dope dealers instead of going after the people on the streets who I have no home and then the amount of money it's going to cost to destroy this encampment, right? Not only destroy what they have. You're talking about it over. I looked into what we say about $300,000 to move these encampments. Won't you take that money and invest it in some type housing, whether you like it, they get high or not. That doesn't matter. Their peak. People drugs. These are people have been use. These are people who to choose between a car or a home and they're choosing their car because then they can still get to work. You have people that want jobs. They can't get a job. Why? Because they're convicted felon. Thank you very And we gotta thank you. >> don't it. been there for about a year and a half. Men is the >> Understand judge coming this to destroying the heart with the city coming in constantly thank to place in us. just want to come back downtown. Do you want their and these crimes, lot of these, you know, those are different stores closing, having a refurbish everything. Just property damage is like. >> was cast. As you know, it was one. It is a Was there downtown it's going expand more and more. come back in
just a stones because home delayed. We live >> We got that he would have his accent. You know. As our free doughnuts are right. You know, we had nowhere else to go. >> why we do you have to doing. Because My name is is for president Saint Paul. Ramsey County. >> As years. I Yeah, I know that we're not going nowhere. we've got just more trains and other wanted vent holes. And we ended up Larry. ready, set up and got minute We got ages and come walk down right when come down and what we've got, how Cecil destruction workers to now to build that were very built up and get real nice. some steals. ? Applause. The people to come down here field. You're not going nowhere at >> Got the gun. What on a roll? Yes, we're going down the road again. >> We're right Come meet us where? ? ? >> Hi, my name is Jack. Some of resident in Saint Paul over Mounds Park Board. 7 I'm also educator. But I came because >> this is just fun. My heart and I the city says they want
safety. >> But the city also says the ship's shelters don't have enough space, which they don't. So tell me how is it safe for our neighbors to be without their tents and their belongings? How is it safe? Our unhoused neighbors have no community and nowhere to go. This so-called plan isn't addressing safety. It's spreading out individuals in an effort to make safety concerns invisible to make our unhoused neighbors invisible. Making our unhoused neighbors invisible does not respect the humanity does not create safety and is not how I want our city to create to treat our community members. Aside from the lack of safety in the plan, this plan will only create a cycle of destruction and pushing people around repeatedly wasting resources, resources that could be better used to improve access to resources, right, and to housing. So as a resident of Ward 7, I would much rather see resources put into outreach and housing stock clearing of the encampments and let our neighbors live. ? >> the council, president members of the council, my name is out fears of a person who has personal experience homelessness over 10 years ago. to in sociology and psychology and work to behavior health and substance use services for nearly a decade throughout career, working people not getting
help instability, poverty, trauma, chaotic substance, use untreated mental health conditions and bears the health care. Those are some of the social determinants of health. And today I'm asking to look public health plans with me because we're talking about people. If people forgot about me, I wouldn't be standing here today. This is a budget meeting, a meeting about parks, recreation. Does that mean about people? And as you say, their health safety and dignity, the city's own data shows heart health. Always 75 total people in 2023, what find? Average of 150 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness every week. And those numbers are probably tripled today. They tell rest those numbers. Ultimately we're solving homelessness that asking overwhelmed system to do the impossible. And that's proving community health, safety or dignity. The city also says Hart connects people to critical health and housing services. I am grateful for the hard work, but to him for many of you who have never interacted with a person living on the streets, those relationships take weeks or months, the building we can destroy that trust in one single morning. We already know the better option. Seattle, tiny home villages help 63% of residents move
into permanent housing Austin's community. First village of Beit Hanun 88% housing retention rate. These communities invested instability instead of displacement, a victim, hundreds of people who is a campus without a plan separates him from medications, identification case managers and the hours workers. I don't see many city workers, but many of outreach workers are sitting here today. Is that months or years, building that trust. So we think reason stability make people harder to reach and will increase the risk of overdose and death. This means a lot to me because I know what it's like to have nowhere safe to go. But also feels like when one person leaves are still worth helping. Tonight a mask. You have the courage to tell mayor her. The public health doesn't begin to the border. It begins on side. Every person deserves a chance to have their own set of A couch, a hot seller in a safe place to sleep at night. Because 6 months from now there's a chemical be the question, the question of the that they're still alive think. I know my name is Guadalupe and I'm homeless. I'd been on the since March. mean, my husband, we were became homeless because of the fraud situation. I believe somebody
county school having now, I know and there's crimes committed. There's a recitation. What is a visitation to the all the people that are being caught in between the cracks of the fraud situation there the would have been accountable, that people just get shut down, change an agent on and they can't all I find and we end up in the streets. The man has been have been. There's as much okay. We have all the resources that to be division is a great community holds and stability. The plan. Well, guys, workers for prayer for franchising, who's reading and help create a plan for those get we compassion it with opportunity and their diligence but never people to stable housing connection is important. We need that. There's no reason why we need to be out here. Not everybody is on drugs. you want to live in tent. I watch myself or the bottled water every day, OK, it's not my home well as we have everything we are at the surviving of a fraught situation and not fair. You know. If they just out today, it's so dangerous. You don't know any bait take and I have my husband. But what about those who don't have you don't have somebody Please think and consider it humanity. it. >> A quick reminder to folks to please make sure you sign
