Does Berkeley Need a 'Compassionate Sidewalk' Plan?

City Councilman Jesse Arreguin says that the defeat of Measure S at the polls last month doesn’t give Berkeley’s elected officials permission to ignore homelessness. Arreguin is proposing that the city establish a working group that would investigate the following topics:

1) The demographics and causes of homelessness
2) A survey of existing homeless services
3) An assessment of potential funding needs and sources
4) Existing laws and enforcement
5) Best Practices

Arreguin said that the working group might include city staff, city commission members, homeless, police, students, business owners, and academic experts. “We are a smart and compassionate city, Arreguin said in a letter to his colleagues on the city council, who are scheduled to discuss the proposal Tuesday. “With community collaboration and some critical and creative thinking we can find solutions that make sense and reflect our values.”

What do you think? Is Arreguin on the right track?