Wednesday’s paper hadn’t even landed on doorsteps before my inbox was flooded.

More than a few people had strong opinions about a couple of stories we had already posted online.

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First was the story about a “luxury car condo,” a plan to build a facility where luxury car owners can park their Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Along with parking space, the two-storey condos will include kitchen, bar, games room, starting at $600,000.

Many of our readers were incensed that, in a municipality where there’s a dearth of affordable housing and the vacancy rate is below one per cent, anyone would have the audacity to build condos just for luxury cars.

Others noted the facility would be built on industrial land, so wouldn’t house people anyway and it’s not up to a private real estate investment and development company to provide affordable housing, if it doesn’t want to. If it wants to house iguanas-only, that’s up to them, provided it adheres to zoning and development regulations, which it appears this car condo does.

All I can say is what we build says much about who we are and what we value. Some days that makes me prouder than others.

The other story that had our wires buzzing was about a group of businesses protesting the fact the Salvation Army intends to open a homeless shelter in their area. The group would probably get only limited sympathy save for the fact one of those businesses is a private gymnastics facility that caters to kids and is open until 7 p.m.

To drive the point home, the owner fashioned a poster that has happy, playful children doing gymnastics on one side and ominous-looking men shooting heroin and smoking crack on the other. His point is that the two should not be side by side.

The business owners have gone out of their way to say they support housing the homeless, just not here. The city and Salvation Army have gone out of their way to assure everyone that the shelter will be well monitored and there’s no need to fear.

The feedback on our Facebook page was overwhelmingly in support of the homeless shelter. Many readers note that it’s the lack of affordable housing (building too many car condos) that has created the crises in the first place. Others noted that being homeless doesn’t mean you’re a criminal, and where’s our empathy?

However, one person said he wouldn’t take his kids to a facility if there’s a homeless shelter next door.

“My kid’s safety would trump everything.”

Okay, but I’d argue we’re all a lot safer when people are housed. Besides, I’m confident the Salvation Army will run a tight ship that won’t impact area businesses. One person on Facebook noted she’s lived next door the Salvation Army’s current shelter on Shell Road, and it’s been a great neighbour.

But, most importantly, it’s just the right thing to do for the homeless and our kids.

Giving someone an opportunity to get off the street is invaluable — as is exposing our young people to the realities of life and fostering a sense of gratitude and compassion.