1 Iraheta, Alba
Subject: FW: 5-11-22 Agenda Item #1 Comments re Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Budget and Police Budget
From: Allison Henry < >
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 5:16 PM
To: Stevenson, Garrett <[email protected]>
Cc: PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]>; Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Kennedy, John J. <[email protected]>; Gordo, Victor <[email protected]>; Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Kurtz, Cynthia <[email protected]>
Subject: 5-11-22 Agenda Item #1 Comments re Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Budget and Police Budget
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May 11, 2022
Comments re Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Budget and Police Budget
Dear Public Safety Committee;
Thank you for your workshop on the FY2023 budget and for hearing my comments.
A 5.6% increase in the Pasadena Police Department budget should be re-evaluated—it seems high and other uses of the general fund should be considered for overall health and vibrancy of our community.
Work with our unsheltered neighbors should not be done out of the Pasadena Police Department. This work should be funded by the Health department. Such work and outreach done by law enforcement does not necessarily align with a care-first approach that recognizes the trauma of people living on the streets. Again, violence prevention, mental health support, and providing services to the unhoused are all public health issues. The functions and funding of the Neighborhood Action Teams (NATs) and HOPE Teams need to be shifted to the Health Department.
It’s great that you recognize the need for Park Safety. This year’s Recommended budget appropriates $262,000 for the hiring of two- non sworn PPD officers to patrol the parks during the day. Instead of hiring more PPD officers, $262,000 could hire six violence intervention specialists, who are non-police affiliated members of the community, live locally, and could help keep the community safe.
The City needs to provide more rental assistance, as evidenced by food need. Community needs are illustrated by food insecurity that could be addressed by housing (the rent eats first). In Fiscal Year 2022, 27,000 Pasadenans were provided food resources by one-time COVID-19 relief funds. This is in addition to the 150,000 PUSD grab and go lunches. Food insecurity and housing cost burden are connected, demonstrating the need for even more tenant-based rental assistance than what is currently provided by the City, especially as the pandemic is not over and its effects will continue for the foreseeable future.
The City should increase Community Services outreach and staff to provide a dedicated residential code enforcement and local protections officer in the Community Services Division for housing issues such as code violation and landlord compliance with local protections.
2 In Fiscal Year 2022, Community Services helped over 4,132 Pasadena residents with housing advocacy like anti-harassment, habitability/code violation issues, and eviction prevention. Included in that number were also residents helped with immigration forms, unemployment insurance applications, and Social Security and Medicare applications.
How many of these 4,132 Pasadena residents were helped with housing advocacy like anti-harassment, habitability issues, and eviction prevention? I have asked at other city meetings. Additional housing issues experienced by tenants in our city such as illegal rent increases or landlords trying to opt out of paying the required relocation and moving costs under the Tenant Protection Ordinance are handled by Community Services.
Currently, there are 16 Community Services Outreach and Staff. The City should hire two more staff members in order to provide residential code enforcement. Pasadena’s Tenant Protection Ordinance protects tenants by providing that a landlord will pay relocation and assistance funds in the event of a renovation.
The City must enforce all tenant protections and provide a specialized position to do so, like the Minimum Wage Enforcement Officer, who is based out of the City Manager’s Office. Community Services has direct contact with tenants and also helps them prepare paperwork for court, and file complaints with code enforcement. Currently, code enforcement is reactive and not strict enough with cases Community Services handles.
The City needs to prioritize funding more employment programs and summer camps for youth.
In Fiscal Year 2022, the ROSE Intern program placed 55 youths last year–a good start but we can do more! The demand for these programs is greater than the spaces we currently have. Summer camps and internships provide local youth with support and guidance that acts as its own violence prevention; and more of these programs create further opportunities for youth to learn and grow outside of the school environment.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely,
Allison Henry
D3 resident