How has the "Jean Sweeney Homeless Encampment" been allowed to continue for so long! This is truly outrageous! Would these people be allowed to do this in a park? No, they would not. So why are they allowed to camp, urinate, deficate, liter and be a general nuisance in this space?! My neighbor recently saw one of these campers on her backyard security monitor moments before the man crossed to her neighbor's yard and ENTERED HER HOME while she was there! This cannot continue! Why is City Hall not protecting our community from this lawlessness?!

Thank you very much for taking the time to speak up on this matter. Unfortunately, there have only been a very small handful of citizens that have spoken up on this matter, because not many of them have come to the realization that a large portion of the criminal activity that is taking place in Alameda is attributed to these criminals that have decided to seek refuge in this location. Let's try not to call them homeless, because this is simply their way of life, and they desire this as their daily routine. Come over and speak to the manager at Walgreens, Safeway, Luckys, and the security guard at Marina Village. You will hear some true frustrations!

I would be absolutely terrified if I lived adjacent to Jason I would be absolutely terrified if I lived adjacent to that part. The likelihood of an out-of-control fire is very high. This should not be allowed to continue.

As a part of the series of interviews that my political running mate and I, Mr. John Raszik have been conducting, I would like to introduce to you our newest interviewee, Mr. Shamrock (his prison moniker, and not his real name).

Shamrock, with his extremely tough-guy attitude, voice, and posture, and with his face, neck and arms covered with prison gang tattoos, he’s most notably not someone that you would approach without rendering the highest level of respect to. Before Shamrock would come over to speak with me, he first had his 150 pound Pitbull sniff me over for about 15 seconds, prior to calling his dog off.

Shamrock comes across as a highly intelligent and eloquent person, who has found the perfect living arrangement, rent free. He refers to the Beltline as his "dog’s backyard.” Shamrock also makes plenty of money with his “hustle,” which he never identified. However, judging from all of the bicycles and other property that was present, not to mention the property that is moved and sold on a daily basis, it was very clear what his “hustle” is.

Shamrock claims that the police department has given him permission to stay there, and claimed that they have only told him to keep his dog on a lease (which he obviously can not do, because someone might sneak up on him and discover all of the property that he “happens” to come across).

Shamrock feels that he could easily get a job and live a normal life; however, he prefers his current situation over all else.

We’re aware of the issues at the Jean Sweeney Park. The City is currently working on a plan to remedy the problem.

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Lt. Anthony Munoz at 510-337-8498.

For future reference. The SeeClickFix notification system is not intended for immediate response. The system is designed to make us aware of potential issues that we can look into and help resolve. If immediacy or timeliness is needed by police personnel we recommend you contact the police non-emergency number at 337-8820. In case of emergency dial 911.

Thank you.
Alameda Police Department

Today I met a very nice woman at the Beltline who was in the middle of releasing her bowels on top of the dirt, along the side of a walking trail. She claims to have once been a registered RDA (whatever that is), and formerly a licensed teacher. She explained that she got into a certain scene in life in the 1980’s, and that she is no longer able to work in those professions anymore. She added that when a homeless friend told her about the Beltline three years ago, she came to Alameda and hasn’t left. She said that if anyone is willing to fully pay for her to get an apartment, that she would really like that.

She said that she is able to work; but that she does not want to work. She said that she could get back into the halfway houses and homeless shelters again, but that she doesn’t like a certain nationality of people that are there. She also added that she could receive Section 8 Low Income Housing benefits, but that she would be required to find a part time job to pay a certain percentage of the rent, and that she is not interested in working.

She added that her family, back in her home town, do not want her living with them, because of the type of people that she associates with.

Thanks for fixing this issue!

Mario, I find your conversations and experience with those living in the belt line informative and important and hope you are sharing them with Alameda City electives. Below is a copy of a letter I wrote today to both Florence Lopez (APD) and Amy Wooldrdge (ARPD). I hope more neighbors join in before something serious happens or before it is too late ;

