SAYING IT LIKE IT REALLY IS .. in 60 seconds "GO!"

i have listened twice now to each (new) person's 60 seconds of truth..    [we've been hearing from non-profits, advocates for the homeless for years]; 

public safety is being utterly ignored, while homeless criminals are supported, enabled & empowered.

what law abiding, tax paying, hard working people of San Jose are being forced to put up with is CRIMINAL. just LISTEN to the testimonies regarding this truth begin at 3:21 on the youtube video of THIS MEETING.

my collage here is not of everyone who spoke at open mic. it is, on purpose, a collage of the people who shared their true horror stories of what is taking place because crimes by homeless people are allowed; ignored; excused. frustrating to me, that our government system gives people 60 seconds to encapsulate what they've been dealing with for years. But WOW to how well people condensed, highlighted and bullet pointed their experiences. VERY POWERFUL 60 SECOND SPEECHES!! all of them..

everyone here supports Mayor Matt Mahan's 'responsibility to shelter' initiative; for excellent reasons.

****

when time allows, i will post the various testimonies. it is one thing to be told, another to listen.. and another to read.

in progress..

My names is Elva Wilson.  I came here from Mexico with my family working the fields as a migrant worker, enduring the dangers of crop dusters dropping pesticides over our heads. 

As a woman and as a person of color, I have  experienced poverty.  I have experienced oppression.

My heart sinks when I see a drug addicted or mentally ill brown person living outdoors in squalor. 

A vote against Responsibility to Shelter is an oppressive act against a vulnerable people. 

This Council has the power to stop this oppression.  Help people, who can’t help themselves.  Please support the Mayor’s proposal.  

And please support the Mayor’s Pay for Progress/Performance proposal.  It would hold elected officials more accountable to residents.  There should be no hesitation from the Council to accept this.  Council should not be determining their own merit-based compensation utilizing public funds.  

This proposal would only bring the matter before voters to decide.  As Councilwoman Campos just stated, voters should always be the ultimate deciders.  

*

I am a witness

I have witnessed this pattern over and over:

You have a thriving business

Homeless park themselves in front of the business

Paying customers stop going  -the homeless remain.

The business loses customers, revenue, employees; and is forced to close.

The once thriving business is boarded up and covered in graffiti.

It is criminal to allow that to happen.

I am a witness

I have witnessed this pattern over and over:

You have a beautiful green belt, a lovely park, a dedicated walking/biking trail

enjoyed and respected by countless families.

Homeless set up camp and colonize. Destroy the health & beauty with toxic trash.

Countless Families avoid and then stop visiting the area. Never bring visitors.

These areas are literally being stolen from people who once enjoyed them

It is criminal to allow that to happen.

I stand 100% behind Mayor, Matt Mahan in his efforts to keep San Jose businesses open, and return our beautiful outdoor areas to safe and clean places people can enjoy again.

Sandra Mickanen

*

My sister’s son, who is mentally ill, drug addicted, and violent, has been in and out of jail for years for assaulting her. Each time he was released with no consequences, and no mandatory treatment. His assaultive attacks on her grew more violent each time. Six years ago, he murdered my sister. My sister and my family are the victims, not him.

Many of the homeless are mentally ill, drug addicted, and violent. They are committing multiple crimes in our city. They are not the victims, we are. They need to be held accountable for their crimes. Homelessness is not a free pass to commit crimes.

I worked as a Santa Clara County Correctional Deputy for 27 years. Many of the inmates are homeless, mentally ill, drug addicted, and violent. When they get released, they go back to living on the streets with no treatment. The city and county need to place these criminals in lockdown treatment facilities.

Robert Mickanen, Berryessa San Jose

*

 -Tom Wilson..

The squalor in encampments is an extreme health risk to all. Perhaps worse, is the danger brought about by mental illness, drugs, weapons, crime and violence.

We must do better, yet, many Council members are content funding the non-profits, who have failed for decades to bring homeless people indoors.

To perpetuate their funding, the non-profits have stacked this podium today with shills spouting misinformation so they can continue riding the gravy trains of government contracts.

I support the Mayor’s “Responsibility to Shelter” proposal.

