Chelcey Adami<\/a>9:06 p.m. PST March 11, 2016\u00a0 Salinas Californian<\/p>\n With an approaching date set for the city to begin removing homeless property from encampments, Chinatown homeless and homeless advocates urged others Friday<\/span> to \u201cstand their ground\u201d when the time comes. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The city\u2019s clean-up activities are scheduled to begin on March 23<\/span> in the area of Market Way and Bridge Alley, and after that, they will spread to other not-yet-specified areas. On Friday<\/span>, Prince held a meeting in Chinatown to discuss the \u201cnew community and legal strategy\u201d of the recently formed Salinas Union of the Homeless. A 63-year-old homeless man died of what authorities said appeared to be natural causes earlier this week, and Prince told the room of nearly 30 people Friday<\/span> that more will die unless homeless stop the city from breaking up the encampments. On another note earlier this week, homeless service providers such as Dorothy\u2019s Place and the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers held several town hall meetings to provide information to the homeless in preparation for the impending removal of property. In a press statement, Prince wrote that \u201ca statewide campaign has been launched to bring hundreds to Salinas to defend homeless and other poor persons in Monterey County on March 22 and stop the City of Salinas by any means necessary from throwing 300 homeless men, women and children out of Chinatown and into the streets.\u201d Coalition of Homeless Service Providers Executive Director Katherine Thoeni has pointed out that Salinas, which has been recognized as having one of the fastest growing rental prices in California, also has a shortage of low-income housing options, and a critical component of addressing homelessness is addressing the number of landlords and property owners willing to participate in subsidized rental assistance programs. The City has also been tagging RVs and other vehicles that have vehicle code violations for towing, and Compton said towing the vehicle she lives in would put her daughters in jeopardy. For comments and photos, go to http:\/\/www.thecalifornian.com\/story\/news\/my-safety\/2016\/03\/11\/salinas-homeless-urged-stand-their-ground\/81679316\/<\/a><\/p>\n EARLIER STORIES:<\/p>\n Salinas amends homeless property ordinance <\/strong><\/p>\n Chelcey Adami<\/a>6:19 p.m. PST February 10, 2016<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.thecalifornian.com\/story\/news\/my-safety\/2016\/02\/10\/salinas-amends-homeless-property-ordinance\/80087978\/<\/a><\/p>\n Citing health and safety issues regarding homeless encampments in Chinatown, Salinas City Council voted to adopt as an emergency measure an ordinance amending city code as well as to adopt a resolution amending an ordinance procedure allowing the removal of homeless property during its council meeting on Tuesday<\/span> night.<\/p>\n In October, the city approved an ordinance that allows the city to remove people\u2019s personal property from city property. In December, the city then approved the procedure in which the removal would be conducted, how the owner would claim the property, the amount of time the city will hold it, and conditions that would allow the city to discard property.<\/p>\n In a presentation to city council Tuesday<\/span>, Salinas Senior Deputy City Attorney Nathaniel Dunn said that no enforcement of this ordinance has yet occurred and that the proposed amendments Tuesday<\/span> would simply bring the ordinance and administrative procedure in line together rather than in conflict.<\/p>\n Proponents say the ordinance is intended to \u201cprevent the misappropriation of city property for personal use and to promote the public health and safety by ensuring that city property remains in a clean, sanitary and accessible condition,\u201d according to agenda back-up information.<\/p>\n However, critics maintain that it essentially criminalizes being homeless and\u00a0violates civil rights.<\/p>\n The amendment recommendations were made while advising the city council to declare an emergency based on the conditions of homeless encampments in Chinatown and other area of the city.<\/p>\n Dunn cited what he believes are urgent\u00a0health and safety concerns including that streets in Chinatown are blocked by the encampments and impassable to emergency response vehicles; safety hazards are created when people living there illegally tap into power lines; people in the area frequently urinate and defecate on city property and create unsanitary conditions; and that area businesses are suffering from criminal issues such as burglary and high levels of drug use and sales.\u00a0 Same old shit, largely.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThese conditions put both the human beings \u2018residing\u2019 in Chinatown and the businesses operating in this area at risk,\u201d the agenda item reads.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The agenda item\u2019s backup information cites several specific incidents including on Feb. 3<\/span> when a homeless person in Chinatown had a medical emergency but the Salinas Fire Department couldn\u2019t access the area with its vehicle.