HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.0- Public Comment STATEMENT TO COMMON COUNCIL RE TREATMENT OF HOMELESS
MAY 16,2016
Rabbi Hillel Cohn
Mayor Davis and Members of the Council -
While I will be joining with my fellow-members of the Charter Review Committee later on as
we recommend to you the placing of the new Charter on the ballot for our fellow-citizens to
adopt it when they vote in November, it is a different issue about which I address you right now.
Conscious of the time limit on public comments I will distribute to you a fuller version of my
statement.
I am speaking to you now in my capacity as Chairperson of the Board of Managers of the Home
of Eternity Cemetery which is owned and operated by Congregation Emanu El. As you may or
may not know, the Home of Eternity Cemetery and Mausoleum is located at 8th and Sierra Way,
just north of Pioneer Memorial Park, the city-owned cemetery. Home of Eternity was established
in the 1850's when a plot of land was given to the early Jewish settlers by some Mormon
pioneers Today Home of Eternity has the distinction of being the oldest Jewish cemetery in
continuous use in Southern California and is so recognized as a State of California landmark.
In recent years, especially over the past ten or fifteen years, Home of Eternity has suffered both
from vandalism and desecration of some monuments and crypts. More recently we have been
faced with a growing number of homeless individuals who find ways to enter the cemetery
grounds even though it is gated and locked. They leave marks of their presence which are
extremely disturbing and damage the area as well as posing a threat to those who wish to visit
the cemetery to pay respect to their departed. We have instituted numerous measures to deter the
homeless but they have not been as successful as we hoped for. Additional security measures are
now in the process of being instituted and we hope they will be more effective.
We have found that these homeless individuals have been coming to the cemetery to use its
water faucets for personal hygiene as well as filling up jugs of water that they can then throw
over the fence and take to their homeless encampments. I discovered that there is no place on the
entire grounds of Pioneer Cemetery where one can obtain water.
I visited with Mr. Cruz Esparza,the Economic Development Manager, last week to discuss this
deplorable situation. He suggested that I visit the Homeless Access Center at Seccombe Lake
which is just to the south of Pioneer Cemetery. I met with the director of Mercy Center that
operates the Access Center and learned that homeless people are able to shower and obtain water
at Seccombe Lake but only during the hours that the Access center is open - from 9:00 am to
2:30 pm. After that there is no water source for the homeless for the remaining 19 1/2 hours each
day. I was told by the director of the Access center that all water spigots at Seccombe Lake are
inoperative because the homeless would abuse those facilities and the city would have to bear
the expense of water and the possible further damage of park property.
I find the lack of water, a basic human need, to be utterly shameful and disgraceful. I am
certainly knowledgeable about the fiscal problems of our city and the bankruptcy. But surely
you, and our well-run and rather profitable Water department can collaborate and do whatever
needs to be done to provide water either at Seccombe Lake during the off-hours. I am sure that
there is equipment that can be installed to regulate the use of water so that it can't be left running
for long periods of time but can be available to those who are thirsty.
Statement to the Common Council by Rabbi Hillel Cohn-May 16,2016-Page 1
At its last meeting, I informed my colleagues of the San Bernardino Clergy Association about
what I had found out about the lack of water availability at Seccombe Lake and thg;passed a
motion calling upon the city to take whatever measures are necessary to provide,Nter
two places. They delegated me to inform you of their action.
While the impetus for my discovering this disgraceful situation was the ongoing acts of
trespassing and vandalism at the Home of Eternity Cemetery I now see it as a challenge that I
present to you for immediate action.
At the same time I wish to address another related matter. It has to do with Pioneer Cemetery is a
vital part of our city and its history. When I came to San Bernardino over 50 years ago there was
a full-time manager of that cemetery who had an office on the grounds and there were frequent
burials. There was an active cemetery commission. Somewhere in the 1970's, I believe,
recognizing that Pioneer might be coming to a point where there would be no graves available,
the city acquired land adjacent to Pioneer Cemetery,to the east extending to Waterman Avenue
and to the north of 7th Street was acquired by the city for the purpose of enlarging Pioneer
Cemetery. The thought was that like all cemeteries, either profit or non-profit,the cemetery
could be a significant source of revenue to the city without in any way impinging on the
profit-making cemeteries such as Mountain View and Montecito. Evidently, after that adjacent
land was acquired and fenced in it was discovered that there was some residue, quite minor, of
chemicals or waste that rendered the development of that section inadvisable. Today that area
sits vacant, is in need of weed abatement, and it,too, is now a place where homeless have
established some encampments. It is an area visible from a main throughfare - Waterman Avenue
- that is blighted.