it after you're done. Testifying will come up. >> So winds at home and here in the chamber, please turn your iPhone and smartphones to Isaiah Chapter 5 verse 20. And while I asked the council members a question very pointedly, the American Public Health Association, the oldest and lrgest organization of public health officials in the world. What data has Assistant Mayor Baker shown you that contradicts their evidence that te sweets are in affected their deadly and they don't do what the intended plan is for the city of Saint Paul. >> What evidence have you seen from the system, mayor or mere for that suggest the oldest and most life organization public health is raw. What day to actually win into this discussion affect how many people are actually talked to? >> How many residents of the cameras were talked on July at the newest member to the county. Why call? I was floored to see the front line workers of this county had no god idea that these camps are going to close. It >> there That's right. >> There's some of the best people on the front lines here in the city after we saw what happened Upper Metro surge. And I would like to remind you all that they have not West. >> Ice is still here. It's
going to cut. SNAP benefits is going to cut Medicaid. It is going to rsult in more of our friends and our neighbors falling into situation. I didn't see nothing from the presentation to that. Mr. Central figure. I didn't see anything that actually so the semblance of a coordinated plant. You can put paint on this and say whatever he wants. But I say if I-20 says to those who call evil, good and good evil to put darkness for light and life or darkness who put bitter first week and sweet for better. This plan is against science. This plan is to get the people of Saint Paul who want to show up or not the tble. And better we should do better. And I say unto you such maker. want to marry her. I say, go on every council member who supports as well as our county commissioners and the mayor of Saint Paul, who is not in this well. I come here in love. I come here peace and I love every single person in this I'm 17 years old. And I recently graduated from School of recording Arts. ? I'm currently has been in this type of program. boards. I'm speaking to you the same to you for day from work for paying to strict 12 was previously experienced, a lack of stable housing when it place. Regarding the issue. I
thought it was fake. It shocked me that this was the chosen solution over a long-term resolution. If you truly want to solve the issue of homelessness in our city. We wouldn't be talking you today. I would suggest that the city of Saint Paul invest in the long-term situation solution rooted in in compassion, a solution that is safe, effective, sustainable and accessible. Something like educating the $00,000 to renovating the many abandoned buildings to provide to our unhoused neighbors. >> I've met many of you personally. I saw the last week. And I discussed with some of you about difficult it is to engage the community in for issues. Well, we are here and what we want is clear. It's not all of us, but it's enough. So I trust you. I chose I put my full chosen due to advocate for the unhoused youth, especially they may not be living in a home, but they are living their living. Human beings. And to the spectators and speakers here today. I urge you to do what you can how you can. I personally leave. I keep snacks and water bottles in my car. So every time I drive by and I see someone industry, I give it to them. I give it to them. And that's everyone's thing. But being here speaking today can be your thing. And that's important. It's important. They show up. And to the elected officials present. Please remember that you serve the people of Saint Paul, including the unhoused
winds. And even with this. Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. ? ? >> My name is Kenny Smith and I'm a professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health at the University, Minnesota. Today. I speak on bhalf of myself, not the university. The same poll officials are streaming the planned closure of these encampments around public health. The concerns that they cite like fire overdose. These are very real threats. However, the proposal to use closure as a solution to them does not make any logical sense. It doesn't take having a issue know that sweeps to not put out fires sweeps. Do not reverse overdoses sweeps. Do not create selter. That's when we're interviewing encampment residents. They have really logical and effective solutions. They want things like first English years, reliable emergency response. Pretty parties. Handwashing stations, even without the services. The residents and outreach workers have done an amazing job of managing a lot of these risks on their own. But using swps to address public health is not only a logical it is covering up the real detriment
of sweeps to public health. We know that when these things happen, that people whose ID they medications, daily survival gear. does critical progress that medical in housing teams make when they can reliably locate where their clients are a region or says have told me that their case load has doubled now that they can actually find that their their patients in these camps and that they spend most of their time actually treating them. The scariest thing of all this research that my team has uncovered, showing that Swedes can actually take the manageable health public health risks that we face in these camps and turn them into ftal ones. We have found that our data shows that overdose rate consistently spikes in the week of a sweep up up to 2 weeks after. I'll say that again, the overdose risks of not just in Kevin Residences of everybody spikes in the 2 weeks following a sweep. Arc. Our statistical models can't tell us why. But people with lived experience can tell us why they talk about severed medical access in the community network that keeps people life being broken apart. I implore the city to hold these closures in the name of public health. If the city wants to base their decisions in public health evidence, we have plenty for you. And we do want to ask these. Thank you very much. Thank you. And to stop
treating our neighbors as a visibility problem and to start investing in the systems of care that you can She >> My name is Melissa Kennedy. I'm a mother. I'm a grandmother. Most people are 2 paychecks away from being where I'm at. I've only in the camp for about a week and a half. Experience the camp for about 3 years. never thought that I'd be there. But here I am. And I've had more help. From people who have absolutely nothing talk for. Who offer their last bottled water. And I don't understand. How we got to this, but I know that it's going to take everyone to fix it. Just pushing it around to another space are separating us is not going to it. And may I say. I feel like having us in the encampment. We at least can ban together. Fight for what we need. If you separate us all. We wn't be able to even have a say. Because we're scattered. Were community. Coming into it. That most of us were taxpayers vters. And we will be again. >> So I ask that you help us don't hurt us. Thank you. Thank you. to be a Berks Michaelson and I live in Ward one. Other folks have Spokane about the reality on the ground more eloquently than I can. So I'm going to take a different approach. And a public policy student at the Humphrey school.
