On Saturday morning, I went on my 5th Homeless Encampment “sweep” with the San Jose Police Department’s Metro Unit. The Metro Unit is in charge of monitoring creeks for encampments. These clean-ups have taken me to Districts 3,4,6 and 7, alongside the Coyote, Guadalupe and Los Gatos Creeks. When you climb down into the creeks you forget you’re in San Jose, as all you can see is nature.
We have hundreds of people in San Jose who live in the creek areas in temporary shelters. Some structures remind me of developing world shanty towns while other camps have a complete living room set up, with power operated from car batteries. Some encampments are small and are set up underneath street overpasses, while other encampments are massive with many people.
In speaking with several of the people that have chosen to live in the creeks, I have these observations.
• The overwhelming majority are male with few females.
• They are mostly Caucasian and some Latino.
• The overwhelming majority have a substance abuse issue of alcohol and/or speed (crank/meth). They typically do not want to go to the shelters since the shelters have curfews and do not allow drug use or people to enter who are high.
• When asked where they were from, none of them said San Jose or Santa Clara County. They were all from other states like Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska… I thought to myself, is there any correlation between these people migrating to California due to warmer climate, or is this just coincidence?
• I encountered one schizophrenic gentleman who stopped taking his medication and substituted drugs instead.
In addition to the homeless encampments, the Metro Unit provides response to graffiti, back-up homicide investigation, surveillance, and narcotics enforcement. The Metro Unit manages the clean ups alongside the San Jose Valley Water District, and the labor is provided by 30-40 men that have weekend work issued by the court for things like DUI’s. They are directed down to the campsites to clear out all items. (They must be careful where they step because there are no toilets in the encampments, which means fecal matter abounds.) The weekend court-appointees then carry all the trash, mattresses, shopping carts etc… to the trash compactor on the garbage truck. It is not uncommon to fill as many as five trucks in one day.
Prior to the clean up date, SJPD has already visited the campsites and posted signs telling when they will be coming and giving fair warning to the creek residents to take their belongings somewhere else that day. They could be arrested for trespassing, since much of this area is private property owned by the water district.
The people that vacate the creeks on Saturday will return either the same night or within a few days since they know the drill; SJPD will not be back ‘til the next cycle which may be a few months. Last year, during the City of San Jose’s budget, Mayor Reed increased the funding by $76,000 for four additional creek cleanups. The cost pays for the 8-10 officers assigned for the cleanup day, the dumping fees, and one or two people from the City of San Jose’s Environmental Services Department.
It is a sobering sight to see how some people live, and that a simple hot shower is not in the cards.
Some people believe that those who choose to live outside should be able to live in the creeks indefinitely. However, that could be problematic, with campfires that go out of control, water contamination, stolen goods and general lawlessness like a Mad Max movie. Power struggles occur in the creek encampments which results in fist fights between individuals.
Certainly, this is a societal issue that takes a larger government then San Jose to solve since cities do not have borders.
On another note, this Thursday I will be hosting a meeting to discuss the City of San Jose budget deficit at the Willows Community Center, 2175 Lincoln Ave, at 7pm. You are welcome to attend.
P.O. wrote:“The people that vacate the creeks on Saturday will return either the same night or within a few days since they know the drill; SJPD will not be back ‘til the next cycle which may be a few months.”
So, what’s the point of doing it at all? Just a waste of $$ and manpower. The underlying issues/problems remain.
I didn’t know there was a budget deficit at the Willows Community Center. Or did you mean to say:“this Thursday I will be hosting a meeting at the Willows Community Center to discuss the budget deficit.”?
I think the reason homeless, and illegals flock to San Jose, and California is because we are soft on enforcing the law here.
By the way Pierluigi,
I don’t think asking taxpayers to go without services, during these difficult financial times is acceptable. The City isn’t cutting employees hours to save money, or laying people off to stop the insanity. Nor do I agree that taking money from the general fund to keep people employed, increasing City staff, while increasing taxes and fess on we tax payers is right either.
Small business, homeowners, and renters are all being made to take on added taxes, business fees, increased water, parking, and garbage fees, etc. just to increase tax revenues for the City, and what do we get in return? Nothing! Oh I forgot, we do get something, a reduction in basic services. This is a sad commentary on what you guys are doing on the dais.
As representatives you guys, like private corporations need to make some tough decisions here. Start cutting at the top of the food chain, eliminate the fat, and stop allowing the City Manager, and Labor control of what remedies need to take place. Give us the services we have been paying for and stop telling us to wait. Learn to prioritize will you!
