Monterey County supervisors to discuss illegal camping on Lapis Road

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors will discuss the issue of illegal camping on Lapis Road when they reconvene on Tuesday.

District 4 Supervisor Jane Parker confirmed an agenda item is in the works with input from the Department of Social Services, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Public Works and Environmental Health. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said the proposal could possibly allow campers to stay on the county-owned road until a permanent safe parking program was established.

The director of the Department of Social Services said there wasn’t a specific timeframe, but added a hopeful person would say it would be up and running in 90 days. However, a fix is delicate and not simple, balancing the needs of the entire community and the homeless population.

“It will be important that we identify the right locations for safe parking,” Robinson said. “It will be important that wherever that location is established, that you work with the jurisdiction, be it a city, be it a county, be it the county itself, on making sure that it fits in with that community.”

Comments on social media have been split, with some wanting the people to stay on the one-mile stretch of Lapis Road, just outside the city of Marina. Others wanted them in another part of the county.

“People have lots of opinions about homelessness, lots of opinions about people and trying to sort out and trying to sort out what is really in the interest of our community, knowing that homeless are residents of our community as well,” Robinson said.

The news comes one week before the August 31st deadline when people were informed they would have to vacate.

On Thursday, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, a representative from Veterans Affairs and social workers were back out for the third and final outreach effort on Lapis Road, trying to connect campers with services. Before the outreach started, there were about 70 recreational vehicles, motorhomes and trailers parked on the roadway. On Thursday, there were roughly 38.

However, when someone leaves a spot, another person moves in. That included a man who recently came down from Santa Cruz County.

“It’s an attractive area. It’s on the internet as free camping in Monterey County, so there is that element that is coming, unbeknownst to them that it’s essentially, for the lack of better term, a homeless encampment,” Commander Mark Caldwell said.

Lapis Road resident Eric Schneider said he can’t afford an apartment on the Monterey Peninsula. He, his father and his daughter live in a neighboring RV and a fifth wheel trailer. He said despite having resources and support he does not want to live in a shelter.

“I need someplace to put my RV,” Schneider said. “It’s fully self-contained, I got everything I need, so really what I need is someplace to put it.”

Between the Monterey Peninsula and Manteca, he has looked for space but said the places are either full or too expensive. In the meantime, he has to take his chances on Lapis Road, where he has been a victim of crime.

“I’m pretty sure it was another person out here that stole my generator,” Schneider said. “I don’t know who. I mean, it’s kind of sad stealing from people who don’t have a whole lot.”

Another camper said many of the residents are good, decent people, but there is an element of crime from others in the area.