We have it from a reliable source that the DA and judges are hesitant to prosecute people who identify as homeless. This creates a situation that isn’t good for healthy communities and can be seen playing out on the streets of Santa Cruz every day.
First, people suffering from substance abuse do not get the help that they need from a fully taxpayer funded rehab system. There are always open beds! The DA and judges release them from custody and they end up down on Pacific Ave., or in our open spaces, or camped down in the San Lorenzo River. The result: Over 130 people died from fentanyl poisoning in 2023 in Santa Cruz county, many of them were homeless and most of those had interacted with the court system. The courts could have saved lives. They chose not to.
Second, we end up with convicted felons, and registered sex offenders freely running around our streets, our parks, and our open spaces with weapons and illegal drugs continually victimizing our community by thieving. Bikes are obviously a hot commodity to be traded for drugs. Any item you may have left in your car is up for grabs and used by this population to buy fentanyl and meth.
Our dedicated law enforcement officers are slapped in the face by our DA and judges daily. They use their other hand to slap the law-abiding citizens who struggle to live here. It really seems that they don’t care about the working class landscaper who left his tools in the back of his truck on the job site only to come back to his truck to find them stolen. Do they not care about the high school student who looses their e-bike to theft and now doesn’t have a way to get to school? They probably don’t care about the small business owner who has to deal with transient impacts day in and day out.
What do they care about? Making sure to not inconvenience criminals, by making Santa Cruz a safe space to steal with no consequences. They care about NOT standing in the way of people buying drugs with said stolen items. They definitely don’t want to stand in the way of people dying from fentanyl poisoning on Coral street. Maybe that’s their big plan for “solving homelessness?” Maybe they actually work for the cartels? Anything could be possible with the way they continually disrespect this community!
From Keepin’ it Real:
March 5th…
The day began at about 12:48am with an unknown race male wearing all black clothing (including a ski mask) on Taylor Street walking the neighborhood… checking every car door handle. The witness was a resident who phoned Police and asked for an area check.
An Officer reported being nearby, and a minute or so later was contacting the suspect.
The subject was ID’d and ran out for wants and warrants.
His returns were clear (he only has 50 prior arrests and is on pretrial release in 3 active felony cases).
Officers then brought the witness over for an infield ID. 3 separate vehicles were logged into the call- all related to this criminal’s efforts.
Police cleared the call by citing and releasing him for possession of a controlled substance.
Closer to 8:30, a Medical response was started for a “down subject” in the gutter on the 100 Block of Coral Street. The subject was said to be a male adult, partially covered by a blanket. A leg was sticking out, and that was covered in blood.
He was transported to Dominican.
-The subject was an unemployable criminal with 70 prior arrests. The County believes it’s more humane for a person to live like this than run him through in-custody rehab/ re entry programs.
Just another day in Santa Cruz.