No one should be living and dying on the streets in San Jose. While we’re building needed shelter, we must act immediately to move the drug addicted and mentally ill into treatment.

Too many people are refusing shelter and treatment, even when offered private units with bathrooms, kitchens, and services.

By continuing with the current failed policies—people suffer, but, with new innovative solutions, we can save lives.

I urge the Council to support the Mayor’s proposal. 

OPEN LETTER TO NYT REPORTER: WE SUPPORT San Jose, CA MAYOR, MATT MAHAN

 Hello Soumya, I've read, a few times, your 'San Jose Considers Arresting Homeless...' article; and have read your NYT bio, 

My husband and i have been very active regarding the issue of homelessness in our neighborhood and city

I will provide links at the end of this should you be interested to read more, but to keep this short in respect of your time, -request the following consideration:

We have been hearing, and re-reading, and as was covered in your article, the root cause of homelessness as an 'economic' issue; directly correlating with 'cost of living.' 

And the picture painted with your words:  tesla drivers, leather seats, charging their cars/cell phones, while directly across the street, charity groups handing out peanut butter sandwiches to homeless campers..

Actually,  -it is an easy picture to capture; contrast directly across the street. 

There is a more, equally real, equally worthy, but more difficult picture to capture, which, instead of juxtaposing tesla owners with homeless tent dwellers

juxtaposes homeless tent dwellers with: 

 the enormous amount of people who  -exactly because the cost of living is so high-  moved out of the area, to other places within california, to other states; to other countries.   These people responded to the high cost of living by MOVING out of the area; FINDING NEW EMPLOYMENT..   FINDING new places to work, contribute, raise their children.   There is a LARGE population of people who did not  -have not-  will not, respond to the current 'economic' circumstances by staying put, living on the streets, begging, panhandling, loitering, taking/selling drugs, colonizing store fronts, parks, creekways, accumulating toxic waste.

We would love to see this juxtaposition covered:  tent dwellers /  the hard working who relocated.   We have both friends and family members who have left the bay area; moved to Montana, moved to Idaho, moved to New Mexico, moved to Texas, moved to Washington; they would all rather be here

We have watched, what we call the HTLC Community [hard working, tax paying, law abiding, contributors] -leave

while we watch the homeless populations grow; colonize creekways with pollution, colonize shopping plazas closing stores (where people were working); one by one until entire shopping areas are boarded up, closed and covered in graffiti.

We stand with our Mayor, Matt Mahan, who seems to be working tirelessly on this issue.  We want to save our shopping plazas; support our local business owners; restore San Jose to its former glory

We want to bring people up; not ALL be brought further down.. which is the current trend, when homeless colonize and close once thriving areas. 

Thank You for reading and caring.

Additional reading if time/interest allow:

24 Powerful Testimonies

NOTonNOBLE.blogspot.com   [a long, hard fought victory to not have 100 bed homeless site built on our local park across from an elementary school]. 

Blessings,  Robert & Sandra Mickanen,  San Jose, CA

WriteousMom.com@gmail.com

 

No more WAITING 4 OR MORE HOURS to speak for 60 seconds AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

 "Thank You Natalie!"  

link:  sign this petition.  

Not knowing when, or whether, or how long the wait will be to speak during open mic at city council meetings is BLATANTLY DISRESPECTFUL and wrong.  It should be formally, legally, changed to recognize, respect and honor the people who volunteer their precious, valuable time and energy to participate in our democratic, free speech, process. 

our current system is of the council, by the council, for the council. 

we need to return to,  -of the people, by the people, for the people!

*************

it was during our very hard; very long; very time and life consuming 

NOTonNOBLE 

protest we experienced the following:

open mics at city council meetings were:

1.  on what days? at what times?   it was difficult to even access basic information

2.  open mics were sometimes suddenly canceled 

3.  open mic times were arbitrarily changed

4.  open mic times went from 2 minutes, to 1 minute even when there were only 12 people..

but the MOST GRIEVOUS practice 

is that the city council members could  (and did) talk for as long as they wanted; with enormous amounts of repetitiveness, intentionally droning on and on,  

causing anyone who showed up for open mic to wait

and wait...   and wait....   and wait...   FOR HOURS!  -The majority of these people already working full time, taking care of children, parents, commuting long hours, having to skip dinner and hire child care to even show up.  Already going way out of their way to arrive; to attend, TO SHARE 60 seconds of something very important to them, which they took the time to write in advance.

