In a forum organized by homeless advocate Marvin Rothschild and Corral Hollow Realty World owner Sue Langdon, displaced citizens were able to share with people what would really help them get back on their feet.
Rothschild is forming a group called the Coalition of Tracy Citizens to Assist the Homeless. He said he’s been trying to work with city officials to find ways for homeless people to have a safe place to sleep or take a shower every now and then, but hasn’t received much response.
“I’m not getting a positive response because we’ve got the bureaucracy of the city,” Rothschild said. “Why don’t we just come up with a solution?”
Rothschild said he started the group in an effort to get help to those who need it without bothering with red tape. He’s purchased an old motorhome and is trying to refurbish it so homeless people can stop by, get cleaned up, drink a hot cup of coffee and look at a listing of places to get help or part-time work.
“It’s the things we don’t think about, that we take for granted, that they need,” said Cathy Goodard, a Tracy resident who volunteers at Center of Hope Church.
At the meeting, where about 30 to 40 people showed up, some homeless residents talked about needing showers, eyeglasses, tents and warm clothes.
“A motorhome would help out quite a bit, a job would help out even more,” said and man who identified himself as Joe. He said he’s a software developer who has been homeless off and on for five years after he was forced to resign from his job six years ago.
Gustava Rego, another homeless person from Tracy, said that she’s trying to earn an associate’s degree in automotive technology from San Joaquin Delta College, but often can’t afford books. She said some help with that and some work clothes would go a long way.
“We’re mobile mechanics and without a place to live, we can’t do that,” said Rego, whose husband is also a mechanic.
The forum also dealt with the topic of city policy. Rothschild told about people who had been ticketed by Tracy police after parking their motorhomes in the Walmart parking lot, a practice he said used to be accepted.
Sal Antonini, who has been without a home since 2007, said he often feels targeted by police when he stops his motorhome for the night at Walmart or a secluded place. He said that he’s noticed that other RVs with out-of-state license plates don’t draw parking tickets when they’re staying overnight.
Rothschild also suggested that Tracy could pick a secluded street and have an area where one motorhome could park for the night, but be gone by 9 a.m.
The forum also helped connect homeless people with some local health workers. Patricia Alvarez-Pombo, a case manager from Sutter Tracy Community Hospital Healthy Connections, talked a bit about her company, which aims to be a one-stop place for information about resources.
Darlene Quinn, the director of Tracy Interfaith Ministries, talked about how homeless people could come to the center every week to pick up some food.
Doctor Michael Hurst from Tracy Free Clinic, Inc. talked about what his nonprofit had to offer, such as basic health care on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month that would remain free and confidential. The volunteer three-person staff plans to grow soon, Hurst said, and move into the health department building on Tracy Boulevard in January.
His announcement of a free clinic was met with a round of applause.
“All we care about is what we can do for you,” Hurst said. “We don’t want anything money-wise.”
Rothschild and Langdon felt the meeting was a step in the right direction for making it easier for homeless people to find what they need. Committees were formed to bring specific attention to things such as health and communication.
”It’s a huge undertaking,” Langdon said, “but I think we’ve got a good start.”
Contact Tracy Press reporter Justin Lafferty at 830-4269 or jlafferty@tracypress.com.
Good idea an one I can fully support.
Help them by foistin their problem on someone else to deal with an ask everyone to bend th laws ta do it? Nope, an it ain’t in accordance with God’s word either. Remember th part about renderin ta Caesar that which is Caesar’s an renderin unto God that which is God?
God don’t want us to break th laws of th land, but instead admonishes us ta follow em.
maybenotdumBcommenT an I often spar with one another over different issues but in this I am in alignment with him.
An before I ferget it, maybenotdumBcommenT, I don’t think th politics yer talkin about ta Tom is what Tom was sayin. All ya gotta do is look at Marvin Rothschild’s “activist” history in Tracy these past years an it becomes fairly easy ta see this guy is on th fact track inta th political arena. Hum, where do we have another history of another guy doin th same an what is his employment taday? Nuf said on that.
