Neighbors living near the Science Center building are frustrated and upset by the situation they are confronted with on a regular basis now. They report attempts at theft and trespassing on their property, and no efforts by the City of Sacramento to mitigate the impacts of an increased presence of homeless individuals in our community that seems to be directly tied to the full time operations of the City’s project in the park.
Please see letter from a concerned neighbor, living in the Unincorporated County, who has yet to have concerns addressed. Why is this? Because the City of Sacramento knows that residents in this area do not vote in city elections, therefore have no voice in decisions made that directly impact their quality of life.
Recent updates to the City’s Comprehensive Siting Plan as of Oct 25 show that neighborhood opposition largely caused the City’s placement of sites in City neighborhoods to change. (See Capradio article here.) Originally in August 2021, there were plans for 20 sites spread throughout all 8 districts in the City. Then in April 2022, the number was reduced down to 8 potential sites (which no surprise included the Science Center location. Then, despite neighbors and businesses opposing this- it was somehow unanimously approved for full time operations in late July).
Today there are only three City shelter sites total, but still including the site in OUR neighborhood. How close is the nearest City Voter? Miles away.
From article attached:
“Earlier this year, the council scaled down its previously approved plan to build 20 new shelter sites, including tiny homes and designated camping and parking grounds. The city approved the so-called comprehensive siting plan in August 2021, but staff reported issues with most of the 20 initially proposed sites — largely in the form of unexpected costs and community opposition.
City staff revised the plan in April to encompass eight sites, three of which are open: the Outreach and Engagement Center on Auburn Boulevard, a shelter on North 5th Street and safe camping and parking areas at Miller Park.
Sacramento opened the Auburn Boulevard center full-time in late September, after only operating as a weather respite center.”
We all get the point; voicing concerns to the City of Sacramento regarding this project doesn’t concern them or seem to make any difference - because the concerns belong to Unincorporated County Residents.
Letter to City dated Wednesday Oct. 26, 2022
“To whom it may concern:
Today makes the 4th recent incident where a homeless person has trespassed on my personal property to attempt to vandalize my property or attempt to steal my property. This is all caught on my personal home cameras that I have had to install because of this very reason. Again, the community was informed when this respite center was being approved without proper notification to the locals, and that security would be provided. My question has yet to be answered, what are they patrolling and protecting? Every day I drive by this facility, the security is only on the Respite/homeless shelter property, providing no security to this community and the crimes being committed once they step foot off the homeless shelter property. Is the hired private security only to patrol the Respite center? The Representatives of this community are not serving its constituents. Allowing this to continue is harming the members of the community. You are bussing in people from outside of our community, to roam freely commiting crimes, scaring our children, use illegal drugs and nothing has been done to mitigate the consequences of this facility.
Regards,
A Concerned Neighbor”
(name withheld for privacy)