Have you been telling all your friends and family to visit the newest attraction in Orange County?
No, it’s not Disneyland, or California Adventure, or Knott’s Berry Farm, it’s “Do-Pulidoville.”
People from all over the State and County are coming to “Do-Pulidoville” to call it home.
This new attraction is actually free camping areas throughout Orange County.
The largest camp is, of course, right in the center of government, the Civic Center in Santa Ana, where the City, County, State and Federal Government carry out their important business to serve and protect the citizens of this great County/Country.
This free camping and often free food comes with a price to the campers; no bathrooms, no showers, no heating, no relief from the heat or rain, no dignity, no stability and no home things, which most of us take for granted. “Do-Pulidoville” might look appealing to many people in third world countries, but here in Orange County it is just appalling.
It is clear to me that the “heart” of Orange County needs to be found, if one still exists, and ask it “to do unto others as we would have them do to us.”
It is clear that we the people and the government we elect only serve some people. Our elected leaders should organize the resources, and knowledge to solve this inhumane abomination. We lack the will and the leadership to see our way to compassion for these humble lost people.
“Do-Pulidoville” is named after the two local leaders (Miguel Pulido, Mayor of Santa Ana and Andrew Do, Supervisor of the 1st District) who should be leading the charge to organize compassionate solutions for this disgrace that has grown under their blind watch. Real leadership would include all stakeholders in this great County, not just government, but also the faith community, the business community, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and most importantly the people who are most directly in need of help. One size does not fit all.
Who do these two serve?
Certainly they are not serving the poor souls that have found their last resort home in “Do-Pulidoville”. They are not serving the thousands of workers who work in the Civic Center during the day and go home to their nice neighborhoods at night. They certainly are not helping the young people who are investing in new homes and business in and around downtown. They surely aren’t serving the older residents whose property values are being impacted by this continuing and growing basin of despair in the center of Santa Ana. They are not serving the fine first responders who deal with issues caused by the shire number of homeless folks need for; support, jobs, food, shelter, basic hygiene, health care and hope.
We need leaders that will lead with their hearts, not with their heads and pocketbooks, and a community that follows their own hearts to see that our fellow citizens leave “Do-Pulidoville” to a better life. It is time for “Do-Pulidoville” to be resolved towards a compassionate end for these hundreds of homeless people and for its namesakes to be held accountable if they have no will to lead the way.
History note: The Hundreds of migrant/homeless camps that popped up in river beds, under bridges, and near train tracks, all around the U.S. during the Great Depression were called “Hoovervilles”. Named after our 31 President (1929-1933) Herbert Clark Hoover (1874-1964) who was considered responsible for the horrible conditions of the makeshift camps! He was not reelected for a second term as the people held him accountable.
Pete Major is a resident of Santa Ana.
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