[UPDATE] Multiple Agencies Sweeping Homeless Encampment Near Bayshore Mall

EPD officers and other agencies at the scene. Homeless encampment

EPD officers and other agencies at the scene. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]


Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

The City of Eureka Code Enforcement Division, Public Works Department, Police Department and employees of California Fish and Wildlife are executing inspection/abatement and criminal search warrants on a property located on the south side of Bayshore Way in Eureka today commencing at 8am.

The subject property is the site of many conditions which pose a threat to public health and safety including: illegally built structures, makeshift latrines draining into protected wetlands, electrical and fire hazards, accumulated garbage and debris and disposal of abandoned vehicles in sensitive habitat.

The property has also been the site of multiple instances of illegal drug trafficking, storing of stolen property and other criminal activities that have created unsafe conditions affecting the surrounding neighborhood.

The mall entrance at Bayshore Way will be closed to through traffic during this operation. These activities may continue as needed into early next week.

UPDATE 9:25 a.m.:

One residence at the encampment

One residence at the encampment. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

We have reporter Ryan Hutson on the scene and will be updating.

UPDATE 9:38 a.m.:

clearing homeless encampment An American flag droops over the scene as huge trash containers are set up.

An American flag droops over the scene as huge trash containers are set up. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

Our reporter says the property in question is extensive. She estimates that there are at least 20 people taking down their tents and about a dozen tents still standing. She said she saw about a dozen people walking along the sidewalk in either direction with personal belongings stacked on their backs.

UPDATE 9:47 a.m.:

Man packing homeless camp while law enforcement prepares to dismantle it.

One man hurriedly packs his items. He says they have two hours to remove their belongings. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

One of those evicted explained that it took him about a month and a half to set up his temporary home here. The home, made out of a tent, some tarps and a popup, has to be dismantled very quickly given a two hour time frame given by law enforcement.

Betty Chinn Van

A van from the Betty Kwan Chinn center is on site. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

UPDATE 9:47 a.m.: 

About 9:45 a.m., the Betty Kwan Chinn day center showed up with a minivan and a support staff to assess the situation and see what can be done to assist people in relocating.

UPDATE: EPD Press release:

The Eureka Police Department has received several inquiries in to the timing of today’s Bayshore Way property abatement detail.

The search warrant was based on a multi-month investigation into code related violations. It was in no way related to the Point-in Time count.

The execution of the search warrant was held off until after the Point-in Time count was completed.

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

131 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯My moniker is a reminder of the people that were suppose to “not” be living there anymore. But we see now the lack of proper law enforcement and new laws have reinfested the area. Sorry to have such a negative outlook on just that one group, but there one of the most drug dealing areas of town. I know others will claim the same but I watched herion,meth and prostitutes have there day behind the Mall and it looks like there resetting up business. The Pine Motel is the new Blue Heron. My moniker doesn’t show on here but it’s a Devil’s Playground Teashirt sold at the mall.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago

the homeless don’t have enough coin to create the most drug dealing area of town. the entire west side is about the same and is why 100s of pounds of hard drug come to Eureka every year, its called demand. the homeless account for maybe 5% of local consumption. the above pictured location is private property last time I checked and is directly across from 6 rivers.

Sheepdog
Guest
Sheepdog
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

What are you talking about? They get over a grand a month of our taxes plus food stamps. Not to mention all our stuff they steal. My car has been broken into several times over the last 2 years and hundreds of dollars of equipment each time. I have them on camera. Homeless punks. Or should I categorize them in the liberal sense as ” Displaced?” Give me a break! It’s an epidemic and the liberal leaders keep it going with their bleeding hearts.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheepdog

every thieving tweaker we see mugshots of are not homeless, and the most common comment we read is “he was a good kid once”. blaming liberals for local problems seems to be popular. the cartel doesn’t come to Eureka to supply the homeless. the 30-40 year old tweakers on BMX bikes are supplying the homeless while supplying their own habit for free. there are probably more drug houses in Eureka than homeless, if not its close.

I Never Said There Was No Collusion! 🇷🇺🐘
Guest
I Never Said There Was No Collusion! 🇷🇺🐘
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

Based upon November’s election results (the Republicans got whooped!), blaming liberals for everything is obviously not nearly as popular as blaming conservatives. 🐘💩🔥

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheepdog

I would like a little clarification on this issue? They get over a grand a month and food stamps have you looked at the rates lately for what cash 8 is a single person may get somewhere around a hundred bucks a month plus about $190 worth of food stamps. A family with one child and two adults might get somewhere around $400 a month and some food stamps. That is hardly enough to rent a home pay for utilities try to have gas to get to work clothing other basically necessary items can barely survive I think some of it you got confused.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago

How much should they receive? Are we all entitled to free rent, food, utilities, gas, and clothing? If so, sign me up!

