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From:Anna Westendorf <br />To:publiccomment <br />Subject:8A - Anti-Camping Ordinance <br />Date:Monday, July 21, 2025 2:11:10 PM <br />You don't often get email from anna.elizabeth.w@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <br />Hello City Council, <br />My name is Anna Westendorf and I'm a Centennial resident. <br />I remain concerned about penalizing individuals for a systemic failure, but I can see the care and <br />consideration reflected in the proposed ordinance. Redwood City is often at the forefront of modeling <br />municipal policy and practices, and long-range, big-picture thinking is a part of why. <br />We know, factually, that encampment sweeps alone are not effective and can easily worsen situations. <br />Studies that demonstrate this include: <br />A paper in the Policy Studies Journal compared the number of unsheltered <br />individuals before and after an anti-camping ordinance took effect, and found no <br />long-term decreases in homelessness -- and in some cases, found increases. <br />A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that <br />involuntary displacement worsens overdoses and hospitalizations, decreases <br />initiation of treatment for substance abuse, and overall increases morbidity and <br />mortality rates. <br />A study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that in addition to the <br />loss of material items such as medication, sweeps contribute to less effective <br />management of infectious diseases, mental health disorders, and substance <br />abuse disorders. <br />So as a component of our evidence-based focus, I am also curious about some of the recommendations <br />that emerged from the 2022 report for Redwood City and San Mateo County, including sanctioned <br />encampment areas, high tolerance shelters, and more gold standard housing, all of which seem like <br />another opportunity to address the statistic included in the staff report that "25% of unhoused individuals <br />routinely refuse shelter when offered." If we know many individuals refuse housing, and we don't intend <br />this ordinance to be punitive, it seems logical to ensure there are as many options available as possible. <br />Although this ordinance comes with the stipulation of a comprehensive evaluation in two years, I would <br />consider earlier check-ins along six month and one year benchmarks, to ensure enforcement is as <br />effective and humane as intended. I'd be particularly interested in data like: <br />Number of individuals offered shelter to date (and how many accepted) <br />Number of citations issued <br />Number of arrests made <br />Reasons cited for declining housing opportunities (and how the City might use this information to <br />further expand our outreach programs) <br />This information is critical to maintaining accountability to the public and will support our efforts to improve <br />the standard of living for all residents. <br />Sincerely, <br />Anna