And I have to say, I would be scared to submit the mayor's plan. And one of my classes my professors would >> What's the end game People will form new encampments no matter how many sweets you conduct unless they have a meaningful path out of that cycle. >> This plan will just create more deaths in the short term and more encampments in the long term. Another question asks. Is what the research sets studies in Seattle and LA Show that a large majority of displaced people remain unsheltered after sweeps. Burrow has calculated that overdose deaths rise by 71%. Meyer and found that there's a higher risk of violence in the aftermath of sweets. And that's all before the psychological cost. I know encampments aren't exactly perfect, but the research almost universally agrees that sweeps all the wrong answer. There's something I think a lot about in class. When businesses leave town vote with their feet. We asked why and we try to find a policy solution. The same is true for homeowners. But I think we often forget to do the same for struggling social services. Folks often avoid shelters for a reason. Encampments are a form of people voting with their feet just as much as anything else. I ask you to work with are in
camps, neighbors to find real long-term solutions. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sure Lopez I've been homeless about 5 years. I've been in some of the dark record for 2 years. The bathrooms filled with feces for weekends at a time. People being kicked out for lice and allegations from the property management. That's that's. That's our shelter. >> I'm going to bathroom fixtures cent of the time outside anyways. just is not off in the bathroom. Or there's feces in the bathroom. chancellor's Princeton massive diarrhea. How it has that right? it much. The tractor roaches. That that you're a bedroom and it looks like in stuck my hand through the door approach us. There is no dolar roach. Us. Covering the door. stick my head to it. That's that's that's our shelter. Field of From our property management. But it's being taken because we don't have enough room just or our staff and our breaks. you don't have a friend over for so so long, we get 7 overnights a month. should be told when I can have an order can have friends over. That's one of our rights. Our rights are being taken away because of lice. neglect. For people actually look into the things that people are say. I feel more home outside in these encampments, but I do it in a
shelter. That's not right. Should not feel threatened in a shelter. My people that are higher than me and no more people. Just because they can go to the court, says it all. He did his rent because you find somewhere else. >> Thank you very much. sure sign in. My name is Rebecca homered and I am a resident of Ward 7. I have owned and lived in my home and it blocked for 2 years and I can represent represented by Councilmember Johnson the whole time. I am vehemently against the mayor's encampment plan. Other folks have explained thorough detail why this why the slant plan of us of a plan and more of a crisis in the making. >> I want to call in our city council and specifically mine Councilmember Johnson. I expect an elected official to represent all of their residents of their word, including those at the Fish Hatchery, encampment. I'm really disappointed that you're not. Every human deserves shelter, access to clean water and culturally sensitive and safe. Support, community and shelter. With this plan. Many, many people will not have access to any of those things there. have really tenuous grasp on any on all of these resources. So why are we taking that away from that? Why now in the heat of the summer? Why now? With so
few extra shelter beds available Exactly. The Public Safety Committee reported that there are only an additional less than 50 beds for more 49 beds for an estimated an estimated. >> About 200 residents of these encampments which we've heard from several people who are active in the community, that that's just not true. So why now with no advance notice for real and strategic planning to occur across the city and the county white also is city Council proposing to expand their salaries to 70% of the mayor's pay? >> When our medium income in the city less than half of that. >> Many make people are just 2 paychecks away from losing their homes. We all have family and friends have either experience homelessness are extremely close to various homelessness for our homeless. >> We need time and we need a real plan. Thank you very much. Thank you. A sign in sheet and many of the people in this room don't have an address. Thank you. Welcome. ? It states that the >> the least dignified thing is sorry. Can you just start with your name and where you're coming Michael? My name is Mike. I just think that the most or the least dignified thing >> is have to.
Let let you guys tell us that we failed in that. You should tell us where to go. We since week you guys out. >> That's how I thought America So. And that. >> And it comes to go, that's a a ? ? my You could name any Ward and I've probably live there. What about to say is all connected and is inspired by black after indigenous and indigenous as understanding the interconnectedness we have living beings have with each other in the land. Despite what different councils. Representatives companies, departments wards. Or any other Anglo-Saxon or colonial embodiment tries to force people onto. We do not live in a alienated or separated world. And the smog in the air is proof of that. And the lead coming out of a northern iron. Police blockades. Drone usage. The criminalization of youth with terms like he games. For the Protesters being called political terrorist. Or disable journalists being attacked by St PD. And now we're talking about is encampment sweeps. These are all examples and reminders that colonialism is an ongoing project. An example of internal colonies being attacked. And historically like in Haiti when the subject
gated through struggle, take back their air, their land, their food and their homes. And reject the heinous labels thrown onto them for labels of their own, such human, such as liberate are revolutionary or ally. That is when see things change. That's just descriptive. And I don't deal with dogmatic prophecies. But I can't help but ask the historical question to everyone here. What is it going to be? Thank you very much. Interested a land back. nation. My nme is next area. I live in the frogtown area. Good afternoon. Members of City Council everyone here today. I stand before you as someone who is live this life. I know that what addiction feels like looks like I know what homeless this feels like. I know what feels like to be to believe that no one sees you anymore today. Also stand before you as someone who spends nearly every day do with these encampments not to judge people but to build relationships with them. Over the past several months, I have helped connect many individuals into detox treatment program and recovery programs and other services that success to because I forced anyone into recovery happen because tust was built. First. That trust takes time. Understand the concerns
about the encampments. I seen the fires. I seen overdoses. I seen the violence. I watch people struggling with severe mental illness and addiction. No one is saying these conditions are acceptable but close in a cameras without housing treatment beds are long-term support. Doesn't estan doesn't eliminate those problems. It changes where they happen. My concern is that people will scattered throughout the city. Outreach workers will lose contact with many of them relationships that took months to build may disappear overnight. Some people will become even harder to reach some overdose alone. That is what keeps many us, many of us awake at night. I'm not here to just point the finger or point the problems that people are masking to us to work together and manager a coordinated 6 months 6 stabilization effort before displacement wrap-around services on site medical professionals, mental health service. Help support available regularly. Peer recovery specialist building relationships, everyday housing navigator, navigators, helping people obtain a defecation benefits and housing Affleck applications, law enforcement to focus on reducing violence and drug trafficking while working alongside outreach groups, not
against them. Daily transportation to detox. Thank you alters Make sure you sign folks may be good a little bit closer to the gold columns so we can make more room for folks who are in line. if you aren't yet in line, it would be great to just get a sense of how many more folks we have to speak. We have about 50 minutes left. Well, come out. Want to add to the Robert a emotional moment as we I just came thank doesn't matter where the people going up in the back side of the road. We are part of on site. You get up to the way lined up again. I know don't want to. >> It was everybody go way back to Because that's the first thing I do have a we kept going to go back in day, in fact, history and you where came from. Don't John and I just got my my was sparse 20,000 mark his bat, my wife Dr tape, he's at Why? A lot that you just minutes over I just we just lost. A different name 1000 wanted some trail, British. I'm over by. The holiday over bridge that goes it like it's good for played football with him and like. I came to talk about it. But you don't think just using desk going to it missed and with the rest people becoming. I said they need. They need your help and guidance instruction in 20 in terms strain, help. >> Hurt me Gallagher want
Yeah, that much to so that you get last promise you last use. >> First in motion you want? ae I just it's a rights. They were just trying to And of the doing right? When you housing, people that done this discretion huge. And judge Just ahead of the to mop up the loose issue in homes. Just thank you very much. The Commonwealth. >> And if a show that 8 or at things I can't wait. I've been living in the area since 2012. those woods by myself. So 2016, when so we decided to. A shutdown. So I went to shelters. I came from and I want it was freedom. no place to go did speak to family. next best is to use isolate yourself you know, to Ad that's what the day. People have to understand and are not like us. Is it? We are survivors. You survived harshest. The weather's. We have survived the harshest conditions. And for 2 years survived each other. One thing about these encampments, it you realize is that it gives us an opportunity to feel safe. gives the opportunity to to the next step, which is housing. Anything of it. 2 tear down. These encampments is it's a say. We don't care what happens to you. You know, care. murdered, raped. I have loss. friends out here. Who I consider family more than my. And as functional as we are.
