Dear friends at the Bethlehem Press,

I am the chair of the board of directors for Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering. I had a letter published in your paper on Nov. 21 regarding Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering following your report on the Nov. 7 meeting of city council, where a letter was read by concerned neighbors to the shelter. I would now like to write again regarding Mr. Louis James, who read the letter to city council.

I extend to Mr. James and all neighbors a sincere apology for using his name in what was published on Nov. 21. My intention was to refer to concerned citizens and not Mr. James directly. Mr. James was correctly noted as the one who read the letter of concerned neighbors to city council. But, it is important for readers to know Mr. James was sharing a collective letter written by several concerned neighbors who live near Bethlehem Emergency Shelter held at Christ Church UCC. Mr James is, indeed, a concerned citizen, but he is more so one who loves the neighborhood where he owns and runs James Funeral Home, a successful business. Mr. James further believes strongly in the need to shelter our homeless neighbors during the cold of winter. It was not at all my intention to disparage Mr. James in any way. Again, I appreciate his support of our community wide effort to shelter our homeless neighbors who need and deserve the services of BES at Christ Church.

Sincerely

Gary Marsh