Hello all,
I participated in the “Services Not Sweeps” cleanup on Thursday, 03/18/2021 from roughly 7AM to 9AM on Rose & Third. A few bullet point notes / observations:
• First, “Services Not Sweeps” is not a Mike Bonin program per se and there is seemingly much animosity towards “Services” due to that perception. What it actually is a response to the pandemic and those that have lost their vital items in the mandatory cleanups. It has the backings of certain charitable organizations and legal groups that defend the homeless and has been running for several years. Some of you may have issues with the concept of non-mandatory cleanups but we should all know the truth behind the program and even though it is endorse by our city council person, it shouldn’t be quickly dismissed because of it.
• These cleanups are going to be happening in the areas of Rose, Third & Sunset, where the unhoused density is highest, three times per week for the next three months. The idea is to have the homeless become familiar with the people and used to the frequency. The people on the street seemed to be very open to the process and helpful as far as brining out trash but no one was moving their tents off the sidewalks (more on that below). Still, much refuse was removed and the sanitation and volunteers were very patient, kind and doing the best they could. I am grateful to all of them.
• The city sanitation representative informed us that compliance is going to be enforced. Primarily the enforcement revolves around compliance to the federally mandated American Disability Act requirement that the sidewalk have 3′ of space from interior curb inwards. For an elaboration of the rules, click here.
• I was also informed there is soon going to be enforcement of Municipal Code 56.11 which bans tents from being erected from 6am to 9pm. The question of where they go once the tents are down looms large but the point they were making is enforcement is coming slowly but surely.
• The de facto head of the program, Lisa, told me many of the unhoused have been already given COVID-19 vaccine via pop-up sites on the beach and on Rose. She was unsure if there was tracking of those who received it but know that many have. The Johnson & Johnson one-shot dose is coming next, which is ideal for the unhoused situation.
• All of course was not perfect. There was a skirmish between two of the unhoused and police had to come which paused the cleanup process. Fortunately no one was hurt but it did exemplify the tensions that exist within many of the encampments. Outside of the one incident, all went smoothly up until I departed and hopefully thereafter.
My overall impression was that this is and will be a very positive program for our neighborhood, albeit an imperfect one. There were fifteen to twenty volunteers that showed up to assist in the cleanup. A few of us monitored the city sanitation on Third but most others were gathering items on Hampton and Sunset and speaking to the unhoused to foster the trust that will be needed to ultimately get the homeless into homes or areas they can actually settle into.
Cahdlah Forsythe-Barrie and Stephen Young donated their time cleaning up (thank you!) and Cahdlah had this to say:
‘Twas a successful day! Everyone agreed that comparatively, it is cleanest it’s been.
One homeless lady said it would be helpful to have some porta potties bc they kept being removed by the city– I’m not sure why they’d keep removing them but perhaps it’s a more complex issue that needs further thought… but all and all everyone felt really good. Building bridges and setting a good example for people bc sometimes they just don’t even know or don’t have the supplies to do it. Chase and I helped a man on Rose clean his area and then Chase offered to leave the broom, which he accepted. So that was awesome and will give him a tool ya know!
So great. Very satisfying to serve and educate and lend a hand!
LoveVenice.org 