HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-2022_Open Session_General Comment_Ramos, Stacey_re 340 w 4th St_RedactedFrom:Stacey Ramos
To:Public Comments
Subject:Public Comment for Wednesday October 19th San Bernardino City Council Meeting
Date:Wednesday, October 19, 2022 3:42:25 PM
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To:
First Ward: Theodore Sanchez
Second Ward: Sandra Ibarra
Third Ward: Juan Figueroa
Fourth Ward: Fred Shorett
Fifth Ward: Ben Reynoso
Sixth Ward: Kimberly Calvin
Seventh Ward: Damon L. Alexander
Dear Mayor and San Bernardino City Council,
My name is Stacey Ramos, and I am the First Vice Chair of the San Bernardino County Democratic
Party and a Trustee for the Chicano Latino Caucus of San Bernardino. I am submitting public
comments via e-mail regarding the situation at 340 West 4th Street. Working families in our city are
in need of houses that they can afford. Please do not displace families from 340 W. 4th Street until
they have a place to go here in the City of San Bernardino.
The city must respond to this situation humanely. We need rapid housing solutions, temporary
shelters, permanent housing that is available at an affordable price for people working in the
community. We need these systems in place to stop the displacement of San Bernardino residents
and so we are prepared when this happens again.
There are some solutions:
Make the Landlord pay for hotel stays for 10 weeks for all of the families that remain until
permanent housing is found, built, or temporary shelter is identified. Number 9 of Judge Sachs’ court
order requires the landlord to pay “relocation benefits to displaced tenants.” So far no one has
received any payment for relocation. The community needs more time to respond and as unsafe as
the place is, it is safer than homelessness. Since the families have already paid rent, please give them
until the end of the month at least. For families that have already left and received the vouchers but
still need help, please extend their vouchers 6-10 weeks to give the community more time to
identify units, permanent solutions, and temporary solutions.
In addition, the city should work with County officials to create a state of emergency which then
allows the usage of discretionary funding to rehouse these families permanently if not many of these
families will end up homeless. Another option is the City can use ARPA funds to relocate families,
provide temporary shelter, and build shelters.
Lastly, San Bernardino City needs to use this as an eye-opening opportunity to think long term
regarding temporary shelter and affordable housing. Residents that work in San Bernardino should
be able to afford to live in San Bernardino, but unfortunately this is not the reality for our most
vulnerable populations.
Thank you for your time,
Stacey Ramos