I’m posting these bench pics as examples of NON- #hostiledesign.
Most benches in #sandiego have raised areas to prevent people from using them to sleep- or are removed altogether from public spaces.
Displacing people is so common it’s become normalized
I joined a person eating a sandwich on one of the non-hostile benches, before he returned to work at a nearby gas station
He told me the current #MegaMillions lotto is close to a billion$ (attracting as many visitors to his workplace as the need for fossil fuels apparently) 2/
Our brief chat reminded me why we need MORE benches- not fewer
And yet: under #MayorToddGloria- ALL benches in City Hall Plaza were removed in 2022
Why? For the #TopGunMovie premiere at Civic Theatre, despite Golden Hall shelter residents needing places to sit outside 3/
So consider a pattern of the #MayorToddGloria administration:
Instead of providing trash cans, they removed benches used by shelter residents for the most human of activities:
Sitting, resting, eating, talking, and socializing with other human beings.
It's inhumane & hostile 4/
Throughout history cities have created, managed & maintained parks & restrooms for ALL people
In contrast: #SanDiego actively resists providing these necessities:
- Public restrooms
- Seating in parks & open spaces
- Adequate staffing to maintain these spaces & facilities 5/
When asked directly about these challenges at #Politifest#MayorToddGloria blamed people's behavior for the city's inability to funding basic services
Translation: People behaving badly -not development staff's bias- is keeping the rest of us from having nice things 6/
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Why would someone would submit a proposal to make the @CityofSanDiego Attorney an appointed position, to weaken their investigative and oversight work of the Mayor and other elected officials?
To answer these questions- consider:
Who proposed the change:
Jared Quient- lawyer,… https://t.co/Y86pGFyqrUtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Who is Jared Quient?
Jared is a lawyer, and #MayorToddGloria appointee to the #SDGE Franchise Oversight Committee. He works with #GilCabrera- the Principal Officer of @ToddGloria's "New San Diego PAC"
What do Jared & Gil Cabrera actually do?
Gil raises money to be used for… https://t.co/LV0ANBwUl4twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
BayWa is a German energy corporation, with a contract to build an industrial-scale solar facility in the small town of Jacumba, over opposition of the residents.
Jacumba residents worry the massive facility- the size of San Diego Airport- may cause flooding in their community.… https://t.co/Fx08SwhwPztwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
#SanDiego#Housing Commissioner/Vice Chair #RyanClumpner seems to be in a mood today
Let's cheer him up by reviewing accomplishments of his agency, shall we?
Of the 1566 people leaving shelters
- 78% did NOT report (920) or are back on the street (300)
Way to be accountable Ryan!
How much did #CityofSanDiego pay for #AlphaProjectSD shelters that #HousingCommission show have a 78% failure rate, and how long do people stay?
- $1.8 million over past year (at least)
- 1373 households
- Avg. stay: 57 days
- Avg. stay for actual permanent #housing: 109 days 2/
Last year I submitted a #PublicRecord request re:#AlphaProjectSD contracts w/#CityofSanDiego
The request is still open
-1000s of documents have been shared, many showing problems:
Millions in public $$ received
People exposed to dirty water & illnesses: #COVID & #tuberculosis 3/
September 2022: @MayorToddGloria explains "complex barriers to #housing" at announcement of new #housing location
January 2023: The converted hotel will provide NO ADA ACESS for unsheltered older adults w/#disabilities even though it is managed by a senior-serving organization
More from @MayorToddGloria last year re:the budget for this facility to serve people experiencing #homelessness compared to "hospital and emergency room stays" & it's place in #CityofSanDiego budget (sorry for poor sound quality)
This facility will cost "a bit over $700K per year"
FYI: The fastest growing unhoused group is older adults Many are frail and/or have age-related medical issues & related #disabilities
And yet: No #ADA🤦🏽♀️
But: Plenty of #security!
Update/background on this situation: @janis_wilds helped an older #disabled#unhoused woman discharged from a hospital emergency room to the streets of #SanDiego with no place to recuperate.
She had been living (?) on a bus stop bench since CHRISTMAS!
This is all too common 1/
Fortunately: Janis coordinated w/@Housing4Hmless to find a hotel room until Tuesday BUT- it was not an #ADA room.
The woman's wheelchair could not go into the bathroom, so a bedside commode was essential for her dignity & health. 2/
Many thanks to friends at #JewishFamilyOrg for providing exactly what this woman needs: A commode that allows her to transfer from a wheelchair.
I share this as a reminder: Providing shelter/hotel rooms for PEH w/disabilities is only one step in keeping them safe & healthy 3/
Remember when @sullivanms provided hot drinks to people kicked out of #SanDiego inclement weather shelters at 5AM?
FYI: #AlphaProjectSD does "not aim at making #homelessness easier, or less costly, or more tolerable"
Alpha staff does this to make lives even harder for #PEH 1/
#AlphaProjectSD gets millions in taxpayer $$ to provide #homelessness shelter & services- yet has failed to provide clean restrooms & or safe drinking water
Despite record rainfall: they don't provide more inclement weather shelters
TIME TO #AuditAlphaProject#CityofSanDiego 2/
Last year I submitted a #PublicRecord request re:#AlphaProjectSD contracts w/#CityofSanDiego
The request is still open
-1000s of documents have been sent to me showing a pattern:
Millions in public $$ received
People exposed to dirty water & illnesses: #COVID & #tuberculosis 3/