SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In the latest chapter of the clash between the city of Sacramento and Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, the city attorney penned a scathing letter accusing the district attorney of being politically motivated with his threats to sue the city for their homelessness response.
"Consider this my first and only response to your letter dated November 14, 2023, which, frankly, amounts to nothing more than an abuse of your authority as an elected District Attorney," wrote city attorney Susana Alcala Wood in her letter to Ho.
The letter comes after a letter from Ho about Camp Resolution.
Wood alleged Ho was criminalizing city officials and speculated Ho is taking action because he sees Mayor Darrell Steinberg as a rival in a future run for California Attorney General.
"Your current actions are a clear threat to file criminal charges to gain an advantage in a civil lawsuit. I caution you to rethink your strategy. Whatever the motivation, on a professional and humane level, these latest actions border on being reprehensible. We are not moved by your threats," said Wood, adding Ho offered no solutions, only threats.
Bob Erlenbusch, an advocate for the unhoused and the executive director for the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, sided with the city attorney. He said this back and forth is just wasting time while the unhoused continue to suffer.
"For the DA to sort of grandstand on that property, it really sounded like he didn't know what he was talking about," said Erlenbusch. "Nothing but political grandstanding off to further his his political career."
Ho's office sent a statement Tuesday morning.
"It is unfortunate and disappointing that the City of Sacramento has refused to even sit down and discuss a timeline on abating the dangers of exposing the unhoused to cancer-causing chemicals at this location. The District Attorney is willing to listen to and partner for appropriate solutions, such as moving the unhoused from this location to other City-owned properties," the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office wrote in part of the statement.
In his November letter, Ho said toxic chemicals were found at the site and could cause cancer. He says the initial agreement was to have safe parking for up to 50 vehicles on asphalt and no tents can sit directly on the ground. He says tents were seen on the ground but the Sacramento Homeless Union disputes those claims.
Wood said the letters and demands from Ho are forcing the city to take time away from the city's efforts to address homelessness.
"While you and I may disagree on how to best address homelessness and where responsibility lies in doing the work, the only viable approach to solving this crisis is collaboratively. Not like this," she said.
Wood also argued the district attorney's arguments for the lawsuit didn't have merit, noting errors in ownership of the Camp Resolution property and an alleged violation of Measure O.
"If, despite the reasons articulated above, you still think it prudent or wise to file criminal charges, then proceed as you see fit. It is now abundantly clear that you have no interest in collaborating, and that you have decided to ignore all logic and reason in your quest to pursue your political motives," said Wood.
