Skip to main content

User menu

  • Home
  • Post a Job
  • Register

Site Network

  • County News
  • School News
Home
  • News
    • Campaigns and Elections
    • Pension Reform
    • Comings and Goings
  • Local Policy Issues
    • Housing and Land Use
    • Infrastructure
    • Green
    • Health Care
    • Public Safety
    • Transportation
    • Transparency
    • Cybersecurity
    • admin
  • Jobs Board
  • Contact

Now Hiring?

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Sacramento’s Amended Ballot Measure on Homeless Encampments Pleases No One

Sacramento’s Amended Ballot Measure on Homeless Encampments Pleases No One

By Brittany M. on
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
1249

The Sacramento City Council voted 7-2 Tuesday to approve an amended ballot measure that would expand the removal of homeless encampments, while also providing more shelter beds for the unhoused. 

The “Emergency Shelter and Enforcement Act of 2022” would compel the city to create thousands of new shelter spaces or safe camping sites. Those living on public property who reject offers for available emergency shelter space could then face a misdemeanor.

But the changes approved by the City Council Tuesday require significant county action in order for the measure to be implemented. The county would have to sign a legally-binding agreement laying out its responsibilities to provide mental health, substance abuse, housing, medical, employment, child welfare, and domestic violence services. 

“Nobody expects us to cure this but the partnership agreement has to represent, in terms of its financial obligations on both sides, roles and duties on both sides, the real possibility of genuine progress and better results,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

In addition, the amended measure would only mandate emergency shelter for 60% of unhoused people in the city, rather than 60% in the city and county.

Business leaders expressed anger at the changes, which they say “gutted” the initial measure. They had stopped gathering signatures for their own, stricter ballot measure because the city agreed to send the issue to voters.

“Here we are tonight looking to break the promise that was made to voters and reverse course,” said Daniel Conway with Safe and Clean Streets. “And basically tie the city’s leadership to a toxic relationship with the county.”

“I don’t know if any other ballot proponent ever going forward in the future will be ever wiling to negotiate on a ballot initiative,” said Jeffrey Dorso, Senior Vice president for the Sacramento Kings.

Homeless activists are also unhappy with the measure. They oppose the threat of encampment breakups altogether, calling the policy inhumane. They urged the council to rescind the measure, and received support from council members Mai Vang and Katie Valenzuela.

Rick Eaton of Sacramento Area Congregations Together called the measure and the process “the epitome of bad governance.”

It does “nothing to compel any level of services and defines shelter of basically a few square feet of space on a blacktop parking lot,” he said.

Read more at Capital Public Radio and the Sacramento Bee.  

Tags
Featured
news
Sacramento
ballot measure
elections
homeless
Homelessness
housing and land use
Section
Housing and Land Use
Brittany M.
Published 1 year ago
Last updated 1 year ago
1249
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
Sign Up for Our Awesome Newsletter

 

City Jobs

  • Library Services Manager
    County of Contra Costa
  • Public Works Director
    City of Livermore, CA
  • Community Development Director
    City of Livermore, CA
  • Chief of Police
    City of Santa Paula, CA
  • PRINCIPAL CIVIL ENGINEER
    City of Stockton
  • Community & Economic Development Director
    Town of Mammoth Lakes
  • Senior Engineer
    Town of Corte Madera
  • Planner - Supervising
    Placer County
  • Human Resources/ Risk Manager
    City of Port Hueneme
  • Human Resources Director
    City of Mountain View

Campaigns & Elections

Santa Ana Considers Allowing Noncitizens to Vote
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Undocumented immigrants could be able to vote in Santa Ana municipal elections under a policy being…
Rancho Cordova to Adopt New Map for District Elections
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The Rancho Cordova City Council will take a major step next week toward finalizing a district-based…
Oakland Sees Another Election Mix-Up Involving Candidates for School Board
Thursday, August 24, 2023
A city error that almost disqualified the only two candidates from Oakland Unified’s District 5…
Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln Running for Congress
Thursday, July 20, 2023
In 2020, Stockton experienced a huge political upset when the Republican pastor of a local church,…
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer Launches Bid to Unseat Terra Lawson-Remer
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has announced his candidacy for the county’s Third District…

Comings & Goings

Jorge Garcia Named City Manager of Pismo Beach
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Jorge Garcia has been chosen as the next city manager of Pismo Beach. The city council is expected…
Merced Hires New City Manager
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Merced has selected a City Hall insider to serve as its next city manager. Scott McBride will take…
Santa Monica City Clerk to Retire
Monday, September 25, 2023
Santa Monica City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren will retire at the end of the year, concluding 29…
Santa Barbara County Sees More City Manager Retirements
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
At least two administrators from the Santa Barbara County area will vacate their positions this…
Laguna Beach Hires Interim City Manager
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Retired Irvine city manager Sean Joyce will take over as the interim city manager of Laguna Beach…
Clear keys input element