By Daniel Corado –
A church in Fairfield, California, is fighting a $310,000 fine assessed by the city over its homeless ministry.
“The fine is designed to make me go away,” said Pastor Scott Mulvey. “This is the fiercest attack I’ve ever had in my entire life. I’ve never been attacked like this.”
For more than 15 years, City Church of Fairfield has given food, medical and job training to the homeless. In March, city officials shut those ministries down and charged the church with code violations that to many seem vindictive.
“When the pastor began speaking out on local issues, city officials retaliated in ways that are hurting those least able to advocate for themselves,” said Brad Dacus, a lawyer from Pacific Justice Institute who is defending the church against the city.
Previously, the city had heralded the church’s efforts to help with the homelessness crisis. They even gave military surplus tents to the church to house the homeless. But city officials reacted spitefully to the pastor’s criticism and cited the same tents as substandard.
City Church has complied with all the repairs required – including repairing a leaky roof and mitigating a mold problem. But they didn’t finish under the time constraints mandated from the city. Because they finished late, they incurred $310,000 in fines, a sum they say they can’t pay.
The medical clinic was also shut down because it started without the correct permitting.
A Fairfield City Council vote on Nov. 19 refused to pardon the church fines.
“If we hold one business accountable,” said Councilmember Doriss Panduro, “we have to hold all accountable.”
The intransigence from the city is offending people who have been helped by City Church’s ministries.
“I went there with nothing,” a woman told the city council. “It gave me hope. You are nothing without hope. It gives you your life back.”
A former homeless man agreed: “I would probably be dead if Pastor Scott hadn’t been here. People are dying every day because they don’t have a place to go like that.”
The Pacific Justice Institute said Fairfield councilmembers would likely get a rebuke from the courts for their “unconstitutional” crackdown on the church.
“We think it’s illegal,” PJI’s Matthew McReynolds said. “We’ve sent a letter to the city pointing out the reason why we think their actions are not just wrong but unconstitutional and illegal under federal law.”
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About this writer: Daniel Corado studies at the Lighthouse Christian Academy in Santa Monica.
