Seems like Burbank Housing has a duty to step up and send a rep to these public forums explaining what their plan is going forward, with concrete steps and observable data; people would be more patient with "give it 6 months to a year" if they know things are being done to actually fix the problems. Having an on-site manager and security guards that actually enforce the rules would seem to be a basic requirement to increase safety for everyone; no accountability, however well-intentioned, usually leads to disaster. I have deep sympathy for those actually trying to improve their lives there; they should not be held hostage by those taking advantage of the situation.
This is pretty messed up, but I am sure our Supervisor and County staff swept into the facility yesterday to find out what is going on and fix it?
Going back to December 2020 public meeting on the takeover of the hotel, many promises were made:
Supervisor Hopkins at a city council meeting in December of 2020 discussing community concerns about the takeover of Sebastopol Inn said: "I want to be sure the County has your back. Everyone on council has my cell phone number".
Director Robinson stated, "really important, going into the next few years that we hit the reset button on the relationship between the county and city around addressing homelessness."
Michelle from DEMA commented that her team is firm on the rules, no drugs, or alcohol allowed on site period, confiscated at the gate.
Hopkins told us that the County had already approved $370,000 for Sebastopol. $250,000 was to make up the TOT tax for 1 year and the county appropriated $120,000 for a homeless outreach coordinator to reduce the homeless population in Sebastopol.
There were vague promises that Elderberry would reduce the number of Sebastopol homeless, by moving some of them into the facility. I don't think there has ever been a Sebastopol resident there.
The story has obviously changed. A hotel purchased just 4 years ago with tax$6.5 millions of taxpayer money, is quickly and quietly "donated" to Burbank Housing. Burbank is not hurting, in 2023 (last 990 report), they had $182,000,000 and the CEO earned $500,000. Seems like they have the money to make this work.
Toward the end of the meeting, Michael Zeigler called out that they had just moved him to a hotel. We lost a potentially good citizen, and the addicts and prostitutes remain. Solves the PR problem by quieting his voice.
Sebastopol taxpayers will continue to pay the price of this experiment to house and attempt to rehabilitate drug addicts that refuse treatment. What message does it send to tourists, hotel developers and homeowners that start to see property values drop, that the city has a series of spectacular disasters like the Morris Street encampment, Horizon Shine and now Elderberry Commons.
My time is up in the hotel next Thursday. I am being kept in fear of what’s next for me and my daughter. The retaliation has begun. They are preparing to demand I take down my ring camera which I signed Burbank housing papers and got approval for. It’s only set for motion sensor and only shows what I could see if my front door is open. I have received absolutely ZERO response regarding what’s next for me and my daughter next Thursday. They won’t commit to making improvements for safety concerns at the property what so ever. They claim 24/7 security for a 30 unit complex is $700k a year. Sorry I’m not financial expert so I may be wrong I have a GED and a phlebotomy certificate that number seems fishy to me. 6 days left and what’s next for me and my daughter? We are supposed to sit on the edge of our seat scared? While Burbank scrambles to defend what they have done instead of take accountability. I am scared for me and my daughters future well being and retaliation from Burbank housing and WCSS.
Thank you for your comprehensive report on the meeting, and the many serious issues involved. It is good to make us aware of what has and is going on. Now to find and work on solutions…
Same basic issue as before: a lack of clarity as to who is deciding anything here and an apparent operational institutional knee jerk reaction to blame someone else.
Whether it’s something more benign like the unforced Analy close campus status or here ignoring lease terms etc , those nominally in control don’t even seem to be trying to improve things.
Seems like Burbank Housing has a duty to step up and send a rep to these public forums explaining what their plan is going forward, with concrete steps and observable data; people would be more patient with "give it 6 months to a year" if they know things are being done to actually fix the problems. Having an on-site manager and security guards that actually enforce the rules would seem to be a basic requirement to increase safety for everyone; no accountability, however well-intentioned, usually leads to disaster. I have deep sympathy for those actually trying to improve their lives there; they should not be held hostage by those taking advantage of the situation.
This is pretty messed up, but I am sure our Supervisor and County staff swept into the facility yesterday to find out what is going on and fix it?
Going back to December 2020 public meeting on the takeover of the hotel, many promises were made:
Supervisor Hopkins at a city council meeting in December of 2020 discussing community concerns about the takeover of Sebastopol Inn said: "I want to be sure the County has your back. Everyone on council has my cell phone number".
Director Robinson stated, "really important, going into the next few years that we hit the reset button on the relationship between the county and city around addressing homelessness."
Michelle from DEMA commented that her team is firm on the rules, no drugs, or alcohol allowed on site period, confiscated at the gate.
Hopkins told us that the County had already approved $370,000 for Sebastopol. $250,000 was to make up the TOT tax for 1 year and the county appropriated $120,000 for a homeless outreach coordinator to reduce the homeless population in Sebastopol.
There were vague promises that Elderberry would reduce the number of Sebastopol homeless, by moving some of them into the facility. I don't think there has ever been a Sebastopol resident there.
The story has obviously changed. A hotel purchased just 4 years ago with tax$6.5 millions of taxpayer money, is quickly and quietly "donated" to Burbank Housing. Burbank is not hurting, in 2023 (last 990 report), they had $182,000,000 and the CEO earned $500,000. Seems like they have the money to make this work.
Toward the end of the meeting, Michael Zeigler called out that they had just moved him to a hotel. We lost a potentially good citizen, and the addicts and prostitutes remain. Solves the PR problem by quieting his voice.
Sebastopol taxpayers will continue to pay the price of this experiment to house and attempt to rehabilitate drug addicts that refuse treatment. What message does it send to tourists, hotel developers and homeowners that start to see property values drop, that the city has a series of spectacular disasters like the Morris Street encampment, Horizon Shine and now Elderberry Commons.
Thank you Laura Hagar rush!!! 💙🙏🎯
My time is up in the hotel next Thursday. I am being kept in fear of what’s next for me and my daughter. The retaliation has begun. They are preparing to demand I take down my ring camera which I signed Burbank housing papers and got approval for. It’s only set for motion sensor and only shows what I could see if my front door is open. I have received absolutely ZERO response regarding what’s next for me and my daughter next Thursday. They won’t commit to making improvements for safety concerns at the property what so ever. They claim 24/7 security for a 30 unit complex is $700k a year. Sorry I’m not financial expert so I may be wrong I have a GED and a phlebotomy certificate that number seems fishy to me. 6 days left and what’s next for me and my daughter? We are supposed to sit on the edge of our seat scared? While Burbank scrambles to defend what they have done instead of take accountability. I am scared for me and my daughters future well being and retaliation from Burbank housing and WCSS.
Thank you for your comprehensive report on the meeting, and the many serious issues involved. It is good to make us aware of what has and is going on. Now to find and work on solutions…
Same basic issue as before: a lack of clarity as to who is deciding anything here and an apparent operational institutional knee jerk reaction to blame someone else.
Whether it’s something more benign like the unforced Analy close campus status or here ignoring lease terms etc , those nominally in control don’t even seem to be trying to improve things.
Wow! Thank you Sebastopol Times for such thorough coverage.