Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho is adding environmental violations to his lawsuit against the city of Sacramento over what he calls its failure to act regarding the homelessness crisis.
"The rivers run through the heart of our community and they are the true natural jewels of our community,” Ho said at a press event along the banks of Steelhead Creek Tuesday. “But over the last seven years, the city of Sacramento has allowed that natural jewel to be soiled, sullied and polluted."
Ho said debris, harmful chemicals and human waste from homeless encampments pollute the river, putting the city in violation of state wildlife statutes.
"Would anybody now swim in the American River? Would anybody want to fish in the American River? Would anybody even want to kayak in the American River anymore?” Ho said. “And the answer's no. Shame on the city."
Critics, including homeless advocates, say Ho’s claims are false. They cite a 2021 study by the Central Valley Water Board that found birds, especially Canada geese, are the largest and most consistent source of contamination in this section of the river.
"The urban myth that homeless people were contaminating the American River Parkway by using it — as the DA said — as a bathroom, is just not true," said Bob Erlenbusch, executive director of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg released a statement calling Ho's news conference "a performative distraction from the hard work we all need to do together." City Attorney Susana Alcala’s office released a statement accusing Ho of looking to point fingers and cast blame rather than partnering with the city to achieve meaningful solutions.
Tuesday’s actions are the latest in a series of disputes between Ho and Sacramento leaders over the city’s response to the growing homelessness crisis.
Ho sent a letter to the city Aug. 7 saying he would charge the city with a misdemeanor for every day it did not address a list of 18 requests, including a citywide daytime camping ban, clearing 16 encampments and ensuring shelter for 75% of unsheltered people. On Sept. 19 he filed a civil lawsuit against the city.
Sacramento’s unhoused population reached a record 9,300 people in 2022, up 67% from three years earlier, according to the 2022 Homeless Point-In-Time Count.
Chris Nichols contributed to this report.
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