We suggest the following in rough draft form:

An easily accessible and very clear communication regarding set days and times for open mics.

That open mics be made available every city council meeting.

That there be alternating times;  day time availability; evening availability

i.e., Tues 7pm, open mic,  [first come, first serve/listen; a maximum time of 1 hour]

       Weds, noon, open mic...

*****

i further share, from our experience, having witnessed and sat through numerous city council meetings; that the length of your current meetings are very much self-inflicted.

if you had time limits, per council member, 

the same way open mics are restricted to 60 seconds, and force the speaker to edit accordingly

if you gave yourselves time limits per subject, this would also force you to pre-consider; force you to prioritize and organize your thoughts before you speak, 

which would save enormous amounts of time that is currently wasted

and help you to demonstrate the efficiency you desire from others. 

*** 

selah! & amen

from open mics @ San Jose City Council Budget Mtg 02/11/2025 by Robert & Sandra Mickanen, Tom Wilson

ROBERT MICKANEN’S 2 minute open mic @ san jose city council budget meeting 2/11/2025

youtube link here: @ 4:29:48   

  (which he waited nearly 4 hours in council chambers to share)

The term homeless is too one-sided and misleading. The homeless we see on the streets are not in their situation because of financial difficulty.  The people who end up homeless are the ones who destroy their relationships by their own actions. The actions that force friends, family, and apartment managers to have these dysfunctional people removed from their residence are as follows:

physical violent assaults,

intimidation,

 fear,

 threats,

stealing,

destroying the property,

drug addiction,

verbal assault,

conducting criminal activity,

 not respecting others,

not obeying the home rules,

 filth,

and refusing to be productive and get a job.

Just draining their friends and family financially and mentally. After many chances, there comes a point when their friends and family can’t take the abuse from them anymore and they must leave.

I worked as a Correctional Deputy for Santa Clara County for 27 years and spent a large portion of my time working the maximum-security jail units.  Many of the inmates housed in these units were homeless, violent, mentally ill, or drug addicted individuals. They were placed in single cells because they were a danger to others.  While they were in jail they were provided treatment.  When they got released, they went back to living on the streets with no treatment. 

These individuals need to be given a bed at a treatment facility, allowing them to get help, and by doing so, helps keep the public safe.  By not receiving treatment in a facility, these individuals not only get worse, but they also continue to commit crimes.  They are rearrested repeatedly.  Going in and out of jail. This is putting an unnecessary burden on our Law Enforcement.

My sister was murdered by her son, who was violent, mentally ill, and drug addicted.  He was for years in and out of jail for assaultive crimes.  Each time after being released, he did not receive treatment for his behavior.  His assaultive behavior grew exceedingly more violent each time, resulting in the murder of my sister.

*****

SANDRA MICKANEN’S 2 minute open mic @ san jose city council budget meeting 2/11/2025

  (which i waited nearly 4 hours in council chambers to share)

 

******

TOM WILSON'S 2 minute open mic @ san jose city council budget meeting 2/11/2025

  (which he waited nearly 4 hours in council chambers to share)

Our City’s budget deficit is alarming, but not surprising. The City Council has poured millions into non-profits to counter homelessness, but the spending is merely funding failure. Guided by homeless advocates, non-profits have enabled the unhoused to camp in squalor in our city, while providing little or no help to those in need of mental health and drug addiction treatment.

Surrounding, cities have had similar outcomes with their non-profits and advocates, and are now trying new, tough-love strategies, like strictly prohibiting camping in public. Unfortunately, the individuals displaced by other cities will go to where public camping is tolerated, like here in San Jose. To counter this, you must adopt similar policies to our neighbors. We cannot afford to house the entire Bay Area homeless population!

For our existing six thousand unhoused individuals, we must build temporary, emergency, congregate shelter like Dignity Acres, until permanent solutions are found.

