2025.07.21 Speaker Card - PC - Laserfiche WebLink

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From:Bill Newell To:publiccomment Subject:Redwood City Council Meeting of July 21, Item 8A Staff Report: Anti-Camping Ordinance Date:Monday, July 21, 2025 4:55:45 PM You don't often get email from billnewell2850@gmail.com. Learn why this is important Dear Council Members: I have the following concerns and recommendations for the Anti-Camping Ordinance. 1. At a number of civic engagement meetings participants raised concerns about criminalizing people who are unhoused and living in an encampment. Careful consideration should be given to preventing any criminalization of unhoused members of our Redwood City community. 2. If a shelter bed is unavailable for an unhoused person forced to move from their encampment, what alternative shelter resource will be provided short of the county jail? 3. A sound collection of data should be made for the number of unhoused people receiving citations and arrests. 4. When referrals are made for substance abuse or mental health services there should be a sound data collection for the number of unhoused people who are denied services. 5. A sunset clause should be included where the ordinance will terminate at a certain date unless renewed by action of the city council. 6. The Ad-Hoc Committee on Homelessness should be made permanent and consider additional measures to address homelessness. 7. The City Council should direct the Housing and Human Concerns Committee (who have studied and responded to homelessness issues) to review the implementation and outcomes of the Ordinance every six months and return to the City Council once a year with their recommendations. Please keep our community informed and involved for actually solving our unhoused problems. Make use of your appointed citizen boards, committees, and commissions such as the Housing and Human Concerns Committee for promoting impactful initiatives that address the unhoused! with gratitude Bill Newell 1117 Fay Street Redwood City