While I can understand that the development of that land might not be appropriate for housing or
business, it is beyond my comprehension as to why that area cannot be developed to serve as a
burial ground. This could be turned into a revenue-producing area for our financially challenged
city. It would be possible to turn the entire operation of Pioneer Cemetery and the undeveloped
portion over to a cemetery management firm so that they could effectively expand it and market
it to residents of our city who need affordable cemetery space for the burial of their loved ones.
Additionally, a careful examination of the current Pioneer cemetery would, I believe, based on
my traversing of its grounds, reveal many unused portions that could be turned into graves
available for sale.
I urge you to give your attention to the potentials of making Pioneer Cemetery a source of
revenue for the city.
Let me conclude with a plea for action to be taken quickly to rectify the deplorable situation of
not having some usable water facilities available at all times at Seccombe Lake. This is a matter
of respect for human beings, especially for those who, for whatever reasons, are caught in the
mire of homelessness, a real human tragedy right here in our own city. That taking this action
will also help the Home of Eternity Cemetery to maintain its sacred space as a hallowed resting
place should be evident.
Statement to the Common Council by Rabbi Hillel Cohn-May 16.2016-Page 2
75 Ul) N > +r > co
O OC p — hp O 'a
v V m Q N Q +U+
Z U v ° C U n3
-0 o O n 4- — O 4- E
" �
a) E -0 Z �
E -a m an O p
•, C W c ° ca L 00 U an cn ° W Q ° to
o a �' ri 'L a C > `� -0 a -a o -° o ° L C
+ C O c0 y., ON co p C O O aJ U 00 O 4- U Q. O n3 -C ro
> C O N aJ C m G W N — Q r-I - U N U N U
• • k6 C N aJ > _
Q U U Z E a E i i U '� ii '� C W '� C a) +�
C L o L ° o = uw o 4- O Q. a C 4- ,� Q C o Q C o (o
G U ? a U N U o Q N Q O O LL Q U LL Q U J 4� aJ
O
4J +�
0 -0: v
_
• Q v .3 .O v s V) s bA O ° U • ' •
C • •• •
t]A N Ln aN + Q O CO 3 4- -a QJ •
— w L U (TS aJ C a) a, °
a) > Q Q '� ° -GJ -o aA C C
41 Ln
L s s aJ
�•+ "' o > o zr G a� v E w -Q � o en
c ° ° Q- L O cw O ca C C
(� L L •� la i• L aJ .i.. i-+ T = U L • •
L , L a) C v v Q s ° E C m a N C C + a) O • •
4+ X
\
coo) E ate+ E (� aJ aJ U O v U ++
• O a p _ �n ++ aJ a� L L aJ dA E a) •
Q N cn L Q '' O Q p 'a M a) > Qj a O , •
w
•�-� m p — V) IZ ° U a, ° v co a a C
i V '� o `� c�a �- °- Y S S ° ate, 3 —° •
Q1 tin ca Z N c° Q aJ a) U E } a C o � +J m c� •
O s n3 p aJ
CL . •
U a +
0 +•+ GJ ('V U aJ
m 0 G O C E O s n3 s O a — U C I C V) • • .. 00 • •
cc z C a1 v ' O O s aJ O > U �� ,
CIO` �n + > E +2 a ca > O > •
>� C O U N s U ca 3 Q c N L O C m z +� a ' • •
4 m a 0 � O O to .L C co +—' aJ =' N O ±� C aJ Q O • •
W a V V +' +1 N U > .� '3 0 > -0 -a Q L � � +s U O N
• •N p C 'w a) dA N C 'a > > O ? '� aJ Q `n d .— n �° aJ a aJ • ' •Ln
OL a) m C � '� U Q m s > C -a CO C • • ,
+� Q +�� �, �° n ef°A a v o a U -a � -a ,3 — ca
z •
_
U.
