From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 4:59:44 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Ari C submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This ordinance does not address safety of either unhoused folks or the community at large. Jail and fines further destabilize peoples lives. After 4 hours of public comment, many people expressed HART was not effective. Good urban planning examines when strategies fail and comes together with the folks impacted to identify ways to address specific community needs. Fresno has waived 10 million in developer fees in the last decade. The city's Kings Canyon fee waiver program, has yet to benefit any small businesses in southeast Fresno, Only a Taco Bell franchise has benefitted. My grandma owned a Botanica cultural healing store in South East Fresno until it closed. As a small business owner myself, I care for her part time as she has dimensia I have not been able to find clear pathways to Aging in Place support. My grandma was almost evicted and instead we had to take over. Criminalizing our unhoused neighbors to put more money toward policing while decreasing other programs is not going to address this issue, that is not my idea of safety. I was born and raised in fresno. My mom and cousins are home owners here in districts 1, 2, 5, and 6 and my mom rents our old house out for affordable prices because this market is insane. I am exhausted and frustrated about the burdens placed on my family to address this crisis because council refuses to engage in authentic good faith inclusive participatory community engagement.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 5:30:05 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
James Cardoza submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: Not sure whether I agree that this is the best solution, but given it will likely pass given vote record at previous meeting, I would at least like to see it amended to read, "No sitting in the same public place continuously for more than two hours" etc., instead of reading, "No sitting in a public place" etc (without minimum time limit) to prevent criminalizing generally accepted activities such as sitting down at a park bench to read a book, or take a lunch break from work, setting down a blanket at the park to let a baby crawl and play, or sitting on a bus stop bench while waiting for a bus.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 8:38:10 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Christina Soto submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: I�€™m a D3 resident of the Edison region I have many unhoused neighbors who have lost shelter for various reasons outside their control from job loss to domestic violence. It is beyond frustrating to watch them slowly try to pull their lives together only to have the HART(less) task force come and throw away what little they have. This includes legal documents needed to access resources, medication, or other personal effects. This ordinance does nothing to help people get off the street and only further harms and traumatizes them simply for falling on hard times. Countless veterans, elderly, disabled harassed and belittled by those who should be helping them. It�€™s cruel, inhumane and a waste of our resources as we know that incarcerating people costs significantly more than housing them. We need rent stabilization and affordable housing. We leaders to stop blaming the victims of the housing crisis they created and actually do something to solve this problem. This ordinance goes against the Christian and America values that our council members and mayor profess to believe. Continuously taking from the poor and giving to the rich. Anyone who supports this should be recalled immediately. �€œIf anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth�€ . Vote no.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: [BULK] New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 9:37:07 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Quentin Pryce submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This bill is criminalization of every person in Fresno, but especially our unhoused community, and it is unlawful. Housing insecurity can be solved by holding developers accountable to build low-income, high-density housing. Developers are building suburbs further east while the rest of the city subsidizes it. How many unoccupied buildings and residences exist in Fresno that could be utilized as temporary or permanent shelter? Shelter and sleep, alongside food and water, are our most important needs; we will all die without them. They should be a human right no matter an individuals ability. Children, Elders, people with physical or mental health challenges no matter their age, even people with able enough bodies to work but aren't fortunate enough to make enough money to support themselves or families, need a place to call home. We all deserve a safe space to sleep. City leaders have a responsibility to keep us safe and fight for our interests over developers. It's an obvious choice what the people of Fresno want: the right to exist and be safe. Why are we threatening to spend millions of tax dollars to fine, harass and jail people for existing outside? It just takes signatures to recall anyone who votes yes for this ordinance. Voting yes means you stand against all the people of Fresno, in favor of landlords and developers. FresNo is for the people.