Here is my 3-part plan for reducing the homeless population in our City:

Number one: Redefine San Jose’s “sanctuary city” policy. Since we have no sanctuary, or shelter to offer, we should not attract more unhoused people here with an offer of sanctuary.

Number two: Rather than investing in temporary, high cost, low density, tiny homes, we must partner with the County to build mental health and drug rehabilitation facilities. Until these are built and staffed, tent-cities like “Dignity Acres” must be implemented on an emergency basis. 

Number three: Hire more police dedicated to enforcing laws to: 

A. prohibit public camping and littering

B. to prohibit unregistered vehicles from parking on city streets, and…

C. to enforce a strict “no-return” policy for cleared encampments.

No to sabotage; YES to Dignity Acres Emergency Campground

 good morning beautiful. -we are opposed to having 80 RV's less than 1/2 mile from our new safeway & apartment complexes. -remember the memo about the high-school kids and how they had to have their own uprising because of the crime..   that was just a handful of RV's..   placing 80!?! that feels like sabotage to the businesses, grocery stores, families living nearby.   we vote to have them in the outskirts. and continue to advocate for Dignity Acres Emergency Campground.  and of GREAT CONCERN  -what we see at monterey & bernal: the tiny homes did not result in the absence or removal of an encampment JUST AN ADDITION, so now they co-exist as neighbors.  track record dictates that GOD FORBID, 80 sites get developed  -this will only ADD to.. we'll STILL have the issue on Berryessa.      We are actually grateful to learn this is not progressing...   

blessings!  Sandra & Robert

STILL MORE! REASONS for DIGNITY ACRES EMERGENCY CAMPGROUND

 

More reasons we need DIGNITY ACRES EMERGENCY CAMPGROUND

   -if this 80+ 'safe' RV site is created

we wonder these things:   when additional RV's show up to park along Berryessa or anywhere in the neighborhoods; but the site is full..  what then?

more than that, we wonder:  if the new safeway (and/or any local businesses in that plaza) need to start hiring more security; if the new safeway (and neighbor stores/businesses) need to start locking up their products; if paying customers stop feeling comfortable..  and start shopping at grocery stores further away...      

  -what criteria are you using to call your plan a success?   -that it gets built?  

or will you be paying attention to the RESULTS? 

this is preventable.    -that is what we believe; it seems like you are sabotaging one of our newer, nicer, cleaner grocery stores & shopping plazas

We continue to advocate for Dignity Acres Emergency Campground as the solution; and a win/win. 

 

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY DAEC IS THE SOLUTION

Candidate for Dignity Acres Emergency Campground

 03/13/24   corner of capitol & hostetter          -perhaps its all repeat; but in a new order:

*****

Robert Mickanen & Sandra Harrison Kay

NOTonNOBLE.blogspot.com

 

WHO WE REPRESENT:   The HTLC Community

Hard-working.  Tax-paying.  Law-abiding.  Contributors.

WHAT WE SEEK:               Dignity Acres Emergency Campground.  The Solution.

 

SOLUTION:  Dignity Acres Emergency Campground provides a specific location (an option!)  that our first responders can use to legally and IMMEDIATELY bring illegal campers, loiters, transients, panhandlers.

                PROBLEM THIS SOLVES:  The short-sighted, negligent and counter-productive decision made by the 9^th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals which limits the ability of California public agencies to relocate unsheltered individuals who are camping on public lands   “.. cannot enforce ordinances that ban public camping or criminalize sleeping outdoors on public property if there is no real option for sleeping indoors..”

 

SOLUTION:  Dignity Acres Emergency Campground is in the OUTSKIRTS of San Jose/Santa Clara County.

PROBLEM THIS SOLVES:  ALL 10 DISTRICTS that make up San Jose say NO TO EIH in their neighborhoods.  No one wants, or should be forced to have EIH.  EIH is failing in city after city; no one wants to spend one more tax dollar investing in a failing program.  Dignity Acres Emergency Campgrounds is the alternative people are looking for; it provides a place with services which helps restore dignity to ‘unsheltered individuals’ without encroaching on or threatening the safety and cleanliness of established neighborhoods, school campuses, shopping plazas, parks, etc.

