PRESS STATEMENT BY RUBEN BOTELLO
For Immediate Release: Contact: Ruben Botello at sananda@northcoast.com
PRESS STATEMENT BY RUBEN BOTELLO
FOUNDER, AMERICAN HOMELESS SOCIETY
The American Homeless Society is in a running battle with Senator Mike Thompson and the State of California, due to their efforts to run hundreds of homeless out of Humboldt County, so they can proceed with their multimillion-dollar Humboldt Harbor development (see http://www.northcoast.com/~sananda/spit1.htm).
Hundreds of homeless are living on what is called the South Spit peninsula, at the mouth of Humboldt Harbor, and this homeless community of men, women and children is now seen as an "eyesore" by those who forced them out there in the first place, but who now want to attract tourists and sailors into a newly-developed port 'o call. Congressman Frank Riggs is working on getting the county over $10 million for the development, while Thompson deals with rousting the homeless under state authority.
Governor Wilson would not give Senator Thompson the money to fund the roust (Senate Bill 39), so Thompson went to the State Appropriations Committee, to get $100,000 from the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund, to purchase the property and run out the homeless ASAP.
The Tobacco Lobby must be thrilled that the funds collected by the State to combat smoking and chewing tobacco, and the deadly diseases that cost California taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually, are being used for other than their intended purpose. Senator Thompson is not only acting in complete disregard for the health, safety and welfare of the South Spit homeless, he is acting in complete disregard for all Californians faced with the death, illnesses and costs related to the high use of tobacco products across the State.
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