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Chairman Sean Nelson <br />County Board of Supervisors <br />August 28, 2014 <br />Page 2 <br />secondary impacts of the proposed Shelter were adamantly opposed to the site <br />selection. They were most concerned that the presence of a Shelter, in a <br />neighborhood already facing issues of poverty, density, lack of open space, and other <br />public safety concerns, would only escalate the existing difficult conditions previously <br />mentioned. <br />Additionally, it was also clear that most of the residents that live nearest to the <br />proposed Shelter felt ignored and marginalized by the public outreach efforts made. <br />As we know, simply following the "protocols" or "black letter" requirements for <br />purposes of notice does not always render the most effective results. Here, although <br />notices were sent to property owners two weeks prior to the County's only <br />Community Forum to discuss the Shelter, a cursory review of the area surrounding <br />the Shelter clearly shows that the vast majority of the residents are renters in multi- <br />family complexes. Notices to these residents were mailed only three business days <br />prior to the Community Forum. As a result, the most impacted residents were not <br />given sufficient notice of the Community Forum because they were tenants, not <br />property owners. <br />Moreover, the County's sole Community Forum was scheduled on July 2, 2014; only <br />two days before a long holiday weekend. Not surprisingly, the Forum was poorly <br />attended, and therefore did not produce for the Board accurate findings to base its <br />decision to acquire. However, more importantly, it gave the appearance that the <br />County's only effort to engage the community, and give the neighbors an <br />opportunity to be heard, was simply a veiled attempt to circumvent the public's <br />Input. <br />Finally, I forward this written correspondence to your attention in hopes that your <br />will reflect on the responsibility you have to all our County's residents; especially <br />those most near the proposed Shelter. I urge you to reconsider your site selection <br />and approach to addressing the needs of the County's homeless without further <br />impacting our most vulnerable communities. <br />Sincerely, <br />Ate' v <br />Vincen Sa iento <br />Councilmember <br />C. County Board of Supervisors <br />Senator Lou Correa <br />Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez <br />Assemblymember Tom Daly <br />Mayor and City Council <br />