Saturday, August 5, 2017
Dear Mayor Coursey, Council
Member Schwedhelm, Council Member Rogers, Council Member Combs, Council Member
Tibbetts, Council Member Oliveras and Council Member Sawyer,
At this week’s meeting you’ll
consider increased criminalization of homeless people with a change of certain
minor crimes from “infractions” to “misdemeanors.” If you pursue this course, these offenses will be
penalized with fines up to $1000 and six months in jail -- offenses that
currently receive fines of up to $250. and no jail time.
Five of the nine categories
of offense are rarely committed by the housed, including obstructing streets,
panhandling and camping (aka sleeping) in public. Although many of you call for evidence-based policy, in this
case you are being given no evidence.
What is the benefit of this change? Where is the evidence?
The Santa Rosa Police
Department is already involved in more aggressive enforcement efforts, making
more arrests and giving more citations to homeless people. This change would give them another
instrument of control. We know
that arrests, high fines and jail time cause incredible harm to those without
homes, as these things become a major barrier to accessing rental apartments.
In your previous discussion
of this policy we heard rhetoric about equal enforcement of the laws and that
this will be enforced in a careful (even kind and gentle) way. But, these laws will not be enforced
against friends drinking wine with a picnic or a young man who forgets to use
the bathroom before leaving a bar.
They will be used against those suffering in the heat and stigma of
homelessness.
Santa Rosa is considering
formalizing another level of discrimination, and constitu-tional violations of
the 4th and 8th amendments. We count on you to oppose this measure.
Sincerely,
The Homeless Interest Group of Redwood
Forest Friends Meeting
Judy Wismer
Karen Martin
River King
Adrienne Lauby
Linda Sartor
Pat Kuta
Kathleen
Finigan
John
Creager
Gregory
Fearon
Eileen Bill
No comments:
Post a Comment