               

SOLUTION:  Dignity Acres Emergency Campground provides all the basic human dignities:  Portable toilets, garbage pick-up, water/food/clothing donations; professional social services outreach

PROBLEMS THIS SOLVES:  Unsheltered Individuals defecating/urinating on public property; toxic garbage accumulating in dangerous proportions; compassionate donations inadvertently making matters worse; begging/panhandling; untreated/undiagnosed growing demographic of unsheltered individuals

 

                Portable Toilets:  Currently, our demographic of ‘unsheltered individuals’ are defecating and urinating directly on sidewalks; in front of and near school campuses, local businesses and restaurants; they are defecating and urinating indiscriminately, in full public view, without human dignities like portable toilets, toilet paper, and without means (or motivation, apparently) for cleaning up afterward; themselves or the area they defecated on.  This is uncivilized, it is a health hazard, and it is disturbing that anyone should experience or be made to witness this behavior in San Jose City, Santa Clara County, California in 2024.  Dignity Acres has portable toilets/clean-up/maintenance. 

Garbage Pick-Up:  The majority of us living in San Jose/Santa Clara County pay for and receive the benefits of garbage pick-up.  It is convenient and a regular practice for us to place our garbage/recycle cans on the streets in front of our homes/businesses on a weekly basis.  Our ‘unsheltered individuals’ do not pay for, and do not have garbage cans.  They are not on truck-driver routes and their garbage accumulates in gross and toxic and very hazardous ways.  Dignity Acres has garbage and recycle cans and is on the weekly garbage pick-up route.  One place for the truck drivers to go (vs. several different locations throughout the 10^th largest city in the nation) This keeps things more streamlined, less expensive, less time-consuming, less human-resource taxing, etc.

Money/Food Donations:  Currently, our ‘unsheltered individuals’ do a great deal of begging, stealing and panhandling.  What we learned after direct conversations with 24+ small business owners is this:  People with compassionate hearts who give food or money to beggars/panhandlers sitting outside stores; while their intentions may be good, the result is that this attracts several more beggars while simultaneously deterring large numbers of paying customers.  This contributes to our  ‘unsheltered individuals’ colonizing and closing our shopping plazas, store by store and it must be stopped!   Dignity Acres Emergency Campground is where compassionate people can donate and genuinely help people without inadvertently destroying local businesses.   

Panhandlers/Beggars:   Currently we have ‘unsheltered individuals’ hanging out in dangerous locations; i.e., freeway off ramps, high traffic medians,  -and again, while the intention may be good, giving to said individuals increases their numbers and the population of beggars/panhandlers only grows.  In some cases, they become very aggressive and intimidating, which can make it unsafe and very undesirable for people who are forced to wait in traffic lines and worry about dealing with…   beggars/panhandlers often have signs which indicate they are hungry.  Dignity Acres has food/water; food trucks; food donations;  No one is going to go hungry or thirsty.  If & when you see a panhandler, you can immediately call, and have someone from Dignity Acres come pick up said individuals and bring them to wear food/water are..  Now are streets, medians, freeway on and exit ramps are free from  ‘unsheltered individuals’  and ‘unsheltered individuals’ have a place to go for food and water, shelter, etc.

 

Social Services Outreach Professionals/Experts:  ‘Unsheltered Individuals’ are unsheltered for a myriad of reasons. Those reasons do not give them the right to colonize/close businesses; to destroy students schools, to threaten their walks to and from school; their reasons do not give them the right to steal, to intimidate, to threaten, to litter, to degrade, to destroy; to vandalize; their reasons do not give them the right to ruin the quality of life for others.  Dignity Acres Emergency Campground is where trained/educated, Social Service Professionals/Experts are available to interview and assess each ‘unsheltered individual’s’ unique circumstances and prioritize and place accordingly.

 

CAVEATS:

While ‘sleeping outdoors’ cannot be criminalized; many individuals who are sleeping outdoors are also stealing; vandalizing; loitering; disturbing the peace; assaultive…

 There should be a population cap of ‘unsheltered individuals’ who reside at Dignity Acres Emergency Campground at any given one time based on acres/space.

