False Narratives vs. Facts

How SAFE Saved Lives While Others Fueled Chaos

THE TRUTH ABOUT SAFE’S ACTIONS

Recent false accusations claim that JOINSAFE.org and CEO Davinci Barcelo “damaged property” while addressing illegal encampments in Sweet Auburn. These allegations are not only untrue—they distract from a real public safety emergency:

Public Safety Emergency:

  • Illegal encampments on Old Wheat Street have blocked emergency vehicles, led to uncontained fires, and created biohazards such as human waste and drug needles.
  • On March 6, 2025, a fire nearly destroyed buildings, and delayed 911 responses forced SAFE to take immediate action.

Lawful Compliance:

  • SAFE operates in strict adherence to Georgia law (OCGA 32-6-6) and Atlanta Ordinance 106-12, which mandate unobstructed public roadways.
  • Unclaimed tents, classified as abandoned debris, were lawfully removed to eliminate fire risks and restore emergency access.
  • Tents in use were left intact, with residents provided relocation assistance.

Zero Property Damage:

  • SAFE’s interventions targeted hazardous materials and unclaimed debris, not personal property. No lawful structures or personal belongings were harmed in the process.

WHO BENEFITS FROM FALSE NARRATIVES?

The current smear campaign is orchestrated by groups that profit from Atlanta’s homelessness crisis by deflecting attention from systemic failures:

  • Hope Atlanta: Received $1M following policies that left encampments unchecked, raising serious accountability questions.
  • Partners for Homes: Redirects taxpayer dollars into programs that have failed to address safety risks.
  • Remerge: AKA Coalition for Justice of Cornelius Taylor with financial ties to nonprofit entities attacking SAFE, seeking to obscure real issues.

DAVINCI BARCELO’S STATEMENT

“ These false claims are a desperate attempt to hide systemic corruption that these nonprofits pimp the poor with and we deserve better.”
— Davinci Barcelo, Founder & CEO, JOINSAFE.org

For more detailed information and to view the full response, please visit:

Flames, Failures, and a Firefighter CEO: Davinci Barcelo and SAFE Are Reclaiming Sweet Auburn