L O o 4- o Q Q U F- +, Z .
p >i p W C O C C ro 'a > > O N Q) C L tea) >
C a O 3: c0 : (0 L Q p U ,Ln -a O
Ln
• 3 O° ~> - V = � 0)o O o ° U o4- b- LL te aJ -a a,
� I a � �
11 E I c L a, m L
°a
aJ 'a L V —
� •N 4- a co •� y � U o r i W a1 �, C ca Ln
di V;L O
•••• Q s'4L J abL aC C.6.)y, 'U�LL -aa J •�N, N L •^' >Q Ua
CL Cur t E L N M �J _+a��J •a� y++Q L T n O O N O >
O ^^ +n r i%} U U Z a)C Q } U ++ C / O
N � � aJ
aJ =3 >- +- C • E .1. =5 o O 1 .Q O 0
O L , a > U �
° C U _ � � ° '
° O 4.+ 0 > aJ Co
° > a U L O a m i
5 E / U a) aJ X ..-_+
av C J
a O L 0 °
Q 3 v 4- U Q a) 4 O s l + w a o a n
•• N O a) \ 6 dA V aJ
a) cn -a Q +, Q L � ca
C ca +J co
c aJ E `n avn a a
° hA } ,— ++1 ro
co v N O p U -a o p a o >
° a) � •� � -a — aJ +J .� tea) a
coo
CJ `� a' ° a aA n3 -a .= 35 y�an4� a R
L -� O aJ vi ca — aJ c L
•••• "m� a a > U QJ U N C Q �
+J C
a) - Q '- C O n O C O O a O 'a N a) > cV) m
M > m " C v v
s O O dQ p N aQ. Q L C ) °) �
a-a ° C o Q n °
'� ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ¢' anyw�ed
s
U-, a +1
• o �n . a, v an v
4- M u o
any eiao
C � i
'a (n Q 3 Q O .L a) p m to •
Q� c C O S E C tNa O a)
s Vi 4 C s s
° +' a C 0 s •- a ° CJ a eso la
a Q Q E O O L cn
CU -a +, a a)
aJ _ +-
• m O O X +� aJ
— a) O V) co n 'a O 3 "a _
• C i' cn a) Q O LJ C v7
O to Q" O O ca O
4J °
4 J } p m
• CO L '•� •C o ° U ro
- a O V -0 C:Q 4O + ate-+ L CL N aJ O N •O Q 'a m
DO. M L (a O O > C a) � ° L
N aJ V Q = Q (B m Q N .� N fl ■
RENEW500 12TH STREET,SUITE 300,OAKLAND,CA 94607 -HONE:510-451.7900
FINANCIAL
Public Comment Statement at the City of San Bernardino City Council
Meeting on May 16, 2016
Honorable Members of the City Council:
My name is Jonathan Kevles. I work for Renew Financial. Renew Financial is
the Program Administrator for the CaliforniaFIRST PACE financing program.
PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy. It is a financing tool for
smart energy, water, and seismic upgrades to properties whose repayments
are made through a new line-item on property owners' property tax bills.
Our PACE program costs the City nothing and uses only private capital
I am here today to request that you direct staff to bring the opt-in Resolutions
to your City Council agenda that will, if approved by you, allow
CaliforniaFIRST and other PACE programs to provide our financing services
to the City of San Bernardino's property owners.
Right now, there is only one PACE program that you have permitted to
operate in the City. Because you have not yet had the opportunity to act to
approve additional PACE programs, this other PACE program - known as
HERO - has a monopoly on PACE financing here in the City. There is no
question that monopolies are bad for consumers. The City of San
Bernardino's property owners deserve to have a choice among PACE
providers, just like they have choices among traditional lending institutions
like banks. Just like they have choices on where to shop or eat.
What I am asking is in no way controversial. In August last year, SANBAG
staff sent an email to all the City Managers in the County, encouraging cities
to approve additional PACE programs, citing the benefits of competition in
the development of a healthy PACE marketplace. Attached to that email were
staff reports and template resolutions for our program and others. Since
then, 13 of the 24 cities in the County and the County Board of Supervisors
have approved our program, including Rancho Cucamonga, Chino, Chino
renewfund.com 1
500 12TH STREET,SUITE 300,OAKLAND,CA 94607 PHONE:510-451-7900
RENEW
FINANCIAL_.,
Hills, Fontana, and Ontario. 10 of the jurisdictions that approved additional
PACE providers did so as a Consent Calendar item.
