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Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009

Citizens voice opposition to homeless camps

More than a dozen people on Monday night urged the Merced City Council to look anywhere but their backyards as elected leaders debate where the city's homeless people should live.

South Merced residents are fighting a proposal that would sanction a homeless camp at Mission Avenue and Tyler Road. The general homeless population, along with sex offenders serving parole, would be allowed to pitch tents.

Stephanie Harrison said she'd be able to see the homeless camp from her bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. "That's scary," she told the council. "It's also walking distance from a bus stop and Farmdale Elementary School. That's really scary."

The council's latest attempt to find a place for the area's homeless will likely falter. City staff are busy evaluating alternative places for a sanctioned camp, though they haven't been revealed. Inevitably, they'll meet similar opposition. South Merced residents were unaware of the campsite proposal until reading a Sun-Star article about it two weeks ago.

Homelessness has been the most trying policy issue for this council, which began seriously grappling with it last year. The problem has been compounded by the fact that 30 to 40 homeless people are living on city land in a flood zone near Black Rascal Creek. The rainy season is rapidly approaching.

South Merced residents mobilized and held a meeting last week that was attended by Supervisor John Pedrozo and Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin. The citizens have been busy writing letters to the editor and drumming up support.

"I just wanted to put a face with a name," resident Sabrina Greggains said to the council. "Take a look at my three boys and consider alternatives."

The passion and pleas were a near repeat of what North Merced residents said during the Nov. 2 meeting when the council first looked at different locations for a homeless camp. Those residents opposed a plan that would put tents at Hatch and Cardella roads.

The council scrapped the North Merced site and turned its attention to a 40-acre piece of land in South Merced that will someday become a park.

The plan wasn't up for consideration, though residents showed up to show their frustration with the council. City staff had yanked the item from the agenda midweek because more studies on alternative sites needed to be done.

In what amounted to a symbolic move, Councilman Joe Cortez made a motion to have city staff stop considering the location. Councilman Noah Lor quickly seconded it.

Because the item wasn't on the agenda, the council couldn't take any action, City Attorney Greg Diaz explained. The council unanimously voted to bring the issue back during its Dec. 7 meeting.

Councilman Bill Spriggs quipped it was a long time to say, "No."

The council did address one facet of the homelessness problem. It approved 5-1 spending up to $8,400 on motel vouchers. Mayor Ellie Wooten was absent. Councilmen Bill Spriggs, Noah Lor, Joe Cortez, Jim Sanders and Councilwoman Michele Gabriault-Acosta voted in favor. Mayor Pro Tem John Carlisle opposed it, arguing the money could go to faith-based groups willing to shelter the homeless. "(Pay for vouchers) is not a practical use of the money," he said.

Homeless people qualify for a voucher only on freezing nights when there are no beds available at the Merced County Rescue Mission or at the D Street shelter.

The city typically has 24 freezing nights each winter, city spokesman and homeless czar Mike Conway said. The vouchers will pay for 210 nights in a motel.

Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385- 2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.