We are family. kept in. These encampments are are or unique because all right. And I ran through them. So I know they are uni because it gives us opportunity to feel. That we get so she others like ourselves. The good is to set me when I read the news about. Thank you report and says I wasn't that interview story that is time, please. Mister Thank you. ? ? Hello Council. My name scout. I work and mutual aid in Saint Paul. I also helped run. We are seeing which is a magazine are in writing from residents at the pig's Eye encampment. we are has been doing mutual aid in creative or with residents of the encampment for a year. We visit weekly. We've cultivated very close friendships with many of the community members. Yesterday we took a survey asking for their thoughts and concerns around the eviction as we would like to share the perspective of those who could not attend the meeting today want their voices to be heard. The mayor's office has said that the that living at the park is not safer. Dignified, that the residents should go to shelters. A group resident housing. But we all know between the waitlist for availability and trying to get access to require documents. These processes take months
and years, not 3 weeks. city is creating arbitrary deadline and leaving residents and resource providers scrambling. Those have actually experienced living at the camera and the shelters have experienced the living conditions at the shelters have expressed the living conditions of the shelters. They've been to are not livable or sanitary. They said there was, quote, a lot of drugs that it is, quote, difficult to avoid violence and that it felt, quote, more like a prison they cited anything July's 08:30PM, curfew for grown adults and being in constant fear getting kicked out of their housing for any misstep or any inadvertent broll breaking, especially for many individuals who don't speak English and are given adequate access to translators. For years. I house people in the Twin Cities have been displaced and told to move to this specific encampment. Residents expressed frustration of the decision to send people here and the kick them out from where they were sent. The city pushed hundreds 100's of people to the camp and now they want to push them out all at once. The resident 6 presence will flood already scarce shelter availability saying quote, hundreds of people have nowhere to go and that this will cause, quote,
total chaos along with more arrests and overdoses. The residents have largely said this decision will kill people. you have the opportunity, I would suggest you have a conversation with 2 of the other gentleman who just were here to the greatest people know. they have incredible stories to tell Thank you. Make sure to sign it. >> Hi, my name is Aaron. I live in Ward same Paul. I'm also a founding member of we are easy I wanted to continue off some of the points Scott made from the survey we took at One resident said they feel Minnesota is, quote, setting the field to make being homeless illegal and have has been targeting myself and other unhoused individuals stocking and charging us with minor and major infractions to further displace us from getting adequate employment and housing. Another resident said that they believe that the point of this decision is to disappear and house people to incarceration abduction by eyes death. One of the reasons the city has given for the encampment, closure is drug use and overdose. The residents believe the evictions would make these issues worse, which is backed up by numerous studies saying that the camp they're able to look out for each oher, have a higher likelihood of having Narcan around in somebody's able to administer using alone, kills. The city says
encampments are unsafe. Professionals say encampment sweeps are deadly. The residents of pigs, I say, quote, We have a community and neighbors working together thrive. Quote, We look out for each other. Quote, It's all love throughout here. Quote, We have people that take a lot every night checking in making sure everyone is safe. Quote, people actually her and listen to us and care about all of us here. If you go through with these evictions, you'll be targeted. Targeting the most vulnerable population of the city. And taking them away from one of the mst essential parts of Lee community. ? >> Hi, my name is and then and I live in Ward 4 of Saint Paul instructor at the University of Minnesota. I do not and would not speak for the university. And with the founding editor of We are seeing and to conclude our discussion of the survey results when asked what they would like the city to do instead of the current plan, the residents said delegate one of the many and the residential or business buildings to provide adequate shelter and personal hygiene capabilities. Well, gt more time at the least a 3 week. Notice just isn't enough time. Hotel vouchers until quote, age i available. They have
said that the encampment is willing to work with the city to accomplish the changes they want to see, but to blindside them with a short notice. Eviction is the humanizing. They suggested they've suggested using the exorbitant funds required to destroy the camp to instead install heating running water, many houses, handwashing stations or more acceptable restrooms. One resident says the city should, quote, You City council pay raise for the homeless instead. ? President stated well, why would you pat yourself on the back and ask for a pay raise at this time? Shame close. >> problem and you are still the problem and well, please don't force us to leave. I'm here for each councilmember. A summary of the survey results, some scanned copies of selected surveys and copies of the scene. The first issue that came out in October of 2025. In the second issue that came on the May of this year. These scenes contain the artwork writing and lived experience of these talented, intelligent, caring, beautiful art ? It's the I believe you all should here. We are not animals and we deserve to get treated like human beings. I don't know what we're going to do. A lot of don't have family
to help us. We are struggling, but we lived together. Lt us live know the actions on stolen land. Please don't take away our home. Thank you very much. I'll be speaking behalf of 2 people residing at Fish. Hatchery were unable to come today but left with their words. The first person is status. This is an actual community of individuals faced with daily struggles that Rusty we deal with is already stressful enough. Now we have to struggle with being displaced from I-4 separate times since May 2023 removed from our homes. We vote with our bare hand and now to watch it all be destroyed by the city. >> Well, I know that doesn't apply to every city and or law enforcement official that comes to our community to do their weekly visit in quotations. >> It doesn't, however, it does, however, applied to the ones who display displayed some sort of personal prejudice, eyewitness, tense people, those for no reason leaving it in my eyes and justifies unjustified. They bulldoze one of my tense during the wnter with 8 fulper pain takes and it when can we be looked a as a community of individual human beings instead of homeless people? >> That was by
