During a recent Santa Cruz city council meeting, officials discussed an ordinance aimed at making technical changes to the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women. The ordinance passed unanimously after a public hearing, with no comments or testimonies from the public.

The council then shifted focus to a more pressing issue involving the city of Hanford Police Department. The mayor expressed gratitude towards local partners for their efforts in addressing homelessness, particularly in light of a situation where a homeless individual was reportedly relocated to Santa Cruz without proper communication or support from Hanford officials. The mayor emphasized the importance of collaboration among local governments and nonprofits to assist homeless individuals effectively, highlighting that many residents in Santa Cruz became homeless due to job loss.

Council members echoed the mayor's sentiments, stressing that all jurisdictions must take responsibility for addressing homelessness rather than offloading their challenges onto others. Vice Mayor Golder pointed out that Santa Cruz has made significant strides in supporting its homeless population, but emphasized that it is not the city's responsibility to solve homelessness for the entire state or country.

Council member Brunner noted the importance of having a pre-planned support system in place for individuals experiencing homelessness, referencing the city's Homeward Bound program, which ensures that transportation is accompanied by a safety plan. Council member Kalantari Johnson highlighted the city's commitment to addressing homelessness, citing a significant decrease in the homeless population over the past two years as evidence of their effective strategies.

The meeting concluded with a call for other jurisdictions to collaborate with Santa Cruz in developing similar frameworks to tackle homelessness, rather than attempting to transfer their issues to neighboring communities.