BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Earlier this week, Councilman Zack Bashirtash sparked controversy by labeling the city’s spending on homelessness as a “waste” during a city council meeting.
A Bakersfield City Council meeting turned tense Tuesday night after Councilman Zack Bashirtash delivered an emotional and controversial speech criticizing the city’s homelessness response programs and the people living in encampments across the city. PHOTO: YouTube, City of Bakersfield
His comments came after a staff presentation on the Bakersfield Clean City Initiative and Community Vitality Initiative, which detailed the number of homeless encampments cleared.
Local organizations, including The Mission at Kern and the Open Door Network, responded to Bashirtash’s remarks, emphasizing the complexity of homelessness and the need for time and resources to address it effectively.
Lauren Skidmore, CEO of the Open Door Network. KBAK/KBFX
Lauren Skidmore, CEO of the Open Door Network, stated, “It is not something that is gonna happen overnight,” and stressed the importance of reducing government bureaucracy in serving the homeless.
Carlos Baldovinos from The Mission at Kern acknowledged improvements over the past year but noted ongoing community frustration, particularly regarding encampments.
“I do believe there has been some things that have improved in the last year or so. So I do think, I mean, we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.
The Bakersfield Clean City Initiative, which collaborates with the Open Door Network’s workforce development program, aims to break the cycle of homelessness by employing over 100 individuals who are currently or formerly homeless.
Skidmore highlighted the dual benefits of the initiative: “Not only is it cleaning up our cities, but it’s reinvesting back into people and changing the cycle.”
Despite Bashirtash’s criticism, Skidmore believes the city is making progress by understanding the complexity of homelessness and exploring different approaches.
“Working together is how we’re going to fix it, not by creating divide,” she said.
Baldovinos also addressed Bashirtash’s call for incarceration instead of what he described as “coddling,” emphasizing the importance of accountability alongside mental health, substance abuse, and housing support.
Mission at Kern County KBAK/KBFX
“From my vantage point is, again, when if it takes for somebody to go into some sort of institution, if you want to call it jail, let’s get that person stabilized,” he said.
Attempts to reach Councilman Bashirtash for further comments or clarification were unsuccessful.