We recently highlighted a story about the city of San Diego, California, which has created a ‘safe sleeping’ location for their homeless population which is basically a sea of tents in a parking lot.
Apparently, it’s not very popular with the city’s homeless people because nearly a week after opening, it’s pretty much empty.
Critics have pointed to issues like the heat and the fact that there are no shower facilities on site. People who wish to bathe have to make a request and get transported to a separate location.
KUSI News reports:
Mayor Todd Gloria’s controversial Safe Sleeping site remains nearly empty since opening
The City of San Diego is taking action on the out-of-control homeless crisis that has more than tripled since Mayor Todd Gloria took office.
The all Democrat City Council narrowly passed Councilmember Stephen Whitburn’s Safe Sleeping Ordinance, which aims to provide homeless people a place to live. Mayor Todd Gloria himself has touted the Safe Sleeping sites as major successes, as his staff attacks people online who dare criticize the setup.
The safe sleeping site features tents on a black pavement, with no shade. Temperatures on the ground have been recorded at 140 degrees, which San Diegans have pointed out to Gloria’s staff.
Director of Communications for Mayor Gloria, Rachel Laing, has been very vocal about how great the Safe Sleeping site is, insisting that the heat is bearable because “there is a breeze most of the day.”
The shower thing seems to be a sticking point.
Mayor @ToddGloria's Director of Communications, @RachelLaing assured San Diego the Safe Sleeping Site had showers.
That was a lie.@DRolland confirmed there is only "transportation to shower facilities upon request."
Full Story: https://t.co/7y7c14a5Jq pic.twitter.com/wyhE6U3Wma
— KUSI News (@KUSINews) July 7, 2023
It’s pretty easy to understand why people wouldn’t want to move into this camp, unless it was as a last resort.
