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After two-and-a-half years of people living in tents in the Benchlands at San Lorenzo Park, campers are scheduled to begin moving out next week.But it’s not happening all at once.”Gathering anything that’s important. Anything that I can use up at the Armory, so to have a reasonable shelter so I can keep working,” Mark Hall said.Hall is organizing his belongings for the anticipated move next week.He’s lived here since the camp was established two years ago.”As long as it’s moving up, Yes! (laughter) maybe into a more normal situation, yeah no problem with running water and electricity. Yeah, I’ve been praying for that,” Hall said. The city now has 80 new spaces available at the Santa Cruz armory.Those are in addition to what is already established at the Overlook encampment outside of the building and at River Street.But how many campers are actually living at the Benchlands?”We’ve counted over 500 tents down in the Benchlands and the possibility of four to 500 people living there could be much higher,” said, Keith McHenry, co-founder, Food Not Bombs.”Through the city’s census process we’ve identified 225 people that are living there at any moment or any particular time,” said Santa Cruz city homeless response manager Larry Imwalle.The city believes people are using multiple tents for storage and dining areas.The city has a zone phase closure plan within the park which advocates claim is ill-conceived and violates, Martin vs. Boise.The Supreme Court ruled three years ago that homeless persons cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property in the absence of adequate alternatives.”I’ll probably going to drop or somebody, a TRO, temporary restraining order, connect that into an injunction through federal court,” said Benchlands camper Greg Bengston.Imwalle believes the city’s zone phased closure will avoid a court order. And plans to stop campers from moving back into the Benchlands.”As we go zone-by-zone after each zone is closed of camps we’ll clear up that area and then fencing will be installed around that perimeter when it’s empty,” Imwalle said.The city will pause from moving people from the Benchlands if there’s no temporary shelter available.
After two-and-a-half years of people living in tents in the Benchlands at San Lorenzo Park, campers are scheduled to begin moving out next week.
But it’s not happening all at once.
“Gathering anything that’s important. Anything that I can use up at the Armory, so to have a reasonable shelter so I can keep working,” Mark Hall said.
Hall is organizing his belongings for the anticipated move next week.
He’s lived here since the camp was established two years ago.
“As long as it’s moving up, Yes! (laughter) maybe into a more normal situation, yeah no problem with running water and electricity. Yeah, I’ve been praying for that,” Hall said.
The city now has 80 new spaces available at the Santa Cruz armory.
Those are in addition to what is already established at the Overlook encampment outside of the building and at River Street.
But how many campers are actually living at the Benchlands?
“We’ve counted over 500 tents down in the Benchlands and the possibility of four to 500 people living there could be much higher,” said, Keith McHenry, co-founder, Food Not Bombs.
“Through the city’s census process we’ve identified 225 people that are living there at any moment or any particular time,” said Santa Cruz city homeless response manager Larry Imwalle.
The city believes people are using multiple tents for storage and dining areas.
The city has a zone phase closure plan within the park which advocates claim is ill-conceived and violates, Martin vs. Boise.
The Supreme Court ruled three years ago that homeless persons cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property in the absence of adequate alternatives.
“I’ll probably going to drop or somebody, a TRO, temporary restraining order, connect that into an injunction through federal court,” said Benchlands camper Greg Bengston.
Imwalle believes the city’s zone phased closure will avoid a court order.
And plans to stop campers from moving back into the Benchlands.
“As we go zone-by-zone after each zone is closed of camps we’ll clear up that area and then fencing will be installed around that perimeter when it’s empty,” Imwalle said.
The city will pause from moving people from the Benchlands if there’s no temporary shelter available.
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