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 9:47:13 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Alixandra Laffey submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This ordinance is inhumane and unhelpful to the unhoused crisis in Fresno. It criminalizes being in public spaces for all Fresnoians, but will mainly be targeted at the unhoused unfairly. Homelessness is a symptom of a dysfunctional society. There are numerous resources to go to in this city, many organizations that are willing to help, anAd experts that can provide information. Many of them came to speak at previous meetings about this issue and were completely dismissed. It is clear these elected officials are not working in their constituents�€™ best interests and anyone that votes in favor for this ordinance should be recalled. It is easy to get signatures and support for this as many people are against this.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: [BULK] New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 10:21:53 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Alex Colvard submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This law is inhumane and gives the FPD a ridiculous amount of power to intimidate, threaten, and harass ANYONE in a public space. The most vulnerable and marginalized amongst our neighbors will face even more hardship. ONE Fresno- should be one that listens to its constituents, and who follows through with what is best for the people. Don�€™t vote Yes on criminalizing existing in public spaces. Work to make this city better by providing affordable housing and equitable access to services. There are over 4000 unhoused residents in Fresno that need stable housing, not emergency shelter, not a religious institution, not a short term voucher, not unsafe housing near the shelters, where many people suffered from severe traumas. People need a hand up- not a hand off to jail or juvenile hall. It is proven that jail/ prison sentences only exacerbates housing insecurity. If the city is going to criminalize sleeping in public we must have infrastructure in place where people can sleep- peacefully, without more harm caused by Police. Police and City employees must be trained in trauma informed care and held accountable to uphold these standards. There is so much good work to be done in Fresno.
Use your power for good, and vote NO. Voting yes shows that you don�€™t care about Fresno.
Voting No is a brave act to prove your humanity and care for the people of Fresno.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 10:27:20 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
James Mitchell submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This is nonsensical. We've already had the jails filled with nonviolent offenders previously and then they were released. This seems like a political stunt to gain a vote. Don't waste our time, money, and energy over this. There's no need to group everyone up into the same category just to meet a quota. To put it simply, if you can't help those who are suffering around you and conduct it in a civilized manner then maybe rethink your career path.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 11:16:51 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Victoria A submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: In addition to being cruel, this ordinance is not an effective means to solve Fresno's homeless epidemic. An epidemic that this council actively causes through both their misallocation of funds and corporate allegiances. According to the data coming out of programs in both Finland and Canada, the programs that do work to solve homelessness long-term take a housing-first approach. This ordinance is exactly the wrong approach and is diametrically opposed to the actual solution. I vehemently oppose the adoption of this ordinance and will vehemently organize against the future election of anyone who approves this inhumane and counterproductive ordinance as you have shown yourselves to lack the level of humanity and judgment necessary to responsibly serve the citizens of Fresno.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 12:25:28 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Shelly Spencer submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: 1. The ordinance is unjust. So in addition to it being wrong it will be costly when the city sued trying to uphold it. Why would any random person sitting somewhere get arrested? Who decides who is and is not violating the ordinance? Seems to expect a prejudiced approach.
2. It�€™s not enforceable. We don�€™t have officers or jail space to arrest people. 3. It�€™s inhumane. What alternative is being offered for unhoused folks? Claims of available bed space are not reality. Sure there are shelters and sure they welcome folks. But they also turn them away daily for lack of space. And housing vouchers do not get people a place to stay. You have the stats on how many available units there are and how many more people (3 times? More?) have vouchers but aren�€™t able to use them. 4. Your constituents are not in favor of this.
