Policy & Public Affairs No. 1
August 12, 2020

In August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I submitted the following public comment to the Los Angeles City Council in opposition to Council File 20-0147, which proposed CARE+ encampment cleanups near homeless shelters. The comment raised concerns regarding public health, homelessness policy, and the potential impact of encampment sweeps during a global health crisis.

Dear Members of the Los Angeles City Council, I am writing to voice my strong opposition to Council File 20-0147. This action, which would authorize CARE+ cleanups by the Bureau of
Sanitation within Special Cleaning Zones established around A Bridge Home shelters, will negatively impact the homeless community living in those encampments. Presently, the world is facing a global health care crisis the likes of which we have never experienced in our lifetimes. With over 20 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and upwards to 800K deaths (and climbing), our
city, state, nation, and the world is in peril. No-one is safe from this disease. Individuals who have economic security and familial/community ties are struggling. Individuals who do not have economic security and familial/community ties are also struggling, yet these are the ones that we harm the most with the implementation of this inhumane policy, which not only violates the rights of the homeless community but goes against the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In their latest report, the CDC explicitly states that, “If individual housing options are not available, allow people who are living unsheltered or in encampments to remain where they are.” Furthermore, “clearing encampments can cause people to disperse throughout the community and break connections with service providers. This increases the potential for infectious disease spread.” I encourage this council to take under advisement the
policies set forth by the CDC and IMMEDIATELY REVERSE its position to clear homeless encampments and allow our homeless citizens to stay put. It is our responsibility to help our most vulnerable citizens who are already suffering and in pain. If we do this harm to them during this pandemic, we do harm to ourselves as a society.