No other elected Manteca leader has had as an intense of a hands-on approach to addressing the city’s most daunting challenge — homelessness — than Dave Breitenbucher.

Not only has the two-term council member been focused on the city managing homeless problems since he first took office in 2018, but he has also been in the trenches as a volunteer.

Breitenbucher is among the volunteers that participate in outreach efforts encouraging the homeless to get off the streets and start the journey to be able to shelter themselves by taking advantage of services at the city’s emergency housing shelter.

He also is on the council subcommittee — along with Councilman Mike Morowit — that addresses homeless issues.

Breitenbucher joins Manteca Police in monthly quality of life sweeps where homeless with outstanding warrants are arrested and others who are illegally camping are forced to move on or take advantage of the homeless shelter.

He has never wavered pushing for a permanent navigation center from the start despite fierce opposition initially against such a facility in Manteca.

It was done while the city needed to adhere not just to court and state directives that have evolved over time, but also working within the confines of a class-action settlement Manteca is required regarding the civil rights of the homeless.

Breitenbucher noted the only reasonable attainable goal — based on reality and court decisions — is for cities to manage homelessness as effectively as possible.

To that end, the numbers tell the story.

The point in time count conducted in January revealed almost a 50 percent drop off in the homeless in Manteca going from 235 in 2024 to 121 this year.

“It’s gotten a lot better,” Breitenbucher said. “All you need to do is look around.”

Stressing you can never end homelessness per se, Breitenbucher points to a large drop-off in illegal encampments, less homeless related trash around Manteca, as well as a drop in police and fire related calls dealing with homeless issues.

Breitenbucher estimates 75 percent of the city’s homeless are within District 3, the council seat he holds that is basically the area that composed Manteca’s city limits in 1970 south of Louise Avenue and east of Union Road.

His commitment is not just to the city and neighborhoods he lives in, but also to his faith.

The homeless outreach effort is anchored by church volunteers.

Breitenbucher’s faith is reflected in one of the several accomplishments he points to during his last seven plus years on the council — securing the placement of the “In God we Trust” motto behind the dais in the Manteca City Council chambers.

What Breitenbucher wants

to accomplish in 3rd term

Breitenbucher is seeking a third term on the City Council in the Nov. 3 election.

His main objectives in a third term is to make sure three long-standing promises — and long-needed — municipal facilities are completed and up and running.

*The permanent homeless navigation center at 555 Industrial Park Drive.

*The new police headquarters in the 600 block of South Main Street.

*The city’s sixth fire station that will serve southwest Manteca.

At the same time, he wants to get the ball rolling on an aquatics center and possibly a community center.

Breitenbucher believes those should be the two highest priorities among needs and wants outlined in the recently adopted master plan update for parks and recreation facilities.

He is hopeful one or both could be bonded using Measure Q sales tax to wed with growth fees collected on new housing after the police and fire projects are bonded.

Breitenbucher said ideally an aquatics center should be centrally located.

But given it requires 5 acres, that would be difficult to do.

He noted the city does have options including potential parcels within the city’s 100-acre family entertainment zone.

“We finally have people in place (who can) move the city forward,” Breitenbucher noted at last week’s City Council goals and priorities workshop conducted at the Manteca Transit Center.

His comments followed a long run-down of projects the city has been able to tackle in the last 12 months and are gearing up to pursue.

Breitenbucher retired as a Manteca Fire captain in 2006 after 18 years of serving with the department.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com