San Jose/Santa Clara County should not carry the responsibility for the entire, wide-spread population of ‘unsheltered individuals’ across the land ; but can provide a successful example/template for other cities,  counties, states to follow

Repeat:  The goal for this demographic of ‘unsheltered individuals’ at all times is to DIGNIFY & DETER, not ENABLE & ATTRACT

Location:  DIGNITY ACRES EMERGENCY CAMPGROUND must be in the OUTSKIRTS, or it does not problem solve at all;  being in the outskirts immediately addresses all the very valid concerns of all districts (1-10) in San Jose who do not want EIH in their neighborhoods.  One Central location in the outskirts also makes it very streamlined, cost-effective, logistically optimal for city services and donations.

We believe the HTLC Community of San Jose and Santa Clara County would love the opportunity to see Dignity Acres Emergency Campground created and supported.  We believe it will provide a great deal of immediate relief to students, teachers, parents, families, business owners, managers, employees, customers/shoppers, librarians, park and recreation staff.. on and on; immediate relief being able to call and report ‘unsheltered individuals’ and know that a first responder can and will come and relocate said individual(s).

We know, said individuals who are relocated to DAEC will have the basic human dignities and be professionally assessed, have shelter, food/water/clothing and have opportunities and incentives for improving their lives.   We know DAEC gives people with compassionate hearts a place to donate that will be benefit struggling individuals directly without jeopardizing local businesses.

DAEC helps restore San Jose to its former glory, helps the HTLC community maintain a healthy, civilized, safe,  clean, productive and creative way of life, which is often very hard earned and greatly appreciated.  We want to make sure our efforts help and lift the struggling  vs. allowing the strugglers to ruin and pull down the healthy.   

We believe DAEC  -the idea of it-  is well worth sharing and supporting; that people will feel hopeful and grateful and be very willing to give it a solid chance to prove its value as the solution we claim it is.

And that the energy and hope from the larger population will itself result in the answer as to ‘where’ exactly it should be.   That crowd-sourcing will yield great results.

We understand cost are involved, but when we compare and consider what it takes to find the space; build EIH; maintain EIH, battle, district by district, neighborhood by neighborhood against EIH; the cost of the failures..  -but see the money that seems so available to invest in this unwanted and failing system    -We have just as much confidence in the ultimate funding, as we do in crowd-sourcing for the specific location in the outskirts.

 

Candidate for Dignity Acres Emergency Campground.   This picture taken 3/13/2024 on the corner of Capitol and Hostetter, where a larger encampment was recently removed (  -to where..?  by who?  )    to the right of Popeyes.  Not seen in the picture is a great deal of graffiti/vandalism within the shopping plaza itself.. and a new encampment, fenced in, where the now colonized/closed Carl’s Jr used to be

It is our hope and belief, that our 9^th circuit federal court of appeals judges would re-visit (and rescind) their decision upon seeing the results and consequences of not being able to enforce city ordinances.

-the inability to immediately address what you see here; negligent!    And as it grows exponentially across the city and county; unaddressed..       -third world      This is an emergency!  Dignity Acres Emergency Campground is the solution.   DETAILS regarding the 4 different communities, steps and incentives within DAEC attached/included.

                  

NOTonNOBLE results: encampments removal report

 For over the past YEAR, two major encampments have existed and grown exponentially (McKee & Capitol and Hostetter & Capitol) without any action proactively taken by our city officials to remove them. 

Over the past couple MONTHS, our NOTonNOBLE community has been DEMANDING its city officials remove these encampments.

"Thank You!" awesome neighbors.. several answered prayers; as of TODAY:

 -singular illegal camper on berryessa/capitol;  -gone.

-encampment at hostetter/capitol; -gone.

-encampment at mckee/capitol; -gone.

This demonstrates that when we, the people, together, raise our voices, complain and demand, collectively, for the removal of illegal campers/loiterers/vandals..   united we get results!

