1 Beavers, Esther
From:Anthony Brown
Sent:Monday, August 28, 2023 9:11 PM
To:[email protected]
Subject:Public Comment regarding Fairfield Forward 2050 CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organizaƟon. Do not click links or open aƩachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
To whom it may concern,
Good evening, my name is Anthony Brown, a current resident of the Cordelia community and graduate student aƩending Touro University. As a public health student, examing your Fairfield Forward 2050 IniƟaƟve brought to my aƩenƟon concerns regarding homelessness and the need for housing diversity. First and foremost, I can agree that the lack of variety of housing opƟons in Fairfield is disappoinƟng and that the mulƟtude of single bedroom apartments ranging between $2500 to $3000 isn’t as appealing considering mulƟple variables impacƟng the overall value of these apartments given their locaiton among many other factors. However, this isn’t my main concern. I am reaching out to recommend and suggest an iniƟaƟve that could contribute to the homelessness issue in Fairfield that I’ve seen work effecively in Orange County, specifically in the city of Newport Beach. Within the city of Newport, they have mulƟple street signs staƟng that panhandling and giving money on the side of roadways and intersecƟons isn’t permissible, however they have an alternaƟve as a city fund that’s posted with the website link listed for those who wish to help directly via donaƟons. I think that this does 3 great things that Fair field can benefit from, both the homeless and the community as a whole. First, it negates the potenƟal effect of homeless threatening or causing discomfort to people in public seƫngs when they’re obstrucƟng roadways, sidewalks, and other areas. This implementaƟon wouldn’t prohibit them from occupying such areas, but it would more likely that not reduce the amount of the homeless appearing at said juncƟons asking for money. Secondly, it promotes community by knowingly having the ciƟzens of Fairfield donate their money to a fund they can see the immediate benefits of when it goes straight back to the homeless via programs and iniƟaƟves without quesƟon of their money being used for unhealthy spending opƟons or inefficiently. This also gives the city the liberty to direct more resources tailroed specifically to the homeless populaƟon with the addiƟonal funds from the posted signs. Lastly is the opportunity and potenƟal of this program to transform the city of Fairifeld from one liƩered with the homeless without recompense to one where efforts are acƟvely seen as being handled and addressed with these signs, lowering public criƟcism. I truly believe that implemenƟng a program in Fairfield similar to that of the city of Newport in lieu of the Fairfield Forward 2050 IniƟaƟve will hallmark our city as one that is both disƟnguished and constantly looking for renewed ways to improve their cityscape and public outlook while also improving the general public heatlh for the homeless populaƟon directly. While some may concerns of the implementaƟon may come to mind like difficulƟes ellicitng responses and changing the culture of panhandling, I don’t think we are far off from finding a way to see this done to a degree considering how well it’s worked in Newport, CA. Below I’ve aƩached some examples of signage that the city of Newport uses. I appreciate the Ɵme you’ve given me, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and/or criƟques of said recommendaƟon to the 2050 Fairifeld Forward movement.
Best regards,
Anthony Brown