Trump and Newsom align on the state’s homeless crisis; how does Santa Cruz feel?
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- As President Elect Donald Trump gets ready to take office next year, how will it align with Governor Newsom's stance on encampment sweeps and what could this mean for the city of Santa Cruz?
Trump and Newsom sharing thoughts to tackle California’s homelessness crisis.
In a campaign video Trump says, "We will ban urban camping wherever possible, violators of these bans will be arrested, but they will be given the option to accept treatment and services if they're willing to be rehabilitated."
While Gov. Gavin Newsom says, "This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them, and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same."
Both shared focus on encampment sweeps but not everybody is on board.
"I don't like the encampment sweeps," Dean Compoginis Aptos said. "I understand why they're happening and I think that any action like that without a really good solution waiting, ready, fully baked so those people have someplace to go is a mistake."
Others share why people may feel differently.
"People spend a lot of money down here in these businesses and different things like that. they want to come down here. they want to rely on consumers to come to their places. and people are scared, too, and they find it offsetting," Judy Vanleuven Santa Cruz said.
"I think people are fed up," Compoginis said. "I think the people who want to see those sweeps happen are tired that nothing has really been done."
The city explained how they plan to approach encampment sweeps now that federal and state directives are aligned.
In a statement the city says, "the city remains committed to reducing homelessness by continuing to implement the strategies that have shown results: building more affordable housing, offering shelter, increasing outreach and service connections, and closing down large camps that pose health and safety risks."
Many people downtown emphasize the need for a viable solution for those affected.
"I think we should do something to create an area where they can a safe place where they can go where there's good sanitation, they can take showers where it's a controlled environment," Vanleuven said.
The city says that the recent Santa Cruz Point In Time count reflects a 36% percent decrease in the overall count of individuals experiencing homelessness in the city.