Candy
Guest
Candy
5 years ago

Many receive SSI that is around $850.00 a month and no food stamps. If on SSI it is for a disability of some kind and many for mental health issues. So many are not able to work, won t get hired if they could work and very hard to house. I worked with this group of people for many years. We need more low income housing. Current Section 8 list is 2 years long.

john shelter
Guest
john shelter
5 years ago

I agree totally

KD
Guest
KD
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheepdog

Don’t forget the free Obama phones

American woman
Guest
American woman
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheepdog

Please tell us how to qualify for “over $1000 a month plus foodstamps”.
I get SSI $931 a month but cannot get foodstamps….
I think you are just jealous of the very poor, which seems pretty depraved to me.

Coletta
Guest
Coletta
5 years ago
Reply to  American woman

Dear, don’t waste your breath. These self righteous selfish pigs couldn’t careless whether you live or die.

Mdg
Guest
Mdg
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheepdog

It’s not a liberal/conservative issue. I’m very liberal and I can’t stand the crazies either. Something major needs to be done. From the legislative side. We need a place to house the crazies.. bring back the asylums. And put the thieves/hard druggies in jail for a long time.

Louise
Guest
Louise
5 years ago
Reply to  Mdg

jobs, people need to work and contribute instead of being given “freedom” to continue with the bad choices and blame game

Dee
Guest
Dee
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheepdog

Agreed!

Jeff Fournier
Guest
Jeff Fournier
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

Do you have stats for your 5% comment? Just curious or did you just wing that? I’m hoping that you know this from something other than just commenting on it with no information.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Fournier

multiple the number of homeless (use all, even though not all are using, but most) by how much they use per day ($20/half gram max and most likely heavily stomped on by the lowest level dealer) by how much comes to eureka every year (figure the EPD and HCDTF get 10% so the number is in the hundreds of pounds). that number is confirmed when you have numerous housed locals with no job running around with ounces or even pounds. I also spend most of my time in Eureka and have family unfortunately living near winco. its not like Eureka is a distribution hub for Mexican dope, its a final destination to be distributed locally due to demand. I really hope the focus is made where it is needed some day, so far it hasn’t.

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago

Thank God for Betty Chan who has proven again that she will help the poor and destitute. In a once-thriving economy most of our jobs went to Mexico and overseas now with our giant amount of homeless can be put to work on the green New Deal reforesting for sequestering carbon and trained to put together solar panels and other alternative energy projects it is going to take many hands to turn around our environmental damage that is still happening. The USA can become the biggest green movement in the world. Show the world how much we love our children and our home. Thank you Betty Chan for keeping hope alive.

Kathy
Guest
Kathy
5 years ago

We can not have another encampment there for all the reasons listed and more but they are cold and trying to stay dry.

Just me
Guest
Just me
5 years ago
Reply to  Kathy

Right, Kathy.
Times are hard… I’m just not sure where people CAN go. Everyone wants the homeless gone, but to where. And it’s not all mentally I’ll or drug addicted anymore… its families

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Just me

But times are not hard. They are better than they have been for a decade.

What has happened is that there has been a long neglect by society to deal with hard issues. And too much attention paid to vague, feel good goals and not enough to practicalities.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

the shutdown has just proved that most are a pay check or so away from financial problems that can easily lead to homelessness. trumps economy is a con just like the shutdown, its not about a wall and never has been.

Mr Right
Guest
Mr Right
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

Keep whining. You lost. The biggest losers in history since 2016. Never seen anything like it. Creeping socialism has become a rushing tide of Marxist, anti-fa thugs and traitors. The homeless DO need assistance, but they need to stop being criminals first (drugs, stealing from all businesses, etc).

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Mr Right

have you been watching Tucker lately, we need to subsidies the forgotten people apparently. do you know where that path leads to? he also claims the coastal elitist are to blame.

I Never Said There Was No Collusion! 🇷🇺🐘
Guest
I Never Said There Was No Collusion! 🇷🇺🐘
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

Tucker Carlson is still alive? He might as well be dead, as low as his ratings are these days.

Louise
Guest
Louise
5 years ago
Reply to  Mr Right

how about the good old fashioned ways of personal responsibility and making good choices?? maybe families need to be held responsible for raising irresponsible entitled kids and adults. why reward bad behavior. where is the consequence to the individual instead of society bearing the brunt??

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Wealth inequality is not better than it has been in a decade.

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
5 years ago
Reply to  Just me

There are in occupied beds in the shelters.

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Just me

🕯Most of the people that decided to make that place home are from out state. They come due to lack of law enforcement and the love of people for that love the underprivileged. Sorry but when it was called Devil’s Playground that’s what they found out. Humboldt Republic sold the t-shirt I use as a moniker and they never offered the people a dime for using the name the city had given them. Never offered them a meal from the profits.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago

if that were true why would chief Mills say publicly that 87% were locals. my searches confirm Mill’s statement. the last mugshot in the news of the homeless guy arrested by the new waterfront hire graduated from Zoe Barnum – fact. history has proven many times that there is no solving this temporary social problem. time is the solution. but blaming the problem on out of towners is what every town in this nation is currently doing.

