From:
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 4: 46 PM
To: John McCann < jmccann@chulavistaca. gov>; Jose Preciado < jpreciado@chulavistaca. gov>; Carolina Chavez < cchavez@chulavistaca. gov>; Alonso Gonzalez < agonzalez@chulavistaca. gov>; Andrea Cardenas acardenas@chulavistaca. gov>
Cc: CityClerk < CityClerk@chulavistaca. gov>
Subject: Agenda 4.1 C) Housing & Homeless Services - SUGGESTIONS I HOPE ARE HELPFUL Good Evening, Mayor, Councilmembers,
Here are some ideas for your workshop tomorrow ( agenda item 4.1 Presentation and Discussion on City Operations - Part II C) Housing & Homeless Services:
I apologize for the ' off-topic' speech last night, but there were a few paragraphs leading up to the actual city programs I talked about.
The Homeless crisis - alot of it stems from our instant gratification ' I want it NOW' culture. But let's take a deep breath, do a quality job, and analyze the situation.
Let's start with some causes:
The high cost of housing, both new homes and renting, and a low supply of affordable housing ( Blackstone buying it up) and shelter space;;
Addiction, Mental Health Issues;
Job loss;
Evictions;
Regulations ( CEQA) and NIMBYs;
Lack of address to put on application or improper/ no ID; Youths ' aging' out of foster care or being kicked out by family.
We should lower requirements for addiction or mental treatment, eliminate unnecessary rules such as restrictions on pets, build more shelters and Warning:
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PublicComments - Henkin
Received4/19/2023
housing, and streamline CEQA ( zoning changes, permit applications, standards variances, site plan reviews, design reviews, and environmental impact reviews take at least a year.
Yet we're all about cheap, simple solutions. Mostly, we have pushed them from one place to another place. We want a bandaid solution but aren' t prepared for people who tear off that bandaid.
We need to fix this homeless problem. Please look at the BIG PICTURE - not little bits when someone complains too loudly, like San Diego City or County, both of which seem to talk big but basically move the problem from one place to another. It costs society as a whole - people fearful when they find a street so 'filthy' that they dare not go down it, crime, police costs paid for in rising taxes, extra ambulance trips and hospital time, which we all end up paying for, and on and on.
It is a multi- faceted problem including: 1. employment; 2. Reducing crime, no 'catch and release' arresting and then not prosecuting or taking their stuff; 3. Treating their drug, mental, or psychological issues; and 4.
Housing. I've even heard that a few of them are stuck because they don' t have proper ID.
A few job ideas:
Teachers of survivalism, co-operation, and cooking
Advocates for the homeless, impoverished, or drug users Agriculturalists, gardeners, planters, farm workers.
Don' t get me started about our homeless veterans - they have so much experience doing different things, they could tell you what they' ve done and you could tell them where they would fit best.
Other ideas:
Social workers to make sure they are eating enough and quality food.
PublicComments - Henkin
Received4/19/2023
A social worker embedded in City & County Libraries and parks.
Parks and Recreation monitoring recreational areas and connecting them to outreach teams.•
Medication for mental health is great if they work. Most have bad side effects, and they can drive people crazy either when they take it or when they forget. Drugs - a huge problem, but what would you do if you had to sit around all day with nothing to do? Homeless addicts face high barriers to get treatment: long waiting lists for programs that accept Medi- Cal, lack of a phone, transportation, and documentation.
Homeless crime affects both them and us. Homeless with too much spare time turn to drugs or crime to fill the void. If you start taking their stuff - they' ll want to replace it, by hook or crook.
Business owners want homeless people gone from around their business - drives customers away; Homeowners want homeless away from their property - tired of filth, drugs, smelling pot smoke, mental issues, fights, violence. It's a terrible atmosphere for our children, especially the 6-year- olds, who are seeing things that are threatening but they can' t comprehend.
Many politicians simply make homelessness a crime - file and forget. But criminalizing it creates a cycle that only perpetuates the problem and increases the cost to taxpayers. The homeless usually have trouble paying fines and appearing for court dates, which leads to more fines, new charges and bench warrants. These issues can result in even more encounters with the criminal legal system, including arrests and jailtime.
Let's help and not just shuffle the homeless around.
PublicComments - Henkin
Received4/19/2023
Paul Henkin
PublicComments - Henkin
Received4/19/2023