From:
To: Mary Gourley
Subject: Public Comment: Homeless: Why Does the County Not Like Sebastopol? Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 11:23:17 AM
Following the last Council meeting where the topic of warming centers came up in response to a public comment, the Press Democrat published an article on the readiness of the County to protect the homeless from cold weather.
The article stated that Mayor Rich, in what must have been one of her first official acts, got the County to give up $10,000 to help keep the 47 unhoused homeless in Sebastopol warm. This would be welcome news, but the article goes on to say Sonoma is going to get $25,000 to help their 40 unhoused homeless. The article raises questions about appropriate hours and locations for warming centers that meet the needs of the homeless. The article fails to ask the question why does the County not like Sebastopol?
In the recent census Sebastopol had 87 homeless compared to Sonoma with 40.
Sebastopol has the highest per capita number of homeless in the County. We have the highest per capita number of "sheltered" homeless as well. As a small town we are supporting three shelter projects with Park Village, Elderberry Commons and the RV Village. With three shelters it is no wonder that there are more than twice the number of homeless in Sebastopol compared to Sonoma.I don't believe the County took away any of Sonoma's hotels. According to the 2023 Homeless Census Sonoma does not provide any housing to the homeless.
We were promised by the County on the video justifying the takeover of our only downtown hotel that the County would be there for us. We are down somewhere between $200,000 and $400,000 in TOT tax and we got back $10,000. Our county elected officials don't seem to like us.