The >> second one on this person remained unnamed for this meeting I just want to know what are plans after August 5th? Where's everyone going to be placed and what is it going to change for the homeless across the city? Because when we get put out is going to be the same. If we are here or not here, we just want a plan. After August 5th, there's not that many housing for everybody. Please come up with a plan for the homeless. >> Thank you very much. Make sure to sign it. Thank you for your time tonight. my were one. You guys are elected officials. You got a really tough job. Ling very sensitive topic in front y. I think we know 2 realities to be sure. is we know they can shut down. It happens every year. Every few years. just goes along like they continue to talk about. I think the bigger question is then what? I love my city. I can see myself living any of the city but same pod because I think we're a for thinking C. And with that being what are the solutions? What are the alternatives like? What are the conversations that are banned had maybe they're being had outside public guys. You guys do have a plan behind the scenes. But one thought is total time. He's a huge lot the there. If you have wrap-around services have ability to do to pull up a truck for people to wash your clothes if they can't wash
inside. Tis parking deck center on news that we could use the house and have a safe place because as the encampments, it's not all you know. From the outside. Looking in a moment. First responder. Some places it can be extremely unsafe, just predator and prey. But more importantly, it's a community for a lot of people. It's a situation we could imagine living in, but they're making it work. And I think the other biggest reality is encampments are a media ease for right now. There's no the solution for immediate has right now. And I think if we could create some kind of environment ae ecosystem that is a and potentially a candidate. I don't know if there's any other in the country. They were the first. Maybe we start something amazing. But the idea that they go from one place to the next like my brother id over here. They could be in our backyard. They could be in a neighbor's backyard. They could be in your backyard or more important. Like you say to your front door. Because they move with. Now they have frustration and as a tough conversations of a very tough conversation. You guys think I can answer that decision. Thank you. Make sure to sign appreciate Welcome. >> My name is Lou said and I come from the West Side or 2.
I am also the housing justice program manager at East Side Freedom Library. With a name loose. allow me to make some things very clear. >> Encampment sweeps are the opposite of housing justice. They are active cruelty, housing justice is many things, but ultimately it is about respect and dignity and finding solutions that center. Those concepts as the Unitarian Universalist, I believe in the inherent worth and dignity every person sweeps in the face of that very notion. This decision is arrogant and cruel. I want to make clear that if our neighbors could be housed in less than a month, the residents and organizers here would already done that. If you mainly any argument that services and resources will be provided and all residents housed is simply a lie. The privilege of never worrying where I would sleep at night. And I am strongly aware that it i not because I better than anyone, but because of a look. I think anyone who supports the sweeps have not will not stand by as my h. I - neighbors are punished for their lot. I will stand on the side of human dignity as Unitarian say, emboldened by think we dare proclaim. We are standing on the side of love and to those who stand with I
Nikki idigent because I'm not going to do it. nominees are guy going and doing buy. So I'm Nikki and I am boys for ban. also lead and run a native foundation. I'm not here representing that foundation. I also on active member of the Metro natural herb in Indian directors. It covers over 30 nonprofits in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Also not here on their behalf. But what I'm saying and I have been a student of public policy. University of Chicago have lived and worked in other cities that have had coordinated response. And one thing I just want to name is. I run a community foundation. Technically I I should just be living in philanthropy, right? But what I do with my free time and there's others here who have spoken and I a child of God and I love creator and I do his work. Whether it's in my job title or not. So that's an invitation. I spend my free time in Kansas with faith-based efforts in these other cities in just recently been pig's eye a couple of times and what I want to caution is being from the other side of the river. I was on the other side 3 years ago thinking right with camps with 9 Inc Heise. This isn't healthy hearing. All the concerns from our elders from our other community members. But in reality, what I learned and what we learned through
years of those 3 years of lived experiences. It is not better now. And so now I'm really good friends with Nicole who used to run that encampment and who did it very humanely, including so I'm not saying And she's not saying that encampments are the solution. But what we know is what is happening isn't working. Millions of dollars are circling the drain in Minneapolis. You don't want to see that happen here with the sweeps. So I really just want to bring up is it is a situation bad enough yet, right that we could think radically different. I spend my free time with individuals to understand lots of addiction and my family relatives in the spaces as well. But I mean, unless you are, you are losing things in translation from the people that are communicating You need very muggy out there signed on with camera. Thank yous. Welcome. I I'm saying like here I and work at Catholic Charities. do not represent today. >> But I've been in that but ran 10 years. And like I got a >> housing is cheaper than emergency services. How many ambulance rides you think our people get? How much cheaper would it be if they just were able to have a house to go to, to go to the doctor like that's where our taxpayers are
going. It really is about to rob us and the people that use of them. First, take a look at yourself. Probably all use drug, take some claim. Maybe it's alcohol. Maybe cannabis. That being said, if it is about the site of drug if it is about drug use your help to prevent people from overdosing. Why are we not investing in safe consumption sites where people can go and use their drugs? >> Used a truck safely test their drugs and we can bring them back to overdose. population of who is homeless. We're seeing different demographics are seeing elders more than ever. let me tell the option that they're gonna go to shelter. It's not the answer. Not everybody is going to shelter their reasons. I bet you a lot of people over there have restrictions that shelter. I bet you a lot of those people have bad information like have had bad experiences are traumatized or maybe just the fact of staying inside stuff and they feel constricted. What would you do if this was your family? Like what would you do if your mom or dad or brother sister right down encampment? Because the way world's going one of your kids probably was going to go to one wave with the place we go. What I'll say is this. also got a look at the workers. If Ask the experts as the people in the camp. I could point to multiple people in this community who do direct
service work. have the answers and have done this for years. We like that strong people out. Thank you. It's just not going to wear. Thank you, It well come up. I just want to do a quick time check. As I mentioned at the beginning, we do need to end the meeting at 6.30, because council members need to leave. So I want to make sure as I'm looking around, I'm not sure if we're going to get through every one 6.30, we will recess. We will reconvene at another time to hear from those we haven't heard from tonight. But I do want to ask if you're in line and you are a resident of an encampment followed by a resident of Saint Paul. If we can prioritize those folks to speak tonight, I really appreciate them being able to come to the front. Well, coming up. >> Council member is Cedric >> office of the mayor. It is wind. I reside in Ward. One and I know you're loking really tired. You want to go home? I get it. But we have to listen to your office blow about things that you don't know anything about I just want to call out how brave it is for our unhoused neighbors and residents to come here >> I talked to one of my friends of encampment on Danish effort and she said she overheard sdpd officer laugh when they found a dead man in this tent. Frozen saying he turned into a popsicle. I've also seen videos its peers
