REQUEST FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY REGARDING THE HOMELESS CRISIS
REQUEST FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY REGARDING THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND REFUSAL BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO RESPOND
August 2, 2021
On June 23, 2021, I sent the Board of Supervisors a letter outlining the severity of the homeless crisis and requesting a local state of emergency be declared.
Sheriff’s Response Letter July 23, 2021 – PDF
On JuOn June 28, 2021, I received a letter from County Counsel (Rodrigo A. Castro-Silva), which was generic, downplayed the issue, and contained no response from the Board of Supervisors.
County Councel Response Letter – July 23, 2021 – PDF
On July 28, 2021, I sent the Board of Supervisors another letter which stated in part the “robust services” being provided are not working. I asked the Board of Supervisors to directly respond to the issue, rather than County Counsel. I further stated, “Despite whatever dissagreements you may have with me, we must unite together on this important topic to save lives.” Additionally, “If I do not receive a response, I will assume County Counsel’s response is the position you are taking in the matter, and I intend on making the June 28, 2021, correspondence public.”
Sheriff’s Response Letter July 28, 2021 – PDF
On July 30, 2021, I receivedOn July 30, 2021, I received another letter from County Counsel (Rodrigo A. Castro-Silva), titled “Inappropriate Disclosure of Priviledged Attorney-Client Communications.” The letter ended by stating, “the attorney-client privilege may be waived only by the holder of the privilege, which is the Board.” Yet still no response from the Board.
County Councel Response letter – July 28, 2021 – PDF
II have been a vocal critic of the failures of elected officials in regard to the homeless crissis and the homeless industrial complex which has been created. If you believe our elected leaders need to display the same transparency they demand of others, then ask them why they refuse to respond and want the correspondence on this issue kept secret.
Board of Supervisors Office Number – Graphic
Sheriff Alex Villanueva