Read the comments. Not one is in favor. What we are in favor of is using resources to make a practical difference in shelter space, affordable housing, and resources. Use your position of leadership to bring the experts to the table, craft a plan together, and then resource it! View and Analyze eComments
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:00:14 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Andy Philipson submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This is an absolutely ridiculous action by the City Council. The Council does nothing to provide services to homeless folks - there are not enough beds in inpatient treatment facilities, and other centers require backbreaking physical labor, in this Fresno summer heat, to justify continued space in a bed. Our courts are already overburdened by the DA's zeal in overprosecuting criminal cases to the point that every single day people are released from jail based only on the fact that the jail is overcrowding. The jail is in ruins, people are beaten and die in jail at a constant rate. This is such a terrible way to deal with the fact that housing in Fresno has skyrocketed and there has been no effort from the City Council to provide support for those at the bottom end. Every single person on this Council is far closer to resembling our homeless peers in Fresno than the millionaire and billionaire politicians who sponsor these inhumane resolutions, yet the Council acts as though people unable to afford housing are not members of our community. This effort is misguided, inhumane, and evil. I strongly oppose.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: [BULK] New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:00:28 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Nathan Breall submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: Absolutely oppose this ordinance. It is a clear constitutional violation and criminalizes individuals who are just trying to survive.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:12:04 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Jovahna Aguilar submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This ordinance is unjust and inhumane. Criminalizing persons who are unhoused without ensuring there is enough housing, shelters, and beds is inhumane. This ordinance is extremely ineffective as it does not even touch the root of the problems surrounding homelessness. Homelessness can arise from a number of issues such as housing shortage, disabilities preventing persons from working, and substance abuse & addiction. This city has failed to address these issues before criminalizing those who are unhoused. Not only has the city not addressed the underlying issues that cause homelessness, this ordinance will be ineffective on its face. The irony of imposing a fine up to $1000 to someone who is unhoused? Imprisoning them up to a year? And also imposing payments for the actual costs of transporting and storing property of the "violator"? These unhoused persons don't have the finances to house themselves or provide themselves with the essential necessities, yet imposing unnecessary fines will absolve the homelessness crisis in Fresno? The City and Council members are neglecting to see that this ordinance will snowball into a bigger financial burden for taxpayers. Imprisoning the unhoused will overcrowd not only the jail, but the courts as well. There are better ways to solve this crisis but this ordinance is not it. I deeply oppose this ordinance and hope our elected leaders show more compassion to our community.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:14:08 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Micaela CisnerosNunez submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: As someone who previously worked alongside Tyler Maxwell, Nelson Esparza, and Andrew Janz when I was an 18-19 year old student at Fresno State, and as someone whom they wanted to help garner support and involvement of young voters, I am embarrassed to think we once shared the same politic. I personally feel they should be ashamed of themselves for proposing, supporting, and publicly stating they will fully prosecute an ordinance that only serves to actively harm people. As a defense attorney, if this tragically passes--so long as clients are in agreement--I will take each an every case where this is charged to trial. The ordinance is overly broad and will be enforced in a discriminatory matter that will further perpetuate harm on the most vulnerable members of our community. The Fresno City Council does not seem to care about people. It seems they care about maintaining some semblance of power. The only people this ordinance serves is the council members themselves who are trying to hide people they don't want to see because it's not convenient for them. I strongly oppose the proposed ordinance. *All opinions are my own.
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California legislature turn a blind eye to the never-ending schemes of PG&E, to scam the public with its never ending rate-increases that result in evictions of the poor, elderly, and those with disabilities.
Fresno’s reputation will forever be tarnished, as the so-called liberal majority council condones the abuse of the poor, down trodden, and unhoused people in the cruel city.
You all
deny wanting to criminalize the homeless and unhoused, as city policies are criminalizing the poor, and threatening them with jail or prison. This is in addition to threatening the homeless and unhoused with psychotropic drugs, and electro-shock therapy, if they are deemed to have some mental health issues in a country that appears to be totally insane at the moment.
Most people are only one paycheck away from becoming unhoused. The on-going attacks on unhoused people are occurring locally, and all across the nation as they are rounding up our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, children and grand children, the elderly, those with disabilities, veterans, and others who have spent their lives supporting this country, one way or another.
I urge the council to reconsider its position on this cruel ordinance. Please show some empathy and compassion and realize that the implementation of the ordinance will cause untold misery.
