Sabha, Tamer
Subject:Special Meeting Agenda July 30th 2024 - Item 5
From: Brianna Lugo
Sent: Sunday,July 28, 2024 4:42 PM
To: Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]>
Subject: Special Meeting Agenda July 30th 2024 - Item 5 Greetings Committee Members,
My name is Brianna Lugo, I am a volunteer with a grassroots houseless outreach organization called Pasadena for All. We distribute hygiene items and offer support to our houseless neighbors in Old Town.
I want to stress my use of the word "Neighbor." A Neighbor is a person who lives near to or next door to us.
Many of those we provide aid to have lived in Pasadena their entire lives. In fact, of the 556 homeless individuals counted in this year's Pasadena Homeless Count, 56% have lived in Pasadena for 22 years or more.
They have roots and connections to the city. It is as much their home as it is your home.
I am writing to you in regards to GOV. Gavin Newsom's executive order enacted in response to the recent Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling. This ruling allows for cities to criminally punish houseless individuals for sleeping in public, even if there is no other option available to them. GOV. Newsom's executive order incentives cities to respond with cruelty, by clearing encampments despite there being inadequate shelters and supportive aid being made available to those in need, only offering that an attempt at support needs to be made.
This Gavin Newsom has been quoted as saying, "There is no compassion in stepping over people in the streets.' is true. But there is no compassion in displacing communities of people.
Compassion would be affordable housing and rent control; compassion would be a permanent bad weather shelter, and investment in social programs that not only protect and aid those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, but also prevent it.
Sweeps do little to exemplify compassion. It creates institutional distrust, making it more difficult for those experiencing homelessness to seek help when needed, or accept aid from outreach groups or first responders.
Sweeps only serve to alienate and displace citizens in need of aid, and allows for policy makers to ignore the infrastructure failings that have allowed for a houseless crisis and the growing number of those experiencing homelessness for the first time in California.
I ask you to please let the city of Pasadena stand as an example of true compassionion. Prove that Pasadena is a city that recognizes and advocates for all its citizens, especially those most vulnerable.
Thank you for your time.
With Sincere Compassion,
Brianna Lugo
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