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How Did It Happen?The Strange City Border
For decades, the people of Arden & Carmichael have fought over a peculiar piece of land - often called "The Peninsula" or "The Thorn". This land, while part of the City of Sacramento, doesn't contain any city residents. Instead, it contains the Haggin Oaks and Del Paso Parks, The Children's Receiving Home, and the Natural Sciences Museum (now closed). Due to its unique location, the only people who use the park (and are affected by it) live in the unincorporated areas of Arden & Carmichael. Arden & Carmichael Have No VoiceBecause County Voters cannot vote in City elections, County residents have to endure the lack of city attention to the park, which currently, and throughout the history of the park, has fostered unlawful behavior that has spilled into the surrounding neighborhoods. City decisions are made without fear of neighborhood repercussions. We have no voice. We don't matter. The following is an interview of Doug Ose by Sacramento CBS 13. He represented Arden and Carmichael in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005. The City's PlanA Convenient Location
The City has renamed the homeless shelter three times. First it was called a "respite center". Next, it changed to a "cooling and warming center". And, most recently, the City has renamed it as an "engagement center". Downtown Homeless Are Bused to ArdenThe Auburn Blvd Homeless Shelter is located far from Downtown Sacramento and, yet, hosts downtown homeless. Why? The homeless are not required to stay in the facility, but are allowed to leave at their own volition. Where do they go? Some stay near the shelter, but not all. Some wander into playgrounds, neighborhoods, or into Del Paso Park (and the protected nature preserve). Not all the homeless return to the site. There are real solutions to help the homeless; this is not one of them. The Failed First AttemptThe City had only one problem: the site is located within feet of the Children's Receiving Home. Sadly, many children are the victim of environments plagued by drugs, alcohol, mental illness, and violence. Often they have suffered from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. The Children's Receiving Home is a save haven for these children. So, when the City first attempted to create the homeless shelter, they, intentionally, didn't warn the families in Arden, Carmichael, or even the Children's Receiving Home itself.
The Second Attempt SucceededThe City never abandoned their plans to bus their homeless to the County. On July 26, 2022, the Sacramento City Council approved the new homeless shelter. Nearly a dozen people called in to the City Council Meeting with desperate pleas and warnings. These included parents, business owners, environmentalists, child advocates and homeless advocates. They were all ignored. In fact, not a single plea or comment was responded to - or even acknowledged - by City Council.
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