But, as I said earlier, helpin th homeless is really a good idea an I am in favor of it.
An I can understand people’s reluctance ta open thair streets and business parking lots ta give these people a place ta crash fer awhile. It’s a long standin argument because lots of us have seen th negative sides of th homeless situation on th streets.
Nah, people have ta see fer themselves how these things run and if successful then they usually get more involved. And more community involvement is what everyone seems ta want, right?
Ok, here’s how ta get th ole ball rollin.
My mom was born in Missouri an growin up I often heard th phrase “show me state” applied ta Missouri an folks that were raised thair. Mom was very quick ta say, “don’t tell me about it, show me.” She wanted ta see fer herself what was goin on an goin ta be instead of havin a bunch of people tell her what was goin, what she should be doin an what was goin ta be.
So perhaps this well intentioned activist group could adopt a philosophy of, “Well let’s just show th rest of ta people of Tracy how this all works an then perhaps they will better support us.”
Hey, it’s not a bad idea, but with th state of th economy affectin everyone, homeless an homeowner alike, people are gonna want ta know up front what all th overall costs are, an I ain’t talkin strictly money here.
So here’s th idea. Those promotin this wonderful idea should start by allowin th homeless ta park in th following locations as a test ta demonstrate ta th rest of us how all this can work an not have any drastic negative impacts on th rest of our community. Remember th ole adage, “Charity starts at home.”
• 104 W. 10th St. At night after the Post Office closes behind the building an across the street to the east would be a good location.
• 2514 Holly Dr In the Church Parking Lot is another good location to start. Was always in favor of church based relief instead of somethin government run anyway.
• 624 Central Ave. is another good location.
• 356 Glenbriar Circle is another good location ta place these people at night.
• Finally, th Health Department buildin on Tracy Blvd. is another location.
Other locations, whar th charity that starts at home line of thinkin should be fer these activists are th street an th homes of th people promitin it. Then they can show th rest of us how it works. Those streets and homes would be:
• Marvin Rothschild’s home,
• Sue Langdon’s home,
• Cathy Goodard’s home,
• Doctor Michael Hurst’s home,
• An anyone else that feels moved by compassion ta help these people.
Folks, yer motives are good an noble an I don’t fault ya at all fer havin em. But please don’t tell us what we should be doin an expect us ta pick up th tab. Show us instead, an when we all can see some success in the fruits of yer labors without all th perceived problems that folks are worrin about. Then perhaps th rest of us in th community will be supportive an more inclined ta help out in this noble cause.
Now I’d like ta turn an address the comments between maybenotdumBcommenT an gcrego.
One is obviously a homeowner and employed.
Th other claims ta be a full time Delta College student, homeless, goin without food, a regular shower an havin difficulty finding shelter an warm clothin.
I want ta point out one thang that struck me that th rest of yall readin this might have missed. Ya see I have a lot of experience at hearin th, “Poor me,” story an findin out later that is was just that, a story, an one with little resemblance ta th real facts.
While I have lots of compassion fer th homeless an needy folk, when I read comments written by people like gcrego I start ta thinkin.
Quarems? That’s right quarems. Used in her sentence, “Walmart has no quarems about people parking overnight . . . “ I would assume she meant qualms. This from a “Full time” Delta College student?
Ok, my spellin here isn’t good either, but that’s by purposeful intent on my part an not knowin how ta spell somethang as simple as qualm. Why? Because if I was tryin ta argue my point an telling everyone I was a “full time college student,” I would be writin as correctly as possible.
Another thang struck me odd in gcrego’s comments. I am wonderin why a full time Delta College Student is livin homeless on th streets of Tracy? It’s difficult ta be homeless in th first place. But it’s gotta be more difficult ta commute ta Stockton every day ta attend class without any transportation other than th bus service between Tracy an Stockton. Don’t make logical sense does it?
