HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/19/2023 Gailey (Rotating Safe Parking Program)
Christian, Kevin
From:Gene and Cathy Gailey <gcgailey@charter.net>
Sent:Monday, September 18, 2023 7:51 PM
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Rotating Overnight Safe Parking Program
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Greetings,
As citizens and homeowners in the City of San Luis Obispo, we are requesting that you immediately STOP any
interest in pursuing SLO Nazarene Church at 3396 Johnson Ave., San Luis Obispo as a possible site for the
Rotating Overnight Safe Parking Program. This potential site sits in a large residential neighborhood.
Please STOP pursuing any residential neighborhood for Rotating Overnight Safe Parking for the
homeless, and locate a permanent safe site for the program participants.
Residential neighborhoods should be prioritized as a safety zone for the citizens of San Luis Obispo, especially
the children and elderly. Their safety and well-being should not be subjected to the "side effects" or "secondary
influx" that sometimes occur on sites such as what still exists in the parking lot near Railroad Station. You can
drive by the adjacent parking lot at any time of day, and find a minimum of 6 cars of homeless parked there.
Last week, we walked that lot and felt very unsafe each time.
According to a participant in the Railroad Station program, the cars currently remaining adjacent to the site are
an example of the "side effects or secondary influx" of the program. We learned that sometimes non-
participants of the program (people, cars, trucks and RVs) follow the program participants in pursuit of
restrooms, water, etc. and linger on nearby streets or parking lots - leaving trash, feces, needles, and drugs. This
definitely leaves a threat to the safety of program participants and the entire residential neighborhood near the
site.
Please also consider the possible fire danger from the side effects of the secondary influx of homeless who
follow the Rotating Overnight Safe Parking Program. This neighborhood, particularly Tanglewood, Edgewood
and Harmony streets, are especially vulnerable to fire from illegal campfires. The area is very dry, with a small
creek running through it - if it were rediscovered - fire is a very real possibility.
Our hopes are that you would pursue a permanent location in an industrial area, city property, or county
location that are not surrounded by residential homes.
A permanent location makes more sense than a rotating location! Why should these folks in need be forced to
constantly change locations, sometimes far away from resources to help them? Let's give them a loving and
encouraging hand up towards success by offering a safe space near established resources to help them! Also
saving precious money on gas! In personally speaking with many neighbors to the church and the Railroad
Station - and contacting program participants - we would encourage our city to find a safe area with security,
and perhaps cameras, staff and a gated parking area.
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We appreciate and thank each of you for the time invested into the betterment of the City of SLO. We are
hoping as committees and citizens brainstorm together, we are able to locate a permanent location for a Safe
Overnight Parking Program with security staffing and cameras such as those provided at Prado.
Sincerely, Gene & Cathy Gailey
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