DUSTIN HARRIS : THE HOMELESS SITUATION - TRUTHS WE CAN NOT IGNORE

· The problem is real and getting worse.

· Compassion has many faces. As a civilized society it is our responsibility to care for those among us who, through no fault of their own, cannot maintain a home and hold a job. These individuals deserve our compassion.

· By the same token, others deserve our compassion- those who have saved and sacrificed for a home and now have lost safety and enjoyment of their homes due  to homeless individuals gathering nearby- some engaging in criminal behavior.

· We must have compassion for business owners and employees who have worked hard and sacrificed for their businesses and now see those businesses hindered by gatherings of homeless people who are vandalizing, shoplifting, abusing bathroom facilities and hindering customers from accessing the business.

· I PLEDGE THAT WHILE SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL I WILL CONSISTENTLY WORK FOR POLICIES THAT BENEFIT ALL.

· Who are the homeless? IT IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED MORE MONITORING AND IDENTIFICATION ON TWO LEVELS. I WILL STRONGLY ADVOCATE A SYSTEM OF REGISTERING AND LICENSING CENTERS AND GROUP HOMES AND A SYSTEM OF REGISTERING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. This will allow us to know who we are supporting with programs but will protect needy individuals from “falling through the cracks”.

· MANY OF THE HOMELESS BEING CARED FOR BY COUNCIL BLUFFS TAXPAYERS ARE NOT FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS. People are coming to our community and other cities are actually sending their homeless here. Why? Every community should care for their own homeless people. It is not our duty to care for the homeless from other communities, WE MUST INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE TO LEARN WHY THE HOMELESS FIND COUNCIL BLUFFS MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN OTHER PLACES AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO CURTAIL THAT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITIES OF THINGS SUCH AS INCREASED ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND MORE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPANTS.

· KEEP JUSTICE BLINDFOLDED! The American iconic statue shows a blindfolded justice. This means that justice is enforced equally to all- that justice doesn’t see who we are. It is a nationally growing trend to “look the other way”- to not enforce many laws among the homeless. I WILL FIGHT THIS HERE! Shoplifting,  vandalism, exposing oneself and such are offenses are illegal and should be illegal for all of us- homeless or not. I WILL WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT LAWS ARE ENFORCED EQUALLY HERE.

· WE MUST CLEAN UP OUR URBAN ENVIRONMENT. Homeless individuals, especially those with criminal intent are attracted to certain locations. Places that have a great deal of undergrowth and are heavily wooded can provide cover for criminal activities that endanger public safety. Derelict buildings offer danger as well. Buildings that are basically abandoned or in ill repair and unsound attract homeless people using and selling illegal drugs and engaging in other criminal activity. TO ADDRESS THIS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE A NEW, ENHANCED EFFORT TO INSPECT THESE STRUCTURES AND TO BRING THEM UP TO CODE. IF THE OWNERS OF THESE PROPERTIES DO NOT COOPERATE, I WOULD ADVOCATE THE CITY TRANSFORMING THOSE STRUCTURES INTO HOUSING FOR THOSE SEEKING STABILITY.

· ONE SIZE FITS ALL DOES NOT WORK. There is no doubt that we have people in our community who require all their needs to be taken care of. But there are others who have fallen on hard times but can regain independence. For these individuals providing all their needs is not a kindness. For these people it is essential to have programs that offer more incentives to achieve stability and independence. I WILL ENCOURAGE ENHANCED EFFORTS TO DISCERN BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS.

· OUR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS STRONGLY CONNECTED. Although the problems of our system of mental health care are more pervasive, it can’t be denied that many of our homeless are in need of mental health care. I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO ENCOURAGE THE CREATION OF MANY MORE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM FACILITIES.

· LAST BUT NOT LEAST- THE MOST IMPORTANT KEY TO SOLUTIONS OF THESE PROBLEMS IS COMMUNICATION. I WILL ALWAYS ENCOURAGE FRANK AND OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ALL PARTIES.

We have a beautiful city but it will take work and smart decision-making to keep it that way.

It is time to rededicate ourselves to making our basic infrastructure as sound and efficient as it can be. This will mean replacing antiquated water and sewer components, if possible, rather than wasting money on temporary fixes and patches that don’t last. And it means that we cannot allow beautification and cosmetic projects to take priority over necessities. Nor should we allow “community development” projects to come ahead of 100 year old sewer lines and rusted-out water mains.

The safety of our people must be our top priority. This means fixing roads in disrepair and improving poorly designed and inadequately lit intersections.

I believe that public safety and crime prevention would be greatly enhanced by placing low energy LED lighting in the middle of blocks.

I would also advocate adding a fire station around 23rd Avenue and 24thSt. As I understand the city already owns land in this area so supporting this project would make good sense. This would address problematic response times and availability issues in the south end of the city. This would also free up the existing station on S 11th St. to better respond to the needs of expanding developments in the east end. 

Basic common sense must guide us in building decisions. Too many massive commercial projects have been constructed only to sit without tenants. I would advocate a policy of not funding such projects until proof of future occupancy is provided.

We should support housing projects aimed at an income level that will increase the city’s tax base. Increasing the tax base will allow increased emergency services for all neighborhoods.