“They (homeless) are mostly Caucasian and some Latino.” Raj, where are you in our time of need? Can’t you feel my pain as a white male when other Caucasians are being singled out by the police department for supposedly being homeless? Raj, isn’t there some committee, some blue ribbon panel, some series of community meetings you should spearhead to get at the bottom of this conspiracy too.
Steve,
I like that post. I really like that.
#3
You missed the “some Latino” part. Obviously, that is why the police are going after these vagrants. The whites are simply collaterial damage in operation, “Arrest All Latinos For Whatever Reason”.
#5 says, “The whites are simply collateral damage in operation…”
That statement pretty much speaks for its self. I guess the concept of compassion and concern for ANYONE being homeless, and run off from his or her camp, regardless of their color is lost on you. What a sad commentary about you and those who share your viewpoint on plight of disadvantaged whites.
Kathleen, three cheers to you for suggesting that our politicians have no interestest in layoffs and are, instead, quite satisfied in cutting our basic services while billing us higher fees.
I had to laugh a couple of weeks ago when it was disclosed that our fair city had identified 13 employees for layoff. My gosh, that’s a rounding error when we have 7500/+ city employees.
I’m wondering if term limits need to be cranked down one more notch to one four-year term. Our politicians just lose all sense of reality otherwise.
Worse yet, when forced to vacate one political position, they graze for another, becoming life-long, public trough feeders, worthless in every respect.
Pierluigi,
Regarding your budget meeting at the Willows Community Center, could you tell us how many city employees will receive salary or benefit increase in the next 12 – 18 months?
Is it possible for Reed/Figone to impose a moratorium on all salary and benefit increases for city employees until the city can balance its budget?
“So, what’s the point of doing it at all? Just a waste of $$ and manpower. The underlying issues/problems remain.”
Why is it a waste to pick up trash? It accumulates in the bin under your sink, yet you keep removing it, yes? You make your bed just to mess it up again. We trim trees even thought they keep growing. If we never cleaned up the creeks, how much crap would be there now? Probably way too much.
As for those of you mocking the race details, what’s the point? You continually whine when Raj posts things about cops/minorities, but then you’re now the ones dragging it into discussion when this article is not really concerned with that, nor is it authored by Raj.
This is the kind of logic that blow my mind:
From Kathleen: “I don’t think asking taxpayers to go without services, during these difficult financial times is acceptable. The City isn’t cutting employees hours to save money, or laying people off to stop the insanity. Nor do I agree that taking money from the general fund to keep people employed, increasing City staff, while increasing taxes and fess on we tax payers is right either.”
How do you think services are provided? So your solution is to cut emplyees and keep providing the services? How does that work exactly? Let’s make that the new mantra: “Cut employees, not services.”
Mr. Oliverio noted, correctly, that:
“Some people believe that those who choose to live outside should be able to live in the creeks indefinitely.”
Those “some people” are most assuredly kind-hearted and compassionate folks, but what they are not is clear-thinking, for the creeks that they would willingly allow to be fouled with human waste and garbage represent an important but fragile part of our Bay Area ecosystem. To view the shopping carts, bedding, bottles, cans, hypodermic needles, and other garbage as mere litter is to misunderstand the situation: most of those things will not be picked up; they will head downstream where they will, before potentially making it into the bay, obstruct the free flow of water and undermine our flood control system.
This, from a 2007 letter to the City from the National Heritage Institute:
” … we filed a Petition before the City and SCWVD to remove or otherwise address the impacts of homeless encampments located along the Guadalupe River, Coyote Creek and Stevens Creek because we were concerned about the water degradation and trash impairment caused by such encampments.”
“The number and size of homeless encampments, particularly large encampments dug into the sides of the banks, had increased just upstream of Julian Street. We have provided photographs of trash impairment along Coyote Creek and Guadalupe River.”
” … to address creekside homeless encampments which are the primary source of trash in local creeks.”
Note the concern about water degradation. In addition to the obvious bacterial threat, human waste promotes the algae and decay that reduces the oxygen content of the water. We spend millions of dollars protecting the environment from waste water created by decent citizens, why should we willingly surrender our standards to please a trespassing army of alcoholics, drug addicts, wetbacks, and schizophrenics?
