Connecticut public schools will receive $150 million in state funding to repair and upgrade aging heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday.

The newly formed Connecticut Public Schools HVAC/Indoor Air Quality Grant Program will supplement $165 million in federal COVID relief funds that school districts have set aside to improve air quality.

“COVID woke me up,” Lamont said at a press conference at Phillip R. Smith Elementary School in South Windsor. “Every teacher, every parent was saying, ‘Tell me about the ventilation of my schools. Can I get back to my school safely?’ And it just reinforced in my mind how important it is to make sure you have schools that are safe across the board from a public health point of view.”

State Sen. Saud Anwar, a pulmonary doctor, said that 10% of Connecticut’s teacher and student population has asthma and those respiratory problems are made worse by allergens, inadequate airflow and extreme temperatures.

“Sometimes, rather than being a source of education, a source of wellbeing, a source of happiness, the buildings can be a source of illness,” Anwar said. “This bill is going to start to address this challenge, and this is a priority. We want to make sure that our children and our teachers and all the administrators are protected… It will help many of the children and the teachers and the workforce to feel comfortable and know that their breathing will be better.”

A joint effort by the Connecticut State Department of Education, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and Department of Public Health, the grant program aims to not only improve health but academic performance.

Connecticut Education Association President and Manchester High School math teacher Kate Dias said that improved air quality and temperatures made classrooms conducive for learning.

“Teaching in a classroom that is frequently 95 degrees is incredibly challenging,” Dias said. “When the classrooms heat up, the kids slow down.”

Story continues

According to the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, the deadline for school districts to apply is Dec. 1, 2022. The program requires municipalities to provide matching grants to fund the HVAC projects. The DAS will release grant award notifications in early 2023.

The schools must then complete their state-funded HVAC projects by 2024, according to the program.

But an industry worker shortage could make that timeframe difficult, Stillman Jordan, government affairs chairman of the Connecticut Heating and Cooling Contractors Association, said.

“Who’s going to do the work?” Jordan asked.

Like most other industries, heating and cooling contractors are unable to find enough workers, even with signing bonuses of $5,000 or more, he said. An emphasis on college, rather than trade schools, is hurting efforts to recruit workers who can land jobs starting at $30 an hour, Jordan said.

In addition, state law requiring companies to staff three licensed workers with one apprentice doesn’t help ease the labor shortage, he said.

The industry has advocated for 15 years to allow companies to hire one apprentice for each licensed worker, Jordan said.

Joe Toner, executive director of the Connecticut State Building and Construction Trades Council, said unions insist that workers in the trades be certified and paid no less than the prevailing wage set by the state Department of Labor. Nonunion employers prefer more apprentices he characterized as “cheap labor.”

Jordan called that argument “absolutely insane.”

“Over a decade of state laws artificially restricting apprenticeships,” he said. “You have a problem made significantly worse.”

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Problems with mold and vermin, broken tubs and showers and other slum-like conditions continue to mount at a massive South Los Angeles apartment complex even as politicians, housing and public health officials are pledging to hold the landlord accountable.

City and county inspectors are planning to reassess all 425 units at Chesapeake Apartments in early June, following a Times story in April that revealed widespread tenant complaints and public health violations, including leaking sewage and gas and electrical failures.

“It’s not acceptable,” said Robert Galardi, the chief inspector at the city housing department. “The building is in need of some major renovations.”

Galardi said the complex-wide inspection could be the precursor to sanctions against the building owner, Pama Properties, including enrollment in a city program that withholds rent from landlords to force them to repair blighted conditions.

For years, housing inspectors and others responsible for overseeing Chesapeake Apartments have missed obvious warning signs about its extensive deterioration and at other buildings owned by Pama Properties and Pama President Mike Nijjar. The World War II-era Chesapeake complex stretches across multiple city blocks in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area, with nearly two dozen two-story buildings constructed around courtyards and open-air parking lots.

County public health officials have found 205 violations at Chesapeake Apartments since 2017, an average of more than three per month and the most of any residential property in LA County during that time, a Times analysis found. Violations have included mold, rats and plumbing problems. Over the same period, more than 100 complaints have been filed with city housing inspectors over conditions at the property, including missing and faulty carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and gas and electrical issues, according to a Times review of city data.

