We recently featured a story on the Californian city of San Diego, which has established a “safe sleeping” area for its homeless population that essentially consists of a sea of tents in a parking lot.
Nearly a week after opening, it’s largely deserted, suggesting that it isn’t very well-liked by the city’s homeless population.
Critics have brought out problems like the heat and the absence of on-site shower facilities. People who want to take a bath must make a request and be taken to a different site.
KUSI News reports:
Mayor Todd Gloria’s controversial Safe Sleeping site remains nearly empty since opening.
The City of San Diego is taking action on the out-of-control homeless crisis that has more than tripled since Mayor Todd Gloria took office.
The all-Democrat City Council narrowly passed Councilmember Stephen Whitburn’s Safe Sleeping Ordinance, which aims to provide homeless people a place to live. Mayor Todd Gloria himself has touted the Safe Sleeping sites as major successes, as his staff attacks people online who dare criticize the setup.
The safe sleeping site features tents on a black pavement, with no shade. Temperatures on the ground have been recorded at 140 degrees, which San Diegans have pointed out to Gloria’s staff.
Director of Communications for Mayor Gloria, Rachel Laing, has been very vocal about how great the Safe Sleeping site is, insisting that the heat is bearable because “there is a breeze most of the day.”
The shower thing seems to be a sticking point.
Mayor @ToddGloria's Director of Communications, @RachelLaing assured San Diego the Safe Sleeping Site had showers.
That was a lie.@DRolland confirmed there is only "transportation to shower facilities upon request."
Full Story: https://t.co/7y7c14a5Jq pic.twitter.com/wyhE6U3Wma
— KUSI News (@KUSINews) July 7, 2023
It’s pretty easy to understand why people wouldn’t want to move into this camp unless it was a last resort.
