takes place during weekdays.

And a lot of the veterans who are staying at Borden Area Shelter are also working another job.

So they may not apply and may not take advantage of that.

But it is not correct that they cannot participate.

Well, at least two veterans, when I stood outside with Council Member Juan, told me that they want...

to sign up for the culinary school and they were told that they have to go somewhere else to learn how to cook, not in that school.

All right, which is truly shameful because you let this happen, that that facility is meant for veterans and you let this space to be subleased to a culinary program and the veterans living in there have no access to it.

All right, and that's unacceptable.

And you're saying that's not happening.

It's not true.

That is what I'm saying.

That's my understanding.

I will look into it further.

But I've asked these questions already and been given assured answers that that is not correct.

I should also just point out that...

I mean, your point is still correct that we agree that that kitchen is underused for the people staying there.

But the program is run by another one of our providers and serves a similar population, a non-veteran population.

But it does serve people.

Yeah, but isn't it common sense that if those facilities, the veterans shelter, then the kitchen should be available at all times?

To the veterans?

I agree and testify that that is something that we want to take a look at.

Okay, my next question.

I'm sorry.

We'll come back to you.

Okay.

We'll come back to you, and we'll give you a little extra time because I understand it's your birthday.

Happy birthday.

May all your wishes come true.

Thank you.

Keep in mind, give them gentle answers back.

Next.

Chair Hudson.

Okay.