Companies linked to Nijjar own more than $1 billion in real estate, predominately in Southern California, and many other properties also have had serious health and livability problems, according to a 2020 investigation by LAist. Five years ago, LA City Attorney Mike Feuer sued Pama Properties and Nijjar over crime concerns, reaching a settlement that required safety and habitability upgrades.

In January LA housing inspectors completed an assessment of Chesapeake Apartments that’s required every two years. Officials identified 71 violations during that inspection, but said all were corrected and gave the complex a clean bill of health. Galardi conceded that review failed, and that about half of the units were never examined.

Many tenants had placed notices on their doors advising inspectors not to enter their units, Galardi said, and the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges. The assessment began in November, just as the Omicron variant’s wave of infection was hitting Southern California.

“I wouldn’t say the system’s broken,” said Galardi, who visited the property and met with tenants and organizers last month. “I would say that the timing in the pandemic had a big impact on [inspecting] such a great community.”

Jim Yukevich, an attorney who has represented Nijjar in litigation with the city, did not respond to a list of questions from the Times. Previously, Yukevich has said that his client takes health and safety issues seriously at all his properties and makes repairs when notified by tenants.

Since the Times story published last month, staff members for the federal, state and local officials who represent the area, all Democrats, have been meeting to discuss conditions at Chesapeake Apartments.

County Supervisor Holly Mitchell called the situation “horrendous” and said that the severity and longstanding concerns with the property required public agencies to penalize the landlord and ensure speedy and complete repairs.

“We’re at the point now where that strong, clear, decisive action needs to be taken,” Mitchell said.

US Rep. Karen Bass, State Sen. Sydney Kamlager, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan and LA City Councilman Herb Wesson declined or did not respond to Times interview requests. After the initial Times story published, Bass, who is running for Los Angeles mayor, called on Nijjar’s companies to make immediate repairs to Chesapeake Apartments, relocate tenants until the work was complete and give them the right to return to the refurbished property.

Chesapeake tenants say that conditions have remained, or even worsened, since April as Pama Properties has scrambled to respond.

Milton Morris, 39, has lived in a one-bedroom apartment at the property for six years with his wife and 13-year-old daughter. One afternoon last week, an air purifier the family newly purchased whirred as his wife used a breathing machine and daughter clutched her asthma inhaler while doing science homework. Morris said he’s been complaining about problems for years.

An environmental contractor hired by building management in late April found numerous mold spores throughout Morris’ apartment at levels that exceed federal environmental guidelines, according to a Morris report shared with The Times. The contractor also found structural damage in the living room, bathroom and kitchen it called “unacceptable.”

“There’s nothing that they can possibly say to justify this,” said Morris, an in-home healthcare worker who pays $1,346 a month in rent. “A lot of people’s lives have been ruined by living over here.”

In other cases, tenants say the landlord’s recent efforts to make repairs have left them without basic necessities.

Maria Gonzalez did not have a working bath or shower for days after workers responded to complaints about a foul odor emanating from the plumbing. She was further annoyed when she said a maintenance worker entered the one-bedroom apartment she shares with her husband and 16-year-old daughter without permission while the teenager was home alone. To clean herself before her janitorial job at a local hospital, Gonzalez had to fill a bucket with water from the sink.

“Another day without bathing,” said Gonzalez, 50, throwing up her hands in her bathroom on a recent afternoon after five days without an operable shower. ‘When are they coming to finish?’

Another tenant said her shower has been offline for more than two weeks while undergoing repairs. She’s had to wash her 5-year-old son in the kitchen sink.

Tenants said they want the landlord to relocate them when doing major construction in their units and to assure them that all contractors are licensed and taking adequate protections when working with lead paint and other health hazards.

Galardi, the city chief inspector, said that tenants should file complaints to the housing department if bathing facilities are inaccessible or if they believe unlicensed construction is occurring, and that the department would respond immediately.

“We do not have the resources to supervise the day-to-day repairs at the property,” he said. “We do have the resources to respond to a scenario that could impact the tenants in either the short term or the long term.”

To date, Galardi said, the city hasn’t ordered the relocation of any tenants nor declared any apartments in the complex uninhabitable.

Over the past month, Chesapeake residents have gone to City Hall to plead their case in person and also protested outside Pama Properties’ corporate office in El Monte.