Smishing wheelchairs that were being used disabled residents. heard folks jarek seen videos of these so-called, you know, outreach workers from the county from the sea come t the site with mayor her with cameras standing at the front of the camp and just kind battling around not handing out any resources are talking to a single resident literally so much that they have to go through. And they've been told over and over by the city, we don't actually care about you with your actions. You may use nice words may say, oh, this is dignity. This is empathy, but it is not that not that okay. What is And listening to the folks that took the time out of their evenings of struggle and survival to come here and tell you to your face. We are dying and we need help and you're trying to kill us with the sweet sweeps are not be answer. As people have cited site study after study by actual health, like institutions. We see the overdoses go app people die. And so if you want people to die, go ahead with the sweets. But stop kissing, honest in saying it's raining. Thank you. >> Before I say my name, I want you to picture a person sitting in a tent tonight, a mother who escaped violence, a person in recovery fighting for a second chance. A veteran who served our country, a
child who deserves a safe place to sleep. We don't choose this life. We are people who'll. >> Have been dealt difficult cards and hrd situations have you as elected officials ever walked into the shelters. Do you know that there are about 40 people sleep in a cast? >> It's a feat. >> This is not the way of our democracy. >> We need to make a change and we need to put our people before our systems and we need not to push people who have been vetted there live can't. It it? It may be something that they only and we take it away were sweeping and then we get rid of our sober housing. Has anyone ever experienced addiction? Housing is number one, people, places and things is what is taught. And in ABC has It is not something that is trying to the star economy or world is so we need the 40 million dollars that was just invested for rental assistance to be invested in those people in those encampments. And if they only got 30 day, we should have 3 days to make sure they have somewhere to go because we have and we will not be silent. And actually lost family to this type of situation. We can't bully our people. We have stand with him. It doesn't matter about money and power systems. project, we have to stand with
the people and that's all I want all to know. Freedom is and you And we want Please stand with And I am that have been running for state Senate and is this >> dictionary help us. Are start with your name make think you. >> Addiction, mental health, that spiritual, spiritual nature love conquers all. >> Our world is clearly a appoint a transformation. And I believe it's of spiritual nature. The Minnesota, the land of 10,000 to centers were broken. Spirits come to him, they and there's land with many natives that have been here. >> And know a lot about our land. You won't break They can't break us as they've seen like the country has seen. And I think we can do something very different as a state starting wth stuff like this, choosing to help ech other versus choosing worse comes to worse, the system breaks and we stop paying your taxes and put it to the money but the money to where we believe that you go, if that's what we have today. >> Castor boils very in prk. I am an assistant professor of public health, but I cannot speak and have my institution. And just as a Paul human camp today, I want to first check of the comments that people have made about the community
and the encampments and how that can allow for support and help from within and from without. and want to echo many of comments were said today. And to the stated interest of public health to reduce injury, illness and death in the encampments that have been stated by mayor's Public Health Solutions must be the complex and wicked problems that our society creates this. This is not random and it is the result of humid conditions and inequities. A sweet might look like a quick fix public Health's. Real solution is going further upstream to prevent an encampment from being the only option that a person has to live in the city of Saint Paul. In addition to the lack of thorough and transparent plans to support those currently living unsheltered egrets, the mayor and the council to thoughtfully integrated prevention into their stated agenda in 2020, the U.S. Government Accounting Office found that when controlling for other factors, $100 increase in the median rent of an area was associated with about a 9% increase in the rate of homelessness without adequately addressing the affordable housing crisis in our city and in many other places sweeping the encampment strain city funds and inflicts harm and residents. Researchers in LA have also
demonstrated the temporary housing strategies are largely unsuccessful in the long term because many people return to being unsheltered. She if the city does not move even further upstream to prevent the next generations from becoming Unhoused, a future council sitting year will be asked to conduct another sweet will be asking to this week. As of 2025. 5 1% of Saint Paul public school students answering the Minnesota student survey have reported home system last year. 15 1% of the survey respondents reported 2 or more adverse childhood experiences which to increase likelihood of homelessness in the future. >> So please at thank you very much hello, I'm Amanda I >> have ben homeless according to the state of Minnesota July of last year. >> But I moved project. >> They didn't have reliable heat. >> Didn't really have reliable. Air-conditioning. Didn't have reliable appliances. And I moved in there because I could no longer live with my. >> Mother who >> was suffering dementia and was becoming violent toward me. And my dad. I have lived in a shelter. Since January. >> I have been kicked out 3 times for different reasons to
avoid choice bug infestation. >> This last time I was kicked out because I had T-shirt and shorts. PJ out that one that you buy from target actually, because it was spposedly inappropriate clothing for But we do not have. >> At the shelter where idol? Any clothing except. >> Socksnd underwear. Sometimes if it's available. We sometimes get a sack lunch. When we leave the door. It's only supposed to be asleep just a place to sleep. >> That is almost as what I was living my hood. Whole hide apartment. >> Because that's basically all I could do. Except I had my service animal S. >> Before I went into the ER in December. I know the HUD program did not work. There was fraud. There was payments that I saw under the table in my own apartment. Thank you. Thank you very much, please. then welcome. Welcome. >> I'm Valerie Jarvis from Ward 4. And since we can all get to speak today, can people raise their hands if they're not in support of the encampment sweeps? >> That's >> a majority of people. Yeah, you do with week to happen Thank you. Anyway, this proves my point that this. Why should we listen to the people who will come here to stand behind their opinions?