Our creeks are important, no matter that they remain mostly out of sight. They are not parks, garbage dumps, public toilets, or camp grounds. If there are enough compassionate voices in this city to dissuade our officials from the hard line that’s needed, then there should be enough compassionate voices to come up with the funding necessary for an alternative camp ground.
#10-Hm,
You say my logic mandates the mantras, ““Cut employees, not services.” Okay, I think you’re either misunderstanding me, or purposely ignoring the reality of the situation because the City probably employs you.
I would have to ask YOU to explain why the City has increased taxes on business, the amount we pay for parking, water, and garbage, but hasn’t past any of that money into the General Fund to repair streets, street lights, maintain parks, libraries, fixed bathrooms in public parks, and on and on, BUT they hired 300 more employees, even though the deficit for next year is monstrous? Why would they HIRE 300 more employees, take money from our General Fund to pay 177 of them, lay off only TWO employees, and then cry about a budget deficit? DUH~
I said, cut from the TOP! (You are not going to tell me City Managers, directors, and managers are sweeping our streets, maintaining our parks, or collecting trash are you? Nor are they out there overseeing them to make sure they are working. And there is no way you’re ever going to convince me that these blue collar workers don’t know more than their managers when it comes to cost cutting measures, I can tell you that right now!)
Cut the fat, meaning get rid of departments and programs that are not reasonable to keep, or needed in these tough times. AND I said reduce work hours to keep employees employed, so that city services we have already paid for get done.
My mantras,” Stop being afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, and do what needs to be done to save our City from bankruptcy, and give us the services we pay for with our tax dollars.” These are bad times Hm, and it is time for us all to sacrifice for the better good. I’d rather take a pay cut then stand in the unemployment line, how about you? I’d rather people lose their jobs rather than see our City go bankrupt. How about you? I’d rather see several highly paid employees gone, than a community center worker, a Librarian, or a park maintenance worker, or a Police Officer. How about you?
#14,
My evidence is the most persuasive of all. I keep my eyes open wherever I go, including the parks.
The City may indeed have it’s budget priorities all out of whack and underfund the Parks Department but that’s no excuse for the lazy, incompetent, and even destructive way that the individual workers perform their duties.
This whole “rant” may appear to be far from the immediate topic of homeless in the creeks. But I think that there’s a cause and effect relationship- things grow in environments to which they are suited.
13 – The main thing that offends is your lack of facts to back-up your slam at city workers. You state “…the Parks Department is nothing but a jobs program whose members won’t get out of their trucks except to perform the most routine duties…” Do you have anything close to resembling facts to back-up that comment? I doubt it.
We are a parks-deficient city with too little staff to cover the geographic area over which we are spread. How do you propose to accomplish all that needs to be done with less resources and an understaffed department? Perhaps you have a secret plan that you can share with the rest of us. I look forward to reading it.
This really veered far and wide from homeless policing policy to budget balancing rants.
Does freedom to rise also require freedom to fail? I’ll admit most homeless have underlying causes for their situation from mental health problems to substance abuse, but I don’t know if its ok to just shuffle them around the system, in and out of jail and back to the creeks and shelters.
Like PL said, its a bigger issue than SJ, but big issues are usually an accumulation of small accommodations (act locally, think globally.) If everyone deals poorly with the problems locally, we create systemic problems nationally.
I guess we can afford homelessness more than we can afford the cost of trying anything to resolve it.
Thanks for going on the sweep. It was good thinking to get out of the city hall tower and see what really is going on. Its also good politics and journalism to talk about it with others to remind them that however much we moan about taxes and fees, others do have it worse.
I could go on and rant about the budget mess in San Jose, but I’m tired of the rants and grateful I don’t have to deal with the mess everyday for a job. Good luck.
Does it feel like we’ve stopped being hopeful, proactive and positive in our approach to government in America? Are we fighting over bail-out money and forgetting tomorrow could be a better day only if we set our minds to making it so….
#7, it’s even worse than that. They moved people with seniority from jobs that were “eliminated” in Code enforcement and planning & buuilding depts.to other jobs in the city.
Next Mayor Reed comes out and says that there will be a crackdown on bank-owned homes that are allowed to go to seed. With what? You just shrunk Code Enforcement last week.
But our roads are like the third world in some areas; e.g Alma from Minnesota to Almaden, which has been crumbling since they built Hwy 87!
But we still have 16 people working (uh, employed anyway) in the Dept. of Cultural Affairs!