I am a long time west end Alameda resident and am writing regarding the large encampment of people who are living in Jean Sweeney Park. I am familiar with early morning activity in this area because I walk my dog four miles each morning and some of our walk borders the Jean Sweeny Park along Atlantic Ave.
I am sure you are aware that this problem started out a few years ago and at that time it was relatively small. Today the homeless encampments have grown to over 25 people living in the park creating a health hazard and a danger to Alameda residents, especially to those who live on the West end.
There are large piles of waste, broken glass and hazardous material throughout the area of the park adjacent to the 800 block of Atlantic. One morning I picked up a syringe off the sidewalk near the entrance that is cut repeatedly in the fence and used as an entrance to the open area in the park. In the last months I’ve smelled fire and smoke in this area clearly an indication that persons are cooking or lighting fires in the park to stay warm. (I have repeatedly reported these issues to the police.) There are no bathroom facilities in the park and those living there most certainly are defecating in the field creating yet another type of health risk. Cal trans wrote recently in an East Bay Express article that when they clean up a large homeless encampment, they do not open any backpacks or bags because of the possible dangers associated in doing so ( imagine this situation with one of our youths) . Cal Trans stated that because of the number of people living in the larger encampments with no running water or bathroom facilities they need to disinfect the area with bleach afterwards because of the stench and the health hazard left after a cleanup. Surely, this is not what Alameda City hoped for with Jean Sweeney Park.
Our kids grew up playing in this field 20+ years ago catching lizards, riding their bikes and making forts with friends. We were thankful for the wholesome childhood experience this open space provided in the middle of the bay area and were also especially excited to learn of the Jean Sweeney Open Space development plan that would continue to serve our community and provide 22 acres of nature based playgrounds, gardens and that this area would predominantly be kept as an open space habitat with pedestrian hiking trails.
However if the homeless encampment problem is not addressed the $6.5 million that Alameda City is spending on the development of this park will be a waste of good $ (with a total projected cost of $12 million.) and the $ instead should have been used to provide shelters.
But if we are to continue with the plan to develop this open park land for our community we must take the care to protect this investment and Alameda treasure for our youths and for residents of the City of Alameda. Just as important, the City of Alameda and our police department must safeguard and protect our community from the risk that our west end community is facing and the risk of another fire in the Jean Sweeney park and the health hazards this large encampment is currently imposing on our community.
Please let me know if there are any plans to address this issue and if so, how.

Ms. Lopez, would it be possible for you to provide us with the name of the gentleman that goes by the moniker of "Shamrock?" I would like to contact the State Parole Office, to see if he has a search clause. It would be very interesting to see if any of his property is from the massive number of home burglaries around the immediate area.

Will the police department please stop closing this issue until it is actually resolved to the satisfaction of the community?

This was handed to Lt. Munoz on July 12, 2016 and then closed the same day.
https://seeclickfix.com/issues/2669900-police-patrol-operations

I don't see why they would need a search clause when the property would be out in the open on park land.
Mario,I find the stories behind how these people got here and how the are now living interesting but I wonder what it is you're telling these people to get them to talk with you and find it a bit disturbing that you are then using the information they share with you against them.
I certainly don't believe these groups should be allowed to grow and survive off stealing and such but I can say I really don't know what the answer is to solve this problem.
It is kind of crazy that no one wants to step in and deal with these things though. Probably did not want to deal with it when it was 5 people or 10 then 20 and next it will be 30 or 40.
Like was said if I slept on a park bench I would probably be getting a police visit within an hour or so.
Again I do not know the solution 😁

Mr. Gerstle, what does that mean when they close them?

I just noticed there is a comment from me on 29 August reading "Thanks for fixing this issue!". I didn't post that. I may have clicked on something thanking whoever initially reported it but this issue is far from fixed. Out of curiosity today I went down to the end of Wood St. and saw the open gate in the fence along the Beltline. Next to the fence is a very large NO TRESPASSING sign and showed the penalty for trespassing is a $500 fine or a certain period of time in jail, I forget if it was 6 months or a year. So it is clearly illegal for these people to be going in there to set up camp. Why can't the police come in and arrest them all? I bet crime and theft in that area would go down if all these people were put in jail and it was made clear to anyone else thinking about going in there that the sign is enforced.

What does it mean when they close them? Good question. It seems to mean something other than resolved. Perhaps it means to no longer be discussed. There are many dictionary definitions. I don't know if SeeClickFix has a definition, but I would go with the commonly understood meaning of the term unless there is evidence to suggest otherwise. I have probably answered well over 100,000 questions in my career, but this one is a first.

Fred, I find your comments about me to be very disgusting. I hope that you do not vote for me. I do not want your vote! Please stay completely away from me.

Today I interviewed a camper from the Beltline, who I happened across while he was trying to sell something to a woman on the sidewalk. I stopped and asked him a few questions about his situation, and once I got him started for 30 minutes, I had to tell him that I was late for something.

He told me that he relocated to California from Hawaii. He said that he was a contractor and that he had a lot of tools. He said that he lost his business and tools, when he was arrested for a sex crime, and accused of beating the woman with a pipe, a bat, and trying to drill her head.