Mayor of Henderson Center
Guest
Mayor of Henderson Center
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

I disagree. The chief’s numbers come from a misleading Point in Time homeless question that asks something like “did you become homeless in Humboldt County?” Well 87% may very well have said yes, but that is a far cry from being locals. Almost all of them came into this community for the reasons Willie listed above. They came to make it big in the Emerald Triangle then the meth, heroin, and other issues caught up to them and they ended up on the street. If you think it is like this across the nation, then you obviously don’t get out of Humboldt much. Please give us a list of small rural communities the size of Eureka in the country that have a wondering zombie population like this?

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago

its as simple as a google search. or you could read the comments of friends and family on the Facebook articles about how joe or jane was a smart kid once. Have you ever been to Anderson, or unincorporated Shasta County (Redding outskirts). I have found the businessmen in Henderson Center are not normal, why is there a fee, is it that exclusive? most new businesses fail.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Far From Home
Guest
Far From Home
5 years ago

Weaverville has a pretty big homeless population for a small rural community. Per capita, probably more than Eureka. Pretty conservative local politics, not a bunch of “libs” making it a desirable location as so many people point to in their logic.

God
Guest
God
5 years ago

That’s how the city gets funding..Let that shit build up than boom there’s the money needed to get rid of them..

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  God

Where does this funding suddenly come from?

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

~you and me and us and we. Labor is the only true currency. If you mean on paper – taxation of course.

Label it grants or whatever, the source is the same.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Whoh, HumCo’s a Marxist now! When did this happen?

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Jaekelopterus

Recognizing the value of labor is not what makes a Marxist. Any more than recognizing the value of home ownership makes a person a capitalist.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  God

this is a privately owned commercial parcel in the coastal zone. the property owner would need to get a coastal permit to remove these structures and trash. I guess spending our tax dollars is a way around the permit requirement saving the property owner a lot of money. you got to love the level playing field in this town. now the City needs to do the same for all the other properties in Eureka that have already hit this coastal permit hurdle.

'Merican Woman
Guest
'Merican Woman
5 years ago

Build a wall
MEGFO
Make Eureka great for once.

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
5 years ago

that encampment looks NICE compared to a lot of others…

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
5 years ago
Reply to  No Joke

I guess if Humboldt ever does get a tiny house village we know who to have landscape it.

Y Knot?
Guest
Y Knot?
5 years ago

Armored bulldozers really should be used on this scene.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~not again. How heartless.

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

It is heartless to allow the situation to persist. But yes it is also heartless for us to fail to provide publicly-funded secular shelters of sufficient capacity.

However there are reports of unoccupied shelter beds.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  well . . .

~i was told in May of 2016 the Devil’s Playground had been there for a decade. Doesn’t bother me – how many of us in here does it bother?

With 25 too many EPD officers running around, they have to show that they do something to earn their pay. Plus, they answer to the Mayor w/City Council approval. Yeah, the method they use wouldn’t stand in a court of Competent Jurisdiction if challenged.

Grandma
Guest
Grandma
5 years ago
Reply to  well . . .

A shelter bed is not a home. It is a bed in a dormitory, with no privacy, no place to put any of your stuff…. I know which I would choose if I were homeless, and I’m a 72-year-old woman.

Just yesterday I participated in the Point In Time count for homeless people in Southern Humboldt. It was eye-opening and heart-rending.

Many, many people in the US are only a few hundred dollars away from financial disaster, one blown transmission or broken ankle away from losing their job or their home. Just look at the stories coming from the federal workers being thrown into chaos by the government’s partial shutdown.

And once you become jobless and homeless, getting a job and getting back into rented housing can be insurmountable.

JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
Guest
JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
5 years ago

Wasn’t this area cleared out in the past? Are we caught in a time warp?

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago

EPD Et All, seem to be!!!

eguestst
Guest
eguestst
5 years ago

I suspect that warning had been given a number if times but when you live like that, you don’t take them seriously until forced to. If a camper took the police warnings seriously, they would never even set up camp.

What is amazing is the amount of stuff that people accumulate in such a short time. Where does it all come from?

Tweakers suck
Guest
Tweakers suck
5 years ago

I’m sorry but if someone has their family living there then they are clearly not there to have shelter or warmth, they’re there because the parents are tweakers and/or heroin junkies. That is some of the most ridiculous bullshit I’ve ever heard can we stop cosigning it and trying to pretend like it something else? These people are making a conscious decision to turn them selves into junkies that rob people and lurk through the town at night time with their infrared and their scanners… Get them the fuck out. Pretty sure we can tell the difference between a family that are seeking shelter and warmth and a bunch of junkie tweakers.

tcs
Guest
tcs
5 years ago
Reply to  Tweakers suck

Concur!

