HomeMy WebLinkAbout1P Public CommentAnthony Mejia
Subject: RE: Homelessness
From: Gregory Wagoner <gregorywagoner@icloud.com >
Date: July 1, 2021 at 6:16:28 AM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Homelessness
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Christy, I met with you years ago, and then we talked about such wide ranging topics as a mobile van
and medical respite. I formerly was the CMO of the largest homeless health care organization in the
nation, in Boston, and worked with this population for decades. I respect the Council's decisions of late,
and I find it sad that things have devolved to name calling and irrelevant innuendo. But I am not
surprised. I too was on the Board of the Well for years and resigned due to an inability to access usual
information -finances, staff details, assets, quality control of food and other services. I applaud their
meals program, at least with the information that I know. I also respect the city as it determines how to
use its resources and what partners with magnify their benefit.
In Boston one key Strategic Pillar was Partnering, as no one organization can be an expert in specialty
areas -medical care, behavior health care, substance use disorder treatments, social services, housing,
family care, etc. Hopefully the City can strengthen its field of partners to fill in all of the gaps. I do know
that the health care and behavioral health parts of this are not adequate, with unnecessary use of
emergency services or delayed and inadequate care.
We live on Stevens Road and are excited about the Aloe, our new neighbor. It is clearly a step in the
right direction with a long series of advances ahead.
From Boston, I give you my strong support as the city moves forward to improve and someday solve the
societal blight of homelessness.
Greg Wagoner, MD, MBA
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