Transient Issues

By Andrew Coolidge

Details and solutions to transient issue facing Chico and our downtown.

2. The transient population. This is population which is causing the majority of the problems, often resorting to violent behavior, littering our parks, aggressively panhandling, and creating 99% of the issues for businesses. They are in a lifestyle they have chosen, living in a city where they know they will not have to face consequences for their actions.

3. Decreased police staffing / lack of Council will - While our police force beginning substantially reduced has affected our ability to enforce the sit-lie ordinance, I have been told why so little action by our police officers is not being taken is because the council does not have the will to clean up the issue or to ask the department to make it a central concern. Chico has had two years of consecutive increases in crime. We are now 18th in the Nation (yes, really the nation) for car thefts! Our Gang Units, Mounted Patrols, Street Crime Units, Youth Resource Officer programs have all been cut due to the budget. We currently have less than 53 uniformed officers on the street, 30 under the recommended amount.

Solution:
1. Full funding of the police department. I have outlined a program for close to $1 million in additional revenue for the city. While it is detailed and lengthy I have outlined some of these ideas in the debates and here on Facebook. The department, if made a priority, can be fully funded and council should be holding emergency meetings to move forward.

2. A heightened time period of enforcement (30 to 60 days). Just like with the clean-up of any city or aspect of a city, the proven method is to have a time period of enforcement which seeks to send a message and to clean up the illegal activity entirely. I believe we are at the point where will need to ask for business participation and help from other law enforcement to make sure the message that we are a community which no longer tolerates this behavior is clear and that people cannot overtake our parks and downtown for their own use, driving out families, shoppers and the community which we have paid to create and maintain for the enjoyment of everyone.

3. Continue the programs to help the homeless population who need and will accept help. We have some terrific programs locally from street pastoring to Vector's (homeless veteran housing) and of course the Torres Shelter, 6th Street Center for Change and the Jesus Center. I do not believe offering hot meals to the homeless makes our problem worse, if we are enforcing the laws of our community. By not enforcing our laws, we are making the efforts of our homeless programs useless.