Morris said that tenants have to maintain pressure because history shows that public agencies haven’t helped them.

“The question is still there as to how the hell this place has been passing inspections all of these years,” he said.

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The mayor of San Francisco on Tuesday announced even more initiatives aimed at curbing open drug use, brazen home break-ins and other criminal behavior that she says have made a mockery of the city’s famed tolerance and compassion.

Mayor London Breed said at a news conference attended by the police chief and other public safety personnel that she would introduce legislation to allow law enforcement real-time access to surveillance video in certain situations and to make it harder for people to sell stolen goods.

She also announced emergency intervention to improve safety in the Tenderloin, one of the poorest and most drug-infested neighborhoods in San Francisco, where parents have pleaded for protection from drug dealers and violent street behavior. The neighborhood contains several government buildings, including City Hall.

“What I’m proposing today, and what I will be proposing in the future will make a lot of people uncomfortable, and I don’t care,” said Breed, a Democrat. “We are past the point where what we see is even remotely acceptable.”

She said it’s time to get aggressive and “less tolerant of all the bull— that has destroyed our city.”

The announcement follows a meeting the mayor had last week with Tenderloin families, as well as a report by The Associated Press describing the frustrations of some residents who say the city is in decline. They said despite San Francisco’s wealth, city officials are not doing enough to keep streets cleared of human feces and trash, provide housing to people experiencing homelessness, and deter drug dealers.

They are also upset that San Francisco public schools spent much of last year teaching remotely while neighboring districts and private schools within the city provided in-class instruction.

Criminal justice advocates in favor of less incarceration say the media has been drumming up fear in a city where overall crime rates have declined in recent years. Increased enforcement, they say, only ends up harming the most vulnerable, including Black and homeless residents, without improving public safety.

Similar debates are taking place across the country in liberal cities where the murder of George Floyd led to a surge of progressive activism that included calls to rethink the way cities deal with crime. Some cities where there were calls to defund the police, including Portland, Oregon, have moved in recent months to bolster police budgets.

John Hamasaki, a San Francisco police commissioner and defense lawyer who is highly critical of extra policing and surveillance, said Tuesday that taxpayer money is better spent on services, treatment and housing.

He said the city should open a supervised drug consumption site and act to treat addiction rather than using methods that will shove dealing into other neighborhoods.

“The situation in the tenderloin isn’t ultimately going to be solved through more policing,” he said. “It seems like we’re doing the same dance over and over and expecting different results.”

But Randy Shaw, executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, which provides legal services and housing to low-income people, said more police patrols would deter dealers and make the neighborhood safer for residents. At the same time, he heard the mayor’s promises before and seen little concrete action.

“I’m glad the mayor’s coming out like this, but it’s really actions speak louder than words,” he said. “We heard a lot of commitments, and now we have to make sure they happen.”

Breed has directed the city’s Department of Emergency Management to lead the response in the Tenderloin, much like the agency coordinated efforts to address the pandemic. The department will, in part, streamline emergency medical calls, disrupt drug dealing and use, and clean up “nasty streets,” she said.

“And when I say nasty, full of feces and urine, that the Department of Public Works is cleaning every single day, but it comes back just a few hours later,” she said.

Breed said she would ask the Board of Supervisors for more money to pay for police overtime and to increase the department’s budget. Legislative changes would also require the board’s support, which is not guaranteed.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said the criminal justice system has changed so that drug possession doesn’t land a person in jail and that police now try to balance enforcement with offers of help to those suffering with addiction and homelessness.

“But at the end of the day, at the end of all of these people will not be allowed to smoke meth, to smoke fentanyl, to inject heroin into their arms in public spaces,” he said.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Follow @ktar923

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The mayor of San Francisco on Tuesday announced even more initiatives aimed at curbing overt drug use, brazen home burglaries and other criminal behaviors that she says make a mockery of the city’s famed tolerance and compassion to have.

Mayor London Breed told a news conference attended by the police chief and other public safety officials that she would introduce legislation that would give law enforcement real-time access to surveillance video in certain situations and make it harder for people to sell stolen goods.

