January 13, 2015
From the desk of
Councilman Rich Harpole
People often ask me why the City Council will not stop Section 8 housing people from moving to Barstow. The simple answer is Section 8 is a federally funded housing program and a city cannot stop the federal, state or county government from doing anything. The other reason is this program is for the poor, a...nd it is unconstitutional to target people because they are poor.
The people, who ask this question, do not object to helping people in need, and they really do not want to target the poor. What they are really upset about is the negative urban problems that are being transferred to Barstow from Los Angeles and San Bernardino. They do not like the behavior, the crime, or the trashy and unkempt conditions of the homes many of these urban migrants bring to Barstow.
Behavior is something we can address from a policy and enforcement perspective.
Just as there is no single problem behavior, there is no single answer. The problem is multi-faceted and so are the solutions. However, there is a caveat; the Fourteenth Amendment requires equal protection. No matter the solution used, each solution has to apply equally to everyone and not just to “those people”.
Some of the tools currently available include code enforcement, land use policy (zoning), and law enforcement. Additionally, there may be a need for other tools that do not currently exist, but before we start looking for new tools (i.e. new rules or regulations) we need to make the best use of the ones we currently have.
The ubiquitous presence of alcohol in our community contributes to many of the social problems that affect the quality of life in Barstow. The sale of alcohol is supposed to be tightly regulated in our state; however, it is not. There is currently a moratorium in place for Barstow, limiting the number of businesses that sell beer and wine for take out (a type-20 license), like liquor and convenience stores. Despite the moratorium new licenses still get approved.
State law provides that a community should have no more than one type-20 license for every 2500 residents. With our population, Barstow should only have 10 type-20 licensees—we have 27. There is also a similar law for the type-21 license (stores that sell beer, wine and spirits). Barstow should have no more than 10 for this type as well, but we have 24. How many sources of alcohol do we need within walking distance of our neighborhoods?
Many people would like to see downtown revitalized. So would I. However, the truth is, so long as we have a homeless/transient population in the downtown area, conditions will not change. Add the quick and easy availability of alcohol downtown to the equation and it is not hard to understand why many avoid downtown if possible.
There are many people who do not live in Barstow, but who own properties and businesses for the purpose of making money and taking that money out of our community. Too often they care little for the negative consequences of their commercial activities. But, if someone is conducting for-profit business activates in Barstow, shouldn’t they be responsible for the negative impacts that commercial activity has on our community? Shouldn’t we hold them accountable?
If we want to address the social issues in Barstow, we have to be willing to look at all of the problems, and all of the possible solutions. Some issues we can impact some we cannot. Is stricter zoning a viable solution or stricter enforcement? For those problem issues that contribute to what many see, as the downward spiral in our community shouldn’t we do all we can to change directions?
I believe that many of these questions boil down to one of community standards. “Community standards” is a term used to describe the behaviors a community is willing to accept or reject. So here is the question. Are you prepared to see stricter code enforcement, even if it means you or your friends get a visit? Should steps be taken to reduce the affect alcohol has on Barstow? Should we work to relocate the homeless/transient population from the downtown area? Should we hold landlords responsible for the bad behavior of their tenants?
Or should we just take a “hands off approach”—live and let live if you will. Should we just let conditions evolve?
If these efforts are to reflect our community standards, then this is where your voice is necessary. Will you get what you want? Maybe…maybe not. However, by adding everyone’s voice to the discussion we stand a better chance of finding the path that will lead us to a better Barstow.
And isn’t that what we all want?
From the desk of
Councilman Rich Harpole
People often ask me why the City Council will not stop Section 8 housing people from moving to Barstow. The simple answer is Section 8 is a federally funded housing program and a city cannot stop the federal, state or county government from doing anything. The other reason is this program is for the poor, a...nd it is unconstitutional to target people because they are poor.
The people, who ask this question, do not object to helping people in need, and they really do not want to target the poor. What they are really upset about is the negative urban problems that are being transferred to Barstow from Los Angeles and San Bernardino. They do not like the behavior, the crime, or the trashy and unkempt conditions of the homes many of these urban migrants bring to Barstow.
Behavior is something we can address from a policy and enforcement perspective.
Just as there is no single problem behavior, there is no single answer. The problem is multi-faceted and so are the solutions. However, there is a caveat; the Fourteenth Amendment requires equal protection. No matter the solution used, each solution has to apply equally to everyone and not just to “those people”.
Some of the tools currently available include code enforcement, land use policy (zoning), and law enforcement. Additionally, there may be a need for other tools that do not currently exist, but before we start looking for new tools (i.e. new rules or regulations) we need to make the best use of the ones we currently have.
The ubiquitous presence of alcohol in our community contributes to many of the social problems that affect the quality of life in Barstow. The sale of alcohol is supposed to be tightly regulated in our state; however, it is not. There is currently a moratorium in place for Barstow, limiting the number of businesses that sell beer and wine for take out (a type-20 license), like liquor and convenience stores. Despite the moratorium new licenses still get approved.
State law provides that a community should have no more than one type-20 license for every 2500 residents. With our population, Barstow should only have 10 type-20 licensees—we have 27. There is also a similar law for the type-21 license (stores that sell beer, wine and spirits). Barstow should have no more than 10 for this type as well, but we have 24. How many sources of alcohol do we need within walking distance of our neighborhoods?
Many people would like to see downtown revitalized. So would I. However, the truth is, so long as we have a homeless/transient population in the downtown area, conditions will not change. Add the quick and easy availability of alcohol downtown to the equation and it is not hard to understand why many avoid downtown if possible.
There are many people who do not live in Barstow, but who own properties and businesses for the purpose of making money and taking that money out of our community. Too often they care little for the negative consequences of their commercial activities. But, if someone is conducting for-profit business activates in Barstow, shouldn’t they be responsible for the negative impacts that commercial activity has on our community? Shouldn’t we hold them accountable?
If we want to address the social issues in Barstow, we have to be willing to look at all of the problems, and all of the possible solutions. Some issues we can impact some we cannot. Is stricter zoning a viable solution or stricter enforcement? For those problem issues that contribute to what many see, as the downward spiral in our community shouldn’t we do all we can to change directions?
I believe that many of these questions boil down to one of community standards. “Community standards” is a term used to describe the behaviors a community is willing to accept or reject. So here is the question. Are you prepared to see stricter code enforcement, even if it means you or your friends get a visit? Should steps be taken to reduce the affect alcohol has on Barstow? Should we work to relocate the homeless/transient population from the downtown area? Should we hold landlords responsible for the bad behavior of their tenants?
Or should we just take a “hands off approach”—live and let live if you will. Should we just let conditions evolve?
If these efforts are to reflect our community standards, then this is where your voice is necessary. Will you get what you want? Maybe…maybe not. However, by adding everyone’s voice to the discussion we stand a better chance of finding the path that will lead us to a better Barstow.
And isn’t that what we all want?
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