"With bottles of water in hand, the Batman of San José prepares to distribute supplies in San Jose on Aug. 13, 2025. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED) Downtown San José residents aren't startled by the daunting figure in a billowing black-and-purple cape beneath the streetlights. They know what comes next: the gravelly rattle of a rolling cart stocked with water bottles and food. "This is a good man," Miguel said, as Batman kneeled to pour water for Miguel's dog Lorio."
"Mayor Matt Mahan's office said that temporary shelter was being rolled out in phases and maintained that there were sufficient beds for people displaced from Columbus Park, one of San José's largest encampments. "There were 370 people living there, and over a 70-day period of outreach before the abatement began, every single person was offered housing," said Tasha Dean, a spokesperson for the mayor, in an email. " About two-thirds of encampment residents accepted the city's offer of housing, and no one who accepted housing was abated until their bed was ready for them to move in.""
A costumed volunteer who dresses as Batman distributes bottled water and food to unhoused residents in downtown San José. Neighborhood residents recognize the volunteer and the familiar sound of a rolling cart stocked with essentials. Miguel called the volunteer a friend and described witnessing discrimination when a single mother was prevented from doing similar outreach, an incident that motivated him to help others. Miguel said the woman was later swept by police and fatally struck by a car. City officials say temporary shelter was rolled out in phases and that housing offers were made before abatements.
Read at Kqed
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