If they're not here to speak their mind. >> here today and we're going out of our way and taking time out of our day, they should have to 2. A lot of us voted for mayor her. And probably some lets you stream also didn't because we felt that she was going to be more progressive. Difference, right? But this is more of the same. And this is aggressive. And in this time we need strong leadership and community. >> More than ever because we have a target on our backs at the federal level. We have to protect our cmmunity as best as we And that includes all of our unhoused neighbors because if they come for the weakest of come fr all of us. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> So little nervous safer. I workers a paramedic. I was on the drug addict and experience A few times. the last time was last February. It was at the encampment And I was welcomed. There's open arms. I feel like if I didn't run into those people, I don't know where I'd be today and that some really amazing people. I want to read to my friend And I ended up getting the treatment Minnesota House know so I mean, yes, understand the safety concerns and stuff. But I believe as at the most the best thing you can do is have community taking that away from people is going to cause
I overdosed twice there. And if I wasn't around people probably not be here. So that's where say. Steve took their Ward >> I've been hearing from all the speakers today about the insanity of this plan. Why would the mayor do something so stupid? And so cruel? It's the same reason that Mayor Frey adicts, every encampment Minneapolis shortly after its founder. Mayor Frey is brought by the city is bought by the city's landlords. And I suspect that mayor, her is as well. Landlords love nothing more than the renters looking at homeless people. Desperate for shelter. Those renters will think twice about complaining about there should apartments or try to organize with their neighbors. Just like employers love precarious workers. Landlords love precarious renters. ? >> Hello. My name is Corey Cole and I am a public health scientist and violence prevention worker. However, I'm speaking here today only in my capacity as a Ward. 7 resident, the people living in the fish hatchery in camp and far my neighbors. I appreciate and echo the words of everyone who has come up here and cited the consistent and clear public health literature saying that there will be lives on city officials hands if this plan goes through.
To pretend otherwise betrays a disdain for the facts that is just qualifying of the city official or a belief that people who live in encampments are not human. Also disqualifying for city official, whether overdose spike is only one of the things that will happen if this plan goes through. The press, release a FAQ websites from the city paint a very friendly picture of how an encampment eviction looks states everyone will get to keep your belongings, everyone will get connected and housing. All serious. People know that this is not the case. All of us have seen evictions take place in Minneapolis and Saint Paul and across the country. We know that this will result in people having belongings taken their medications taken their support of devices destroyed. Many of whom have disabilities, substance use disorders and physical and mental health conditions that make them extremely dependent on stability and kindness of others for survival. You see 7 people from the mutual aid organizations and communities that have done more for them than the bleeding. And in may see a safety net that the city only served to him. will only serve cruelty and deaths. even though the city people may have their best intentions and maybe talking about this in a
way that is very enticing to the public. There is no humane way to remove people from their homes via force. There is no polite way. There's no dignified way. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, everyone. >> My name is Sam Robertson. My pronouns, are they them? And I work for women's advocates. A domestic violence shelter in Saint Paul. As our domestic violence priority list manager for Ramsey COC. Wow. This is a comparatively new role to to this COC. I've also touched the coordinated entry system as an assessor for almost 10 years. So this is a system I know I'm familiar with. But I also want to be clear that as move forward here today, my statements do not reflect the opinions of Ramsey County, the housing Stability Department or women's advocates. >> some people mentioned earlier there's a meet weekly meeting on Wednesday. Mornings for sheltered and unsheltered service providers. That meeting on July 8th when the U.S. is that Mayor Baker joined and share the upcoming in Tampa closures and the approach the city would be taking. We were told that the approach would be one. Persistent helpfulness. Using the coordinated entry system. And 3 working to expand shelter capacity. And I want
him to look you all in the eyes. As I say, this. >> That is not a plan. That is an approach. >> And there are so many easily identifiable gaps in the first in 3 approaches that I just listed. But the one that I really want to specifically talk about is the second-leading on coordinated entry. If you talk to anyone that's done coordinated entry, that's been an assessor that's been a priority list manager. >> Or you take the time to sit in on assessment. One of the very first things you'll hear them saying that you'll hear me say. Is that coordinated entry is not quick. It's not a guarantee. According to entries, a tool, it is a tool. It's not the be all end all and should never keep somebody plan a. This isn't a surprise. There's a lot of people know this before I talk with them. But when I'm doing an assessment. >> The city still choosing to lean on. That is the plan. Thank you very much. Please make sure to sign in. Tom by me. lifelong resident Saint Paul. >> More than one thing can be a tool. I think in this case with testimonials, there's a lot of truth all. But there's also truth in that the city has played a role in causing problem. And what not saying
it to be accusatory, but just that's a fact. >> What we need as a way out of for the people training Addiction efforts. >> What like to say about is 2 are ready to city's regulations. the park. You cannot be in the parks between 11 at night draw. You cannot have possession of alcohol. You cannot have position of weapons. You cannot have possession dry You Cannot be in possession of weapons or If those are all true and the city's enforcement. If the city would enforce that would be a big step in the right direction. Instead, what we're having is needles being and it supplies being provided and what has hppened is is there's been a significant increase in crime. Let alone. This is a park and the park visitors have been harassed, intimidated, threatened. Those 2 things don't bode well together. There are only a matter of time until somebody gets service or there's real problem that we're so getting help to those who are today and rules of him conditions. So thank you very much for his major design. welcome up. >> in this >> a idea outreach jobs in this Saint Paul Minneapolis. The first and let you do second with Sam. So I also Manatee County assessor. And the first thing I tell people is if you need housing should
