Lew Tremaine/View From The Hill
By way of introduction, my name is Lew Tremaine. I am a former editor of the Ross Valley Reporter and later a columnist for the paper. I served 12 years on the Fairfax Town Council, three years as Mayor. I am pleased to return the pages of this publication.
Let’s talk about the homeless situation in Fairfax. A situation that has gone way out of control.
The Fairfax Town Council has taken a very humanitarian posture and allowed Fairfax’s homeless refuge in the town parks. Unfortunately, the predictable happened near the Fairfax Pavilion, when a drug addled resident, angry with her co-inhabitants, tried to burn the place down.
The town’s solution was to let the inhabitants of the homeless encampment move to the Central Ball Park. This decision constitutes utter stupidity. It robs the town’s youth of a safe place to play, and does nothing to mitigate the dangers that were so vividly demonstrated just up the hill at the Pavilion.
I understand the recent court rulings that disallow local jurisdictions from removing homeless encampment unless there is an alternative housing opportunity available. Unless and until the U.S. Supreme Court restores local jurisdictions the ability to manage public lands, we are where we are. But there are better alternatives than the Central Ball Park.
I would suggest that the encampment be relocated to the west end of the Fairfax Library property. There is scant fire danger there, and ample room for amenities like porta-potties and a portable shower facility. This will require collaboration with the County, which controls the property, and constant monitoring by the Fairfax Police Department. Marin Health and Human Services would need to be deployed to provide mental health and drug abuse services to the residents. And of course, there would have to be a cap on the number of residents.
But look at the advantages. There is easy walking access to the downtown. The residents would have easy access to shopping and food. They would be largely unbothered. And, they would have access to unlimited reading material.
My 10 year-old neighbor has been harrassed by the residents of the homeless encampment at the Ball Park. And a close friend has been menaced by them.
It is not an OK situation.
The Town needs to employ a bit more imagination in dealing with this situation.
A “just-let-them-be” posture isn’t making the cut.
I invite letters of input on this topic.
(You can send them to Editor Sherman R. Frederick via email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
Im sorry, no one wants homeless vagrancy in their vicinity. There are many possibilities in the human existence. Homeless camps are people shuffled to the bottom and they accept and assume the position.
Health and safety have to be the priority here so we dont end up swinging in conservative opposition.
Thank you for this article.
I responded with my thoughts to the email address you provided.
I applaud the return of the Ross Valley Reporter! Further comments on article were emailed to Editor Sherman Frederick.
Lew- as always- a shining light- thanks for the sanity, the brevity, the articulation
I will share this with many- hope you get lots of positive comments- and am interested in this publication- how is it funded- will there be more articles?
Valeri
Up here in Novato, we are dealing with the same insanity…GOOGLE Binford Road…a protected wetland that no one seems to care is now a potty body of water, thanks to the homeless that have taken it over with RV vehicles…..Maybe Fairfax and Novato should try to collaborate on ending homelessness in Marin County…as it seems to be EVERYWHERE!!!
I completely agree with you. How can we make this happen? Thank you for writing this article it is excellent.
Diane Rose
Hi Lew,
Thank you for the article. I appreciate reading solution based writings. I’m a disabled senior knocking on the door of homelessness here in Marin County, just a couple weeks away. Proactively, I approached Marin County hoping for guidance and solutions to prevent and to navigate life on the streets. What I discovered was I needed to become the problem first, actually being told this. Problems exist with dysfunctional county bureaucracy and complacency. The general public does not get an honest assessment or a clear picture from county officials. The experiences of a homeless person or one about to become homeless and trying to navigate county services is not fully understood. My journey with the county is well documented. As soon as my health and housing situation is stabilized, I will begin to use my voice to affect change and bring solutions to this ever growing problem.