PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Tell Santa Cruz to End Homelessness, Not Just Decriminalize It
  1. Signatures
    136 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. Mayor Mike Rotkin (+ 6 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Mayor Mike Rotkin
      • Vice Mayor Ryan Coonerty
      • Councilmember Katherine Beiers
      • Councilmember Don Lane
      • Councilmember Tony Madrigal
      • Councilmember Cynthia Mathews
      • Councilmember Lynn Robinson
  2. Created By
    Josie Raymond
    Brooklyn, NY
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

In September, the city of Santa Cruz set a fine example for myopic towns that still hand out "camping" tickets to homeless people sleeping outdoors. Santa Cruz's city council voted unanimously to waive such tickets given to homeless people on nights when the local shelters are full, as long as the offender is on a shelter's waitlist.

Previously, the city had only waived tickets when a certain winter shelter was full. This makes it sound like officials are admitting that it's routine for shelters to be packed to the gills year-round.

The new rule puts an unfair burden on the homeless. How can they be expected to make the effort to get assistance everyday, by going to a shelter and being put on a waitlist to ensure they won't be ticketed, while the city gets away with failing everyday by not providing enough beds?

Tell Santa Cruz that putting a Band-Aid on the gaping wound that is homelessness is not enough, even if it is a welcome Band-Aid. In addition to waiving camping tickets, officials need to take steps to ensure that homeless Santa Cruz residents can get a shelter bed when they need one. 

Photo credit: Franco Folini

Recent Signatures

Ending Camping Tickets Was a Good First Step in Tackling Homelessness. Please Keep Going.

Greetings,

I was pleased to learn that the city of Santa Cruz city council recently voted unanimously to waive such tickets given to homeless people on nights when the local shelters are full, as long as the offender is on a shelter's waitlist.

Previously, the city had only waived tickets when a certain winter shelter was full. So this change makes it sound like officials are admitting that it's routine for shelters to be packed to the gills year-round.

The new rule puts an unfair burden on the homeless. How can they be expected to make the effort to get assistance everyday, by going to a shelter and being put on a waitlist to ensure they won't be ticketed, while the city gets away with failing everyday by not providing enough beds?

Putting a Band-Aid on the gaping wound that is homelessness is not enough, even if it is a welcome Band-Aid. In addition to waiving camping tickets, please take steps to ensure that homeless Santa Cruz residents can get a shelter bed when they need one.

[Your name]

Press Inquiries