Complaint alleges San Jose employees, contractor improperly disposed of homeless residents' belongings

"In one of the four property loss complaints filed just last week, Melvin Cuc, a former resident of the Columbus Park encampment, stated that the city destroyed all of his belongings while he was hospitalized for 18 days in August, despite receiving a notice for his items that prevented their removal until Sept. 4. Cuc's complaint also alleged that he saw employees from the city and one of its contractors remove similar notices from the belongings of other residents while no one was around,"

"Among the items Cuc lost were his clothes, antibiotics, food, bicycle and tent, all of which he said were vital to his survival on the streets. "The city's actions have left me with nothing," Cuc wrote in his complaint. "They erased my home, my belongings and the few resources that allowed me to survive day-to-day. The harm is lasting in the physical loss of my property and in the profound emotional impact of being treated as though my life and my belongings had no value.""

San Jose faces multiple complaints from homeless residents alleging widespread loss and destruction of personal property during encampment abatements. One complainant, Melvin Cuc, said the city destroyed all his belongings while he was hospitalized for 18 days, despite a notice that prevented removal until Sept. 4, and alleged seeing city employees and a contractor remove and discard other residents' notices. Cuc listed essential items lost, including clothes, antibiotics, food, a bicycle and tent, and described lasting physical and emotional harm. A city spokesperson said the city followed a strict, documented placard process and allowed legitimate placards to remain until shelter and services were ready, noting removal of unauthorized or duplicated placards.

Read at The Mercury News