°e xc e SANTACRUZ . cee MAYOR AND CITY CoUNCIL 5809 Canter Steet, Room 10, Senta Cruz, CA 95060 + (831) 20-5020 + Fax: (831) 420-5011 + eityeoune yobbaracruz.com April 5, 2010 Episcopal Diocese of E] Camino Real ATTN: Right Rev Mary Gray-Reeves P.O. Box 19103 Monterey, CA 93942 Dear Right Rev, Gray-Reeves: Tam writing to follow up on a phone conversation that we had last fall regarding ongoing concerns about activities and management of Calvary Episcopal Church (Chureh) in Santa Cruz. As [explained to you at the time, these problems had been brought to the attention of Councilmembers and police by neighboring businesses and residents over a period of several years. These issues have been the subject of ongoing community concern, meetings, contacts with police, and Councilmembers. Although they wax and wane over time, to some extent related to the season, they continue at a troublesome level in spite of past efforts on the part of the City and neighbors to resolve them through cooperative efforts with the Church, and we are concerned about the potential for increased activity with the approach of spring and summer. In general terms, the ongoing problems involve the continued presence of known criminals and drug dealers on Church property, hostile and abusive behavior by persons in and on Church property, the inability of Church leadership to manage programs and facilities in a consistent and responsible manner, the unwillingness of Church leadership to take ownership of problems caused by Church programs and management, and the lack of integrity on the part of Church leadership in dealing with the City, community members, and businesses. City representatives have met on several occasions over the past two years with the Rector, Vestry members, and parishioners—sometimes upon the initiation of the City, other times at the initiation of the Rector or parishioners, We understand that this is a deeply divided congregationEpiscopal Diocese of El &.. Real April 5, 2010 Page 2 in which some members felt alienated or even fearful in their own Church, and others associated with social outreach efforts feel that the activities associated with their mission trump any concern about the impacts they may have. While that is primarily an intemal issue, the effects spill over into the community at large. ‘When we spoke in the fall, you asked for specifics. Shortly after that conversation, our community was shaken by a series of violent, high-profile crimes that consumed the full attention of our limited police resouirces, and I was unable to obtain the records that I had hoped to forward to you. Lam now attaching @ list of police “calls for service” at the Church from January 2009 through February 13, 2010—nearly 100 calls in just over one year. Additional statistics from January 2007 through April 2009 (not attached) show $4 arrests and citations at the Church. (Not all calls for service result in arrests or citations, so the number of calls for service would have been significantly higher.) The most common citations/arrests, in order, were drug possession/use, grand theft, public intoxication, and theft. Also included were 2 batteries, 1 domestic violence case, 1 possession of dangerous weapon, | robbery, | battery on a police officer, and | felony arrest warrant, This is utterly disproportional to other locations in the City, even those associated with social programs and outreach to marginalized populations; it clearly demonstrates the ongoing nature of the problems at the Church. [think that you can also appreciate the tremendous cost this represents in (erms of City resources—both financial and staff time—in addition to the impact on the surrounding area. For additional specifics, in order to help you understand the dynamics of this situation, I refer you to two police officers wit are responsible for the downtown area. [strongly encourage you to contact them personally for their observations and experiences with the Church, Their contact information is: Sgt. Mike Harms Work Phone: 420-5777 x4939 mibarms@cityofsantacruz.com Lt, Rick Martinez Work Phone: 420-5856 mmartinez@citvofsantacruz.com T know that you have also received letters from community members specifically about the situation at the Church. The City Council receives a constant siream of communications—letters, emails, phone calls— from local residents and visitors alike, who are distressed at illegal and intimidating conditions in cour downtown area, including drug dealing, abusive behavior, and aggression. The City has focused a great deal of resources on this issue through ordinances, increased police presence, aEpiscopal Diocese of El Cimino Real April 5, 2010 Page 3 mental health outreach worker, support for prevention and intervention programs, and a ‘Community Policing approach that involves local residents and businesses. It is the lack of buy-in by Church leadership to the collaborative problem-solving approach that has been so frustrating. Church leadership has either been in utter denial about the problems associated with Church property, and its relationship to other community conditions, or it simply chooses to continue with disregard for the impact on the broader community. Neither is acceptable 1 should stress that Santa Cruz as a City and a community is exceptionally generous and engaged in supporting services for those who are disadvantaged and/or homeless. The City allocates hundreds of thousands of dotlars annually to support homeless services, including emergency shelter, food, showers, lockers, health services, supportive counseling, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and transitional housing. We have allocated millions of dollars for permanent facilities to serve homeless individuals and those transitioning out of homelessness, as ‘well as permanent affordable housing, We are fully aware of the complexity of these challenges, and we feel that we have done far more than most communities in responding compassionately. It is also important to note that we have many, many other institutions in our commumity that provide social services, and which operate without the level of issues associated with the Church. Compassion should not be a license for anything goes. The situation we continue to see at the Church—in the heart of our downtown business district and adjacent to a residential neighborhood—includes + Aggressive, hostile behavior by people gathered on Church grounds, either associated with Church outreach activities or simply allowed to congregate there for extended periods of time. This behavior has included loud abusive language, drunkenness, fights, assaults, and aggressive and intimidating behavior. As recently as this Jenuary, women associated with Church activities contacted the City's Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women to request a special class in self defense (which we provided). + Poor policies/oversight of facility rental, including repeated evening use of the Parish Hall for evening events functioning as a DJ nightclub, with excessive noise and loud musie, alcohol, fights, and persons known to be associated with El Salvadoran gangs. + Programs and facilities have at times been entrusted to people without the skills or experience to manage them responsibly. In addition to the frustration this causes to parishioners and community members, this would also seem to be an issue of liability for the Church, + Apparent lack of clear expectations or rules of conduct for those assembled on Church propertyEpiscopal Diocese of £1 Mino Real April 5, 2010 Page 4 + Inconsistent communication of Church policy and intentions to police officers, ‘causing difficulties with enforcement. Afier explanation and urging by the City, the Rector did file a Trespass Letter with our police department last year, but then gave conflicting direction on its enforcement. The Trespass Letter has since expired. Understanding that the Church has its own governance structure regarding individual churches, I urge you to bring the office of your position to bear on this situation, and return the Church to its role as both a compassionate and good neighbor. Sincerely, Councilmember Attachment PACMAD Word Wrfiles}SUZANNEU'COUNCILIMATHEWSICatvay Episcopal Church doeCalls Sr Servi +o Stata Crue Pole Deph. 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