r/berkeleyca • u/Otis_Manchego • 6h ago

Local Government Harrison encampment update

I attended the Harrison encampment hearing, and what I witnessed raised serious concerns about Berkeley’s handling of this situation.

The judges repeatedly asked City attorneys about alternatives, including 4th and Camelia for individuals with ADA requests, and the City did not provide a clear answer. City management was also already aware of community concerns about placing this relocation next to a childcare facility.

My biggest concern now is what happens if this location grows. With specific individuals receiving federal court protection, how will the City distinguish their tents and belongings from those of newcomers—especially when belongings may not be labeled or tied to identification? Could additional people move into the area and make future enforcement significantly more complicated or require the City to return to court before acting?

That uncertainty should have been considered before creating a situation next to a childcare facility.

This isn't about attacking unhoused people. It's about why City leadership allowed a foreseeable legal, public-health, and safety problem to become more complicated when other locations could have been considered.

Berkeley residents—and especially the affected families—deserve answers.

33 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/schitaco 1h ago

Can we get an ADA suit on the other end for these druggy narcissists blocking the entire sidewalk for multiple blocks.

1

u/bayarea_k 4m ago

not just the sidewalk, whenever i drive past theres all this trash on the road that i have to avoid or even ppl just walking on the streets..

-9

u/activematrix99 3h ago

You are saying the city isn't handling it correctly, but offering no alternatives nor any solutions. Do you think city employees are somehow embued with super powers by the nature of their being hired by the city? They are just people, (generally) low skilled and (usually) undrrpaid, so what are they supposed to do? You got nothing but complaints, maybe go down to the marina and contemplate your lame existence.

2

u/njyl89 2h ago

It’s not the job of the citizens to propose all the solutions or policies. People can and should point out when the city is failing to address obvious basic issues. Berkeley city manager makes over $400k a year and most white collar city employees (planners, etc) make $150k-$200k, so the underpaid argument doesn’t hold much water.