Laserfiche WebLink
From:C Edwards <br />To:publiccomment <br />Subject:Concerns with the proposed anti-camping ordinance <br />Date:Monday, July 21, 2025 9:31:39 AM <br />You don't often get email from cedwards0716@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <br />Dear Redwood City Council, <br />It was with alarm today that I learned of the city council’s plan to approve an anti- <br />camping ordinance, which will effectively criminalize homelessness. While I understand <br />that homelessness is a complicated issue, study after study have shown that while anti- <br />camping ordinances can decrease the amount of visible homelessness, they are often <br />ineffective or even exacerbate the problem as they push people away from existing <br />services and increase the trauma associated with homelessness. It is particularly <br />troubling to me that with this ordinance individuals may only receive 48 hours’ notice to <br />move before they are fined up to $500, which likely they cannot pay, and hence will end <br />up in jail for up to 6-months. How can incarcerating homeless individuals be good for <br />either the individuals or the prison system? <br />While I understand that this ordinance is expected to pass, I believe it minimally should <br />be fully vetted by the Housing and Human Concerns Committee for appropriate policy, <br />meeting the needs of people and social responsiveness through all city departments. <br />Any recommendations should be followed to ensure that minimal damage is done until a <br />more sensible approach, that doesn’t include incarceration, is adopted. <br />Cammie Edwards <br />Unincorporate San Carlos, San Mateo County