THE OPINIONS & OVERALL SUCCESS
There has been much debate as to if Operation Rio Grande was effective. The general public does not agree on the data provided by many state and public officials. There are many who say that the homeless rate and drug use has not decreased, and states that the issue has just simply moved to various locations within the state. The data supports a decrease in offenses showing that the number of Part I offenses decreased from 243 cases to 149 cases in 2019. Since 2017, 246 individuals have obtained employment and 533 individuals have been housed. 4,489 individuals have obtained Targeted Adult Medicaid, insurance only made available due to Operation Rio Grande. (Stevenson 2019) Many reject the evidence shown and argue that there has been no benefit to the individuals involved. However, we are still helping individuals obtain treatment and housing today with the federal funding that was provided.
There were many concerns regarding homelessness and the increasing drug problem in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It was an unprecedented effort between local and state government. The goal in this venture was to renew safety and order in the Rio Grande District. Police efforts were to minimize crime, connect individuals to resources with a co-responder model, community engagement, and develop a high-utilizer model with the District Attorney and other law enforcement agencies. (Redd 2018) Mayor Ben McAdams took it upon himself to gain a full understanding of what these individuals were experiencing. McAdams slept on the streets and in the shelter for 3 days disguised as a homeless person. He engulfed himself into the culture to experience the struggles and barriers that these individuals face. He is a true leader for the people as he took no hesitation to really get to the core of the issue as he felt the only way to do this was for him to experience it himself. I have never seen a politician put people before politics, McAdams did.
During this process I have come to know the Mayor, and now Congressmen McAdams as he has become one of my close personal friends. He has walked through every step of my recovery, supporting and showing up to rally behind all those who are seeking recovery. This operation was the first time every state, political, community and law enforcement agencies have come together. This was an unprecedented effort as each party truly saw the worth of the individual.
This operation was the first time in two years that I felt seen and heard as I suffered homelessness and addiction for two years. I was lost, in despair, living in a world of complete hopelessness. Too often being stigmatized and looked upon as if I was irrelevant. I cannot count the number of times I was seeking help and turned away because I was unfunded and uninsured. To most I was just another homeless person on the street. Too often we enforce the stigma stating “they can make a different choice; they need to get a job” not knowing the power this disease has on the individual. No words can describe what it feels like to finally be heard and seen. This operation was a 67-million-dollar effort, there are many disagreements as to if this was worthwhile. Do we consider the value of life or how funds are allocated?
The first argument presented will be focused on point to if Operation Rio Grande was a ploy to criminalize the homeless population. On 04 November 2019, the ACLU released a critical report outlining the increased barriers the homeless population will now face due to Operation Rio Grande. This article reviews the long- and short-term consequences regarding the individuals involved in Operation Rio Grande. It takes a view using two 35-day snapshots a year apart from each other looking at the arrests associated with Operation Rio Grande. It takes an in depth look at the mistakes made, and the long-term criminal justice affects it has on the individuals who are experiencing homelessness. The ACLU’s report implies that this program criminalizes the individual rather than solves the issue.
The ACLU focuses on the capacity of resources and housing within our current system. The ACLU outlines the progress of Operation Rio Grande one year into the operation. It states that crime has reduced in every district of the city and states a 25% decrease citywide in 2018. in the past year and down 25 percent citywide in 2018 compared with the previous year. 67 million of federal money was granted to the state of Utah to tackle the many issues of drugs, crime and homelessness. 5,000 arrests were made during this operation thus far and Congressman McAdams states that the state will need an increase from the 243 treatment beds currently available. Concern rises over the number of treatment beds available for the new shelters as there will be a significant decrease to 700 beds from the original 1,100 current shelter houses.
The second viewpoint is from a news article reported on 04 November 2019 with Fox 13 Jason Stephenson shares his views on the issue. Stephenson states “The impact on people experiencing homelessness and others in the Rio Grande area was pretty severe, if you had a police officer out in front of your house, or on your corner basically 24/7 watching everything you did, chances are you’re going to break the law.” (Higgins 2019) Stephenson explains that many barriers are placed upon the homeless population stating that you cannot arrest your way out of this problem. By doing so, Stephenson makes the point that many will have low level charges to overcome on their record.