Bob McCloskey
From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:31:44 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Marco Aguiar submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This ordinance is nothing short of a ruse by the City of Fresno to displace and penalize the most vulnerable members of our community. Even worse they do so while violating the very liberties and rights they are entitled to as citizens because it is clear that the ends justifies the means to our City representatives. If our representatives truly wanted to solve the issue of homelessness they would dedicate resources to addressing the cause, not the symptom.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:33:12 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
NA NA submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This is insane and inhumane. If the homeless has no place to go and no one that will help them, and no government funding for assistance, exactly what do you think they will do? Vote against this foolishness.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:34:08 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Alexis Diaz submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: I oppose this item because it does nothing to solve the true issues that cause homelessness. Prohibiting camping in public places without offering an alternative is setting the most vulnerable of Fresno's people for failure.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: [BULK] New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:35:29 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Scott Baly submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: The newly build West Annex Fresno County jail that cost taxpayers $100 million sits empty. From the beginning of construction my fear has been that this building would be used to incarcerate homeless people. On the cusp of its opening, we see this county ordinance that could be utilized by law enforcement to do exactly that. Incarceration is not the way to fix our unhoused population. Homelessness is caused by a combination of poverty, mental illness and addiction. Homelessness is not a crime. Our society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable people. The United States of America already incarcerates more people per capita than any other country on the planet. How can we call our country "the land of the free" when we continue to lock up so many of our people? I strongly oppose this ordinance.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:40:32 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Jordan L submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: I am ashamed of the Freno City Council for even proposing such legislation. In a time of economic upheaval, nothing is more evil than further criminalization of poverty and homelessness. When the residents of other states talk badly upon ours, it is legislation like this that they use as ammunition. Instead of making policy to help our most vulnerable and exploitable demographics, such as lowering barriers to entry in the work force or increasing workers' rights and protections under our crushing neo-capitalistic system, the city has opted to further punish those who have already lost at the game of a system we have created. All this legislation will do is cause homeless encampments to constantly move and relocate throughout the city, making it harder to keep areas clean and harder to keep track of vagrants. It will also feed the prison system and make money for any privatized prisons that end up housing anyone who violates this new ordinance. But hey, maybe that all this is really for- another way to a make money off of the easily exploited.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:44:04 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Tina Wang submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This does nothing to solve the homelessness problem in Fresno or the plight of the unhoused. As we all know, it will just be a rotating door at the jail than actually doing anything substantive. Rather than hiring more law enforcement officers to arrest the unhoused, we need to get more social workers and services out in the streets. We need more in-patient substance abuse and mental illness treatment options instead of more jails.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:44:09 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Alan NunoPulido submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This ordinance is directly targeting the houseless population in Fresno without giving them an actual path back to housing. Despite what those on the city council and on the police force may say, I do not think that this ordinance will fix the problem or even help the problem.
This law is at best a temporary, small solution to a much bigger problem and at the worst of times, another way for the police to brutalize unhoused people, destroy what little belongings they have and add to the pile of unending problems that prevent these people from being able to attain and keep housing, employment and assistance. This ordinance really only serves the people who feel disgusted when they see unhoused people living on the street. But instead of trying to help them and building more housing, our political leaders would rather remove these people and throw them in jail along with imposing fines and the costs of their own transportation to imprisonment. Unhoused people live on the very edges of our society, already struggling with many other problems and this ordinance would only be another problem for them. How does this ordinance do anything other than add to unhoused peoples' problems? Why focus on meaningless punishments while ignoring that the problem is a lack of affordable housing and barriers of entry to employment. Fresno would rather sweep the problem under the rug than address the actual systemic underlying problems