She also announced emergency measures to improve security in the Tenderloin, one of the poorest and most drug-infested neighborhoods in San Francisco, where parents have asked for protection from drug dealers and violent behavior on the streets. There are several government buildings in the neighborhood, including City Hall.

“What I’m proposing today and what I’m going to propose in the future will make a lot of people uncomfortable, and I don’t care,” said Breed, a Democrat. “We’ve passed the point where what we’re seeing is even remotely acceptable.”

She said it was time to become aggressive and “less tolerant of all the cops that destroyed our town.”

The announcement follows a meeting the mayor had with tenderloin families last week and a report from The Associated Press detailing the frustrations of some residents who say the city is in decline. They said that despite San Francisco’s wealth, city officials are not doing enough to clear the streets of human feces and trash, provide housing for the homeless, and deter drug dealers.

They are also upset that San Francisco public schools have spent much of the last year distance learning while neighboring counties and private schools in the city have taught in-class.

Criminal justice advocates who are campaigning for fewer incarcerations say the media has fueled fear in a city where crime rates have been falling overall in recent years. They say increased enforcement only harms the most vulnerable, including black and homeless residents, without improving public safety.

Similar debates are taking place across the country in liberal cities, where the killing of George Floyd sparked a wave of progressive activism that has included calls to rethink how cities deal with crime. Some cities that have been calling for police relief, including Portland, Oregon, have relocated in recent months to bolster police budgets.

John Hamasaki, a San Francisco police commissioner and defense attorney who is critical of additional policing and surveillance, said Tuesday taxpayers’ money is better spent on services, treatment and housing.

He said the city should open a regulated drug consumption facility and take action to treat the addiction, rather than using methods that push trafficking to other parts of the city.

“The situation in the tenderloin will not ultimately be resolved through more policing,” he said. “It seems like we’re doing the same dance over and over again and expecting different results.”

But Randy Shaw, chief executive of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, which provides legal services and housing to people on low incomes, said more police patrols would deter traffickers and make the neighborhood safer for residents. At the same time, he has heard the mayor’s promises before and seen few concrete measures.

“I’m glad the mayor is coming out like this, but actions speak louder than words,” he said. “We have heard many promises and now we must ensure that they are kept.”

Breed has directed the city’s Department of Emergency Management to lead the response in the tenderloin, much like the agency has coordinated efforts to combat the pandemic. The department will, in part, streamline emergency medical calls, disrupt drug trafficking and use, and clean up “bad roads,” she said.

“And when I say angry, full of feces and urine, that the Department of Public Works cleans up every day, it comes back just a few hours later,” she said.

Breed said she will ask the board for more money to pay police overtime and increase the department’s budget. Legislative changes would also require board support, which is not guaranteed.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said the criminal justice system had changed so that drug possession no longer puts a person in jail and police are now trying to balance enforcement with offers of help to addicts and the homeless.

“But at the end of the day, at the end of all this, people are not going to be allowed to smoke meth, smoke fentanyl, inject heroin in their arms in public,” he said.

Copyright © Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed or redistributed.

Follow @ktar923

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The Mayor of San Francisco on Tuesday announced even more initiatives aimed at curbing overt drug use, brazen home break-ins and other criminal behavior that she says draws on the city’s famed tolerance and compassion Have made mockery.

Mayor London Breed said at a press conference attended by the police chief and other public security officials that she would put in place laws that allow law enforcement agencies to have real-time access to surveillance video in certain situations and make it difficult for people to sell stolen property.

She also announced emergency operations to improve safety in Tenderloin, one of the poorest and most drug-infested neighborhoods in San Francisco, where parents have pleaded for protection from drug dealers and street violent behavior. There are several government buildings in the neighborhood, including the town hall.

The restaurant in San Francisco refused to work with 3 police officers whose weapons made the staff “uncomfortable”

“What I propose today and what I will propose in the future is going to make a lot of people uncomfortable and I don’t care,” said Breed, a Democrat. “We have passed the point where what we see is even remotely acceptable.”

She said it was time to get aggressive and “less tolerant of all that bull – it destroyed our city”.

The announcement follows a meeting the mayor had with Tenderloin families last week, as well as a report from The Associated Press describing the frustration of some residents who say the city is in decline. They said that despite San Francisco’s wealth, city officials were not doing enough to clear the streets of human feces and trash, shelter people who were homeless, and deter drug dealers.