Jason Stephenson also raises the concern of these tactics being un American, stating that it violates the individual’s rights, having police officers watch their every move. He raises the concern of police being on every corner, watching every action, and arresting on low level offenses such as jaywalking. Stephenson argues that the dignity of these individuals needs to be respected in order to provide meaningful help. Stephenson acknowledges the challenges law enforcement is facing in this operation and reports his concerns are to raise awareness in correcting the setbacks.
Last, we will focus on the statements of a Department of Workforce Services spokesman Nate McDonald. DCFS involvement in this operation is to assist the transition of the homeless and connect them to resources. McDonald states that the ACLU’s report raises “valid concerns.” He states that it, however, does not give a full view of the operation. “The intent and purpose of Operation Rio Grande was to restore public order and safety in that area," he said, “so that people who are experiencing homelessness would have a safe place, would feel safe to come and obtain the services that were in that area and increase the opportunities to get treatment and also housing services and employment services.” (Stevens 2019)
McDonald states that they have facilitated the providers and facilities to gather input from the individuals who are experiencing homelessness. During this transition their plan is to step up efforts to increase their ability to do more. He states that they recognize the need and will continue to move forward in their efforts. My position on this subject would be that this operation has had much success. We answer the question as to if there were many different motives and positions regarding this operation? Yes, absolutely, however, they have benefited all parties that were involved. The homeless population is still benefiting today from the funding in this operation, assisting them in obtaining treatment, housing and support. I identify most with Congressman McAdams; I have come to know him personally and have built a friendship with him due to this operation. McAdams was mayor at the time and slept at the shelter for three nights to gain a better perspective as to what we were all experiencing.
McAdams reported that $100 million of state and federal Medicaid dollars was applied to access for treatment. McAdams reports that over 4,400 individuals in Utah have enrolled in TAM (Targeted Adult Medicaid Expansion). He also goes on to report that over 2,500 individuals have accessed treatment services. I feel the biggest challenge I will encounter with this argument in this paper will be some of the verifiable facts provided by the ACLU. Was homelessness criminalized? Short answer, yes it absolutely was. I personally experienced this as a participant in this operation, some practices were a deterrent to the overall goal. Due to the low-level charges I received during this operation, I have had to face the expense, time and process of expunging my record. Salt Lake County did provide an expungement service, recognizing that this issue needed to be addressed, as it was a result of the operations practices.
This operation was an unprecedented effort with inevitable setbacks. If it were not for this operation, I would not be typing this paper today. I cannot fault the overall process as I have seen much success from this program all the way around. I do feel that many agendas were in play in this operation. However, I feel that the operation reached its overall goal and helped numerous people who were suffering. So, I raise the question to the reader, who determines the value on if one’s life? Is it worth saving?
References
Higgins, H. (2019, November 5). ACLU says Operation Rio Grande hurts SLC’s homeless. KSTU. https://www.fox13now.com/2019/11/04/aclu-says-operation-rio-grande-hurts-slcs-homeless/ (Links to an external site.)
Redd, B. (2018, November 18). Operation Rio Grande addresses perfect storm of public safety issues. Police1. https://www.policeone.com/drug-interdiction-narcotics/articles/operation-rio-grande-addresses-perfect-storm-of-public-safety-issues-2ZW5whF3I5Qvh58k/ (Links to an external site.)
Stevens, B. T. (2019, November 4). New ACLU report examines ‘long-term damage’ of Operation Rio Grande. The Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/11/04/new-aclu-report-examines/ (Links to an external site.)
Stevenson, J. (2019c, November 4). ACLU of Utah - Endgame for Operation Rio Grande. Https://Www.Acluutah.Org/. https://www.acluutah.org/resources/articles-position-papers/item/1577-rio-grande-endgame