Page 3 - Sonoma County Gazette MARCH 2020

Cats and Home
the residents successful, the heat will be off, and while Gorin will still be howling, it will stay. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be.
I was sorry to read that you’ll
be retiring, after working so hard
to make the Gazette an absolute necessity in our county - even though you more than deserve to take a
rest! Thank you for the many years you devoted to representing the diverse voices living in this area of unparalleled beauty! It’s a tragedy that such publications are in such short supply nationwide.
We have a major portion of our 3000+ homeless residents to offer the best we have. Here’s what we’re working on:
A special thanks for giving voice to those of us struggling without shelter or homes, as they are so easily overlooked and dismissed these days. Listing ways to get involved and help, not just read about these situations, is one of the greatest gifts the Gazette continues to give (and hopefully will continue).
Simple sanctioned camp – toilet, washstand, trash pickup, social services, 6’ chainlink fence so residents control entrance, shade- cloth to hang from fence for privacy and sense of security, and to keep outsiders from peering in and making judgements.
I ran into you at Forgotten Felines, the day we both had brought in some of our respective stray cats for spay/neutering - and I’m happy to read that you’ve given some of these kitties a loving forever home.
The county just made 30% cuts in “critical social services” and the city has little to allocate. We have 3000 homeless residents, many of whom would love to have the safe, security, stability of a sanctioned camp, so we must be as economical as possible while vigilant to the humanity of our residents.
Enjoy your retirement! Irene Barnard, Santa Rosa
Distance from social services is immaterial. They will gladly come to the camp, grateful their clients are gathered, reasonably comfortable.
Homeless Perspective
Access to transportation and stores is important because the residents will have no refrigeration.
The glorious Free February Edition came this afternoon in a big white envelope. Necessary? No need to answer that.
Experience in other cities with sanctioned camps is that residents consume far less alcohol, fewer drugs, have reasonable self-control, require far fewer hospitalizations and incarcerations. There is evidence camps pay for themselves.
I’m in enthusiastic agreement with Cynthia Stefenoni! So there!!!
Lots to chew on. Steven Birdlebaugh, ‘I am Angela’ (we need to hear about more people who came close to being tossed out), and Mary Ruffato. 1st person homeless stories build critical understanding, make it harder for people to bitch about our homeless residents.
Our 3000+ homeless residents cry out for stabilization in safe camps like those successful for 20+ years in every major city north of us.
The county has many unused parcels that would work well. City fewer. The $2M Los Guilicos camp, despite nasty words about it from all Supes, is likely to stay for a long time. By April, the camp will have proven to be an excellent neighbor,
Unless the BOS decide to let homeless people rot forever in
the weeds until death, the county will be dotted with camps like
the one in Eugene, peaceful, purposeful, demonstrating humane thoughtfulness.
JohnBob
LETTERS con’t on page 4
3/20 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3