Bass-ackwards

I briefly mentioned last week in this space City Councilman Andrew Coolidge’s effort to agendize discussion on recodifying an ordinance that the federal government deemed antithetical to addressing homelessness. I’m talking about the so-called sit/lie law that the council adopted back in the fall of 2013. It had a sunset date: Jan. 1, 2016, roughly two years after it went into effect.

That ordinance is one of two local laws that prompted the Department of Housing and Urban Development to cut $50,000 from its allocation to the Butte Countywide Continuum of Care, the local agency that administers the funds to area service providers, such as the Torres Community Shelter. That’s because, based on federal law—specifically the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act—laws like sit/lie are discriminatory. Moreover, they don’t work.

Accordingly, as one agency administrator put it during an interview with CN&R last year, “we’re going backwards.”

Coolidge evidently wants to dig a deeper hole. Additional potential action he’s proposing includes a shopping cart ordinance (i.e., making it harder for homeless folks to transport their belongings); discussion on park closure times (i.e., making sure homeless people can’t sleep there); discussion on areas and parks that “should have added protection from crime, violence, drugs, illegal behavior, etc.”

Seems to me like Coolidge is trying to curry favor with a certain segment of constituents—namely, those affiliated with Chico First, a local group whose motto is “Unity, Action, Vigilance.” It’s an election year, after all, and he’s trying to retain his seat. Why not go for the low-hanging fruit?

You see, Chico First had already suggested three of Coolidge’s five proposals (sit/lie, shopping carts, park closures). That’s according to one of the group’s founders, who sent the City Council an email this week expounding on those and other measures it’s recommending. The memo is making the rounds, and should be part of the official record when the council takes up Coolidge’s items next Tuesday, June 5. Here’s just a sampling: “Dumpster security,” “property and material distribution in parks or public spaces requiring permits,” prohibition of “exchange of any item to/from a vehicle on public streets,” “no loitering near children’s playgrounds unless supervising a child,” and prohibition of “camping in vehicles on public streets.”

Meanwhile, as if to avoid alienating the folks attempting to establish a tiny house village, Coolidge has also agendized discussion on declaring a housing crisis, which would aid that effort.

Seems to me like the council’s next meeting has the potential to define Chico’s path forward on addressing the issues stemming from homelessness. There are two options: we can either tackle the root causes of this crisis or we can legislate ourselves into some backwater police state.

In related news Belated thank you to the folks who came into the CN&R over the winter to drop off supplies for our annual toiletries drive—everything from toothbrushes and lotion to feminine products and socks. The items filled not only the entire trunk of my hatchback but also the backseats and floorboards. Everything is now in the hands of the folks at the Torres Community Shelter and Chico Friends on the Street, where they will be put to good use.