Then thairs another credibility issue in gcrego’s comments. She, and I assume she cus she talks about her husband, doesn’t have a place ta live, can’t find a job an is havin trouble findin food ta eat but can apparently afford ta pay fer a computer an a Internet Service Provider so she can sit between th hours of 2:30 PM an 04:14 PM on a Monday and again between th hours of 3:02 PM an 3:46 PM on a Tuesday.
Seems ta me that instead of bangin th keyboard ta do her studies fer class an wastin time here in th comment sections of th paper callin other people NAZIs, instead of usin th time ta find herself a job, is sort of counter productive ta her argument an th activist’s cause.
Granted, she could have done this from th public library, an that would account fer th equipment an service cost, which are then born by th community at large ta provide her with this charitable benefit, but thairs still th wastin of time ta improve her and her husband’s state when she should be studyin an or lookin fer a job.
Now I know that everyone needs a little break from th daily routine now an then and even th homeless fall inta that category. But if yer hungry, out of work, a full time student an don’t have a place ta live, I’d think that commentin in the on-line newspaper’s comment sections would be a very low priority.
As fer maybenotdumBcommenT? Well he’s been commentin here for a long long time an frum followin his comments I am fairly sure he’s livin in his own home an has employment ta support himself an his family. So even though I don’t always agree with him, I am fairly confident he isn’t leadin anyone on with his comments.
Can’t say as I feel th same about gcrego an her comments.
But that’s not fer me to decide fer you readin this. That’s fer you to decide. All I am doin is pointin it out an offerin suggestions ta th group of activists on how they can go about getting more support fer thair noble cause from th community who has ta ultimately foot th bill fer it.
I could either ignore you or respond to what you have said. The fact that you called me a NAZI, well that was uncalled for. I'm an American citizen born and raised. When I said the homeless are stealing the recyclables there have been articles in this very paper admitting to it. I have run into people twice stealing out of my own recycle bin. Some of the police logs have mentioned recycling thieves, to many to mention. That is who I am talking about, but as well no one is suppose to take anything from those recycle bins. And as for your comments- "they match you." I don't know what you mean by that, could you clarify that? I felt I was very respective to you. Calling me a NAZI is immature and disgusting.
I have worked very hard helping the homeless that want help for them selfs. But I will not tolerate the abuse by homeless that take advantage by stealing from the City of Tracy..
If I did live in a glass house it would have many cracks in it. Why you suggest that I fail with the statement of people throwing rocks at me is the very reason I say you are immature. To want harm done to another human being is a sick individual.
There is a place in Stockton where the homeless can go to all the amenities such as a warm meal. But you will find that most of Tracy's homeless do not want to go there, because there are rules to follow. Ask them yourself why they don't want the help.
I don't know why you are so angry, you should find out why. This is my opinion.
You should have got some questions answered first because Marvin, You already knew what was right and wrong with this scheme of yours.
Homeowners were happy and the transient population was happy - The city parks have rest rooms and it was no longer a problem.
I guess you you have missed the stories about stealing cans and copper wire. Yes, I have proof.
Really, you are stooping so low as to call me names. I had to laugh at the NAZI remark towards me. "Sticks and stones may brake my bones but names will never harm me." Now that I got down to your level I think you can understand me. THE HOMELESS MAKE ENOUGH BUCKS BY STEALING RECYCLABLES FROM OUR BINS TO BUY ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. They do it night after night gcrego. I suggest at your young age to open your ears and eye's before coming back with your smart a@@ remarks. And besides it shows your immaturity.
"RedHotChilliPeppers please do not give them a bike. That will just give one homeless person a faster way of stealing recyclables because they don't want to go to work and follow the rules like everyone else. I have run into them more then once going thru my garbage and stealing the cans."
How could you say its the homeless out there stealing the recyclables? Do you have proof its the homeless or are you assuming its them? Remember what the first three letters of assume are? ASSume
Don't assume/accuse the homeless unless you got proof that the people stealing the recyclables are in fact homeless!! I think you will come to find out that the people stealing reclyclables are the people that have a home (druggies) I can tell you must be a NAZI because you sure in the hell aren't American with that attitude: Just hope that you never end up in a situation of being homeless, you will find out that its emotionally and mentally as well as physically challenging!
