Two day-worker centers under way Two day-worker centers under way (October 15, 2004)

Local workers to vote on how to pay for operations

By Jon Wiener

As the Society of St. Vincent de Paul continues to explore opening a second day worker center in Mountain View, the original worker center at the Calvary Church is struggling to ensure its long-term viability.

Day workers are scheduled to vote Saturday whether to use $5,000 in a workers fund to pay for operation of the center beginning Nov. 1.

The money, most of which comes from washing cars in the church parking lot, had been seized by St. Vincent de Paul after director Maria Marroquin was fired in mid-September. St. Vincent de Paul executive director Steve Pehanich said the charity returned the money when he realized what it was.

The workers fund has been used in the past to aid family members of dead workers or temporarily support workers injured on the job.

Board president John Rinaldi and church pastor Jim Stringer both split with St. Vincent de Paul in solidarity with Marroquin. On Sept. 24, Stringer locked the doors to the church's multi-purpose room in response to Marroquin's firing, saying St. Vincent de Paul needed to notify him of any changes it was making.

An unsigned copy of the church's agreement with the charity, obtained by the Voice this week, specified St. Vincent de Paul would pay $1,500 monthly plus utilities in exchange for use of the space. The church reserved the right to terminate the agreement at any time but was to provide two months' written notice.

The center reopened, independent of St. Vincent de Paul, on Monday. An anonymous $2,400 donation is being used to keep the center open for the month of October, and Marroquin is volunteering her time.

As typically slow winter months approach, Rinaldi is alternately dismissive of and upset with Pehanich's efforts to find a location to open a rival center in Mountain View.

"He's adopted an attitude like a competing business would, and that's just not what this is about. It's about serving the poor," said Rinaldi.

Pehanich agreed that operating two competing centers could prove problematic for workers, but said that St. Vincent de Paul is going to forge ahead with efforts to find a new location.

E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

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