The gentleman told me that he grows marijuana, and that he’s getting ready for a new crop. He said that he’s currently looking for some more fish emulsion, eggs, and miracle grow. He said that he’s not concerned with anyone stealing his plants, because he has a fake encampment where everyone believes that he lives, and that his real camp is further back in the bushes.

He then led me back to his camp, in an attempt to try to sell me a relatively new 20 foot boat cover that he recently obtained. He also showed me a myriad of other items that he was selling, some of which looked as if they had come from our local stores. He explained that the police allow him to stay there, because they said that they don’t want everyone spread out all over the city.

He said that he does not want to live in a halfway house nor a homeless shelter because he’s not interested in working, and he’s definitely not interested in all of their rules. He added that he’s a “free bird,” and that he likes to be outside to “hustle.” While he was speaking to me, he was eating a sandwich that he had just purchased from Ralphs, at Lincoln Ave and 8th Street. He then very politely offered me a sandwich, which I declined.

He explained that his friend accidentally started a fire in the Beltline, while using gasoline for his morning campfire, which they steal each night from the city contractor vehicles that cut trees (that apparently park in the Beltline at night?).

He gave me a lead about a burglary to a house adjacent to the Beltline, which I am starting to follow up on. I’m now looking for Zach!

Mario: Why did you end your interesting report above with "I’m now looking for Zach!"?

Zach is the name of the suspect that he gave me. Obviously it is not you. Sorry about the confusion.

Thanks for the clarification. My first thought was actually that you were referring to a well known thief and semi-homeless person in Alameda named Zach who also goes by the name Buck. He has lived in Alameda for decades and spoke to me several times while he was living for a couple weeks in the back yard of a commercial building that was for sale. The owner of the building told me both of his names and said he was letting him stay there as he took pity on him and considered him harmless. This Zach is probably in his late 40's, has short hair that is bald on top and gets around on an old mountain bike, often towing a trailer. I took photos of his bike when he was living behind the commercial building. I have since learned that he is known for petty theft. A neighbour told me Zach stole something from his yard years ago. I've seen his name on arrest reports. I see him around town from time to time usually riding his bicycle towing the trailer.

Yes, Zachary Buck. A local landscaper who works at Encinal recommended him and suggested I let him stay on my property since he was homeless; that he was a good guy. He did for awhile but he was getting into everything I owned in the basement and smoking weed, so I told him to please vacate the premise. He brought the police to my doorstep, trying to claim he lived there! He then broke every outdoor light I had because the officers suggested he stay there one more night (he had had 3 3 days) he conned a friend who hired him to do a job but stiffed her. There is some substance he took regularly which caused me to be truly frightened of his affect.

Mario Hernandez - I found your comment to Fred totally inappropriate and uncalled for - aside from being a little bizarre and over the top. He did not say anything remotely 'disgusting', unless you consider questioning why you are conducting yourself the way you are and what your motivation might be to be disgusting. Seems to me you might be a little thin-skinned to be any kind of politician. You've certainly lost my vote for whatever office you might ever run for.

Simple question to everyone , while I do not agree with this camp , it has been allowed by City hall the under political act.
WHAT I DO FIND DISTURBING IS THAT CLICK FIX IS BEING USED AS A POLITICAL PLATEFORM , ARE WE TO FIX ISSUE OR SELF PROMOTION , SHOULD IT BE THE LATED THEN THESE PEOPLE SHOULD PAU CLICKFIX FOR ADVERTIZING .

I feel the discussion on this thread has been, at times, helpful. People are sharing their thoughts and have offered possible ideas. Still, we must all voice our suggestions and or concerns with the city or nothing will happen.

Furthermore , I find it very low to point the finger at the Police when they do exactly what politician told them to , son are public work Employees {not the bosses which are only in Alameda to gain accreditation and move on}

http://www.action-alameda-news.com/2016/09/10/city-to-take-action-on-homeless-encampments/

Please join us on September 27th at 6:30 PM at Matick Senior Center for a meeting on the Jean Sweeney Open Space.

I understand the city and the police are working with Operation Dignity to come up with a long term solution. Thank you to all involved in that.

I do not think that this issue should be closed when it's handed over to the police or because something was done. It should be marked closed when it is resolved to the satisfaction of the community.

I disapprove of SeeClickFix being used as a political sounding board, Mario? Please take your grandstanding elsewhere. It's not helpful and the noise you create on this issue is not solving the problem. Perhaps a letter to the editors of the local papers is a more appropriate venue for your political voice.

The fire was put out, the other issues are being addressed.