When word got around in downtown Salinas that the city and the county wanted to extend their lease for a temporary warming shelter located on Market Street, concerns about the homeless population got explosive.
The Transportation Agency for Monterey County, which owns the building, received three letters regarding the board's consideration of whether to extend the lease beyond its expiration date of April 30. They're from Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Paul Farmer and Salinas City Center Improvement Association Kenneth Steen.
In two letters, Steen expressed his views in seven points.
The first letter, dated April 21, cites mostly lack of security in and around the shelter, the increased populations of homeless people toward downtown, burdening businesses and "no real solution for transition."
Steen was also quick to point out that the association helps downtown property owners with services like beautification and security, and has poured over $450,000 into the neighborhood.
In his eyes, keeping the homeless shelter would also be a hinderance to the city advancing its Downtown Vibrancy Plan.
Steen's second letter, dates April 24, claims the shelter has attracted "dangerous criminals, prostitutes, drug dealers and vagrants" in broad daylight.
Steen writes: "You simply cannot have it both ways: Downtown is either going to be a safe, clean, economically vibrant business and entertainment district or it becomes just another blighted downtown."
Meanwhile, Farmer's April 20 letter is less specific on how the shelter is being run and more critical of the temporality of the seasonal shelter.
One criticism that all sides, for or against the leasing agreement appear to share: Temporary shelter, set up for a few months at a time, aren't sustainable, month after month or year after year.
Farmer writes the temporary shelters are a "bandage."
On other side of the fence agrees, Doug Dunn of the Monterey County Homeless Union, also isn't a fan of the constant shuffling of shelter locations.
The TAMC board is set to vote on whether to extend the lease at a meeting at 9am Wednesday, April 26. (They will meet in the Agricultural Center Conference Room at 1428 Abbott St. in Salinas.)
Theresa Wright, the community coordinator of TAMC, says the agency hasn't heard from supporters of the extension, just the two business groups in opposition. "If they have something to say, they should speak out," she says.
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