Sorry not sorry
Guest
Sorry not sorry
5 years ago
Reply to  Tweakers suck

Thank you!!!

hmm
Guest
hmm
5 years ago
Reply to  Tweakers suck

Infrared and scanners?

Joe
Guest
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  hmm

The James Bond Junkies!

humboldtfrog
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Tweakers suck

I agree

rollin
Guest
rollin
5 years ago
Reply to  Tweakers suck

Concur as well. Most sensible comment yet. Fuck these bastards! Get a fucking job!

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Tweakers suck

The Devil’s Playground isn’t a stand-in for a homeless shelter, it’s a stand-in for proper mental health facilities.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  Jaekelopterus

Absolutely agree!!!

Dot
Guest
Dot
5 years ago

I understand why this was done & agree with the posts above re: this is an issue that needs to be addressed in a way that makes a difference, not just perpetuated. But more importantly – the timing on this could not have been worse. Just yesterday the PIT homeless count was conducted, and the volunteers who helped had to reassure the people that the work they were doing was not to enable LE to round folks up. This may well put the future accuracy of these counts in jeopardy, if not making them less safe.
argghhh
https://kiem-tv.com/2019/01/23/point-in-time-count-takes-place-to-survey-homeless-population-in-humboldt-county/

Gentleman Jim
Guest
Gentleman Jim
5 years ago
Reply to  Dot

What we don’t know — had they been warned to leave before today? If they had, the above is moot. I can’t imagine multiple agencies showing up without prior notice to people.

Lazydaze
Guest
Lazydaze
5 years ago
Reply to  Dot

I came here to say the same thing. I’m surprised that DHHS wasn’t involved in helping provide outreach and services for this situation. (Full disclosure – I don’t know if they were asked or not but this article has no mention of them.) This is the type of thing that causes them to not trust DHHS in order to access services that would improve their situation and even help place them in safer, more sustainable living situations. DHHS staffers struggle as it is to get an accurate count, which drives funding to assist homeless, and then this crap goes down. I am all for removing humans from a hazardous environment but there was little thought by the parties involved in actual implementation. Yeah I know some of you here hate the homeless and think they’re all thieves and addicts – and yeah maybe a percentage is but many are not. Either way, do you really think they’re just gonna disappear from our community now? Coz they’re not.

Follow the Big Money
Guest
Follow the Big Money
5 years ago
Reply to  Lazydaze

Hang on to your hats! It doesn’t seem like many of you are aware of what is in the works for Eureka and Rio Dell, that Danco & DHHS is going to put in and run that will cost millions of your tax dollars. Cost of these two units will probably be around 25,000,000. It would be nice to believe this housing will help the homeless population and some of our veterans with all their problems, but I question where these housing facilities are located and how they will be supervised.

I’m sure they will be breaking ground on these facilities as soon as the government is solvent again. I can’t believe the homeless, mentally ill, and substance abuse clients will be located next door to the 74 units of low income family and senior housing that is already there in Rio Dell . The new homeless facility in Rio Dell will be a gated locked facility with 26 units. Not a smart thing to do to Rio Dell’s largest populated neighborhood, in my opinion!

This exact situation happened to the neighborhood that I grew up in and it basically destroyed the area with the constant problems it created. Time will tell. Check it out for yourself!

https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2017/dec/14/affordable-housing-projects-tap-eureka/

https://kiem-tv.com/2018/09/27/3-new-low-income-housing-projects-coming-to-humboldt-county/

https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2018/sep/12/city-eureka-plans-veterans-supportive-housing-proj/

Louise
Guest
Louise
5 years ago

wow, what could be done with 25 mill for truly deserving contributing members of society, instead we get to reward nonsense with idiocy

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
5 years ago
Reply to  Dot

I wonder if this raid was triggered by the deceased person they found nearby a while ago.

redwoodfive
Guest
redwoodfive
5 years ago

They are really entrenched there. Why was this not addressed before reaching critical mass! It’s impossible that this was never reported or noted.

Jeff Muskrat
Guest
Jeff Muskrat
5 years ago

Everytime the cops russle up the homeless they end up on your residential streets. Then everyone complains about homeless people in their street. It’s obviously a cycle and a symptom of a broken society.

Perhaps the problem isn’t going away?

Mr Right
Guest
Mr Right
5 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Muskrat

Yes, broken due to lack of faith, lack of patriotism, Clintonian liberalism, drug use, glamorizing dope growing, gangster rap, and other ills. Yes, we can fix it. Heal thyself first.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Muskrat

I have had to wash the front entry way of our business the past couple of days for the first time in a while. a mixture of candy wrappers, loose processed tobacco leaf scattered everywhere (?), and puddled urine. if you google earth the above raided location, you find it was no different in may 2016, which is the last image date. I know for a fact this is not even public property, so this raid is on the taxpayers for a private party. I am going to flip thru the AP files and come back with the current owners name.

