By Captain Demetrio Villarreal, Watsonville Corps Officer
We are saddened by the news that William "Bill" Jones passed away on Tuesday. On behalf of The Salvation Army, our condolences go out to the many people in Watsonville who had the privilege of knowing Bill.
I first met Bill about 10 months ago. My earliest memory of him is that he liked to have fun and would joke around with people when visiting The Salvation Army shelter or when he would join us for dinner. Not many people had the opportunity to get to know Bill, but what I learned in my short time of knowing him is that he was a genuinely nice man: always grateful for the help and support that we offered him. Later this week, will be hold a private memorial so those who knew him can honor Bill's life.
He will be missed.
It makes me mad that so many people are blaming the salvation army for this guys death, but NO one is asking the city to come forward and tell us why after so many years, they STILL don't have a plan in place to address the homeless issue that has existed for years!!! 20+ years!!!!! before the earthquake, before salvation army opened that stupid shelter. people should take this as a wake-up call. Not everyone that is homeless is jobless! people are living at shelters long term (what's an emergency shelter anyway?) that are making an income, but are consuming resources for those who really are job-less with no where to go. cut the crap and twisted politics! the city needs to come together and figure this out!!! PS: Who is moderating these posts that allows phrases like F#&K to exist???
why should the relatives sue. Why didn't they help him?