They’re also upset that last year San Francisco public schools taught remotely for much of last year, while neighboring counties and private schools within the city offered classroom teaching.

Criminal justice advocates for fewer incarcerations say the media has fueled fear in a city where overall crime rates have declined in recent years. They say increased enforcement only harms the most vulnerable, including black and homeless residents, without improving public safety.

Similar debates are taking place across the country in liberal cities, where the murder of George Floyd sparked a surge in progressive activism, including calls for cities to reconsider the way cities deal with crime. Some cities calling for police relief, including Portland, Oregon, have moved in recent months to boost police budgets.

John Hamasaki, a San Francisco police commissioner and defense attorney who is very critical of additional policing and surveillance, said Tuesday that tax dollars are better spent on services, treatment and housing.

He said the city should open a monitored drug use site and act to treat addiction rather than employing methods that push trafficking to other neighborhoods.

Thieves break in and throw a party at the San Francisco restaurant before it opens

“The situation in the tenderloin will ultimately not be resolved by more police work,” he said. “It seems like we’re doing the same dance over and over and expecting different results.”

However, Randy Shaw, executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, which provides legal services and housing to low-income people, said more police patrols would deter vendors and make the neighborhood safer for residents. At the same time, he has heard the mayor’s promises and seen little concrete action.

“I’m glad the mayor came out like this, but actions speak louder than words,” he said. “We heard a lot of promises and now we need to make sure they are kept.”

Breed has directed the city’s emergency management department to lead the response at the tenderloin, much like the agency is coordinating efforts to fight the pandemic. The department will, in part, streamline emergency medical calls, disrupt drug trafficking and use, and clean up “bad roads,” she said.

“And when I say nasty, full of feces and urine, that the Department of Public Works cleans up every day but comes back only a few hours later,” she said.

Breed said she would ask the board of directors for more money to pay police overtime and top up the department’s budget. Changes in the law would also require the support of the board, which is not guaranteed.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said the criminal justice system has changed so that possession of drugs does not put a person in jail and that police are now trying to balance enforcement with support services for the addicts and the homeless.

“But at the end of the day people won’t be allowed to smoke meth, smoke fentanyl, inject heroin in public places,” he said.

Conclude

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The post San Francisco mayor pledges extra police, security measures appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Mayor of San Francisco on Tuesday announced even more initiatives aimed at curbing overt drug use, brazen home break-ins and other criminal behavior that she says mocked the city’s famous tolerance and compassion .

Mayor London Breed said at a press conference attended by the police chief and other public security officials that she would put in place laws that allow law enforcement agencies to have real-time access to surveillance video in certain situations and make it difficult for people to sell stolen property.

She also announced emergency operations to improve safety in Tenderloin, one of the poorest and most drug-infested neighborhoods in San Francisco, where parents have pleaded for protection from drug dealers and street violent behavior. There are several government buildings in the neighborhood, including the town hall.

“What I propose today and what I will propose in the future is going to make a lot of people uncomfortable and I don’t care,” said Breed, a Democrat. “We have passed the point where what we see is even remotely acceptable.”

She said it was time to get aggressive and “less tolerant of all that bull – it destroyed our city”.

The announcement follows a meeting the mayor had with Tenderloin families last week, as well as a report from The Associated Press describing the frustration of some residents who say the city is in decline. They said that despite San Francisco’s wealth, city officials were not doing enough to clear the streets of human feces and trash, shelter people who were homeless, and deter drug dealers.

They’re also upset that last year San Francisco public schools taught remotely for much of last year, while neighboring counties and private schools within the city offered classroom teaching.

Criminal justice advocates for fewer incarcerations say the media has fueled fear in a city where overall crime rates have declined in recent years. They say increased enforcement only harms the most vulnerable, including black and homeless residents, without improving public safety.

Similar debates are taking place across the country in liberal cities, where the murder of George Floyd sparked a surge in progressive activism, including calls for cities to reconsider the way cities deal with crime. Some cities calling for police relief, including Portland, Oregon, have moved in recent months to boost police budgets.

John Hamasaki, a San Francisco police commissioner and defense attorney who is very critical of additional policing and surveillance, said Tuesday that tax dollars are better spent on services, treatment and housing.

