From: John Knox
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comment on #F.1 Rydin Rd. Encampment Sunsetting Program Date: Monday, August 1, 2022 12:06:16 PM
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---------- Forwarded message
Hello,
It's inhumane and unrealistic to expect Rydin Rd residents to leave without financial assistance to help them succeed outside of Rydin Rd.
I'm a nomad.
My van is my home and woodworking calling card.
For me to travel onto Arizona, my van and trailer have to be in good mechanical condition.
I have kept #3  spots clear and clean for over a year. It's how I live.
I've already repaired the critical mechanical problems with my van/home.
My van passed SMOG in June.
Once I'm reimbursed for those documented expenses and once my DMV charges are paid, I can and will leave.
What has sustained me is my trade and Soc. Sec.
I suggest that the City put those Rydin residents whom the City wants to help out, into a trade education program so they can earn and become a useful Richmond citizen.
HCEB has treated me fairly.
SOS has provided critical street services also.
And I believe Collaborising has had the BIGGEST impact on the community of all the organizations.
Keep them please.
Thank You.
-John Knox
From: Marisol Cantu
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comment Agenda Item #- F1 Rydin Road Encampment Sunsetting Program Date: Monday, August 1, 2022 8:00:20 AM
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To the City Council, Vice Mayor, the Mayor, and members of the public, My name is Marisol Cantu. I am a 3rd generation Richmond resident and Reimagining Public Safety Community Taskforce member. I am writing to express my extreme concern for Rydin Road's sunset on August 31st. Currently, there is no thorough plan by the city to help Rydin Road residents transition from the encampment. This is an issue of neglect of people's humanity. Although there was a planned sunset in October, the City Manager has put forth this agenda item in haste. There is still much work to be done for our unhoused residents in regard to adequately addressing the unique needs of each individual living at Rydin Rd.
I ask that you allocate Flexible Relocation Funds to encampment residents to assist in their transportation, housing needs, food expenses, moving/storage needs, and additional expenses needed to maintain a humane and equitable transition. I worry that without adequate funding, residents will be forced to create an encampment in another part of the city and this will only exacerbate the housing crisis in Richmond.
Thank you for your time,
Marisol Cantu
From: Bruce Beyaert
To: Tom Butt - external; Eduardo Martinez; Melvin Willis; Gayle McLaughlin; Nat Bates; Claudia Jimenez; Demnlus Johnson; City Clerk Dept User
Cc: Shasa Curl; Jesus Morales; Dave Aleshire; Lina Velasco; LaShonda White; Goretha Johnson; Marena Brown; Don Gilmore; Lee Jones; Princess Robinson; Tania Pulido; Dulce Galicia; Bruce Brubaker Subject: Public Comments Agenda Item F.3 - Contract for Castro Encampment Date: Friday, July 29, 2022 9:53:45 AM
Attachments: RichBT LR123120.pdf
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Mayor Butt and City Councilors,
Please consider the following comments by TRAC, the Trails for Richmond Action Committee, when you meet this Monday, August 1 at 3 PM to consider agenda item F.3 Contract for Castro Encampment Resolution Project Manager.
As shown on the attached map, the Castro Street encampment has straddled and blocked the spine San Francisco Bay Trail between Pennsylvania and Gertrude Avenues for more than a year. This means that Richmond residents from neighborhoods to the South ranging from the Iron Triangle and Atchison Village to Point Richmond haven’t been able to safely bicycle or walk the Bay Trail to reach Point Pinole Regional Shoreline or Atlas Road employment centers such as Amazon, Whole Foods and UPS. Conversely, North Richmond residents haven’t been able to safely bicycle or walk to Macdonald Avenue employment sites such as Kaiser Permanente and Social Security Administration or to The Plunge and Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline.
TRAC was delighted
by the City’s success in obtaining the $4.8 million grant to assist the City in providing services to support people living at the Castro Encampment onto paths to safe and stable housing and result in sustainable restoration of this Bay Trail segment. The RFQ Statement of Purpose states the site Project Manager shall “manage and sunset the encampment by rehousing residents; and restore the site to its original trail use”; and the agenda report states that “The project aims to move all encampment residents into stable housing by June 2023”.
However, the contract Performance Schedule states only a “goal" housing as few as 50 of the over 100 residents through June 2023. This is not even a required contractor performance metric — only a goal.
This modest goal of placing less than half of the residents, combined with extending the project management services contract June 2024 is inconsistent wit the aim of “to move all encampment residents into stable housing by June 2023”. Moreover, the proposed June 2024 extension of the contract gives the contractor an economic incentive to perpetuate this homeless encampment and continue billing the City for management services.
The contract should be amended to require delivery on the stated aim of moving all encampment residents into stable housing by June 2023. In addition, measures must be take to ensure that the site is not perpetuated by new people moving in to take advantage of the municipal services being provided.
Bruce
___________________
Bruce Beyaert, TRAC Chair
[email protected]
tel. 510-235-2835
http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/109/TRAC
Photos: https://sfbaytrailinrichmond.shutterfly.com/pictures/5 .