get an assessment. And also you'll be really lucky if you hear anything within 3, 4 months, don't make this your first plan. So we need assessments less than a ridiculous. And then when second would make, you said things ae not better in Minneapolis after When I was working in Minneapolis had relationship. think it was a bunch of people lost. Its pay. What you taking months to get to talk to me. And after this beep. And, you I can find you the 3 months I found her again, she's another camp and at the same needs as these are communities, people look out for each other and on that campus lft and last month and when 100 and she at the scene. is these are communities and people each other. And then when I last heard and I couldn't fight. That's second Whatever >> Thank you very much. >> My time is running out get more than 53 0nd. we've okay. Hi. My name is Senator I am a longtime resident of Saint Paul. I actually bought the house that I grew up in. So I have lived in your ward. Molly, word for for 35 years. >> I am assist street outreach worker and I spent much of my time working on the streets in the Snelling University Avenue corridor. I am also a therapist and I work in addiction medicine right now. I also sit on the
Ramsey County Steering Committee, right? The heading from Iran steering committee Johnson is is the vice chair of the governing board. There on that steering committee. I chair the youth advocacy work group. And this call that Sam talked about the provider call. was the first time I heard about this plan right? I sit on the board. Andres, you county that is supposed to oversee things like this. And I did not hear about this plan until that. >> I have real concerns yet. >> Last week at a meeting with my partners, I worked both sides of the river. Partners with Hennepin County COC and Minneapolis providers. They said what's going on in Saint Paul? I told them I said, are you going to come and help? They said nobody has asked us to us. Nobody has asked Yeah. I have real concerns about what we're talking about when we're talking about a collaborative. And partnership because I have not seen that in my experience nw with my work in Minneapolis and that was my work on the steering committee. System. Mayor Baker, I heard you earlier say we want to look at creative sotions. I am so and so in. For creative solutions, those come before we do camp closure. I just want to stress that to you. Thank you very much. At 10 for about 3 more
speakers. I am sorry to have to end at 6.30, but look at as many as we can and will come up. >> Hi, my name is Julian Schaaf. We're kind of living working 3, 4, and want to share a particular story. And this winter, a friend, I know told me that so of us knew in the camps had had a miscarriage. And,Brooke, this information because she knew that I had the numbers of 3 midwives in the neighborhood and we were able to provide this person unity in the camp Midwest care within hours suspected she had a miscarriage. We provided pads to companion ship and laughter as well as confirmation that she had not lost a pregnancy and we offer to follow-up care with her in a few She told us that if she had gotten this information, is she still have the pregnancy? She would started using again and she could stay sober because of the baby. This care was timely. It was friendly. It was in a private place and was on her own terms of that requires expectations. She cannot go to a hospital the time because largely because of the fear that the city would interfere with her shelter and her belongings while she was getting medical care. How will the city provide care of this quality? And if the city can't do it. How are neighbors going to provide this care when a trusting relationship destroyed and we can't find
each other. I also want to point out that on how to use are disproportionately LGBTQ+. And when you have a plan, you need to guarantee the trans folks will be respected and housing healthcare. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Members of the City Council. >> My name is Award. One resident I will not pretend to speak to encampment. Residents experience is not the mayoral office. But what I will say, what I will ask directly is after hearing all of this testimony who among buy a show of hands right now. >> Staff wants to stop the mayor's sweeps. This is not a qna for us to testified. know him. ? >> I will tell you about 2 worlds. 2 worlds that diverge right after this session at. >> There is a world. >> Where you all leave. Put on the agenda as soon as possible. A moratorium for the mayor's office is disastrous plan. If happy to pressure in the same way I get the color in a bad position with funding. Worked with the county to pursue innovative strategies like the those tiny homes, right, pursue these grants right? We will continue to fight for the dignity and justice for unhoused neighbors and those who support us. I will remember that till the
day I die the other world, the other world is where you all take a recess, maybe do another opportunity for us to vent to get our public comments out there and then do nothing to publicly oppose or stop the mayor's sweet. People will die. My fiends and neighbors will die. I will lose contact with many of them. But you know what? This is not flash in the pan right here. All of us. We will continue to fight for the dignity and justice of all of us, including our uhoused neighbors. And for those who continue to support or do not speak out against the mayor sweeps, I will remember that until that day that I die at the ballot box. I deal with the city and how I remember each and every one of you. >> I wll remember that for and I'm not the only one. Thank you. Thank you. >> I think you're going to be our last speaker. So welcome Thank you. >> I do not deserve to afterward. Last words here today. My name is Ben aims. I'm a resident of Ward. One. At a public defender here in Saint Paul. Ramsey County for several years. I speak on behalf of myself, not anyone in my office. See a lot of familiar faces around here tonight. A lot of people that I've had. The unfortunate pleasure of having to represent protect their rights. People representative for unfortunately. Committing the crime of having nowhere
that they can legally be. being victims of having the only disease of addiction that we decide to put people in cages for. >> It makes no sense that we are going to criminalize encampments here in this city. Tell you what faces I don't see here today. I do not any prosecutors from the city attorney's office. They don't getting prosecutors from Ramsey County prosecutor. >> I do not see and judges and the only police that I see here over here for control and not care, compassion are sure to listen. 8th Amendment of the Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment. Unfortunately, this plan isn't unusual. Other cities do it, but you cannot convince me that it's not cool. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? For coming out. >> We have really appreciated the courage that it took to be here tonight. We want to encourage people. We'll have another meeting. We are recessing tonight, but we will have an opportunity for people. did not get to be heard tonight to come back. We also want to remind folks,
especially if you spoke tonight. We appreciate people speaking only for 2 minutes. I know that was tough for a lot of folks. There was so much more to say. Please email us meet with U.S.. Call us or other ways to reach us. We will let you know when we scheduled the next opportunity. I asked my colleagues and we all decided that rather than cutting the public testimony short and speaking ourselves, the purpose of tonight was to hear from you. I know we would all have a lot to say, but you've given us a lot to think about. And that's a lot of questions. So thank you all very much. And we are now in recess.