Why doesn't everyone get there head out of there "*#!?*^#" and be American, pull together and help out getting some warm clothes, hot food, showers, ande SHELTER and just maybe Tracy will solve its homeless problem!!!!!!!!
It is very very difficult to be homeless- be a full time student- look for work and wonder where, when or if we are going to get a hot meal, a shower or if we will ever find shelter to keep warm and dry. Try having all pof that on your mind everyday all day, you will be lucky to keep yourself from breaking down into a state of depression or even worse -$#^%%$#-
Why doesn't everyone get there head out of there "*#!?*^#" and be American, pull together and help out getting some warm clothes, hot food, showers, ande SHELTER and just maybe Tracy will solve its homeless problem!!!!!!!!
It is very very difficult to be homeless- be a full time student- look for work and wonder where, when or if we are going to get a hot meal, a shower or if we will ever find shelter to keep warm and dry. Try having all pof that on your mind everyday all day, you will be lucky to keep yourself from breaking down into a state of depression or even worse -$#^%%$#-
It doesn't matter if Wamart doesn't have any qualms, they have to follow the law just like everybody else. You could take your same philosophy about a paying customer living in a parking lot overnight and apply to any store. But I doubt anyone would go for it.
I have done this and maybe some other non-homeless people have done this. Gone one day to shop at Walmart, go home, realize you forgot something and go back to Walmart and see the same RV sitting there now for two days. The windows are all covered up including the windshield and passengers windows. Draw your own conclusion.
And you can't say that people that have homes haven't been thru what you have been thru so whatever all the yelling is for I can tell you I myself have pounded the pavement looking for work before to. And I would dare say there are a couple other people out there that have had to do the same.
RECYCLE!!!!!,
Some of figure it is a supreme effort to help our City to reach the goal for recycling. That is what the blue cans are for. I think there is an explanation on the City of Tracy web site about this very thing. We are helping our city to reach its recycling goal, thats supreme enough for me.
AAAnnie is so right. Thank you for the compliment. Yours was very informative.
Does anyone remember our constitutional rights:
1st amendment is the FREEDOM of speech and the 2nd is the right to bare arms to protect the 1st amendment. Everyone can say what they want but did you know that "TRACY DOESN'T THINK WE HAVE A HOMELESS PROBLEM" well look around everyone, Tracy does have a homeless problem
This happened because the society got lazy in recyling, homeless are like seagulls at landfill!!
Then less complaint about those who go through the trash would be said??? Do your part!
I work, thank God! More importantly, I am friend, sister, daughter. I am clean and sober. If I were to become homeless I would have a couch or a garage, at least, to lay my head at night. God has blessed me with a good nature and the rewards of trying to live by the rules.
MNDC, You crack me up!!! I love your commentst.
'If you don't like it you can take it or shove it'
These are the type of people at the meeting asking for help?
I also want to know wasn't this guy who is asking for 'special treatment' and 'breaking the party rules' for the mobile home parking in the Walmart lot? the leader of a certain political party?
That shouldn't be the way we roll? I think it's a sad state we've sunk to.
RedHotChilliPeppers please do not give them a bike. That will just give one homeless person a faster way of stealing recyclables because they don't want to go to work and follow the rules like everyone else. I have run into them more then once going thru my garbage and stealing the cans.
Marvin, why should the homeless not have to bother with red tape. You have got to be kidding me! It is hard here for all of us, even if we have a roof over our head. If someone is given a handout they will expect special treatment all the time. Some of us struggled to get where we are and most of us are struggling now. You can not have one set of laws for some and harder ones for others.
Maybe Sue Langdon can let them park that RV where her office is every night because I sure don't want it parked on a side street near me. How could that work anyway? The RV gets a special permit to park on a side streets but other people that are homeless that are living in their cars can't park on side streets.