HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-05 Open Time CorrespondenceFrom: Stuart Dubey < >
Sent: Monday, May 5, 2025 4:21 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org>
Subject: Homeless encampment adjacent to Baypoint Homes - for public comment in tonights City
Council meeting
To whom it may concern,
I am unable to attend tonight’s City Council meeting but I would like to submit this important message to include in the public comments discussion. I am a homeowner on Baypoint Dr. for 27 years. Our home overlooks the Startwather path and the large field behind Home Depot. Over the last several months a large homeless encampment has grown in the eastern edge of the field, directly adjacent to our Baypoint homes. There are multiple makeshift structures, tents, mounds of trash, directly outside our bedroom window. This is the exact spot where a large wild fire (caused by a similar homeless camp) erupted 2 summers ago and directly endangered our homes. It took the fire department several days to ensure it was out. That was only one of at least 5 fires adjacent to our homes that have been set by careless encampments over the years. Last Sunday I came home to find SR police with long guns drawn on Starkweather Path because of a violent incident in the tent encampment. Over the past several months I've have had 2 incidents of porch theft of packages, as have multiple neighbors - some have had their cars and garages vandalized. We continually hear explosions and see fireworks flashes coming from area of the encampment. I have reached out to Daniel Cooperman, Ranger Urton and Sgt. Cleland and reported the growing encampment situation. I received an email response from Sgt. Cleland, stating: "The problem is, with our current (and newly updated) municipal code, the encampment is legal. They had built structures to live in and we removed those. That stretch where they are camping is city property and as long as they are 10 feet from the private property, our municipal code allows it”. As a longtime San Rafael resident and tax payer (also required to pay a Starkweather Path maintenance tax) - I am astounded that the City is now endorsing homeless encampments directly adjacent to our homes! Contrary to Sgt. Cleland’s assessment - there are MULTIPLE structures built (see attached photos taken from our bedroom window) including a Honduran flag flown. Given the new homeless housing project being built on the corner of Kerner and Bellam, it is essential that the City respond and disassemble this growing encampment so it doesn’t continue to grow and directly endanger our homes and safety.
Please have the appropriate person follow up with me regarding what steps the City will take to remedy this dangerous situation. Thank you, Stuart Dubey
Stuart Dubey
415.255.8789 / 415.519.8140 c
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