Fremont's significant drop in homelessness is overshadowed by RV problem

Councilmember suggests unhoused living in RVs are not from Fremont; Oakland's Gallo says city's street traffic is out of control; Amid budget shortfall, 'Dro allocates money for councilmember seminars

CITY NEWS

FREMONT

—Fremont officials and members of the public found little celebration on Tuesday for the reported 21 percent reduction in the number of unhoused individuals in their city.

—A consultant’s strategy for reducing homelessness in Fremont through a greater focus on prevention rather than management of the problem was overshadowed by an influx of residents who reiterated complaints about RVs encamped around a park in the Irvington district.

“It’s a matter of safety,” said Councilmember Teresa Cox, who represents the Irvington district. “I feel the resident are living in their homes as prisoners. I cannot go leaving tonight without having that area addressed.”

—Councilmember Yang Shao questioned the consultant’s assumption that unhoused individuals are actually from Fremont. “We need to find the source of the homeless people in Fremont and we can come up with the right assumption and the right strategy,” Shao said.

—“Our duty is to serve Fremont residents, not someone who will drive an RV into Fremont and leave the next day,” Shao said.

—Tuesday night’s homeless response plan, however, was not intended to focus on specific issues surrounding homelessness, such as the ongoing problems at Irvington Park.

—Fremont’s homelessness response is not balanced or scaled, said consultant Elaine de Coligney. Seventy-nine percent of the city’s response to homelessness is spent on crisis support and mitigation. which only manages homelessness, she said.

—De Coligney said the 21 percent drop in homelessness, according to the recent point-in-time report, is a “significant trend in the right direction.” She added, “It’s too soon to know if the point-in-time is a one-time wonder or the start of a trend.”

—The consultant urged the council to emphasize pathways to housing and limiting the size of encampments, including those living in RVs, which is the largest population of unhoused individuals in Fremont. She recommended tying safe parking models to access to rapid rehousing.

OAKLAND

—HOT PURSUIT—In another sign that some elected officials are reacting to residents concerns about crime, the Oakland City Council approved a resolution on Tuesday to begin a process to reevaluate the police department’s vehicle pursuit policies.

—The resolution was co-authored by East Oakland Councilmembers Kevin Jenkins and Treva Reid, and directs the citizens-led Oakland Police Commission to seek changes to OPD’s pursuit policies.

—“This is a call from the community, not from two councilmembers,” Reid said in response to skepticism about the resolution that was voiced by Councilmemebr Dan Kalb.

—Reid added that she and Jenkins represent the two council district with the highest crime rates.

—“I think this an understandable reaction,” Kalb said of concerns about crime. “It doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.” He added, however, “I respect the desire that some have to ask the commission to do something.”

—OPD’s pursuits policies have not been reevaluated since 2014. Reid suggested on Tuesday that suspects are wise to OPD’s policies. For example, a policy that calls for police officers to terminate a vehicle pursuit if the speed exceeds 50 m.p.h.

—“This is about finding a balance and keeping our residents safe,” Jenkins said.

—The Jenkins/Reid proposal appears based on Proposition E, a ballot measure approved by San Francisco voters in March. The measure expanded the use of vehicle pursuits and drones.

—The resolution was approved, 5-0. Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan and Carroll Fife were absent. Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas abstained.

—“While I support the intent,” Bas said. “I’m not sure about the dangers of police pursuits to support the resolution.”

—OAKLAND 500—Oakland Councilmember Noel Gallo’s negative comments about the safety of Oakland streets didn’t exactly help the cause for allowing OPD greater latitude to chase cars through the city.

—But Gallo highlighted the great frustrations many Oaklanders and those visiting the city often describe.

—Street traffic in Oakland is out of control, Gallo said at Tuesday’s council meeting, adding there’s deterrents in other cities to limit dangerous driving.

—“When I go to Alameda, they stop me and arrest me,” Gallo said. “So I’m not going to do that in Alameda.”

—Gallo said police officers tell him they can’t stop people from running lights. “They’re racing down International [Boulevard] and we’re all watching, including the police officers,” Gallo said.

SAN LEANDRO

—CROSS TRAINING—On Monday night, the San Leandro City Council approved adjustments to its two-year biennial budget to account for citywide shortfalls of $13 million in Fiscal Year 2023-24, and $3.6 million in Fiscal Year 2024-25.

—Moments later, the council allocated potentially $30,000 to send two councilmembers to leadership training seminars at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Mass.

—An item on Monday’s agenda detailed a proposal to pay up to $17,000 for Councilmember Xouhoa Bowen to attend the seminars for three weeks this summer.

—Bowen’s colleagues expressed support for the allocation, which ultimately was increased to $18,750 plus airfare.

—Councilmember Victor Aguilar, Jr. was also accepted to the Harvard Kennedy School, but received grants to pay for the training.

—However, Aguilar, Jr. sought and received city resources on Monday night to attend a $3,000 training seminar offered by the Water Education for Latino Leaders. Aguilar, Jr. received a $500 scholarship to help pay for the seminar.

—“If I’m able to fundraise that, I will,” Aguilar, Jr. said. “But if not, I would ask that this be put in or paid separate from our current allocation.”

—San Leandro councilmembers receive an annual $10,000 allocation for travel and training expenses. The mayor’s allocation is $15,000.

—Earlier, the San Leandro City Council received sobering news about its economic present and future.

—The city’s budget projection for Fiscal Year 2024-25. assumes a large decrease in property transfer taxes and a slight increase in sales tax revenue.

—The maintenance of city roads, which typically requires around $13 million annually, is also not included in the budget projections, but a recession is predicted starting in 2026.

—“We need to get serious with balancing a structural deficit to prevent the cascading years of negative numbers,” San Leandro Finance Director Michael Yuen said.

Program note: The East Bay Insiders Newsletter is on hiatus on Friday and next Monday for the Memorial Day weekend. The newsletter returns on Tuesday, May 28.