How many deputy city managers and assistant city managers are there? How many deputy directors and assistant directors of all the various city departments are there? What do they actually DO besides push paper up line and down line? And they are the highest paid. If we need a manager for every 5 workers, then either the managers are ineffective or the workers are. In either event, someone must go.
A few months back it took almost six weeks to re-stripe Cherry Avenue from Foxworthy to Curtner—about a one mile stretch of road!!! Two guys from Home Depot could have done it in a few days.
Union work rules keep these guys from breaking a sweat.
#16, Napper, the story isn’t about creeks at all. That’s just the setting. The story is about homelessness in San Jose, where it comes from, its effect on the environment and how we’re dealing with it. All of which has budget implications.
This is akin to management getting out from behind their desks to see what’s happening in the real world. I salute PLO for doing so, and hope his fellow councilmembers are following his example.
JMO and Kathleen, good entries. Regarding our budget problems, I won’t take the City seriously until they take your admonitions seriously.
San Jose is not FDR’s Works Progress Administration. The city should be run like a business, not a charitable organization – if we don’t have the budget, then hirings should cease and layoffs should commence.
#20, Greg. Once layoffs commence, I assume you won’t complain when service levels decrease. A business can decide to get out of a market, or change its focus, but a city can’t decide to get out of the library or pothole business.
#11- Fin Fan,
Everything you’ve said is true. We can’t have this going on in our city because it is a public health and safety issue. I’m just very sad that no real solution to homelessness has been found.
#15- Blair,
“Does it feel like we’ve stopped being hopeful, proactive and positive in our approach to government in America? Are we fighting over bail-out money and forgetting tomorrow could be a better day only if we set our minds to making it so….”
I couldn’t agree with you more. We all need to pitch in and do our part. PO is a good man, and hopefully we’ll get more compassionate, curious representatives like him out here in the real world with us, to make positive changes needed for all of us. Part of the problem we face though is that homelessness is on the very bottom of their priority list, along with the well being of seniors, and animal care and welfare.
#20-Greg,
I think the reason private corporations can make the difficult choice to lay people off is because they aren’t running for political office, and aren’t beholding to any one special interest group. I don’t think our City will be able to avoid making some tough decisions like lay offs because money is quickly running out, and bill collectors don’t care what your excuses are.
John Galt,
I must say something here; there is no work place on the planet that doesn’t have lazy workers, who have a serious lack of work ethic in it. (I know, I work in several places and see it all the time.) So, it is a bit unfair to say “All” city workers are lazy, etc. I have had the privilege of working with, or getting help from some awesome Council Aides, Chiefs of Staff, Code Enforcement workers, our wonderful City Clerk, Lee Price, and the list goes on and on. Like wise, I’ve met some real losers too. Thank God the good out weigh the bad!
I routinely use the creekside trails and am pretty familiar with most sections. As might be expected, the cleaner, better maintained parts are the ones NOT under the jurisdiction of the City of San Jose. The City of Campbell does a good job on it’s stretch of Los Gatos Creek Trail and so does the Town of Los Gatos. These pleasant portions are well used by the general public. Homeless encampment doesn’t seem to be much of a problem. Good, steady, conscientious management naturally breeds a healthy, clean environment that citizens want to use.
Unfortunately, such is not the case with the City of San Jose where the Parks Department is nothing but a jobs program whose members won’t get out of their trucks except to perform the most routine duties and really don’t appear to have any interest in the maintenance of the grounds they are paid to look after.
It’s a predictable downward progression;
1)The City spends millions to build the park.
2)The Parks Department takes over.
3)The park get shabbier and trashier.
4)Fewer of the public visit.
5)The fewer people are around the more comfortable the homeless feel and more congregate.
6)Return to step 3.
As usual, much of the City’s resources are used trying to mitigate problems that are caused by the City itself.
Of course, some readers will once again be highly offended by the manner in which I’ve expressed my opinion. I only wish they would open their eyes. They’d find there’s a lot more to be offended by than what one guy says on a blogsite.
David Hollis and N Credulous, I’d really be interested in understanding your take on the subject. You too, California Democrat. Do you disagree that the Parks Department is in any way responsible for this situation? If so, why? Would you care for me to clarify anything that I’ve stated here? I’d be more than happy to.
P.O. It seems strange to me that you have time to ride along with SJPD. With the San Jose budget so large and not resolved yet, I think that your every waking hour should be thinking about the budget and you are talking about creeks. JUST AMAZING…..
Please rethink your priorities.
