Homeless In San Luis Obispo
Homelessness is a multifaceted issue defying any easy fix. Here we explore our government’s and our community’s response to the issue.
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PDFWorkers say CAPSLO charges needy for donated items, doesn’t track cash
Keeping them homeless By KAREN VELIE, JOSH FRIEDMAN and DANIEL BLACKBURN (Editor’s note: This is the sixth in a series about San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services and the nonprofits managing the program. See CAPSLO’s top salary makers at the bottom of this story.) Four women who worked for Community Action Partnership of San Luis […]... (Continue Reading)
Attorneys reject SLO’s donation request
The two attorneys who were awarded fees for their suit against the city of San Luis Obispo for unconstitutional treatment of the homeless, rejected the city’s request that they donate half the money to a local charity. On Wednesday, the city sent the request offering not to appeal the $133,880 fee judgment if attorneys Saro […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO tries to parlay its legal losses to CAPSLO
The San Luis Obispo City Council is threatening that if the two attorneys who sued for unconstitutional treatment of the homeless do not agree to donate half of the $133,880 award of fees to the San Luis Obispo Community Action Partnership (CAPSLO), the city will appeal the award. The council voted 4-1 in closed session […]... (Continue Reading)
Police defend homeless arrest
The San Luis Obispo Police Department is defending its officers following allegations they ruffed up of a homeless man during an arrest on Thursday. At the end of a poorly made video of the arrest that went viral, an officer said Richard Kirenga, 33, was not acting aggressively when police arrived and threw him to […]... (Continue Reading)
Homeless lawyers seek legal fees for constitutional complaint
By KAREN VELIE The two lawyers who sued the city of San Luis Obispo for unconstitutional treatment of the homeless are seeking $148,727 in legal fees from the city for the civil case. In April, attorneys Saro Rizzo and Stew Jenkins filed a lawsuit accusing the city of San Luis Obispo and its chief of […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO extends homeless parking program
The San Luis Obispo City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend a program allowing people living in their cars to park overnight at the Prado Day Center. The parking program, which began in June as a response to police ticketing of the homeless for violating a city ordinance against overnight parking, allots five spaces for […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO again facing litigation for homeless ticketing
By KAREN VELIE In what appeared to be a repeat of a March San Luis Obispo City Council meeting, amid allegations that San Luis Obispo city staff’s proposed plan to stop homeless from sleeping in their vehicles could have legal ramifications, the council voted to approve the new ordinance. In March, prior to the city […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO homeless win big in ticketing battle
By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo City Council agreed Thursday to dismiss all tickets given this year to homeless residents for sleeping in their vehicles. In April, attorneys Saro Rizzo and Stew Jenkins filed a lawsuit accusing the city of San Luis Obispo and its chief of police of discrimination, harassment and the criminalization of […]... (Continue Reading)
Council schedules special meeting to discuss homeless litigation
San Luis Obispo City Council scheduled a special meeting for Thursday to discuss whether to approve a settlement agreement regarding litigation about the city’s treatment of its homeless residents. Council members will meet in closed session to discuss details of a tentative agreement regarding the ticketing of homeless persons caught sleeping in their vehicles. The […]... (Continue Reading)
Judge delays reinstating homeless ticketing ban
By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge said Wednesday that he would hold off making a decision on whether to grant another preliminary injunction barring police from ticketing homeless who sleep in their vehicles until after a mediation scheduled for August 2. In April, attorneys Saro Rizzo and Stew Jenkins filed […]... (Continue Reading)
