From: Annie Chiou
To: [email protected]; Public Comment
Subject: [PUBLIC COMMENT]- 1/20 City Council Special Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 3:33:39 PM
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Good evening, Honorable Mayor and Council Members.
My name is Annie Chiou and I live at Turquoise Terrace, Union City, CA. I am here today as a
concerned parent of a 17-month-old and a member of a family of three.
For months, we have been living in a state of constant fear and health risk due to the encampment located directly next to our home. Daily, we are forced to breathe in toxic fumes
from the burning of trash and unknown materials. It has become so severe that we cannot
open our windows, and I no longer feel safe taking my child for a walk in our own neighborhood.
The burden on our city resources is already evident: Police and Fire departments are called to
this location daily. While I appreciate the officers issuing citations, it is clear that citations are
not a deterrent. We are currently caught in a cycle of emergency calls that do not result in a
permanent solution.
This is no longer just a housing issue; it is a public health and safety crisis. The toxic smoke
is a direct violation of air quality standards, and the environment is a threat to the development and safety of my young child.
I am asking the City to take immediate, decisive action to relocate these individuals to appropriate service-enriched shelters or managed sites and to enforce a 'no-burn' zone in our
residential area. My family deserves to breathe clean air and feel safe in the home we pay
taxes to maintain. Please see the attached photos of these encampments.
Last year, we brought this concern up to our HOA and they were able to remove this one individual but sadly this year, that individual and now others have relocated to another wall, no longer government by HOA jurisdiction but now by the City Of Union City. Firefighter and law enforcements have shared w/ me that in order to remove these encamptions, I must bring it up to Union City City Council meetings.
What is the City’s specific plan to restore safety to our street? Thank you.
Annie C
Concerned District 2 Union City Resident