Compassionate Enforcement is a Summer 2021 magazine article by Christopher F. Rufo, who grew up in Sacramento.
See highlights from this below and read full article at link provided.
Sacramento’s local government would do well to take heed of this analysis and the recommendations of taking a balanced approach similar to Houston, which includes not only services, but “tough love” enforcement.
We noticed that Mayor Steinberg was extremely upset upon hearing the news that Sac County BOS had passed some new ordinances that will provide enforcement tools. His entire countenance seemed to change once he heard the breaking news from Sean Loloee at the simultaneous City Council Meeting 8/23/22. But don’t take our word for it, watch it here:
Starts at 2:28:37
So what is so upsetting to the mayor of Sacramento? The city doesn’t really enforce the law. They are proving it right now with things going on downtown, as well as in the nearby Del Paso Park. County neighbors are feeling the effects of this and have well documented examples of problems occurring because of the city’s failure to enforce rules and public order. The County, on the other hand has a high regard for the maintenance of an orderly and safe living environment proven by its approach and recent policies. Could it be that County Counsel just might know a little bit better on policy advice than the City Attorney?
Back to the 2021 article from last summer.
“…cities must balance the provision of public services with the maintenance of public order. Cities that fail to acknowledge the relationship between permissiveness, migration, and rates of homelessness will not make progress.”
“The crisis presents an opportunity, however, for cities willing to try a different approach. As Houston has demonstrated, local leaders can meaningfully reduce homelessness through a strategy of tough love—leading with the provision of shelter and services but maintaining public order through outreach, cleanups, and enforcement of anti-camping laws...”
“…More than 180,000 people live on the streets of West Coast cities. Their fate depends, in part, on policymakers. Ultimately, compassion should be measured not by good intentions but by outcomes. If progressive leaders want to live up to their own values, they must demonstrate results on homelessness. Houston provides a model of how to do so.”
So what will Sacramento do? Will the Mayor and City continue to blame their issues on the County, saying it’s their fault they can’t get a handle on things downtown- or will the city acknowledge its failures and take an approach to include enforcement of the law- vs permissiveness that is failing its residents? Time will tell.
Oh, and one more thing. A recent SacBee article:
https://amp.sacbee.com/news/local/article264539906.html
This “breaking news” failed to mention that things aren’t nearly as “exclusive” about this story or as “secretive” with the county as the Bee purports them to be. See County news that was publicly posted in early June- for anyone to read- right here:
https://www.saccounty.gov/news/latest-news/Pages/Update-on-Countys-Response-to-Homelessness.aspx
We still have Hope For Sacramento. But it’s going to have to include a balanced approach on the part of the Mayor.