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Advocates press commission on encampment practices and White Slough community plan
Summary
Two public commenters urged the commission to pair any pursuit of pro housing designation with stronger tenant protections and scrutiny of encampment abatement practices; speakers asked the commission to agendize the White Slough community‑led strategic plan.
Two community speakers told the Housing and Community Development Commission it should pair any effort to pursue the state pro housing designation with concrete commitments to tenant protections and humane, consistent treatment of people living in encampments.
Crystal Gallegos of the Vallejo Housing Justice Coalition thanked staff for the presentation but warned that "on paper" progress must be matched by action. "Right now, Vallejo, as it stands, has no rent stabilization, no just cause eviction protections, no anti‑harassment ordinances, that would assist in displacement," Gallegos told the commission, urging explicit commitments to prioritize affordability and anti‑displacement measures.
Eli (Ellie) Smith, a founding member of the Vallejo Homeless Union, supported pursuing the designation but issued a starker charge about encampment responses. Smith said city practices have at times resulted in destruction of residentsproperty and alleged failures to follow procedures designed to protect due process and disability accommodations. "The city has employed brutal abatement policies and is routinely guilty of violations... They throw them away into dumpsters," Smith said.
Staff response and requests: Rojas pointed commissioners to Appendix 5 in the HCD application materials, which lists encampment principles HCD expects jurisdictions to address; he said staff would coordinate with the city manager's office and other departments to evaluate whether past practices affect eligibility. Both public speakers urged the commission to stay engaged in how paper policies are executed on the ground.
Agenda request: speakers also asked that the commission agendize presentations by community organizations and specifically requested a future update on the White Slough community‑led strategic plan, which the commissioners agreed to place on a future meeting agenda.
The commission acknowledged the concerns and asked staff to follow up with additional information on tenant protections, encampment procedures and how any awarded funds would be programmed.
