In a letter addressed to Mayor Gloria and Councilmember Campbell on November 16, the Peninsula Community Planning Board came out and endorsed the controversial Sunbreak Ranch plan for the region’s homeless.
Here is the text of the letter:
The Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) endorses Sunbreak Ranch’s innovative plan to address the homelessness crisis in our community. Sunbreak Ranch, a nonprofit organization, aligns with our community values and offers a comprehensive solution to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of unhoused individuals in the City of San Diego.
Sunbreak Ranch’s plan provides temporary shelter, removing unhoused individuals from our streets and public spaces while offering a unique set of amenities that address diverse needs. Real-time dashboards for shelter and employment opportunities reflect Sunbreak Ranch’s commitment to empowering residents toward stability.
Collaboration with reputable organizations, such as Father Joe’s, Alpha Project, and Salvation Army, showcases a collective effort in addressing homelessness. Emphasizing education, health services, job training, and recreation, Sunbreak Ranch demonstrates a holistic approach to rehabilitation. The PCPB urges the City of San Diego to actively participate with Sunbreak Ranch in finding a suitable and environmentally safe site within the city or county. We request ongoing community engagement and transparent updates throughout the site selection process.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to a collaborative partnership between Sunbreak Ranch and the City of San Diego. The letter was unanimously approved with a vote of 12-0.
It was signed by Frederick W. Kosmo, Jr., Chair of PCPB
Why is it controversial?
Well, for starters, for the Navy, any proposed use of their land is a non-starter. Plus, San Diego as a community has not had a sufficient discussion about the plan, although it has some major adherents, Bill Walton — probably San Diego’s most famous personage — and George Mullen, the CEO of Sunbreak Ranch, penned an opinion showcasing their vision of a solution to San Diego’s unhoused back in January.
They offer up something called Sunbreak Ranch to be built as a camp for unhoused people on 2,000 acres of empty land at the Miramar Marine Corps Station, the former Camp Elliot weapons range.
George Mullens is such an obvious grifter peddling an idea that he has given no more than a brief thought too to anyone who will give him $$$ and publicity. I’m embarrassed for the PCPB.
Yea, what a great optic for the Peninsula Community Planning Board and Point Loma. First, they approve a letter opposing the camp by the airport. Then, they support moving all the homeless to Camp Elliott, as far from Point Loma as possible.
The lack of compassion is astounding.
Not too astounding these days. Even here in Hillcrest there’s been incidents of homeless being punched and kicked by fed up residents.
Don’t dismiss the idea of Sunbreak Ranch. It’s an innovative idea. What is your plan? If you are following this, the Miramar location is off the table -there is an ongoing search for a suitable location. How about Fiesta Island? It’s already one of the largest un-housed encampments in the city. Oh wait, it’s the City…Dammit! Then there is De Anza Cove… I’d camp there – and I might have to! Until Odd Todd reveals the actual plans to “lease” it to major campaign supporters to develop an exclusive resort. Watch the OB Rag comments This Time Last Year next year…Mwahahaha!
Re-establish the stock of SROs downtown where they used to be.
This is a core issue that has not received enough attention in the press. The number of SROs replaced with market-rate/luxury high rise apartments downtown over the past 15-20 years has significantly reduced the availability of affordable housing for independent elders and individuals receiving modest government-funded assistance.
Miramar sounds great….. just far enough away from neighborhoods with kids
If you don’t like how I feel about it …. I DON’T CARE
Ah, Woody, the Navy cares and they don’t want to give up any land at Miramar.
That looks like it was directed at me. Why would I care how you feel about this?