Food Poisoning, Bread & Water for Easter Dinner Reported at Tracy Homeless Shelter; Homelessness Chair Davis Remains Silent
CITY OFFICIALS HAVE NO ANSWERS TO HUMANITARY AND HEALTH ISSUES RAISED BY HOMELESS AND HOMELESS ADVOCATE
In the most recent troubling news coming out of the Tracy homeless shelter, an unidentified homeless advocate addressed council on April 2nd during items from the audience with the following questions:
Interim Assistant City Manager Kimberley Murdaugh reported that “The Food Canteen” provides food services at the shelter but could not confirm what was served on Easter nor if any reports of food poisoning have been filed.
Ms. Murdaugh went on to say that she was meeting with Shelter Director Luis Ayala the next day and would report back to the woman.
The speaker then asked about Homeless Services Manager Virginia Carney. In her words, “Why is she never there but is making really good money?”
(According to the city’s Master Salary Schedule, the Homeless Services Manager’s annual salary ranges from $120,001.70 to $145,862.60 depending on experience.)
Ms. Murdaugh again had no answers.
It’s the second council hearing in a row where questions about Carney’s lack of presence at the shelter was raised.
The one person that should have had more answers but said nothing was Mayor Pro Tem Eleassia Davis, who serves as the Chair for the Tracy Homelessness Advisory Committee. She said nothing.
For two council meetings in a row, a homeless resident and homeless advocate are reporting problems at the city’s homeless shelter.
One would expect Homelessness Advisory Committee Chair Davis to take onus and provide some explanation or even feign empathy towards the speakers.
Eleassia Davis has served on the committee since 2021 and its chair since 2023.
She is the senior ranking council member on the committee. She advocated for herself and Councilman Bedolla to remain on the committee this past January.
Davis, more than anyone, should know as much about what is happening at the Tracy homeless shelter as Virginia Carney, the missing in action services manager.
Instead, what the homeless community and taxpayers got from Eleassia Davis was silence.
While Davis stayed tight-lipped on the troubling accusations at Tracy’s homeless shelter, she had plenty to say about the Skyview Aviation mixer she attended.
“Party Girl” Davis is once again making her priorities clear by attending more mixers, crab feeds, street fairs, and more.
Case in Point: Davis cancelled the April 18th Homelessness Advisory Committee meeting even after hearing of these issues at the homeless shelter (read more here).
It’s safe to assume that she's been enjoying more than bread, butter, and water.
If only Tracy’s homeless were so lucky.