IF YOU DON'T COMPLAIN - THE TENTS REMAIN

IF YOU DON'T COMPLAIN -RV's REMAIN

much love & gratitude, robert & sandra 

VOTE NO on Proposition 1 March Ballot

 DIGNITY ACRES EMERGENCY CAMPGROUND IS THE SOLUTION

we strongly believe voting yes on proposition 1 would be a repeat of measure A in 2016:

lots of spending while the homeless population grows.   -yes on prop 1 would result in more tiny homes...   and no hospitals.. while illegal campers continue to colonize and close our shopping plazas and threaten our students and schools

we need DIGNITY ACRES and HOSPITALS  -not 'more housing'

NOT housing with personalized support services

  

in 2016 Measure A  $950 million, with 7 year implementation

"...for the needs of the communities poorest and most vulnerable residents.

...including veterans, seniors, the disabled, low and moderate income individuals, 

foster youth, victims of abuse, the homeless and individuals suffering from mental health or substance abuse illnesses."

  It is 7 years later   -results? 

 

STOP the COLONIZING & DESTRUCTION of our SCHOOLS & STORES PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST!

 DEMAND:  DIGNITY ACRES EMERGENCY CAMPGROUND SOLUTION

STUDENT SAFETY FIRST & FOREMOST

24 CRUCIAL TESTIMONIES Open Letter to San Jose Mayor, Council & Santa Clara County Supervisors

Dear Mayor Matt Mahan, City Manager, Jennifer Maguire, 

San Jose City Council Members,  

Santa Clara County Supervisors

Yesterday, Jan 22nd, 2024, Robert and I personally visited 24 small businesses (still open) on two corners of Berryessa & Capitol, distributing and sharing our DIGNITY ACRES EMERGENCY CAMPGROUND SOLUTION to the homeless crisis.   

Every single business owner, manager, employee had A HORROR STORY to share.  WE HAVE GOT TO STOP THIS IN ITS TRACKS BEFORE ANOTHER Shopping Mall is colonized and closed.  Every owner, manager, staff is in FEAR of LOSING THEIR BUSINESS/JOBS.

*  Customer Numbers have been cut in half since last year

* Every business is having to clean up human feces and urine and garbage from in front, and sometimes, inside their stores; along walkways, behind buildings.

* Dumpster Fires 

* Theft

* Break-Ins

*Harassments 

* Aggresive Pan Handling

* Assault/Spitting on customers & staff

* Blocking entrances

* Tip money stolen, product stolen

and it is being IGNORED

A long painful list.  The prevalence is heart-breaking.

WE HAVE GOT TO RELOCATE THE CRIMINAL LOITERERS, ILLEGAL CAMPERS  -they are DESTROYING our otherwise civilized, healthy, valued local shopping plazas.

WE RE-URGE YOU TO READ AND IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT DIGNITY ACRES EMERGENCY CAMPGROUND SOLUTION  

**  Regarding the singular illegal camper in front of the dentist office:  We learned staff called and reported the issue.  First responders did come and take the man to the hospital.  When released he went write back to the sidewalk in front of the dentist office.  They reported again, were told the area would be cleaned up within 3 days, AND HE HAS BEEN THERE 3 WEEKS.. they are still waiting.      UNACCETABLE  -utterly uncivilized behavior and our local business owners should not have to pay the price; their customers should not have to deal with this; should not have to travel to other communities and cities for a civilized and safe shopping experience

We are not a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY  -Come on!  Step Up!  Fix This!

We need some strong leadership

and we are at a loss when it comes to reaching the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judges   -but we read about a decision they will making in APRIL 2024   -about whether sleeping on public property will be legalized

HOW they decide will determine whether we regain our healthy civilized San Jose and restore it to its former glory, or we do in fact, become a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY

Thank You,   Robert Mickanen & Sandra Harrison Kay

Dist 4, San Jose, Berryessa Neighborhood

NOTonNOBLE.blogspot.com

** On Jan 25th, 2024, when driving by the area, we noticed the singular illegal camper tent in front of the dentist office/McDonalds was gone.    -We do not know the details;  who, what, exactly when or where to, but do regard this as a step in the correct direction. 

Further, it was brought to our attention, that well-intentioned and/or intimidated customers were giving food or money to illegal panhandlers.  Business owners would be very grateful if YOU DO NOT GIVE MONEY or FOOD to PANHANDLERS.   -this causes them to stay, attracts even more, and for every one you give food or money too..    10 or more customers stop shopping there.

We are inspired by the solution Newport is ENFORCING