<\/p>\n And on Jan. 16<\/span>, a business in the Chinatown area was also reportedly burglarized and resulted in the loss of $6,000 of equipment. The owner is now relocating his business out of the area because of this.<\/p>\n In the ordinance, the administrative policy for the collection, storage and recovery of personal property includes several steps: identifying and investigating the encampment; requesting outreach by homeless services providers; receiving an assessment and attempt to provide housing<\/strong> options; setting a date for cleanup; providing a pre-clean up hearing for those impacted; conducting the cleanup; providing personal property reclamation details; and storing personal property for 90 days.\u00a0There is no fee or penalty to recover personal property.<\/p>\n Councilmember\u00a0Jose Castaneda was the dissenting votes on the matter, stating that he feels that the city hasn\u2019t done enough to help the homeless population.<\/p>\n Shortly before the meeting, a small group of people also held a protest against recent city notices to tow vehicles\u00a0that people have been living in around the Chinatown area.\u00a0The notices advise owners that the vehicles will be towed on Thursday.<\/p>\n Dunn said that the towing of vehicles isn\u2019t related to the ordinance and rather a vehicle code violation matter, noting that Chinatown \u201cisn\u2019t a magical area of the city where laws don\u2019t apply anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the City of Salinas suspended any possible enforcement of the ordinance regarding homeless encampments and property until a hearing in March after Salinas homeless and homeless advocates filed a federal rights lawsuit and temporary restraining order against the city to protest the ordinance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Attorney Anthony Prince has said the ordinance is unconstitutional in that it accelerates seizure of property without due process while increasing risk of harm to homeless people by depriving them of needed items for their health.<\/p>\n Plaintiffs in the lawsuit also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction that would essentially stop the city from enforcing the ordinance, and the city opposed the motion.<\/p>\n A judge set a hearing for the matter on March 3, and as part of the litigation, the city stipulated to hold off on enforcement of the ordinance and won\u2019t be conducting clean-ups or removal of homeless people\u2019s property until the hearing.<\/p>\n At the hearing, the judge will decide whether or not to eliminate the preliminary injunction.\u00a0The plaintiffs in the lawsuit have indicated that they intend to amend their original complaint but have not yet done so.<\/p>\n Contact Public Safety \u00a0Reporter Chelcey Adami at 831-754-4261<\/a> or cadami@thecalifornian.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Homeless advocates protest towing plans<\/strong><\/p>\n Jay Dunn<\/a>, jdunn3@thecalifornian.com<\/a> 4:57 p.m. PST February 9, 2016<\/p>\n Anxiety and fear among Chinatown residents is developing following plans by the city to tow vehicles on February 11th\u00a0that are serving as homes.\u00a0The plan includes towing cars as well as motor homes.<\/p>\n At a press conference on Tuesday<\/span> by the City Hall Rotunda in Salinas, attorney Anthony Prince and a number of homeless advocates formally protested the announcement, saying that it violates\u00a0an agreement between the city and attorneys for the homeless in the federal court lawsuit, Rita Acosta, et. al, v. City of Salinas.<\/p>\n Diana Soto and partner Angel Menchaca live with their tiny dogs Ashley and Buster in a serviceable motor home that doesn\u2019t currently have a proper registration.<\/p>\n Forced to move from the lot they previously occupied just one block away, the cost of updating their registration and getting a new smog test is prohibitive.<\/p>\n Orange notices with a February 11th date on them have been could be seen on a number of vehicles in the immediate area, including on Van Gresham\u2019s home, a fixture at the corner of Market Way and Soledad St.<\/p>\n Gresham, who edits “Voices of the Street”, the newspaper and advocate for the homeless, insists he\u2019ll be able to get the vehicle running in time, and that his paperwork is up-to-date.<\/p>\n A blue car parked in front of his doesn\u2019t look so lucky, windows blacked out from the inside by tarps.<\/p>\n Regardless of what happens come February 11th, citizens of Salinas who are down on their luck and living in vehicles face the real possibility of a confrontation that morning meant to part them from the only shelter they have.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Salinas homeless urged to ‘stand their ground’ Chelcey Adami9:06 p.m. PST March 11, 2016\u00a0 Salinas Californian With an approaching date set for the city to begin removing homeless property from encampments, Chinatown homeless and homeless advocates urged others Friday to … Continue reading
\nSince the city passed the ordinance allowing the city to remove homeless property, which they say is necessary due to health and safety concerns caused by the growing encampments, a group has protested the move in a federal lawsuit against the city, alleging violations of homeless civil rights and more.