Linda
Guest
Linda
5 years ago

SAD !! Where will all those people be tonight ???

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  Linda

Good question butthe Cops don’t give a Flying Fig where they end up as long as it isn’t right back there to make them llok less efficient!!! Big Brave cops hassling homeless especially on Private Property!!! Disgusting!!!!!!!

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Or thank you brave environmental warriors for protecting the bay, wetlands and the public, even those camping there from themselves. You might not have read about it but diseases like typhoid fever, hepatitis, dysentery, etc are spread through human feces.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/data-watch/sd-me-g-hepatitis-a-data-20170923-story.html

For Sure
Guest
5 years ago

Again- why not offer up the old Eureka KMart for a shelter? Have a men’s & a women’s bath/shower room & a coupla washing machines& let each person set up their tent inside for the rest of the winter!! I’m sure Betty Chin would do a great job making this a simple solution! Supervisors..get in this game! The cost would be so much less than what it’s costing to go round& round like they’ve been doing for years! Do the Math! Once ppl are dry,warm, clean and can sleep, they are more able to get services to lead them towards employment& change. Not all will stop drugs, but it will be much easier to separate those who will accept help from those who will be self destructive, no matter what is offered.

Poster formerly known as Matt
Guest
Poster formerly known as Matt
5 years ago
Reply to  For Sure

Somebody already bought the old KMart

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~how about the top of the downtown post office – the old fed court rooms?

Shitty
Guest
Shitty
5 years ago

Why give them anything there not working individuals all these people just want to steal do drugs and live for free do not feel sorry for these scumbags.My husband has worked hard for years and has became disabled we have been trying to get on disability for over a year in a half and gets getting turned down we have lost our home and am driving a car that can barely fits a wheelchair nobody feels sorry for us so don’t feel sorry for these scumbags.

rollin
Guest
rollin
5 years ago
Reply to  Shitty

Spot on!

NoShitSherlock
Guest
NoShitSherlock
5 years ago
Reply to  rollin

So if you are in the “same boat” you should understand.

It is not easy to get help.

Even the homeless are U.S. citizents and taxpayers.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  NoShitSherlock

Taxpayers?

Louise
Guest
Louise
5 years ago
Reply to  NoShitSherlock

how about helping self

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Shitty

I wouldn’t label those who are down and out as scumbags. Just after the May 2016 raid, i went there behind the mall. Met some nice people – many in tears.

There is no statute of limitations on fraud -go get your home back.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mortgage+fraud

And, you do have my sympathy. Fore-closure is wrong, wrong, wrong.
Banksters and their judicial buds.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

There is a statute of limitation on fraud. This is the second time I have told you this.

https://www.bayarea-attorney.com/federal-statue-of-limitations

Other than that, I agree,

Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
5 years ago
Reply to  Shitty

Well, I feel sorry for you, & I have to laugh too. Just how many of those “scum” do you think are actually you?

We have seen the enemy and it is US?

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago

the staging for the homeless count yesterday was across the street in the rear applebee’s parking lot. this raid appears to be a product of jealousy and/or someone doesn’t like Buddha. the privately owned parcel is owned by Ed Kirkpatrick and therefore he should pay for the entire cleanup. everyone one knows those wetlands are old contaminated log ponds.

Shel
Guest
Shel
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

This bothers me … if it is private property why are these people squatting there? They are trespassing among other counts. I do feel these people need help. But not on a private citizen’s expense. Maybe open a county campground to fee free or create something similar where they can stay temporary (given number of days within law).

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Shel

the property owner said he let some stay and it got out of hand. I look at this property every year when I get a wildness/camp fire permit. its been many years, so why now a day after the count that was staged across the street. so much distrust seems to be the game for the COE, very dysfunctional to say the least.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

The timing was abysmal.

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
5 years ago

Just relocate to garberville. They are welcome, plenty of hard drugs , shoplifting, pan handling, free “nugs” , crappy hotels by the month, and plenty of bridges to sleep under. Hell, theres even a bum camp behind osprey learning center. Come on down!

sick of it
Guest
sick of it
5 years ago
Reply to  LostCoastEMP

LostCoastEMP ,Boy are you behind times Best Western, Sherwood, and Humboldt redwoods inn all require credit cards (no cash) and a ID, also no weekly or monthly rentals. F#%k up once and you are out and can not ever rent there again. The rest not sure about as I won’t stay in any of them. Tried once SCARY

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  LostCoastEMP

When did Osprey move to Gville?

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago

I work with homeless populations all the time and you wouldn’t believe the things that can tip people over into homelessness. The first issue that’s at hand as a lot of people have mental health issues that have never been addressed and then that lets them go into self-medicating and addiction. Did you know it has been proven over and over with evidence based studies and other information for person to be sober after recovery it takes two years of sobriety to break that pattern in the brain.

