Mayor Pro Tem Eleassia Davis Cancels April Homelessness Advisory Committee as Issues at Homeless Shelter Mount
TRACY HOMELESS SHELTER HAS BEEN ROCKED BY ACCUSATIONS OF POOR TREATMENT AND MISMANAGEMENT WITH NO RESPONSE FROM CHAIR DAVIS
The accusations coming from Tracy’s homeless shelter managed by the Tracy Salvation Army at $2.6 million per year continue to grow.
- Homeless shelter residents being threatened by Salvation Army staff
- Homeless shelter residents afraid to report issues for fear of being kicked out of shelter.
- Homeless residents from Stockton being brought to Tracy’s shelter.
- Homeless residents caught with drugs given slaps on the wrist.
- Homeless residents being forced to remove their vehicles off the property.
- Homeless Services Manager Virginia Carney never seen at shelter.
- Reports of issues to the city going unanswered by staff.
These are just a few of the issues reported to the Tracy City Council over the past few meetings, the likelihood of additional issues remains high.
The Homelessness Advisory Committee, meanwhile, consisting of Mayor Pro Tem Eleassia Davis and Councilman Mateo Bedolla, despite learning of these troubling accusations, canceled last night's April meeting.
If ever there was a critical time for a Homelessness Advisory Committee hearing it is now.
The inaction and lack of concern by Councilmembers Davis and Bedolla over the accusations at the homeless shelter is failed leadership at its highest level.
Tracy’s homelessness is the city’s biggest issue of concern, and the two council members who fought to remain on the committee are nowhere to be found. (Perhaps we should look at the next crab feed, mixer, or party in the park.)
The way that committees are now conducted under the Bijal Patel controlled city, there is zero accountability for the council members who serve on them.
It is up to the committee members to choose whether staff should provide a report to the full city council or not. A report at council will be on video and accessible to more residents. It will allow for questions to be asked and people to be held accountable.
The Homelessness Advisory Committee has not given one update presentation to the full city council since Eleassia Davis has been chairperson.
In fact, the only words spoken about the committee of recent was Mateo Bedolla, who reported to the council that the staff update presentations made to the committee have always been available to the full council.
It’s apparent that Eleassia Davis and Mateo Bedolla believe they are doing an outstanding job in dealing with Tracy’s homelessness. Again, they reappointed themselves to the committee in January.
It’s also apparent that the two do not feel the accusations being made at the homeless shelter are of their concern.
The two do enjoy being part of the majority control on city council and both enjoy the protection by City Attorney Bijal Patel.
Both also want to be Tracy’s next mayor.
The prospect of either running the city for the next two to four years is as troubling as what’s happening at the homeless shelter.
Tracy voters, taxpayers, and homeless all deserve better than either Eleassia Davis or Mateo Bedolla can offer.
One just has to look at their track records.