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:48:15 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Ezra Blair submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This ordinance is inhumane and counterproductive. It does not address the root causes of homelessness but rather punishes those who are already vulnerable. Instead of criminalizing individuals who lack housing, we should focus on and prioritize providing support, resources, and affordable housing solutions to help them rebuild their lives. We can address homelessness more effectively through compassion and support, not by criminalizing poverty.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:49:15 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Rachel T submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: The majority of our nation�€™s Supreme Court in Grants Pass v. Johnson pretended to be unable to decipher the meaning of the clearly-written 8th Amendment of our Constitution, but I write it here in hopes that your ethics may step in where theirs did not. �€œExcessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.�€ As you see, pretty succinct. Two clauses apply: the �€œcruel and unusual punishments�€ clause, and the �€œexcessive fines�€ clause. Firstly, this is cruel and unusual, because every human needs sleep and rest. Fresno nonprofits have clearly stated that they do not have enough beds for everyone, and their waiting lists are hundreds of people long. In lieu of these shelters, and if not allowed in public or private spaces, where can unhoused folks legally go? This ordinance would condemn them to repeated punishment for an unavoidable need. Secondly, �€œexcessive fines�€ applies, as the fine is neither justified nor within an unhoused person�€™s ability to pay. Also, this ordinance would resolve nothing about our current housing crisis, creating a vicious/ineffective cycle with either punishment: a jail sentence will further impact someone�€™s ability to find employment and housing, and a fine will only add to financial burden, making stable housing further away. Additionally, what happens to families if a parent is jailed? Do the right thing here. Thank you.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:53:35 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Anonymous Anonymous submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: As a Fresno Resident, I strongly oppose this ordinance. This is a misguided approach that could have devastating consequences. Fresno is a large city with insufficient resources for our community members who are living on the streets. We should focus our efforts and dollars towards building resources for our community, not sending more people to jail. The fact that we have such a large population of unhoused residents is a failure on the city and county's part, not the people themselves. This is a complicated issue. Those in power should approach it that way, and not as a one-size-fits-all approach. Please vote against this ordinance.
Let's do the work to support our community, even when it is difficult, instead of criminalizing our most vulnerable.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:57:23 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Kennedy Meeks submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: I absolutely oppose this ordinance. Homelessness IS NOT a crime. Simply existing in public IS NOT a crime. This ordinance shows that our city council members would rather criminalize an entire group of residents than look for real options to help end homelessness.
Realistically, the Fresno County Jail will release individuals who are booked on this ordinance.
There is not enough space in the jail, this is well known! The ordinance will also impose a fine of $1,000 on a person who is experiencing homelessness?? The city should not expect that they will receive any money from those who are charged for violating the ordinance. So then what is the point of this ordinance? The point is to tell a specific group of Fresnans that their presence in our city is not welcome. If the city council thinks this is going to change the homelessness crisis, they are wrong. This is a political move to help all these members get re-elected. Our homeless population matter, they are not invisible, and they should not be used as pawns in local politicians' games to stay in power. This ordinance is ridiculous, and I strongly oppose it.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:58:36 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Claudia M submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This is injustice to the homeless community in Fresno. There should be more programs financed to the helpless instead of placing them in custody. There should be compassion for those needed most to the homeless. Place yourself in their shoes, how would you be treated if anything was to happen to you all. We don't know their hardships. We must care for the Fresno community homeless or not.
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From: [email protected]
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:59:37 AM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2024-08-15
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Anonymous TowerResident submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2024-08-15 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-Y. ID 24-1045 ***BILL-23 (Intro'd July 29, 2024) (For Adoption) - Amending Sections 10- 1703(a), 10-1707, 10-2101, 10-2204, 10-2205 of the Fresno Municipal Code, Relating to the Prohibition of Camping in Public Places (Subject to Mayor's Veto) eComment: This legislation will not achieve what it sets out to do. Its bad public policy. Shameful scapegoating. Further evidence of our inept city government.
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From: Clerk
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: FW: Opposition to no sit/lie/sleep ordinance
Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:10:46 AM
From: Chelsea Lalancette
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 7:12 AM
To: Clerk <[email protected]>; District1
Subject: Opposition to no sit/lie/sleep ordinance
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Criminalizing and fining people for existing outside is unthinkably cruel.
People have nowhere else to go. Throwing away peoples’ few belongings, assessing fines they cannot afford, and throwing them in jail for simply existing is a horrible way to treat other human beings. It’s also a bad use of public resources, and a shameful abuse of your power.
You can say that Fresno has resources to offer unhoused people which justify this policy but we all know that is not true. There is practically no affordable housing available in Fresno for very low income people. There is very little shelter space and it is hard to get into and easy to be kicked out of. Even heating and cooling centers are extremely limited. You would know that if you spent any time at all listening to unhoused people who have to navigate these systems. Or maybe you already do know this and just don’t care. I’m not sure which is worse.