He said the city should open a monitored drug use site and act to treat addiction rather than employing methods that push trafficking to other neighborhoods.

“The situation in the tenderloin will ultimately not be resolved by more police work,” he said. “It seems like we’re doing the same dance over and over and expecting different results.”

However, Randy Shaw, executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, which provides legal services and housing to low-income people, said more police patrols would deter vendors and make the neighborhood safer for residents. At the same time, he has heard the mayor’s promises and seen little concrete action.

“I’m glad the mayor came out like this, but actions speak louder than words,” he said. “We heard a lot of promises and now we need to make sure they are kept.”

Breed has directed the city’s emergency management department to lead the response at the tenderloin, much like the agency is coordinating efforts to fight the pandemic. The department will, in part, streamline emergency medical calls, disrupt drug trafficking and use, and clean up “bad roads,” she said.

“And when I say nasty, full of feces and urine, that the Department of Public Works cleans up every day but comes back only a few hours later,” she said.

Breed said she would ask the board of directors for more money to pay police overtime and top up the department’s budget. Changes in the law would also require the support of the board, which is not guaranteed.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said the criminal justice system has changed so that possession of drugs does not put a person in jail and that police are now trying to balance enforcement with support services for the addicts and the homeless.

“But at the end of the day people won’t be allowed to smoke meth, smoke fentanyl, inject heroin in public places,” he said.

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EAST PALO ALTO (BCN) – Residents of the Palo Mobile Estates RV park in East Palo Alto will have the opportunity to purchase the currently rented land this summer.

The city of East Palo Alto wants to help them with this.

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The city council voted Tuesday evening to borrow $ 2 million from its affordable housing fund to help residents, who are mostly low-income, buy their land and stay in the park.

Palo Mobile Estates Associates, who currently owns the park on 1885 East Bayshore Road, is currently filing for a subdivision which means the park will be converted into independent salable units. This means that residents who occupy spaces in the park can buy their land.

However, according to a report from the staff, the lots could be estimated at $ 260,000 for single lots to $ 325,000 for double wide lots. A resident survey found that most residents are interested in buying their property but would need around $ 100,000 in financial support per family to do so.

The $ 2 million city council loan would go to two community housing organizations: East Palo Alto Community Alliance and Neighborhood Development Organization (EPACANDO) and Preserving Affordable Housing Assets Longterm, Inc. (PAHALI).

EPACANDO is a non-profit developer of affordable housing and PAHALI is a community land trust. Both organizations will use the funds to help residents purchase their land.

Deputy City Director Patrick Heisinger said the $ 2 million loan will help use other funds to help more families.

“The donors really want to see a commitment from the city to know that the people are at the table and ready to help,” said Heisinger. “If we can bring more donors to the table, we could either provide more help to lower their housing expense ratio or help more households.”

Heisinger also said there was an urgent schedule to help residents as they would have to submit an offer to buy their property by early August and then have 60 days to complete the sale.

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“For a lot of residents out there, this can be a pretty intimidating process,” Heisinger said, adding that it would take a lot of case management.

Before funds can be spent, city officials will prepare a grant agreement detailing how EPACANDO and PAHALI will identify families for support and spend the money. Heisinger said they plan to return in July with a full grant agreement.

Mayor Carlos Romero said he plans to review the grant agreement and looks forward to further funding.

“I really hope that EPACANDO and this city can convert that $ 2 million into $ 19 million,” said Romero. The “$ 2 million is the city’s bona fide money. It is important. It’s not our biggest investment. We’ve made much bigger housing investments, but it’s pretty important to start that engine. “

On Tuesday evening, the city council also voted to monitor several homeless camps that have been reported in recent months, such as Bell Street Park, which is home to 11-13 homeless people.

Rather than building a “sanctioned” camp – which is a designated area for the homeless to stay overnight – the city plans to monitor the camps and provide portable toilets, hand washing facilities and garbage disposal services.

The city also plans to work with San Mateo County to make it easier for people in the camps to access hotel or motel rooms. These are rooms that were converted into transitional apartments during the COVID-19 pandemic through the government initiatives Project Roomkey and Project Homekey.

For more information on Tuesday’s meeting, see the agenda package at http://eastpaloalto.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx?field_microsite_tid_1=27.

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© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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