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Resident criticizes council for inaction on homelessness and blight during public comment
Summary
At a Nov. 10 meeting, resident Linda Dash urged the Atwater City Council to take stronger action on homelessness, blight and missed grant opportunities, saying the city has a reputation for inaction and calling on council to be more accountable.
During the public-comment portion of the Nov. 10 Atwater City Council meeting, resident Linda Dash criticized council members for what she described as a pattern of inaction on homelessness, blight and missed grant opportunities.
Dash said voters expect the council to be careful stewards of city finances and to hold department heads accountable. She thanked the Merced County Sheriff’s Department for a recent encampment cleanup and expressed frustration that the city has not done more to address visible homelessness and blight.
"The gatekeeper's job is important... You should have the expertise to hire experienced folks to run our many departments," Dash said, urging the council to take corrective steps when problems arise. She warned that stakeholders will seek new leaders if the council does not act.
Mayor Michael G. Nelson closed public comment after Dash's remarks and the meeting moved on to council updates and staff reports. No formal action was taken in response at the meeting; the clerk noted that items requiring action should be referred to staff and placed on a future agenda.