\nIn late February, a judge denied a preliminary injunction filed on behalf of the homeless that would have prevented the city from removing the property.
\nAnthony Prince, the attorney representing the homeless, said they plan to fight the ruling and also add new defendants to include a number of area homeless service providers who he said have misrepresented how much housing and assistance they could provide homeless who want to leave the encampments. A new judge has been assigned to that case as it continues through mediation.<\/p>\n
\nWhile likening Chinatown homeless encampments to Syrian refugee camps, he advised them that they need to \u201cpush back against the city.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe are not going to cooperate, and we are not going to collaborate with their plan to push everybody out of Chinatown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\nWhile also referring to \u201cBloody Sunday<\/span>\u201d in the civil rights movement of the ’60s, Prince stated that \u201cwe are intending to make Salinas, California the Selma, Alabama of 2016.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIn flyers in both English and Spanish, they explained details of the ordinance such as that the City is allowing people to set up a tent and sleep in an area, but they can only do so between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.<\/span> Tents also can\u2019t block street travel access, be next to a fire hydrant, illegally tap into building electricity, or create any other sort of safety hazard.
\nIf any homeless person wants to temporarily store their property, the City is providing\u00a0unused 96-gallon containers for people to store their property in for up to 90 days. All storage containers will be clearly labeled and stored at 312 East Alisal Street.
\nPrince noted that he finds the choice of container, which apparently is a trash can, to be the \u201cgrossest of insults.\u201d
\nIf the property isn\u2019t claimed after 90 days, it will be destroyed.\u00a0However, prescription medications, prescription glasses, and personal identification will not be destroyed and will be set aside.<\/p>\n
\nCouncilman Jose Castaneda said he would be on hand to support the homeless \u201cto the full extent of civil disobedience,\u201d even if that includes being arrested.
\nSalinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin said he \u201cwould certainly hope someone doesn\u2019t try to obstruct any type of clean-up efforts or police efforts and respect that there is a process for this.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI would encourage people to understand that our goal is not to throw people out of anywhere. It is to make sure that whatever living conditions are sanitary to the extent that they can be \u2026 and respectful of private property rights, business owner rights and public right of way rights,\u201d McMillin continued. \u201cI think other people are portraying this as an attack on the homeless and this is just not the case.\u201d
\nIn wrapping up the meeting Friday, Prince implored local property owners to provide a space for the homeless encampments to relocate to before removals begin.<\/p>\n
\nRhonda Compton has been homeless with her two daughters, ages 11 and 13, for about a year and a half. Before becoming homeless, she fled a dangerous home situation in another state and returned to her hometown of Salinas.
\nShe said she tried Section 8 housing but was unable to find anything and instead put all the money she had, $200, as a down payment on the RV that she now lives in with her daughters.<\/p>\n
\nCompton stated that she\u2019s been trying all the various housing programs offered, but she was deemed ineligible for a myriad of reasons such as that she can only work part-time due to a disability. She\u2019s now working with a new case worker at the homeless service provider Dorothy\u2019s Place and tentatively hopes to be successful this time in finding housing.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not for lack of trying because I\u2019ve been to every agency to try to find something,\u201d she said.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Contact Reporter Chelcey Adami at 831-754-4261<\/a> or cadami@thecalifornian.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n