HomeMy WebLinkAboutDaniel Lammie
Good evening Councilmembers. My name is Daniel Lammie, and I am a student at the UC Irvine, School
of Law.
The City erred in closing public restrooms last week and is about to make another misstep tonight by
closing the City’s parks.
The CDC has issued guidance on how to address homelessness in the COVID-19 crisis:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/unsheltered-
homelessness.html.
In Tustin, like other places, many homeless families and seniors live in vehicles. They typically use
bathrooms and showers at gyms or restaurants. Those closed last week. Libraries and city hall are closed
now as well. The only restrooms left available to the public are public restrooms in places like parks.
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends
increased access to hygiene; specifically, the CDC asks that people wash their hands more frequently.
The CDC is not alone. If you were to pull out your phone right now and simply google “COVID-19
prevention”, you would be met with the WHO’s Public Service Announcement: “DO THE FIVE.” This is a
five-step approach to limiting the spread of COVID-19. “Wash \[your hands\] often” is the first step.
CDC guidance further encourages putting out additional hand washing stations and portable restrooms
to increase access to hygiene during this crisis.
In light of this advice from the world’s leading public health agencies, the City should allow residents to
follow the advice of the experts and wash their hands. Those most at risk, those who have lost their
homes, or simply can’t go home now because they may have been exposed to COVID and want to
protect their families, are left with no options.
Social distancing is hard. It is hard on those who have a safe place to retreat to. And it is impossible for
those who don’t have a safe place. The CDC currently recommends that homeless individuals not use
group shelters. To my knowledge, Tustin has not transitioned shelter residents out of group-living and
into private rooms. While certainly the best option is to follow the Governor’s advice and obtain
individual rooms for all those who cannot return home, or do not have a home to return to, until that is
available, it is critical for the health of the community that Tustin allow homeless individuals to remain
in parks where they can receive food, hygiene, information, and healthcare. It is critical at this time that
cities do not take steps that push homeless individuals into the shadows and risk increasing the spread
while we all work to flatten the curve.
Although the resolution before the Council today is certainly well-intended and we can all agree that
strict measures must be taken to flatten the curve, this Council should not order the complete closure of
Tustin’s parks and associated facilities. Team sports and gatherings can be prohibited without risking no
place for people to sit if they are stuck outside. The City should order its public restrooms be reopened
to help stem the spread of COVID-19. Hygiene is critical, and at this moment, this City must be a leader
and open public restrooms, move all high-risk individuals from shared space shelters into individual
rooms, and reduce shelter populations.
I implore the city council not to order the complete closure of city parks and to immediately order the
reopening of public restrooms in parks for homeless individuals.