Homeless encampments increase along Highway 101 in Salinas

UPDATE 7/6/2016 6:30 PM:

As many as 300 people once called Chinatown home. Since the sweep of Salinas’ largest homeless encampment in March, many have scattered through different parts of the city.

Assistant Public Works Director Don Reynolds says there are eight to 10 encampments right now.

“Mostly along the creek beds, especially during the summer months: Gabilan Creek, Natividad Creek, Carr Lake area,” Reynolds said. “Elvee Drive is another common area. The Rec ditch — we’re working with the county and Caltrans on the Rec ditch.”

But one of these encampments has caught the eye of many. Along Highway 101 through Salinas, dozens of tents and other structures have been built between N. Main Street and Sherwood Drive.

“Most people do not want them in their neighborhoods. They do not want them on their property. So one of the places they can go where no one will complain is the freeways, because nobody lives on the freeways,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Oscar Loza.

Who is responsibility does for the homeless people on the freeway? Salinas Public Works and police? Or Caltrans and CHP? It’s a jurisdictional mess.

“That is one of those areas that is complicated for us,” Reynolds said. “We’re working with Caltrans and the private property owner. So if they’re on the freeway side of the fence, it’s a Caltrans issue. If it’s on the property owner’s side, then we can get the police department to support them cleaning that up.”

The city is working with the property owner right now to address the situation, though it is ultimately the property owner’s responsibility. The city can help by adding “No Trespassing” signs, building a fence and helping the property owners understand public right of way.

Hidden along the Laurel on-ramp is another encampment. On Wednesday, Loza spoke to one of three people living there and asked her to move. Not only is it illegal to be on the freeway, it’s dangerous for her and for the public.

“If any of those shopping carts go into the road, any of their property goes into the road, their dogs, or even them. They live in that center divide, so, for them to go anywhere they have to cross either that on-ramp or the freeway. So at any time, if they’re not paying attention or another driver’s not paying attention, they could easily crash into them,” Loza said.

While the city is keeping an eye on those sites, they continue to monitor Chinatown and do periodic sweeps.

“It’s looking a lot better,” Reynolds said. “The number of camps are down, and people are learning to camp lighter, so to speak. So they’re not affixing their tents and their tarps anymore to the fences and structures, so we can come up through and clean up more rapidly and more efficiently. We’re less of a disturbance to them. It’s not great. And there are still people that want to have that permanent attachment to Chinatown, but it’s better.”

Within the last three weeks, some 7 tons of debris were removed.

ORIGINAL POST:

Only three months after the largest homeless encampment clean up in Salinas’ Chinatown, hundreds of people are still searching for a place to stay.

Many moved to other parts of the city, including along Highway 101. On Wednesday, those people may be forced to move again as California Highway Patrol plans to issue verbal warnings to those camping near the highway between Sherwood Dr. and N. Main St.

Salinas Public Works says there’s currently anywhere from 8 to 10 homeless encampments around the city.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more on what’s being done and the impact to the homeless community.