I recognize that the proper path to make this request is through staff. Please
know that I have been working with your staff since October last year. I was
encouraged when staff advised me in January that the item would be on a
February City Council agenda. Then the item was pushed to a March Council
meeting. After not being on an agenda in March, I tried to find out when the
item would be rescheduled. Unfortunately, city staff told me last week that
now there is no timeline for placing the requested item on an upcoming
agenda. So I am coming to you, requesting that you direct staff to resurrect
the process of bringing the item to you for consideration.
I am joined in support for my request by the League of California Cities and
the California State Association of Counties. Each is a co-sponsor of the
CaliforniaFIRST program through the California Statewide Communities
Development Authority, which is our program's Joint Powers Authority. The
City of San Bernardino is already a member of this JPA, and has utilized it to
secure over $182 million in bond financing over the last 22 years.
I urge you to join the 360+ jurisdictions across the state - and those in San
Bernardino County - by directing City staff to bring the item to you at their
earliest convenience. Your constituents - the property owners in the City of
San Bernardino - deserve to have choices among PACE providers.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Jonathan Kevles
Vice President
Renew Financial
jkevles(@renewfinancial.com
213-610-6805
RENEW
FINANCIAL.
Jonathan Kevles
We President
renewfund.con7 GOvernrnentAffairs and Marketpeve%pmellt
2 11.1.610.6805(prefer
510.3s0j," red
_j�,_jkev/eS
500 12TH STREET,SUITE 300,OAKLAND,CA 94607 PHONE 510-451-7900
�'► RENEW
FINANCIAL
Public Comment Statement at the City of San Bernardino City Council
Meeting on May 16, 2016
Good afternoon. My name is Sam Strong. I also work for the CaliforniaFIRST
PACE program. I am a Regional Sales Manager, covering San Bernardino
County. In my job, I work with local contractors every day to recruit, train,
and assist them in the utilization of our program.
And I am also here to request that the City of San Bernardino move
expeditiously to bring competition to the PACE marketplace.
My comments today are focused on two stakeholders. First, I'll discuss the
ones that I know best - solar contractors, HVAC contractors, roofing
contractors and others.
Many of the contractors registered with CaliforniaFIRST are registered with
with multiple PACE programs and enjoy the ability in many jurisdictions to
choose the best PACE program for their clients. Because HERO continues to
have a monopoly here in the City of San Bernardino, not only are property
owners limited to one PACE provider in the City, but contractors are too. If a
contractor's client feels that PACE is the best financing mechanism for
upgrading her property, how can a contractor work to find the best PACE
program for that homeowner if there is only to choose from?
While PACE programs are similar in many ways, each program has important
distinguishing characteristics. For instance, in the CaliforniaFIRST program,
we offer a 25 year repayment term for most solar installations. The HERO
program's longest repayment term is 20 years. Those 5 extra years can
lower annual payments enough to make the solar investment make sense to a
homeowner. But without being able to offer that option, that homeowner
may not make the choice to make the investment in that solar system. The
result? A contractor loses business because there is only one PACE program
that he can offer to this potential client.
The second stakeholder group I'll discuss is Commercial, Industrial, and
Multi-Family property owners.
renewfund.com 1
a�
500 12TH STREET,SUITE 300,OAKLAND,CA 94607 'PHONE:510-451-7900
�'► RENEW
FINANCIAL
As you may know, the HERO program is primarily focused on residential
property owners. Since that program launched a few years ago and up
through this February, they have, according to SANBAG, financed only 6
projects on commercial and industrial properties, with a combined value of
less than $500K. Our program and the others we are asking you to approve
have numerous Commercial and Industrial projects that we are financing.
For instance, our firm is working with Simon Properties on a multi-million
dollar PACE project for the Ontario Mills Mall over in Ontario.
With more competition in the marketplace, all PACE providers will be more
likely to fight for business - by reducing their interest rates, and improving
customer service. At this time, I respectfully request that you direct staff to
place an item on your Council agenda to opt-in to the CaliforniaFIRST
program, and to have them do so sooner rather than later.
Thank you very much for your attention, and I am hopeful to see
CaliforniaFIRST and other PACE programs on your agenda as soon as
possible.
Sam Strong
Regional Sales Manager
Renew Financial
sstrong@renewfinancial.com
714-943-7143
renewfund.com 2