San Jose: Cops make arrests during targeted patrol of 'The Jungle' homeless encampment

[alp227]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by DonViejo (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: SJ Mercury News

SAN JOSE -- Police officers fanned out through the trash-strewn mini-city of tents, tree houses and makeshift shelters situated along Coyote Creek. They patrolled the notorious encampment known as "The Jungle" like they would any other part of the city.

And that was the whole idea -- to be seen.

A contingent of one sergeant and 10 officers, all working overtime, set up at the encampment near Happy Hollow zoo on Friday and conducted foot patrols as part of the effort to get a better handle on what has been described as the largest homeless enclave in the country.

They made about a half-dozen arrests on outstanding warrants related to non-violent offenses involving illegal drugs or trespassing, said Sgt. Stan McFadden, the on-scene police supervisor.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_26173540/san-jose-cops-at-jungle-homeless-encampment-targeted.html

[Aristus]

1. Bastards.

Always bleeding it out of people who can't defend themselves.

[yorgatron]

2. my dad got run out of San Jose when he was a kid in the Depression.

rode into town on a freight, the cops rounded up him and a bunch of other hobos and marched'em down Monterey road all the way to Morgan Hill.

he later served in WWII, went to school on the G.I. Bill, and got a job at the Mercury-News working his way up to production manager.

[DustyJoe]

3. Economic Refugees

These homeless are nothing less than economic regugees from within our own country.
Why on earth can't they be afforded the same compassion for food, shelter and
healthcare as the South Americans garnering all the news hype lately ?

[grilled onions]

4. Chase Em Out! Kick Em Out!

After all they consider these people less than human! Give them their marching papers--that will solve the problem! They are vermin--they aren't people. Of course those who complain the loudest offer no solution. The homeless have few options. No jobs. No budget housing. Some have issues with alcohol or substance abuse. There are women who have run away from abuse situations. Some have found a pet which has given them love--something in short supply in their world and refuse to go if they have to leave their pet behind. These are real people--they are not just statistics. You cannot sweep them under the city carpet and expect them to disappear. If the city expects them to leave then give them real solutions.
There are many organizations that can help but it takes time. They can't just waltz in these camps. The homeless are scared--suspicious of people snooping around,asking questions. By the time they find "Jo" a former vet the camp is deserted(they chased them out of camp again). A woman's shelter group is looking for women who were victims of husband or boyfriend. The victims are so afraid of being found they hide from those that could help.
Being afraid or being ignored and having to deal with the "heartless bunch" takes it's toll.
We can do better, much better. In a country where people can live next to golf courses or park their planes near their homes or own a home or several homes, each with "housing" for a half dozen cars we certainly should be able to find housing for all those that are homeless.
Chasing them out of town is not the answer. Arresting others for handing out a doughnut or cup of coffee doesn't solve a damn thing. How did we end up this way? When did the cities turn into "It's all for me baby!" As the number of people who have it all grows and want the rest of us to "get out of Dodge" every day more of us end up on the wrong side of the street due to losing jobs,not finding jobs,losing their home as the wealthy change neighborhoods to alter decent housing to luxury housing. Housing shrinks, jobs shrink, shelters hang out "no vacancy" signs.
There may be answers but the 1% are not willing to invest in solutions. It's very sad when you see the homeless,the jobless, the hungry treated like trash.

[seveneyes]

5. "trash-strewn mini-city"

Odd that the residents would not at least keep the trash and litter policed. Cleanliness is goodness.

[jwirr]

6. I am sorry. I read this totally different from the rest of you. "And that was the whole idea == to

be seen." If I were homeless and the police did regular patrols without tearing the Jungle down I would feel safer. One of the problems with being homeless is lack of city services. Like garbage pickup and police coverage. It says they arrested people who had outstanding warrants something they would have done in any neighborhood.

If they run them all our of the encampment I would be furious but that is not what they did.

[enlightenment]

7. Unfortunately, when

police actions come on the heels of recent reporting on the location and its residents, it looks like a reactive response by the city officials.
I am a bit suspicious of the timing of this increased presence.

Edited for missing punctuation.

[jwirr]

8. Yes, even with what I wrote above I too distrust the officials and their police forces. Having lived

through the 60-70s I guess we will never really trust authority.

[DonViejo]

9. Locking...

This is a local news story, not national. Recommend you post it in the California Forum or GD. Thanks!