Residents of a San Diego suburb known for its isolation from the bustling city center and waterfront views are furious when a group of vagrants began living in their cars and RVs on the streets neighborhood.
San Diego County constitutes one of the largest segments of California’s homeless population, with more than 10,000 people.
Pacific Beach residents say the vagrants have moved from downtown to their neighborhood and are openly defying laws that prohibit them from camping in their vehicles.
Homeless people are accused of not only camping, but also of bringing drugs and leaving their trash on the street, ironically right next to signs telling them they are not allowed to park there.
Debbie Turnbull, who lives in the neighborhood, says the problem is because the city is trying to move homeless people out of downtown.
Residents of a San Diego suburb known for its isolation from the bustling city center and waterfront views are furious as a group of vagrants began living in their cars and RVs in the neighborhood streets.
Pacific Beach residents say vagrants have moved from downtown to their neighborhood and are openly defying laws prohibiting them from camping in their vehicles.
The law, known as the Vehicle Habitation Ordinance, also prohibits them from coming within 500 feet of a residence or school at any time.
“It’s not as family-friendly anymore,” Turnbull said NBCSan Diego about the upscale neighborhood, which she calls “a sweet place to land.”
She added that these people not only camp during the day, but also spend the night.
“We don’t like taking our dogs or animals for walks at night because you don’t feel safe. You don’t know what’s going on there,” Turnbull said.
Protesters cite an unenforced law that prohibits people from living in their vehicles on a street or on public property from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time.
The law, known as the Vehicle Housing Ordinance, also prohibits them from coming within 500 feet of a residence or school at any time.
Residents say the city simply doesn’t enforce the law, giving people parked the opportunity to leave before receiving a ticket.
A spokesperson for the city’s Democratic mayor, Todd Gloria, said they are looking for a permanent solution that can allow for what they call “safe parking” while protecting residents.
“The city is actively working to create more safe parking options. In addition to allowing people to park overnight and sleep in their vehicles without risk of fines, Safe Parking gives them access to services and case management to help them obtain permanent housing,” said Rachel Laing in a press release.
Debbie Turnbull, who lives in the neighborhood, says the problem is because the city is trying to move homeless people out of downtown.
Protesters cite an unenforced law that prohibits people from living in their vehicles on a street or on public property from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time.
Homeless people are accused of not only camping, but also of bringing drugs and leaving their trash on the street, ironically right next to signs telling them they are not allowed to park there.
Residents say the city simply doesn’t enforce the law, giving people parked the opportunity to leave before receiving a ticket.
According to recent paintingsSan Diego County has more than 10,000 people who are either completely unhoused or in transitional housing.
A San Diego leader has proposed giving $1,500 each to residents on the verge of losing their housing to help nearly 1,000 people avoid homelessness.
Last year, the city opened the first of two “safe sleep” zones just weeks after the San Diego City Council voted to ban homeless encampments.
Mayor Gloria announced plans to open these areas in June to combat the city’s homeless crisis, exacerbated by opioids.
City leaders have spoken out in the past about the need to create sites like this in an effort to get people off the streets.
Last year, DailyMail.com reported on a homeless San Diego woman who said the city’s vagrants are “spoiled” with free phones, food and clothing.
The city is also facing a massive influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border.