Guest Opinion | Pasadena City Council Will Study Homelessness on September 9

a person is sleeping on the grass with a wheelchair next to him with luggaege inside

An unhoused person sleeping on the grass at Villa Park in Pasadena (File Photo – Staff)

The Pasadena City Council will hold a “study session” on homelessness, encampments, and police intervention.

By Victor Suarez and David Serri

Next Monday, September 9th, our city is in danger of enacting policies that criminalize homelessness. We need your voice during the upcoming City Council session to demand that our elected officials reject inhumane enforcement policies that put our unhoused neighbors at risk.

Here’s some background:

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court announced their “Grants Pass” decision leaving cities free to fine, arrest and jail unhoused persons for sleeping or camping outside, even if no shelter beds are available.

Then, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his Executive Order ordering the removal of encampments on “state property.” The Pasadena City Council will be meeting on September 9th to hold a “study session” on homelessness, encampments, and police intervention.

Call to Action

A Coalition for Housing First Solutions to Homelessness needs to bring out as many people as possible to make Three Demands on Homelessness:

Reject the enforcement
Any suggestion or plan to fine, arrest and/or jail our unhoused neighbors for sleeping on public property.
Adopt the Good Neighbor Pledge
Committing to not utilize law enforcement to push homelessness into other communities and cities. Providing housing and services for them is OUR City’s responsibility.
Expand housing development and supportive services
Including interim housing, creating a dedicated funding source for homeless services, and partner with county agencies to build affordable housing.

Please sign up to join us in this cause. Our unhoused neighbors are profoundly marginalized and their needs too often go unheard. Join us to bring their voice to the council on Monday.

Victor Suarez is a Pasadena resident and a member of Pasadena For All.
David Serri is a resident of Pasadena and a community advocate.

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Comments

Noel leon says:

September 7, 2024 at 1:28 pm

I believe that homelessness is a problem that has always existed and persisted because of greedy land owners who use this man made problem to push their own political agendas. What you’re witnessing now is the California socialist government getting ready for the coming olympics. It looks like they’re nipping it in the bud early.

Guest Opinion | Pasadena City Council Will Study Homelessness on September 9