BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Earlier this week, Councilman Zack Bashirtash sparked controversy by labeling the city’s spending on homelessness as a “waste” during a city council meeting.
His comments came after a staff presentation on the Bakersfield Clean City Initiative and Community Vitality Initiative, which detailed the number of homeless encampments cleared.
Local organizations, including The Mission at Kern and the Open Door Network, responded to Bashirtash’s remarks, emphasizing the complexity of homelessness and the need for time and resources to address it effectively.
Lauren Skidmore, CEO of the Open Door Network, stated, “It is not something that is gonna happen overnight,” and stressed the importance of reducing government bureaucracy in serving the homeless.
Carlos Baldovinos from The Mission at Kern acknowledged improvements over the past year but noted ongoing community frustration, particularly regarding encampments…