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago

Any of our local treatment or rehab centers do 30 days 45 days 90 days if you’re lucky. They don’t do anywhere near the amount of time that’s required to gain and maintain sobriety.

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago

Next question would be how many of those individuals are suffering multi-generational issues were they children that grew up in foster care, did their parents have CPS history, was there drug addiction or substance abuse in the family, was their lack of Education or job skills that added to the issue?

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago

Everybody wants to say no not me. Not my family not my issue. I would bet a paycheck on the fact that any family that’s struggling with this would trade having stable housing for any amount of cash Aid and food stamps they ever could get. Every single person that lives in those encampments is somebody’s child, somebody’s brother, Somebody’s Mother, somebody’s father, somebody’s cousin, somebody’s Aunt, somebody’s Uncle, somebody’s long lost family member, too ashamed to ask for help. We sure do have a lot of big britches to point fingers but there’s never any solutions in the air. That’s where we need to come to the table Solutions!

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago

Well said!!!! ;-D

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~yes, thank you Mendo Mamma for your posts and your involvement with the unfortunate ones amongst us.

Too many callous commenters in here.

sick of it
Guest
sick of it
5 years ago

Mendocino mama–great call em and have them take care of the ones who really want help just like the Latino and Asian culture does. Me I am 65yrs old and work 3 jobs to make ends meet. So I don’t hang around all day and smoke , sit on my ass and want some one else to feel sorry for (poor me)

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago
Reply to  sick of it

You’re a really hard worker! ❤ I empathize with you fully just imagine that you wind up in the hospital for a while. Or one or two of your jobs lays you off. I would imagine if you’re having the work three jobs that you’re not in a very high wage bracket. It’s got to be rough I mean damn when do you have time to sleep?

Louise
Guest
Louise
5 years ago

too ashamed to ask for help?? what do you call govt handouts? not too ashamed to get wasted and high and totally bail on personal and societal responsibilities— now that’s something to be ashamed of

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago
Reply to  Louise

Yes, too ashamed to ask for help. What if say they left their parents home with big Ambitions and dreams of doing something better for their selves traveled around for awhile never really got it together. Parents are overachievers highly-educated did really well for theirselves super judgmental, hypercritical the kind of parents tell you to cut your hair and wear a different coat when you’re 52 or something like that. The kind of family that are just so rough on you if you’re not perfect or don’t achieve what they wanted you to be how do you ever go back. That damages a lot of people’s egos early on. Seems like everybody’s esteem in here is pretty high and pretty full of their selves! 😁 Thats good! But damn it’s not always easy to find a job. Even myself super Highly Educated lots of work experience goddamn hard ass worker. Took 6 months and probably 50 applications to find the right fit it is a really rough job market. Unless you don’t mind maybe crawling on the floor somewhere really rough menial work barely making minimum. And when you’re doing that kind of work there’s no way that you can really afford to have a home so you’re stuck living in your car washing in a gas station bathroom that’s the reality for a lot of people it’s not pretty it kind of sucks but there it is.

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago

Please tell me if you’re stuck on the hamster wheel running three jobs it must be pretty rough and not very satisfying. Even myself I work pretty damn hard and lots of hours for government agencies. I still do not make tons of money nearly all of my money goes to my house payment. Having no time for self-care is just a real pain in the ass a lot of families that struggle really hard working at McDonald’s and their living in their goddamn car right now because a small apartment if you add utilities and food and all of these other things into the equation you need like $3,500 a month to barely survive. For three people below that you’re really struggling. What’s a two-bedroom s******* apartment going for over a thousand bucks. Then all the other properties are manipulated by everyone wanting to touted as a weed property so they’re renting houses for three thousand plus a month. There’s just no room for the people that don’t make over a hundred grand a year. Honestly, if you’re truthful you can even make that much money and still barely be making it. Yes, agree with above consideration more affordable housing is needed! Again the solution Betty Chinn had all the trailers setup they wouldn’t let her use them anybody got the vacant land there’s the trailers. Geeze if people get that Social Security get two hundred three hundred bucks a month plug them all in go for it give them some housing. Sorry for my rant love is all I have at the end of the day ❤

American woman
Guest
American woman
5 years ago

Y’all might take note of what is happening right now to people who lose their regular paycheck….in 60 days you lose your home, your kitchen, your place to shit & bathe. You cannot feed your dog or take it with you to a shelter. Where do you expect people to go? Where would YOU go? How can you live with yourselves and have no empathy?
Just curious.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  American woman

Excellent questions all, but sadly NONE have good answers!!!

Semper Fi
Guest
Semper Fi
5 years ago
Reply to  American woman

How about folks start living within their means?

