Residents and representatives of a self-governed Sacramento homeless encampment rallied against an inspection on Thursday, arguing the city didn’t directly give them notice.
The city scheduled the inspection of Camp Resolution with Safe Ground Sacramento, which leases the city-owned property.
Both the city and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board planned to visit the camp to ensure compliance with the lease agreement and a land use variance, city spokesperson Tim Swanson said. The variance allows people to live in trailers on the lot, but prohibits tents on the contaminated ground.
Safe Ground Sacramento Executive Director Mark Merin said he told both attorney Anthony Prince and Sacramento Homeless Union President Crystal Sanchez about the inspection. Prince represents the about 50 camp residents and Sanchez works as a liaison for them.
“We as a lessee are in no position to say you can’t come in here,” Merin said. “Even in private property, a landlord has a right to inspect his or her own property.”
Prince disagreed, arguing the city should have posted notices in the camp. Residents blocked inspectors from entering the site Thursday afternoon and Prince said he told them to get a warrant.
The attorney added he was concerned the city would gather evidence to close the camp. In a press conference, Prince also claimed the city has refused to talk with camp representatives.
“Forgive me if I have concerns with the fire department coming in here with the [Department of Community Response] to look around at will, unmindful of the fact that you have people here with privacy interests who have been given no notice, no posted notice,” Prince said.
But Council member Katie Valenzuela said City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood clarified that findings from the inspection could not justify evictions. In an emailed statement, Valenzuela said she, Council member Shoun Thao and representatives from the city attorney’s office talked with Safe Ground Sacramento and camp residents about it in a meeting.
City representatives also discussed their commitment to helping camp residents find permanent housing, Valenzuela said. The homeless union was invited, but didn’t participate in the meeting, she added.
“I left that meeting feeling like we had made progress on establishing trust that would enable us to work together,” Valenzuela said in the statement emailed to CapRadio on Thursday. “Which is why I was so deeply saddened to see today's press conference from the Sacramento Homeless Union, which completely misrepresented the conversation that was had at the meeting as well as all other written and verbal conversations the City has had with Union representatives for the past several months.”
In a July 12 notice to Merin, City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood said the purpose of the inspection was to ensure the fire department can access the entire site in an emergency. The inspection would allow everyone to identify issues together and work to resolve them, Alcala Wood said.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg also said the inspection was intended to ensure safety for camp residents. He added that Prince isn’t representing the residents’ interests.
“We’re going to put the people first,” Steinberg said. “And that’s why we made this commitment to deliver the basics.”
Camp Resolution in Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
On Thursday morning, Steinberg announced the city will deliver water to Camp Resolution for the rest of the summer. Funding for the drop-offs will come out of the budgets for his and Council member Shoun Thao’s offices, Steinberg said.
Sacramento County discontinued water deliveries to about 30 homeless encampments, including Camp Resolution, last month. The county spent most of the COVID-19 federal relief money it used to fund the drop-offs, county spokesperson Kim Nava previously told CapRadio. The county spent the rest of the funds to purchase water lasting through this summer, but it’s up to cities to make deliveries within their boundaries, Nava said.
Prince said he views Steinberg’s water delivery announcement as a political stunt. He added the camp is continuing the lawsuit it filed against the city two months ago, despite the lease’s active status. The city has until Aug. 1 to file a response, according to a court document.
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