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I'm a reporter. It was really sad. But at least the cops here posted signs for a month before they did it to warn people to get stuff out. Still many didn't, as they had no way to move mattresses and large items. Also they only posted signs in English, and there were probably some who spoke Spanish. There were no arrests made, as all seemed to have gotten the word to get out. The camp was along the Sweetwater River in a National Wildlife Refuge, a place that looked much like this.
San Diego has no winter shelter for the homeless (though they just voted to start one temporarily in Golden Hall-steps from City Hall.) But in East County there is no shelter and no plan to build one, so people with family or jobs or school out here just camp out wherever they can, moving from place to place whenever the Sheriff does a raid. It's not the right way to treat human beings who are down on their luck.
On the flip side of that, a growing concern here is that Megan's Law (which prohibits registered sex offenders from living near parks and schools) has resulted in a big increase in the number of homeless sex offenders. So it's disturbing to think about people hiking on trails in these areas and who they may encounter.
I wish Obama or Michelle would take on homeless at a national level. Proper mental health care facilities would help with many of these people. Also better veterans' services (at least in our area, a lot are homeless vets). They also need help for families with children, and treatment for those with substance abuse. Not all want help, but for those who do, a place needs to be available. And why not have a public area that is open for homeless people to set up camps, within certain safety guidelines? San Diego has dozens of campgrounds. Why couldn't one be designated for this purpose?
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