Name one bank thay will foreclose after 60 days. That’s 2 months. No, that doesn’t happen.

If you only have savings for 2 months of living expenses, why do you have a dog?

I know you want one, but you can not reasonably afford one.

I have a friend that is behind on his mortgage.
—he still has Direct TV service
—he still is paying for multiple household members to have cellular telephones
—he still has high speed jnternet service
—he and his wife are both driving financed cars and trucks that are each less than 3 years old
This is just the beginning of his financial prowess……..

Look around. Most folks seem like him. Champagne taste on a beer budget.

I laugh routinely at his woes. He doesn’t get it. You are living beyond your means.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Semper Fi

Frugal Freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlBiiIBAGjY 6:31 2011.

Frugal Living Rocks! TAG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9DnmTsae-8 9:23 7/1/18

@ 7:07 “Because making your own products and knowing what goes into them, is going to make you and everyone around you so much healthier, because you will no longer be surrounded by toxic chemicals and drinking crappy things . . .”

Louise
Guest
Louise
5 years ago
Reply to  American woman

friends and family would help me if I needed it. i sure as hell would not consider using drugs and drinking as a viable solution, nor does it make sense to wait for some one/entity to care more about me than i care about my own damn self. some people look for opportunities, others look for excuses

My two cents
Guest
My two cents
5 years ago
Reply to  Louise

I agree completely. there is no accountability anymore.

Big Bang
Guest
5 years ago

Time to pintle mount a beltfed on the ‘ole bearcat…

Sheesh
Guest
5 years ago

Once again I point out that illegal aliens can come here and make a comfortable life for themselves. But my own lazy, irresponsible, drug addict countrymen can’t seem to make it work. It’s not societies fault. It’s their own lack of personal responsibility. Squandering all the opportunity afforded to them by being born here. Fuck them! Give them a bag of seeds and a blanket and put them on a bus to the furtest point north in Alaska. We all have a responsibility to one another NOT to be a burden on society!

Louise
Guest
Louise
5 years ago
Reply to  Sheesh

what Sheesd said

Elric of Melniboné
Guest
Elric of Melniboné
5 years ago

This is what early Stage 1 collapse looks like. Get used to it.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago

This is exactly what the DP has looked like for at least 25 years.

Elric of Melniboné
Guest
Elric of Melniboné
5 years ago
Reply to  Jaekelopterus

Roger that.

AC
Guest
AC
5 years ago

Is the photo of the ‘temporary house’? A month in a half to put up a temporary house? The guy has a little sitting area with rocks around his greenery. That’s not a temporary house. Shelters have beds avail every night. Call! They catch is you have to be sober and not have been 86ed from prior aggressive issues.

Skippy
Guest
Skippy
5 years ago

Most sane homeless go south for the winter. I heard Santa Cruz has it together for homeless. Nothing should be given free.. They should all give back to the community in some way instead of a handout. Betty Chins Program only works for those who want to get out of being homeless. Work with the system. Bellingham,Wa also has a humane way of dealing with homeless. They have a Mission for both men and women and families. Yes they have rules but you get a clean bed n free food and safety from the street and weather. They also have showers which the homeless lack. Using public restrooms like the Library’s to hand bath is their only way to keep clean as well as rivers in the summer time. Some didn’t choose this lifestyle, here in Humboldt it’s hard unless you know someone to find housing. We all need to be the change we want to see in our communities. Be part of the solution.

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
5 years ago
Reply to  Skippy

No man,
That Planet Fitness membership fee is $10 a month.
Showers for $10 a month is reasonable don’t you think?

Dennis
Guest
Dennis
5 years ago

Everyone on here has an opinion but no one has a solution maybe collectively there should be a meeting of the people here to find a solution. Just my 2 cents

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Dennis

stop and frisk is what was implemented in the last go around. I can tell you first hand that it make you what to hide. I got searched in the mid 80s at a closed beach parking lot with a contempo bong shoved down my pants and he didn’t find it, so it works and doesn’t work at the same time. maybe we should re-implement what worked?

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Dennis

I’m thinking we’d maybe be seeing the problem within the puzzle pieces that each of us have – and needs to come together for the puzzle picture to materialize. We’re here to show the way to those who ‘will’ see. To help each other -as communities naturally do. To gather hands and go up this hill together, in a gentle manner, as we naturally are – back to the Garden.

#1 – We are dealing with criminals and thieves or they would not be doing what they are doing.
#2 – We have to clean up our own backyard. Let other county’ peoples do what may appear for them to do.
#3 – Bring the heat down from great heights on the criminal parasites.

“Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.” Jefferson. One direction could be – Humboldt County (you and me and us and we) v The County of Humboldt, in a court of competent jurisdiction of the common law. <<that means, we gotta Know it. "Save the land, save the people. Save the people, save the land". (NCJ article).

