El Dorado County Fair & Event Center]
URGENT
??? Is Our Fairgrounds to permanently house the transient community ???
Please help us keep the community safe and write to your officials ASAP.
The El Dorado Co. Fair Association opposes the installation of transitional housing at the Armory.
Theft, vandalism, and drug paraphernalia left behind are just a few of the reasons why allowing and encouraging the transient community to congregate at the fairgrounds would be bad for our community.
The El Dorado Co. Fair Association ask that you take a moment to contact City and County officials and share your concerns regarding this type of housing/shelter.
Dispatchers, Teachers & Local Business Owners agree Transient Housing has no place on the Fairgrounds.
Some Background: PLACERVILLE, Calif. — A self-governing tent city of homeless residents in Placerville is closing after just 16 months following complaints the camp increased litter and property crime… the camp known as Hangtown Haven will be shut down Friday when its city permit expires. The social experiment was heralded by local officials and homeless activists in dealing with a problem of transients taking over local parks or setting fires in the woods…But police said Placerville became a destination point for homeless people who came from as far as New York. As a result, thefts shot up by 60 percent…. — NOVEMBER 15, 2013 https://www.sacbee.com/community/folsom-el-dorado/article2582839.html
The Fairgrounds is host to many rentals that do not blend with the transient community which ultimately means they will have to cancel their events. All these events and more would be displaced if the armory was used as transient housing. It doesn’t make sense.
Here’s why. .
- – The Fairgrounds is host to many rentals that do not blend with the transient community which ultimately means they will have to cancel their events. All these events and more would be displaced if the armory was used as transient housing. It doesn’t make sense.
- – El Dorado County Ag in the Classroom’s Farm Day, annually in May, over 1,200 elementary kids in attendance
- – 4-H uses the Fairgrounds throughout the year for educational activities and contests
- – The County Health Department holds flu shot clinics
- – The Red Cross uses the fairgrounds as an evacuation site, heating/cooling center, and animal rescue.
- – CalFire and other uses the fairgrounds as a staging ground for fire camps All County Cross Country Meet utilizes the Fairgrounds for their annual race, attended by almost 1,000 3rd Grade Kids.
- – The Annual County Fair is the largest fundraiser for many groups such as; The American Legion, 20/30 Club, High School Music Boosters, 4-H, and Rotary Clubs.
- – The homeless bring drugs, fights, vandalism, disease and filth. They don’t follow rules.
- – Research has shown that where the transient community congregates there are more diseases such as MERSA, AIDS, HEP C, & more.
- – The Armory is directly across the street from New Morning’s Children’s Shelter, 76 families, dozens of small businesses, and only 350 ft from Joe’s Skate Park, a local youth hang out. Transient housing being located at the Armory endangers our youth.
- – The Fairgrounds ALREADY has fallen victim to the transient community, we frequently find drug paraphernalia (including used needles) in our restrooms and bushes, feces and waste on the grounds, and mentally unstable transients have harassed Fair staff and guests.
They meet next week (April 14) to approve this.
Flyer & Letter
https://eldoradocountyfair.org/pdfs/board_mtgs/transitional_housing_opposed_packet_BOS.pdf
Includes emails of who you can contact. All we need you to do is copy and paste.
Dallas Sweeney “To have your letter of opposition officially logged send it to the clerk of the board at edc.cob@edcgov.us“
The El Dorado Co. Fair Association ask that you take a moment to contact City and County officials and share your concerns regarding this type of housing/shelter.
Tom McClintock, Congressman, 2200A Douglas Blvd, Suite 240, Roseville, CA 95661, 916-786-5560
Brian Dahl, Senator, (530) 271-1022, (530) 235-6883, senator.dahle@sen.ca.gov
Frank Bigelow, assemblymember.Bigelow@outreach.assembly.ca.gov
Cleve Morris, City Manager, (530) 642-5200, cmorris@cityofplacerville.org
Mayor Saragosa, msaragosa@cityofplacerville.org
Councilmember Dennis Thomas, dthomas@cityofplacerville.org
Councilmember Mark Acuna, macuna@cityofplacerville.org
Councilmember Patty Borelli, borellicouncil@sbcglobal.net
Councilmember Kara Taylor, ktaylor@cityofplacerville.org
Supervisor Hidahl, (530) 621-5650, bosone@edcgov.us
Supervisor Frentzen, (530) 621-5651, bostwo@edcgov.us
Supervsior Veerkamp, (530) 621-5652, bosthree@edcgov.us
Supervisor Parlin, (530) 621-6513, bosfour@edcgov.us
Supervisor Novasel, (530) 621-6577, bosfive@edcgov.us
CAO Don Ashton, (530) 621-5567, clay.russell@edcgov.us
Sample Letter:
Dear ,
It has come to my attention that the City of Placerville and El Dorado County are considering installing transitional housing at the old Armory location, next to the Fairgrounds to benefit the transient community. With endorsement from the Fair Board and Staff, I send this letter of opposition to using the Fairgrounds as housing or shelter for the homeless population. The Fairgrounds is a community hub where our residents use the beautiful grounds daily to walk, exercise their horses, walk their dogs, practice fire crew drills, picnic, etc.
The Fair staff already struggles with vandalism and theft done by the homeless community, and they frequently find drug paraphernalia (including used needles) in restrooms and bushes. The staff has been verbally harassed, threatened with physical harm and in one instance physically attacked. Bringing more of the homeless/transient community, which inherently suffers from mental disease/drug & alcohol addiction, would bring more of this to our fairgrounds.
The Armory is also directly across the street from New Morning’s Children’s Shelter, and only 350 ft from Joe’s Skate Park, a local youth hang out. The Fairgrounds is also the venue for the many large youth activities, including the All County Cross Country Meet’s annual race which is attended by almost 1,000 3rd Grade Kids and Farm Day, with 800 4th Graders. Transient housing being located at the Armory endangers our youth.
The homeless/transient community does not blend well with the events that utilize these facilities. Events such as; Kids Expo, the Annual Fair, Fire Camps, fundraisers for local nonprofits, flu clinics, just to name a few. Many events will likely move to venues outside of the county or cancel. This would be a significant loss of revenue to our local economy.
Please join us in opposition of the Armory being transformed into transitional housing for the homeless and stand with us to protect our community.
Sincerely, your name.
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