Safe Ground Sites
On August 1, the City Council delegated the responsibility to locate safe ground sites to the City Manager without City Council approval of the sites, in an effort to streamline the effort to find temporary housing for the unhoused population. ESCA will monitor the effort and keep you apprised. Click here for news article.
Measure O – Homelessness – City/County Agreement
The City has provided ESCA with the May 2023 Progress Report on providing emergency shelter space and eliminating encampments and unlawful camping. While we have seen some progress in the last few months, more work needs to be done. Click here for a copy of the report.
ESCA on July 14, 2023, sent a letter to the City asking specific questions about the May 2023 Progress Report Update. To read the ESCA letter please go to “ESCA Advocacy” under News & Events.
Notice of Violation and Demand to Abate
As part of the ESEA residents can, beginning June 21, 2023, file with the City Clerk a Notice of Violation and Demand to Abate that asks the City to abate unlawful camping violations (SCC Section 12.52.030) or unlawful storage violations (SCC Section 12.52.040) on public property. In response to the Notice of Violation and Demand to Abate the City must inspect the location and respond to the resident within 20 days. The City will provide more information on this process in the coming months.
Class Action Lawsuit
Sacramento City and County face a class-action disability lawsuit over homeless encampments blocking sidewalks. Two disabled residents sued the City and County of Sacramento alleging they have violated accessibility laws by failing to keep sidewalks clear from homeless encampments. This has been a significant issue in East Sacramento. Click Here for news article.The ADA lawsuit team is accepting donations to cover expenses of the lawsuit. Click Here if you would like to make a donation.
Sidewalk Ordinance
On August 23, 2022, the City Council adopted the ordinance for city sidewalks to have 4 feet of clearance in order for the public to use them safely. Click here for the Council’s action (note the final ordinance is not posted as of today’s date.
ESCA thanks our members who commented on this item or attended the hearing. We sincerely hope that this ordinance will help to ensure safe pedestrian passage and be enforced in a humane manner. Click here for ESCA letter of support.
Nick Kufasimes, Vice-President of ESCA, penned a guest opinion titled “Walk on Wild Side” in the August 2022 Inside East Sacramento publication in which he discusses his attempt to find out why the City lets tents block pedestrians from using city sidewalks underneath freeways. His guest opinion can be found at: Walk on Wild Side