Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)after CA town setup tent city despite fierce objections of residents, something remarkable happened [View all]
MUST READ Article... about how they setup to the homeless tent village for successFrom May to November, Santa Rosa spent $680,000 to supply and manage a tent city at a popular neighborhood community center. The six-month experiment charted a new course for the Northern California city's approach to homeless services. (Angela Hart/KHN/TNSAngela Hart/TNS
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/We-can-t-just-keep-saying-no-What-other-16092380.php?IPID=SFGate-HP-Editors-Picks
The backlash was fierce. For three hours on a Thursday evening in mid-May, Santa Rosa officials defended their plans as hundreds of residents flooded the phone lines to register their discontent. This is a family neighborhood, another fumed. How can we feel safe using our park? others pleaded.
In Santa Rosa, like so many other communities, strenuous neighborhood objections typically would drive a stake through a proposal for homeless housing and services. Not this time. Elected officials were not asking; they were telling. The project would move ahead.
------
Within days, the spacious parking lot at the Finley Community Center was cordoned off with green mesh fencing. Inside, spaced 12 feet apart, were 68 blue tents, each equipped with sleeping bags and storage bin. A neat row of portable toilets lined one side of the encampment, and it was fitted throughout with hand-washing stations and misters for the summer heat.
-----------------------------------
Santa Rosas tent city opened May 18. And, not too long after, something remarkable happened. Finley Park residents stopped protesting and started dropping off donations of goods food, clothing, hand sanitizer. The tennis and pickleball courts, an afternoon favorite for retirees, were bustling again. Parents and kids once more crowded the nearby playground.
Several area residents said they changed their mind about the project because of the way the site was managed.
I was amazed I never saw anything negative at all, said Boyd Edwards, who plays pickleball at the Finley Community Center a few times a week.
I thought they were going to be noisy and have crap all over the place. Now, they can have it all year round for all I care, said his friend Joseph Gernhardt.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
46 replies, 10181 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (192)
ReplyReply to this post
46 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
after CA town setup tent city despite fierce objections of residents, something remarkable happened [View all]
Demovictory9
Apr 2021
OP
who would have thought that caring for your fellow citizens would create a better community...
Layzeebeaver
Apr 2021
#1
We are way overdue for stopping the NIMBY folk getting in the way of progress.
CaliforniaPeggy
Apr 2021
#5
Maybe we should try all other things Jesus talked about in His Sermon on the Mount.
rickyhall
Apr 2021
#7
California beach city I lived in, all the businesses put up "bathroom broken" signs to thwart
Demovictory9
Apr 2021
#15
Isn't it amazing that the RW moans about democrats endlessly, and others such as the
SWBTATTReg
Apr 2021
#14
Sonoma County in Northern California. Probably won't happen in Orange County....
RussellCattle
Apr 2021
#18
I believe (and maybe I'm naive) that governments must fund, equip and supervise some
lindysalsagal
Apr 2021
#22