My spouse and I have been complaining for over a year or more about the blight these people have brought into our neighborhood. Lately my e-mail (with pics) have been ignored. I will remember this come election time.

P.S. I was told months ago that this mess would be taken care of. The city passes the buck to Caltrans and to the CHP. No one in city hall wants to take responsibility for clearing out this mess. I was told no trespassing signs would be erected at the Oakland Avenue/Harrison Street exit where Mr. and Ms, Panhandler live for most of the day. All I can say is they must really clean up there, she at that exit and her boyfriend at the opposite corner. They are there all day every day. I have thought about going down there with a bullhorn begging (no pun intended) people to stop handing out money, but I have better things to do. That, and I don't wish to get stabbed. Berkeley finally had enough at the Gilman exit where homeless encampments were erected for years. They've cleaned out the homeless and erected fencing. Why can't Oakland do the same thing at the Oakland Avenue exist off 580??? City Hall, if you're listening, I will remember you when I next to go vote!!

Steve, thank you for your comments! I wholeheartedly agree with all of your sentiments. I would like to add that that young lady has been in Oakland for at least 4 years. She used to beg for money on Broadway. I have had friends and acquaintances who are recovering drug addicts, and she seriously fits the bill. The young men she runs with appear to be similar in demeanor.

I am very disappointed in the lack of response from the city. Dept of Public Works (DPW) passes the buck (like you said) to Caltrans, and Caltrans is so very slow to respond. We have notified them on multiple occasions over the past few months, and nothing is done. They don't even appear to really care when you call them.

As for those out there who think we should be more compassionate, this is what I have to say: How compassionate would you be when you get woken up more than 50% of nights to yelling? How would you feel when OPD comes and literally does nothing to remedy the situation? How much compassion are you expected to feel when you work 20+ hours of overtime every week, grudgingly pay high rent because it's Oakland, and come home to these people defecating on your block's buildings? This is a never-ending crisis that municipalities must deal with, and Oakland and Caltrans are simply not.

Steve, thanks again and please let me know if there's any city leaders whose numbers you have that I could call. This needs to end, and these people need to move to where they aren't disturbing local taxpaying residents.

The City of Oakland Call Center has referred this issue to CALTRANS TRAFFIC,. Please contact that department to follow-up (see "Other Helpful Links" at http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/PWA/Connect/ReportaProblem/index.htm#Links).

Here are some important City of Oakland contact points:
* Abandoned Autos: 510-777-8622 (abandoned vehicles on public street after 3 days)
* Animal Control: 510-535-5602 (live animals) or 510-535-4888 (dead animals)
* Code Enforcement: 510-238-3381 (blighted private properties, deteriorated buildings, inoperable vehicles on private property)
* Drug Hotline: 510-238-3784 (tips) or 510-777-3211 (in progress)
* Parking Citations: 800-500-6484 (parking citation assistance center, pay or appeal a citation) or 510-238-3099 (enforcement)
* Prostitution Hotline: 510-238-2373 (tips) or 510-777-3211 (in progress)

Thank you.

Please also fill out MSR ( maintenance service request) at Caltrans website. This is a good way to document how good or bad a job they do. They have always kept me posted as to there progress. They also provide phone numbers in Sacramento and in Oakland. Just like PWD they are painfully slow.

@David, Slow I'll deal with. Inadequate is what really bugs me. They move the people and expect that their job is done, but don't realize that those folks just move right back in. A physical obstruction is the only way to get people deterred enough to not settle in this area. If it took a few months for them to put in a wrought iron fence around it, that's acceptable. As it is, Caltrans doesn't even do the minimum upkeep on their own property.

The tents on the slab underneath the bridge is one thing, but they have now blocked off the sidewalk with junk. I take that path to get home daily and now avoid it and take the longer way around.

Its now a CSR at Caltrans website. Caltrans is now being more responsive in getting the vagrants out of my neighborhood the Dimond dist including the CHP arresting two for resisting arrest. I have had good luck with them but as I mentioned they are slow.

13 months later.... nothing

Please stay on Caltrans http://csr.dot.ca.gov/ I will fill out another right now is a pain. If it says there a duplicate ignore and fill out. Please also call 510-286-6173 do not be nasty just be insistent.

My CRS ticket number 749423.