The cost to clean Chinatown is in the thousands EACH time

With the back drop of low income housing in the works, dozens of people had to once again pack up their belongings in Chinatown and leave. Thursdays cleanup was the second in less than a month.

“We want to help the county and address the Hepatitis A issue. So we’re trying to come to Chinatown as often as we can,” said Assistant Public Works Director, Don Reynolds.

However, the cost of those sweeps add up. Every Chinatown sweep costs between $5,000-$8,000.

“When we had the two months off, it cost more the longer we wait,” said Reynolds.

The city plans to clean up the area once a month. That would run around $65-thousand dollars a year on the low end. And that doesn’t include the cost of overtime pay for the Salinas officers on hand.So is it worth it? And why is the new city ordinance that says tents need to be off the sidewalk each morning not being enforced?

“When they put out the camping ordinance, there was a little confusion on what we can do and what we can’t. There was a couple lawsuits coming out of Los Angeles and Boise. So the city attorneys office stepped back and they came to the conclusion that the ordinance that they put in place will be enforceable,” said Assistant Salinas Police Chief Manuel Martinez.

Assistant Police Chief Manuel Martinez said before officers can write a citation, there needs to be open beds in the shelters. Current officers have received training, and more officers will be hired, which will increase enforcement.

“Part of her vision is to eventually, when we become fully staffed, is to have a permanent officer assigned just to Chinatown,” said Assistant Chief Martinez.

Until then, more frequent sweeps by the city will keep the cost of cleanup down, and prevent a further outbreak of Hepatitis A.

“It’s spread by feces to mouth. And If it’s here on the sidewalks, which it is. Then it needs to be sprayed that is what San Diego and other jurisdictions are doing,” said Reynolds.