Sigala said he hopes at a minimum Caltrans can sweep up all the debris and trash, addressing some of the public safety and blight concerns. He said a netting to prevent debris from falling into the freeway is also a possibility.
“Obviously, we would like to have people removed from there,” Sigala said, “but given what’s happening, given the governor’s hesitancy to do that—that’s a high expectation.”
An Aug. 27 report from Tulare/Kings Homeless Alliance—a coalition of homeless housing and service providers, advocates, government representatives and consumers working to shape regional planning and decision making—counted 203 people experiencing homelessness in the city of Tulare, with 190 sleeping in an unsheltered location. Only 13 people slept in an emergency shelter, and zero slept in transitional housing.
Sigala said he understands the hardships COVID-19 has caused and the quandary that poses with displacing people. He said the city has made investments in the past year-and-a-half toward addressing the homeless issue.
“When I first became mayor two years ago, I hosted a forum where we had 300 people show up, and they we’re really focused on the homeless issue,” Sigala said. “Out of that came a homeless task force that I created and a number of individuals joined on. We started setting aside some funding to try and find a shelter.”
Sigala said over the last year a citizens committee has been working to develop criteria and a location for an emergency shelter. He said they have also received a commitment from Tulare County to provide mental health services and we’re set to open mid-March at the Human Health Center in Tulare, but the pandemic has halted progress.
Mayor Sigala was re-elected in the 2020 General Election, Patrick Isherwood was elected to District 5’s city council seat, and District 3’s seat is still too close to call between Steve Harrell and Carlton Jones.
“We’re hoping with the new council that we can really push forward and address some of these issues,” Sigala said.
Sigala hopes to see action on 99 happen promptly, and said he plans to follow up the letter with calls to the state shortly after Thanksgiving.
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Tulare pens letter to state asking for help with homeless along 99 - Foothills Sun Gazette
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