SAN DIEGO — Homeless encampments sit just 30 feet from a playground, and neighbors in the Castle community of City Heights say they've had enough. CBS 8 is Working for You to find out who's responsible for cleaning up the park.
“With homeless camps here and trash and drug dealings, we can’t enjoy this park,” said Mary Otero, who's lived in the neighborhood since 1991.
“This is very frustrating. It’s shown a total neglect,” said Abraham Gonzalez, another City Heights resident.
Neighbors say the encampment situated next to the children's playground at the Central Avenue Mini Park has been there for more than a year.
"Right now it is kind of expanded and it has also resulted in the fence being cut so people can freely go from the encampment on one side to the park on the other side,” said Larry Halford, a 12-year resident in the area.
The park connects to a pedestrian bridge that stretches over the I-15 freeway, and at the base of the bridge also next to the park, CBS 8 found several more encampments.
“Oh this is terrible, I can’t even walk across the bridge to go to the senior center because I feel unsafe,” said Otero.
They’ve reported the situation to their District 9 council person, Sean Elo-Rivera, as well as the Mayor’s Office, and it's been reported on the Get it Done app.
“We’re just tired, we’re really, really tired. We’re tired of this going on and not getting the response that we need," said Otero. "We care about our community.”
“We need to have more attention on this issue," said resident Noema Aguilar. "Our green spaces in City Heights are very limited and very sacred, and this just compromises the spaces for our youth and our families.”
CBS 8 found that the encampments in question are set up on the other side of a chain-link fence next to the park that is technically Caltrans property alongside the freeway, so it's actually their responsibility to clean up and maintain the area.
CBS 8 reached out to Caltrans. A spokesperson told us they've conducted removals in the area before and that they plan to do so again sometime next week.
In a statement to CBS 8, the Caltrans spokesperson said:
"In situations where people experiencing homelessness are sheltering along the state right-of-way, Caltrans assesses the encampment site for threats to safety and essential infrastructure," said a spokesperson for Caltrans in a statement. "These assessments can be prompted by observations from Caltrans workers or reports from the public or local agencies. Threats may include excavation at or near structures that increase the risk of collapse; encampments that physically block traffic or pathways; and encampments that put individuals experiencing homelessness, the traveling public, Caltrans’ Maintenance crews, first responders, and the nearby community at risk."
Neighbors also told CBS 8 they'd like to see signage for the City's Unsafe Camping Ordinance displayed at the park. CBS 8 asked the City of San Diego about their process for determining where to install signage for the ordinance.
A City of San Diego spokesperson said in a statement:
"The City began enforcement with parks and schools – which remains the focus for now. The criteria for parks to receive signage include looking at a variety of factors, among them: encampment reports made via the City’s Get It Done app; field reports from police, fire, environmental services and parks staff; resident inquiries made in person, by phone, email or at community meetings; and feedback from City Councilmembers. Signage has been posted at dozens of schools and parks throughout the city."
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