Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho returned to the club to share updates about his first two years as DA (Ho last visited our club shortly before his election).
The meeting was led by PP Bob Miller, who promised us that President Bobby Reed’s absence was not indicative of an electoral shakeup.
Paul Keefer provided the Thought For the Day, quoting Aristotle on justice.
Club announcements:
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- Beverly & Hal’s pool party is August 25 – please click here to RSVP through ClubRunner
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- Loaves and Fishes is happening on August 29. Both breakfast (7:30-10) and lunch (10:45-1p) shifts currently need volunteers. Please contact John Swentowsky to sign up!
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- Sac Century – there are multiple opportunities to support Sac Century over the next six weeks – most notably, the team is looking for help on the weekend to walk major bike trails around the city and promote Sac Century. Plus, per Kathe, now is the time to volunteer for your Sac Century shift on Sept 28 – by signing up now, you get your choice of assignment! Click here to sign up!
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- Theatre Night – PP Todd Koolakian has 8 more tickets for “Jersey Boys” on August 22nd.
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- Sac Century – Ruth Tesar needs volunteers to pass out Sac Century collateral to prospective riders, and PP Diane Mizell implored all Rotarians to think about donating to the Sac Century. Bob Rosenberg needs more support vehicle (SAG wagon) drivers on the ride route that day. Kathe Nathan unveiled slick new Sac Century caps for sale at $30.
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- Maggie Hopkins and Justino Santana are launching a new committee, “Rotarians Helping Rotarians.” Tasks can include driving fellow Rotarians to meetings and events, IT assistance, fellowship visits and more. Maggie also mentioned gathering historical stories for our “Story Vault” documenting the legacy of our club.
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- Challenge Champions are Sac Century riders (or non-riders even) who raise money for the effort through pledges from friends and family. So far our 2024 Challenge Champions are Tom Bacon, Dave Brandenburger, Michael Mui, Kathe Nathan and Ruth Tesar. Learn more by reaching out to Kathe Nathan.
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PUT ME IN, COACH!
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- PP Brian Van Camp gave $100 in honor of his friend, Thien Ho; Elke Schlosser gave $1,000 in gratitude for Mr. Ho’s work.
- Jamie Furlong gave $25 each toward the Paul Harris awards for Robin DeLong, PP Peter Dannenfelser, Paul Keefer and Maggie Brinkoetter Hopkins for covering her Sergeant at Arms duties in her absence (Welcome back, Jamie!).
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SPEAKER OF THE DAY: THIEN HO
Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho shared an array of data about the homelessness crisis and crime in the Sacramento region. Long-term homeless encampments represent significant threats to public safety, public health, our ability to attract and retain industry – and to quality of life for all Sacramentans. Ho has constitutional authority to promote public safety, and he felt it was his duty to hold the city government accountable for how they manage and maintain homeless encampments within the city. Which is why, last September, he sued the City of Sacramento to enforce state regulations around homeless encampments.
The city’s policy has been one of non-interference – if there are no available beds in the city’s shelters, the police will not cite an individual for sleeping outdoors. Ho believes “the experiment to do nothing has gotten us nowhere,” and filed suit to enforce existing statutes on the books.
Some stats about Sacramento’s homelessness crisis:
– There has been a 250% increase in homelessness in Sacramento over the past 7 years; we have the fastest-growing homeless population in the country.
– The Walmart on 65th and Florin has the highest rate of retail theft among all Walmarts in the entire country. Sacramento’s high rate of retail theft makes it very difficult to retain commerce in the most underserved areas of town.
– 80% of the chronically homeless suffer from mental health problems and drug addiction.
– 90% of unhoused women have been victims of domestic violence and sexual violence.
– The number one cause of death on the streets is drug overdose. Blunt force trauma (homicide) is #2.
He advocated for “compassionate enforcement” of existing camping laws – where efforts are made first to help unhoused people reconnect with their families, or to connect them with services to get off the streets, and only when those two attempts fail or are rejected, to cite a person for illegal camping. In San Diego, they have been employing similar procedures for several years and seen a nearly 70% reduction in homelessness since they began.
Among the solutions that District Attorney Ho discussed is Proposition 36, which will come to California voters this November. It proposes additional sanctions for people convicted of hard drug use, which would incentivize repeat offenders to begin drug treatment. While it’s already an option, the current duration of six months in drug treatment versus 72 hours in county jail (the alternative) means a low number of offenders select drug treatment. Being able to divert people into treatment is, he felt, an essential first step.
Megan Wygant was today’s Pulse reporter, and Virginia Wade was the meeting photographer.
Steve Huffman was our wine sponsor. PP Wes Yee, Sulaf Al Alwazzi, Mike Polis, and Surender Singal served as greeters.
Join us next week to hear from Jennifer Stolo, producer and CEO of Robert Craig Films. Ms. Stolo will be discussing their upcoming film, No Address, which is also about the homelessness crisis.
Photos courtesy of Virginia Wade