"The foundation of all mental illness is the unwillingness to experience legitimate suffering." Carl Jung.
I think that what we're mostly dealing with is psycho-med-addiction illness -that can be changed, or minimized. Look around you, and this has been said in here before, the human touch, talking and spending time with those who are being outcast, a dollar, an hour, a can of food Does make a difference. Seems to me there's a well-spring on the abundance side of this available here in Humboldt.

For Sure
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Dennis

Solution=utilize a coupla large empty bldgs, like the KMart. Make an organized regulated indoor campground, as I said in a previous post here.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  For Sure

~we have to camp out? I was thinking more like the, used-to-be, Van Duzen River Grange for a meeting. Maybe days on-end would be better -idk.

No attorneys. No elected (or appointed) officials. Not an option.

Joe McKenzie
Guest
Joe McKenzie
5 years ago

This is not a conservative or liberal problem. This is all of our problem, that does not find solutions by blaming each other and refusing to come together to find solutions to the people affected by mental illness, drug addiction or both. In our intolerance of them and each other the suffering just continues for us all. All of us need to ask ourselves what each of us can do in our community to fix it. Any of us can be a critic it does not result in solutions.

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe McKenzie

100% THERE! ❤

John
Guest
John
5 years ago

So many people are pointing fingers it is difficult to see what direction to look. Perhaps it is time to take a different approach. I like the old line from one of Sean Connery’s movies; “Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.” Yes, many of the homeless are __________, but many, perhaps nearly all, had some bad luck at some time. Giving them a chance to get back on their feet is not a bad thing. How and what to do are the questions. We will always have homeless in our population. What we do about it defines us as a community. Too much liberalism doesn’t work. Too much conservatism doesn’t work either. Look for a middle of the road approach.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  John

The fact that the property owner allowed people to occupy the property in violation of the law out of kindness then found he had no control of the number and their actions is a microcosm of the whole problem. I once heard a story about a soldier at a check point who felt sorry for a child who was crying because he got caught on the wrong side and couldn’t get home. So against his orders, the soldier allowed the child through. Before any time passed he found himself surrounded by crying children whose parents had sent to try to carry contraband through.

This is a lesson. Some problems are made worse by ignoring seemingly cruel rules. If too many people are out to do things only for their own advantage as matter of routine, be prepared to enforce rules when it seems heartless or abandon the rules altogether and live with the result. These camps come from a series of legal and societal decisions to not deal with the issues when small. Now it is like an avalanche and the pending changes are going to make it much, much worse.

BTW everyone has had “bad luck.” It’s what you do about it that defines the person.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

~this reminds me of the ‘sweep’ performed in the unfriendly City of Fortuna, the same time of the behind the mall sweep of May 2016. The homeless were in a nice spot, away from the common folk, on South Fortuna Blvd. There were trees and bushes at the roadside. The people were camped back away and up against a small hill that was owned by a guy who gave them permission to be there. Unfortunately the owner of the property was sick and passed away shortly thereafter. Zap, boom, bam, in stepped the unfriendly City of Fortuna. All trees and bushes were removed, it was fenced, gated and graveled, some equipment and a shed is now there. If you ask me, it’s an eyesore.

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Soon we will need to mobilize, most of the people, to reforest and manage the forest. And plant the gardens that will feed the communities. A time is going to come when we need to take care of each other in action, Industries In Alternative Energy we are going to need many hands. And a Workforce to install the infrastructure just to make it into the future the sleeping Dragon well awakened they will be the heroes that take us into a new day.
Just a few more stumbling blocks in the way

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

I love watching old movies, especially old westerns. They lived in freedom. If they needed a home, they built one. If they needed a bunkhouse for their workers, they built one or more. If they needed food, they’d grow it. If they needed water, they’d fetch or catch it.
Today, those with shelters are driven out of them and into the streets, because they didn’t get a permit to catch water, build a shelter, build a bunkhouse, grow their own plants, create their own career.
It won’t be long before we are fighting for the right to live like Venezuela is.
Graphic warning: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1088531373923667968.html
South Africa is even worse. They’re killing the farmers and ranchers and then starving themselves because they don’t know the mysteries of each particular plot of land and how to raise the food off it.

“Experts” and their “global expert Planning” are the last thing to listen to. We need to listen to our hearts, minds and souls and get active.
Hold the “experts” accountable for refusing careers, food, shelter, water, travel, to those who have taken the steps of self reliance. LOCAL Community members can build community shelters where those without self reliance can seek refuge and help. Bar the experts at the door. Nobody should be forced to partake in ‘expert’ help, especially ‘mental health’ treatments, in exchange for a bed. (there’s a good reason why JFK, Reagan and others wanted those ‘experts’ to close their doors). Community get togethers to teach gardening, carpentry, first aid, life skills in general … self reliance…

We need a solution war on the “crisis” wars that brought real wars to our communities.

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago

Back in the brush they go, all along the Hikshari waterfront trail…