San Jose has initiated a series of encampment sweeps along the Guadalupe River Trail, particularly affecting residents near the city's largest homeless encampment at Columbus Park. This action follows the city council’s approval of a new encampment code, aiming to enforce shelter requirements and support services. Many unhoused individuals express distress over the impact of the sweeps on their lives. The city views these sweeps as a first step toward revitalizing public spaces, aiming to restore them for community use and make them safer and cleaner.
"It is challenging because it's just a constant, reoccurring thing," Rainy Days said. "You lose so much stuff and then you have to start all over again. It gets kind of stressful, you know?"
"That's crazy," Days said. "Don't sit there and think that everyone out here are just addicts. We're not just addicts. I don't know what they expect us to do."
"This effort marks the first step in restoring the area for community use and creating a safer, cleaner environment for all," Rodriguez said in a statement. "Looking ahead, the City plans to revitalize Columbus Park back into a vibrant park with amenities for everyone."
Collection
[
|
...
]