The Antioch Police Officers Association released an email Monday highlighting concerns they have over Councilmemebrs Lamar Thorpe, Joy Motts and Monica Wilson moving forward with potentially spending up to $1 million on a motel to house local homeless.
According to the email:
Lamar Thorpe’s Homeless Motel on E. 18th & Cavallo will increase crime in our City… and it’s being supported by Councilmembers Monica Wilson and Joy Motts.
Mayor candidate Lamar Thorpe has a proposal to permanently house homeless individuals at the Executive Inn on E. 18th and Cavallo – an area that is already a crime challenge for the Antioch Police. But the problems only begin there.
The location is CLOSE TO HOMES, only 1/4 MILE FROM FOUR ANTIOCH SCHOOLS and the Antioch Youth Sports Center. And the cost to Antioch taxpayers could reach one million dollars or more per year.
The Antioch Police Officers’ Association believes this proposal could put citizens’ lives in danger and sets a precedent for Antioch becoming the magnet for the County’s homeless.
This proposal is but one reason we are NOT supporting the re-election of Councilmembers Monica Wilson and Joy Motts on November 3rd.
Thank you for reading this message.
Antioch Police Officers’ Association
Working to Protect the Citizens of Antioch
According to information released by the County over the past several months, the county has 5 hotels and over 550 rooms in Contra Costa County. The County has moved over 250 individual and families out of congregate shelters to hotels and has begun filling the remaining rooms with people who meet the criteria below. We how have over 300 people experiencing homelessness in hotel rooms.
During a recent Brentwood Virtual Townhall on Homelessness, Lavonna Martin, Director of Health, Housing & Homeless Services with Contra Costa County, shared data from the 2020 Point in Time Count on January 22.
- 2,277 unsheltered in Contra Costa County
- 707 persons in shelter
- 1,570 persons unsheltered
- 5% households were families.
“For the first time in recent history, and I have been here for 20-years now, there was a equal distribution of unsheltered people across the region,” stated Martin. “A third was in East Contra Costa County, a third in Central and a third in West. Brentwood represents about 5% of the total homeless population that were found that day.”
Here is a look at the timeline
- March 1 – The City of Antioch received its 5 homeless trailers, they still have not been placed at a location and are sitting in the corp yard.
- May 13: Pittsburg Motel 6 to Provide 176 Rooms for Homeless – More info
- July 14 – Thorpe and Motts introduce idea for the homeless motel – more info.
- August 1 – Antioch City Council Agrees in 3-2 Vote to Move Forward with Transitional Housing Plan for Homeless – More info
15 comments
Hopefully the tax paying citizens of Antioch will get their heads out of their asses and vote the axis of evil (Thorpe, Wilson and Motts) out of office. Very hard to believe that anyone would vote for this idiot (Thorpe) for mayor.
The Antioch POA couldn’t be more on the money with its position against Thorpe, Motts and Wilson. As a resident that has lived in this area for almost 40 years I see how bad it has become. The area is a sh t hole. Support local law
Enforcement.
This is what happens when you elect Democrats to office. They screw up everything they touch
Thorpe, Motts and Wilson ARE disasters in themselves!
So the POA is fine with homeless encampments scattered all around town and resists a transitional housing center because…..what? Cops ENJOY dealing with encampments all over town? The “ near schools” argument is bogus because, for one, the only nearby school is Rocketship, and they seem more than willing to open their doors to the kids of homeless people. Does the POA just want those kids roaming the streets?
We all know that dealing with the homeless issue takes more than tongue clucking about what a “****hole” the city has become. Fact is, they aren’t going to go outside the city limits. They’re here and we have to deal with the problem. Mr. Thorpe and Ms. Motts seem to want to face the problem, while the POA and many of my fellow commenters just want to do nothing and attempt any positive solution. How about putting forth some other option? Wow! What a concept
I definitely agree wit my you here. As a law enforcement supporter, it makes no sense to just keep mindlessly chanting “support law enforcement!” as if hiring more police will somehow solve the homelessness issue, neither will the outdated and boring game of just condemning Democrats. At least some politicians are trying something new besides ripping up tents and keeping the cycle going. All the vitriol towards Thorpe on this site should technically be directed towards the opioid producers & pushers, and the Right winger politicians that protect them; it’s these crooks that have created the mass waves of homeless neighbors washing up on the shores of the east Bay.
Over 60% of the homeless were sent here from other states which didn’t want to deal with them decided it should be California’s problem — financial and otherwise. Those homeless need to be loaded up and RETURNED t their home states so that those states can do right by them and help them get on their feet. The sooner those people are moved out of here, the better.
Didn’t the city (represented by the current city council) do a sweep of the homeless population in Antioch days or weeks before the homeless census count?
The Antioch POA is a laughing stock. Instead of complaining, the POA should be bring solutions to a problem (Something that is taught early on in the Police Academy unless you attend the CoCo academy.) Does the POA have any other ideas to house the homeless? Secondly, this homeless hotel is job security. It will be a great way for officer’s to earn their stats. After all, its all about stats right? When POA’s bitch and complain they disconnect with the community. When you disconnect, the community will push back and elect a lousy DA who had NO POA endorsement……Face it, she was elected because law enforcement it out of touch with their communities. It’s the truth and don’t hide from the truth. LEO, I implore you to get back on track! Adhere to the LEO Code of Ethics.
It is a shame that POA would go along with a LIE. 1…The sports complex is over a mile away. 2…the ol lie about the schools,trick. Where do the homeless go? Any answers,POA???
Where should the homeless go? Most of them should head back to their home states. Easy as pie! Piece of cake, even! Problem solved!
Retired. This DA was appointed by the supervisors wasn’t she?
Yes, Julio. We have that idiot Glover and that witch Burgis to thank for settling us with this moron DA!
Here’s what I know from personal experience as an officer. 90% of the homeless in Antioch smith meth or shoot heroin all day, every day. Some are nice folks. Some aren’t Being addicts renders them subject to stealing or dealing on a daily basis. Bicycles, store items, car burglaries are the staple of their everyday activities. If you want to pay for their motels when you can’t afford one for your own kids, have fun with it. They just smoke dope and watch free cable on your dime. You are keeping them locked into the plantation of 2020.
This city has let the homeless problem get too far. This should have been handled way before so many of them started congregating here. Now, it’s overwhelming. They need to be put on buses and given one-way tickets out of California. Using either Greyhound or buses which transport prisoners would do the trick.
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