2.3 21-0884 Subject: Declaration Of A Local Emergency On Homelessness
From: Vice Mayor Kaplan
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Renewing And Continuing The City Council's Declaration Of A Local Emergency Due To The Existence Of The City's Homelessness Crisis
Despite this and prior resolutions, the City is failing to adequately respond to homelessness, dumping, and gross violations of City ordinances. Why does the Council agenda have only more lip service in the form of paper resolutions, but no meaningful actions?
Why do City leaders remain silent and ignore for months the obvious, and immediately solvable problems, like cleaning up giant trash heaps and human waste in high-traffic public spaces frequented by families, children, visitors, and citizens after dozens of direct notifications of the issue by the public?
City leaders do not respond even to the most egregious examples, like the disaster under 580 at Grand Avenue. There is literally trash and human waste spilling into our parks, sidewalks and streets. The problem is destroying public safety, sanitation, town pride and businesses.
The excuse is always: "We don't have the housing. We need more money. We have a plan." But this excuse isn't valid after so many years of continued decay, and multiple funding measures approved by the taxpayers that don't seem to be deployed effectively or urgently. Patience has run out.
The homeless are suffering, citizens are suffering. People will start leaving. Business will close up and move. Decay will escalate.
The City needs to get serious, stop the half-measures, stop wasting time, and get this solved before it's too late. The City needs to take accountability for outcomes, not more unfulfilled promises and decrees.
Despite this and prior resolutions, the City is failing to adequately respond to homelessness, dumping, and gross violations of City ordinances. Why does the Council agenda have only more lip service in the form of paper resolutions, but no meaningful actions?
Why do City leaders remain silent and ignore for months the obvious, and immediately solvable problems, like cleaning up giant trash heaps and human waste in high-traffic public spaces frequented by families, children, visitors, and citizens after dozens of direct notifications of the issue by the public?
City leaders do not respond even to the most egregious examples, like the disaster under 580 at Grand Avenue. There is literally trash and human waste spilling into our parks, sidewalks and streets. The problem is destroying public safety, sanitation, town pride and businesses.
The excuse is always: "We don't have the housing. We need more money. We have a plan." But this excuse isn't valid after so many years of continued decay, and multiple funding measures approved by the taxpayers that don't seem to be deployed effectively or urgently. Patience has run out.
The homeless are suffering, citizens are suffering. People will start leaving. Business will close up and move. Decay will escalate.
The City needs to get serious, stop the half-measures, stop wasting time, and get this solved before it's too late. The City needs to take accountability for outcomes, not more unfulfilled promises and decrees.
Need report from the department of homelessness. Cannot see where they are being proactive and not producing results.