Starting Proposal for Paper on Homelessness / PCEI

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a starting proposal for how we could structure a paper on the presence of the homeless downtown. I tried to suggest a fairly flexible format which could be expanded or narrowed depending upon how many people want to write on this topic. I should add that even though this paper is technically about the homeless, I think any discussion about the homeless downtown also has to address the relationship between the homeless and crime rates (while maintaining a distinction between the homeless and those who are committing crimes). To that end, I think our paper should include some isolated discussion of crime rates downtown.

Please have a look at what I have written below and share your ideas about how we can modify it!

Thanks!
Jesse

Premise & Overview: This paper could proceed from the premise that Berkeley cannot revitalize its downtown without addressing head-on two key elements that are missing from the DAPAC Report: concerns over public safety and the presence of the homeless downtown. The fundamental message of the paper could be that any attempt to revitalize Berkeley’s downtown will not succeed unless the City seriously addresses homelessness in a way it has not yet done (for example, with a functional, enforceable, and constitutional ordinance). The paper would then redraft the Public Commons for Everyone Initiative Ordinance to craft more enforceable local policy that better reflects a respect for Berkeley citizens’ civil liberties.

Outline: The paper could begin with (1) an Introductory Statement situating this paper within the context of the DAPAC Plan. Then the paper could proceed with three descriptive “foundational” sections: (2) a section explaining how and why economic growth is inhibited both by (a) the presence of the homelessness, and (b) high crime rates; (3) a section compiling and analyzing crime rates and the presence of the homeless in Berkeley itself; and (4) how Berkeley has attempted to address homelessness downtown, both through the Public Commons for Everyone Initiative (PCEI) and through any other relevant legislation or policies. Then the paper would shift to (5) a critique of Berkeley’s policymaking on addressing homelessness issues, and (6) a proposal for how Berkeley should address homelessness, including a redrafted PCEI ordinance. In conclusion, (7) the paper could integrate our proposals back into the goals of the DAPAC Plan.

Structure:

1. Introductory Statement
2. Relationship Between Homelessness/Crime Rates to Economic Development
1. How The Presence of The Homeless Inhibits Economic Growth
2. How Crime Inhibits Economic Growth
3. Homelessness Rates & Crime Rates in Berkeley
1. How present are the homeless in Berkeley?
2. What are current crime rates downtown?
3. Is there a relationship between the presence of the homeless downtown and downtown crime rates?
4. Berkeley’s Attempts to Address Homelessness Downtown
1. The Public Commons for Everyone Initiative (PCEI)
2. Other Relevant Legislation or Policies
5. Why The PCEI Will Fail to Address Homelessness in Berkeley
1. Critiques of PCEI Ordinance: Unconstitutional / Bad Policy
2. Additional critiques of Berkeley policymaking
6. Proposed Solutions
1. A Redrafted PCEI Ordinance
2. Additional proposals re: legislation / enforcement
7. Conclusion