Even if there were sufficient housing and other resources for everyone, it would still be unthinkable to prosecute and fine a person for being outside in public. Please don’t pass this disastrous and cruel measure.
Sincerely,
Chelsea Lalancette (District 1 Resident)
From: Clerk
To: Clerk Agendas
Subject: FW: Comments
Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:18:23 AM
From: Bob McCloskey
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 8:16 AM
To: Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: Comments
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Fresno City Council
For years and particularly since July, 2023, when the previous "no sit, no lie, no sleep" ordinance was implemented,the Fresno Homeless Assistance Response Team members have been stealing the possessions of unhoused people throughout Fresno in violation of the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It's also in violation of two 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decisions. This theft of property has been documented by advocates and unhoused residents.
As the council considers approving the new expanded ordinance I urge you to listen to community members and advocates. On July 29, after a lengthy public hearing where dozens spoke in opposition and only one person spoke for it, (the city received more than 30 online comments in opposition), the council still voted 7-0 to move forward.
Over 175 were in attendance at the special city council meeting. Many that spoke told heart wrenching stories of fleeing domestic violence, being raped on the streets of Fresno, being robbed and beaten and suffering hunger, harsh weather conditions and other things no human being should have to go through.
Almost all of the street family members that spoke, and there were many, testified that HART, the Fresno P.D. Homeless Assistance Response Team has stolen their survival gear, personal possessions and important documents which were thrown away, in violation of the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The governor of California is threatening to withhold funding for cities across the State of California next year if they do not attack the homeless and unhoused with sweeps, however Fresno is not required to participate. Notably, Los Angeles (city and county) are defying the governor.
Without rent control, more residents are being evicted. The governor, the P.U.C., and the
From: Clerk
To: Clerk Agendas
Cc: Clerk
Subject: FW: Public Comment, 2-Y (typos edited please use this version) Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 9:40:20 AM
From: Brandi Nuse-Villegas
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 9:24 AM
To: Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Comment, 2-Y (typos edited please use this version)
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Dear council
I heard your response to the hours of public comment, and it was disheartening.
People have been witnessing and hearing the most horrendous treatment by the HART team and other issues that should be addressed, and are rightfully angry that you are making those who unhoused the scapegoats to this issues and signing off on this mistreating by HART by continuing to fund them, showing no effort to address the human rights violations, and either saying they are are acting compassionately when they aren’t. How I have spoken concerning what the city has done to dehumanize our unhoused up to this point hasn’t meant stronger language would be warranted and I take great exception to the fact that you invoked my name and others to say that their words minimize what we have said and do when I am keenly aware that the council has ignored my words and I feel that I'm being co-opted in this instance to minimize people with valid concerns and points.
(In fact, the week prior, many of the council
were not paying attention to my public comment over Zoom.) We have brought forth issues that must be addressed that impede our shared goals to reduce homelessness, as well as many ideas and ways to address the issues that bring us to where we are now, such as greater accountability in services. There has been good done, but also things that have hindered that good, and you must humbly acknowledge and act in order for our city to be effective.
Now is the time to do things differently.
It is untrue that the council was given only two suggestions, Safe Camps and Harm Reduction sites. Though I must note that well managed Safe Camps are a tool for the services that reduce homelessness to be most effective and create a safe environment until housing.
There have been many over the years thoughtfully given, one of the major ones being bringing those with lived experience to the table, through a lived experience board, as FMCOC has done, recognizing the need to do so, truly following the Housing First approach and addressing the barriers to this, such as lack of housing and unaffordable rent, as well as ways
to improve programs, like overcoming barriers to get to places as the council noted services around town and free rides ot warming centers, but even having a pet causes people to not be able to use public transportation and having ones living supplies with not storage als means not using the bus. And I ask now that instead of an ordinance that will certainly not reduce homelessness nor address the problems you asserted as the motive for this, you bring the community to the table to evaluate and work on how to move forward.
And also ensure that we work immediately to ensure our families, health impacted, and elderly are ensured care, shelter, and protection from being exited.