What you people are failing to recognize for PL’s trip is that the creeks are FULL of people who prey, scavenge, steal, and accumulate everything under the sun for their “Camps” All of you, regardless of your neighborhood, get out of your ivory towers and enter one of these homeless “camps” If you have the courage, see for yourself just how many car/motorcycle batteries are sitting in the water, draining into our water system. I assure you, there are thousands. I’ve seen them myself. If a corporation or tax paying citizen polluted the water like this, they would be charged with a felony and fined thousands of dollars! You all scoff and complain about the budget but you’re missing half the point. These camps are poisoning our communties and our children. Not to mention harboring fugitives from the law.
I applaud PL for his involvement. Especially for doing it on his own unpaid time (Saturday). A true example of public service. Now if we could just get some of you to do the same thing, and hopefully bring a couple trash bags to help at the same time………….
Where is the hundred year flood when you need one?
P.O. thanks for taking the time to check out these camps first hand and write this article.
After watching a team of 4 people (but only one trowel) planting flowers in my city, I don’t believe that every budget cut has to mean a service cut.
Take those 4 people “planting flowers”. Lay off the three who were standing around. Give a raise to the one getting his hands dirty.
That cuts the budget by more than 2/3, but just as many flowers get planted.
Simple (#21), you’re absolutely correct – I won’t complain. But that’s assuming our politicians don’t pull the same old tired stunt of threatening to cut key services instead of feel/sound-good services.
I’d hazard a guess that fully 20% of city employees work at jobs that have little or no effect on the general population. Rather, these departments do all manner of non-critical, hardly visible tasks.
As for the pothole business, the city could do without the nine supervisors who watch the one fellow using a shovel. And only God knows why the two uniformed SJ cops are standing there watching too.
“On another note, this Thursday I will be hosting a meeting to discuss the City of San Jose budget deficit at the Willows Community Center, 2175 Lincoln Ave, at 7pm. You are welcome to attend.”
Hi Pierluigi,
I wanted to publicly thank you for the meeting you hosted tonight. I actually left at the end feeling energized.
I was very happy to see City Manager Debra Figone and Council Member Pete Constant there throughout the meeting to also field questions. (And I’m glad Mayor Reed also was there – but I guess he had to leave early.)
In any event, your presentation outlining (with hard facts and figures) our City budget disaster was clear, concise and open. (Emphasis and more applause to you for being open.) I appreciated the time you allotted to hear and answer neighbor questions and comments. And I applaud you, the Mayor, the City Manager and Council Member Pete for your grace and poise while (in a few cases) being “under attack.” Yes, I know all of you chose to be in the position you’re in, and you still deserve a hearty thank you.
A meeting take away for me is that I heard attendees in the room are sick and tired of taking it in the shorts (so to speak) while watching union perks and packages increase. (Even with “technically” a “zero increase.”) I also heard a huge concern about balancing the budget on the backs of non-profits. What I did not sense was that anyone there tonight wanted people to be out of a job.
My prayers are with you and your colleagues (and the Mayor and the City Mgr) as you move forward with this budget process. Thanks again Pierluigi, for having the cojones to host a meeting like this one.
Tina
“On another note, this Thursday I will be hosting a meeting to discuss the City of San Jose budget deficit at the Willows Community Center, 2175 Lincoln Ave, at 7pm. You are welcome to attend.”
Pierluigi,
Thanks for the great presentation last night and giving time for us taxpayers to vent. I’m afraid that’s all we can do right now. The stranglehold that the special interest groups have on our city government is so tight, we have no other option but bankruptcy.
There was a contingent of those interest groups there last night and I would hate for us taxpayers to be pushed out of your community budget forum, just as we have been from City Hall meetings. (There was little to no special interest representation at the meeting last year.)
I also want to add that we have the most professional, intelligent, and respectful police and fire I’ve ever seen. I’m even fine with the pay raise they received for their great work. There is so little that our government is really responsible for, but police and fire is one of those few reponsiblities. But pensions for all city employees must be addressed. Salaries may be considered for fire and police management that no longer go into dangerous situations.
My family and I truly appreciate the work that Mayor Reed, Pete Constant, and you are doing.
#21: The city virtually is out of the pothole business. Do you drive in SJ?
The city can, however, choose to get out of the cultural affairs business, and feel good programs, and get back into the pothole business. Instead, it just shifts workers into empty slots with budget mumbo jumbo.
Obama has spoken of change; yet its the same ol same ol; 9000 earmarks. Perhaps SJ can do better…but I doubt it.