Santa Cruz Sanctuary Camp Vision Deserves Serious Consideration

After Tuesday's presentations at the Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council, it's time to rally around the Sanctuary Camp vision. It has also become clear that the time has come to stop finding fault with an idea simply because you find fault with its bearer.

To many, Brent Adams is a passionate, yet polarizing figure in our community. Many disagree with his persona or his politics but as Brent himself has often said, the human right to a safe, secure place to sleep is not political and he is entirely correct. And through the ongoing process of advocating for a Sanctuary Camp, Brent Adams has shown himself to be a serious man capable of making a significant contribution to his community.

So I say that it is time to come together on this issue and by that I mean it is time to honestly discuss our opinions. If there is criticism of the idea, let it be heard. If there is support and praise for the concept, let that also be heard. I won't presume to speak for Brent, but I believe that his vision is strong enough to withstand the doubts of others and his plan is practical enough to convince the community of its wisdom. But above all we must discuss this idea in an atmosphere of respect and tolerance based solely upon the merits of the idea. As a community, we have momentarily lost site of that. As an advocate, Brent Adams has most certainly earned it.

Let's not lose sight of it again.