The council has said that not using the right language or behavior means that what
speakers are trying to convey won’t be heard, but the problem is that people don’t feel like the council are really wanting to hear and the comments and votes after this show this, so I ask that you listen.
Dyer and others said that people are misinformed and Arias noted that he spoke to the unhoused more than “those who just came today.” It is disrespectful to assume that our community members do now have the knowledge or experience to have a valid voice in this decision.
Recognize what people are saying (instead of dismissing them through how it is said). Listen, really listen, and not dismiss what people saw, not how they say it.
Council, you all emphasized that this is just for those you consider refusing services and causing problems, though the question must be asked what services are being reportedly refused, at all, and whether or not the refusal is valid when HART displaces people without offering shelter and does so regularly when there are no beds available.
It is untrue that the city has been enabling people. Any protection of people’s rights is simply following conditional and human right
However, this ordinance will hurt everyone who is unhoused, as HART has already harmed them. And this includes the fact that the quickest rising demographic of those facing homelessness is those on fixed incomes according to California’s Homeless Data Integration System.
How can we or you ensure that people aren’t unfairly treated when you have not listened and held HART accountable for failing to follow the city’s municipal code and policies and treated our unhoused community members cruelly, throwing away vital medications, survival supplies, documentation, and irreplaceable belonging; when the mayor and police chief assert that HART is treating the unhoused compassionately as this is going on?
Their practices have gone one long before when it was the Homeless Taskforce, to the extent that the Commission on Police Reform recommended disbanding the HTF.. It is this very practice that impedes those without housing from the process of getting back on one’s feet and out of homelessness, as Fresno consultant, in the Here to Help report in 2023, astutely observed and recommended that encampment sweeps be halted.
I told the council that on Easter Sunday 2023, an elderly man had all of his belongings on his cart ready to roll away and the HART team threatened arrest if he didn't let them throw it away. He was previously in a shelter but was exited while he was in the hospital for some issues related to cancer because he was essentially a liability. They told him they couldn’t take care of him, even though he said he didn’t ask them to do so. Is he one of the “problem people”? Because HART has treated him as such and many other elderly and disabled people, youth, domestic violence survivors, and so forth.
If we don’t fix the broken things in the system, you are willingly letting the very people you are trying to protect, children, families, elderly, women, etc, be collateral damage and be victimized by the system as it stands.
If the issue is “criminal activity” that the council focused on, there are already laws to address actions that are deemed criminal.
We have limited shelters and those who are in the shelters are being exited without permanent housing and the reasons, which include unfair exiting, must be evaluated to ensure that your investment of shelters is successful. However, we must address housing.
It is impossible and illogical to expect 4,000 people to find a place to be, under threat of arrest, when there are limited shelter space and the city is 4,500 units of very low and extremely low
housing stock in its RHNA goals, 2,793 short of low income, and 2,066 short of even moderate housing. With this shortage of housing, ”Where do they go?” extends not only to include those who already lost housing, but many very much at risk to join them.
Housing First must be the model we follow deliberately and carefully. I understand that it takes time and I’m grateful for the housing already produced. The council has to have the same realism about the work, effort, and need to honestly evaluate and hold itself and its programs accountable as the patience you ask of the community on housing.
Note, as well, that the efforts the city has made to provide $400 in services and housing, that the council and mayor are using to dismiss the comments of our community, while very much needed, was only made possible because of an precedented amount of funding from the state and federal government. Dyer mentioned that there is more that has been done since he has been mayor than in the past five years, but that is because of this outside funding. I’m grateful for many ways it was used, and I know the many who were housed permanently. However, the council said, there are many more that need help, and as we face having less funding, we have to not scapegoat our unhoused for the continued challenges. Already, while the council boost the extended warming centers, this past winter, they were open three days due to not being budgeted for extended time, and it's not budgeted to this year, though that effort not only saved lives, but also created a safe space to be and be located by caseworkers for services. The council must bravely and humbly refuse, as some jurisdictions are doing, to not do the hard work of overcoming the challenges and making changes based on having our unhoused at the table so that we can truly be “One Fresno.”